Seanez Set to Return, Could Wells Be Next?
Thu, Aug 31, 2006
by Geoff Young
Rudy Seanez, one of last year’s bullpen anchors, is expected to rejoin the Padres before Friday’s game against the Reds at Petco Park. The Boston Red Sox, who signed Seanez to a hefty contract following his career year, designated the veteran right-hander for assignment last week, clearing the way for his return to San Diego. Right-hander Scott Cassidy, effective early in the season, also will be back with the big club when rosters expand on Friday. Between those two and sidewinder Cla Meredith, the Padres and their fans can be grateful to the Red Sox for helping the Pads build a strong bullpen.
As for David Wells, rumors have him coming to San Diego for Triple-A catcher George Kottaras. I hope that this is wishful thinking on the part of Boston writers desperate to cast the Red Sox in a positive light to rabid fans and not a reflection of reality. If everything in this article is to be taken at face value, then I hope the Dodgers are able to land Wells for one of Matt Kemp, Andy LaRoche, or James Loney (preferably Kemp or LaRoche — I’d love to see those guys out of the division).
I get the whole “he plays in a big market on the East Coast so he must be better than anyone you can offer” angle they’re trying to work here, but I still don’t see how one month of a broken-down 43-year-old left-hander with name recognition is worth anyone’s top prospect. Peter doesn’t see it either. That said, if there’s one thing I learned from the Mark Loretta for Doug Mirabelli fiasco it’s that we cannot dismiss seemingly ridiculous rumors.
If the Padres were to make a deal for Wells, wouldn’t it make more sense to offer up one of the spare bats at Triple-A they don’t plan to use but who could come in handy? Jon Knott immediately leaps to mind. Heck, why not Terrmel Sledge or Jack Cust? <sarcasm>Moneyball’s all about walks, right?</sarcasm> Cust has plenty of those (137 in 131 games at last count).
I guess my first choice would be to see the Padres pick up Wells on the cheap. It’s possible the guy has enough left in the tank to be useful down the stretch as a replacement for the Chan Ho Park/Mike Thompson spot in the rotation. My second choice would be to see the Dodgers pay through the nose to get him. Ask me again in five minutes, and those could be reversed. Put it this way, as long as the Padres don’t give up a top prospect (e.g., Kottaras) to get Wells, I’ll be reasonably happy wherever he lands.
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August 31, 2006 at 7:41 am
If Kottaras is traded for Wells, I will turn in my season tickets…I really will.
No, I am not as impressed with Kottaras as the rest of the Padres brass seem to be. After seeing him in Spring training the last 2 years, I just don’t see him being an all star…but, the feelings around baseball is that he is a decent prospect and if KT trades him and all we get is Wells…BaaaHumbug!!!
I made the jump to the fire KT bandwagon last week…I made the jump to the fire Bochy Bandwagon when Mike Cameron bunted in the 8th inning…I may make the jump to the Surf Dogs if they start doing stupid stuff like this…
I expect that the SD front office is not that stupid. I expect that if Kottaras is in the discussions, it is more than for Wells…these are just the names that have leaked out…I hope.
August 31, 2006 at 7:51 am
Guys you have to rember this is Boston, the same place that said Peavy for Lowell, and ESPN which reported that Linebrink for Perez was a done deal. It aint a done deal untill KT comes on 1090 and says it is.
August 31, 2006 at 8:02 am
Kottaras for Wells sounds uneven to me. But who am I to judge?
It’d be nice to get back someone else that’s going to be around for more than a month.
On the other hand, I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to win the West. If DW is anything close to what he has been . . . .
August 31, 2006 at 8:03 am
CM drive the center lanes when you’re on the bridge - stay away from the edges. It’s not worth it.
Last night as I started to write my “Wells to SD?” piece, I was certain we wouldn’t give up Kottaras for Wells. Now I’m uncomfortable about it…
August 31, 2006 at 8:04 am
anyone know who the Padres are moving to clear room for Seanez?
