Jacque Jones headed to desert?

[Arby]

According to Jayson Stark, Mantei could be the bait.

From Rotoworld:

ESPN's Jayson Stark is reporting that the Diamondbacks could ship Matt Mantei to the Twins for Jacque Jones. Mantei is due $2.7 million more than Jones in 2004. If the Diamondbacks are willing to pay at least half of that amount, perhaps a deal could get done. The Diamondbacks would play Jones over Danny Bautista in right field. Jose Valverde would take over as Arizona's closer

If the Dbacks could pull this off, Bautista becomes the 4th outfielder, where he belongs. Even if it means adding 1.35 mil to the deal, I'd still do it.

Get it done Joe.

 

[OSCAR_VILLAREAL]

definitly i was about to post a thread on this but my details were vague

thanks

 

[devilalum]

I could live with this.

I always thought the "Iceman" was more like the "Ice Cream Man" anyway.

 

[Ryanwb]

This would be a great pickup!

 

[KingLouieLouie]

This rumor does make perfect sense for both sides....The Twins recently lost both Guadardo and Hawkins, so they are in dire need of a closer...They also have a surplus of younger OFs that includes Ford, Mohr, and Cuddyer.

Jones would obviously be an immediate upgrade over Bautista and is the ideal lead-off hitter for them....Should be interesting..

 

[Ryanwb]

Originally posted by KingLouieLouie
Jones would obviously be an immediate upgrade over Bautista and is the ideal lead-off hitter for them....Should be interesting..

I do see two issues.....

1) Jones' speed is a waste in RF...can Gonzo go to RF?

2) Jones has the, "I'm not a lead off hitter, I'm a power hitter" train of thought. I watched him last year extensively because he was on my fantasy team....he pissed me of like he was on the D'backs because he always tried to swing for the fences. I know Brenly will fill his head with that garbage.

He does hit for average and has above average defense (don't know about his arm strength)

....I still agree this move would go far in benefiting the D'backs

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Originally posted by Ryanwb
I do see two issues.....

1) Jones' speed is a waste in RF...can Gonzo go to RF?

2) Jones has the, "I'm not a lead off hitter, I'm a power hitter" train of thought. I watched him last year extensively because he was on my fantasy team....he pissed me of like he was on the D'backs because he always tried to swing for the fences. I know Brenly will fill his head with that garbage.

He does hit for average and has above average defense (don't know about his arm strength)

....I still agree this move would go far in benefiting the D'backs

I also had Jones on several of my Fantasy teams and he also pissed me off at times because he is such a streaky player... He's not the prototypical MLB lead-off hitter obviously, but is better than the current options on the Dbacks roster..... He did have a K-105xs-21 walks which is a staggering ratio....

Does anyone know the status of Gonzalez? Will he be fully recovered from his surgery in time for Spring Training?

I would put Jones in CF and move Finley to RF.... Oh well, it's fun to speculate......HAHA

 

[wierwolf]

Definately Bring Jones in!!! That would be great!!

 

[Lefty]

The Red Sox have just signed Keith Foulke so the A's are looking for a relief pitcher. Maybe try and trade Mantei to the A's.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Originally posted by Zona90
The Red Sox have just signed Keith Foulke so the A's are looking for a relief pitcher. Maybe try and trade Mantei to the A's.

I just don't know if the Athletics have any OFs to offer the Dbacks in return. Jermaine Dye struggled last season due to injury and they wouldn't part with Eric Byrnes since he's playing at an All-Star level at the Major League mininum.....

I wouldnt be stunned if a Mantei-for-Jones swap is completed just before Christmas....

 

[devilalum]

I read that the Twins are shopping Jones to dump salary.

Mantei makes more that Jones. I don't see how this would work?

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Originally posted by devilalum
I read that the Twins are shopping Jones to dump salary.

Mantei makes more that Jones. I don't see how this would work?

It was quoted at the beginning of the thread that the Diamondbacks would possibly agree to pick-up half of Mantei's $7 mil contract, while Jones is at the final year of his contract ($4.35 mil).....

 

[moviegeekjn]

Originally posted by Ryanwb
1) Jones' speed is a waste in RF...can Gonzo go to RF?

Since RF is the spot for your strongest OF arm... Gonzo is NOT a viable candidate.

