Scouts in Arizona on Monday night were a little more enthusiastic about Dontrelle Willis, who nevertheless hasn't won a game since late May and has not made a quality start in July. While the organization is publicly saying Willis is not available, teams interested in Willis ? New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland Indians, to name a few ? aren't getting the same message from GM Admin Beinfest, and expect talks to open by the deadline.

 

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/mlb_exper...r?urn=mlb,40306

Interesting. I would put at least some validity into this report too, because it wouldn't be hard for a reporter to get info from another team on whether or not a player is available. Where there is smoke, there's fire. I have a feeling something might go down.

 

I do agree that Dontrelle's stock is still very high, just as high as it was in the offseason. There is so many teams looking to buy, and so few sellers(especially for starting pitching) that we could get an absolute king's ransom. Now is the time to pull the trigger. His value absolutely will drop significantly next year when he is due to become a FA.

 

Come on Beinfest! Show you have a couple of these:

I don't quite understand why some are talking up Dontrelle's trade value. The guy hasn't won a game this side of Memorial Day for pete's sake.

The market for starting pitching at the trade deadline will be shite. That is why Dontrelle has more value than he really does. Teams are desperate but just how desperate?

Come on Beinfest! Show you have a couple of these:

 

 

 

 

Isn't Beinfest Jewish? They don't celebrate Christmas. :mischief

I don't quite understand why some are talking up Dontrelle's trade value. The guy hasn't won a game this side of Memorial Day for pete's sake.

 

 

Then you don't understand how the trade market works.

 

Hell, the Padres got back the Brewers #1 prospect(not counting Gallardo or Braun, they graduated) plus a couple other guys for a bullpen arm who has a 3.80 ERA in an extreme pitchers park and has given up 9!! Hr's in only 45 IP. Get him away from Petco and he is a downright bad pitcher.

 

A little more than a half season of below average pitching is not going to drop Dontrelle's stock in a sellers market.

I agree that Dontrelle could bring a pretty good return at the deadline given the fact that most teams looking for pitching are actually seriously looking into Jose Contreras. I would definately put Willis out there and see if someone is willing to overpay.

Interesting. I would put at least some validity into this report too, because it wouldn't be hard for a reporter to get info from another team on whether or not a player is available. Where there is smoke, there's fire. I have a feeling something might go down.

 

I do agree that Dontrelle's stock is still very high, just as high as it was in the offseason. There is so many teams looking to buy, and so few sellers(especially for starting pitching) that we could get an absolute king's ransom. Now is the time to pull the trigger. His value absolutely will drop significantly next year when he is due to become a FA.

 

Come on Beinfest! Show you have a couple of these:

 

 

 

 

That's not an entirely accurate statement.

 

In season prices for trade are always higher than offseason prices for trades. As such, a player like Dontrelle would have to be seriously injured, completely unable to justify a roster spot, or lose a limb. Since he's done none of the aforementioned, it's not shocking at all to say his July value is no less than equal his previous December value even in a down year.

 

Secondly, he is not a pending free agent next season, he is a free agent following the 2009 season.

 

Because of where I feel Dontrelle's career is heading, his value is peaked now, but just simple supply and demand economics say that is not an exactly going out on a limb statement. Nor is assuming that his value now is higher than his offseason value. That's just the way baseball trades work.

 

I also must say that I don't think we'll ever realize the value Dontrelle has now. Dontrelle now warrants no worse than a two can't miss and a major leaguer return. Why? Because he's an incredibly affordable pitcher (for a team willing to spend) on, what amounts to, the first year of a 3 year deal. If Dontrelle were a free agent now, he'd get at least a 5/$55 million deal, likely more...any acquiring team gets him on what amounts to a 3/$23 million deal. The Marlins, therefore, should reap the rewards that are passed onto the acquiring team.

 

My guess: Dontrelle's here this year and next and moved in the offseason preceding 2009, when his "market value" is more palpable to teams willing to acquire him and his final year of arbitration is a figure just too high for us to pay and/or justify.

Also, I have to add, the scouts section has been incredibly empty since the second half opened. We had, what appeared to be, special scouts there for Dontrelle's start against the Cards, but most put away their guns by his second inning of work.

 

It's been overly publicized that Dontrelle didn't draw any special attention for his opening start against the Nats.

 

Teams don't make shot in the dark blockbusters. There'd have to be plenty of smoke building up to a trade, especially a trade for a starting pitcher who'd warrant a complete blue-chip return.

 

I think it's safe to assume team's would do a copious amount of homework on Dontrelle, especially the "new" Dontrelle, and it just doesn't appear that they are. Dontrelle's got one more start before the deadline, in San Fran (his personal house of horrors), I'd be completely shocked if a team trades away the riches of its system on two evaluations.

Come on Beinfest! Show you have a couple of these:

 

 

 

 

Isn't Beinfest Jewish? They don't celebrate Christmas. :mischief

 

hilarious