This was posted over on the Baseball Analysts site. Interesting analysis of Lind.....

ADAM LIND (LF/1B, TOR): For some reason, Lind has become one of my favorite prospects in minor league baseball. Lacking any trace of athleticism, Lind has been very respectable in the Florida State League this year, showing the potential for more. His .288/.351/.401 line wouldn't stop you on the street or drop your jaw, but when a few of those 25 doubles start going over the fence, he just might. With Aaron Hill graduating, Lind is the offensive player to be watched in this system, and I think the Eastern League is going to bring big things next season. Looking at Lind I see him becoming like two Rangers offensively: first David Dellucci, who hit 25 doubles and just 6 HR between A+ and AA at 22, but then twenty homers the next season. Also, Michael Young's .313/.392/.428 line from Dunedin in 1999 caught my eye, as it is so similar to Lind, who I could see hitting 60 extra-base hits in the Majors, like Young did last year.

The caveat with Lind is that he doesn't have the versatility like Dellucci or the forgiving position like Young, and since both of those players took about three years to develop, the Blue Jays are going to need to have patience. Rather, Lind has proven to be -- according to Batter's Box -- pretty inadequate in left field. He very well may shift to first base next year, certainly putting him two steps behind both aforementioned Rangers. But I do believe that Lind is worth notice, and that he can become something maybe even greater than those two Rangers...maybe someone Toronto fans remember more vividly: Paul Molitor.

Casey Janssen is #13 on the BA Hot prospects list:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/hotsheet2005.html

Janssen is pitching the 1pm (1st game) game on Saturday in New Britain - so I have been told.

Still no love for Chip Cannon though (although I see he is listed again at the bottom). I also noticed that there was no mention of him in a BA article about the minor league home-run race. However, I think he is only about 3 or 4 jacks back of the leader Wood.

Chacin, Bush, Lilly mentioned in possible deal for Marlin's AJ Burnett:

http://bluejays.scout.com/2/395155.html

Wilner was just on the fan talking about AJ Burnett (among other things). he said without a doubt that Burnett would be pitching in the AL East next season. if the Jays could sign him before the trade (72 hour window for the team to talk to the player agent) than the Jays could definitely land Burnett before the deadline.

This would be great news having him and Halladay lead the rotation for the next few years. depending on who JP would have to give up obviously. the Marlins aren't exactly out of the race yet, so they would probably want major league ready talent (Chacin, Bush, Lilly, Batista, etc.) as Kevin mentioned. I'm not sure I like the idea of giving up Batista plus prospects ... or any of those other 3 in a package deal for that matter. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out.

If you said before the season that we could get Burnett basically for Chacin, most would have laughed.

Now, not only is it serious, but it might not even be a great deal.

Take it back a little further with Chacin. He wasn't even on the prospect radar in 2003. There were 13 players in Jordan's AA review and Chacin wasn't one of them.

http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20031017113950999

Yikes. Diegomar Markwell? What ever happened to him?
Also, where did Dominic Rich end up this season?
I'm sure I could look up both cases, but.... meh.

Somehow I think this is going to be a 3 team (sorta) trade. The Marlins apparently like Redman from the Pirates and the Jays had a scout watching the team recently. So the Jays trade a prospect to the Pirates for Redman (he can't be worth too good a prospect can he?), and then flip Chacin and Redman to the Marlins for Burnett.

I think I would do that if I were JP assuming you can negotiate a multi year deal. Bush takes Chacin's spot in the rotation, Burnett takes Doc's spot (temporarily). Means Walker still makes a spot start here and there while Doc recovers.

According to Baseball Cube Markwell has not played since 2003. Maybe his arm blew up?

Blue,

I don't doubt your sources, but if the Marlins like Redman so much, why did they trade him to the A's a year and a half ago for not much in return?

Chacin at the end of 2003 would have been a Grade D pitching prospect, but something clicked in winter ball. This happens with pitchers a lot more than with hitters.

Sorry I guess I should include links, but me and HTML don't get along so good.

Here's the story re: Marlins interest in Redman.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/content/sports/epaper/2005/07/12/a5c_basenotes_0712.html

As to why the like Redman, I can't answer that. Maybe they convert him to a relief role, a la the SS Loogy?

I don't know if I'd be willing to give up Chacin to get this deal done.

But the article all but confirmed Batista would be the main piece moving in the deal as the Marlins need bullpen help.

Diego is still playing baseball over in the Netherlands. He played for their Olympic team last year and he has been trying to get back into baseball here in the States. He calls from time to time - mostly to talk to the kids, but also is online quite frequently so we chat and exchange emails. It looked like he had an "in" with the Jays or the Braves this year but things fell through ultimately.

