I really hope the Yankees don't trade Philip Hughes. However, if for some bizarre reason someone wants Eric Duncan, I'm all for it.

I'm pretty sure Jim Bowden's never met a 6'5" unathletic 3B with an incredibly long swing who hits .220 but has 'projection' that he didn't like . . . so gross.

It's kind of like Drew Henson, but without the talent in another sport...unless he plays Bocce or something.

I just don't want the "Hughes and every A-ball prospect for Reggie Sanders" deal that would be made in past seasons.

ha - truth, the Duncan/Henson connection is so key. Although I think even Henson walked every once in a while (although he still hit .200 in C-bus).

I'm pretty sure, now that Cashman is actually in charge and not the Tampa Cabal, the Hughes/Sanders rumors are just that - he turned down that trade right after Matsui got hurt, and I'd guess the new guy in KC is much better than Baird so he might have reasonable demands . . . that would still be a shitty trade, since Sanders is signed for next season too . . .

I'd bet it's something more along the lines of Hughes and a package of last year's high draft picks (excepting, of course, the point guard . . . er shortstop . . . er whatever) for Soriano, though. Hughes's numbers have bottomed out since he moved up, but God his projections were amazing coming into this season.

True - it seemed that Cashman demanded close to total control over these matters to stay in NY. Hughes could end up not being all that great, but it would be more important, in a symbolic way, that they weren't going to start auctioning off prospects for half-baked solutions.

I don't think anyone is knocking down the Yankees door for C.J. Henry, but hey, if they get an intramural basketball league going for minor leaguers, watch out.

Double posting, but it's been almost a month...

Anyone see the All Star game last night? It was a pretty good game, with a predictable finish (the AL winning). Besides the glaring ommission of Travis Hafner, and the inexplicable starting of Paul LoDuca, the rosters weren't all that out of place. Of course, if Liriano didn't get voted on...

KSigRC, here's a question for you: Is it worth it for the Yankees to take a flyer on Luis Matos if he's placed on waivers? He was designated for assignment last week by Baltimore. I figure that they can't do worse, and he would be an improvement over the Crosby/Kevin Thompson crowd if he can stay healthy (which is a big if).

Also, apparently Aubrey Huff has finally been dealt: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2517046

i need someone to whack David Wright because my girlfriend loves him more than me.

Uh, right now he's .208/.278/.331 in 120ish ABs this season - career he's .256/.313/.375 but that includes some bad years playing about 30 games while shuffling back and forth.

He's a positive-value expectation player, though (about 12 career WARP), which is probably more than you can say about Thompson (who nearly defines 'replacement level') and probably about Crosby if he has to play any reasonable amount of time in a corner.

The problem, obviously, is that Matos has never really been healthy - he's probably worth throwing at the wall and seeing what sticks, though. I'd guess you see a AA lefty reliever going to Bal'more during the DFA period to pick up Matos, and he's immediately plugged into left field - Matos has always had superb range, so he might take a little added pressure off Damon as well, which would be a good thing.

He's really not a great solution in a corner with his "only slugged over .410 once" bat, though, especially opposite the decaying corpse of Bernie and/or Melky's noodle bat . . . then again, you get away with a lot when you start 4 above-average infielders, a good-OBP 1B w/ great defensive skills, and are solid up the middle. Overall, I'd do it, since there's zero risk and if he gets hot and doesn't die, there's potential for reward - this might tell you whether Cashman's really in charge, since it's a very Epstein/Beane/Ricciardi/Cashman "young blood"-type risk/reward scenario (as opposed to a Steinbrenner "GET ME DANNY TARTABULL" big splash)

Yeah, that's what I figured. He'd be worth a non-prospect from low A-ball, and he wouldn't be much worse than what they have. It's better than watching Bernie try to play the outfield, hoping it was 1993 again.

There's always the chance Matos breaks his leg watching TV...

Or, maybe I just am hoping beyond hope that they're past the Terrence Long experiment, and dreading the day when I see Philip Hughes in the transaction column.

I was hoping for a Kenny Rogers freakout on live tv last night but didn't get my wish:(

Hopefully the tigers cool off a bit (and I think they will) so the white sox can get the AL West team in the first round. I don't want the wild card spot and have to face the sawx.

Who did you hope would start at catcher? You better say McCann.

Aubrey, are you following me?

http://tampabay.devilrays.mlb.com/ml...ents/tb/04.jpg

YAY! I was afraid he was going to go out to Cali, although that would have made Bobby pretty happy. Sorry Bobby!

hahah I can't believe you remember me talking shit to you about us stealing your best player. Anyways, yeah...Huff would have been nice in a Dodger uni, but the Angels really needed him more. Oh well. Atleast he is in Houston, where you can drool all over him again.

I think it's pretty clear that McCann would be a very fine choice (and much better than Lo Duca) - probably the first choice, if you don't feel like doing the Mike Piazza Victory Lap appearance.

I would have said McCann; granted, it's a rather weak crop of catchers in the NL, but he would have been a FAR better choice than LoDuca.