G-Snarls

I'd do the same in their shoes You're already the worst team in the sport. Lump it out for a few years rather than spend to be a 4th place team. Hoard draft picks and $ and wait to pounce in a few years. Edit: I forgot about the Feldman contract. That was stupid.

And he qualifies for DH! Shame... Vote Edwin!!!

Runner up Face Of MLB after all!!! FU David Wright

LOL Exactly

Yep. Do it.

Love Bautista and the way he plays. His occasional over aggressiveness on the basepaths is laughably offset by his ridiculous OBP, huge power and arm/cannon. Also (poke fun if you wish) people around the team say he has legit leadership chops, and has helped bridge the gap between the English and Spanish speaking players on the team.

FU Nelson Cruz and Derek Jeter

Results starting to trickle in Cano, Cruz take leads, Bautista closes in on Trout http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/robinson-cano-nelson-cruz-take-leads-at-their-positions-in-al-all-star-voting?ymd=20140602&content_id=77866044&vkey=news_mlb http://mlb.mlb.com/assets/images/8/6/0/77871860/cuts/1280x720_ASG14_060214_AL_Leaders_mlb_h0qh21c8_eropxh2j.jpg

He literally hasn't touched a baseball since he went on the DL I'm not even kidding

I'm very curious to see how this Astros re build goes. Will be several years before we know if successful but I like the aggressive way they're doing it

Those plays were freaking awesome too What an arm and what a heads up play on the first one

A ranked top 50 prospect is worth WAY more than a first round draft pick since so many of the latter bust. Also, very importantly, these compensation picks are not really even first round picks - they are "sandwiched" between the first and second rounds, so they fall in the #31-40 ish range. This further reduces the chances of that pick becoming a top prospect/major league player. Someone who's already made the top 50 prospects list is much more likely to succeed than any given first or sandwhich round round draft pick who is chosen at 16-18 years of age, because so many busts have already been weeded out before that top 50 list is made. So yes, they'd MUCH rather have Marcus Stroman than a compensation pick. But teams are understandably reluctant to give someone like that up when they're only getting half a season and no draft pick back. That's the choice teams have to make when they think about trading guys with only half a season left before free agency. The question is - Can you get a player who is more valuable than a compensation pick or not? BTW, it's obviously the same situation we're in with Rasmus. Tampa rarely lets this happen - they usually trade their guys (Garza, Shields) while they still have trade value (usually 1-2 years before free agency) but are starting to get expensive. When you think about it, it's still surprising that they were willing to go in to 2014 with Price making 14M. They obviously couldn't get what they really wanted this off season, so will try again at the trade deadline. They DID let BJ Upton get to free agency and let him go for a comp pick, but I don't think they can afford to do that with Price. He'll make even more next year. Final answer? If I'm KC, Stroman is exactly who I ask Toronto for, but any "extra" beyond that would not be a top prospect.

What would it take to get Shields?? Would love to have him if cost was much lower than Shark or Price...

Also he's being called up Edit: I missed where Ang already mentioned this

No No one would part with that. And the receiving team CANNOT get the comp pick if he's traded mid season. Only KC can if they keep him. That lessens his trade value considerably. Edit: The only way a team MIGHT give a Price level package would be if they could negotiate an extension (a la Dickey) and I don't know how likely that would he here.

James Shields, OTOH is a free agent after this season He would be a straight up half season rental

Neither us or Baltimore are getting competitive balance picks are we?

It is, and I think by September we could be neck and neck with Boston and New York. In the playoffs, it really really helps to have 2-3 top end guys. having a bunch of 4/5 caliber guys is not what you want.

Half a season vs a season and a half is obviously a MASSIVE difference to a GM. Not only because he might help you in two pennant races rather than one, but in addition it might allow you to collect a draft pick if he leaves after that. A guy traded mid season in his last year before free agency doesn't give you that. That draft pick can help offset the prospect cost you paid to get a guy in the first place.

No prob. For some reason that's a very common misconception. Maybe that's because he's already making over 10M even durinf what is only his second arbitration eligible season, plus the fact people have been discussing Tampa trading him for so long now.

Price also is not a free agent until after 2015 so you get 1.5 years with him too, plus the ability to tender a qualifying offer. But he has won a shitload higher salary through arbitration - he could set a record for arbitration salary next season if he's good this year.

I actually agree with this. Mid season trade of Edwin seems completely unfathomable.

I think they'll be patient with him Especially if Stroman can stick now

It does look like it's getting to him though. His body language is terrible.