Last night’s in-game chat with the crew from It Is About the Money, Stupid inevitably circled around to whether the Rays would trade B.J. Upton and James Shields before the deadline.
For the record, I think they’ll deal Upton but not deal Shields. Both are at the peak of their trade value but, I think the Rays see value in keeping Shields around for another run at the AL East next summer whereas they are ready to replace Upton with Desmond Jennings. I also suspect there is some clubhouse psychology to consider. BJ is a longtime Ray but Shields is the unquestioned “leader” of the pitching staff and a trade of Shields might be seen as a white flag inside the clubhouse.
Either way, both rumors are interesting because each player is reacting to the rumors in a unique way. First, based on my limited experience around trade deadline clubhouses, no player “doesn’t care” about being traded. Trade rumors remind every one of these guys that they are replaceable and that they are mercenaries. Every big leaguer wants to be a community icon, few ever are. The trade deadline seems to crystallize that shortcoming for a lot of these guys so they hate it.
Regardless, James Shields has responded to trade rumors by emphatically telling everyone with a tape recorder that he wants to play for the Rays for a long time. He told the St. Pete Times:
“I want to play here,” Shields said. “I want to be here. This has been my home for my whole career. I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest with you. I love this town. I want to be here. And I think we have a good team.”
B.J., on the other hand, tried to brush off the rumors by explaining that he is used to them while also reaffirming his allegiance to the club. He told the St. Pete Times:
“I grew up in the minor leagues with a lot of these guys,” Upton said. “I love being here, I love playing with them. I’m just hoping for the best.”
Both answers are similar. But I think it is interesting that Shields’ allegiance appears to be to the organization and the town, while BJ’s allegiance is to the guys he grew up playing with. I am no psychologist but, if I am the Rays, and one of these guys has to go, I pick Shields. Not because I think BJ’s statement is selfish or wrong. But thinking ahead, a guy that is loyal to the organization and the community, is more likely to sign a team-friendly extension to avoid free agency than a guy that is just loyal to the guys.
Or maybe, I am just reading too much into all of this.
BJ Upton is always one soy latte away from a major moodswing. He seems to try to work on it sometimes. But, at least up to this point, sooner or later, he loses that battle. One of those times was this time last year when the trade rumors started and that particular period of deep funk lasted almost two months.
BJ wants everyone to love him…or something. Sometimes it seems like he wants everyone to recognize his natural greatness. Sometimes it just feels like he’s adoration starved. He doesn’t like Joe Maddon because Maddon expects the players to be grown-ups. He liked Sweet Lou because Lou played tough Poppy with him. Something’s missing with him and I’m not sure anyone, including BJ, knows what it is.
There was some speculation last night that BJ was being traded to the Cardinals for Colby Rasmus. That probably would be a pretty good move for all involved.
I’ll say this, I don’t think the Rays deal Upton for Rasmus. Upton IS Rasmus. The Cards want pitching and Rasmus isn’t enough to pry away one of our starters, particularly with DJ en route to Kansas City to [finally] join the club.
How far-fetched does this sound trade upton get 2 prospects turn around and throw the prospects we got a one currently withe rays for a trade for a bat like pence? Respond and tell me what yall think obviously it prob lrss
Less than 5% chance something like this rays would do but this is just outside the box
Not a bad idea. Pence has played better to this point than B.J. But the team that trades 2 for Upton has to know that they can trade those 2 and a 3rd for Pence.
Wasn’t there news last week that Pence is off the market and that the new owner wants to build around him? I’d have to look at the numbers to compare BJ and Pence but, I thikn you could argue that a team would favor BJ over Pence because it’d be seen as a bigger splash. Even if they have been playing equivalent ball, BJ has been playing it on a national stage while winning to AL East titles and playing in a world series. Pence has been doing it on regional cable. That’s not fair to Pence nor is it a logical way to analyze value but, sometimes, trade deadline deals are as much about the headline they create as they are about the baseball.
A three-way deal is not without precedence. But, as I said in response to the other comment, I read that the new ownership wants to build around Pence. Besides, why give something up to get Pence when Jennings is ready?
Rasmus still has a chance to be a top 20-30 player in MLB while it’s already pretty clear that Upton isn’t ever going to get there. LaRussa has destroyed Rasmus so much, getting him at this point is a bargain. I’d take Rasmus for Upton in a heartbeat.
Let’s say that Rasmus and Upton are a push. And let’s say that Rasmus has a higher ceiling. Is the deal worth it if it moves Jennings to LF permanently?
should trade B.J. to anybody who might take him. He is lazy and a cancer to the team. Maybe through in Madden and the pitching coach
Well, it doesn’t look like you are going to get your wish. The teams looking for outfielders got them from other places. Looks like BJ stays a Ray for the rest of the summer.