Piazza deal might be imminent

by Joey C. on Aug 5, 2007 6:47 PM PDT Comment 46 comments

Buster Olney reports that Mike Piazza has cleared waivers and a deal might be in the works.

Interestingly, he also mentions that Tejada was claimed by the White Sox off the wire, but a deal couldn't be worked out. So I guess he's an Oriole for the foreseeable future, which sucks for him.

Anyway, this looks mildly exciting.

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Cross posting...My thoughts:

I wonder if Minnesota might give more now for Piazza than they would on July 31st. The Twins appeared to give up on becoming "buyers" when they slumped to just a game over .500 and were trailing two teams.

Then they won 4 in a row, then the Indians and Tigers hit the skids, and suddenly the Twins are only 4 games out of first place, the Wild Card is in reach, and the teams in front of them in the Central look vulnerable. Plus, Johan publicly expressed ire at the Twins' "lack of commitment" and suggested he wouldn't re-sign (which is not an issue until after 2008).

Maybe the Twins see a chance to snatch the Central or Wild Card, and appease their star pitcher, by acquiring another hitter. I wonder what we could get from MIN for Piazza right now...

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 6:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Could we get Slowey?

Baker is too hot, now... but I would take Slowey for Piazza. However, I don't think the Twins would go for it.

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Aug 5, 2007 7:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Twinkies could have had Piazza for Free

I doubt they'd trade something useful for him.

by Zonis on Aug 5, 2007 7:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you're implying...

...that they don't want him because they didn't claim him off waivers, I wouldn't be so sure because it's possible they felt claiming him could be "playing their hand" to Beane.

We've got two months left in the season, and I'll be a free agent after this year, so I still have something to pitch for." - Joe Kennedy

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Aug 5, 2007 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

If they claim him, then they either a) get him for free, but have to pay his salary, b) have to trade for him.

If they don't want to trade for him, they can simply not trade for him.

And the A's would HAVE to trade him to the Twins. The Twins would have a lot of leverage.

by Zonis on Aug 5, 2007 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If they claim him

then they have to pay his salary as you stated but in all probability they don't want to take on that salary, and Piazza has said he doesn't want to go to Minn.

by china bob on Aug 5, 2007 8:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, at this point

I'd trade Crosby AND Piazza for Kevin Slowey. Unfortunately, I can't see how Crosby would also clear waivers.

The trade is probably going to be along the lines of Piazza+minor leaguer for better minor leaguer. Would Piazza+Petit for Slowey be sufficient? Does Gregorio have enough upside? Do the Twins care, given how wretched Jason Bartlett is?

Wait and see, I guess. The A's usually end up picking players that no one's ever heard of anyway, which is probably a good thing.

by PaulThomas on Aug 5, 2007 9:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure their PARENTS

have at least heard of them.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or..

they know that the A's would simply pull him off waivers if they claimed him.

He's not going to try to kill you, I'm just going to try to doink you. -Rex Hudler

by JediLeroy on Aug 5, 2007 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why again would the A's HAVE to trade him?

He's not going to try to kill you, I'm just going to try to doink you. -Rex Hudler

by JediLeroy on Aug 5, 2007 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he means can't trade them to anyone else

Since if we pull him off waivers we can't put him back on.

by Dusty Baker on Aug 5, 2007 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The A's don't HAVE to trade him...

...they can simply retract the waiving and that's that. I feel the A's have more leverage since they have the right to retract...

We've got two months left in the season, and I'll be a free agent after this year, so I still have something to pitch for." - Joe Kennedy

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Aug 6, 2007 6:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could also be the Angels

who got an extended look at him

by Zonis on Aug 5, 2007 6:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

How 'bout Crosby to the White Sox?

Just saying...If they need a SS...

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 6:50 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

or even if they don't

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Aug 5, 2007 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

kenny williams...

is not going to do billy beane any favors. something about a book that makes williams seem less than up to his job.

by inbillywetrust on Aug 5, 2007 7:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like the way you think...

"We'll give you Crosby."

"Pfff. We don't want Crosby."

"OK, Crosby and Kotsay."

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 8:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DEAL!

by Zonis on Aug 5, 2007 8:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Wait, but you haven't heard

what we're offering in return, Billy."

"DEAL!"

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best Chicago Hot Dog

Billy ever had

Green Hulk Fists

by oaklandSMASH on Aug 7, 2007 12:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

he'll probably get dealt to the Twins

but we won't get anything of value from them (other than an open spot on the 40-man roster).

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Aug 5, 2007 7:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Piazza has the right to refuse

by china bob on Aug 5, 2007 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does he?

He's not a 10/5 guy & he doesn't have a no trade clause that I've heard of.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Aug 5, 2007 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Handshake agreement with Beane

There isn't a formal No-Trade agreement, but Beane promised Piazza that he'd let Mike have a say in any trade. This is one of those deals where a verbal agreement is actually more binding than a written document. Beane has given his word, and if he breaks his word to Piazza in such a public event like a trade than he loses credibility throughout baseball.

That said, I don't see much reason why Piazza would object to beinf traded to a team in playoff contention and offering a full time job as the DH.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 5, 2007 9:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Plus it would just be

a 2-month gig; he wouldn't even need to move his family or domestic partner or whatever.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Always the pragmatist

Although I'm surprised you of all people would consider that issue, given that your blow up sheep are easy to deflate and pack for shipping.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 5, 2007 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I find the sheep are

the most deflated when they wake up in the morning and find that I'm long gone.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baaaastard!