August 31, 2006 at 8:04 am
Just out of curiosity, Mike, what would you say about trading one of the Padres top starters and one of our best set-up guys, plus throwing in a decent catcher for a fly-ball pitcher with one year of experience, a former unproven number-one draft pick who’d already been traded by the lowly Marlins, and a guy who ripped apart his leg playing the outfield last year for the Nationals?
Not all the moves the Pads and their manager make are awful! I mean, although at times it may look as though they are purposely trying to lose games and get fired, there may be a little reasoning behind some of their moves that you don’t agree with.
I’m with you on the not investing in the farm system, but you have to commend Moores for trying to remedy that mess.
I see Kottaras going east — sorry Geoff — and Wells wearing a soft taupe-colored uni by tomorrow evening. I do think the Pads might get a little more than Wells (some money, a player-to-be-named), but not anything to get excited about.
August 31, 2006 at 8:13 am
Peter, The article I read said that that the Pads are waiting untill the rosters expand on Fri before they activate him
August 31, 2006 at 8:23 am
Wait a tick
you guys are forgetting that George Kottaras is on the 40man roster and must therefore clear waivers… does anyone really think he cleared waivers from every team in MLB?!
August 31, 2006 at 8:28 am
From mlbtraderumors.com:
Here’s the tricky part. Based on info from a Steve Phillips article a year ago, I learned that “all 40-man roster players must go through waivers in order to change teams even if they are in the minor leagues.” All four prospects mentioned above are indeed on the 40-man roster. So how does this work? The key, I believe, is slipping the player through as a player to be named later. The rule for waiver trades is that the PTBNL cannot be an active Major League player. So, the Red Sox can acquire a top-notch prospect in exchange for Wells if they are willing to wait until spring to see him in a Sox uniform.
August 31, 2006 at 8:30 am
yea but player to be named later would probably be chosen by the Padres?
August 31, 2006 at 8:32 am
Or this from the UT:
“Several scouts said the Dodgers have the more attractive farm system. They cited three Triple-A players (who would not have to go through waivers, as minor leaguers): outfielder Matt Kemp, first baseman James Loney and third baseman Andy LaRoche (a former Padres draftee who went unsigned by San Diego for financial reasons and concern over a knee injury).”
I’m sure Kemp is on LA’s 40-man, so there’s something fishy here. Geoff will get to the bottom of it , I’m sure.
August 31, 2006 at 8:37 am
We could, in theory, have a player on our active roster listed as a “player to be named later” and complete the trade after the season. It would be interesting… but legal.
Re #6: “…What would you say about trading one of the Padres top starters and one of our best set-up guys, plus throwing in a decent catcher for a fly-ball pitcher with one year of experience, a former unproven number-one draft pick who’d already been traded by the lowly Marlins, and a guy who ripped apart his leg playing the outfield last year for the Nationals?”
I’m not Mike, but:
1. AG raked in the minors…
2. CY put up Eaton-like numbers in a hitter’s park
3. Sledge was a top power guy before getting hurt, no reason why he wouldn’t rebound
LOVED the trade.
I’d HATE the Kottaras-Wells trade.
August 31, 2006 at 8:44 am
I’m going to play devils advocate here: I like this potential trade. Keep in mind that while Kottaras appears to be the key player in the deal, this doesn’t mean it’s a one-for-one player swap. Both Loretta and Lowell have cleared waivers and could be part of a package for Wells. The Padres have Piazza and Bard. True, we don’t know how many more years we can count of Piazza, and a future platoon of Bard/Kottaras sounds pretty dreamy, but the business of baseball dictates that the present is the most crucial timeframe on the minds of fans, which brings us to Wells and his playoff experience.
Ryguy brings up a good point: did Kotteras clear waivers?
What’s the best resource for watching the waiver wire?
August 31, 2006 at 8:45 am
Oops, I meant “Both Loretta and Lowell have cleared waivers and could be part of a package ALONG WITH Wells.”
