Trade Rumors

Carrol

says the Boston and Tampa have a deal in place for Lugo, the only hold up is will Lugo move to 2B or not. If he will, the deal will get done. No players involved reported. I can't even guess.

by Tyler on Jul 30, 2006 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Looks like the Phillies and Yanks have finished their deal and are just waiting for Abreu to approve it. WHat a joke: CJ Henry, Matt Smith, and another minor leaguer (not a top prospect)for Abreu/Lidle. How can Bud allow this blatant salary dump to go through?

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

The weird thing...

I heard that the original deal involved Duncan and Clippard (per Will Carrol), with the idea that the price may RISE. Instead, the Phils are getting Henry and White? I don't think Henry's even as good a prospect as Clippard, and White's just a dude... Weird. Are the Phillies' owners total tightwads? Honest question, I don't know.

by delomir on Jul 30, 2006 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Update

Deal appears done. Abreu has to waive his no-trade clause, but if he does the Yankees will take the whole salary, and the Phillies get CJ Henry, Matt White, and someone from an agreed-upon list.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2534459

My reaction is unless the "list" the Phillies can pick from reads Hughes, Tabata, Duncan, this is a huge win for the Yankees.

by delomir on Jul 30, 2006 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

this deal is bad for baseball

This trade, if being reported accurately, is a joke and bad for baseball. How can Bud allow the Yanks to basically buy players without giving up that is anything close to value?

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

re

Question:

Has a Commisioner ever stepped in and stopped a trade before?

by ScottAZ on Jul 30, 2006 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes

Yes, it has happened in the past. Can't remember the last time it happened but I think it was with Oakland and the Red Sox with Vida Blue and Rollie Fingers.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Not bad for baseball

It's not bad at all. This kind of thing is nothing new. You can't expect someone to take over $30 million off your hands AND give you top of the line prospects. That is completely unrealistic. If the Phils were willing to pick up some salary, you might have seen Hughes or Tabata in the deal. As it stands, it appears the Yanks will pick up most, if not all of the salary. As long as the Phils use the freed up money to make their team better, which I think they will unlike a KC or TB, it's a fair deal.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

What?

How is a team basically selling off one of it's best players to the league's most wealthy team not bad for baseball? This is a terribly lopsided trade that only one or two teams in baseball could have made.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Hellooooo...

Where have been, under a rock? Like I said, this is nothing new. Sure, only a few teams have the financial ability to pull that deal off in that fashion. So what. Other teams could have gone in with better prospects while picking up less of the salary. Apparently, this isn't what the Phils were looking for.

It comes down to doing one of 3 things if you're the Phils.

A.) Keep him and spend over $15 mil over the next 2 years. He is obviously in decline - the Phils don't feel he's worth the money.

B.) Dump him for some good prospects and pick up some salary. They would spend millions to get those prospects and there is no such thing as a can't miss prospect.

C.) Take some mid-level prospects and lose all of the salary. The $30 mil or so you save will allow you to go out and buy proven talent. The money saved from Abreu will allow the signing/acquisition of 2-3 impact players that will outproduce Abreu dollar for dollar.

This is real baseball, not fantasy. Financial relief can help a team in many case WAY more than good or even great prospects. If Abreu's contract was only in the 10-12 mil range, I think you would have seen Hughes/Tabata/Duncan.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

I understand that this is real baseball; but thanks for the explaination. Can you give me an example of a recent deal that is similar to the one the Yanks/Phillies just made? Probably not. Take the Schilling deal. At the time the package the Sox gave the D'Backs was much better and it allowed Arizona to deal for Sexson. Also take the Mulder and Huson deals. At the time the A's were able to get good prospects for both guys. This deal does nothing for the Phillies except open up some money so they can overpay for another free agent to be this winter that they will need to trade off in a few years.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

OK, have it your way.

The Cubs dumped Scott Williamson and his $2 mil salary for a couple of A-Ball janitors that will never smell AA, let alone the bigs. At least the Phils got a young SS that was 1st round pick last year.

The Cubs dumped Sosa last year. They had to pick up a bunch of his salary and got Hairston and a AAAA 2b.

Staying with the Cubs - Aramis Ramirez was a dump by Pitt. They got Jose Hernandez and handshake. The biggest part for Pitt was not having to pay Aramis.

