figure out a good player on some team who doesn't matter who is probably dying to get rid of him who would be a nice fit for a major market team.  propose trading for him with a major market team for their excess baggage they don't have room for anyway on a team that deserves to have an all-star at every position.

And yet:
Ted Lilly
Carlos Zambrano
Jason Marquis
Rich Hill
Sean Marshall

ERA+'s of 122, 118, 101, 119, and 119.  Hill is only getting better, and most are locked up for a little while.  Three of them are left-handed, and only one (Marshall) failed to pitch at least 190 innings in 2007.  I'm not sure they feel like starting pitching is a weakness.  

I hope I'm wrong.  I'd love to have Murton and I've been dying to find a taker for Lee.

However, before I really delve into his capabilities, I think it's well-established that Shapiro is a character-oriented person.  In my opinion, this isn't a trade he considers.

Take it the same way you'd look at trading for a brittle, injury-prone player.  The talent is there, but will you sink cost into someone who could miss a lot of games?  He threatened to kill the mother of his children, remember.  People not liking Schilling wouldn't bother me if I'm Mark.  People not liking Dukes ... that's legitimate.

So that doesn't bode well, but you and I feel the same.

I wonder how high the ceiling will be for Laffey, as he is a prodeminetly GB pitcher, I mean maybe Westbrook would be an example, he certainly isn't in Carmona's class as far as power arm goes. This being said, I really do like the guy and think he is probably the best bet to have a good season of this group: C.Lee, Laffey, Sowers, going for that 5th spot in the rotation.

Hello gahnki,

I understand your point about trading Peralta - he shouldn't be untouchable, but unless the deal is a great one for us, I can't see the Indians doing it, and I don't think Murton/Gallagher qualifies.

Plus, you have to consider that while Cabrera could certainly replace Peralta defensively at SS (and likely be an upgrade defensively,) you would lose some overall offense (I think Murton at best MIGHT be comparable to Peralta offensively, but I have my doubts on Murton reaching it, especially in his first season in the AL playing regularly - hmm... doesn't that sound a bit like Michaels' 2006 season?  I think Murton does have more power than Michaels does and more potential, but I could see Murton falling short of expectations in 2008 like Michaels did in 2006, if Murton were to play everyday and to play in the AL regularly for the first time.)

Even more concerning though is the fact that Barfield would HAVE to stick at 2B if Cabrera replaces Peralta at SS; while Barfield's defense is solid enough, there are still considerable questions about whether Barfield will hit enough, and could be a potential downgrade from Cabrera offensively at 2B (I know Cabrera only had 150 reg. season ABs compared to Barfield's 420 reg. season ABs, so it's possible Cabrera will have to make some adjustments as more teams get more of a scouting report on him, but I was more impressed with his approach at the plate than I was Barfield's, SSS or not.)  

Plus, Scott Boras is Barfield's agent, and as been speculated on here before, it's quite possible Barfield could be trade bait himself in the coming seasons before he becomes a FA, so the Indians probably have already considered their future without Barfield at 2B, even though they've only had him on the roster for one season.

Therefore, that's why I think the return for Peralta would have to more than "reasonably improve" the team to trade Peralta in any deal because you have the potential to lose a lot of offense from Peralta's bat, plus you have Barfield's uncertainty, both with his bat and with his long-term future as an Indian.

Just my 2 cents.  :-)