I feel the Pirates should go after Justin Upton
*Yankees
The Mets are chomping at the bit for Tulo. I don't think the Yanks could match a Mets offer of Cecchini, d'Arnaud and one of their young pitchers as a starting point.
Logic and the Mets are two things that don't belong in the same room, I just don't trust that team to make a realistic offer for a guy like Tulowitzki.
Herrera + Bonilla
giving up a young pitcher for 30 year old tulo does not seem like the way to maximize the value of those young arms.
I wouldn't mind seeing the Pirates bring back Ramirez, he got off to a terrible start, but hes been red hot the last few weeks.
This. His splits show he's been a significantly better second half hitter during his career. Given the choice of Kang at short for 6 weeks with ARam at third versus adding offensive black holes like Barmes or Pennington to a team already sporting the various likes of Sean Rodriguez, Brent Morel, Travis Ishikawa (last night's performance not withstanding), Jaff Decker, Gorkys Hernandez, and Jose Tabata please give me a guy who can actually hit such as ARam.
Adding Ramirez would also allow you to use Harrison in right field to platoon with Polanco once Harrison is healthy.
You could fix two holes by adding Ramirez or someone like him.
They don't need to trade for versatility, they need to trade for a lineup upgrade.
Zobrist can play short, but all the numbers on his 200+ games there grade out in the negatives (he doesn't save runs there, he costs you runs there). He doesn't play 3rd base. So I don't see the big clamor for him.
I'd much rather go for a 3 bagger like ARam (what a sweet story it would be to have him come back and make a WS run with Pittsburgh), Lawire, or Asche (if you want some position flexibility).
I like ARam better than Zobrist but his ability to switch hit play SS, 2B, 1B or a corner outfield spot (he's played all of those at the MLB level) and not be a Mendoza line candidate at the plate would put him as a lineup upgrade at several positions on at least a platoon basis.
I don't know who Lawire is but if it's Cody Asche that you're referring to I'd just as soon give Brent Morel a shot than give up any assets for the likes of him and his .278 OBP.
Brett Lawire, 3B OAK, Right Handed
I only mention Asche because he's currently surplus requirements in Philly with Franco being ready and raking, so it's been rumored that he'd be able to be had for a swap of struggling prospects. He's young enough to tap into the power he showed in the minors and last season. He'd be easy to move to the bench when Mercer and/or Harrison come back and would also give you the ability move to the outfield. Not my #1 option, not even my #3 option, but I wouldn't pass him up if he's being shopped for cheap.