 

[devilalum]

Originally posted by KingLouieLouie
It was quoted at the beginning of the thread that the Diamondbacks would possibly agree to pick-up half of Mantei's $7 mil contract, while Jones is at the final year of his contract ($4.35 mil).....

So that saves the Twins about 800,000?

 

[schillingfan]

.304/.333/.464/.797 $4.35 mil

Looks like a more expensive, speedier Shea Hillenbrand.

 

[BOB_Man24]

I'll take him, we trim our payroll by 2 mil in this case and upgrade our outfield, as well as get a solid leadoff hitter.

 

[AZZenny]

They are rumoring a Q for Colbrunn deal - trade of salaries, and I'd rather have Colby. But then they suggest the deal might expand to include Seattle's need for a backup first-baseman, if Colby goes... and we need a RF and lead-off guy...so here's my proposal:

Q and Hillenbrand and Mantei for Colby and Ichiro.

Works for me...work for you guys?

 

[moviegeekjn]

Originally posted by AZZenny

Q and Hillenbrand and Mantei for Colby and Ichiro.

Works for me...work for you guys?

LMAO Think I could live with that, even with that Ichiro guy going into a slump the last part of the 2003 season. It's about time that Joe Jr. didn't get screwed on an exchange.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Originally posted by devilalum
So that saves the Twins about 800,000?

Yeah, I know $800,000 isnt quite the "salary dump", but I actually read somewhere (I believe MLB.com) that the Twins are interested in just taking on someone with the same salary in the trade anyways.....

My logic why $800,000 is even adequate if they indeed were looking to "dump" salary..... They're a closer away from contending in what is the worst division in all of baseball, the
AL Central....They have a surplus of younger/cheaper OFs (Lew Ford, Michael Cuddyer, Michael Restovich, Michael Ryan, and Dustan Mohr) who all could easily fill the void of Jones if he was traded.... Most of the closers/relievers who have switched teams (including Guadardo and Hawkins) have signed between $6-$8 mil contracts, which would make taking on half of Mantei's '04 even more economically viable for them..... Ever since I can remember the Twins have always acquired a top-notch closer such as Ron Davis, Jeff Reardon, Steve Bedrosian, Rick Aguilera, etc who all (for the most part) assisted them into post-season play.....

The only reason why this trade doesn't sound logical for the Dback's standpoint is this.... Jones' contract expires this year and I dont think they'd be in the position to sign both him and Sexson to long-term deals.....The only scenario would be to trade Jones (if they did acquire him) at the Trade Deadline (depending on where the Dbacks are in the standings).....

 

[wierwolf]

Alright we got Mayne. So is there any more talks in getting Jones? Looks like Baltimore is gonna sign the big names. they had to I guess to keep up with NY and Boston. What would our counter be for the possibility of Pettite and Clemons being in Houston?

 

[Espo]

Lets make this deal happen, Jones makes us a legit contender.

 

[Indrid Cold]

Looks like a more expensive, speedier Shea Hillenbrand

Well they're both the same age, but that's about all they have in common. I'll take Jones over Hillenbrand because of his 40 point higher career OPS, which includes an OBP that's 21 points higher, than Hillenbrand's in 800 more career at bats. And Jacque Jones can actually field his position while Hillenbrand can't.

 

[Lefty]

This from ESPN Insiders:

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Shane Reynolds
Braves
Diamondbacks
Giants Dec. 15 - Both Arizona and San Francisco have holes in their rotations and are talking with Reynolds, who went 11-9 for the Braves last season. The Arizona Republic suggests that the relationship between Reynolds' agent, Tommy Tanzer and the Diamondbacks could tip that scale in Arizona's favor.


WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jacque Jones
Twins
Diamondbacks
Twins
Padres Dec. 15 - ESPN's Jayson Stark is hearing the Twins could deal Jones to Arizona for reliever Matt Mantei to help rebuild a bullpen gutted by the loss of LaTroy Hawkins and Eddie Guardado. The Padres also are said to be seeking to acquire Jones, but the Braves' acquisition of J.D. Drew likely takes them out of the mix.

 

[Stan C]

I'd prefer to hang on to Mantei. If Valverde has some of the problems he did in double AA, we'll need a solid closer if we are to compete. If we can't compete, Matt might be worth a lot more in July when other teams that are desperate for a closer to make their run are shopping.

 

[mark1]

Zona90

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