Yardbarker: Randy Wolf

Why Wait Until the Deadline, Acquire Bedard Now

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:40:09 -0500

Yesterday the biggest news in baseball was CC Sabathia (he's since dropped the ".." in his name), being dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects. Today's big news was Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin being dealt to the Chicago Cubs for Matt Murton and three prospects. With the trading deadline 24 days away, contending teams are already getting a jump start on landing an impact player for the remainder of the season. With other contenders beginning to take shape for a second half run, we turn to the Phillies. A team while in first place, hasn't been exactly playing good baseball (7-13 over their last 20 games). A team that has also been in the thick of trade rumors surrounding Sabathia, and mentioned as a destination for Harden. In typical Phillies fashion we're involved in the rumors, but have fallen short. Or have we? This is the season I truly believed we would make a splash before the trading deadline. Even General Partner David Montgomery came out and told the people of Philadelphia that this was the year he believed the Phillies had the team to go to the World Series, and would make the moves needed to put the Phillies over the top. Yet trades are made and the Phillies are not involved. While the Cubs and the Brewers get ace pitchers to fit behind their number #1's in the rotation we get Pat Gillick telling us the Phillies will make a deal but it'll probably be on their "B List". Who is on their "B List" is unknown, and it's going to stay that way. Gillick has a track record of not showing the press his hand. If one had to guess, pitcher on the top of this list are AJ Burnett, Randy Wolf, & Greg Maddux. While all these pitchers could give the Phillies a lift, the only one who could truly make an impact is Maddux and odds are he's not going to approve a trade to the East Coast (unless of course the destination is Atlanta). There's one more pitcher who's probably on that list. A pitcher who has the ability to make an immediate impact on this club. That pitcher is Erik Bedard. Rumors of the Phillies and Bedard have swirled for a few weeks now. Gillick's special assistant, Charlie Kerfeld, has been scouting Bedard, and Seattle scouts have been seen in Reading taking a look at prospects (they were there for Carlos Carrasco, who missed his start with a sore shoulder), and spent last weekend in Philadelphia. All isn't perfect with Bedard. He has turned an entire city against him in his short stay in Seattle. Reports have circulated that because of his lack of heart, distaste for the media, and his inablity to get along with teammates, are reason. This has also caused other teams to shy away from him. That is more reason for the Phillies to acquire him. Let's look at this a little deeper. - Bedard's perception that he has lack of heart stems from his inablity to go deep into games. Part of the reason Bedard hasn't gone deep into games is the amount of pitches he's thrown. While that's also a sign of getting into early trouble, the Mariners are also Top 5 in the American League in errors. Bedard also has said his shoulder has bothered him which is a concern, but at least he recognizes this and knows an injury will hurt him and his team in the long run. - His inability to get along with the media stems from the fact he's not a fan of the media. Bedard's made it clear he doesn't like to talk to them because they print whatever they want. We all know if you don't talk to the media, they'll paint you in a negative light. The theory that Bedard won't be able to handle the media here is Phila is silly as well. Steve Carlton refused to talk to the media. I'd say Lefty had a pretty good career here in Philadelphia. - Being a clubhouse cancer is a broad label. It's normally slapped on any player who demands a trade and appears disgruntled. It's no secret Bedard has been disgruntled. When he was in Baltimore he was on a rebuilding team. He wanted to win before he was to old to be a key piece. Seattle was supposed to be that destination. Unfortunately the Mariners are worse then the Orioles this season. Any player with a competitive bone in his obdy wants to win. Maybe he doesn't go about venting the best way, but it doesn't mean he has an issue with his teammates, and suddenly is a "cancer". Given the fact other teams have soured on him because of his perceived actions, the Phils need to get aggressive and make a move. Lets not forget, this past off-season, some analysts were saying teams would be better off acquiring Bedard over Johan Santana. The talent is there (some say if he didn't miss September with injury he would have been a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award). With Sabathia and Harden off the table, teams will overlook Bedard's negatives, and he'll begin to look like an attractive option. The Phillies need to act now and do what is needed to bring Bedard to Philly.

Quick Hits

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:44:40 -0500

-The Braves will recall Jeff Francoeur tonight after he went 7-13 in Double-A.

-The Cubs will step up their efforts to acquire a starting pitcher after the Brewers recent deal, including targets Rich Harden and Randy Wolf.

-Curt Schilling is still undecided on whether he will play baseball again.