August 31, 2006 at 8:46 am
I was SHOCKED last night when I turned on ESPN and they were talking about Kottaras for Wells. NO WAY I think that happens!!! That would make the Dodgers Guzman for Lugo deal look like pure gold. Wells is not Maddux or Schilling or Smoltz or any of those guys. Yeah it would be nice to get a lefty starter but not a washed up pitcher who has never been really dominant and certainly isn’t now at 43 and definitely not for the only legitamate top prospect we have. I don’t think Sandy would dare let this deal go through. Even if they are not high on Kottaras and think they have something in Bard or Bowen, Kottaras is the only REAL bargining chip we have. In a year or two Headley, Antonelli, Freese, Hunter, or some others (I hope to f-ing god Matt Bush) will hopefully move up the ranks but right now Kottaras is the only player on the map. It’s not even like this team is a contender! Yeah we’re in the Wild-Card lead but that’s like saying you’re the best smelling pile of ****. Maybe if it was for someone with potential of putting us over the top but we still have a long way to go and Wells isn’t going to help at all! I would honestly rather bring up Stauffer or Brazelton or ANYONE for the stretch run then make this trade.
Something tells me it has got to be Theo and KT trying to help each other out. Theo wants Kemp or LaRoche from the Dodgers and KT doesn’t want to see those guys in the future so they are using each other to drive up the price. That’s the only thing that makes sense to me.
August 31, 2006 at 8:48 am
re: 13, he doesn’t have to, he can be a “P2BNL” and the Padres-Red Sox can complete the deal after the World Series…
Excellent point SS - Alderson talked on XX yesterday about being close to a deal for a 3B… Though if we’re picking up Lowell, I want some serious cash headed our way.
August 31, 2006 at 8:50 am
re 15: KRS1, don’t forget, before last year, a Wild Card winner had won several consecutive (4 I think off the top of my head) WS.
August 31, 2006 at 8:50 am
Re #12:Fair enough, Peter. I’ve never seen Kottaras play, so I can’t comment on whether it’d be a good trade or not.
The last time I saw that human lardball Wells throw —OK, it was a while back — he was AMAZING! The advance scout sitting next to me had to pick his jaw up off the floor a few times because Wells made batters look like little leaguers. And he made it look effortless.
Whether this is the David Wells the Pads get, who knows? I have heard he’s been good lately. Anyway, I’ve always loved the way he pitches, and I can’t imagine too many better in a pennant chase. If the Pads do get to the playoffs, Peavy, Wells and Young could match up with about any team.
August 31, 2006 at 8:51 am
Sam
Loretta came on 1090 like 2 weeks ago and said that he would not come back to the Padres and play 3rd. “I am a second baseman” were his exact words so I don’t see that happening but I am pretty quoting Geoff “UNDERWHELMED” by the the thought of Lowell as well.
August 31, 2006 at 8:58 am
Peter
Let’s not compare this years National League Wild Card winner or this Padres team to the Angels, Giants, Marlins, Red Sox, or Astros teams that have done it in the past. Those teams were pretty stacked! I understand your point but I honestly cannot remember ever seeing a weaker National League and all these teams to put it bluntly… suck!
August 31, 2006 at 8:59 am
BigKT, I see it very differently…As Peter pointed out, we gave up Eaton (injury history and was very inconsistant), an average/below average catcher, and Aki (declining numbers) for a Young pitcher (pun intended) whose numbers were very similar to Eaton’s (in a worse pitcher’s park), a young 1 bagger who had a glove like Joyner and minor league numbers to say he could rake…Oh yea, we also got a guy who has mashed his entire career, as a throw in. Not exactly Apples to Apples.
My understanding of the PTBNL is that the a list of names that are to be considered are turned in with the deal…then at the appointed time, the other team gets one of those names…
So, for example, if we were to trade Kottaras for Wells and a PTBNL (*gulp*), the Pads would have already agreed to a list of 3 players that they would pick from at a pre-appointed time.
Sam, there is no place to follow waivers. It is very secretive and very difficult to get accurate information about. My understanding is that each team gets a list of players that were put on waivers that day. It is not published and is generally kept very secret.
Fire KT before it is too late!!!
August 31, 2006 at 9:00 am
If Seanez can come back to past-SD form, that will be huge down the stretch.