Sure this deal is on a bigger scale, but so what? The Phils got over 30 million dollars of salary relief. That is absolutely HUGE for them. They could have remained strapped with a declining Abreu and not been able to make moves they wanted to for 2 years, or they could start upgrading sooner. NO ONE was going to pick up all of that salary AND give up top prospects. I'll put the shoe on the other foot and challenge you find a single deal where a large salary has been picked up by the new team AND they gave up top prospects to boot. You simply won't find it. Sure the Schilling and Sexson deals garnered some good prospects, but the new teams didn't pick up $30 mil over the next 2 years either. This isn't that hard of a concept.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Lee for Podsednik

When the White Sox traded Lee for Pods everyone was all "you have to include the freeing up of the salary when talking about the trade." Now that the Yankees are doing a deal that frees up a teams' salary those same people are running around like Chicken Little, ranting and raving about how it's bad for baseball. Give it up people. If it was a team other than the Yankees, most of you wouldn't be complaining.

by sabernar on Jul 30, 2006 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm confussed

Pods didn't help the White Sox win a World Series and Lee didn't help the Brewers become a better team?

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

no

No, Pods didn't. Look at his numbers - they really weren't good at all. If I remember right, he was either average (i.e. replacement level) or below.

by sabernar on Jul 30, 2006 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

come on...

he made the all-star team and took Brad Lidge deep in the World Series. He wasn't chopped liver. He had value even if it was less than Lee.

"I may not be a class act, but I'm an American." Ron Artest on wanting to play for the Olympic team

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Podsednick

was chopped liver last year. He was a 5.8 VORP which ranked 264. Some pretty poor players above him on that list. He made the All-Star game? Are you serious?

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Pods

"Value Over Replacement Player. The number of runs contributed beyond what a replacement-level player at the same position would contribute if given the same percentage of team plate appearances. VORP scores do not consider the quality of a player's defense."

Chicago was 2nd in the majors last year in Team Defense Efficiency and Pods was a big part of that. He had a Rate2 of 110 and a +21 RAR.

Am I saying that if you make the all-star game you are a great player? NO. Far from it. But I won't accept that a guy who made the all-star team is a worthless player.

P.S.: GFYGAH

"I may not be a class act, but I'm an American." Ron Artest on wanting to play for the Olympic team

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

C'mon!!!

Pods defense is horrible! No one including Pods and the Sox deny that. He can cover some ground, but he mis-reads balls and his arm is crap. I'm not saying Pods is was worthless last year, but most certainly was over-rated. The only reason he made the all-star team was because of evceryones infatuation with his steals and all the Sox-mania here in Chicago getting him tons of votes.

P.S. - WTF does GFYGAH mean

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Re:

So the VORP metric from BP has merit but the defensive metrics I pulled from their site have none?

You're a friggin idiot who is a ChiSox hater. I'm glad your team traded Nolasco, Pinto, and Mitre for Pierre. Suck on Podsednik-lite for awhile.

"I may not be a class act, but I'm an American." Ron Artest on wanting to play for the Olympic team

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I usually

don't do this, but FUCK YOU very much. You don't like what I have to say, fine. Getting personal and calling someone an idiot is out out line.

And no, I don't give defensive metrics very much credit. There is no such thing as an air-tight defensive metric and the guys at BP will be the 1st ones to tell you that. Offense, on the other hand is WAY easier to quantify and can be proven. Defense? Not so much.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Whoa, cool down

This is a good thread, let's not get it deleted.

BP's stats are good but aren't necessarily accurate, they'll be the first to tell you that. Baseball defensive stats are still in their infancy, as I'm sure you're aware. Podsednik might be a poor defensive player (I don't know or care either way), despite favorable stats.

by delomir on Jul 30, 2006 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry

I'm just sick of people turning into 'lil bitches and lashing out like that when someone doesn't agree with them. I disagree with people strongly at times, but it takes a lot for me jump to name calling/personal attacks - especially that quick.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Screw you

He made the All-Star game? Are you serious?

You took my comment out of context and mocked me all in one swoop. Mocking someone is the same as calling them an idiot. I address your comments with statistics and I get b.s. nonsense that 'even xyz would tell you'. Whatever man. You mess with the bull you get the horns. I don't apologize. ESAD.

