Amaro Denies Howard for Pujols Trade Talks

As reported by Buster Olney, baseball analyst for the World Wide Leader in Sports ESPN, Philadelphia Phillies GM, Ruben Amaro vehemently denied that there is even talk about a trade that would trade superstars Albert Pujols for Ryan Howard.

It’s not fully clear whether the Phillies actually have approached the Cardinals with the idea, and even if St. Louis were to seriously consider such an offer, executives with the Cardinals would have to swallow very hard before dealing Pujols, a player widely regarded as the best in the sport.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro flatly denied that the internal discussions have taken place. “Lies,” he said. “That’s a lie. I don’t know who you’re talking to, but that’s a lie.”

The talk may well echo, in the end, another blockbuster deal that was discussed but never consummated many years ago:  Executives of the Red Sox and Yankees once famously discussed a trade of Ted Williams for Joe DiMaggio.

I like Buster Olney, but does this sound like the biggest non-story of the year?  Seriously.  Why would either team entertain this trade?

For the Cardinals, they have to break the bank to sign Albert.  They just signed Matt Holliday amidst speculation that they couldn’t sign both players.

Trading Albert would be admitting that they can’t sign him.  And won’t attempt to sign him.

I am of the opinion that the baseball-rabid citizens of St. Louis would burn down Busch Stadium if they thought that management would throw Albert under the bus to sign Holliday.  No matter if they got St. Louis native Howard in return.

As for the Phillies, if they really wanted to land Albert, why dangle Ryan Howard and run the risk of angering their superstar and losing him at the end of his contract run?  When the likelihood of it happening is a round number?

And why wouldn’t they wait until it was clear that the Cards couldn’t sign him, then trade a boxload of Joes for him as opposed to swapping superstars?

Sorry, I’m not buying it.