Jerry Crasnick

  (1:00 PM)

Hey folks, It should be an active week for transactions. Since I have no clue who the Bears are going to add to fill their offensive line holes, let's concentrate on baseball. (Some bad waiver-deadline humor there, I know)

Ed (Nashville)

Jerry, are the Indians close enough that they should consider a bigger trade like Upton or Shields? Can they put together a package for one of them without giving up too much?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:02 PM)

Ed, The Indians aren't going to trade Alex White, Drew Pomeranz, Lonnie Chisenhall or Jason Kipnis. Andrew Friedman is a smart guy so I imagine he'd bring up those names with either of those guys -- especially Shields. I just don't see Cleveland as a fit with Tampa. I think they're going to do something smaller -- like a Ryan Ludwick or one of the Oakland outfielders to give the offense a lift.

silkman (alcoa tn)

Give me your odds of Beltran going to Philly? To Atlanta? To San Fran?If ATL gets him, will Philly have options to counter that bat pick up?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:03 PM)

Silkman, From what I'm hearing, the Braves have fallen off a little bit in the Beltran sweepstakes. And judging from Ruben Amaro's comments today, he seems to be tempering expectations as well. If I had to rank the three teams, I would say SF, Philly, Atlanta.

Matt (Toronto)

Thanks for the chat. What do you see the Jays doing this week? Sellers / facilitators? Is there any sense there is anything out there of interest to AA?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:05 PM)

Matt, Alex Anthopoulos is one of the most active guys out there now, for no reason other than the wheels are always spinning. If he can acquire a guy in a trade and then parlay him into draft picks later, he won't rule that out. I even heard the Blue Jays mentioned last week as a team that had called about Jeff Keppinger. Not sure why they would do that, but it sounds like Alex.

Jeff (ABQ)

It seems that Neil Huntington is playing his cards close to his chest. Have you heard anything recently on Pirates buying?Thanks for the chat!

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:07 PM)

Jeff, I talked to Neal Huntington for a story last week, and he's really trying to balance the long-term picture with short-term pressures. The Pirates just aren't going to trade Stetson Allie or Jameson Taillon or Pedro Alvarez or Starling Marte -- nor should they. Many of the secondary RH bats and relievers are basically interchangable, so I think Neal is waiting for the best deal he can get close to the deadline.

Adam (Bmore)

Could Guthrie/Uehara to the Cards bring back Carlos Martinez?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:08 PM)

Adam, The answer is an unequivocable "No." But feel free to dream.

SteveFitz (Chicago, IL)

Are the Rays really asking for a top prospect for Upton? Do you think he still holds that kind of value? Seems a lot of people are starting to say "he is what he is".

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:09 PM)

Steve, Everybody shoots high, and then the demands get more realistic as the deadline approaches. Mike Rizzo, Nats GM, supposedly loves Upton, so I can see something happening on that front as the deadline gets closer.

Scott (SD)

Hey Jerry! What are the Giants going to do at the deadline? Waiting for us to make a move might be more torture than most of our games!!!! I keep hearing Beltran rumors, but we have so many outfielders as it is. Wouldn't be have to move one to add him, roster-wise?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:11 PM)

Scott, Brian Sabean wants to upgrade at shortstop and/or catcher and they've been trying for a month, but it's a bad year to be in the market for those two commodities. I still think the Giants are a serious player for Beltran, but only if he's not cost-prohibitive in terms of prospects.

Stephen (Narberth, PA)

Hi Jerry...how concerned are the Phillies about Ryan Howard's production? Zero HRs against LHP this year, power seems to have declined significantly over the past few years....$125 million extension kicking in next year. Will this prove to be an albatross of a contract?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:13 PM)

Stephen, You don't have to look far to find people who think that Howard contract won't look very good in three years. But that lineup has been in such a state of flux this year, I think you have to cut Howard a little slack. It's not a great year, but a lot of big-name sluggers have been worse.