"I may not be a class act, but I'm an American." Ron Artest on wanting to play for the Olympic team

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Tell me

How did I take your comment out of context? Players making the all-star team is highly flawed to use as support. Robert Fick says hi. If they make it because they deserve it, it's one thing. Making it because every team has to send someone or because your teammates/PR staff makes buttons and tee-shirts is about as hollow as it comes. I don't apoligise to you either - just the others here.

Here's my fancy 'lil acronym for you: GSAD.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Pods

Pods wasn't one of those every team needs an all-star rep like a Fick or Redman. He legimately beat out some strong players in the 31st man voting.

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." - Henny Youngman

by TINSTAAPP on Jul 30, 2006 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I know that

he made it because his PR staff organized a voting drive for him - tee-shirts, buttons and a media campaign. I put this on the same level as making it because everyone has to send a player.

Getting back to "He made the all-star team? Are you serious?" It was a legitimate question. I half thought natsfan was saying something toungue-in-cheek. I got called an idiot for that. I've been called worse by lesser, but that needed to be put in check.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

walk away

The fact that you can never walk away from any of shit storms says alot about you. Here you are still posting and picking nits.

In Billy We Trust

by I Love Oakland As on Jul 30, 2006 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry,

you weren't the one being called an idiot. I stand up for I believe, if that's a flaw of mine, so be it.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

well

If the other guy believed you are what he said you are should he keep posting garbage too because he "believes" it? Get over yourself.

"I may not be a class act, but I'm an American." Ron Artest on wanting to play for the Olympic team

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Kind of

They were good before he got hurt. He had an OBP around .380 at the leadoff spot, which is pretty dang valuable. People just fixated on his base-stealing instead of his true value, getting on base lots.

by delomir on Jul 30, 2006 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

However

Podsednik was no different then getting mid level prospects - he had a surprise rookie season and a crappy 2nd year. He went from .314 to .244 with an OBP lower than his rookie year average and then got dealt away for a career .285 hitter with 2 consecutive 30+ hr seasons, double digit stolen bases and overall a much better player than Podsednik. The only thing Podsednik could do was steal bases and even that he did poorly at the end of the 2004 season. Most of his sb's were done in April-June.

Philly can sign 3 Podsednik like players at $4 million each for 2 years and still spend less than $30 million. If someone (yankees) think that declining skills of a 32 year old is what they need - let them waste the money.

This is still a wait and see - but if the Phillies truly re-invest this money to address 3B and OF and possibly add a pitcher - then this will be a great trade for the organization. I think there does need to be some type of stipulation in baseball about what teams must do after they salary dump to make sure they are improving their team but I see no problem with this deal.

by slickwdb on Jul 30, 2006 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm in the middle

Getting out of $15-$30 million completely is a huge value. However I must say, although salary dumps have been a part of baseball forever, I can't think of one this lopsided offhand. Then again, I can't think of another time $15+ million in salary went one way with NONE coming back. It's an unusual trade.

However, the system strikes me as broken when the value of having a very good player NOT play for you is greater than anything you could get in return.

I like the NBA's new deal where a team can waive one player and not have him count against the cap (even though the guy is still paid in full). Would a modified version of this work in baseball? Would it change anything? I'm not sure on both counts.

by delomir on Jul 30, 2006 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

would never happen

The Players Union would strike if something like that ever came up. It'll never happen.

by sabernar on Jul 30, 2006 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I disagree

The player gets paid in full AND gets to be bid on in the open market. They'd probably have to work something in about 10-and-5 guys being exempt or something, but I don't think the players would find the framework unpaletteable. Getting paid twice for the same job is pretty cool.

by delomir on Jul 30, 2006 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

There's no cap in baseball

So I'm not sure how that would help a team. They can always DFA someone if they're desperate. See Russ Ortiz.

by OneHitWonder @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed

"I may not be a class act, but I'm an American." Ron Artest on wanting to play for the Olympic team

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Luxury Tax

The way I see it working would be like this:

During the arbitration offers period, teams can designate one player to be placed on waivers under this clause. Unlike regular waivers, the player cannot be traded or sent to the minors. Said player joins the Free Agent pool and is free to negotiate a contract with any other team.

