Baseball Update: Trade Talks

The Baseball Update is a look at the happenings around Major League Baseball.

Here are some random thoughts on baseball before I take off for the weekend.

Who Wants Barry Zito?: I was watching PTI yesterday and the guys were talking about a possible trade involving San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito. And my question is, who wants Barry Zito? Who would want an inconsistent pitcher who can dazzle and disappoint in a two game span. Right now Zito has a 5.01 ERA with a 5-9 record. Also Zito is due roughly around $96 million over the next four years. So again I ask, who wants Barry Zito?

While Zito definitively needs a change of scenery, I don't know how affective he can be with a new team. While Zito has his moments that make you think this guy could win another Cy Young. But he has moments that make you think he is the worse pitcher in the Majors.

The Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers, Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox all need starting pitching and Zito could be moved to one of these teams. They would have to take on Zito's huge contract, but these teams, besides the Brewers, could handle Zito's contract. If the Giants can somehow get rid of Zito, I would welcome it.

Halladay Sweepstakes!: Well the Toronto Blue Jays haven't traded Roy Halladay yet. One of the reasons I have heard why Halladay hasn't been traded yet is because the Blue Jays are looking to unload Vernon Wells and his contract. Either way, Roy Halladay is still on the market.

There have been some rumors that the Boston Red Sox brought up Clay Bucholtz to pitch tonight against the Blue Jays, is to basically give him a tryout in front of Blue Jays management. Buchholtz has been a prized prospect for the Red Sox for a couple of years now, and even threw a no-hitter a couple of years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if the Blue Jays trade Halladay to Toronto, despite playing in the same division as Boston. Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi is a Boston native and he might want to help out his childhood team. Don't be surprised if Halladay lands in
Boston by the end of July.

Where's the Firesale?: Am I the only one surprise the Oakland A's haven't started their firesale yet? The A's have made a habit in the past couple of years of selling off their assets before the trade deadline. But this year, not so much.

Matt Holliday has been in trade talks ever since Oakland traded for him. And Holliday is still with the A's. Also the A's have Orlando Cabrera, Jack Cust, and Adam Kennedy who are all on the trade block. But none of them have been traded yet.

Billy Beane has done a lot of head scratching moves in the pass, but this year has taken it to a whole different level. With the Holliday trade at the beginning of the year, then the trade for Scott Hairston just a couple of weeks ago has just been strange. While the A's have a lot of pieces to trade, they could hold onto the players and accept the supplemental draft picks when players leave at the end of the year for free agency. Either way, there is some strange things happening in Oakland.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!