Expect Padres to be Sellers at Trade Deadline

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:46:07 -0500

Padres CEO Sandy Alderson: "If we were to be buyers, it would be hard to choose among catcher, shortstop, outfield, starting pitcher, half the bullpen. There's not a shopping cart big enough." Summing up where they stand as the trade deadline, must be good news for teams looking for help. Expect pitchers Randy Wolf and Greg Maddux to go, among others.

CC Sabathia is a Milwaukee Brewer

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:57:57 -0500

Yes, Brewers fans, celebrate the night away! CC Sabathia is now a Milwaukee Brewer pending paperwork and an exchange of medical records. Sabathia is expected to start his first game for the Brewers on Tuesday night versus the Rockies.

Heyman: 19 Players To Be Traded?

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:57:09 -0500

Jon Heyman of SI.com has 19 players that will likely be traded:

1. CC Sabathia, Indians

2. Rich Harden, Athletics

3. Erik Bedard, Mariners

4. A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays

5. Randy Wolf, Padres

6. Livan Hernandez, Twins

7. Greg Maddux, Padres

8. Kevin Millwood, Rangers

9. Joe Blanton, A's

10. Jarrod Washburn, Mariners

11. Bronson Arroyo, Reds

12. Huston Street, A's

13. Kevin Gregg, Marlins

14. George Sherill, Orioles

15. Damasco Marte, Pirates

16. Brian Fuentes, Rockies

17. Joe Borowski, Indians

18. Chad Bradford, Orioles

19. Jamie Walker, Orioles

MLB Trade 'Em - Week 13

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:24:55 -0500

Screaming Sports' Drew Thibodeau breaks out another edition of MLB Trade 'Em and suggests some very surprising moves. Trade Jose Guillen? Roy Halladay? You betcha. And while it may sounds crazy, he follows it up with some very sound reasoning.

Top 11 MLB players that should be traded

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:23:44 -0500

by DMtShooter, Five Tool Tool

11. Rich Harden, SP, Oakland A's. He's dominant when healthy, and not nearly healthy enough for the small market A's to make a commitment to. Even though the team is 7 games above .500 and has an outside chance at the post-season this year, the plan is for 2009, and considering that they've got Chad Gaudin in the bullpen, Harden will go to a rich contender that's willing to overpay for a guy whose shoulder gives off a ticking sound. There's also this: his home park makes him look better than he is, not that he's not filthy.

10. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle Mariners. He's better than you think -- it's no fun to be a right handed power hitter on a Mariner team that seems to be allergic to getting on base, and he's been battling nagging injuries to boot. Despite that, he's got 14 homers, plays very good defense, and even runs a little. If Ortiz and Youkilis are both out in Boston, he'd be a fine stopgap solution, and the Mariners are more than happy to move assets right now.

9. Ken Griffey Jr, OF, Cincinatti Reds. It's Fire Sale Time in Cincy, with everything but the youngest SPs wearing a red tag. Griff has hit his 600th, so there's no more attendance boost to get from him being around. With the team 13.5 games back, he's a prime target to go to any team that thinks he'll be rejuvenated by a pennant race. The only problem is that his .760 OPS might convince many that he's already done.

8. Randy Wolf, SP, San Diego Padres. Another historic injury risk, but a heck of a lot cheaper on the wallet and prospect list. Wolf could be especially effective in the AL, where they haven't seen him much before, and a once around the league novelty burst might give his new team a lot. The Padres being in last in the crowded NL West also might loosen their hold.

7. Erik Bedard, SP, Seattle Mariners. This spring's shiny new penny -- albeit one that took an ungodly amount of time to acquire -- is now the most attractive albatross on a team that loses two out of every three games and has just lost its general manager and coach. Moving Bedard now is sending him out at low value, but he's a proven AL East talent with a lot of upside. Besides, no one wants Carlos Silva.

6. Matt Holliday, OF, Colorado Rockies. The biggest hitter on the list is kind of like this year's Mark Teixeria -- a plus hitter from a hitter haven who's actually still really good. The only thing keeping him in Colorado is the plummeting Diamnondbacks, who have kept every team in the division in the hunt; the Rockies might just hang on to everyone and see if the return of Troy Tulowitzki can get them back in the race. In another week or so, we'll know if Holliday walks before his contract expires.

5. AJ Burnett, SP, Toronto Rockies. The Jays are a hard team to figure. On the one hand, you've got to think that general manager JP Riccardi is on thin enough ice that he's not interested in going out with kids and prospects. On the other, Burnett is clearly not getting better here, and the Jays are 10.5 back in what might be the toughest division in baseball. Burnett has always been a poor man's Josh Beckett, so maybe another team makes Riccardi an offer he can't refuse.

