Fangraphs: Hardy's 2011 season was worth $21.3 mm...

[CA-ORIOLE]

This team is so awful and so shallow in talent, that everyone in the organization should be available for the right price.

I would trade Machado in a heartbeat but the return would have to be special.

Hardy, WHEN HEALTHY, is an elite level SS. But the when healthy is the key issue.

Its great that we have a nice bridge to Machado but I would rather have a lot more than that.

BTW Hooisers, Escobar is the best SS in the division, not Hardy..although its close.

Andino can certainly handle ss if Hardy goes down, so I think we're fine there bridging to Machado. Most of the other positions..... not so much. Not to mention the pitching etc.

[Sports Guy]

Andino can certainly handle ss if Hardy goes down, so I think we're fine there bridging to Machado. Most of the other positions..... not so much. Not to mention the pitching etc.

I wouldn't want Andino as an everyday player but sure, he is someone you could give an oppurtunity to over signing an Orlando Cabrera like FA SS.

[El Gordo]

I don't think it's so much a problem of depth as it is a problem with starters. Our depth at SP was why we were able to stay in games with contending teams, in Sept.. Guys like Andino, Simon, Hunter, Strop, Davis and Reimold aren't regulars.. as least not yet. We are missing a starting LF, 2B, 3B, DH, and at least two SP's. We have decent back ups for these positions, IMO.

[mweb]

BTW Hooisers, Escobar is the best SS in the division, not Hardy..although its close.

If you average out their r and f WAR's, Hardy slightly wins out 4.45 to 4.35.

[DrungoHazewood]

This team is so awful and so shallow in talent, that everyone in the organization should be available for the right price.

I would trade Machado in a heartbeat but the return would have to be special.

But to what end? And how could you have a more special return than an 18-year-old shortstop who's already played well in high A?

At some point you have to end the carousel, you have to fix the problems with acquisition and development, and build around something. Or you're just rebuilding forever.

[Sports Guy]

But to what end? And how could you have a more special return than an 18-year-old shortstop who's already played well in high A?

At some point you have to end the carousel, you have to fix the problems with acquisition and development, and build around something. Or you're just rebuilding forever.

If you get a top young ML player that has 3 or less years of service time.

You wouldn't trade Machado for a guy like Jason Heyward or Justin Upton or someone like that?

[JTrea81]

If you get a top young ML player that has 3 or less years of service time.

You wouldn't trade Machado for a guy like Jason Heyward or Justin Upton or someone like that?

Machado should definitely be available for the right player...

[RavNMadMan]

True or false - Hardy's trade value is greater today than it was before he signed his extention? In my mind, it is undoubtedly true. A player who is signed for three years at a cheap price is more valuable than a player whose contract expires at the end of the year.

Now, will we trade him this offseason? I seriously doubt it. But he's worth more right now than he was in July.

True IMO. If he stays healthy he could bring even more value after the 2012 season or could stay and transition to 2B IF and WHEN Machado is MLB ready.

[Can_of_corn]

Machado should definitely be available for the right player...

Yea cause cost controled 20 year old shortstops are no where near as useful as lets say a first baseman with a bloated contract.

[Hallas]

If you get a top young ML player that has 3 or less years of service time.

You wouldn't trade Machado for a guy like Jason Heyward or Justin Upton or someone like that?

I think that's kind of obvious and not limited to the Orioles.

Jacoby Ellsbury is probably available too, if you pay the Sox enough.

If you limit your potential returns to players that might actually be available, the likelihood that you get a return that is suitable for a player like Machado is somewhere between 0 and a very small number.

[Sports Guy]

I think that's kind of obvious and not limited to the Orioles.

Jacoby Ellsbury is probably available too, if you pay the Sox enough.

If you limit your potential returns to players that might actually be available, the likelihood that you get a return that is suitable for a player like Machado is somewhere between 0 and a very small number.

But so what? That has very little to do with the original point that was being made.

[jgjbanker]

I hate to bring it up again, but I advocated then and still now that we should have traded Hardy at the deadline with a deal to resign him this offseason, ala Bordick a few years ago. We could have gotten at least two quality prospects back in return, and JJ would have gotten his long term deal that he wanted.

Our system is so lacking in prospects, our new leadership has GOT to find a way to infuse more talent in the system, and then to develop it better.

[Hallas]

But so what? That has very little to do with the original point that was being made.

I'm under the assumption that your original "point" was that anyone should be available for the right price.

That statement says nothing if the right price consists of players that other teams wouldn't dream of trading in a million years. Jason Heyward isn't going anywhere. Justin Upton isn't going anywhere. So what's the point of saying that you'd trade Machado for one of them? It's essentially a meaningless statement that is true for any team, regardless of the situation.

[Sports Guy]

I'm under the assumption that your original "point" was that anyone should be available for the right price.

That statement says nothing if the right price consists of players that other teams wouldn't dream of trading in a million years. Jason Heyward isn't going anywhere. Justin Upton isn't going anywhere. So what's the point of saying that you'd trade Machado for one of them? It's essentially a meaningless statement that is true for any team, regardless of the situation.

Ask Drungo why he asked me. I responded to his question.

No one is untouchable.

He said at some point you have to end the carousel. That's not really true. The carousel never ends if the right deals are there.

[LookitsPuck]

Yunel Escobar - 4.3 WAR

JJ Hardy - 4.8 WAR

Yunel may be a slightly better hitter, but JJ is a better fielder and close enough hitting wise.

I'd take either to tell you the truth.