DBacks possible landing spots for Paul Konerko and Colby Rasmus?

[Diamondback Jay]

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported that the Diamondbacks are prepared to "make a strong push" to acquire Colby Rasmus this winter.

Strauss named the Diamondbacks among one of three teams (the Braves and Blue Jays being the others) who are expected to make the biggest pushes to trade for the talented young OF.

Rasmus still has some upside and has a nice power bat. Question is, would he play LF if Arizona would hypothetically acquire him? He's a CF by nature, yet he and Chris Young are redundant at the position. He's also feuded openly with Tony LaRussa, thus causing his value to dip to the point where the Cards are considering moving him.

I'm curious as to Arizona's intentions if they do wind up making a push for Rasmus. Could it mark the end of Young's tenure in Phoenix, and could he be a trade candidate?

On top of things, the Diamondbacks also reportedly have expressed interest in bringing Scottsdale resident Paul Konerko home to man 1B for the Snakes. While at 34, Konerko would only be a short term option until Arizona can develop a 1B, he is also a legit power threat as a perennial 30-35 threat and hit 39 in 2010. He'd be at worst a pretty good stop gap option.

 

[Dback Jon]

Trading Young - only if the Dbacks think this year is the peak of his career...

 

[The Commish]

Trading Young - only if the Dbacks think this year is the peak of his career...

If we trade him he'll blow up somewhere else, and if we keep him he'll regress. Seems to always work out that way.

 

[azsportsfan01]

Konerko has been rumored to be coming here for years. It is the same reasoning that said McNabb was going to come here. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[HooverDam]

I like Rasmus and he'd definitely play LF for the Snakes, you have to keep CY in Center, he's very good defensively. One bad thing about Rasmus though is, he strikes out a lot too. For a team that says they're wanting to cut down on their strike outs, he struck out 148 times in 2010 a similar number to Upton (though Upton played in about 10 fewer games).

Even still I'd say he's worth bringing in, it would be nice to have the LF spot finally solidified since Gonzos departure.

Konerko would be great too, but I don't know if the Snakes could afford him. It would be nice to have a guy over there that can blast 30 HRs+ a year. If they bring in Rasmus and Konerko it makes moving Reynolds a lot more palatable since you won't miss his power as much.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I like Rasmus and he'd definitely play LF for the Snakes, you have to keep CY in Center, he's very good defensively. One bad thing about Rasmus though is, he strikes out a lot too. For a team that says they're wanting to cut down on their strike outs, he struck out 148 times in 2010 a similar number to Upton (though Upton played in about 10 fewer games).

Even still I'd say he's worth bringing in, it would be nice to have the LF spot finally solidified since Gonzos departure.

Konerko would be great too, but I don't know if the Snakes could afford him. It would be nice to have a guy over there that can blast 30 HRs+ a year. If they bring in Rasmus and Konerko it makes moving Reynolds a lot more palatable since you won't miss his power as much.

Rasmus does hack at a lot of pitches he shouldn't. That said, his swing is fixable with proper managing, and he's got the power to be a legit 30 homer threat, with some decent speed on the basepaths.

I also speculate that the Snakes might turn to Konerko and trade Reynolds.

 

[Matt L]

I like Rasmus too, but I do wonder what we would have to give up to aquire him.

 

[Bucaguy]

I don't think Konorko is living Chicago.. They would be nuts to let him leave

 

[overseascardfan]

With all the speculation surrounding Konerko, I would rather just keep LaRoche who had a very nice year and is a couple of years younger. Depending on the asking price for Rasmus, I would be interested but his high K totals defeat the purpose of getting rid of Reynolds and his wreckless approach at the plate. Turning this team into a contender soon is going to take spending money in FA, sustaining success will come from the draft.

My offseason wish list:
Bullpen: RHP Rafael Soriano, LHP Scott Downs, RHP Frank Francisco
SP: Bronson Arroyo
LF: Josh Willingham (trade)
1B: Re-sign Adam LaRoche

 

[Diamondback Jay]

With all the speculation surrounding Konerko, I would rather just keep LaRoche who had a very nice year and is a couple of years younger. Depending on the asking price for Rasmus, I would be interested but his high K totals defeat the purpose of getting rid of Reynolds and his wreckless approach at the plate. Turning this team into a contender soon is going to take spending money in FA, sustaining success will come from the draft.

My offseason wish list:
Bullpen: RHP Rafael Soriano, LHP Scott Downs, RHP Frank Francisco
SP: Bronson Arroyo
LF: Josh Willingham (trade)
1B: Re-sign Adam LaRoche

I actually think this is a pretty solid off-season.

I wonder what Soriano's asking price is going to be, as he showed the signs of being a top level closer, yet we really only have one year's body of work to base our assumptions off. I assumed he was going to be a stud when Tampa Bay traded for him, and thus far he's lived up to my belief. However again, he could just as soon go the other way.

I REALLY like the idea of Willingham, but I doubt Washington trades him. I could be wrong though.

 

[overseascardfan]

I actually think this is a pretty solid off-season.

I wonder what Soriano's asking price is going to be, as he showed the signs of being a top level closer, yet we really only have one year's body of work to base our assumptions off. I assumed he was going to be a stud when Tampa Bay traded for him, and thus far he's lived up to my belief. However again, he could just as soon go the other way.

I REALLY like the idea of Willingham, but I doubt Washington trades him. I could be wrong though.