August 31, 2006 at 9:02 am
Kottaras for Wells alone doesn’t make a lot of sense because isn’t Kottaras one of our big bargaining chips for picking up a third baseman in the off season? I’d say third is more of a priority than improving the 5th starter slot. That leads me to think maybe Lowell is coming our way, along with substantial cash.
After all the talk we’ve heard from Sandy and KT about building the organization from within I can’t believe they’d trade on of our best prospects for a guy who may not even pitch next year. They haven’t shown any sense of urgency to sieze the division, why start now?
August 31, 2006 at 9:07 am
BigKT, I’d love to get Wells, but I’m not willing to give up a chip as big Kottaras to get him. As I wrote two nights ago, “I was thinking we might be able to get Wells for something in the range of a Sean Kazmir… Or one of our 24yr old Hi-A pitchers…”
http://padresrundown.blogspot.com
I have seen Kottaras play (not a ton, but a few times) he’s good, real good. In the Future’s Game this year, he raked off two of the minors’ best pitchers (HR & 2B). I’m willing to trade him, but not for Wells. Not for 3-4 starts where Wells is likely to provide less than a 1 game difference…
If Wells isn’t here, someone else will start and would probably go 2-2, with Wells is 3-1 likely? Possilble? Expected? How big of a difference does he provide? One more win for Kottaras?
August 31, 2006 at 9:10 am
Re: 23: Anthony, EXACTLY!
Re: 21: C-Mike, That’s one way to do a P2BNL, another is have an already agreed on player who can’t yet be traded and submit him to the deal after he can be added.
August 31, 2006 at 9:13 am
I heard a rumor that another far superior AL team might be looking to trade some of their superstars to the Pads. Some guys named Kendall, Payton and Kotsay, and possibly a washed up guy named Thomas. Oh, that can’t be right, they start for the A’s, the first place team that just swept the mighty BoSox.
There are plenty of dismal teams in the AL, too. I don’t buy all this AL domination and superiority because of a few interleague games and a 2-out hit in the 9th off Hoffman in the All-Star Game.
August 31, 2006 at 9:16 am
I would not make the Kottaras for Loretta/Wells deal, Loretta to 3rd is like putting walker to third and we know what that transition was like, plus Loretta is in a walk year.
Also I have a feeling that something happened between Lorreta and the front office why trade a fan favorite for a career back up catcher when you know you have a shot at Piazza. Loretta is gone and he’s not coming back get over it.
Since Boston fell apart and is no longer in the running for the playoffs they will go into 2007 mode, I could see a deal that would send Kottaris and maybe P mac or Cust to Boston (they will need a 1B if they move Youkilis to 3B) for Lowell and Wells as a salary dump move for Boston, but the pads would have to take on both of the salaries.
August 31, 2006 at 9:16 am
I don’t mind Wells at all, at the right price.
From what Sandy said, it sounded like there were two separate trades on the table, one for Wells and one for a 3B. So that doesn’t sound like Wells/Lowell for Kottaras/? to me.
I wouldn’t mind having Lowell the rest of the way out though…he’s a solid defender and is a good righty bat, something we don’t have a lot of.
August 31, 2006 at 9:19 am
Kottaras for Wells would make me ill. We were unwilling to pay for bigger improvements a month ago, when we had 60 games left, and now we might pay too much for 7 starts of Wells?
The Red Sox don’t have to trade him and Colletti is willing to move prospects, but that doesn’t mean we should pay more than he’s worth to us.
August 31, 2006 at 9:21 am
I agree KT (#26), keep in mind when look at interleague records the NL Central, which sucks, went 31-62… The NL East went 32-52, The West went 35-40…
The NL has some awful teams that got beat awefully bad in Interleague play, but the good teams held their own (for the most part).
August 31, 2006 at 9:22 am
You know the more I think about it, the less I even like a Kottaras for Wells & Lowell… I’ll be pissed if Kottaras is traded in this deal.
August 31, 2006 at 9:22 am
BigKTFan…
Have you seen the rest of the A’s lineup? They are pretty good and besides the guys you mentioned they are all pretty young.
The A’s washed up guy named Thomas is also having a better year then our washed up guy named Piazza. Oh yeah the A’s washed up guy is only making $800,000 this year!