Gabe Hauari (Richmond, VA)

Jerry! Why on Earth is Bryan LaHair still at AAA for the Cubs? The kid is hitting .338 with 28 HR's this season! That's unheard of! Promote the kid, let him learn from Pena, and you have a cheap 1B for next season! Thoughts?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:15 PM)

Gabe, No offense to Bryan LaHair, but he turns 29 later this year. I don't think he qualifies as a "kid" anymore. If you're pinning your hopes on that, it doesn't say much for the expectations of Cubs fans.

Rico (DA BAY)

Zach wheeler for JJ Hardy.. what do you think?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:15 PM)

Rico, No. Sorry

Brandon (Boston, MA)

What is your forecast of moves for the redsox?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:18 PM)

Brandon, Unless I'm misreading things, I think the deadline will be relatively quiet in Boston. Do the Sox really need an upgrade over Josh Reddick in right field? He'd be hitting fifth for half the teams in baseball. I'm sure they'd love to pick up a starter, but unless they can get Ubaldo Jimenez or James Shields (which they can't), what is there on the market that's better than what they have?

Jay (SF)

Has there been any interest in A's SPs Rich Harden or Brandon McCarthy? The market for SP is pretty shallow and while neither is a big name they have been effective and wouldn't cost that much.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:19 PM)

Jay, I'm sure some teams have dabbled on those guys. But they're so unreliable physically, it's hard to count on them as a trade deadline acquisition. They pitch well enough to help a team when they're healthy, but it's always a coin flip.

Vinny (NJ)

What are the odds of Kenny Williams bringing in Rasmus? It be great to get Rios out the lineup but his contract his so awful for the next few years, tough to keep him on the bench

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:20 PM)

Vinny, I've seen the White Sox-Rasmus speculation, but the two teams don't seem to match up very well to me. If the Sox still had Daniel Hudson, maybe. But I don't see what else the Sox could package that would make sense talent-wise and financial-wise.

Tyler (Nola)

Would a Edwin Jackson and Matt Thornton for Rasmus trade make sense?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:22 PM)

Tyler, It doesn't for me. If you're the Cardinals, you're trading away a young OF at a premium position who still has the chance to blossom into an impact player for two very short-term assets. I think Cards GM John Mozeliak would want some position he could have under control contractually for a while, and this doesn't quality.

Danny (Cincinnat)

What are the odds that the reds could go for someone like Heath Bell and give up some outfielders like Gomes or Fred Lewis?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:23 PM)

Danny, If you want to talk Chris Heisey, maybe that's a start. Why would the Padres give up their closer for two extra outfielders?

Jeremy (DC)

Jerry, please please tell me you're getting the vibe the nats are going to be sellers, preferably flipping John Lanna for whatever we can get

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:25 PM)

Jeremy, I think the Nats are more interested in trading guys like Marquis or Livan Hernandez. The problem with Lannan is, he's a pretty good fourth or fifth starter for Washington, but he's not an impact guy for a contender in a pennant race. So he's probably more useful for Mike Rizzo to just keep than deal away.

Jimbo (Charm City)

Should the O's trade away everyone except Wieters and Adam Jones?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:27 PM)

Jimbo, Well, they just signed JJ Hardy for 3 years, so he's staying put. Peter Angelos wouldn't sign off on trading Nick Markakis. And I don't see them moving Zach Britton, Jake Arrieta or some of their young pitching. Other than that, I think just about everyone is available. The downside: You're not going to get much in return off that roster.

take (japan)

Hello Mr.Crasnick.Thank you always for your insight and answering my questions.You're the best. Now that my M's have dropped out of contention, what could they realistically achieve this season?Just trade away veterans or stay put and let the young ones play and try to end this season on a good note? This losing streak and their collapse has been hard to stomach.Thank you very much

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:29 PM)

Take, Thanks for the note. I asked a scout about the Mariners and he said, "Well, you know they don't have any hitters they can trade." Brandon League is probably the closest thing they have to a valuable, tradeable commodity, other than Felix, Pineda, Ackley and Smoak -- who they wouldn't be interested in dead\ling. It can't be a very fun time to be a Mariners fan.