If the player signs with another team, the player's old team agrees to pay the guaranteed portion of the player's old contract in full. In return, the team gets the standard Type A/B/C free agent compensation (if applicable), and the player's salary no longer counts toward the luxury tax threshold.

If the player does not sign with another team, he remains with the team that waived him as such unless traded or DFAed.

This is an advantage over regular waivers because it allows the old team to avoid paying 150% or whatever on this player's contract (plus any others) and get some compensation (the draft picks), while making the player more attractive to other teams because he can be signed at a lower price. This could amount to a savings of several million dollars, which isn't negligible. The player wins because he still gets the compensation from the old contract AND gets a raise going to another team of (more or less) his choosing.

I see this applying to situations like Manny Ramirez with the Red Sox a few years ago, where he was waived and no one claimed him because no one wanted to pay the whole $20 million. Still having to pay the salary would restrict player movement by this program, but it would still amount to a fairly sizeable savings for some teams.

by delomir on Jul 30, 2006 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

"other" minor leaguers

Word on the street is that the "other" minor leaguers in the trade are catcher Jesus Sanchez, 18, and right-hander Carlos Monasterios, 20.

Anyone know anything about these guys? Obviously, the Yankees don't need a minor league catcher since the signed....ummm...I can't think of the guy's name.

by sabernar on Jul 30, 2006 3:15 PM EDT reply actions

Abreu deal

Doesn't look like Yanks will be forced to pick up his option, but we shall see when it all gets finalized.

by OneHitWonder @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

Belliard

Foxsports.com is reporting that Belliard and possibly Mota are leaving Cleveland this evening for StL. It doesn't say who the Cards will give up, but the rumor has been Hector Luna.

Seems a bit fishy since this was posted on their site prior to Belliard batting in the 9th. Wouldn't he be taken out?

by lofton09 on Jul 30, 2006 3:54 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Belliard

He's coming back from a pulled hamstring and they might have wanted to see him in the field to make sure he's fully recovered

by APV @ Minor League Ball on Jul 30, 2006 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Belliard for Luna

The deal went down. Ok, so the Cardinals got Belliard to fix their 2nd base issue for the strech. And the Indians got a decent middle infielder with a solid bat in Luna. Sounds like a decent trade. Luna is a solid hitter and Belliard has exceeded all expectations in his three years with the tribe. Any thoughts?

by baseball006 on Jul 30, 2006 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Would think we'd get back more than Luna if both..

are involved.

Hello everyone,

I've heard the same reports.

Luna is not bad for a backup, but Belliard is one of the better 2nd basemen offensively and has his moments defensively. If you add Mota's electric arm (granted, he hasn't done well enough with his command this year,) you'd think that that would be worth a minor prospect in addition to Luna.

Only problem is - St. Louis' farm system, outside of some notable prospects, is still relatively poor, so maybe the Indians feel that Luna is more of a sure thing than any prospects that were offered by the Cardinals.

Just my 2 cents. :-)

Take care and have a great day!

The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.

by indiansfan on Jul 30, 2006 5:13 PM EDT reply actions

Far as I've seen

At least on ESPN's ticker, Mota wasn't in the Belliard/Luna trade. So it wasn't too lopsided.

by drjayphd on Jul 30, 2006 7:41 PM EDT up reply actions

The Phillies got played

The Yanks/ Phillies trade is even worse after reading the following: A source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN Insider Jerry Crasnick that the Phillies will pay Abreu $1.5 million in exchange for waiving the no-trade clause and accepting the condition that the Yankees will not pick up his option for 2008.

Gillick should be ashamed of himself.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

Addition by Subtraction still applies

Abreu is set to make (all these are rough because I forget exact amouts) - about $5 million for the rest of this year, $16 million for 2007 and had an option for 2008 in the same ballpark amount.

The Phillies have $1.5 million in responsibility instead of $21+ an option year. That puts them almost $20 million ahead at the least. That does not even take into account the money they saved by dumping Lidle.

The pitching staff could be better by the end of the year then what it started the year out with. Myers, Hamels, Wolf, Madsen and Mathieson would be a pretty nice staff to start 2007 with so I don't think they will have to get another arm if Wolf has a steady finish this year.