August 31, 2006 at 9:23 am
So everyone liked the Eaton-Aki trade? Wow! Amazing how when trades work out (not that Aki has been poor for the Rangers) everyone seems to remember that they LOVED the trade when it was announced.
I guess my point would be to trust KT. He’s not going to make a HORRIBLE trade, but if he sees Wells as the piece that can get us to the playoffs, he might pull the trigger and trade a prospect. OK, maybe we got lucky with Mirabelli and how it all worked out, but don’t forget we were trading Loretta to make room for Barfield, we saved some money, and we got a solid (so to speak) back-up catcher. And then we got a whole lot more.
August 31, 2006 at 9:27 am
KRS1, $800k is his base, he has a ton of escalators. He’ll make $3m
August 31, 2006 at 9:31 am
I just looked at the A’s lineup. Weren’t they pretty much last in every offensive category and sputtering at .500 for most of the year until their recent surge? Perhaps D’Angelo Jimenez put them over the top? Or maybe it was Jay Witasick? The A’s have good starting pitching, and they play in a crappy division. Hmmm…. they sound a lot like the Padres (and their records would be more similar if the Pads had gotten a few more 2-out hits after the All-Star break).
August 31, 2006 at 9:32 am
BigKTfan…I did go on record as liking that trade when they made…I had lost faith in Aki, thought that Young was as good as Eaton, loved AGon’s glove/bat, and thought Sledge was a steal.
I trust KT’s handling of the pitching staff. Considering the $$$ he has to work with, I don’t know if there is a better guy in the game at evaluating arms….BUT, his record on bats and the minor leagues is questionable at best. Trust KT…okay, when it comes to pitching, he has my full faith…but when it comes to hitters, I don’t think so.
Fire KT before it is too late.
August 31, 2006 at 9:36 am
For the record…A’s are overrated. They have been since Michael Lewis wrote Moneyball.
August 31, 2006 at 9:37 am
Anyway, guys, thanks for the chats. 1:30 a.m. here in Japan. I don’t get to do talk like this over here a whole lot, so it is enjoyable. I’m signing off for the night. Let’s hope the morn brings good things, and let’s not forget we all have one common goal: To bring the KGB Chicken back to San Diego to stay! And if the Pads can win a title, hey, that’d be OK, too.
August 31, 2006 at 9:40 am
Ugh:
David Wells is scheduled to pitch tonight against the Jays, but chances are pretty good he’ll never get to the ballpark. An industry source with direct knowledge of the Wells trade talks said this afternoon that he would be shocked if Wells isn’t dealt before the game, with all indications pointing to a trade to the Padres for minor-league catcher George Kottaras.
http://snipurl.com/vqi2
Let’s hope there’s more to this one than is being reported.
August 31, 2006 at 9:44 am
oh he’ll definately not pitch tonight. no doubt about it.
August 31, 2006 at 9:46 am
He’s probably on a plane to SD as we speak.
Taking up two seats and having a few drinks.
August 31, 2006 at 9:50 am
I wonder what number he’ll wear.
August 31, 2006 at 9:58 am
42: a BIG uniform
August 31, 2006 at 10:00 am
Peter, why would you be against Lowell and Wells for Kottaras? Wells by himself, that seems like overpaying, but Lowell plays 3b for us next year.
I do find it funny that GK’s defensive reputation has skyrocketed in direction proportion to his offensive struggles at Portland. Which are overblown, he’s going to hit.
August 31, 2006 at 10:09 am
B/C I think Lowell is an underwhelming choice for 3B for us next year. I think Morgan Ensberg is/will be available. In fact, when Alderson was being interviewed yesterday, I couldn’t help but remind myself that Houston is now out of it. Now Ensberg might not be through waivers yet, but if he is, Houston could use someone like Kottaras (that deal could happen in the offseason as well if Ensberg wasn’t put on waivers or didn’t make it to us).
