It seems as if Ed Wade really is trying to pull off his own Herschel Walker deal, as Jayson Stark (h/t to Astros County), says that they were asking for four sure-thing prospects for Hunter Pence.
↵↵↵"But the Astros have been telling clubs they need four sure-thing players if they deal Pence."
↵
Did Wade really reject a trade for Jonathan Singleton, Jarred Cosart and a mid-tier prospect, or is this just speculation? Multiple people have told me that Singleton, 19, may be a player to avoid in any trade, and both are in A+, hardly close to making an impact on the major league stage. Wade may be hardballing Ruben Amaro Jr for Domonic Brown.
↵But some of these reports contradict each other. If the Astros want a top pitching prospect for Pence, as Jon Heyman tweets, why would they turn down Cosart? The Braves might need Pence's bat after losing Brian McCann, but Stark says they have more interest in Josh Willingham since Mike Minor, Julio Teheran and Arodys Vizcaino are untouchable.
↵Now that Colby Rasmus is reputedly off the board and off to Toronto, and possibly Carlos Beltran to San Francisco, Pence remains as the lone available big bat for teams seeking outfield help.
↵Four days to go until the deadline. It could all change.