Rays lay groundwork for trade talk

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer

Published November 28, 2005

 

The Devil Rays executive vice president of baseball operations said he believes the foundation was laid for more talks during the winter meetings Dec.5-8 in Dallas.

 

"We'll be working the phones going into Dallas to lay that foundation further," Friedman said Sunday. "Some of the conversations will be more pointed."

 

The most advanced talks apparently concern centerfielder Joey Gathright, who it is believed has drawn interest from 10 teams, including the Dodgers, Marlins, White Sox, Cubs, Angels and Giants; and catcher Toby Hall, with inquires from the Dodgers, Mets, Marlins, Rockies and Diamondbacks.

 

Friedman would not specify what he wants in return. Speculation is he asked the Mets about pitcher Aaron Heilman, the Dodgers about catching prospect Russ Martin and the Marlins about minor-league pitchers Josh Johnson, Yusmeiro Petit and Anibal Sanchez.

Friedman said he wants prospects for any position who will be big-league ready some time in 2006.

 

"We do not see them as mutually exclusive," Friedman said of obtaining youth and immediate help.

 

Helping the trade value of closer Danys Baez was the signing of B.J. Ryan by the Blue Jays for $47-million over five years. With Billy Wagner expected to get at least that much, Baez, at $4-million next season, is a bargain.

 

"Until the free-agent market starts to take form, it's tough to get a feel how the market will develop for need-based trades," Friedman said

 

 

:mischief2

I would give up none of those players for Joey Gathright and DEFINITELY not for Toby Hall.

It sounds as if a three or multi-team deal may be in the works, or at least under consideration.

 

What doesn't make sense to me is why the Marlins would go after a guy entering his sixth year, who, while he'll probably make about half of what LoDuca earns (in 2006), will be either too expensive in arbitration, or headed out the door at the end of next season.

 

One would think that the Marlins, if they move LoDuca, would be looking for a catcher they can pair up with these young kids for years to come and build some continuity.

Mets would be dumb not to trade Heilman for anyone

Blah. We get Sanchez and Petit, supposedly two studs in our future rotation...and then we ship them off again?

 

Naaa

Pass

Pass

 

 

 

What about johnson for both?

 

It then allows us to sit back and pick and choose which offers we want to entertain for Pauly and Pierre.

 

Just a thought?

What is the big deal about Joey Gathright and Toby Hall anyway??

What is the big deal about Joey Gathright and Toby Hall anyway??

 

 

Gathright can flat out fly and Toby is a pretty cool name.

 

:thumbup

What is the big deal about Joey Gathright and Toby Hall anyway??

 

 

Gathright can flat out fly and Toby is a pretty cool name.

 

:thumbup

 

And either of them are worth a top pitching prospect?

Can Gathright really play the outfield? Does he get good jumps, does he track balls well, does he set himself in a good position for a throw?

Deal is HORRIBLE! I would give up any of our pitching prospects for either of them! Why no keep LoDuca, teach these young ones how to use their stuff....

Can Gathright really play the outfield? Does he get good jumps, does he track balls well, does he set himself in a good position for a throw?

 

 

Interesting take on Gathright from the TBD-Ray blog...

 

 

Joey Gathright: His speed is world-class and his Minor League stats say that he could be an OBP machine at the top of the line-up. Has improved his defensive greatly and is at least average there now. Would thrive if ever given a full shot at being a starting CF for another team, he'd end up being the Rays 4th or 5th OF(due to the organization's glut of OFers) if they decided to keep him. His only drawback is his Low Slg Pct. and knack for being a "glorified singles hitter" with little or no bunting skills.

 

 

Imagine a combination of Gathright, Louie, Willy and/or Hermida at the top of the order...Cabrera & Jacobs would have ample AB's with runners on base.

 

:notworthy

We need young major league ready players to fill out this roster. If Pierre is dealt we will need a CF. If loduca is dealt we will need a catcher.

 

Just because the D-Rays want johnson, sanchez or petit does not mean they will get them. Also how many AA - AAA starting pitchers do we need. If the story is true that Beinfest wanted petit more than Milledge you can be certain that he is not going anywhere.

 

IMO, Gathright is a perfect fit for this team in CF. Toby Hall I am somewhat indifferent to.

We would be lucky to get a guy like Gathwright to replace Pierre. Although we will have an extremely young starting rotation, we still need some young outfielders because we have nobody to play out there. A guy like Aguila has shown nothing at the major league level, while Gathwright was a very exciting player on a team that had a ton of good outfield play and the best prospect in the league in the minors. We would be getting a steal if we dealt a pitching prospect we don't need for a guy that can contribute a lot at the top of an offense.

:banghead

:banghead

 

 

 

Care to elaborate? Am I missing something here about Gathright???

 

:confused

It sounds as if a three or multi-team deal may be in the works, or at least under consideration.