I wouldn't really be concerned with Soriano's money price tag, if he ends up being a Type A FA then I would shy away because we would have to send a 1st rounder to TB in a year that we need both of ours. Towers is known for finding good bull pen guys on the cheap so stay tuned.

Willingham was supposedly on the block at the deadline, WAS may have asked for a lot so he didn't get moved. He's 31 so I would think that he would cost a lot in terms of prospects, maybe a couple of mid level guys.

Again, FA will probably be set up by trades. I am putting money on Towers dealing Reynolds, so if he can get a couple of good bull pen guys we may not need to sign as many RP's. Piecoro mentioned OAK as a possible destination but his idea of getting Kevin Kouzmanoff and a SP was not a great suggestion as Kouzmanoff is not an upgrade over Reynolds and OAK will not trade Gonzalez, Anderson or Cahill so scrap that.

 

[FArting]

Go after Carl Crawford.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

His price tag is going to be in the 13-15 million per season range. I don't know if Arizona goes that high.

 

[azsportsfan01]

I wouldn't really be concerned with Soriano's money price tag, if he ends up being a Type A FA then I would shy away because we would have to send a 1st rounder to TB in a year that we need both of ours. Towers is known for finding good bull pen guys on the cheap so stay tuned.

Our 1st round picks are protected. We would send our 2nd over.

 

[Brian]

Go after Carl Crawford.

Ditto. Open the check book, write his name on a check, and let him fill in the rest.

Solves the left field problem, adds another LH hitter, and can you imagine the SPEED our outfield would have?

We would be a nightmare on the basepaths.

 

[overseascardfan]

Our 1st round picks are protected. We would send our 2nd over.

Good to know. As far as Crawford, NY, BOS, LAA will all offer more than ARZ can so I would go after Soriano and Beltre. Beltre has said he wants to play on the west coast and we could use a 3B if/when we trade Reynolds. Maybe use Reynolds to get a LF.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Ditto. Open the check book, write his name on a check, and let him fill in the rest.

Solves the left field problem, adds another LH hitter, and can you imagine the SPEED our outfield would have?

We would be a nightmare on the basepaths.

Love Crawford, but if you're going to spend that kind of dough, you have an open checkbook for Cliff Lee. It's pretty obvious the one common tie between all the contenders: great pitching. I don't care what it takes, I'd pay the man.

 

[Brian]

Love Crawford, but if you're going to spend that kind of dough, you have an open checkbook for Cliff Lee. It's pretty obvious the one common tie between all the contenders: great pitching. I don't care what it takes, I'd pay the man.

Totally agree. I wasn't aware Cliff Lee was going to be a free agent. In a perfect world, if he was to become available, I'd rather go after the Rangers other lefty C.J. Wilson. He's a Cliff Lee clone without the name recognition.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Totally agree. I wasn't aware Cliff Lee was going to be a free agent. In a perfect world, if he was to become available, I'd rather go after the Rangers other lefty C.J. Wilson. He's a Cliff Lee clone without the name recognition.

Yeah, never heard of him before this year, but picked him up on my fantasy team, and he was really effective, especially in that bandbox which would bode well for Chase field. Towers said pitching, pitching pitching...time for him to make it happen.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Lee is wanting Sabathia money fellas.. At MINIMUM, he's getting 19 million a season I'm afraid.. Unless he takes the mother of all hometown discounts to stay with Texas.

Crawford will fetch 14-15 million per season.

I'm not trying to be a downer here, but please don't expect the Diamondbacks to make this kind of splash in free agency or the off-season. If so, you'll wind up disappointed.

 

[Matt L]

CJ Wilson will be a free agent in 2012. If he has another season like this one, he will probably get a pretty good contract.

 

[overseascardfan]

Lee is wanting Sabathia money fellas.. At MINIMUM, he's getting 19 million a season I'm afraid.. Unless he takes the mother of all hometown discounts to stay with Texas.

Crawford will fetch 14-15 million per season.

I'm not trying to be a downer here, but please don't expect the Diamondbacks to make this kind of splash in free agency or the off-season. If so, you'll wind up disappointed.

I agree with you Jay. I along with a majority of this board feel ARZ needs some major talent to turn this team into a contender but guys like Crawford, Beltre, Street & Lee are pipe dreams. Towers sees what we do, a team that needs serious bull pen upgrades, to cut down on strikeouts, a productive LF and another SP. I think he does all of it without going for the big FA's. He will most likely nab an older SP and wait for Parker & the 2 SP's I hope they draft. LF and bullpen will be done through trades and second tier FA's.

 

[TJ]

Love Crawford, but if you're going to spend that kind of dough, you have an open checkbook for Cliff Lee. It's pretty obvious the one common tie between all the contenders: great pitching. I don't care what it takes, I'd pay the man.

I think Texas is hell bent on keeping Lee. For the first time in ages, they have a legit rotation with him, CJ Wilson, Tommy Hunter, and Colby Lewis.

The Rangers used to be a team who only sought after power, yet it always landed them in the bottom of the AL West because of an egregious team ERA. Now, they are 1-1 in the ALCS.

But yes, we do need to pursue pitching. Left handed pitching specifically. I think Ted Lily would be a decent pick up. I dont expect the D-Backs to do much more

 

[azsportsfan01]

I think Ted Lily would be a decent pick up. I dont expect the D-Backs to do much more

Lilly signed an extension yesterday with the Dodgers.

 

[TJ]

Lilly signed an extension yesterday with the Dodgers.

Oops...missed that one