My Vote...

[Hawaii007]

Is that the trades will start at the end of June if there is still no improvement by the team. Like I said, my big trade would be:
Colon/Branyan for Rolen/Byrd.
Sure the Phillies are not exactly "contenders" but they can't keep Rolen, so might as well have a stud pitcher for next year. And they can devote that money they were going to give Rolen to Colon.

[Alex]

I'd rather keep Colon for this year and next.

[*TR]

And what do we do with free agent Rolen? If we're willing to pay the big $$$$ to get him (and were not) why not just wait until the end of the year and sign him as a free agent?
If we trade Colon were not making the play-offs this year and then we just lose Rolen at the end of the year.
I love Rolen and would love to have him but unless Dolan is willing to pay top dollar Rolen is not coming or staying in Cleveland.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 24, 2002 06:28 AM: Message edited by: *TR ]</font>

[Hawaii007]

Of course we only trade Colon if we are out of the playoff hunt. That is why I was saying the housecleaning will begin if we don't improve by the end of June. Of course the trade for Rolen would be conditional on being able to sign him to a long term deal. The benefit of making the trade is that you have first dibs on negotiating a deal without having to outbid teams like the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, et al. Plus, if we lose him this year, we still have Byrd who is supposed to be a stud prospect and by having traded for him, we gain draft picks, instead of losing them to the Phillies by signing him as a FA. Of course people don't think much of draft picks, but recently, we seem to have done well, so probably more valuable then in previous years.

[*TR]

If we can sign Rolen then do the deal. Rolen is only 27 and will be a productive player long after Colon burns out.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ May 26, 2002 05:30 AM: Message edited by: *TR ]</font>

[Alex]

Bump