Diamondbacks quickly re-sign C Blanco (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 November 2011 09:31:29 PM. © MLB News Blog

The Arizona Diamondbacks have re-signed catcher Henry Blanco to a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2013. The deal was announced Thursday. Blanco declined a $1.15 million mutual option for 2012 on Tuesday, a day after the team exercised its end. He hit .250 with eight homers and 12 RBIs as Arizona’s backup catcher [...]

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MLBPA picks Verlander as player of year (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 November 2011 09:14:30 PM. © MLB News Blog

Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander has been selected player of the year in voting by the Major League Baseball Players Association, becoming the second pitcher to earn the honor. Verlander beat out Boston first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson for the Players Choice Award, announced Thursday.

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Red Sox say manager search in 4th inning (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 November 2011 09:02:29 PM. © MLB News Blog

Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said Thursday that the team’s search for a new manager is in about the fourth inning. Lucchino appeared in Hartford with former major league manager Bobby Valentine in a program put on by the World Affairs Council on the global rise in the popularity of baseball.

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Red Sox: Manager search in 4th inning (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 November 2011 09:02:29 PM. © MLB News Blog

Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said Thursday that the team’s search for a new manager is in about the fourth inning. Lucchino appeared in Hartford with former major league manager Bobby Valentine in a program put on by the World Affairs Council on the global rise in the popularity of baseball.

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McCourt to pay $131M in divorce (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 November 2011 08:50:29 PM. © MLB News Blog

Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt must pay his former wife and ex-team CEO Jamie McCourt $131 million by the end of April as part of their divorce settlement, according to a binding settlement filed Thursday. The agreement was signed by the former couple last month but made official Thursday. It calls for the lump [...]

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Jose Canseco & Lenny Dykstra To Fight In
Celebrity Boxing Bout!!!

post from 30-Year Old Cardboard on 03 November 2011 08:33:02 PM. © 30-Year Old Cardboard

Jose Canseco & Lenny Dykstra To Fight In ‘Celebrity’ Boxing Bout!!! By David Brown If you’re the kind of person who rubbernecks after a horrific automobile accent, a celebrity boxing card featuring Jose Canseco fighting Lenny Dykstra might be the … Continue reading →

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-celebrity-boxing-bout/

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RIP Matty Alouuuuuu

post from Love My Team on 03 November 2011 08:21:16 PM. © Love My Team

Matty Alou passed away this morning of unknown (or simply unannounced) causes. If you happen to be[...]

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Pujols, Fielder, Reyes top free agents (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 03 November 2011 08:03:30 PM. © MLB News Blog

Baseball’s free-agent signing season began Thursday with Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Aramis Ramirez all available in a market far stronger on hitting than starting pitching. C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle, Roy Oswalt, Edwin Jackson and Hiroki Kuroda topped the list of free-agent starters, while Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell, Francisco Rodriguez and [...]

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The Braves and Royals have already discussed a
Jurrjens trade, and the Braves have an interest in...

The Braves and Royals have already discussed a Jurrjens trade, and the Braves have an interest in minor league outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Wil Myers, amongst several other prospects in K.C.'s deep farm system. The Royals are known to be targeting veteran starting pitching on the trade market this winter so the two sides would seem like a fit as trading partners. As Bowman notes, Cain could be seen by the Braves as a future center field option if Michael Bourn isn't signed to an extension.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/braves-open-to-trading-jurrjens-prado.html

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Braves Quote For The Day ... Is That A Rumor I
Hear

Atlanta Braves beat writer Mark Bowman sparks the hot stove rumor mill with this nugget:

A Major League source said the Braves have informed some teams they might be willing to trade Jurrjens and Prado.

I do, of course, wonder how often teams like the Braves inform other teams that they are open to the possibility of trading a player, even a star player. Bowman goes on to add this:

The Royals are among the teams the Braves have approached about Jurrjens. The Braves are interested in a number of Kansas City’s highly-regarded young prospects, including outfielder Wil Myers, who has spent the past few weeks impressing in the Arizona Fall League.
Along with Myers, the Braves have also talked to the Royals about Lorenzo Cain. With centerfielder Michael Bourn’s contract set to expire at the end of the 2012 season, the Braves will spend time this winter looking at Cain and other similar players who could serve as Bourn’s replacement.

Now before we get too excited about Myers and/or Cain (Lorenzo, not Herman), let's remember that this is just a rumor, even though there is a "source." With that said, I believe Lorenzo Cain was a player the Braves had interest in when he was with the Brewers. I seem to recall his name floating around some Yunel Escobar rumor.

I find it strange that the Braves would trade both Prado and Jurrjens, especially to one team. Though if you'll recall I've been talking about the Braves need to trade either one of these guys since the end of the season (and I got a lot of flack for it). So I feel somewhat vindicated that the Braves and I are on the same wavelength.

With that said I will repeat that Jurrjens is the one they should trade first. He's a Boras client, he's slated for a big salary increase each of the next two years, and the Braves have plenty of pitching to compete for his spot in the rotation. My scenario all off-season has been for the Braves to trade Jurrjens for a left-field power bat, and then use Prado in a super-utility role, where he would spell Chipper several times a week, as well as play some left, right, first, and second.

You might be saying, "but Prado's better than a utility player." I agree, which is exactly why he would be such a valuable utility player. And on a team where the third baseman probably shouldn't be playing everyday, it makes sense to have a very capable player available to fill in. It wouldn't be ideal for Prado, but it would allow Fredi Gonzalez to play some matchups and rest almost two-thirds of his lineup every week.

The luxury the Braves are in is that the don't necessarily have to move either of these guys -- they have options now that they saved some money by trading Derek Lowe.

I do love the hot stove rumor mill. If the Braves are serious about moving one of these guys, then it might be a very active hot stove rumor mill.

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http://www.talkingchop.com/2011/11/3/2536618/atlanta-braves-trade-jurrjens-prado-
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