Reds eye Craig Wilson

[Wally Mo Pena]

i think the only way the pirates trade for a catcher is if it's not larue. I think they made a mistake signing wilson for as much as they did to be a bench player, and they want to dump salary. Valentin would be an upgrade for them at backup catcher and on the bench, and he would be 2 million cheaper than wilson.

If we get wilson, which i support, i think it will be for valentin with the reds taking on wilson's salary.

you havbe to love that .387 OBP last year. i don't know that i hit him cleanup (i've actualy been thinking about EdE there, he'd see some good pitches in front of Dunn, though i don't know how important it is to separate Dunn and Griffey)

maybe (or switch kearns and EdE):

freel
lopez
griffey
EdE
dunn
Wilson
Kearns
Larue

[redsrbetter]

It just looks so much better with Wilson in that lineup doesn't it? I would do this in a heartbeat if it were Valentin being traded for him. But LaRue is not exactly a dead beat catcher. It would be hard for me to accept LaRue going for anything but pitching.

[ghettochild]

i've said it once and i'll say it again

trade valentin before larue. valentin could have had a fluke year last year and this is his chance to prove that it wasn't a fluke.

but his trade value is no higher than it is now. comming off a year like that, in a tandum situation has to have your trade value high.

[redsrbetter]

I completely agree ghetto, Valentin's value is at its peak right now and if he could command a Craig Wilson we have to all be for it. This would be a good deal no matter how you look at it.

[CincyRedsFan30]

Valentin and Womack for Wilson would work very well for me.

[redsrbetter]

Valentin and Womack for Wilson would work very well for me.

Yep, that is even better. Looks like nobody has heard anything further on this so far today.

[CincyRedsFan30]

I haven't heard anything. From my earlier contacts, I didn't get a strong indication that there was a huge chance LaRue would be traded. I'm not as sure about Valentin.

[redsrbetter]

From your contacts, was Valentin mentioned at all?

[CincyRedsFan30]

No.

[ghettochild]

anyway you could convince them to show the FO about my post lol

[Witlon]

No...No...

Please god, just let them use Doumit and Cota. No Reds catchers...please...

I swear to god Littlefield, if you make a deal as dumb as this one...

[Wally Mo Pena]

the pitt tribune had this to say:

"Atlanta is one of now five clubs believed to have contacted the Pirates about the availability of Wilson, who can become a free agent after the season. The Pirates are dangling Wilson in hopes of landing a veteran right-handed pitcher who can fill a spot in the rotation left vacant by Kip Wells, who will miss at least half the season."

this makes it sound like neither catcher is on their radar, but it makes me wonder: Might the reds consider a Wilson for Wilson swap? It would be weird, we would be trading starting pitchers and first baseman at that point. But with the aquisition of arroyo, it sure seems like PWilly is going to be a 4mil middle reliever. With Belisle and Germano probably close to as effective as Paul, the addition of a high OBP guy at first could be worth it.

Maybe the reds can convert Pwilson to a closer? who knows.

If we could get them to take Paul, the overall transaction with the Bucs would be:

send
Paul Wilson
Sean Casey

get
Dave Williams
Craig Wilson

The reds certainly come out on top there i think.

[redsrbetter]

Very interesting. Thanks Wally for the update.

Wilson would be our only fit for their needs. I am wondering whoo the Braves and the other three teams are offering. It would be nice to get a list of those teams if anyone knows whom are talking to the Bucs about this.

My point here is that other teams may be offering more. I say screw it, give them someone else we don't need. We have plenty of that.

Now I wonder what this Ross trade was all about as well.

[General]

I doubt the Braves are offering much. We're stingy when it comes to trading.

[missionhockey21]

There is no way the Pirates would swap Craig Wilson for Paul Wilson, nor should they. If they're looking for starters, we're out of the running really. They would have only interest in righty Harang, we would say no and that would be the end of that chapter.