Gotham Baseball: Mets and Yankees Rumors

Check out the latest from Mark Healey of Gotham Baseball.  A summary is below.

Healey's Cubs source indicates Mark Prior and Alex Rodriguez could be the main pieces of a trade.  That'd be a tough sell for Brian Cashman so I'm sure the Cubs would have to spice up such an offer.  Healey's source mentions Mark DeRosa as a possible A-Rod replacement in New York.

A couple of names associated with the Mets include Ray Durham and Mark Mulder.  Durham is a new one for me, though the Mulder info jives with what I heard last week.  I also have strong indications from another source that a return to Oakland is "very likely" for Mulder, however.  It'll come down to the dollars: if Mulder takes injury/incentive type money, he goes to Oakland.  Otherwise, the Mets should be the top suitor.

Healey and I are also in agreement on the Mets' minimal interest in Julio Lugo and their intent to hang onto Lastings Milledge.

Finally, Healey's sources call for a Tom Glavine/Greg Maddux reunion in Atlanta.  I had heard the same about Glavine, though this weekend's New York Post mentioned that Glavine doesn't want to give the Braves a huge discount and Atlanta's payroll is pretty tight as long as it includes Andruw Jones.

The Hot Stove hasn't officially begun, but it's going to be another exciting winter.

UPDATE: Today's AJC indicates that the Braves would hesitate to pay Glavine even $10MM. 

Comments

[Jman]

this is completely conspiracy theory-esque but is it possible that the Cubs are talking up Prior's injury to the media in order to get backing for him being traded? I know that's taking it a bit far but looking at how they handle certain players in the past it's almost easy to point out when they want certain players gone or don't expect them back.

[RotoAuthority]

But why would a team talk up the injury of a guy it wanted to trade?

[Baseballfan79]

teams never talk up injuries for players like that exactly RotoAuthority.

I would not understand this trade for the yankees at all if Prior is the centerpiece unless perhaps it contains Hill too?

Prior is another Pavano and Wright for them perhaps they can all do rehab together?

[Kyle]

If the Yankees trade A-Rod to the cubs and the main piece they get back is Mark Prior I am going to be picked. I would like Prior as a buy low candidate but I was thinking a couple B prospects for him not an A+ major leaguer

[Jman]

I have no idea why a team would talk up injuries to a player they wanted to trade; Sosa was dragged through the mud the off-season before he was traded - but I suppose they attacked his commitment rather than injury so it is a bit different. But it's the Cubs and nothing they have done has made much sense.

So if the ARod trade somehow goes down what position does he play? I would assume SS unless ARam is going to be part of the deal.

[cajunrevenge]

I think it would be very hard for the braves to bring in both Maddux and Glavine. Hampton wont accept a trade and who would take a pitcher coming off TJ surgery that is owed 8 mill. That would mean Hudson would have to be traded.

Even if they did that, would they really want a pitching staff that could have 3 pitchers retire after 07? Smoltz might continue to pitch, but still, it would be hard for them to replace 2 starters. They refuse to overpay for free agents so their replacements would have to come in trade or from within. Davies/Harrison/Reyes could be ready but their young and I dont think you can go into a season with 2 unknowns like that.

[Vuchato]

The Braves would probably be looking to give Glavine something in the $5-$6M range, and with the $3M buyout, is more than he'd get for his $7.5M player option, and the Mets would probably look to et him for less than his $14M team option if they kept him. At this point, I don't think he cares much about the money, if he did, he'd say he was willing to go to any team. It's probably all about preference for him and his family, where they'd like to live.

If they were to get Maddux, too, they would definitely be looking to deal a starter. They already have Hudson, Smoltz, Hampton, James, Ramirez and Davies, add Maddux and Glavine, they have 8 starters. Davies would likely go to AAA, and Ramirez or Hampton may go to the minors to see how they recover from their injuries. Ramirez would probably be dealt for a reliever(as much as I'd object), however, and James, Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, and Hampton wouldn't be dealt under pretty much any circumstances, so we'd probably look to deal Hudson. I just don't find it very likely that we'd give up on Huddy after one bad year.

