Today's Diamondback Rumo(u)rs - and some actual news...

by Jim McLennan on Dec 8, 2005 4:18 PM EST in Diamondbacks News

My Internet connection - never the fastest - is running particularly poorly today, so I'll probably end up keeping this relatively brief...

Final score from the Rule V Draft: Arizona 0, The Rest 3. We lost three players in the draft, though probably the only one you've heard of (William K excepted!) is infielder Dan Uggla, who went to Florida - funnily enough, they were very active throughout, vacuuming up minimum wage players to replace the expensive talent they've traded away. Uggla almost made the 40-man roster for us, after hitting .297 at Double-A Tennessee, and has to stay on the Marlins' 25-man roster the whole year, or we get him back at half-price.

Further down the line, we lost pitcher Josh Perrault, who posted a 2.07 ERA in 45 games for Class A South Bend, and outfielder Josh Cook (.314, 19 HR at Class A Lancaster). However, Cook was seen as too old - at 25 - to be at the Class A level, though Perrault's curveball was well-regarded in the Diamondbacks organization.

With the Mets-Oakland talks for Zito having apparently soured, the Mets-Arizona ones for Vazquez seem to be back to the forefront. The Newark Star-Ledger - who were about the only place I saw an Estrada trade mentioned ahead of time - say the name of Lastings Milledge has cropped up in those talks. Milledge + Benson for Vazquez? We get a starter and a CF, which ,akes sense here.

Meanwhile, it seems the Cardinals have backed out of the running, because of our stern refusal to take any of Vazquez's salary on board. Over at Viva El Birdos, they report the deal being worked on was "Marquis, Suppan, and two prospects (prob'y Wainwright and Lambert) for Vazquez and coveted outfield prospect Carlos Quentin." While this would help free up the corner logjam, and I don't know much about the prospects involved, Marquis and Suppan are both free agents after this season, and that doesn't fit in with our plans to rebuild. I like to think we wouldn't dump Quentin for a pair of one-year rentals, so I think this one is most likely fabrication.

Finally, looks like the South Bend Silver Hawks won't be moving anywhere. An agreement to purchase the team - probably leading to it moving to Marion, IL - has been recommended for rejection by the Midwest League authorities. The main reason for it being turned down is it would add an extra five hours onto travel time for other teams in the league, but a "loyal fan base" in South Bend may have influenced the decision. Nice to know one team in the organization has that...

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No way

we get rid of Quentin. Javier Vazquez to St. Louis is a possibility but once I heard Quentin involved,(I've been following it closely at VEB) it was dead once the Q was written in the post.

Lastings Milledge and Kris Benson for Javier Vazquez(plus money probably) I would do in a heartbeat. Of course, Minaya isn't that dumb(in the sense that he probably has smart people around him telling him not to trade him). But if Byrnes somehow fleeces him I would love him for a couple of years. But why stop there? We then trade Glaus and Cintron and some cash to Boston for Andy Marte and David Wells. We then can safely say we have the best young talent around. In my dreams yes, but not entirely impossible.

by Otacon on Dec 8, 2005 5:23 PM EST reply actions

Suppan, a cancer. Is Anna part of Kris' package?

Jimmie:

Jeff Suppan was and is a cancer. He was a starter here during the inception year. He was traded and then talked trash. His record sucked then and it doesn't reflect much now.

If we all thought that the Suns had problems with Jason Kidd's bride, just wait. Anna Benson is a shameless self promoter, for herself and her mediocre talent of a husband. I don't think the media spotlight burns so bright here, as in the Big Apple. The only way that Kris Benson comes to the Diamondbacks is if there is some contract renegotiations and incentives are ladden for Anna's soft/hard-core porn career.

I am thinking that if for some strange reason Casey Daigle makes the team, God forbid, and Anna and Kris are here, Anna and Jenny will somehow become a strange pair of bedfellows.