1B, 2B, SS and CF are solid, Burrell is OK in left so that leaves 2 OF spots, 3B and C. Victorino is an excellent 4th OF and Burrell can do the job especially with Victorino around so now we are left with finding a catcher, 3B and OF. Are you telling me they can't fill those needs with the money saved from lidle and Abreu and put a pretty darn good product on the field?

Maybe Colorado wants to trade Garrett Atkins in the off-season to make room for Stewart, Morgan Ensberg seems to be an every other season guy so next year might be a good year to try and get him or whatever. The point is that Abreu wasn't taking them any where and neither was Lidle. This frees them up to try to improve the team and given the problems they are having and the nice core they have in Utley, Howard, Rowand and Rollins, I think this was the best thing to do for them.

by slickwdb on Jul 30, 2006 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Exactly

The option for 2008 has a 2 mil buy-out.

~5 mil 2006 (Abreu)
16 mil 2007 (Abreu)
~1 mil 2006 (Lidle)
2 mil 2008 buyout (Abreu)

That's a 24 million dollar savings over 2 years. When you compare that to what KC or TB spends on a complete roster... You can get a lot of young talent to shore up your team for that much. That and they got a semi-servicable pitcher, and a very young athletic SS that was a 1st round pick in 2005. Looks like a win-win to me.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 30, 2006 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Here is the bottom line

This trade has nothing to do with what happens between July 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006. If Abreu hits 15 bombs, swipes 20 bases and wins the World Series MVP, it still doesn't matter because he was disinterested and not performing in Philly and there was no indication that would change.

20,000 people in the stands this year ain't going to cover Abreu's salary so the only way to fix that is to unload the salary and start over.

Gillick cannot be judged by what has happened today but rather by what happens prior to opening day next year. If the only thing this trade does is cut salary, then Gillick and the Philly ownership should be ashamed. However, if this money is properly re-invested to help improve this team and fill the stadium, then this will end up being a great trade for Philly. Only time will tell.

by slickwdb on Jul 30, 2006 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Again I agree

Completely. I think the Phils will be one of the busiest, if not the THE busiest team this off-season - but we'll just have to wait and see.

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 31, 2006 7:11 AM EDT up reply actions

You're scaring me

You have agreed with my posts for almost a week now - either something is wrong with my thought process or something is wrong with yours - either way - the apocolypse may be upon us!

by slickwdb on Jul 31, 2006 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Be Afraid.

Thinking like me or vise-versa may lead to someone snapping on you and calling you a straw man or an idiot. To those people, I must quote Carlos Mencia: "Der-der-der!"

"Second guessers are guys that could have never gotten it right the first time." - Tommy Lasorda (for guys that have no other defense for their actions.)

by slurve on Jul 31, 2006 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions

That's my point

I think we have called each other that and worse and now were seeing things similar (different angles) but at least similar. Thanks for taking some beatings because I probably would have gotten some if not for you!

by slickwdb on Aug 1, 2006 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

re:

Get a room fun boys.

In Billy We Trust

by I Love Oakland As on Aug 1, 2006 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Hammerin Hank?

Dont be shocked to see Blalock a Philly....Texas has made him available - possibly for Lidge - and has asked about Lieber and Gordon would seem to be a fit as well....

by ScottsLobs on Jul 30, 2006 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Red Sox & Rangers make minor deal

Rangers send RHP Bryan Corey traded for Portland RHP Luis Mendoza. Small sample size, but Corey been death on lefties this year so it looks like he will be the new specialist out of the pen.

Vs. LHB: 10 IP, 5 hits, 1 BB, 10 Ks, 0.60 WHIP, .147 BAA.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

Philly should have waited

Trot just left the Sox game with a hand injury. I'm sure the Phillies would have done much better if the Sox were seriously involved to get Abreu to replace Trot.

by RandyKutcherHair on Jul 30, 2006 9:26 PM EDT reply actions

Not really

Red Sox spend money but are much tighter with it than are the Yankees. The only team who I think was going to truly permit Philly to break of all monies owed Abreu was the Yankees. Willy Mo is back into the line-up and the Red Sox have spent a lot of time surviving without Trot in the past. I don't think it would have changed much.

by slickwdb on Jul 30, 2006 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions