The Indians apparently have been roused from their complacency by last night's blockbuster trade that brought Miguel Cabrera and the D-Train to Detroit.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Tribe and Pirates are talking Jason Bay again, and this time the Tribe seems to be serious and moving quickly.
The paper reported this morning that the framework of a deal is in place, but I'm not sure I like it.
According to the report, the Tribe would get Bay and catcher Ronnie Paulino for Franklin Gutierrez, Kelly Shoppach and a pitcher -- either Cliff Lee or a prospect.
I'm not a fly on the wall in Nashville, but my guess is it's the pitcher that's holding things up, with the Tribe trying to foist off Cliff Lee onto the Buccos and the Pirates -quite rightly from their point of view - seeking someone younger.
Paulino hit .263 with 11 HRs and 55 RBI in 133 games with the Pirates last year. His OBP was just .314 and his slugging average just .389.
Earlier this week, in a Post-Gazette story, Pirates GM Neal Huntington questioned Paulino's fire.
"We need to see the hunger, the fire, a guy who's in better condition, a guy who has better motivation." - Neal Huntington on Ronnie Paulino
In addition to watching his average drop from .310 in his rookie year to .263 last year, Paulino's defense took a turn for the worse as well.
Presumably, based on his fine rookie season and with a change of scenery, Paulino would be a decent replacement for Shoppach.
I don't mind giving up a starter in this deal. My preference would be Lee, Sowers, Laffey - in that order.
But here's the part I don't get.
By trading for Bay, the Tribe fills the void in left field and gets a needed right-handed bat. But by trading Gutierrez, aren't they just shuffling their left field mess to right field?
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the tribe is panicking and feels it needs to make a deal ASAP to keep up with the jones (tigers) - I wonder if the indians would have offered guttierrez, shoppach, sowers and 3 "prospects" - will they ever play for tampa would the marlins bit. money chased away the tribe from the marlins
I dont like bat and paulino for guttierrez, shoppach, and any pitcher - guttierez and shoppach are excellebt at D - if victor got hurt I got no problem with shoppach playing and how would this impact the pitching staff - especially byrd. sure the tigers are favored - but they need to stay healthy - ordonez, sheffied, Irod, not getting younger.
I think 2007 was the cavs, indians, and browns year and 2008 may be a downer
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