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kurkjian was just on espnews and said he doesn't expect tejada to go anywhere. of course he also said the soriano deal was supposed to go down yesterday also.


He also said the O's don't want prospects; they want ML-ready players. That doesn't seem to jive with the Pence rumor (unless the O's think he is ML-ready, which obviously the Astros don't think...Pupura was quoted earlier as saying that Pence isn't ready for AAA because of strike out/plate discipline issues.)

As to whether Pence is tradeable in that kind of deal, that is an evaluation that I have to rely upon the Astros to make. My sense is that Hirsch is much more of a "sure thing" in the MLs than Pence. But Pence may have more high side too. Some scouts dislike Pence's awkward swing and wonder whether he can succeed with it when he has to face AAA or ML pitching. OTOH, I have read quotes from Astros player development people who say that Pence's bat speed is phenomonal...better than any player they have worked with.