 

What doesn't make sense to me is why the Marlins would go after a guy entering his sixth year, who, while he'll probably make about half of what LoDuca earns (in 2006), will be either too expensive in arbitration, or headed out the door at the end of next season.

 

One would think that the Marlins, if they move LoDuca, would be looking for a catcher they can pair up with these young kids for years to come and build some continuity.

 

 

Get off moving Lo Duca already.....It really doesnt make sense to move him.

Can Gathright really play the outfield? Does he get good jumps, does he track balls well, does he set himself in a good position for a throw?

 

 

Interesting take on Gathright from the TBD-Ray blog...

 

 

Joey Gathright: His speed is world-class and his Minor League stats say that he could be an OBP machine at the top of the line-up. Has improved his defensive greatly and is at least average there now. Would thrive if ever given a full shot at being a starting CF for another team, he'd end up being the Rays 4th or 5th OF(due to the organization's glut of OFers) if they decided to keep him. His only drawback is his Low Slg Pct. and knack for being a "glorified singles hitter" with little or no bunting skills.

 

 

Imagine a combination of Gathright, Louie, Willy and/or Hermida at the top of the order...Cabrera & Jacobs would have ample AB's with runners on base.

 

:notworthy

'Atleast average' in the field with his kind of speed says to be me trouble. I don't know where these people are seeing his great ability to reach base in his stats. Obviously I haven't seen him and he very well could be Ichiro, but that OBP is very batting average heavy which is not the safest bet to hold up at the major league level.

Get off moving Lo Duca already.....It really doesnt make sense to move him.

 

 

I'm not in favor of trading LoDuca. I am though a realist and am simply responding to the numerous trade rumors swirling around, including those for Paulie. I didn't start the rumors, I don't like the idea of handing the catching chores over to a guy who can barely hit his weight, but whether you or I like it, this is being discussed elsewhere.

 

Even in a thread I started yesterday (more for my amusement as anything else) my focus was on getting value for him, and while many, many people disagreed with who I would envision in return, I pointed out, as I did above, that what we need in catcher is continuity for our fledgling pitching staff and a guy who can bring a bat to the park everyday.

 

I'm all for keeping the guy. We can't, in my opinion, go completely with a youth movement.

 

In a perfect world I'd lke to see LoDuca here forever, I've always been a champion of his skills and the man. Had none of stuff that has happened come about, Paul LoDuca would be the last guy I'd want to trade. But we aren't picking up (in theory, and hopefully it's just rumor and idle speculation) Toby Hall, who will likely make $8-9 million over the next couple of years to backup Paul LoDuca. A financially strapped franchise doesn't do that, so what other choice would they have if they acquired Hall but to trade LoDuca?

 

Again, I'm not in favor of moving the guy.

 

And I have to agree with Rferry concerning Gathright, maybe for different reasons, but as little as I've seen of him, he reminds me more of Chuckie Carr than Juan Pierre, and that ain't good.

Gathright is like a crappier version of Pierre with slightly better D, considering most people on this board hate JP, I have NO idea why everyone is gushing about him. Cost?

It's not that I hate Pierre, but we could get more value in a trade of him than we should have to send to get Gathwright, considring he doesn't and won't have a place to play. I'm not saying he is gonna be as good as Pierre, but Pierre's defense was overrated anyway and Gathwright may be able to match Pierre's offense or do slightly worse with some experience.

It's not that I hate Pierre, but we could get more value in a trade of him than we should have to send to get Gathwright, considring he doesn't and won't have a place to play. I'm not saying he is gonna be as good as Pierre, but Pierre's defense was overrated anyway and Gathwright may be able to match Pierre's offense or do slightly worse with some experience.

 

 

Pierre's D isn't overrated, everyone pretty much agrees that it is average to poor. I haven't seen or read anything about Gathright to suggest that he can match or come close to Pierre's offensive ability. I mean they do both hit alot of singles and are fast.

I'd like to ammend my comments about Joey Gathright.

 

If half of baseball wants to suit this guy up, there has to be something there that an infrequent Rays viewer like me doesn't see. Clearly there is enough interest from enough respected GMs to say maybe landing him could be something special.

I haven't watched enough of Gathright to comment intelligently on his pros/cons but I do know that in limited playing time, he's stolen a ton of bases, and at a very good success rate. Now, that can either mean he has ungodly speed or he's a great baserunner, but he's only 24, and turns 25 in April...meaning he isn't exactly an aging speedster.

 

I don't want to do a one for one, heck, at this stage I don't even want to trade Pierre since I think we're cheap enough to meet budget while good enough to not be a lock for last place, but if Pierre must go, Gathright's numbers indicate that he may be a decent replacement.

 

However, if Gathright's price is Petit or Sanchez, screw it...