Trade talk likely on GM's agenda

Subject: Re: Trade talk likely on GM's agenda Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:00 am

Trade talk likely on GM's agenda

Nick Piecoro
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 6, 2007 12:00 AM

To call the general managers' meetings the beginning of the off-season isn't quite accurate. For baseball's GMs, there is no off-season.

But it is, traditionally, a place where trade seeds are sown, so although Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes doesn't anticipate any moves coming from his camp this week in Orlando, that doesn't mean his time won't be fruitful.

At the least, he will get a better read on the plans of baseball's seven new general managers - or, more specifically, whether those teams might match up in a trade with the Diamondbacks in their annual pursuit of starting pitching.

"The new GMs and how they like to operate, we'll see how that factors in," Byrnes said. "It's a common refrain in recent years, and we'll see if it's actually true - that a lot of teams view trades as a preferable avenue over free agency in order to improve. So we'll see if that's the case."

It certainly has been the case for the Diamondbacks since Byrnes took over baseball operations a little more than two years ago. This year figures to be no different. There are fewer proven starting pitchers on the market than in recent winters, and even the unproven or recovering arms wouldn't seem to make sense for the Diamondbacks, who don't hand out incentive-laden contracts.

That leaves Byrnes to his creativity, to trying to fill a need by dealing from one of his club's strengths.

It would seem the ideal trade would be made around an outfielder or a corner infielder. Their biggest chip would appear to be minor-league outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who would seemingly have enough value to be a main piece in a trade for a pitcher.

Last season, spent mostly at Double-A Mobile, Gonzalez hit a combined .288 with 38 doubles and 17 home runs in 500 at-bats. Though his plate discipline has been slow to develop and some scouts have questioned his makeup, his ceiling has been compared to Carlos Beltran and Bobby Abreu.

With the club committed to youngsters Justin Upton and Chris Young, and with Eric Byrnes going into the first year of a new three-year deal, Gonzalez figures to have no place to play. Neither does Carlos Quentin, but his value took a hit after a rough 2007 season that ended with shoulder surgery.

Another possibility would be to move Conor Jackson, whose offensive output, after a slow April, was good last season, even for a first baseman.

Trading Jackson would seem to be tied somewhat to the ongoing contract negotiations with free-agent first baseman Tony Clark.

The sides have been in regular contact, but a deal doesn't appear likely to happen before Clark is able to gauge the market and talk dollars with clubs, which can't happen for another week.

"At this point," Josh Byrnes said, "we've had a lot of discussion, and it appears that there's a chance Tony will go on the market and at least see what's out there."

There are indications that the sides are discussing a deal in the range of the two-year, $3.25 million contract the Blue Jays just gave reserve outfielder Matt Stairs. But that could change if Clark finds a team wanting him for a larger role.

Clark's agent, John Boggs, said he has heard from teams that view Clark as more than just a pinch-hitting role, envisioning him getting 400-plus at-bats.

If a position player can't net Arizona a starter, Byrnes could deal from another of his team's strengths - the bullpen. Reliever Juan Cruz seemingly could be traded, and though not the preferred route, dealing closer Jose Valverde also might be an option.

Valverde is coming off his best season and, going into his second arbitration-eligible year, is in line for a huge raise. The club has right-hander Tony Peña as a possible successor, and prospect Max Scherzer has been dominant as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League and could be a back-of-the-bullpen option.

A couple of starters the club is believed to have targeted: the Angels' Ervin Santana and Detroit's Jeremy Bonderman. How open those clubs would be to a trade remains to be seen. Perhaps it is something Byrnes will find out this week.
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bow

Subject: Re: Trade talk likely on GM's agenda Wed Nov 07, 2007 6:10 am

Yes, give them Bonderman!!!

We will take Eric Byrnes