Keep in mind when it comes to run-scoring, we’re an average (at best) team. And the only real opportunities for upgrading are at LF and 3B. Barfield should improve with experience, Greene is what he is, Cameron and Giles are locked into their positions, Gonzales should continue to be above average, catching will likely regress a bit… With that in mind, I don’t want to add a barely-above-average 3B. I want to add an impact guy (like Ensberg).
August 31, 2006 at 10:11 am
Buster Olney is one of those guys who throws a dozen things against the wall and if a single one sticks he gets called a darts champion.
I would enjoy having David back, but not at the reported price…and we all seem to be of similar mind. I wrote a quick post on this after seeing the ESPN piece and then popped over here and to Peter’s blog to find all of us basically saying the same thing…
August 31, 2006 at 10:15 am
Wells has done alright recently but he still isn’t worth Kottaras. I wouldn’t agree with that Rich but I trust Will Carroll a lot mroe because you know he has the sources. Ken Rosenthal gets in the right place sometimes but he’s got the syndrome that he suggests anyone can solve the problem by throwing money at it.
August 31, 2006 at 10:25 am
Rosenthal says the Red Sox would love to “exact a high price” but then suggests that no one will give up a top prospect for a “5-6 game” rental. I don’t think Wells would start more than 4 games…
August 31, 2006 at 10:26 am
today’s baseball anaysts column
“David Wells is rumored to be going to San Diego in a trade that could be imminent (in order to beat the deadline and make him eligible for post-season play). I don’t understand how the Padres could part with Triple-A catcher George Kottaras, but we will just have to sit tight until a deal is announced before analyzing its pros and cons.”
link: http://baseballanalysts.com/ar.....on_the.php
August 31, 2006 at 10:33 am
Peter, I so completely agree with that take about Ensberg. I know that Lowell played better in Florida, but I don’t see him getting back to that form. I would love to see Ensberg though…
Meanwhile, Russell Branyan is very frustrated, reading 3rd base talk and looking at his stats since being acquired…maybe it’ll drive him to continue to succeed…
August 31, 2006 at 10:52 am
whenever people get THAT hot, they regress to their norms… Branyon’s playing very nice for us, but it’s HIGHLY unlikely he’ll continue at this level…
I’m watching the Yankees-Tigers game, they indicated that the Mets have entered the Wells-stakes. He’s either coming here or LA, he doesn’t want to stay on the East coast.
August 31, 2006 at 11:02 am
Ensberg might be available, but the Astros don’t have Huff under control, and Houston keeps trying to compete. Between the possibility, far from a certainty, that Ensberg would be available, and getting a guaranteed better-than-average 3b and a pitcher who could help us make the playoffs this year, I lean to the latter.
Tigers-Yankees: Last night Buck Martinez kept calling Fasano “Posada.” I was looking at the screen wondering when Posada grew a Swedish porn star mustache and developed a thyroid condition. Fasano’s like an elephant that’s been taught to walk on its back legs.
August 31, 2006 at 11:11 am
TW, how much of a difference would Wells make? How many games would he start? And how many of those would we win w/out him, and how many w/ him?
August 31, 2006 at 11:23 am
I am a huge Ensberg fan, but he may not be healthy…he is hitting something like .202 since his return from the DL…
If we hold off, we might be able to get him for a song.
Lowell/Wells would be interesting this year. Should give us the inside for the Wild Card and give us a better shot at the Dodgers for the crown. If/when we get in, we have the potential to match up well, but our offense would have to step it up…something they really have not been able to do all season.
August 31, 2006 at 11:28 am
We’ve got 29 games left. He could either take Thompson’s spot or go tomorrow and push everybody back a day, which wouldn’t be bad. So that’s 6 or 7 seven starts. And we’re to the point where a 1 game swing is huge. We have a 1/2 game lead in the Wild Card. This is eye-gouging, brass-knuckles time.
Nobody knows how many we’d win with him that we wouldn’t win otherwise. Does anybody doubt that he’s a better pitcher than Mike Thompson, though? You do what you can to give your team the best chance to win. Mike Thompson is not the best chance.
I wouldn’t like the trade unless it included Lowell, though. We’d be paying with a high prospect, but at least it addresses 3b for next year.
August 31, 2006 at 12:04 pm
re: players to be named later.
