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Hot Stove: MLB Trade
Rumor Page
by Patrick Austin
Mr. Austin is a freelance
writer who covers sports for a number of web sites including
RealGM.com, Hoopsworld.com, and Fanstop.com. He currently
also covers entertainment and sports for Vainquer magazine.
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I love the baseball off-season. So many mega-star trade rumors
are bantered about, and this off-season should be no different.
Sammy Sosa, Randy Johnson, Mike Piazza, Andrew Jones, Chipper
Jones, and Tim Hudson are just a few of the names that will be
heavily discussed. Let’s take a look at some of the hottest
of hot stove trade rumors…
MLB Trade Rumor #1-Sammy Sosa to the New York Mets; Cliff
Floyd to the Chicago Cubs
This MLB trade rumor has been discussed in the New York Post.
It certainly is plausible since the Mets are one of the few teams
that can take on Sosa’s massive contract. I don’t see
how this helps them very much on the field, but it would put them
at the top of the headlines in New York(that is, until the Yankees
land either Pedro or Big Unit).
On the Cubs end, this would be a solid move considering Sosa
has apparently burned every bridge in the Windy city. Replacing
him with Cliff Floyd wouldn’t be that much of a downgrade.
Floyd isn’t the same “star” Sosa is, but he is
definitely a solid player.
MLB Trade Rumor #2-Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees;
Javier Vazquez, prospects, and cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks
The Yankees are one of only a handful of teams that Johnson
would accept a trade to. New York is enamored with the Big Unit,
so why hasn’t a deal been completed? Well, if the D’backs
are going to trade Johnson, they want talented prospects that
will be able to play in the major leagues soon. Unfortunately,
the Yankees farm system is depleted to such a degree, it will
be very difficult to conjure up enough young talent to entice
Arizona. The Yankees biggest asset is that they are able to take
on Johnson’s salary, and pay a large portion of Vazquez’s
contract.
MLB Trade Rumor #3-Mike Piazza to the Anaheim Angels; Prospects
to the New York Mets
Anaheim is going to be connected with almost every MLB trade
rumor since ownership is apparently willing to increase the payroll
by over forty million dollars this off-season. This deal would
give the Angels another “star” to go along with Vladimir
Guerrero. Piazza is still a fan favorite in the Los Angeles area.
Though the question remains—can he still be a productive
catcher, or will he have to move to first base?
Here are some links with more MLB trade rumor speculation…
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