source spot

cardnilly has an interesting theory about the sanders-for-byrnes rumor: "I just finished re-reading Moneyball, and this reminds me a bit of the Rincon trade machinations detailed in the book. I think Billy's using these discussions both as a smokescreen and as a way of establishing Byrnes' value to whatever sucker he eventually deals with. Sure seems like the Yanks could use him out there a bit more than we could (and probably the Cubbies, too...). I think Byrnes gets dealt, but not to us."

it's an excellent take and i hope scott is right, as i see no profit in the deal for stl. but notice how mycheal urban (the a's mlb.com beat writer) sources the rumor: "According to a credible out-of-town source whose information was substantiated by a National League scout . . . ." the 'n.l. scout' is prob'y the cards' guy, eyeballing byrnes for jocketty, and the other source is an 'out-of-town' guy --- ie not beane or a surrogate. still true that the a's may only be posturing, but the cards appear to have serious interest. and that's noteworthy.

then again --- what if the 'out-of-town' guy is jocketty himself? maybe walt's engaging in some puffery of his own, trying to build a market for sanders . . . ?