Who?

I was reading through Foxsports.com hot stove updates for the Cubs and came across this...

Despite posturing to the contrary, trade talks involving Sammy Sosa are ongoing. The Cubs have discussed a Sosa-for-Joey Gathright deal with the D-Rays. The A's have also expressed interest, and there's still the Mets.

Who is Joey Gathright?

Drafted by the Rays in the 2001 draft (32nd round) and signed in August after playing that summer in a Louisiana Sugar Cane League in Sorrento, Louisiana.

Runs a 34 in the 60-yard dash.

Gathright played in three different stretches for the Rays. The speedster from Mississippi hit .250 and stole six bases in seven attempts. But he struggled a bit in the field and showed that he needed more experience learning how to get on base regularly. He is expected to compete for a job as the Rays' fourth outfielder in 2005.

32nd round doesn't sound to good but I went and looked at his minor league stats. He has not hit below .324 since A ball, very impressive.

The more that I look at Gathright the more I like. He is a lefthanded batter, who has hit at every level in the minors and gifted with Corey Patterson speed. Though he has shown a better eye by striking out less. He will not be an RBI or HR threat, but he could be the leadoff man this team is looking for.

His negatives are that he is only 22, and has virtually no MLB experience. With an impatient Dusty Baker towards rookies, the first sign of struggle and Jose Macias will be your everyday replacement. I don't think the Cubs would be serious about a Gathright-Sosa type deal because they would much rather get the expensive veterans because they know what to expect out of him, even if he has no value to the present lineup. Sosa for Cliff Floyd solves none of the offensive problems of this team. A Gathright-Sosa type deal has the ability to solve RF, lead-off, and free up money for 1-2 potential big time free agents.

Other factors are involved...would Sosa waive his no-trade clause to Tampa? I doubt it. Would Tampa be willing to take on most of that contract? I doubt it. Would other players be involved from Tampa? Probably. The name I have heard thrown around is Aubrey Huff. Who would fit in nicely in LF, RF, and be an emergency back up 3rd baseman, but not because of his fielding. I would ship Kyle Farnsworth and Patterson off as well in order to open up another OF spot for far shots such as Beltran, Magglio Ordonez or J.D. Drew.

A deal like that could change the whole face of the lineup, and this is pure fantasy on my part but something I would not mind seeing at all...

Gathright - RF - LH
Walker - 2nd - LH
Beltran - CF - SW
Ramirez - 3rd RH
Huff - LF - LH
Lee - 1b - RH
Barrett - C - RH
Perez - SW
pitcher

The lineup would be more balanced with left handed hitters who don't strike out a ton and is about the only lineup that I would not mind Neifi Perez playing 162 games in. You can run down various combos of the lineup with Ordonez and Drew as well, but Beltran is the one we want the most. The chances of this becoming reality are about 1%, but it is nice to look at what could happen if certain things are set in motion.