David DeJesus - To Trade, or not to Trade...

With the trade deadline approaching, Kansas City fans are hopeful that players like Jose Guillen can be moved elsewhere for something (ANYTHING) to make way for a young player - maybe even the return of Alex Gordon in his new role as a corner outfielder.  Is that a pipe dream?  Maybe...maybe not.  Guillen is hitting this year, and if KC will pony up a few million dollars towards his salary, I think a trade partner could be found.  I'm not sure the team would receive much of value in return, but it may be valuable enough to give a player in Omaha the chance he won't get as long as Guillen is wearing Royal blue.

The real value on the trade market for the Royals lies with fan favorite (and one of the best, most consistent Kansas City players over the past several seasons) David DeJesus.  And according to rumors, there is interest in DDJ.  An article by Nick Cafardo at Boston.com regarding possible player trades says the following about DeJesus:

A solid offensive player who can play all three outfield positions, he is affordable at $4.7 million, with an option for next season at $6 million. The Red Sox, Yankees, and Padres are possible bidders, but the Royals are said to be asking for more return than is acceptable to the suitors.

Some fans will surely wonder why Dayton Moore would ask for too much...pricing himself out of any trade at all (I've seen the argument online at various fan communities).  Personally, I say "Good for you, Dayton."  Why not shoot for the moon?  Should we settle for whatever a team will give us?  I say no.  We've seen that before (too many times).  Johnny Damon, Jermaine Dye (Neifi Perez, anyone?), Carlos Beltran...the list goes on. 

DeJesus is a valuable player.  He can play defense - and not just league average defense - GREAT defense.  He can play all three outfield positions.  He can hit...and he's on FIRE right now.  Look at the numbers then tell me a team in contention wouldn't benefit from DDJ's services.  You can't tell me that, can you?  He would be a fantastic (and affordable) addition to several teams.  And if Dayton Moore is asking for "too much," well...so be it.  We can always keep him and exercise his option for 2011 (at a very reasonable $6 million).  God forbid we got stuck with the guy because Dayton won't settle for any offer Boston or New York sends his way.  If a big payday isn't in the cards, then I'd rather the Royals keep the player who could easily be their All-Star representative in 2010 (in my opinion).

Not to mention, the only guy more popular on the team is probably Zack Greinke.  Fans love DeJesus, and with good reason, he an approachable and likable guy...who, by the way, plays some damn good baseball.

The teams mentioned above by Cafardo aren't the only interested parties...I would bet plenty of general managers will come calling (the last rumor I saw mentioned the Giants).  DeJesus is a great fit for many teams out there (including the Royals).  Let the bidding begin.

The Pretender

Barry Bonds popped up in the news the other day.  I hadn't paid much attention to him for some time now, and this was the first I'd heard a peep out of him for at least year.  He didn't have much of substance to say, but I did take one thing away from the article I read...Bonds is still pretending.

Barry says he's proud of Mark McGwire for coming clean.  What does this imply?  It implies that Bonds thinks McGwire did something wrong and needed to come clean.  However, no mention of himself, because Barry himself did nothing wrong, and doesn't need to come clean.  Right?

Bonds then mentioned how he, like McGwire (new hitting coach for the Cardinals), is doing a little coaching himself.  He recently did a little one-on-one clinic with Philadelphia's Ryan Howard.  Speaking on the experience, Bonds went on to say "God gave me a gift, and it's nice to let someone else see what God has given me.  If you want it, I'll be happy to share it with you."

I think in this equation, God equals Balco?  I'm not sure.  Maybe I'm reading too much into this...overanalyzing.  But, word of warning to Ryan Howard, if Barry tries to share his "gift" with you...run!  Sharing needles is NOT the way to go.

In all seriousness though, it's just another example of Bonds the Pretender - this time pretending to be the great guy he wants to be seen as...but we've all seen the real Barry for too long now.  There's no turning back, no tricking us into remembering you in a different light.  And more importantly, no tricking the Hall of Fame voters into remembering you for anything other than what you really are.  A fraud.

But you just go on pretending nothing ever happened, Barry...