The majority of the time, these players already are agreed to when a trade is made. But the player is either on the disabled list or something. There is some reason they don’t want to move the player that day, like he wouldn’t clear waivers. In other cases, the team trading a player to be named later do put together a short list of players that both teams agree to.
August 31, 2006 at 12:08 pm
I think when there is a player to be named later the deal has to be completed within 60 days.
So perhaps Kottaras could be named later and then included after everything is over, totally eschewing waivers.
August 31, 2006 at 12:11 pm
re: the difference between the leagues
There is a major differences between the two leagues, certainly the largest since I have been following baseball (1981).
Yes, maybe the Athletics are not a great team — they have the record they have because of another incredible August — but there are four other American League teams who would win the National League, five if the Red Sox were healthy.
Cleveland is below .500, but would probably make the playoffs in NL, most likely if they were in the NL Central. The Blue Jays might be better than any NL team except for the Mets, if John Gibbons would stop fighting his players.
August 31, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Save Kottaras and use him in a trade with Tampa Bay to get Joel Guzman for 3rd base next season. I would love a stud prospect come back and bite the Dodgers in the *** in a Padres uniform.
Wells is washed and will not be around next season. This isn’t 98 and Wells isn’t Kevin Brown. This isn’t a World Series team 1 piece away from a championship. This is a team that can probably make the playoffs either way because the national league SUCKS this year and even if we do get in we’ll probably get bounced in the 1st round. I love the Padres and have all my life but Wells is not a player you morgage the brightest player in your farm system for.
August 31, 2006 at 12:50 pm
ESPN Radio just reported that Wells has cleaned out his locker but still no word on a deal.
August 31, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Interesting Aramis Ramirez report just put up.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com
August 31, 2006 at 1:11 pm
We know about the Wells thing. The question that ESPN radio needs to answer for is is: Who else cleaned out their locker?
August 31, 2006 at 1:14 pm
From Nick Cafardo of the Globe, updated at 3:31 PM ET:
David Wells has told the Red Sox that he wants to pitch tonight if a deal hasn’t been struck by game time. The Red Sox are likely to pitch Lenny DiNardo, however.
A “showdown” with Wells, who wants to earn as many bonus incentives as possible, could be avoided if and when Theo Epstein pulls the trigger on a deal in the next couple of hours.
As of a few minutes ago, the Padres and Dodgers were still formulating final offers. The Padres appeared to have the edge considering they are willing to give up Triple-A catcher George Kattoras and San Diego is also Wells’ preference.
August 31, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Rotoworld.com is posting that according to a Boston Globe writer, the Padres ARE willing to give up Kottaras for Wells. But that the deal HAS NOT been finalized…
http://www.rotoworld.com/conte.....amp;spln=1
August 31, 2006 at 1:17 pm
KRS1 Re: #61 I wonder which NY the mean, I guess it would have to be the Yankees because I dont see the mets moving Wright or Delgado.
August 31, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Wow I wonder if KT feels bad about steeling Bard and Meredeth so he’s helping his buddy Theo out.
August 31, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I wonder how all these rumors get started. I think at some point Epstein let it leak that he was asking for Kottaras and every subsequent report has exagerrated on that until now it’s being reported that the Pads are willing to trade Kottaras. No reports that I’ve seen have attributed “Padres insiders” or the like. The Red Sox FO has been very good this year about controlling information which makes me think this and the Dodger rumors were deliberately leaked as a bargaining strategy.
It’s always possible that Towers may be in love with bringing Wells back and would make a stupid move but I have to think Sandy and DePo are going to have some input here and I can’t see them signing off on Kottaras for Wells straight up.
August 31, 2006 at 1:27 pm
1090 just reported that Wells has been scratched and that Julian Tavares will be starting for the Sox today.
August 31, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Anthony Re: #67 I guess the Q is how much freedom does KT have to make trades? does he have to consult with Aldersonon every move? Theo does not have to consult with Liccino on every deal why do wek think KT has to consult with Alderson on every deal.