Dominic Rich asked for and received his release when he found out at the end of Spring Training he was to be assigned to New Hampshire as a part time player. The last I heard from him, he had a shot at being signed by the Yankees and was to be working out at their facility in Florida in May, but it doesn't look like it panned out. He hasn't returned emails in a while and when I attempt to chat with him online, he logs out. He must still be angry I guess...

It's important to realize that some fine ballplayers don't make it to the Show despite talent and hard work. Bad luck, bad timing and injuries usually play a role.

Off-topic, but this seems to be the hot thread for rumours.

Kip Wells anyone?

The Pirates have not informed teams that Wells is available. At least one, Toronto, is interested in him enough to be sending scouts to PNC Park specifically to watch him

For what it's worth, some one Blue Jay Way also confirmed that while watching FSN SouthWest, the recent rumour around the Rangers is that Riccardi is interested in Mench and Texas is interested in Lilly. I will try to find a link.

Burnett has major health concerns. Peter Gammons wrote an article a few years back about the mistreatment of pitchers in Florida, naming Burnett as a huge concern. Aaron Gleeman also wrote a recent article in the Hardball Times regarding Burnett's pitching counts.

Average of pitches thrown per game.
1999 101.6 (only 22 years old) <Halladay 97.9>
2000 103.6 <93.0>
2001 102.6 <93.3>
2002 109.5* <102.9>
2003 103.3 (Had TJ surgery) <100.8>
2004 93.7 <97.9>
2005 104.8 <100.7>

*He also has only thrown 200 innings once and has NEVER started more than 29 games. Despite Halladay's workhorse nature he has not been nearly as abused as Burnett and even Halladay still broke down after the 2003 season. I smell Erik Hanson or is it Joey Hamilton?

I could certainly be way off base, but I've always thought that once you have TJ surgery you're essentially starting from scratch. That is, the 'abuse' that he had under Torborg doesn't mean anything anymore.

And on a side note I heard Torborg broadcast a game on ESPN when the Marlins were playing a couple weeks back and it's incredible how bitter he still is about being fired.

Kip Wells has a dangerous BB/K ratio which is going to skyrocket ala Batista if he changes leagues.

Not to mention his WHIP has been dangerously High since the 2003 season. He has had a 1.50+ WHIP which is just insane for an NL starting pitcher.

Honestly? If Gaudin or Bush was given the same amount of time starting they'd be just as effective. Kip Wells isn't an upgrade over anything at this point.

Say these deals go through: Good deal for the Jays? (I'll combine them all for the time being).

In:

Burnett
Encarnacion
Mench

Out:

Batista
Chacin
Cat
Lilly

Of course this is just pure specuation and I guess the Jays would be getting the best players so to speak out of the deals.

Not to mention with all the right handed Hitters this sounds more like the "Anti-Fenway" Line up.

I've moved the Marlins rumour to the Roundtable thread, to avoid duplication. Sorry for the confusion.

Kip Wells is trouble for the sole reason that it would make thousands of Vernon Wells jerseys void.

I'd have to pay for a "V" to stick before the name, then when Kip leaves, get that "V" unstitched.

What is the world coming to?

Its finally exciting to be a Blue Jays fan in July again. All this Burnett talk has me high strung. Burnett for Chacin straigt up clearly favors us. Thats why Juan Encarnation would be thrown in. Which also excites me. Encarnation is a far superior defender/power hitter than Cat and probably better than Reed in the outfield. Plus, his contracts up at then end of the year.. Whats not to like about that?

Let the wheeling and dealing begin.

kpataky, you seem to have a handle on Jays prospects, and I was wondering if you could comment on two players at A that seem intrguing to me, but also seem to get continuously passed over? Those prospects would be Eric Arnold and Robinson Diaz.

Arnold seems to have good power, and is a major run producer. Don't know much about his defense.

Diaz seems like an ideal number 2 hitter. Someone who doesn't have much power, but makes consistant contact, and doesn't strike out much.

Any thoughts?

I only get to know these guys once they hit Double and Triple-A. Too much baseball - not enough time.

;-P

Mench for Lilly is not happening. No way. Maybe six months ago, when Bauxites were thinking Lilly for Adrian Gonzalez and would have had to settle for Mench. I'd say in Texas' eyes, those two have swapped places in the rankings of who is likely to be dealt. Even then, I think the Rangers would be more inclined to, say, Jason Botts for Lilly.

Dominic was signed by the Cardinals and last month played in 3 games for Single A Palm Beach and was 1-8. He volentarily retired on 6/17.

http://palmbeachcardinals.com/team/transactions/