Rolen, here we go again....

With yesterday’s talk about the Scott Rolen rumors being dead, I was quite relieved. Then came today, where Tony La Russa decided it was best to basically question Scott’s manhood in the press. Haudricourt said that there is a possibility that the two clubs could revisit trade options down the road.

It’s obvious I don’t want Rolen at the expense of giving up potentially both Capuano AND Bill Hall, plus having the Cards not pick up any of Rolen’s $36M remaining on the 3 yr contract. Would I like to have Rolen next year in a Brewer uniform, absolutely. It’d help the 2008 defense by moving Braun to LF. It’d probably be a swing of 2-3 games w/o looking it up. But what happens if Rolen goes down, who is the backup – Counsell, Dillon? I just don’t think Rolen can be counted on, which is why he’s on the block in the first place.

Looking down the road, what happens with 2007 1st round pick, Matt Laporta who is being groomed as the LF of the future? He wouldn’t have any place to play if he’s ready by the beginning of 2009. He sure isn’t going back to play first base, not w/Prince there right now. I suppose you could look to move Hart to CF and get rid of Hall for useful parts, but that’s a year away and a best case scenario presuming Laporta is able to be ready considering he still hasn’t even sniffed AA-ball yet.

I think the best case option would be to sign either A) Kenny Lofton, or B) Luis Gonzalez for a one year deal w/a team option for 2009. That way Braun gets to stay at a defensive position that is more valuable, and there’s a nice transition to Laporta either in 2009 or 2010 in left field. And if Laporta’s defense doesn’t happen to work out in LF, he could probably look to move back to his natural position, 1B, once the inevitable happens…. Prince is a Scott Boras client after all….