Writings on baseball by Matt Barnard and Dan Stein.

 
It's been awhile. We're back. The reasons for this lengthy absence are of no interest to you all I am quite sure, but we will try to cover a bunch of the stuff we've missed (though luckily it's been kind of a light news time) and finally, get back to the daily updates. We thank those of you who are still checking the site and look forward to your continued readership as we bring you a steady and improving stream of content.

Colon to the Marlins?
It's being reported by various outlets in the last 48 hours that there's a deal in the works that would send Bartolo Colon to Florida in a three way deal that would also involve the Reds. At this point, given what we know about the Marlins and how they do business, it's legitimate to be pretty skeptical about any moves they make. The deal, as has been reported, breaks down like this:

Florida Marlins get: Bartolo Colon (from Expos), Ty Howington (from Reds)
Cincinnati Reds get: Brad Penny (from Marlins),
Montreal Expos get: Luke Hudson (from Reds), Blaine Neal, Adrian Gonzalez, Don Levinski (from Marlins)

I'm far from convinced this is going to happen, as there appear to be very real health issues involving Penny in particular. Regardless, the fact that its even being discussed is pretty unbelievable. Putting aside everyone else they’d be giving up, Adrian Gonzalez was a #1 overall pick. He’s viewed a legitimate, all-star caliber, starting first baseman in the major leagues who may well be ready as soon as 2004. With a team that needs offense and is awash in young pitching, you’d think the objective of the Marlins’ front office would be to continue to trade expendable veterans for young offense…not give up one of the better offensive prospects in baseball for veteran (albeit excellent) pitching. Is there anyone who honestly believes that Bartolo Colon would stay in Florida if he ever got there? The Marlins have no interest in paying for a player who makes as much as Colon does, and on top of that, they’ve got viable alternatives for their rotation. I’d fully expect that if this ever went through you’d then see Colon shipped off to Boston, which as a Yankee fan I’d rather not see.Seeing more trades involving the Expos and Marlins just screams something that’s not exactly above board, though I’m really basing that statement on nothing factual. The fact that Jeff Loria (the Marlins owner) is permitted to continue to operate that franchise is a travesty.

This must be a strange time for pitching prospect Don Levinski, who was involved in the first Cliff Floyd trade, where he was sent from Montreal to Florida. And now he may be going back. This isn’t unprecedented by any means, but you’d think that if a guy is able to establish himself as a formidable prospect (as Levinski has), organizations wouldn’t be willing to repeatedly let him slip through their hands. In terms of the near future, Levinski’s probably better off in the Montreal system with less young pitching around him than he has in Florida.


posted by VZW Watcher at 5:03 PM -