The rumor: The Giants have two "high-level scouts" watching David Price and Jon Lester's start on Friday night.
#SFGiants, #Pirates each have two high-level scouts watching Price-Lester tonight in St. Petersburg.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 26, 2014
Unless Rosenthal just meant that Pat Burrell was in the stands, wearing sunglasses and eating circus peanuts, and the "-level" part was an autocorrect typo.
The disclaimer: Scouts watch baseball games. It's due diligence. Tires will be kicked. There are scouts watching Kevin Correia, just in case. You don't want to hear that, but it's not out of the question. The only thing that makes this an interesting rumor is the "high-level" part.
I also love the fact that people there are scouting them.
Brian! Brian, it's Marvin. Your cousin, Marvin Sabean. You know those two pitchers you had me scout? Turns out they're *awesome*. You have to get these guys. Hello?
The reality: The Rays sure as heck aren't sending high-level scouts to the Giants' affiliates. Not without a canteen and iodine tablets. There probably isn't a package the Giants can put together without Madison Bumgarner that would beat the other offers that will be on the table.
Lester, though? I can see it. He's a free agent at the end of the year, which means that the Red Sox probably aren't going to get five of the top-10 prospects in any given system. The Red Sox will be reluctant (or pretend to be reluctant) to trade him, as they're trying to take the Lincecum route and sign him after the year, but he's not as unrealistic of an option as Price.
Everyone wants a piece of Kyle Crick, though. This comes from a reporter for the Erie Times-News:
.@Phillies scout in attendance tonight specifically to watch @GoSquirrels SP Kyle Crick throw. #giants #phillies
— Tom Reisenweber (@ETNreisenweber) July 25, 2014
Chaaaaaase Utley. Chase Utley.
icymi: phils have been trying to trade ryan howard, and are willing to pay most of the $70M to go. http://t.co/kGExhaxEw0
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 25, 2014
no no no no, Cole Hamels. Maybe Utley.
icymi: phils have been trying to trade ryan howard, and are willing to pay most of the $70M to go. http://t.co/kGExhaxEw0
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 25, 2014
Dammit.
I'll give the Price rumors a 2, the Lester rumors a 5, and Utley rumors a 4. Kyle Kendrick rumors that don't exist yet get a no, though that may be too generous.