2010 MLB Season Discussion

[Trichocyst]

There's a Howard for Pujols rumor floating around that's auspicious at best. The idea being that the Phillies might not want to retain Howard who won't be a free agent until 2012 and the Cardinals may not be able to afford his impending super contract. Howard is hometown boy in St. Louis which sweetens the deal.

Personally, as a long time Phillies fan, I want no business of this trade. I highly doubt that they would sign Pujols to a long term deal and even though Ryan Howard is very streaky he always ends up producing. If they're going to trade Ryan Howard it would be better to get a deal that will benefit the club past this season.

[Bozo]

Not to mention if they seriously traded for Pujols we definitely wouldn't be able to keep Jayson and if Amaro even considered it I'd think he would be smart enough to realize that he can keep Howard AND Werth for Pujols money.

[Weeks]

Pujols is constantly held in a higher regard than Ryan Howard cause he hits for a higher average. Besides, did Pujols carry his team through the play offs.

Pujols is held in higher regard because he's almost exactly twice as valuable a player as Howard. This is the stupidest thing in print on ESPN since they unveiled the "ESPN Player Rating" stat. It says a lot about how long the average Phillies fan has been following baseball that there has been any response to it other than "lol."

[Moss]

lmao. That is a ridiculous trade. No disrespect to Howard, but why the Cardinals would ever even consider trading Pujols is beyond me.

[Bozo]

It says a lot about how long the average Phillies fan has been following baseball that there has been any response to it other than "lol."

I don't believe the article but there's still that hint of doubt after everyone called Rosenthal's idea of a Cliff Lee trade crazy.

[Weeks]

There is zero hint of doubt. Pujols has not been signed to an extension because he is under contract through 2011 and hasn't been asking for them to extend it early. If DeWitt goes bankrupt and has to cut costs, I have a suspicion that the plan isn't going to be to trade Pujols for another 1B, making more than he is, due for free agency at the same time.

[Trichocyst]

Yeah, the idea of the trade is absurd and in all likelihood is a pipe dream rumor used for off season filler, but I don't really see what the big attitude is all about towards Philadelphia fans who are basically agreeing with you with the caveat of "never say never" because we literally just went through the same situation. Everyone knows that Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball and it's not likely any of us will seriously think that it will happen.

[Soa]

C'mon its Buster Olney, when has anyone with half a brain ever taken him seriously?

But to be more serious, this move would do nothing to alleviate the Phillies payroll (at least not enough to resign Werth) and won't add depth to the farm system. For the Cardinals they would be giving up a far superior player that will be making barely more than the inferior one they would get in return.

In other words this trade would not make any sense for either team, so yeah "lol" is the proper reaction to it.

[Bozo]

So in actual news, Kyle Kendrick with another 4 scoreless. Just wish it was on the radio like the schedule said.

[Orph]

Kyle Kendrick Cy Young, book it

[Bozo]

He's looking like an awesome #5 at the very least.

[Olo401]

Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland to undergo brain surgery

Heard this on the news this morning..

[Conrad]

Moyer is still holding the Phils ransom for the #5 starter though, at least for Opening Day. I don't doubt that Kendrick's going to supplant him by the end of the season, though.

[OctavoGilgamesh]

Pujols is held in higher regard because he's almost exactly twice as valuable a player as Howard. This is the stupidest thing in print on ESPN since they unveiled the "ESPN Player Rating" stat. It says a lot about how long the average Phillies fan has been following baseball that there has been any response to it other than "lol."

Fucking this. Pujols is the best offensive player in all of baseball, and has been that for a while now. Howard is just another guy who hits homers and can't touch a good lefty. One strikes fear in all pitchers, the other just requires a pitching change. Contract issues or not, which one would you choose?

I would love not seeing Pujols in the Central anymore though

[Orph]

Fucking this. Pujols is the best offensive player in all of baseball, and has been that for a while now. Howard is just another guy who hits homers and can't touch a good lefty. One strikes fear in all pitchers, the other just requires a pitching change. Contract issues or not, which one would you choose?

I would love not seeing Pujols in the Central anymore though

Howard is not just another guy that hits homers. He hits home runs at a pace that has never been seen before in the history of baseball.

[Moss]

Pujols is obviously better, but saying Howard is "just another guy" is fucking ridiculous.

[Cephius]

He is "just another guy" when compared to Pujols though. It's not even REMOTELY close, which is why a straight up trade is downright retarded. Utley + Howard + Hamels for Pujols is closer to an equal trade.

Howard is a great player, but Pujols is probably the best player the game has seen in the last 40 years or so. Their value isn't even in the same hemisphere.

[Akiyama]

Utley + Howard + Hamels for Pujols?! I dunno.. maybe a combo of Howard + most of the Phillies top prospects for Pujols.. but I can't see three superstars for one, even if that one is Albert Pujols. Now if you can get him locked up for like eight years or something (seeing as he's 30) with that sort of deal.. then that's something I can get behind.

Dunno what I'm saying though. Trading Pujols would be insane.

[Conrad]

Trading Utley is insane. I maintain that he's the Kobe of the MLB in terms of work ethic, although Halladay is a contender to the crown.

[Cephius]

Of course it's insane, which is why it's never going to happen. But a 3-superstars-for-1 is what it should take to land a guy like that. He's the best player in the game, he's young, and you're going to be able to lock him up to a long-term contract. You don't give a guy like that up for Ryan Howard, sorry. I know Philly fans love him, but he isn't THAT good.