Keep the faith or fold? Glaus and Overbay could be on the block
The woes of May have continued for the Toronto Blue Jays, but J.P. Ricciardi is standing firm while rumors of fire sales and reloads swirl around the baseball blogosphere.
Troy Glaus was the hot spot on the trade rumor radar last week, but the recent aggrevation of a bone spur in his heel could hamper interest in the oft-injured slugger. San Diego and the Angels have surfaced as potential trade candidates.
The Padres, who desperately need to add some pop to their lineup, could offer up reliever Scott Linebrink, who would be a nice addition to the Jays bullpen, as well as the up and coming third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff who has struggled offensively but shows great promise. It might be prudent for the Pads' to hang on to Kouz: send him down to Class AAA while Glaus handles the big leagues. In that case, additional arms could be packaged for the swap, landing the Jays several arms in return for Troy's big bat.
It was only a couple of years ago when Angels' rookie Dallas McPherson was being highly touted (paving the way for Glaus' exit from Anaheim), but the third baseman's star has fallen as he has succumbed to injuries. (McPherson had back surgery earlier this year and will miss the entire 2007 season.) The Angels' starting 3B Chone Figgins is having a very sluggish start, making Anaheim a very likely destination for Glaus should he waive his no trade clause.
Provided that the Jays could get some real value out of a swap for Glaus (preferably reliable pitching), I can see the logic in moving the big bat. But who would the Jays put in the hot corner? I imagine that a platoon of John McDonald, Jason Phillips and Triple AAA call-up Ryan Roberts could get the job done, defensively speaking. However, I doubt these guys could put up offensive numbers anywhere near Glaus' 2007 stats. Should the Jays consider acquiring a third baseman too then?
Enter the Astros. Houston is apparently shopping 3B Morgan Ensberg and the former untouchable closer, Brad "Lights Out" Lidge. How would those two studs look in a Jays uniform? Both are in need of a change of scenery, but they also both come with some risk. J.P. would look really bad if he shipped Glaus to the deep heart of Texas for two underperformers. Then again, baseball is a game of risk.
Could some kind of three way trade be worked out between the Jays, Padres and Astros?
The Phillies are also in need of a reliable man on the hot corner. Edwin Encarnacion showed signs of stardom last season, but reality has dragged him back down to Earth and the Phils are losing patience. Meanwhile, could Jon Lieber still be had?
The Indians too could use an upgrade at third, but the pitcher they were dangling, Jason Davis, was just acquired by the Mariners in what could turn out to be a rare display of baseball smarts by Bill Bavasi.
The Dodgers also are in the hunt for some offensive power, but as much as I'd like to see Brad Penny and Chad Billingsley on the mound for Toronto right now, I just don't see this trade partnership working out.
I can accept that Glaus could be traded, that's just the way of the game. But Lyle Overbay too? Say it ain't so! Bob Matthews at the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle dropped a little bomb today suggesting that Lyle is also on the trading block. This is the first mention I've seen of this, and he doesn't back the rumor up with any source. Matthews suggests that the Yankees could wind up with Overbay, but I doubt the Jays, who extended Overbay this past off-season, would trade him to a team in their own division.
Alex Rios hasn't been mentioned much recently in trade rumors, which is just fine by me! I'd like to see the Jays hold on to Rios, Lind and Overbay. Is that too much to ask?
Shaun Marcum pitched a fine game yesterday, and Jeremy Accardo is turning heads as the Jays new closer, but I'm not the only one who thinks that the Jays have very little chance of contending if they try to fill all their gaps from within. A mid-season trade seems in order and the only question is if J.P. will keep the faith and trade for victory this season or fold his hand completely on the 2007 campaign.
