Benson like Schmidt

Sam Ross Jr. has a take on the Benson-like-Schmidt theme in his latest.

Benson's age (29) is no strike against him for a team looking for a two- to three-month rental. For that matter, it's no strike against him for a team looking to sign him to a three- or four-year deal. Whether or not he lives up to the standards of Randy Johnson or Sandy Koufax is a pretty silly standard; there's plenty of good years left on his arm for him to live up to the standard of Jason Schmidt. It's not like Benson is 37 or 41 years old.

In other Benson news, the Twins are scouting him, too. They have some good prospects, including a left-handed slugging first baseman that would fit our needs pretty well.

...John Harper of the New York Daily News writes that "The Mets would love to get Kris Benson from the Pirates."

...Kevin Baxter of Knight-Ridder newspapers (reg. req'd) has the slow wit to include Benson in the "lackluster crop of available players" this summer. He also mentions Jason Jennings of the Rockies and Jamie "No, we're not trading him" Moyer of the Mariners. "Clubs don't want to wait too long because the two, three or four guys on the market might be gone to another team,'' Atlanta GM John Schuerholz told USA Today, reports Baxter reports H-Wags. Baxter's a little behind the curve. In his notes he writes that "One factor that has gone overlooked in Cincinnati's revival this season is the improved control of the pitching staff" and then goes on to talk about how the Reds are throwing strikes and not walking people. Not overlooked, Kevin.