Rumor Roundup

Here are some trade rumors from the last day or so that we haven't covered.  All come from various newspapers or other published reports.

Yesterday ESPN's Jayson Stark reported some Bobby Abreu interest coming from the Brewers.  It was a longshot from the start given Abreu's contract.  Today it's been revealed that Doug Melvin hasn't even spoken to Pat Gillick on the topic, and the rumor was placed by a rival GM.  Any guesses who?

Something seems to be brewing between the Yankees and Royals, and Reggie Sanders is the name that makes sense. The Royals would do well to unload the 38 year-old right fielder's $5MM commitment for '07.  A deal could also include reliever Elmer Dessens, who's signed through next season.  For the second trading deadline in a row, Brian Cashman seems to be taking a more level-headed approach.

Another option for the Yanks is Kevin Mench of the Rangers.  Mench has been jerked around a bit this year by Buck Showalter and could come at a reduced price.  I recently outlined a couple of possible career paths for Mench over at RotoAuthority.  His career may be at a fork in the road; he should take it.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mariners have become a major player for Alfonso Soriano.  Bill Bavasi has stumbled with some questionable signings, but Seattle remains just four games out in a weak division.  Don't forget that Bavasi loves to deal with Kevin Towers more than any GM, so he may try to match up with the Padres somehow.

Comments

[astrosfanfromNY]

Seems like the Padres are looking at Ensberg. He's expandable now that the 'Stros have aquired Huff. The question is who would the Padres give up?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20060718-9999-1s18padnotes.html

[was385]

I thought that they would just move Huff to the OF when Ensberg came back.

The one I have heard is Scott Linebrink for Wilson Betemit which I would be fine with

[RotoAuthority]

I personally don't really view the Braves as a contender, but I guess they could do something if Smoltz keeps yapping.

[kylejo]

have you heard the scott williamson for willy taveras trade rumor at all?

[RotoAuthority]

I have...it makes me sick.

[kylejo]

haha, in what way? what's your impression of taveras because to me, it doesn't sound like a bad deal for the cubs.

[RotoAuthority]

I think he sucks, he's a complete void with the bat. .259/.311/.312 this year. That's just awful and the Cubs would feel compelled to bat him at the top of the order.

[bigfatdrunk]

I think you are too short-sighted on the whole williamson for taveras deal. Taveras is awesome! Can you imagine that 1-2 speed punch of Pierre and Taveras? It'd be like...like...a McGraw dead-ball era dream come true!

Devoted Astro fan,

[kylejo]

i just cant see the cubs getting anything real tangible for williamson, i guess thats proved wrong by the reds deal, but for a guy who's first year in the league was last year, and it was a success i think id take that for a one million dollar gamble on williamson

[kylejo]

if the cubs were able to swing williamson for vasquez so the sox could promote mccarthy and rid themselves of vasquez's contract i think id be a little more excited than taveras....little willy does have a .296 career minor league batting avg.

[Meow Mix]

Why would the White Sox trave Vasquez for Williamson?!? Please think before posting.

[kylejo]

hmm meow, let me think. maybe, 1)because they are shopping him. 2)they are looking for a right-handed reliever (williamson). 3)they are paying him 11.5 mil this year and 12.5 mil next year. 4)his era is over 5. 5)mccarthy is a hell of a lot cheaper and is the future of the rotation.....how about you think before you criticize

[Sunny Reiser]

Come on, man! Scott Williamson for Javier Vazquez?

I'm no Vazquez fan (IMO horribly overrated), but I would think that if it's a salary dump, the Sox could ask for Howry or Eyre long before Vazquez, and still be dumping salary in the process, and be getting fair value. They'd actually be winning out in that deal, IMO.

Williamson for Vazquez is utterly ridiculous.

How about getting Hendry to throw in Henry Blanco and Nelfi Perez, too?

[kylejo]

why would the cubs give up one of the best setup men in the game, that they are only paying 2.5 mil, and take on 12 mil for a guy who hasnt been successful since 2003? the white sox want to get mccarthy into the rotation, they just signed garland to an extension, and have to like buehrle, contreras and even garcia more than vasquez for 12 million dollars! they may ask for eyre and howry, but the more realistic scenario i believe would be williamson...javier vasquez is putting up mark redman numbers for gosh sake

[the man]

and mark redman numbers are all-star numbers, so we've got quite a pitcher

[bobo]

Williamson for Vazquez seems fair to me. Vazquez probably has negative value given his contract but in trade season, someone would surely take it on. But keep in mind the difference between trading for a starter and a reliever in late July is that the starter is only going to get 10 starts. I don't think anyone thinks that Vazquez WON'T get shelled in at least 3 of those, so what's he really worth? Certainly not that huge contract.

Yes there are injury concerns and he's never been successful in the AL short of a few innings in Boston, but I'd still prefer Williamson over Majewski (?) and we saw what he brought.

But this is all moot - why would the Cubs possibly want Vazquez??

[kylejo]

i believe the cubs would want vasquez because next year they have huge rotation holes and he would help solve those and the money they are using to pay maddux now could simply transfer over to vasquez's contract

[bobo]

Ok, but aren't there tons of other pitchers you'd rather spend $16+ Million for one season on? (about $4M for the remainder of 06 which is worthless since the cubs don't have a chance, and $12M for 07).

[kylejo]

sure there are, but theyre not garaunteed to get those guys. theyre not going to be able to land zito or schmidt in the off-season, and if they trade away maddux then that pays for vasquez this year

[pistonsfan133]

I think Vasquez is horrible and the cubs would be getting ripped of. Wat do u guys think about Soriano and were he will end up? The tigers will be getting Soriano when its all said and done and July 31st is past. heres wat tehre new line-up will look like.

OF-Soriano
2B-Polanco
C-Pudge
OF-Ordonez
SS-Guillen
DH-Thames
1B-Selton
3B-Inge
OF-Granderson

Put that line-up together with the best staff in baseball and what do you get? A World Series Championship.