Gagne's List
We know Rangers closer Eric Gagne has some kind of no-trade protection in his contract, but further details were unknown. Jon Heyman of SI.com recently clarified a bit.
Apparently Gagne has given the Rangers a list of 12 teams he can be traded to. Heyman says that almost all of those allowable 12 are not in contention or would have no motivation to trade for him. Heyman also believes that the Tigers, Indians, and Phillies are not among the 12 allowable teams. So if one of those wants Gagne, they'll need his approval and his salary will escalate.
Meanwhile, Bill Madden of the New York Daily News speculates that Lou Piniella might urge Jim Hendry to acquire Gagne to solidify the Cubs' bullpen.
I would be surprised if they weren't. I'm betting that the teams that are on the list would have a need for a closer.
Posted by: schellis | June 17, 2007 at 03:06 PM
My Guess as to the 12:
Tampa Bay, Toronto, Kansas City, Minnesota, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Washington, San Fran, Cincinnati, Anaheim, Detroit, San Diego.
I always thought it was kinda dumb when players put teams that would never possibly trade for them on their"no trade" list. Like Torii Hunter not wanted to be traded to the Devil Rays. What were the odds of that ever happening?
Posted by: wihargo | June 17, 2007 at 06:06 PM
Which is why I think this list is brilliant.
Posted by: wihargo | June 17, 2007 at 06:08 PM
Meaning that any list that gave you more control than people thought you were going to get is brilliant. Obviously there is nothing brilliant on my part at naming off 12 teams.
Posted by: wihargo | June 17, 2007 at 06:10 PM
My guess is that Gagne generated his list of 12 from with the idea that if he were trade, he would go to the 12 teams with the biggest questions marks concerning their closer. He gets traded to one of those 12, becomes the closer and hopefully dominates, and then gets a lucritive multi-year deal this offseason. Seems to make sense since he signed with the rangers under the same intent. It also makes sense because most of the contenders probably have a solid closer. Id imagine my braves did not make the cut, but if they did, we sure could use him. Wickman has a 3.6 era, which is needless not to reassuring and has blown 3 saves, so i am sure the braves could give gagne some save opportunities. However, the cubs seem to makes sense, as they will remain in contention in the weak NL Central, would probably give up the most for gagne, and probably would throw a lot of money at him in the offseason anyway.
Posted by: bravesbeast | June 17, 2007 at 06:25 PM
gagne to the mets PLEASE! i'm not really sure it would go because gagne wouldn't be the closer, wags still is. still, we need a better bullpen. i'm getting sick of seeing mota/schewesis/heilman giving up runs after runs and preventing the mets from getting back into a game they are down in. and there's way too much pressure being put on joe smith to be the 3rd best member of the 'pen too. anyway, i'm rambling. i don't know how much it would take to get gagne to the mets or if it would even happen lol
Posted by: tinathemetsgrl | June 21, 2007 at 10:44 AM