Benson update

Meyer has it. The Pirates want someone who can play now. Add the fact that other "performing" players are in demand - it doesn't take much imagination to guess which players other teams want right now - and I guess the Pirates are looking to package Benson and "a performer" for a deal that includes someone like Jason Bay or David Wright. (The New York Daily News reports here that the Pirates are bent on Wright, as they should be, in their talks with New York.)

Speaking of which, if there is one untouchable "performer," it has to be Jason Bay. If two, add Oliver Perez. The rest of the team should be available. When you're 11 games under .500, there's no point in getting too attached to the guys who started while you were getting there.

... New York papers focus now on Ty Wigginton as trade bait. He's too much like our current Pirates to help our current Pirates, if you know what I mean.

...what could the Rangers offer? How about that Adrian Gonzalez? he's a left-handed work-in-progress at first that might fit well with the Pirates' plans for 2005.

...the Indians are rumored to be eyeing Benson and, with greater lust in their heart, Kip Wells. I'd trade Kip in a heartbeat if we could get a good collection of booty for him. (Don't worry; the link is safe for work.) That Grady Sizemore hits left-handed and looks ready for promotion. Since he starred for Akron, one Altoona's main competitors, in the Eastern League, surely the Bucs have a good measure of him. From what I can tell sitting here at my Pismo, Sizemore looks like a pretty big jewel to lay on top of such a chest.

...more news that the Phillies want him. Cole Hamels is a left-handed starter the Phillies won't use this year. But he's on a the DL with left elbow inflammation ... that's a huge red flag. And Marlon Byrd ... is he the next Ruben Mateo?

...FWIW, Pirate fans run down Benson more than we should. Sure, his career record is not so great and it's been marked with injuries and periods of rehabbing in the majors. Reminds me of another guy who was "injury-prone," "inconsistent," 47-51 lifetime, and sporting a career ERA close to 5.00 (Benson's was 4.27 coming into 2004) when he was traded.