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 5, 2007 10:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We WILL get something of value for Piazza

I know everyone here like to be negative on the A's trading prospects, but I'm really, really, tired of hearing people say we wont get anything of value for Piazza.

Piazza will be a type A or B free agent, that means that if the A's keep him they will get a comp. round pick and a 1st or 2nd round pick. What that means for a trade is that Beane is telling other GM's (and rightfully so) that if they don't give him at least 1 (but maybe even 2) first/second round quality prospects (Sreet, Buck and, Cahill are comp. round and 2nd round picks for example) then he might as well keep Piazza.

So really there are two outcomes, ether the A's get at least 1 (if not 2) quality prospects for Piazza in a trade or the A's keep him. So saying we wont get anything of value from the Twins doesn't make sense because Beane would rather keep Piazza and get the picks then trade him for a bag of balls.

by Threepwood XX on Aug 5, 2007 8:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Piazza has a pretty good chance at Type A ...

he was a Type A last year and five of the six guys immediately behind him have been injured, reduced to backup roles or completely ineffective.

He was ranked #5 and about 8 guys will likely qualify as Type A, so he's got a decent chance if he can stay healthy for the next two months.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Aug 5, 2007 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meanwhile, if the Twins can

effect a batting order with Mauer-Piazza-Morneau-Cuddyer in the middle, with Johan, a maturing Garza and Bonser in the rotation, Nathan, Neshek, and Guerrier in the pen, they could conceivably "Cardinal" their way deep into the playoffs. They're more than within striking distance of the Indians and Tigers and they're scary in a short series.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 9:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait a sec

Piazza qualified as a Catcher last year, this year he's strictly a DH. Last year Piazza's score of 76.923 would have made him a Type A as a 1st Baseman, but with the new rules he'd be at the very bottom end of the Type A class if he had repeated last year's numbers. I'm not sure how Elias will rate Piazza's 2007 campaign, but (for obvious reasons) his production has been greatly reduced.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 5, 2007 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No he's a C next year

http://catfishstew.baseballtoaster.c...

by Dusty Baker on Aug 5, 2007 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"C" as in Catcher

Not as in Type C FA... which no longer exists in the new CBA.

Just to clear things up for folks.

Yep. Warm and fuzzy... that's me.

by grover on Aug 5, 2007 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

but there's no way

we offer him arbitration, so the draft pick argument is moot. If any club could have gotten him for free, why would they trade "1(but maybe even 2) first/second round quality prospects"? Best case scenario is the A's get a mid-ceiling single-A player out of it and eat 1/2 of the remaining contract.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Aug 6, 2007 5:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you're right that we're not getting

anything of value without eating some money ... but I wouldn't be surprised if we could get more than what you're suggesting in terms of prospects ... though not 2 high level prospects.

Mike Piazza still has a lot to prove ... if he stays healthy and hits over the last two months, there's a good chance he gets a 2 year offer somewhere. If he doesn't, the discussion is moot.

It's too bad we could trade him before 7/31, when he had a .980 OPS through 9 games back ... he has a .396 OPS since then.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Aug 6, 2007 9:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Piazza was on a 2-year contract

Either way, I'd like to see a roster spot open for a younger guy. There's so much glut right now-- Stewart is blocking Swish, who combined with DJ is blocking Daric Barton, and then there's Kotsay taking valuable PT away from whatever outfielder we wanna bring up (I'm guessing Putnam, but who knows these days).

Basically, I look at this season like the Nixon Watergate tapes-- I'm looking forward to finding out years down the road what kept BB from dealing all these old dudes before the trade deadline. And if there is audio evidence, I hope there's a lot of drunken cursing.

by Joey C. on Aug 5, 2007 8:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Swisher plays everyday ...

Stewart isn't blocking him and we don't have any young guy who seems ready for the bigs who play CF.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Aug 5, 2007 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rub it in why don't you?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 5, 2007 9:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, yeah, but

I meant Stewart is keeping Swisher out of left field, because Barton can't play when Swisher is at first base. But yeah.

by Joey C. on Aug 6, 2007 12:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We don't want Slowey

He's a Brad Halsey wannabe. AAAA pitcher at best, as a good friend of mine calls them, he's a "thumber" lefty, meaning its all smoke and mirrors. Can't get major leaguers out.

I was the first to get Blez autograph.

by huskersfan on Aug 5, 2007 11:02 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Since Slowey is a righty,

I can't help but question your friend's knowledge of his pitching attributes.

by PaulThomas on Aug 5, 2007 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is hilarious

I'm pretty sure people thought DiNardo couldn't get major leaguers out either (not to say his current run is sustainable), but to say this about Slowey already after mowing down AAA at age 23 is just plain dumb.

by Dusty Baker on Aug 6, 2007 12:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is Halsey even alive?

Hello Halsey!?!?

You out there?

I love you, k^2. -Poppy

by kaweahkaweah on Aug 6, 2007 7:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's pining for the fiords.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 6, 2007 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Halsey not happy pitching in minors for A's

So is on disabled list at Sacto pondering surgery. Notice that with all the needs for infielders at AAA and in majors, Perez is also lost in outer space this season.

Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Aug 7, 2007 11:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs