There are plenty of players in baseball where people ask “What If…?” The top player on the list would have to be Ken Griffey Jr, who hit his 600th home run last night. If he would have had a healthy career, he could have been going for 700 or even chasing Bonds.
While Junior is on the down side of his 30s, he still has some pop in his bat. If he can continue his career in a hitters park in the AL, he could get to 700.
I really don’t know if the Reds will be able to move him. He’s making a lot of money and would want an extension or his option picked up. Now that 600 is out of the way, they will probrably start checking interest in him.
A winning situation would be to go to Tampa. He’d be the DH and could still see some outfield time; they need a true DH and superstar to draw a crowd. They also have some spare pieces that could be moved for a good bat.
Scores
ARI 3 PIT 5
SF 3 WAS 2
CIN 9 FLA 4
TB 13 LAA 4
SEA 3 TOR 2
CLE 8 DET 2
MIN 5 CHA 7
KC 3 NYA 2
Transactions
Atlanta Braves
Chris Resop outrighted to the minors.
Boston Red Sox
Brandon Moss called up from the minors; Chris Carter sent to the minors; Sean Casey suspension announced by the league (three games); Coco Crisp suspension announced by the league (seven games); Jon Lester suspension announced by the league (five games); Dave Gassner signed to a minor league contract.
Cleveland Indians
John Halama signed to a minor league contract; Brian Slocum sent to the minors; Jeremy Sowers called up from the minors; Asdrubal Cabrera sent to the minors; Josh Barfield called up from the minors.
Colorado Rockies
Micah Bowie sent to the minors for rehabilitation; Cory Sullivan sent to the minors; Brad Hawpe removed from the DL; Matt Holliday sent to the minors for rehabilitation; Glendon Rusch sent to the minors; Luis Vizcaino removed from the DL.
Detroit Tigers
Aquilino Lopez placed on Bereavement List; Brent Clevlen called up from the minors; Clete Thomas placed on the DL (15-day, sprained right ankle); Jeremy Bonderman placed on the DL (15-day, thoracic outlet syndrome-out for season); Clay Rapada removed from the DL.
Florida Marlins
Paul Hoover sent to the minors; Ryan Tucker purchased from the minors.
Houston Astros
J.R. Towles sent to the minors; Humberto Quintero purchased from the minors; Jose Cruz Jr. designated for assignment; Reggie Abercrombie purchased from the minors.
Kansas City Royals
Brayan Pena outrighted to the minors; Joel Peralta sent to the minors; Jeff Fulchino purchased from the minors.
Los Angeles Angels
Darren O’Day called up from the minors; Chris Bootcheck placed on the DL (15-day, strained right forearm).
Los Angeles Dodgers
Angel Berroa traded from Kansas City for SS Juan Rivera; Berroa purchased from the minors; Terry Tiffee designated for assignment.
Milwaukee Brewers
Rickie Weeks placed on the DL (15-day, sprained left knee); Hernan Iribarren called up from the minors.
Minnesota Twins
Matt Macri called up from the minors; Nick Punto placed on the DL (15-day, strained left hamstring).
New York Mets
Raul Casanova reinstated from Bereavement List; Robinson Cancel designated for assignment; John Rodriguez signed to a minor league contract.
New York Yankees
Chris Britton placed on the DL (15-day, pulled right ribcage); LaTroy Hawkins starting to serve suspension; Dan Giese called up from the minors.
Oakland Athletics
Andrew Brown removed from the DL; Dallas Braden sent to the minors.
Philadelphia Phillies
Francisco Rosario sent to the minors for rehabilitation; Chris Snelling sent to the minors; Jayson Werth removed from the DL.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Ryan Doumit removed from the DL.
San Diego Padres
Clay Hensley removed from the DL; Hensley sent to the minors; Craig Stansberry called up from the minors; Tadahito Iguchi placed on the DL (15-day, separated right shoulder).
St. Louis Cardinals
Mike Parisi sent to the minors; Mitchell Boggs purchased from the minors; Kelvin Jimenez voided option; Jimenez placed on the DL (15-day, bruised right hand); Tyler Johnson transferred to the 60-Day DL.
Tampa Bay Rays
James Shields suspension announced by league (six games); Carl Crawford suspension announced by league (four games); Akinori Iwamura suspension announced by league (three games); Edwin Jackson suspension announced by league (five games); Jonny Gomes suspension announced by league (five games); Gomes starting to serve suspension.
Texas Rangers
Sidney Ponson designated for assignment; Vicente Padilla reinstated from the Bereavement List; Elizardo Ramirez designated for assignment; German Duran called up from the minors.
Toronto Blue Jays
Vernon Wells removed from the DL; John McDonald removed from the DL; Joe Inglett sent to the minors; Aaron Hill placed on the DL (15-day, mild concussion); Brian Wolfe called up from the minors; Armando Benitez designated for assignment; Inglett called up from the minors; Shannon Stewart placed on the DL (15-day, high right ankle sprain – out 4-6 weeks).
Washington Nationals
Ronnie Belliard sent to the minors for rehabilitation; Rob Mackowiak released; Paul Lo Duca sent to the minors for rehabilitation; Garrett Mock called up from the minors; Mock sent to the minors; Tyler Clippard called up from minors.
Daily Rumors from MLB Trade Rumors
– The Blue Jays acquired 2B Kevin Melillo for cash; the A’s DFAed him.
– Speculation out Cincinnati is Adam Dunn will be moved before Griffey.
– Chipper Jones believes he can play for another 4 years and wants to stay with the Braves.
– The Rangers DFA Sidney Ponson for “disrespectful and adverse reactions to situations unbecoming of teammates.”
– Kansas City traded former ROY Angel Berroa to the Dodgers for a minor leaguer; KC will pick up his full ’08 salary.
– Jeremy Bonderman is probably done for the year with a circulation problem in his shoulder.
– Randy Wolf’s trade value has increased with a couple of good starts.
– Barry Bonds’s trial is set for next march.
– Jake Westbrook is out for the next year; he’s going to have Tommy John surgery.
– Vernon Wells came off the DL to take Shannon Stewart’s spot.
– The Yankees have no plans of negotiating with Brian Cashman at this point.
– Bengie Molina is unhappy with the Giant’s GM for saying his “clock is winding down.”
– Cuban Dayan Viciedo has defected from Cuba; his status with the MLB is unknown since most Cuban Defectors go to foreign countries to become MLB free agents. Viciedo may have to wait until next years draft to join a team.
– The Rays have started talks with Tim Beckham.
– Erik Bedard could be available from the Mariners; the Phillies could be interested.
– The Twins may move or DFA Juan Rincon.
– Mark Ellis has stated he’d rather stay in Oakland than test free agency.
– With Troy Percival coming off the DL, the Rays will have to figure a way to keep Grant Belfour on the roster.
– There was talk that the Brewers could offer Rickie Weeks for Brian Roberts, but the rumor was shot down by the Brewer’s GM.
– The Cubs offer for Roberts is off the table.
– Adam Dunn could be a fit with the Red Sox.
– Some Astros players are pushing for the team to sign Sidney Ponson; when will teams learn to avoid him?
– Jim Bowden could be in trouble in Washington.
– John Danks and his brother Jordan, who was recently drafted, have left agent Scott Boras.
– The Braves have purchased Brian Lawrence’s contract from an independent team; he’s expected to go to Triple A.
– Ivan Rodriguez is expected to share his workload for the rest of the season with Brandon Inge; Inge could permanently move back to catcher next year.
Around the Web
Injury Report
Top Prospect Alert’s Top MiLB Performances.
BA Prospect Blog
All Star Voting
Today’s Matchups
BAL at BOS, 6:05
Cabrera (5-2) vs Beckett (6-4)
WAS at PIT, 7:05
Redding (6-3) vs Maholm (4-5)
MIN at CLE, 7:05
Baker (2-0) vs Sabathia (3-8)
CHA at DET, 7:05
Contreras (6-3) vs Robertson (3-6)
SEA at TOR, 7:07
Silva (3-6) vs McGowan (4-4)
STL at CIN, 7:10
Boggs (0-0) vs Bailey (0-1)
ARI at NYN, 7:10
Owings (6-4) vs Maine (6-4)
PHI at FLA, 7:10
Myers (3-7) vs Nolasco (5-4)
ATL at CHN, 8:05
Glavine (2-2) vs Lilly (5-5)
MIL at HOU, 8:05
McClung (3-2) vs Oswalt (4-6)
TEX at KC, 8:10
Millwood (4-3) vs Meche (3-8)
SF at COL, 9:05
Misch (0-2) vs Cook (8-3)
LAN at SD, 10:05
Kershaw (0-1) vs Maddux (3-4)
NYA at OAK, 10:05
Wang (6-2) vs Eveland (4-4)
TB at LAA, 10:05
Shields (4-4) vs Weaver (5-6)
