Mystery team?

[Jose Cruz III]

MLB Trade rumors is reporting an NL Central team has become mystery bidders for Brandon Webb.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Brandon Webb is drawing serious interest from the Rangers and Nationals and the Cubs are in the mix, too. Best of all, there's a mystery team involved. Either the Cardinals, Reds, Brewers, Pirates or Astros also entered the bidding for Webb, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

Sorry if this is a Cabrera.

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

How much does Webb command at this point?  After seeing what happened w Ben Sheets in Oakland last year, I can't imagine him getting more than $8 MM a season, if that.

[astrosfan76]

I'd be surprised if the Astros were the mystery team.  I just don't see them shelling out the money it would take to sign him this offseason. 

[pots]

I could see it being the Astros IF they have a deal to trade Wandy someplace. 

[Jose Cruz III]

I could see it being the Astros IF they have a deal to trade Wandy someplace.  

Which was a rumor a couple of days ago. Let me see if I can find it.

Nevermind. Found the story and it was McTaggart opining.

[pots]

Basically bring him in on a Brett Myer plan.  5 mil this year with a 3 million buyout on a mutual option 10 mil second year or something like that.  

Trade Wandy for a couple of prospects.  

You improve the farm.  And bring in "potentially" a pitcher that could replace Wandy.  And save a couple of million in the process.  

Yankees would probably have more interest in Wandy than Webb given the left-handed heavy Sox lineup.



MLBTR; Brewers and Reds are not the mystery team.

Leaving the Astros, Pirates and the more likely Cardinals

[astrosfan76]

I could see it being the Astros IF they have a deal to trade Wandy someplace. 

Unless we get a really good return, this would be a bad move.  Webb was a great pitcher, but Wandy's a much safer, and probably better, option at this point.  Wandy is also much more likely to stick around after next season.  If Webb has even a decent season, he'll be gone.

[Jacksonian]

Isn't Wandy due to be a FA after 2011?

[jaklewein]

Basically bring him in on a Brett Myer plan.  5 mil this year with a 3 million buyout on a mutual option 10 mil second year or something like that.  

Trade Wandy for a couple of prospects.  

I don't how much he'd clear in payroll, but how about trading Keppinger and keeping both Wandy and Webb.  Wandy can always be flipped at the deadline.  Myers, Wandy, Happ, Webb and Figueroa/Rowland-Smith isn't a bad rotation. 

[Bench]

I don't how much he'd clear in payroll, but how about trading Keppinger and keeping both Wandy and Webb.  Wandy can always be flipped at the deadline.  Myers, Wandy, Happ, Webb and Figueroa/Rowland-Smith isn't a bad rotation. 

Whatever happened to that Bud Norris fellow? 

[GreatBagwellsBeard]

Bench beat me to it.  I guess the answer(s) would be: package him with Kepp, let him shoot for the 5 spot, or send him to the bullpen.

[jbm]

I thought Wandy is due to be a free agent after this year.  I also thought there was talks to sign him long-term, but I never heard that it was actually done.  If he didn't get extended and Wade then expects him to bolt after this year, I understand the trade talk.  Otherwise, I don't get it.  

Assuming he is traded, I'd expect much more than some middling prospects for him.  IMO, Wandy has consistently been an above average starter the last three years or so.  That is valuable.  The thing I read somewhere speculated the going price would be a below-average big leaguer, a lower level pitching prospect, and a reliever prospect.  Fuck that, that's a bunch of nothing for a hard to replace commodity.

[pots]

I don't how much he'd clear in payroll, but how about trading Keppinger and keeping both Wandy and Webb.  Wandy can always be flipped at the deadline.  Myers, Wandy, Happ, Webb and Figueroa/Rowland-Smith isn't a bad rotation.  

Wandy is probably due about 6-7 million.  Kepp probably about 2 million.  Supposedly, the Astros are at or slightly over their wanted 2011 payroll.  One might assume taking on Webb would require more than just trading Kepp (unless it was just for cash).

[astrosfan76]

I thought Wandy is due to be a free agent after this year.  I also thought there was talks to sign him long-term, but I never heard that it was actually done.  If he didn't get extended and Wade then expects him to bolt after this year, I understand the trade talk.  Otherwise, I don't get it.  

He is scheduled to be a FA after '11.  But, there were discussions at one point of an extension.  The way it reads is that they had some discussion, but once the ownership situation became less stable, they decided to wait.  Payroll has been lowered significantly and they don't want to lock anyone else up to a long-term deal.  I get the impression that he would like to stick around and hopefully the ownership situation is resolved in 10 months.  

[jaklewein]

Wandy is probably due about 6-7 million.  Kepp probably about 2 million.  Supposedly, the Astros are at or slightly over their wanted 2011 payroll.  One might assume taking on Webb would require more than just trading Kepp (unless it was just for cash).

Makes sense.  About the only other guy I could see Astros trading to cut salary would be Lindstrom, but I'm assuming he wouldn't be due to make much more than Kepp.  I'm also not sure he'd attract a ton of attention given his performance/injury problems he faced towards the end of last year.  Maybe Norris does fit into the bullpen under this scenario however. 

[Tralfaz]

I don't how much he'd clear in payroll, but how about trading Keppinger and keeping both Wandy and Webb.  Wandy can always be flipped at the deadline.  Myers, Wandy, Happ, Webb and Figueroa/Rowland-Smith isn't a bad rotation. 

As far as the current state of rotation goes and with the fact they open on the road in Philly, I'd wouldn't mind seeing Happ and Meyers open against their former club, then Wandy v Roy in game three of the series.  Then Bud throws the Home Opener. 

[Limey]

Whatever happened to that Bud Norris fellow? 

He, es no lef-ghanded.