[akirell]

I agree with Vuchato that this Glavine situation is solely based on his family's personal preference, but I can't help but get a sour taste in my mouth when I read the AJC article and it states that Glavine isn't likely to take a $5MM-6MM from the Braves. To me, that means this is somewhat still about money and that scares me. Would Glavine actually NOT return to Atlanta simply because they can't pay him as much as the Mets are willing to overpay for him? Is he really that nonchalant towards all the admiring Atlanta fans who wish he never left and spent his entire career there instead of being a "traitor" for a few years? I mean when's it become about the game and less about the money?

[TheRealErik]

'Healey and I are also in agreement on the Mets' minimal interest in Julio Lugo and their intent to hang onto Lastings Milledge.'

I have my own opinion on this, but what makes you think Milledge will be kept?

[RotoAuthority]

Just a source.

However I spoke to another person today, also reliable, who indicated that Milledge will definitely not reach arb. as a Met. So I dunno.

[TheRealErik]

'However I spoke to another person today, also reliable, who indicated that Milledge will definitely not reach arb. as a Met. So I dunno.'

Yeah. Nobody knows anything.

I think Milledge is trade bait, but only in the right deal.

[start_wearing_purple]

The Yanks accepting Prior seems wildly farfetched. Accepting Zambrano, yes. Ramirez, yes. Lee, yes. Note I'm NOT saying the Cubs would make these trades. But really if Prior is the centerpiece I don't see any combination of him and prospects being accepted.

[was385]

cajun revenge, Jo-Jo Reyes and Matt Harrison have at least two more years in the minors before they are ready since they are at high A, Davies and Lerew will probably be on the roster with Lerew as a reliever as well as Devine in the pen and possibly Will Startup, and Phil Stockman. People seriously think that our bullpen sucks but we are getting at least four guys to our pen who were either injured or in their last year in the minors and Devine, Startup, and Stockman just dominated the minor leagues as relievers. This is going to be an incredibly talented pen

[bamabosoxfan]

Glavine/Maddux/Hudson/Smoltz. Now thats fantasy baseball! Then keep in mind you have Hampton, Ramirez, Davies, Chuck James fighting for the 5th spot. Hampton is not tradeable unless a team is willing to take a risk and pay part of his salary. This would have to be a desperate team with money to spend (Florida if Dontrelle leaves???)

I would like to see both Maddux and Glavine return for one more year in Atlanta, but let's be realistic. cajunrevenge said it best- do you want a staff where possibly three are retiring after 07? I doubt it. If Glavine wants to play in Atlanta to finish his career, then he'll have to accept less money. Chipper Jones will re-negotiate his contract to bring in a free agent that will help Atlanta win, but I highly doubt that he'll do such for Glavine. I dont think Maddux will be in Atlanta. He'll wind up signing a one-year with the Dodgers and ride off into the western sunset after the 07 season.

You don't trade a guy like Hudson just because of one bad year. Huddy and Smoltz will anchor the '07 rotation again, MAYBE with Glavine as #3.

[bizfitch]

I don't think that the Braves should even consider signing Glavine or Maddux, the money that either of those guys would command would be better off going towards solving our probably at the leadoff spot.

[Mordecai]

What everyone is forgetting is that the Yankees need to get younger. A-Rod to the Angels for Santana and a couple of young prospects would be a great trade for both teams.

Durham to the Mets seems like a decent fit. I still would LOVE to see Orlando Hudson play in Queens. He's great defensively, and has great clubhouse presence.

[Yu Hsing Chen]

by saying a couple of young prospects usually means you don't know what prospects the angels have.

And no, Santana is good, but he also showed very little progress this year. and the Angels' outspoken willingness to trade him is scary.

Not to meantion the Yankees would probably not want to trade a great HOF player to a team that eats them for breakfast lunch and dinner in the regular and post season.

