Quick update – ESPN’s Buster Olney (sub req’d for his blog, but SO worth it*) was on the Scott Van Pelt radio show with Ryen Russillo and Adnan Virk talking trade deadline of course and mentioned that he just doesn’t see the Pirates being a fit for Justin Upton. Chief among his reasons was the fact that the Pirates system isn’t a great match because it is flush with arms much like the Diamondbacks’ system (Trevor Bauer, Tyler Skaggs and Archie Bradley are all being tabbed with star potential). That makes sense, but at the same time you can seriously never have “too much” pitching. I still think a Starling Marte/Gerrit Cole or Jameson Taillon package could get a deal done. You don’t get much more plugged in that Buster, though, so he could be speaking from knowledge acquired from one or both of the teams in question.
The SVP Show has an archive that usually contains most of their segments, but it’s not updated for Wednesday as of this writing, but check here for the segment.
* No, I’m not plugging an ESPN product because this is an ESPN-affiliated site. I’ve long banged the drum for Insider as a great investment especially when you get it and the mag for like $25 bucks. They made a concerted effort a few years back to really make Insider special and I believe they’ve achieved that goal.
What about Alphonso Soriano?? It seems to me the Cubs would give him up for little. Understand he’s got knee issues, but only to the point that he needs a couple days off a week. See him as a good fit in RF, in a platoon with GI Jones. A veteran with playoff experience as well, if I’m not mistaken and still good pop in his bat.
You know, that’s not a bad idea. It would all depend how much the Cubbies would pay Pittsburgh to take him. He is still owed $18 mil per THROUGH 2014. If the pricing worked out favorably for Pittsburgh, I wouldn’t hate it. He is still a powerful bat.