FanPost

General thoughts as we approach the trade deadline

Several thoughts I wanted to air as we approach the first deadline in roughly forever with the Bucs being relevant:

 

1. I'm presuming that the Bucs will not be able to acquire "piece" that figures to be a cornerstone for several years.  As such, we either need a rental player that we acquire as a salary dump or to focus on bolstering the back ups with a John Vander Wal, Lloyd McClendon type player as well as veteran bullpen arm to ease the transition to Hanrahan (Veras has his off days and D. McCutchen is shaky).

 

2.  Two weeks ago I was strongly favoring dealing Maholm and would have seriously considered dealing Hanrahan for the right return.  Now I'm not sure that you can deal either.  It's one thing to not add significant outside pieces but another to subtract and I'm doubting that the appropriate trade return is out there for either of those guys.  Without Hanrahan this team is probably under .500. You can't trade Hanrahan without getting a major league ready cornerstone piece + prospect.  You can't trade Maholm without getting a near-term cornerstone piece. I'm doubting either player (especially Maholm) would bring such a return.

 

3.  The people calling the radio shows suggesting that we package Cedeno, Wood & Diaz for Hunter Pence are morons.

 

4.  The name I hear mentioned most frequently as a realistic trade target is Carlos Pena of the Cubs.  No thank you. 

 

5.  To re-state the obvious, unless we are getting a real piece for the future (not just a rental) it would be a mistake for the Bucs to give up any significant prospect.

 

6.  The guys like Presley and Harrison who have contributed to the major league team despite mediocre prospect rankings speaks well to the depth of the farm system.  We still do not have a lot of elite talent, but the improvement in depth and overall quality that has been the focus for 3+ years is finally paying dividends.  One need not be an elite prospect to contribute at the major league level.

 

As much fun as the Bucs current run is, I do not consider them a serious pennant contender.  Thus, the team needs maintain focus on building (without scuttling the present hope).

 

Good day.

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