4. Adam Dunn, OF, Cincinnati Reds. Everything you can say about Griff goes double for the Three True Outcome hero, whose .219 batting average masks his reasonably useful .876 OPS. Even Dusty Baker has to be getting tired of playing veterans and ready to give the team entirely over to Jay Bruce and Joey Votto by now, right? Dunn seems to me to be the kind of guy that can help a team provided he's hitting 6th or 7th, and you just aren't counting on him carrying your team. (I realize Dunn is a sabermetric hero, but doesn't it matter that his teams never, ever win?)

3. Dmitri Young, 1B, Washington Nationals. A nice guy and a reasonable stick, but he makes no sense here, especially with Aaron Boone giving them good at-bats and Ryan Zimmerman eventually coming back from injury. By the time the Nats are in a playoff race, Da Meat Hook could be pushing 350 pounds, and probably still putting up above average numbers. The potentially season-ending injury to Nick Johnson (gosh, who saw that coming?) could keep him here, though.

2. Huston Street, RP, Oakland Athletics. Billy Beane loves to move closers for more then they are worth, and that really describes the ex-phenom, whose 4.32 ERA, good defesne and pitcher's park seems to say overrated... but his K/BB numbers, pure stuff and low HR allowed numbers could easily convince a team in need that he's just been pitching in bad luck. The A's have never bought into the ideat that pitching in the ninth is all that different from any other inning, and they'd happily go with Keith Foulke and Alan Embree if someone wants to put prospects in front of them.

1. C.C. Sabathia, SP, Cleveland Indians. Don't let the slow start fool you; he's been very solid recently, and he's an unrestricted free agent next year. With the Tribe 6.5 out and in fourth place in the Central, they are 1-2 weeks away from pulling the chutes on this deal and moving the big lefty for maximum benefit. Ceec is a horse, but he also eats like one, and that next contract is going to be costly.

Game 75: Tigers at Padres

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:52:05 -0500

PREGAME: The Tigers rap up their road portion of interleague today in San Diego. The pitching match-up will be Justin Verlander and Randy Wolf. Miguel Cabrera is Hungry Like A Wolf (I know, it's awful) with 22 career plate appearances, 10 hits, 2 homers, and 3 walks against Randy. Lefties have been hitting [...]

Quick Hits

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:38:28 -0500

Mark Ellis to Reds to shore up second base or possibly shortstop, where Alex Gonzalez is just average.

Are the Devil Rays interested in Randy Wolf for some pitching help?

Quick Hits

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:18:22 -0500

Quick Hits:

The Cubs are worried that Zambrano could be out for the season and will look for improvements. Word is they are looking at Livan Hernandez or Randy Wolf, but don't be surprised if they make a move on Erik Bedard.
The Rockies are not happy with Yorvit Torrealba's performance at the plate and are looking to trade him. He is good at calling games, but Ianetta is decent and is hitting much better than him.
A's assistant GM Dave Forst might finally get his chance to be a GM. The Mariners job is open, but it is in the same division as the A's. He would be smart to wait for a better job to open up, maybe in the NL East.

Wang Out Until September

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:22:40 -0500

The Yankees have announced the MRI results on ace pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and they ain't pretty. Wang has been diagnosed with a mid-foot sprain of the Lisfranc ligament and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon and will be laid up for at least six weeks. Remember, Wang won't be doing any throwing during this span, so you can tack another 4 weeks onto that time table. I wouldn't expect the Wanginator back on the mound before September, which means the Bombers need an arm badly. Or do they? With the offense suddenly clicking, can the Yanks survive with a rotation of Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Joba Chamberlain, Darrell Rasner and, say, Dan Giese? Remember, Ian Kennedy, recovering from a strained lat, has begun throwing off the mound and could be back with the team after a rehab start or two. Phil Hughes is still probably six weeks away from returning. Meanwhile the injury to Wang raises two questions: A) Does interleague play put American League pitchers at a disproportionate risk of injury? And B) Will the Yankees remain patient with their young rotation or will they be forced to deal a young asset in exchange for a starting pitcher? On his LoHud blog yesterday, Journal News' beat reporter Pete Abraham mentioned C.C. Sabathia, Freddy Garcia, Rich Harden and Randy Wolf as potential "long-term solutions" in the rotation. Of that foursome, I'd be most surprised if the Yanks went after Garcia, a veteran free agent rehabbing from a serious shoulder injury. Wolf would cost the least, but his numbers in San Diego won't translate well to the AL East. Sabathia and Harden, meanwhile, would each cost Cashman a king's ransom. One thing is certain: The Yanks can't count on getting anything out of their ace for the rest of the regular season, if not beyond.