Prior does have some merits, he's STILL only 25-26, and his stuff is undeniable. perhaps it is a good time to gamble on him. but there is no way the Cubs can pull this off with only Prior.

If it's going to happen, it needs to be something along hte lines of.

Prior/Hill/Soto + a couple of useful bench player or prospects. Theriot might be ok.

Still though, from a Cubs prespective, A-rod alone is not going to solve their problems, if they simply do the above trade and no much else next season, at best they smash their way into the playoff with a strong lineup of A-rod/Lee/A-ram/Barrett + useful bats from Jones/Murton. but their pitching staff is still a huge question mark. then again, i guess if the Cardinals can win it all with that pitching staff, so can the Cubbies with Zambrano or bust.

[Mordecai]

I dont know the Angels prospects?

Hmm... Maybe the Angels would offer Santana and

Brandon Wood, thier top prospect who can maybe play third

Howie Kendrick, probably thier second best prospect, maybe could play third as well

Erick Aybar, SS/3b??

Jeff Mathis, possible replacemet for when Jorge retires?

Kendry Morales, first base?

Nick Adenhart, Joe Saunders, Tommy Mendoza, Von Stertzbach????

Angels have a very deep farm, loaded especially with offense. Like I said, I would love to see the Yankees get younger. Prior would be a disaster. Mark my words. He's to injury prone, and if he's not out there, in this city, he would become the next coming of Carl Pavano.

[Yu Hsing Chen]

well, i agree with ur point on getting younger, though what sort of package would be viable for both sides?

Mathis/Santana/Wood?

As for the Cubs deal, i'm just throwing out the names, i agree that Prior is at best a huge gamble. but still. I can't see the Yankees tradign a hall of famer to a team that owns them very often.

[Kyle]

As a Yankee fan I have that same concern Chen. I dont think Cashman, if he trades A-Rod, will kill his options by eliminating teams but I think if the Dodgers can offer a similar package to the angels I would rather have him go to the dodgers. Maybe something like Kuo, Loney, and Elbert.

[Baseballfan79]

the LAA wont do
Santana/Wood and Mathis

Wood is one of the top 5 prospects in baseball
Santana is a young 2-3 pitcher that had a very good year.

Mathis is their own future stud catcher, he is top 3 for catching prospects in the game, and if not top 5 at least. After clement and Stal's years I think he could be the best one of them.

Really the LAA can get Lee or soriano, pay less in salary and not give up their studs. The drop off is there between ARod and them but it isnt a larger drop off then the value of the prospects and young players above.

[9YrsLate]

?

[nrmax88]

hey akirell lol, maybe glavine doesnt wana go back because the braves suck, and he wants to win and play on a good team (mets) evr think of that?

[nrmax88]

and moredecai great point about orlando hudson that guy would fit right in, play great de and steal some bags, also think it would be a great fit, i also like ray durham, but the fact is that he is getting old and injury prone, but he can produce when healthy and also wouldnt mind having him in queens

[diamondjaxx]

Ken Rosenthal is Reporting The Cubs are on the verge of signing free-agent outfielder Alfonso Soriano, FOXSports.com has learned.

Soriano, 30, is believed to be seeking an eight-year deal for approximately $17 million per season, which could put the total value of his package in the range of $135 million.
The Astros, Phillies and Angels also had been pursuing Soriano.

The Cubs have talked about playing Soriano in center field, but it's still possible they will use him on one of the outfield corners, depending upon what else they accomplish.

The team also has pursued free-agent center fielder Gary Matthews and pondered the notion of signing free-agent infielder Julio Lugo to play center.

The addition of Soriano would be the latest in a flurry of off-season moves by general manager Jim Hendry.

The Cubs opened the off-season by re-signing third baseman Aramis Ramirez to a five-year, $75 million contract and re-signing right-hander Kerry Wood to a one-year, $5.25 million deal.

They also have signed free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa to a three-year, $13 million contract and re-signed free-agent catcher Henry Blanco to a two-year, $5.25 million deal.