Friday, July 31, 2009

Trade Thread: Rottino in the Brewers' Past(a)

Dodgers trade Claudio Vargas to Brewers for minor-league catcher (Dodger Thoughts)

So long, Claudio Vargas, we hardly knew ye. Is this a setup for a future trade?

From a Dodgers press release:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that they have acquired minor league catcher Vinny Rottino from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Claudio Vargas. Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.

Rottino, 29, has appeared briefly in the Major Leagues for Milwaukee in each of the past three seasons and was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team last season when he posted a 24-game hitting streak. The Wisconsin native has made the PCL All-Star team each of the past three years and has been named to his league’s All-Star team in each season dating back to 2004 when he recorded a team record 124 RBI for Single-A Beloit. [...]

Rottino is expected to report to Double-A Chattanooga.

171 comments:

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Just what the Dodgers need. An Italian catcher. Is this some kind of excuse to recreate Piazza?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

MLBTV is skeptical that the trade was just that. They think something is cooking.

Orel said...

Can you smell what Ned is cooking?

Kyle Baker said...

Definitely something cooking besides my applewood smoked bacon this morning.

Come on, Ned! Give the people what we want!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think MLBTR crashed

Orel said...

It happens every July 31.

Wicks said...

I may be wrong but could this trade just be a move to open a 25 and 40 man roster spot for Flat Brim Sherrill?

Orel said...

MLBTR: "12:26pm: A Jayson Stark source says the asking price for Gonzalez is 'astronomical, three times the asking price on Halladay.' "

Good! As nice as it would be to have him out of the division, it would suck for the Padres to lose Gonzalez. Not to mention the Dodgers would probably have to face him at some point in the post-season.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That's what I was thinking.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I'm refering to Wicks' comment.

Orel said...

@Wicks: Maybe. Leach got sent down, but they recalled Elbert to take his place.

Orel said...

Do the Blue Jays need a catcher?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Vinny Rottini. Just saying his name causes my blood-sugar level to go up from olive oil.

NicJ said...

This trade deadline is killing my iPhone battery.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I could really go for some Italian right now.

Kyle Baker said...

You can always just order a Piazza.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I guess I could la-sorta try that.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Tim Brown: Dodgers in on Bell

Kyle Baker said...

Righetti with meatballs?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I could go for some chicken catcher-torre.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I had to do that one

Kyle Baker said...

You couldn't not have done it.

Kyle Baker said...

Anything else on the Bell front?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Not much

Kyle Baker said...

Tease!

This is like prom night.

Orel said...

I would be shocked if the Padres traded Bell to the Dodgers. Their fans would revolt.

Kyle Baker said...

All 15 of them!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Zing!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Fish are getting closer to Johnson

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Red Sox about to get V-Mart

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

MLBTV: Any time Scott Proctor's phone starts ringing at home, he immediately starts throwing.

Orel said...

Assuming the Red Sox would use Martinez at first, what are they going to do with Adam LaRoche?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Less than two hours

Fred's Brim said...

haha that's awesome

poor Scotty - i liked that guy

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think we've reached the stage of "who the hell knows". They've got more corner infielder's than the Padres' farm system.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

V-Mart's name is gonna be butchered in Boston. Victah Mahtinez

Orel said...

I like how the Sox went from the little team that couldn't to the team that can afford to collect corner infielders just in case.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

You can thank Theo Epstein for that.

Kyle Baker said...

It's quiet out there...too quiet.

Orel said...

"I have a bad feeling about this."

MR.F said...

Hey, it's Raph.

Yeah, a little too Raph.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

This could mean that the Dodgers may be packaging Martin to the BlueJays for Halladay.

Orel said...

That would definitely be a case of selling low.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I doubt it. There must be better catchers out there.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Ed Price: Red Sox might flip LaRoche if they get V-Mart

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Shaikin: Dodgers and Angels Battling for Bell

Josh S. said...

We might get Taco? I don't know if I can learn to not hate that guy.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Considering he blew home-field and didn't regret it.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Bell is another reliver under team control through 2011

Josh S. said...

He'll regret it if he ends up here.

QuadSevens said...

He'd be the third closer in the pen. Game over in the 7th?

Kyle Baker said...

How many relievers do we need? All of them?

Does that mean we're counting on 5 1/3 outings from our SPs the rest of the season?

Fred's Brim said...

that would be tough sending prospects to SD. especially knowing they would probably be better than what's on the current roster and may end up playing soon

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That's the idea. I must admit, it is good. Rather than rely on your starters to go longer, you get guys who can make it a luxury to go longer. Let's face it, even if we get a competent fifth-starter, he won't be the rotation's savior.

Josh S. said...

Front office might be a bit freaked by Brox's last couple of performances. The velocity dip is troubling.