By the way Jimmie, Anna has been on the Stern show frequently. She has stated publicly that if she ever thought or caught Kris cheating on her that she would have no hesitation but to bed down with Kris' fellow teammates and coaches, while publicly airing her dirty laundry. Yeah, I think Moorad, Kendrick, Dozier, and Byrnes want this kind of publicity!

livestrong & wear yellow; the truth is out there; it may not be true, but accurate, Dan Rather; bababooey to you all!

by icecoldmo on Dec 9, 2005 6:16 AM EST reply actions

image problems

I know it's a new management regime, but it seems that the Colangelo-related sports teams, and Arizona teams in general, tend to dump guys with image issues. That doesn't prevent them from picking guys up, of course, but I think Byrnes will at least take a moment to think about Benson in purple. Maybe it's the weather, but when Kurt Warner got here, people were worried about his wife too, and she has been off the radar. Maybe Anna Benson will disappear here.

I'm also thinking of the Corey Patterson possibility in center. I can't get my brain around the deal that would get him here, but I think it could be made to work. And then Anna could stay in NYC.

by Louchart45 on Dec 9, 2005 12:05 PM EST reply actions

Strange bedfellows

[ I am thinking that if for some strange reason Casey Daigle makes the team, God forbid, and Anna and Kris are here, Anna and Jenny will somehow become a strange pair of bedfellows. ]

I imagine Maxim would be there for that photo shoot. :-)

[ She has stated publicly that if she ever thought or caught Kris cheating on her that she would have no hesitation but to bed down with Kris' fellow teammates and coaches, while publicly airing her dirty laundry. ]

That sound you hear is Mark Grace lobbying hard for Benson to be signed, and intending to come out of retirement too...

[ I know it's a new management regime, but it seems that the Colangelo-related sports teams, and Arizona teams in general, tend to dump guys with image issues. ]

Welcome, Louchart45! Going on track record - Al Pedrique - one wonders if the D'backs even know about Anna Benson? Interesting moral dilemma though: while I can see a player's image issues and/or moral stance being relevant, would you reject a trade for, say, Dontrelle Willis, just because he was married to Paris Hilton?

As usual, the higher your skill level, the more moral leeway you'll get from your team. Which should mean Benson will need to spend all his spare time at the children's hospital, and leave his wife duct-taped to the kitchen counter...

by Jim McLennan on Dec 9, 2005 2:03 PM EST reply actions

You get the warts and all!

Louchart:

You can bet that the lovely Anna will be escorting her meal ticket to sunny Arizona.

I would like to see her act when Spring Training occurs here in the warming and soothing Desert!

Anna will be our Joumana Part II!

Kurt's wife does not have her sights set on the Adult Entertainment world like Ms. Anna. Kurt's wife has a different set of lifestyle morals than Anna.

"'Not that there is anything wrong with that!'"

livestrong & wear yellow; the truth is out there; it may not be true, but accurate, Dan Rather; bababooey to you all!

by icecoldmo on Dec 9, 2005 2:44 PM EST reply actions

Jimmie, You are the Man!

Jimmie:

You snuck in before I completed my previous derelict composition.

I love the Mark Grace reference.

I feel sorry for Dontrelle Willis still being on the Fire Sale Fish and also being referenced with the skank-bag, rotten, filthy-rich, spoiled, "Unhot", vacuous, broad, Paris Hilton. She reminds me of what a non and untalented female can exploit through selfless and shameless promotion.

God Bless America!

And most of all, MERRY CHRISTMAS to us ALL!

livestrong & wear yellow; the truth is out there; it may not be true, but accurate, Dan Rather; bababooey to you all!

by icecoldmo on Dec 9, 2005 3:05 PM EST reply actions

Trading spouses

Thanks for the welcome, Jim!

You make a good point about nixing a trade due to spousal interference. Also, Benson isn't the solution, as the Mets well know. And Mrs. Warner isn't dedicated to being in the spotlight the way Mrs. Benson is. (You'll find that my typing fingers sometimes act independently of my brain, so I'll expect corrections when that happens...)