MLB Weekly Sleepers - Week 12

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:01:07 -0500

Screaming Sports' Andrew Thibodeau breaks out his fourth edition of MLB Sleepers and runs down a quick list of potential needles (in a haystack - get it?) for the upcoming week. So, who could surprise some unsuspecting opponents this week? Only one way to find out ... click it.

Who's Your Daddy?

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:43:53 -0500

The San Diego Friars roll into Philly for a 3 game set starting tonight at the friendly confines of The Brick Cit House. These Padres aren't your ordinary run-of-the-mill fatherly types either; they've got a pitching staff that may leave the Phils wondering if they just got spanked by their daddies. Of course, they also have an abysmal offense (2nd fewest runs scored in MLB) that offsets any good done by the pitchers. Here's to hoping their pitching staff falters and their bats stay silent. Pitching Matchups: Tonight our left-handed ace Cole Hamels (2-3, 2.75 era, 1.08 whip) toes the rubber against a man with 323 more career victories than him. Yep, Mr. Six-Inches-Off-the-Plate Greg Maddux is still pitching, and pitching well with a 2-1 record on the season and a 3.66 era and 1.06 whip. The man truly is one of the best pitchers of all-time regardless of broadened strikezone. Wednesday the Major's oldest player Grand Pappy Moyer (1-1, 4.05, 1.73) at 45 years of age opposes his complete opposite in Chris Young (1-2, 3.77, 1.40)...I know weak joke. To wrap the series up Adam Eaton tries to actually factor in a decision (0-0, 5.08, 1.41), while the return of Wolf Pack Randy (2-1, 3.68, 1.06) takes the park by storm. The Padres always seem to play the Phils tough, so I expect hard fought low scoring battles over the next few days, with the Phils hopefully coming out on top.

Phormer Phillies Pitching

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:43:02 -0500

*Vicente Padilla- 4 gs, 2 w, 26 ip, 15 k, 3.12 era, 1.54 whip. *Randy Wolf- 3 gs, 1 w, 19 ip, 18 k, 1.42 era, 0.89 whip. *Gavin Floyd- 3 gs, 2 w, 19.1 ip, 10 k, 1.40 era, 0.88 whip. *Kyle Lohse- 4 gs, 2 w, 24.1 ip, 10 k, 1.48 era, 1.03 whip. *Todd Jones- 7 g, 7 ip, 3 sv, 4 k, 1.29 era, 1.29 whip. *Aquilino Lopez- 8 g, 1 w, 13 ip, 9 k, 0.69 era, 0.92 whip. *Kevin Millwood- 4 gs, 1 w, 26 ip, 12 k, 2.42 era, 1.46 whip. *Nelson Figueroa- 4 g, 2 gs, 1 w, 15 ip, 14 k, 3.60 era, 0.80 whip. *Jon Lieber- 5 g, 2 w, 11 ip, 5 k, 1.64 era, 1.27 whip. *Trever Miller- 8 g, 5.1 ip, 4 k, 3.38 era, 1.50 whip. *Justin Miller- 8 g, 1 w, 11 ip, 10 k, 3.27 era, 1.18 whip. *Gas Can Geary- 8 g, 8.1 ip, 8 k, 2.16 era, 1.08 whip. *Billy Wagner- 7 g, 7 ip, 4 sv, 6 k, 0.00 era, 0.14 whip. *Justin Germano- 3 gs, 20 ip, 6 k, 1.35 era, 1.00 whip. *Carlos Silva- 4 gs, 3 w, 29 ip, 11 k, 2.79 era, 1.14 whip. *Ryan Franklin- 10 g, 8.1 ip, 3 k, 2.16 era, 0.96 whip.

AccuScore: MLB Waiver Wire Wonders

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:58:33 -0500

Are you tired of streamers ruining the integrity of the game in your league? Well you will find no sympathy here. AccuScore fantasy expert Tim Williams explains why streaming is perfectly acceptable, and gives you this week's Waiver Wire Wonders, which includes spot starters like Dana Eveland on Sunday against the Royals.