Fred's Brim said...

his toe cant be right

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Wow. Buchholz is not part of the V-Mart deal

Kyle Baker said...

His toe must be so wrong.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I think I'd rather target AGon! Loney and Pierre for AGon. DO IT NED! DO IT!

ok so it might take a little more than that.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Dusto, when will you learn that Pierre is like Kirstie Alley after visiting an all-you-can-eat buffet: immovablbe!?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

*immovable

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I cross my fingers everyday that when I hit f5 at MLBTR the next headline reads, "Pierre traded for a bucket of balls, Dodger fans rejoice!"

Orel said...

Okay, I gotta jet for a few. I'll be back after the deadline. Hold down the fort and think good thoughts!

Ken said...

yawn...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Gurnick says the Vargas/Rottino trade was to make room on the 40-man for Sherrill

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

In response to whoever asked if a team could trade a player before they give away their bobblehead, tomorrow is V-Mart bobblehead day in Cleveland.

QuadSevens said...

I bet a bunch of those V-Mart bobbleheads end up on eBay as "collector's items."

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Robothal: Dodgers making run at both Bell and A-Gone. Because when Robothal tells it, it's gotta be true.

Fred's Brim said...

Gonzo and Bell now?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

That's if you choose to believe Robothal.

Fred's Brim said...

what's his deal? does he just make stuff up?

Josh S. said...

Rosenfail has to be right sometime, right?

Right?

A-Gon would be sweet, but it would kinda kill me to see FJL in that fugly camouflage uniform.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Either that or his sources are just the drive-thru kids at Wendy's.

Kyle Baker said...

I wish I got paid to sit around all day and make shit up about baseball goings on.

I mean, it would be similar to what I do all day anyway, except I would actually get paid for it.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

FB: No, the execs just give him BS to make him go away, then they laugh at his broadcasting of the BS as fact.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Hey, Robothal does more than sit in front of his computer and make up crap.

Sometimes he goes to a stadium and there he makes up crap.

Kyle Baker said...

MLASF-

Thanks. Now I'm hearing a Simpsons kid-working-at-the-burger-stand-drive-thru voice leaking latest rumors to Robothal.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

"I'll be right with you, Mr. Rosenthal. I just need to fish the tacos out of the deep-fryer. Ow! Ooow! Ouch!"

Kyle Baker said...

Ah, so fishing tacos out...taco...taco bell...heath bell...that's where he came up with the rumor!

Unknown said...

Mr. Simpson, we need more special sauce...go put some mayonaise in the sun! Oh yah, the Dodgers are hot after Gonzalez and Bell.

Josh S. said...

"The kid said tacos! Dodgers must be going after Heath Bell!"

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Dusty, I'm glad you saw the hidden part of the joke, because I sure as hell didn't.

Josh S. said...

Damn. I'm slow on the joke trigger.

Josh S. said...

Less than one Sesame Street until the deadline!

/obscurereference

Kyle Baker said...

MLB network has V Mart bobblehead in studio. Tomorrow night is his bobble night.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Too slow, Dusty.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

BoSox just sent LaRoche to Atlanta. Perfect timing.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The 45 minute mark just rolled by.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Robothal loves talking blockbusters

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Rockies get Beimal

Kyle Baker said...

Marlins deal for N Johnson dead. Nor are they pursuing Bell.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

We're at 30 minutes here

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

My sources are saying Bell is close to coming to the Dodgers.

Kyle Baker said...

Thx MLASF...was getting too quiet again.

F5
F5
F5
F5

JL said...

lol Adrian, sure

Wesley Vento said...

adding Heath Bell would really negate the need for an "ace". With him in the bullpen it would be the nastiest in MLB easy.

Belly
Tronk
Mota
Kuo
Sherrill
Bell
Broxton

The Phillies just poo'd thier pants a little at the very thought.

Please do this thing Ned, pretty please with sugar on top.

Kyle Baker said...

My sources say I'm close to going to Taco Bell to get lunch.

Wesley Vento said...

my sources say that Dusty and the Phillies will have something in common if he does "make a run for the border".

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Now I'm hearing that A-Gon is in play, but very unlikely.

Kyle Baker said...

Damn, Hong. When I saw it written down like that it scared me. That's beastly! I just had to pull the shutters and put on some hot tea.

Kyle Baker said...

Especially if I try out this new habenero sauce I snagged at the Farmer's Market.

Wesley Vento said...

if that's our bullpen I'm going out on a limb right now and saying that Randy Wolf will have ZERO no decisions for the rest of the year.

JL said...

MLB.com's Padres reporter Corey Brock is blogging that Heath Bell to Dodgers could be close. #mlbtrades 2 minutes ago from web

twitter

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

BEEP, beep, BEEP, beep, BEEP...

