Well just have to disagree there (re: Hidalgo's value). Even after his rebound season, he was still overpaid. $12 MIL for .300 28 HRS and 90 RBIS is a lil steep.
I look at the deal as Dotel and Buck for Mota +. We lose in that deal. Dotel alone is better than Mota. IMO
Not really, when you consider that Dotel could ONLY be a CLOSER for us... with as fragile that his psyche is, you honestly think he would have succeeded by being demoted to the 8th inning set-up man again?
Maybe... but you have to realize that Dotel couldn't have been an 8th inning guy for US anymore... he's just too fragile to accept that demotion. Thus Mota (who is STILL an 8th inning guy) compared to the Dotel of THIS year, would probably be a more effective pitcher for us THIS year and the years beyond, than Dotel would have been. Its interesting that guys like Dotel, Felix Rodriguez, Kyle Farnsworth, and (maybe) Mota have probably the BEST arms in the whole entire world... but not one has either the mental capacity or the moxie to be THE closer for any team. Sure, they'll get some saves here and there... but they're entirely different pitchers when the pressure is all on them.
That's how everyone should look at that deal. If we deal Beltran to the Dodgers we better be asking for Jackson. If not Edwin, then Mota plus a top notch, MLB ready position prospect (which I'm not sure that L.A. currently has available).
Also, on that note (seriously)... what if Oliver was just a down-payment for somebody like Beltran? Say Gerry told them... "If we're still in this thing by the deadline, you'll get some no-name reliever... but if we're NOT in this thing... we'll work on a deal for Beltran. Give us a down-payment of Oliver, and you can be assured you're in the race..."
I agree with that point. But, I don't think Dotel is too fragile to accept the demotion. It's just how the real world works. Players like Dotel don't really get demoted in this league, they are moved!
A top notch catcher and 3rd sacker is what I would be asking for. Or we keep Beltran and Drayton can say we never gave up on this team and we can get the two 1st rounders. Or ... If they want Beltran, they have to take a bad contract... Ausmus and I can't think of anyone else.. But Mota, a prospect, and take Ausmus... seems fair!
It's time for major decisions. Make Beltran the franchise player to lead the club for the next several years (along with Berkman). Ship Bagwell and Kent out for prospects. Give Lane and Taveras a shot. Move Berkman to 1st base and pick-up Biggio's option and put him back to 2nd base. c Ausmus/Chavez 1b Berkman 2b Biggio 3b Ernsberg of Beltran of Taveras of Lane ss Everett This team's best chance to reach the World series was when they won 102 games. They choked against Kevin Brown. Ever since then, this team was good but not good enough and time eventually caught up with them.
Yeah thats a pretty good plan. I never did like Berkman playing the outfield anyway because his lack of range and average arm. I would still like to upgrade the catcher's position because Aumus is terrible at the plate.
