Ridiculous Trade Ideas
UPDATED 2:25 p.m. - to correct a typo smarmily pointed out by the likes of Geki. Feel good about yourself now, young man?
UPDATED 2:35 p.m. - to correct the spelling of “Sidney.” Anything else you guys would like to draw attention to?
Good morning, boys and girls! We've rolled out of bed early this Sunday afternoon for another thrilling edition of Ridiculous Trade Ideas, everyone's favorite feature in which we look at current trade rumors or ideas and make fun of them.
Our first item today comes from the DelcoTimes.com. In the subhead at the bottom of Dennis Deitch's sports piece Phillies scoop: Howard won't see Thome in homer derby he describes the rehabilitation of catcher Mike Lieberthal. Lieberthal's strained left hip was still bothering him so much that he wasn't even able to play any rehabilitation games while he was in beautiful Clearwater, Florida with the Class A Threshers. Even so, he's hopeful he'll be playing with the big team again after the All-Star Break.
If Lieberthal does return and plays pain-free in the second half of July, there's a chance he could find his name among the trade rumors. He is in the final year of his contract, and there are contending teams (the Rockies and Reds, to name two) who might want to give Lieberthal a try if the Phillies are willing to pick up a healthy percentage of the $3.75 million he has remaining on his contract for the second half of the season.
Fantastic! Just what the Reds need: another catcher. Perhaps they'd like to throw in a couple second baseman while they're at it. We're kind of light on utility infielders; there might be something there.
Ooh, but it looks like the Phillies are too late to deal. We just acquired an injured catcher who won't be playing for us: David Ross is day-to-day with his abdominal strain.
Our other item today relates to Jeff Weaver. And just when you thought all that silliness was done. To make room for the newly acquired Weaver in the rotation, the Cardinals have designated for assignment Sidney Ponson.
At first glance, a person might think that Ponson could find a place with the Reds. Sure, he averaged just over five innings per start and was grumpy about the idea of pitching out of the 'pen, but he's the proud owner of a 5.24 ERA. That's better than one of the current Reds starters (Joe Mays).
But the real obstacle to bringing Ponson on board is his physique. I mean, how would it make Josh Hancock feel to have been cut for coming to camp out of shape, only to have his new teammate nicknamed “Fat Sidney” picked up by the Reds? That would just be hurtful.