Yahoo's Gordon Edes shakes down some trade candidates, and of course, a team with a $100m+ payroll that is 8.5 back by the end of May is mentioned. That would be us, if you're wondering...
The Tampa Bay Rays, who just placed closer Troy Percival on the disabled list and are anticipating his retirement after one too many injuries, need a closer. The early returns on Jason Isringhausen are not promising. One scout said that Isringhausen could possibly help as a middle reliever, but his days as an elite closer are history.
A logical trading partner for Tampa Bay would be the Astros because Jose Valverde is a year away from free agency, but that’s assuming Astros owner Drayton McLane would commence on a long-overdue rebuilding plan. Houston would probably ask for Wade Davis, Tampa Bay’s best pitching prospect after David Price.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
