Post by Jim Hendry on Aug 16, 2004 10:38:15 GMT -5
The Baltimore Sun reported a few weeks ago that Orioles management was taking phone calls about the possibilty of trading, as the anonymous source stated, "reliable veterans" for prospects of playoff candidate teams. Peter Angelos denied that any of his players were available for trade citing the Ainsworth-Payton deal had "filled the last whole" in the line up. However, information on the team website www.birdnest.org/johnsone/ucsl/orioles.htm suggest otherwise, as well as Angelos' memo to league owners that a handful of players wer available. Nomar's name wasn't on that list but inside sources have said his name has gone around the table. This brings up an interesting topic with the trade deadline approaching.
There were a flurry of trades to open the season and then the season began to play itself out. Now, take a team like San Diego or San Francisco. Could they not benefit now by acquiring an established starter for some prospects? When you are in the thick of a playoff run, why save for the future? Teams like Baltimore and Pittsburgh can take advantage and retool for the future by adding prospects. After the AL East has seen the last of retired Gary Sheffield's and Manny Ramirez's, it could be the trades now that add talent to surround the future stars of the AL East, like shortstops Khalil Greene and BJ Upton, that make the future O's and Rays the teams to beat.
-Bo Jackson, UCSL correspondent
There were a flurry of trades to open the season and then the season began to play itself out. Now, take a team like San Diego or San Francisco. Could they not benefit now by acquiring an established starter for some prospects? When you are in the thick of a playoff run, why save for the future? Teams like Baltimore and Pittsburgh can take advantage and retool for the future by adding prospects. After the AL East has seen the last of retired Gary Sheffield's and Manny Ramirez's, it could be the trades now that add talent to surround the future stars of the AL East, like shortstops Khalil Greene and BJ Upton, that make the future O's and Rays the teams to beat.
-Bo Jackson, UCSL correspondent