I see the problems with this being mostly on the Brewers’ end. The Indians don’t really need coupla-years-out arms; they need no-later-than-2010 arms. So it would have to be either somebody from your near-ML pitching depth — not the sort of move a contending team usually makes — or a three-way trade to get that sort of talent from somebody else.

If the Indians abysmal play continues, there would be no reason to keep Mark DeRosa. Peralta, Carroll, and perhaps even Agent M can hold down 3B. He’ll be on the trading block. Shapiro would be hard pressed not to consider any offer of live arms for DeRosa.

Yea, I think DeRosa is gone, and could be particularly valuable to an NL team because of his positional flexibility. He won’t require one of your top 5 prospects. Ideally, as fleerdon said, we could get close to the majors pitching talent for him. However, we disagree in the sense that I think we should move him either way even if we can’t get that in return

(provided our season is lost)

Right on cue

Welcome, and thanks for the thoughtful question.

If the bullpen continues to be a whirling torrent of suck, and the Tribe continues to be out of it, DeRosa is going to be on the block. The real question is who is going to be after him. That is going to set the price.

If it is just the Brewers, I agree that we’d take live arm plus low minor so-so prospect. No evidence to back this up, just sort of a gut feeling for how these work out.

I don’t know who else would be in on a DeRosa market. Astros? Cards? Phillies? Red Sox?

Now we should trade LaPorta just because the Red Sox need a guy like him.

If Ortiz doesn’t start hitting soon, the Red Sox will need to look for an alternative, using their surplus of pitching to try to make a deal for some talented young hitter, like a Matt LaPorta of the Indians.

Good thinking. Now that “the shift” is in effect, there’s really no excuse for playing DeRosa at 1B.

I would very much like to see this happen. I like DeRo but have no emotional investment in him whatsoever. Casey Blake2.0.

But since we’re discussing things like this… would it be possible/advantageous to move Carroll? I mean, I like the guy, but he could have some value for perhaps a near ML bullpen arm with life. Then maybe Barfield could get some more legitimate looks. Or we could just let Valbuena plow every catcher in the AL, which I’m also cool with. OR maybe Kerry just blew my mind so hard last night that I can’t think straight.

Slightly OT, but I’d just like to know why people keep mentioning Peralta to be traded as well? He’s shown he can handle third, he’s been a solid hitter over his career and he’s still signed for a couple years. I understand listening to offers for him, but I certainly wouldn’t throw him on the heap of guys we need to get rid of.

Anyway, DeRosa is bound to be valuable for some NL team, and Shapiro is obviously very shrewd in these situations, so I have faith in getting a something good in return.

Totally speculating, but perhaps some see the third base cubpoard looking full with the possibility that Agent M can fill in until Chisenhall is ready.

We will trade you Mark DeRosa for Matt LaPorta and Mike Brantley. You get to keep Zach Jack this time. (Oh, are we not talking about baseball cards?)

I’m gonna be lazy here and copy/paste from MLBTR because there are a few tidbits that I’m sure aren’t as concise in the real articles:

Mets have been talking to the Indians about acquiring Mark DeRosa. With Jose Reyes’ injury last night, Price says “now that move makes even more sense.”

Oakland is likely to talk to the Indians about Mark DeRosa, who is on the block. The A’s had some interest in the infielder after the 2006 season. The Indians are believed to be looking for pitching, but the A’s won’t trade any of their hotshot young pitchers.

Speaking of DeRosa, Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if a deal involving him, Jamey Carroll, and J.J. Putz could be worked out between the Mets and Indians. He says Carroll is an Omar Minaya favorite.

I think the Indians could benefit from having DeRosa here this year. He can teach the young players, and is a lock for 15HR and a .275. What else could you need from a super sub?

I’m not sure if anyone’s mentioned this yet, but Boston is looking to move Brad Penny. A DeRosa for Penny trade, or more likely a three way trade involving the Red Sox-Indians-and a Third team seems like a potential match.

Given our injuries in the rotation and the poor performance of Sowers and Huff, Penny would be a good addition. And if worse comes to worse and we fail to become competitive by the trade deadline, we could flip Penny again.

Link to Bleed Cubbie Blue where they discuss the DeRosa trade.

Interesting that many fans from both sides wish the trade never happened (due to their current circumstances).

He would be a good add if you are looking for someone with some pop in the bat and are willing to tolerate how often he doesn’t put it in play. His production and average when he does make contact are great. A plus – and one thing the Indians can’t/don’t use too much in the American League – is that the guy knows how to bunt and hit behind runners.
By the trading deadline we’ll probably take any young bullpen arm and a bag of BP balls while waiting for next April.