First of all I'm not really sure what we can get for a guy with a crappy attitude who leads the NL in walks and losses AND our minor league system isn't exactly teeming over with SP.  At this point, when we chalk up #17 and the selling starts, I'm not sure I would be devastated by Vazquez or Gorzo (or someone we get in another trade later) taking Ian's starts.  Hopefully Lincoln's ready by 2010?

However on the plus side, he is young, healthy, and has good stuff.   He is making $3.2 million this year, and 4.25 next year, with team options for 2011 and 2012 that I doubt would be picked up.  Thus while not dirt cheap he is more than a half season rental and if he ever turned it around, is under contract another 2 years.  The guy would probably benefit from a change of scenery at this point.

With a lot of teams looking for pitching at the deadline, and everyone wanting a kings ransom for top tier guys (Peavy, Oswalt, Bedard, Lee).  Nobody really wants to pay anymore after the Bedard, Texiera and other trades showed the value of young, controlled talent.  Something that was magnified by the  economy.   There could be a strong market for mid level guys, as long as GM's don't price them out of the trade market. 

Snell would make the most sense for a team that needs SP and something else we can offer in a package.  For instance, if there were a long term injury to Reyes, or Delgado isn't coming back.  Snell and Jack/ Adam to the Mets.  However, I hear they don't like Adam or his salary, but that could change quickly if he heats up.  They committed a lot to Perez and another big contract also makes Snell less appealing.  Same goes for any team that needs SP and then either CF/SS/2B.  I don't particularly see the Mets happening for financial reasons, but they could afford it if they needed to and any further injuries might do it.

A trade that I think makes a lot of sense for both sides is Nyjer and Snell to San Diego for a package prospects that is good, but not a ridiculous asking price.  Particularly if they move Peavy/ Young first and have a clearer idea of what their system looks like.  Nyjer can cover ground in Petco at a price they'll love.  He isn't hitting homers anywhere, so if it has any affect on his offense it would be positive, given all that real estate for base hits to drop in.  They aren't typical buyers in a trade market but Snell is a would definitely benefit from a pitchers park, so he is more valuable to them.  He gives them a live arm SP to plug in if they move Young or Peavy, at a much cheaper price than Peavy, and 2 mil less than Young.  Nyjer sweetens the team for a team looking to keep payroll down and juuuuuuust might be in the wild card hunt, so they can continue to field a competitive MLB team.

Just wanted to float the idea out there of packaging a talented young SP with a team friendly contract and another trade chip.  Anyone else have scenarios they think are realistic?