Kory (texas)

do u see the rangers making a deal should they try to go after hunter pence

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:30 PM)

Kory, Jon Daniels and Thad Levine in Texas are in on everything, so I wouldn't be surprised if they've asked on Hunter Pence and BJ Upton as well as Beltran. But the Rangers keep saying that the bullpen is their main priority, so that appears to be where their focus is right now.

ron (salisbury, md.)

The O's Reimold, Reynolds and Tillman for Card's Rasmus. Make any sense?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:33 PM)

Ron, I can't see the Cards doing that. Reimold hasn't shown he can stay healthy or put together a consistent season of production in big leagues. Mark Reynolds is a big-strikeout, below average defensive 3B, and a lot of people wonder if Chris Tillman has the "out" pitch to be an impact starter in the big leagues. Sorry

jj blanks (IL)

Why aren't more people talking about Tyler Clippard, he is a stud! Do you see him moving? If so where and would he become a closer then?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:34 PM)

JJ, There's a reason why Mike Rizzo doesn't want to trade Tyler Clippard. He's young, affordable and he saves their bullpen about three days a week. He would want a ton in return for Clippard in a trade. As far as I know, his name has barely been discussed in deals.

Patrick (Boston)

The Sox offer Lars Anderson for King Felix and Pineda. Who blinks first?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:35 PM)

Patrick, Now we're talking. Do you think Theo Epstein could sweet-talk the Mariners into including Dustin Ackley in the trade as well.

Jill (Tempe)

Who is the biggest name to move this week? Beltran? it seems like a thin market compared to other years.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:37 PM)

Jill, Carlos Beltran, and maybe Heath Bell and Justin Upton. I tend to be more cautious throwing big names around this time of year. I've talked to a few front office people who say they wouldn't be surprised if there are some intriguing trades in August once there's more separation in the standings.

Matt (DC)

What has Rasmus done to prove he is an impact player? Two years getting off and on playing time and clashing with his manager, flashes of being able to hit.. I think he's being overvalued a bit.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:38 PM)

Matt, You could say that, but look at guys like Carlos Gonzalez and now Cameron Maybin who've turned into really good players in their second or third stops. If you're the Cardinals and you trade Rasmus, you always have to accept the risk that he might blossom somewhere else. That tends to drive up the price.

CC (Atlanta)

Justin Upton? I think you mean BJ.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:39 PM)

CC, Thanks. If I meant BJ Upton and referred to him as Justin, that's par for the course. Sometimes my fingers outpace my brain on these chats.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:41 PM)

News flash: The Pirates just placed Alex Presley on the DL and called up Pedro Alvarez from Triple-A Indianapolis. I thought I'd pass that along.

Joey (West Palm Beach)

Speaking of Carlos Gonzalez, if he were to somehow land in a fourth location, even someplace hitter-friendly like Texas, how much would he revert to the bleh guy he was in Oakland? The splits are staggering; the sample size - ample.

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:42 PM)

Joey, To this day, the Oakland people think that Carlos Gonzalez wouldn't have become the same player if he had remained with the A's. Ballpark factor definitely can make a difference in a guy's career. CarGo is an awfully talented player, but there's no question he benefited from going to Colorado

Rusty (Clarencetown)

Are the Rangers going to trade Profar?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:43 PM)

Rusty, I would hope not. I saw Jurickson Profar leg out a triple at the Futures Game. All I can say is, wow.

CC (Atlanta)

Is BJ Upton too expensive for the Braves? He plays CF which is our big need. He's fast. And he hits .240... so he'll fit perfectly!

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:43 PM)

CC, Nice one. I got a chuckle out of that.

Mike (Colorado)

My friend doesn't think you'll answer my question. Can you win me five bucks?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:44 PM)

Mike, I don't want to make a habit of this, but send along your question. And please don't make it too challenging.

