I do still feel like they really ought to be pursuing something, whether or not it's Fowler. Now, maybe they really, really believe in Avi Garcia and really can't fathom eating LaRoche's salary to clear DH space for Melky. Still, though, just doesnt make sense to me not to have action there. Of course, there are lots of platoon types out there who could be targeted.

I'm going to withhold any bottom-line assessments til we hear who's in it in terms of prospects. I wonder if there's a significant asset involved here. Certainly plausible that the Rays could give a near MLB prospect with COL parting with a guy a bit further off but perhaps a high ceiling type? Rox have a lot of prospects that could match up in that kind of scenario.

Have to take the over. Not because I don't have good expectations, but because that' s a pretty aggressive expectation.

Man ... hard to say b/c Dickerson's value obviously isn't at peak right now. But to give up that much control over a guy that showed as much as he did, I'd want an arm I could put right into my rotation.

Could be they are compromising somewhat here with a top notch reliever and a starting prospect? Dunno, fun to make up trade scenarios as they are already unfolding - Steve Adams and I do it all the time!

I count them among the teams that could well contend, yes. That's not to say I'm predicting it, but I don't look at them as one of the (relatively few) teams that don't have a realistic shot.

Like, when the Braves were hanging around in the middle of last year, I never thought they had a shot. If the A's are, it would seem plenty plausible that they could continue and reach the postseason.

I don't buy that the Angels would do that deal. If something else significant came with Gardner, maybe, but I'm not sure what that'd be.

He's also probably too expensive, so maybe they'd have to send something back to NYY to offset salary?

I don't buy that the Angels would do that deal. If something else significant came with Gardner, maybe, but I'm not sure what that'd be.

I don't see Souza getting bumped. They invested a lot in him, and it's not like he was unplayable last year.

My best guess is they are set up to move Jennings or Loney. (Speculation.)

Have to be at least to a point, right? Same with Fowler. You can't let those guys just go sign for whatever they can get elsewhere.

Makes sense for the team. Deepens the staff. It won't take much for him to deliver on that contract, and there's a decent chance he runs up 185 innings of 3.85 ERA pitching or some such.

Obviously had it handy.

On the one hand, sure, they could say "let's get this guy to give us a shot, if it doesn't work, we'll sell him when the getting is good in July."

On the other, it goes without saying that any pitcher has some increased risk of implosion at Coors.

Seems less likely with the trade going down right now, since the Rays seem to have been the most heavily involved team. My guess is they don't see it as necessary, but are prepared to be opportunistic.

They've already plunked some cash on guys like that. And they are still paying them (Nolasco, Ervin). As always, might work at a certain price, but I think there's still enough demand that he'll go elsewhere for more than MIN would pay.

Why would LAD get rid of Wood for a lesser reliever? He can pitch in the pen and provide rotation depth.

And I don't think Ethier is going to be sent out with LAD keeping all that much cash. He had a very nice year last year and is still plenty useful to that org.

Don't see that at all, especially with Arroyo getting some big incentives to sign on and push for a rotation spot (or provide depth, otherwise).

Nah, they are covered in the OF. I've always felt they were chasing top guys both to push up the market and to take an opportunity if it was available. Dont see why you'd get Revere and then sign Fowler. Not impossible, but doesn't seem likely.

If it were a scenario where another deal was lined up, it could've been structured as a three-team deal. My guess is they're getting him to get him, with some possible down the line consideration along those lines.

Of course, McGee has much less contract control than Giles.

Honestly, I think the concept that there are strict models that teams follow is kind of misguided. Sure, there's some overall strategizing going on. But these clubs are also just taking the opportunities in front of them, as they arise.

I don't have a problem with tear-down rebuilding, personally, and agree with what Rob Manfred said recently: it's self-correcting behavior and it isn't an approach that, say, ten clubs can reasonably pursue at the same time.

Not really. Surprising, right?

First I'd have to buy a Sega Genesis or whatever it is you kids are playing the games on these days.

Used to be all about some NHL '96, but yeah, it's been a while.

Hard to imagine unless a serious prospect is coming back the other way, too.

No, and there probably won't be for a while. His trial is scheduled for Opening Day.

Very complicated situation. If the league waits for a trial, or perhaps a plea deal, then we might wait a while. He very well could face jail time, it seems. And there are legitimate immigration consequences if he is not an American citizen (a point as to which there appears to be some doubt in the press).

Depends if you believe Dave Stewart. He says they aren't punting their 2nd rounder. Obviously there are other ways to go, but none are really all that clear to me.

Personally, I agree with others who've said it probably makes more sense to go after Desmond, if anything, but they seem to like Ahmed quite a bit.

I'll take a repeat of 2015.

I don't buy into that at all. First, they really have been, it seems, including huge deferrals in their proposals. That reduces the real value, very significantly. Second, they lost out - mostly - on widely pursued guys. The Mets were in on Zobrist. The Cards were in on Heyward. Etc.

