Pirates trade Wasdin to Blue Jays/ Lofton, Kendall Rumors

[imgreat95]

Pirates vs. Brewers, 8:05 p.m., Miller Park, Milwaukee. TV, radio: Fox Sports Net; KDKA-AM (1020) and the Pirates Radio Network. RHP Kris Benson (5-8) will start for the Pirates; LHP Glendon Rusch (1-11) for the Brewers.


NOTEBOOK
*The Pirates traded Nashville RHP John Wasdin, 30, to Toronto for left-handed batting OF Rich Thompson, 24. At first glance, this appears to be a "So what?" deal. But it could be the precursor to the Pirates trading Kenny Lofton to the Chicago Cubs, who need a center fielder in the wake of the season-ending knee injury to Corey Patterson. Thompson, Toronto's sixth-round pick in the 2000 draft out of James Madison University, is a 6-foot-3, 180-pounder who has little pop but has great speed. He split this season between Class AAA Syracuse and Class AA New Haven and batted a composite .306 with no home runs, 16 RBIs and 26 stolen bases (in 30 attempts) in 87 games. So where does Thompson play for Nashville, which features left-handed batting CF Tike Redman in the leadoff spot? And the Sounds have prospects Tony Alvarez in left field and J.J. Davis in right field. If the Pirates trade Lofton to the Cubs, Redman -- or Thompson -- could supplant Lofton in center field. And who might the Pirates get from the Cubs in return for Lofton? How about 2B Bobby Hill? Hill has washed out in two trials with the Cubs and currently is with Class AAA Iowa.

* The Pirates announced yesterday that LHP Mike Gonzalez has been promoted from Class AA Altoona to Nashville. Gonzalez missed the first 2 1/2 months of this season because of back spasms. He pitched in five games each for Class A Lynchburg and Altoona but hasn't been built up enough to assume Wasdin's spot in the Nashville rotation. That spot could go to RHP Justin Reid, who has pitched in middle and long relief for the Sounds for much of this season. Nashville reliever Shawn Camp was demoted to Altoona.

*Another trade rumor circulating a bit yesterday involved Pirates C Jason Kendall going to the Texas Rangers. The Rangers definitely have made inquiries about Kendall, according to a National League scout.

[GiveHyzduashot]

Point one: I like this trade. Wasdin is a 30 year old pitcher with almost no major league success. With the pitching depth the Pirates have at Nashville (and what will become pitching depth currently at AA and A ball), Wasdin is easily replaceable.

I was looking at Thompson's stats. He seems to be a great contact hitter, but he also seems to take walks at a Randall Simon like rate. I think he had 10 walks to 9 strikeouts at AA, and AAA was something like 25 strikeouts to 15 walks ... somewhere in that range. And one other stat that made me look twice: his OBP was higher than his slugging percentage at both AA and AAA ... I have NEVER seen someone's OBP be higher than his slugging percentage. That means one thing to me ... he is getting a lot of luck with seeing eye groundballs, and how long will it be until he doesn't get those hits anymore? When he doesn't get those hits, he's nothing.

I also wonder where Thompson will play. He surely won't be sent to AA, because he already fared well at AA, but more importantly in the same league ... and if that isn't good enough for a reason, there's not any spots in the OF at Altoona for him to play, either.

Can't see the Pirates trading Lofton until they are definitely out of the race ... if nothing else, DL can wait until the waiver deadline in August to move him if we're out of it.

Point two: Much needed. He was dominating.

Point three: Trade Kendall to the Rangers ... DESPERATELY need to clear his salary off the books.

[3-2 Changeup]

Man I would love to see Kendall and his "I'm just the catcher" style of leadership hit the road. He's a punk. I'd love to see him in the strip district at closing time and kick his *****y little ass. Whew! I do feel better. Cigarette anyone?

[Greymire]

I like the deal. I am curious to see how the trade rumours play out.

[imgreat95]

I do not like the idea of trading Lofton right now. Especially when the team believes that they are in the race. What kind of message does that send to the team if Littlefield basically says "you guys don't have a chance" by trading Lofton now?? Yeah, I could see waiting a couple of weeks and see where we stand at the deadline, but why send a guy who is still one of the top leadoff men in baseball to a team which you are trying to catch up to in the standings at this point in the season?

[3-2 Changeup]

I agree on keeping Lofton. His value will be high closer to the deadline. I can't see trading him just for the sake of a deal. It's not like you're going to get an impact player for him.

[Greymire]

Actually I aree with DL on this. How can they feel they are in any race if they are this far below .500? Show us you can do it. Get us to .500 and then we can talk pennant and mybe getting someone to help us now. Otherwise it should be business as usal and build for next year and beyond. I hope we can keep going, but the fact that after beating up the Astros, we still can't put away a team like the Brewers proves that we are not that great yet. I realize the Brewers have been playing good ball as of late, but so had we.

[imgreat95]

Ralph, I am not saying not to build for the future. What I am saying, is what does it accomplish to trade Lofton now as opposed to waiting 3 weeks?? The only thing that does is send a bad message to the fans and more importantly to the players.

The message that needs to be sent is by kicking mac in the ass. How do you leave the hottest hitter on your team on the bench for the 2nd game in a row??

[GiveHyzduashot]

Come on, Shawn ... don't you know it's more beneficial to have Wilson go 0-4 because he's right-handed and is going up against a lefty?! Man, we can't let Stairs bat against another lefty ... that's a sin in Mac's managing world.

Sheesh ... get with it. ;)

Wasdin, by the way, is starting against the Yankees tomorrow.

[3-2 Changeup]

Lofton is going to be the most desirable leadoff guy available. Waiting will only increase his value. Do we really need another marginal prospect to clog the system?

[Greymire]

Sitting thge hot hitter has been a trademark of Mac from day one. He has done it to almost every player at one point. As for Lofton, I can see a value with waiting, but if the right deal were to come along, I do not know if we could pass it up either. I see your point, and also agree somewhat.