Dusto_Magnifico said...

what do we have to give up to get heath bell and agon?

Loney and like all of AAA.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

BoSox got Kotchman for LaRoche. Toronto just traded Rolen to the Reds.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Under 20 minutes...

Kyle Baker said...

Jays send S Rolen to Reds.

That's not exactly huge news.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

just give them Albuquerque?

Wesley Vento said...

probably the entire farm, $50 and a case of Heineken

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Rolen has a no-trade clause, so they have to deal with that

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I think I am ok with that.

Kyle Baker said...

I think it's down to Heineken or Amstel Light at this late hour.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Maybe we should go to Sam Adams. After all, it's always a good decision.

Kyle Baker said...

Another vote for Sam!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Less than 15 minutes. We're in crunch time.

Wesley Vento said...

I like Newcastle. Its an import, so its pretty classy already. Its easy to drink too. In any case, the Dodgers should send the Padres a ton of booze, those fans are going to need something to cry into when they lose their two best players.

Josh S. said...

Between going to the Rockies and Troy from West Virginia, Beimel's New nickname should be John Denver.

Wesley Vento said...

MLBTR is getting bombarded right now

Kyle Baker said...

Buy the nearest Pods fan a shot and a beer, I think is what we're saying here.

And tell them to ditch that camo crap.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

i bet MLBTR is making cash hand over fist!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think MLBTR suspended all ads today.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

is Tim Dierkes a genius?

hardly... why didnt I think of it first?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Less than 10 minutes.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I really want AGon and Bell! It would basically wrap a WS.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Rays aren't going to do anything.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

the ticker says we have 1 hr 8 mins...

i was thinking it was like 8 mins?

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

We're under five minutes

Dusto_Magnifico said...

thats what i thought.

Wesley Vento said...

me too Dusto. Sorry LoneyFan, if you're out there somewhere.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Twins out on Bell.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I think I'm getting an ulcer.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

anyone else at their desk, sitting pins and needles?

Dusto_Magnifico said...

dang! do something!!!!!! I hate waiting like this!!!!!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Under 2 minutes

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

We're under a minute

Wesley Vento said...

i have totally stopped working. Come on Ned! Make it a weekend to celebrate!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

10 seconds

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Done

Kyle Baker said...

That's it. Now we have to see what happened at last minute that hasn't leaked out yet.

Wesley Vento said...

tick tick tick

Dusto_Magnifico said...

technically we have like a whole hour left. Deals might happen within the deadline, but we just wont hear about it for another hour.

Just think... at this very minute, Ned is making a really terrible, or really great, decision.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Jack Bauer has failed.

NicJ said...

Work production is at an all time low right now.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Nothing left to do. Just gotta wait and see.

Josh S. said...

I wonder what Jack Bauer's VORP is...

Dusto_Magnifico said...

marlins get nick johnson... meh...

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Fish got Johnson

Wesley Vento said...

Florida does land Nick Johnson...?

Wesley Vento said...

we on it boyz!

Kyle Baker said...

Huge LA news:

The Lakers have waived guard Sun Yue.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

NOOOO! Not Chinese Magic!

Dusto_Magnifico said...

no worries guy... 55 mins till the deadline.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

come on MLBTR, give me something!

Wesley Vento said...

they're talking a lot about how Francona is going to squeeze all those guys into the lineup. To me its a no-brainer. Tek takes a seat and hands the staff to V-Mart.

Kyle Baker said...

So glad I didn't get traded to a small-market team like Pittsburgh.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Just heard from Tim Brown that the Dodgers didn't get Bell.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

heyman says, Peavy to Sox... again. Peavy has to OK it.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

3:25pm: Halladay has not been traded, according to Sherman on Twitter. So many wasted words.

Josh S. said...

I long for a non-Twitter source.

Kyle Baker said...

Most rumors on Twitter ended up being piles of twit in this trade cycle.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I don't think Bell is coming.

Kyle Baker said...

Ned couldn't answer the Bell.

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I heard that the Padres asked the Dodgers if they'd be interested in A-Gon

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

Peavy approves trade. He's the AL Central's problem now.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

3:35pm: USA Today's Bob Nightengale, via Twitter, says the White Sox confirmed they just got Peavy.

If its true, at least he's out of the division.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I would want AGon.

Dusto_Magnifico said...

Peavey approved deal.

Josh S. said...

If talks are ongoing at 1pm, are they allowed to continue until the end of the hour?

Kyle Baker said...

I think not. Teams have to notify league that they "have an agreement in principle" type thing and are usually given SOME leeway to get the deal finished. But not just when conversations are ongoing.

Orel said...

New lack-of-trade thread up top.