Deadline Rumors

Livan is 0-0 in two starts with a 3.55 ERA in his career against LAA
He is 3-0 with a 6.86 ERA vs. Texas and 2-2 with a 4.86 ERA vs. Oakland.  These numbers are not blinding..but lets compare them with other "available" pitchers.

I like the idea of Jose Contreras.  However, Contreras will require a larger return and is four years older than Livan.  Livan is only 32.

In his career, Contreras is 3-3 with a 3.63 ERA vs. LAA in 7 starts.  1-1 with a 6.89 ERA
in four starts vs. Texas and 3-3 with a 6.00 ERA vs. Oakland in 7 starts.

I really liked hearing the Mariners going after Matt Morris in free agency last year.

Morris is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA vs. LAA, 1-0 with 0.00 ERA in one start vs. Texas in 2006, and 2-0 with a 2.81 in 2 starts vs. Oakland.

Looking at those numbers, Morris is the obvious choice since he has never lost to any of our AL West opponents.  However, Morris, like Contreras would probably require a large return.

I look at this season as I did with 95.  What moves did we make in 95?
May 15 we traded Roger Salkeld to the Reds for Tim Belcher
May 21 we traded Wilson Delgado and Shawn Estes for Salomon Torres
July 18 we traded a PTBNL (Jeff Darwin) to the White Sox for Warren Newsome
July 31 we traded Ron Villone version 1.0 and Marc Newfield to SD for Andy Benes and Greg Keagle
August 15 we traded a PTBNL (Jim Converse) to KC for Vince Coleman.

Looking through that list, we traded Roger Salkeld (1st round, 3rd pick) for a piece of our playoff rotation.  Salkeld went 8-5 in 29 games with Cincinnatti in '96 and never made it back.
We traded Shawn Estes (1st round, 11th pick) for Salomon Torres who went 3-8 in 13 starts and was sent to Montreal in 1997.

Marc Newfield (1st round #6 overall pick) who was supposed to be a mainstay here in Seattle (see: Adam Jones) was sent to San Diego for Benes.  Benes was a great pickup as he provided depth and a legitimate second solid starter behind Johnson, but he left the very next season as a free agent. At the time he was 4-7 with a 4.17 ERA.  He arrived in Seattle and went 7-2 in 12 starts.  He had an ERA over 5, but again it doesn't matter if you win the game 12-11, you still WIN the game.

Newfield was supposed to solve all the problems in LF and create an outfield of 40 home run hitters. He hit 12 homeruns between Seattle and San Diego in 95 which was his career high.  He was out of the majors by the end of 1997 when he finished his career in Milwaukee.

What I am getting at, is we sacrificed THREE number one picks in 1995 to put together a team that went to the ALDS.  I am not advocating that this would work again, but if Wlad or Jones ends up leaving for a pitcher that completes our puzzle...stranger things CAN happen.

I also don't like the idea of Bavasi dealing with Byrnes, who is a pretty smart guy.

That's Livan Hernandez.

No thanks.

Would the M's be interested in a guy like Gaudin?  What would you give up for him? Jones? Balentien? Clement? Some combination?

Same question for all the other A's starters.  We've got almost every variety imaginable:

• young with lots of promise, great start but fallen off a bit lately
• not flashy, but solid and reliable; better than anyone else being offered this summer
• very good in April and May, now absolutely dreadful (clearance item, 50% off!)
• converted reliever, mixed results but pretty good lately
• electric stuff, could be superstar except that he's perpetually injured
• veteran due off the DL soon, hasn't pitched all year, but hey, at least you recognize his name
• one of the best in the league; probably unavailable, but with Billy Beane, anyone is available for the right offer.
  

Jon Garland blows.

Stand pat, Bill.

(Iguchi)

...

Offer everything but including kitchen sink....NOW!!!

If it's true that's great news.

Damn.  I would've taken Davies...