August 31, 2006 at 1:32 pm
When Alderson was on 1090 a week ago they asked him that same question. He played it both ways and said of course KT has autonomy but he is involved in most decisions. I would think he’s in the loop on something of this magnitude and if he thinks it’s a serious mistake he can veto it.
August 31, 2006 at 1:33 pm
MLB.com echoes the news about Wells getting scratched and clearning out his locker. Here’s the question, I guess. If we make it to the post season and get past the first round, a Wells for Kottaras deal is fine. If we don’t get into the post season, then it’s a bust.
August 31, 2006 at 1:38 pm
OK, they wouldn’t do the Perez & [Mets' reliever] for Linebrink, but Kottaras for Wells is ok?
August 31, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Exactly. Or Betemit for Linebrink.
August 31, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Lowell and Loretta are in tonight’s lineup for the Sox.
August 31, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Anyone monitoring Mighty XX for us? They’re usually one of the first to announce this sort of thing.
August 31, 2006 at 1:48 pm
I’ll check WEEI (Boston) when I get off of work. That’s where all these sites are getting their info from. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get it in.
August 31, 2006 at 1:50 pm
72 & 73: That’s what would burn me the most if it’s a straight-up Wells for Kottaras deal. We’re so timid at the deadline that we don’t even get Maddux, who has been tremendous, but now we’re hyperaggressive?
That’s if the deal goes down and if it’s just Wells. I’ll be more supportive if there’s something in it beyond 2006.
August 31, 2006 at 1:52 pm
WEEI streams, for anyone that’s interested. I can’t listen to it at work.
http://www.weei.com/home.asp
August 31, 2006 at 1:53 pm
It is aggravating. We would have been upset about Kottaras for Maddux, nevermind Wells.
On the plus side, if Wells comes to SD I can see him pitching next year. Hell, he could probably pitch forever if he wanted to be a LOOGY.
August 31, 2006 at 1:55 pm
More from the Boston.com blog:
David Wells returned to his Boston apartment not long ago to await a phone call from Sox general manager Theo Epstein as to where he’ll be playing baseball as of tomorrow.
Wells was told to gather his things, pack up some boxes and go home to await his fate.
Both the Dodgers and Padres were making last-minute offers. There were also other teams interested including St. Louis and Cincinnati and perhaps a mystery team.
Steve Phillips on ESPN was reporting that the Sox and Padres might be working out details of the remainder of Wells’s contract and who pays the incentive bonuses ($200,000 per start from start 11-20), but Wells’ agent, Gregg Clifton, thought which ever team trades for Wells assumes the responsibility of the contract
August 31, 2006 at 2:07 pm
Anthony mystery team = Mets according to the NY-Det announcers…
August 31, 2006 at 2:11 pm
From the SOSH board:
Ch 5 is reporting that Wells has been traded to the San Diego Padres. No word on who or the Sox received.
August 31, 2006 at 2:21 pm
If the deal turns out to be Wells for Kottoras as the primary pieces, that means the explanation they gave for not making the Betemit for Linebrink deal at the deadline is complete BS.
August 31, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Farquaad how so?
I thought they said they didn’t want to do that deal because they didn’t want to take anything away from the big leauge team.
August 31, 2006 at 2:24 pm
#83: Which explanation? I seem to remember 3 or 4 “reasons” why we didn’t do the Betemit for Linebrink deal.
August 31, 2006 at 2:25 pm
It doesn’t contradict the non-trade of Linebrink for Betemit. It does contradict the policy of low-risk deadline moves.
August 31, 2006 at 2:29 pm
Any SD confirmation?
August 31, 2006 at 2:34 pm
The interview I heard with KT on the BP show he said that any trade wouldn’t be just for this year that they are looking to ‘07 as well. Basically he said he wasn’t looking to rent a vet for the latter part of the season.
August 31, 2006 at 2:34 pm
Darren and Billy on XX said that their source (someone close to Wells) told them a 3rd team (either the Reds or the Mets) just got involved and they are not sure he is going to be a Padre.
August 31, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Mighty XX says nothing to report yet.
August 31, 2006 at 2:35 pm
Betimet is 26 and wouldn’t have been a rent a vet.