Another baseball trade scenario made the rounds yesterday, but was debunked almost as soon as it was reported. The three-way trade has the Marlins sending Dontrelle Willis to the Phillies, with Pat Burrell going from Philly to the Yankees, and both New York and Philly sending numerous prospects down to Florida. The trade sounds a bit unlikely for quite a few reasons:
First of all, the Marlins don't really need to trade Willis. He's their biggest gate attraction- if there can be such a thing in the perpetually empty cesspool they call their stadium- and he's three years away from free agency and not making that much money. I'm sure they'd jump at the chance should a package of can't-miss prospects come along, but the Yankees and Phillies put together don't have anything like that.
It's also hard to believe, meanwhile, that the Yankees -who need pitching in the worst way- would involve themselves in a trade involving Willis and not end up with the pitcher themselves.
None of the reports listed actual prospects, but in such a trade with Philly the Marlins would probably ask for Cole Hamels, who the Phillies really should designate as untouchable. And besides, I can't imagine the Marlins would decide, if given the choice, to trade Willis to a divisional rival. Even though the rumor originated in the New York Daily News, it sounds to me like Philly-fan wishful thinking.
Posted by Stephen Silver at June 1, 2006 12:30 AMI've been to Dolphin stadium. That place feels even more like a football stadium than either the Coliseum or the metrodome (both of which I've been to).
The orange seats are insulting.
Posted by: Jeff S. at June 1, 2006 11:47 PM