Buyers and Sellers

As we wind our way towards the midway point of the 2008 LOWV season, it is time to look to potential trades that could shake things up down the stretch. While we can’t claim to be privy to any particular rumors or information regarding pending negotiations, the list below is our best guess at what is probably available for the right price and package.

As you can see, we’ve organized the list into Sellers and Buyers based on the current standings. The Sellers represent the bottom seven teams who may well be shifting their thinking towards 2009 and moving some of their expiring, veteran contracts. Here, we've listed those teams' most enticing assets.

For the most part, we stuck to contracts that will expire by 2009 and whose current salary is arguably above their current production. Our feeling is it is these players represent those most likely to be moved by those owners with an eye towards trading big-money aging vets for the more affordable stars of the future.

As for the Buyers, they represent the likely playoff teams, or the current top seven teams in the LOWV. These teams are presumably gearing up for a championship push and should be looking to add increased depth to their squads in order to achieve it. Thus, they will likely be selling off some of their less tested, but deliciously cheap rookies in favor of some battle-tested playoff rentals.

So, the players we've chosen from their rosters include the cheapest players with the most potential. Now, we haven't included anyone who has already made "The Leap" or who is priced too high to be a legit trading piece, only those young players priced well enough to perk interest in teams looking to rebuild. We won't comment on any of those players in particular, as their values tend to be speculative, sentimental and uncertain. Besides we've merely chosen a sampling of young players, priced to move if the buying team should seek to acquire veterans down the stretch.

Obviously, this is all conjecture, and hell the buyers and sellers could flip places many times over the course of the rest of the season, but nonetheless, we hope it inspires some meetings of the mind and at least one or two deals by the trading deadline.

THE POTENTIAL SELLERS

BONOMATORY INFLUENCE

1. Magglio Ordonez $11 (2008) - Putting up solid numbers and at a good price.
2. Placido Polanco $13 (2008) - Second basemen hitting .300 are in short supply.
3. Carlos Lee $21 (2009) - Got a hell of a pop, if a bit of a low BA.

UNBELEAGUERABLE
1. Todd Helton $11 (2008) - May not have much pop left, but still hits at a .300 clip.
2. Hideki Matsui $13 (2009) - A little more pop and a hitting close to .330.

VICIOUS RUMORS
1. Vlad Guerrero $30 (2008) - Bashing in RBIs, but free-swinging and missing a lot.
2. Robinson Cano $14 (2009) - Still plenty of time to turnaround a disappointing 2008.
3. Aaron Harang $9 (2009) - Despite less than stellar Ws, still has intriguing periphs.

EL GUAPO
1. Brad Lidge $10 (2008) - Has looked unhittable, recording 17 saves and sub-1 ERA.
2. Chone Figgins $22 (2008) - Scheduled to return soon from sore hammy.
3. Garrett Atkins $11 (2008) - Always has been a second half hitter.

THE BANANA BELT
1. Ichiro Suzuki $24 (2009) - Long time face of tBB, but may be time for change.

THE MOTHERSHIP
1. Trevor Hoffman $11 (2008) - Atrocious ERA, but still getting the saves.
2. Paul Konerko $12 (2008) - Horrible BA, but still getting the RBIs and some HRs.
3. Michael Young $22 (2008) - Good pop in 2008, will get more in late Texas summer.
4. Andy Pettitte $8 (2008) - Solid vet starter will get more wins down the stretch.
5. Brian Roberts $12 (2009) - Has a ton of cheaper, equivalent talent at 2B.

SNATURALS
1. Adam Dunn $16 (2008) - Boom and bust, either HRs or Ks on every AB.
2. Torii Hunter $10 (2008) - Decent stats across board, good for the money.
3. Derek Jeter $22 (2008) - BA and power down, but can't quantify clubhouse presence.
4. David Ortiz $24 (2008) - Can't see Snatty move Papi, but could be a big chip.

THE POTENTIAL BUYERS

POOR MAN’S FART
1. Chris Young $9
2. Ryan Garko $3
3. Andy LaRoche $2
4. James Loney $3

D’LUCIOUS BITCH PIES
1. Rick Ankiel $4
2. Michael Cuddyer $3
3. J.R. Towles $9

EQUIPE ROI DU RADEAU
1. Clay Buccholz $9
2. Delmon Young $3
3. Carlos Quentin $3

THE FLASH
1. Jarrod Saltalamacchia $3
2. Joey Votto $3
3. Cole Hamels $3

THE LACEY UNDERALLS
1. Matt Kemp $3
2. Chad Billingsley $1
3. Edison Volquez $1

FECAL CLATTER
1. Connor Jackson $3
2. Stephen Drew $3
3. Corey Hart $3

LASORDA'S MANICOTTI
1. Adam LaRoche $3
2. Kevin Slowey $3
3. John Maine $3
4. Dustin McGowan $3