Mike (KCMo)

What about the Royals targeting a yound CF (yes, I know they have Cain at AAA), but maybe Soria for Rasmus and a pitcher?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:46 PM)

Mike, I think you answered your own question. Lorenzo Cain is having a really nice season in Triple-A for the Royals, so I would think they'd look in that direction first. And again, the Cards would probably want young, affordable pitching for Rasmus. In case you haven't heard, they have this Pujols contract thing to address here shortly.

Rick (Allegheny, PA)

What to the Pirates do this trading deadline (and isn't it great to see them as potential buyers finally!!!)?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:47 PM)

Rick, They've added Steve Pearce and Ronny Cedeno off the DL and today they called up Pedro Alvarez. When Neal Huntington says he's not going to make a trade just to make a trade, he means it. They also have a week of playing the Braves and Phillies to get a better handle on where they stand. If they make a move, it might not come until right before the deadline.

Noah (Eagan/Minnesota)

Chances Twins make any good trades?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:49 PM)

Noah, Define "good." The Twins were planning to make a run at a bullpen arm. Now that they're 7 out, I don't see them doing anything earth-shattering. A lot of teams would love to have Michael Cuddyer. He's a great trade chip, but Bill Smith seems hesitant to deal him. Might be worth considering, though.

john (sd)

SF and Ichiro, a fit?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:49 PM)

John, No.

Alex (Philly)

Will Ruben pull off another shocking trade this deadline?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:52 PM)

Alex, It's hard to pull off a "shocker" when everybody is expecting you to do something big. But I really think he's up against it if his goal is to add an impact bat. There just isn't much out there this year that fits the description.

Chuck ((Work))

What are the A's looking for in a deal with rumors that they might trade Willingham, Crisp or bullpen arms?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:53 PM)

Chuck, Just the best prospects they can find, I would assume.

Cheesehead Sports Nut (Chicago, IL)

The left side of the Milwaukee Brewers' infield is downright sad. After a promising start to his stay in Milwaukee, Casey McGehee has struggled this year. To quote Dennis Green, Yuniesky Betancourt is who we thought he is. Do you see the Brewers making a move for a SS or 3B before the trade deadline?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:54 PM)

Cheesehead, Again, this is an area the Brewers have been exploring. But when the top SS options are guys like Clint Barmes and Jamey Carroll, it's tough to make a move. Giants are also looking for a shortstop, and they can't find anything, either.

Mike (Colorado)

That was my question. Half of this $5 is yours! But if you're looking for another, why is there always a team (or two) who surprise everyone every year (Padres 2010, Indians, Pirates 2011), and teams people expect to do well (Rockies) do poorly?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:56 PM)

Mike, No great mystery. Some guys stay healthier than others. Some have a bunch of players who tend to play over their heads. But things tend to even out over the course of a 162-game season. Case in point: The 2011 San Diego Padres.

Doug (Santa Barbara)

Any chance the Halos work to get Figgins back? Would he benefit from the returning to the team he loved/played best for?

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:57 PM)

Doug, Hey, At this point in Chone Figgins career, anything but Seattle would be a good fit for him. But I assume the Mariners would have to pick up everything that's left on his deal. (I'm sure they would also drive him to the airport).

Noah (Eagan/Minnesota)

Maybe A.J Burnett or a Huge New Pitcher we need pitching help!!!

Jerry Crasnick

  (1:59 PM)

Noah, For the Twins? Are you trying to reunite Burnett and Carl Pavano and recreate the old Florida Marlins days.

Joseph (Sacramento, CA)

Has SF inquired on Desmond from DC? And if so, what would it take to land him? Thanks.

Jerry Crasnick

  (2:00 PM)

Joseph, I'm sure all the teams in need of shortstops have asked about Ian Desmond. I've always been under the impression that the Nationals aren't particularly interested in moving him. I don't think that's changed recently

Jerry Crasnick

  (2:01 PM)

Thanks for the emails, everybody. Hopefully there will be some action this week. Talk to you next week.