Could there be something to it? I guess. But none of these situations prove it, to me. And I really disagree with the way that's been portrayed in the press.

I play baseball fantasy camp every weekend over the summer -- suit up and catch for a men's team here in Denver. And many of the guys played college or minor league ball, so it's like fantasy camp for me!

Way too soon to tell, IMO.

Well there's real interest. But the peripherals are really bad. I mean, not so bad that he's not worthy of a significant deal - given the results - but bad enough to give serious pause.

I still don't know how to gauge his market, but there's a huge scouting element in there to be aware of, too. Will be interesting to see if there's a divide between him and Kennedy that hints at shifting perceptions in front offices.

Go out and read Grant Brisbee's post on this. I laughed audibly at several points.

I pretty much look exactly like Derek Norris when I have my beard rolling, and play catcher, so just pretend I'm him.

If he isn't somehow dumped, he'll play there at some point, probably. But trotting him out everyday is really less than ideal, to put it mildly. No offense to him, he's had some really nice seasons. But this team's moves make it pretty important to be maxing out value at positions where there are reasonable upgrades to be had.

FWIW, I'm not ready to give up on Owings at all, and Hill is fine as a piece of the puzzle.

He pretty much said that directly today, and there's really no reason to think otherwise.

White Sox aren't doing that deal, and it doesn't matter that the Cubs would be the trade partner. Baez has too much downside to give up a player like Rodon.

Just looking at the baseball side ... CIN's timing was pretty much awful. The first deal was blown up b/c of it, and the second one was made before that announcement. Now, he could still be suspended, but clearly the odds of it and the likely severity has gone down. That's not just b/c the league cares about what law enforcement thought and a jury decided, but b/c I'd expect their access to info will be more constrained.

Caps. I custom created a Calbert Cheaney left wing, opposite Jagr, with Jeff Todd a high scoring defenseman.

I've always had an irrational love for Cheaney - my dad is from Indiana and he was my favorite player when he came to DC for the then-Bullets.

It isn't hot right now, but it sure could warm up. Hard to know, though -- maybe ownership had realistic expectations about what they tried last year and aren't holding him responsible, per se, or expecting a lot right now.

Indians.

Of course, but that's how this goes. Everyone thinks the Cubs and Mets are going back to the NLCS and the other clubs that didn't advance as far - or make big offseason splashes - are buried.

Every season is it's own living, breathing thing. And teams like the Nats, Dodgers, Giants, Pirates, Cards have lots of talent.

I mean, nobody asks me to, but sure.

No way. Really nicely structured deal for the Mets, I think. Now, I don't love playing him in CF, though maybe he'll do better with a full spring and more regular role there? Certainly has the athleticism.

Not clear they have a lot of questions left right now, so I'm looking more at teams that have more potential for major movement when answering questions, I guess.

Actually I really like the team. Got to meet the broadcasting crew and hang out with them a bit in DC a few years ago through a friend. Great guys, fun club.

Yeah I think it makes good sense.

Moving him to third, a new position with new angles and a long throw, doesn't seem like the wisest idea. At least, not giving up a lot to rely on him to make that transition.

And you can get their top starters out of your head in that scenario, anyway, because he needs to reestablish some value before he's bringing back established, controllable MLB talent. Don't forget he's been racking up service time all these years, too.

They'll probably pick around the leftovers once guys decide they aren't getting MLB deals. No reason not to have coverage in that regard -- you can always jettison a cheaper veteran if you want, but it's not a good idea to feel like you have to promote or keep young guys in the majors just to get innings.

Not necessarily, if they plan on making another move.

No. Maybe. No.

I mean, I guess if Bailey really came back and showed fully normal form and quality production, it's possible. But it's generally a bit tougher to get deals done for high-dollar guys at the deadline (not impossible - e.g. Hamels) and that health stuff would really complicate that after only a few months back on the bump.

Would be fun to see them up the middle together, but no way! Sacrilege, for one thing, haha. Don't let my old buddies at the Somerville pizza shop hear you say that, they'd never sell you a pie again (or worse).

More importantly, Pedroia is still a quality second baseman and there's no reason to move him. And Mookie has plenty of value in the outfield. What a nice player.

I don't think that really makes sense for either club. COL is better situated to roll the dice on multiple players who come with risk (injury or developmental or both). CWS is more in need of that relatively sure thing at a great price, right now, than a couple of rolls of the dice and an oft-injured veteran who costs more and isnt really even as valuable on the field right now than the long-term guy you gave up.

Not a bad idea, really. I was thinking something along those lines last night when chatting with Steve, but couldn't come up with the second name to go with Cole. Difo is the right kind of prospect.

But that's from the Nats perspective. I can see it making sense to take on the risk, even before you've really seen Lucroy show his health/effectiveness, because neither of those guys is critical to the near future procession of players.

Milwaukee, though ... I don't know, it's always a scouting question. Could say take the bird in hand and hope both are at least solid guys who'll produce for cheap. Or you can roll the dice, wait and try to get a premium asset.