All signs point to major improvements

[mikezpen]

Schmidt gets more than 10 million, although he won't have the length of contract Zito does because of his age.

I bet he gets $11-$11.5 million for 3 yrs.

[SilentJames]

Schmidt gets more than 10 million, although he won't have the length of contract Zito does because of his age.

I bet he gets $11-$11.5 million for 3 yrs.

I think that if it came down to a million to get a Schmidt, we would do it. But I have no problems with the plan as it appears to be shaping up.

[helloharv]

Schmidt gets more than 10 million, although he won't have the length of contract Zito does because of his age.

I bet he gets $11-$11.5 million for 3 yrs.

I think he goes for more than that. I would like to see us offer something like 4/40.If a few extra million gets it done,go for it. But if he starts getting offers anywhere close to Oswalt, stay clear.

[clapdiddy]

Schmidt gets more than 10 million, although he won't have the length of contract Zito does because of his age.

I bet he gets $11-$11.5 million for 3 yrs.

I'd get Schmidt for 3 years/35 million. I wouldn't commit more years than that for him, but I'd go more on the money. I'd love to put a #1 at the top of the rotation.

Somehow, I still see someone coming in and giving him more than this, though. I could definitely see someone offering a 4/55 deal for him.

[TonySoprano]

He said he would wager there could be 7-8 new players acquired this off season.

Let's open up the floor for nominations. Who are the 7-8 guys that will be gone in order to make room?

[SilentJames]

Let's open up the floor for nominations. Who are the 7-8 guys that will be gone in order to make room?

Most likely - Definately gone:

Penn

Ortiz

Lopez

Newhan

Chavez

edit:::

Hawkins

Williams

Could go but might stay:

Gibbons

Fiorentino

Britton

Benson

Millar

Some combination of those guys.

[Sports Guy]

Most likely - Definately gone:

PennOrtiz

Lopez

Newhan

Chavez

Could go but might stay:

Gibbons

Fiorentino

Britton

Benson

Millar

Some combination of those guys.

What????????????

[clapdiddy]

Let's open up the floor for nominations. Who are the 7-8 guys that will be gone in order to make room?

Todd Williams

Backup catcher (whoever the heck that is now!)

Russ Ortiz

Bruce Chen

LaTroy Hawkins

David Newhan

Chris Gomez

Possibly Jay Gibbons...but I'm not sure we'll have any takers for him.

[Why Not?]

Let's open up the floor for nominations. Who are the 7-8 guys that will be gone in order to make room?

Chen

Ortiz

Williams

Gomez

Newhan

Millar

Jettison or send down one or more of the bullpen guys: Britton/Birkins/Rleal

[SilentJames]

What????????????

He is the only real trade bait we have. The team is already looking at Olson to be in the starting rotation next year, and Loewen has effectively moved past him.

If there is going to be any trading Penn will be a central focus of the package. in fact the FO has said this somewhere before. It may have even been in one of Bigbird's posts earlier, when the Tex talk broke.

Penn is simply the only trading chip the team has right now. At least it appears that it is the only one they are willing to deal with.

[Sports Guy]

He is the only real trade bait we have. The team is already looking at Olson to be in the starting rotation next year, and Loewen has effectively moved past him.

If there is going to be any trading Penn will be a central focus of the package. in fact the FO has said this somewhere before. It may have even been in one of Bigbird's posts earlier, when the Tex talk broke.

Penn is simply the only trading chip the team has right now. At least it appears that it is the only one they are willing to deal with.

He is far from most likely to definitely gone.

[SilentJames]

Todd Williams

Backup catcher (whoever the heck that is now!)

Russ Ortiz

Bruce Chen

LaTroy Hawkins

David Newhan

Chris Gomez

Possibly Jay Gibbons...but I'm not sure we'll have any takers for him.

ah, I forgot! Go ahead and add Williams and Hawkins to the Most Likely gone list.

[Why Not?]

He is the only real trade bait we have. The team is already looking at Olson to be in the starting rotation next year, and Loewen has effectively moved past him.

If there is going to be any trading Penn will be a central focus of the package. in fact the FO has said this somewhere before. It may have even been in one of Bigbird's posts earlier, when the Tex talk broke.

Penn is simply the only trading chip the team has right now. At least it appears that it is the only one they are willing to deal with.

It's probably best to have at least six rotation candidates, as someone will get hurt or flame out. Best practice is to have seven or eight legit guys with one or two more who could be ready at mid-season. Adding Olson to that mix doesn't mean we have to take someone else out.

[SilentJames]

He is far from most likely to definitely gone.

Like strokes, different opinions move throughout the world.

If you are not going to trade Tejada. And you are reluctant to trade out of the rotation. Penn is the next logical step, the way I see it, that gets you anything decent in return.

IF the team does try to get anything significant on the trade market, Penn will be a central focus of the deal.

[Sports Guy]

Like strokes, different opinions move throughout the world.

If you are not going to trade Tejada. And you are reluctant to trade out of the rotation. Penn is the next logical step, the way I see it, that gets you anything decent in return.

IF the team does try to get anything significant on the trade market, Penn will be a central focus of the deal.

He may be the first guy they attempt to trade but to lump him with guys like Ortiz, Chavez, Hawkins, Fio, Chen, RLo and some of the others as guys most likely to definitely gone is a bit much.