swishnicholson wrote:Mentioned in the other games thread, but here's video of David Ortiz destroying a phone in the dugout. He squares up on it and maintains a good, consistent eye level.

Grotewold wrote:Calcaterra is becoming insufferable with the PED stuff

Wheels Tupay wrote:Someone make a freaking trade already.

Ken_Rosenthal
Sources: #Braves not in mix for Peavy. #STLCards, #Orioles, #RedSox and #Athletics talking to #WhiteSox.

ReadingPhilly wrote:because he was physically and verbally abusive. though i thought i saw loria talked him out of resigning?

Any hope the Angels had of making a second-half push was predicated on Pujols recapturing his All-Star form, so this certainly changes their outlook with 72 hours to go until the trade deadline. If there was any doubt about the Angels being "sellers" before, it has been removed. Problem is, they have nothing to sell.

Don't believe me? Let's go through the roster.

The outfield has Josh Hamilton, whose contract no one wants, and Peter Bourjos, Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout, who aren't going anywhere. Bourjos is on the DL and has been good when healthy this year, Trout is obviously a superstar and Trumbo will probably get more reps at first with Pujols out.

As for their infield, Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick would have some trade value since they are both locked up for a few years at a reasonable cost, but after trading away Jean Segura last season in the Zack Greinke deal, they don't have any middle infielders in the system ready to step in. They would trade Alberto Callaspo, but there is not a lot of demand for a third baseman who is slugging .353.

Let's move on to their catchers, Chris Iannetta and Hank Conger, who haven't performed well enough to be worth much in a trade.

They have a similar situation on the mound, as Joe Blanton has been one of the game's worst starters. C.J. Wilson would be a nice chip, but he specifically chose the Angels as a free agent because they were the club that would give him a no-trade clause.

The Halos do have a few relievers who would be intriguing to other clubs, such as Scott Downs. The problem is that the market has far more supply than demand on the reliever market, so it's not like Downs would fetch much. Besides, the Angels think they can contend next year and will want to have Downs.

Bill McNeal wrote:

Any hope the Angels had of making a second-half push was predicated on Pujols recapturing his All-Star form, so this certainly changes their outlook with 72 hours to go until the trade deadline. If there was any doubt about the Angels being "sellers" before, it has been removed. Problem is, they have nothing to sell.

Don't believe me? Let's go through the roster.

The outfield has Josh Hamilton, whose contract no one wants, and Peter Bourjos, Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout, who aren't going anywhere. Bourjos is on the DL and has been good when healthy this year, Trout is obviously a superstar and Trumbo will probably get more reps at first with Pujols out.

As for their infield, Erick Aybar and Howie Kendrick would have some trade value since they are both locked up for a few years at a reasonable cost, but after trading away Jean Segura last season in the Zack Greinke deal, they don't have any middle infielders in the system ready to step in. They would trade Alberto Callaspo, but there is not a lot of demand for a third baseman who is slugging .353.

Let's move on to their catchers, Chris Iannetta and Hank Conger, who haven't performed well enough to be worth much in a trade.

They have a similar situation on the mound, as Joe Blanton has been one of the game's worst starters. C.J. Wilson would be a nice chip, but he specifically chose the Angels as a free agent because they were the club that would give him a no-trade clause.

The Halos do have a few relievers who would be intriguing to other clubs, such as Scott Downs. The problem is that the market has far more supply than demand on the reliever market, so it's not like Downs would fetch much. Besides, the Angels think they can contend next year and will want to have Downs.

Bowden ESPN.com
http://m.espn.go.com/general/blogs/blog ... ce&id=7236

It always amazes me when a coveted FA sings and then you read things like this a few months later about how "no one would take their contract now".