« Fukudome To Have Elbow Surgery | Main | Disgruntled Encarnacion Could Be Moved »

Rosenthal's Latest: Possible Waiver Deals

By Tim Dierkes [August 12, 2007 at 11:45pm CST]

Ken Rosenthal has a new post up; below are some points of interest for rumor-hounds like us.

Josh Towers and Steve Trachsel have both cleared waivers. You'll find their contract info as well as a complete list of those who have cleared waivers here. Rosenthal says the Rockies are monitoring both pitchers; they were forced to start journeyman Tim Harikkala today. The Rox also called the A's about Chad Gaudin but found the price prohibitive. Another reason a Gaudin trade wouldn't make sense is that he wouldn't pass through waivers.

Towers is attracting multiple suitors. I think he'll have moderate success in the NL as a #4 starter.

Mark Loretta and Mike Lamb were both claimed on waivers and then pulled back, so they're not going anywhere.

The Yankees have no reason to throw down a chunk of change on a free agent starter this winter. They're all set for 2008 with a formidable rotation of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, and Andy Pettitte. I think we've learned by now that there's really no such thing as a surplus of starting pitching, so I imagine the Yanks will only trade Kei Igawa in the right deal. Buster Olney said this morning that there was a 50% chance of Igawa going to the Padres soon. Additionally, it will be nice to have Ian Kennedy around as the sixth starter.

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515b9a69e200e5547e8fe88833

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Rosenthal's Latest: Possible Waiver Deals:

Comments

You're right in saying there's no reason to expect the Yankees to drop big bucks on a starter this winter, but NEXT winter, watch out. If Santana hits the market, the Yankees are going to throw a bank at him. They will have at least one open spot in the rotation (assuming Pettitte and Mussina leave, and Kennedy takes one of their spots), and a whole lot of money coming off the books (Pettitte, Mussina, Giambi, Pavano...that's like $57 million per year right there). The ball is in the Twins' court now though.

Posted by: achilles17 | August 12, 2007 at 11:53 PM

Clemens is a FA, Arod could opt out, Giambi is a Yank until '09 (club option), Pettitte has a player option for next year, Abreu has a club option, Posada is a FA, Moose is under contract next season, Mo is a FA, Pavano is a Yank until '09 (club option), and Farnsworth is under contract next season.

Posted by: moebarguy | August 13, 2007 at 12:08 AM

I also believe that Johan is a FA after the '08 season, not this off-season...

Posted by: moebarguy | August 13, 2007 at 12:09 AM

I was talking about after the '08 season, that's when all the money comes off the books. By next winter, I meant the one after the '08 season - this winter means the one after the '07 season.

Posted by: achilles17 | August 13, 2007 at 12:23 AM

You don't think the Yankees will go after Sabathia this offseason. Pettitte might still get hurt, and I don't think they can count on Moose for a full season. They could start the season with a rotation of CC, Wang, Pettitte, Moose, Hughes - and finish with CC, Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy.

Posted by: ManBearPig | August 13, 2007 at 12:26 AM

Sabathia isn't a free agent until 2010. According to rotoworld, at least. I know he's not going to be a free agent this off season, that's for sure. Maybe you were thinking Zambrano? Dunno how you could get those two confused...I guess they're both big guys.

Posted by: achilles17 | August 13, 2007 at 12:29 AM

Tim, you contradict yourself in this post. You've spoken before about the Yankees hoping Joba can be their K-Rod, and now you're saying (as you have before you made the "their K-rod" comment) that he will start for them. Do you see the Yankees using Joba as a starter or closer? And doesn't this all essentially boil down to whether or not the Yankees resign Mariano, since his loss will give the role to Joba?

Posted by: giantspwner187 | August 13, 2007 at 01:18 AM

It is possible if Joba just dominates he could end up as the next closer. For right now though, it just so happens that they need bullpen help really badly, and they happened to have a kid in the minors who hits triple digits and doesnt walk people. They have a need and he can fill it right now. This doesnt mean that he is no longer a starting pitcher. Is there a chance he relieves and becomes a closer and never looks back, I guess so. Right now though I think the Yankees still look at Joba as a future starting pitcher.

Posted by: nrmax88 | August 13, 2007 at 01:31 AM

The Yankees have said all along that next year Joba will be a starter. There is no doubt that his future will be in the rotation, especially considering how Mariano has pitched since April 28th. They are obviously going to resign Mo - he has been his usual brilliant self, save a pretty slow start. Don't let the number of saves deceive you, he's been a rock out there.

Posted by: achilles17 | August 13, 2007 at 01:31 AM

Never say never. I mean I'm sure most people never thought Papelbon would be closing for the Red Sox when he was a starter in the minors(not making the Joba/Papelbon comparison just yet), but I think Joba's been too effective as a starter(plus the fact that he wants to be a starter). The main reason, as was stated, that he's in the bullpen is he throws hard with good control. But also, he's only pitched 88 innings(135 k's vs. 27 bb's) in the minors and actually started this year in Single A Tampa. So I think he's probably a good fit for the bullpen right now, but could probably use some more time in the minors before he's starting on the major league level. I don't even know that the Yankees would want him to open next year in the rotation, if only for his own development.

Posted by: johnflaherty | August 13, 2007 at 03:25 AM

"""Mark Loretta and Mike Lamb were both claimed on waivers and then pulled back, so they're not going anywhere."""

Why doesn't this surprise me?

Posted by: WHIPit | August 13, 2007 at 04:16 AM

Next KRod doesn't have to mean he's a closer in future. If you recall, KRod was a reliever that was in the minors all year long then Angels brought him up really late for the playoffs push and he was dominant, I think that was what Tim was referring to(late season call up for big help in playoffs), him being a starter next season doesn't contradict that.

Posted by: zs190 | August 13, 2007 at 06:44 AM

All this talk about the Yankees future Rotation.....Does anyone realize that Josh Towers is available....Does anyone have a box of doughnuts they are willing to part with???

Posted by: BJays Fan! | August 13, 2007 at 08:04 AM

Am I the only one who, if given the choice, would rather have 5 years of Sabathia than Santana? Probably, huh?

Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | August 13, 2007 at 09:07 AM

Plenty of starters break into the bigs as a reliever. Johan Santana and Francisco Liriano were both bullpen arms before starting. Earl Weaver's entire philosophy was that a starter had to break in as a reliever.

Joba will be starting next year.

Posted by: usctrojans31 | August 13, 2007 at 10:08 AM

Oddly, the way this plan backfires is if the Yanks make the playoffs. Torre just doesn't have the restraint to not run Joba out there in two or three straight games if starters are out early or he's lost confidence in Vizcaino.

Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | August 13, 2007 at 10:37 AM

I can see the reason for confusion...but by "Next K-Rod" I didn't mean awesome closer for many years but rather rookie flamethrower giving playoff boost as setup man.

Posted by: Tim Dierkes | August 13, 2007 at 10:42 AM

BJays Fan, I'd give you that bag of donuts for Towers right about now. Can't be worse than the trash my Braves are running out there every fifth day. My guess is that he could be a mid-to-low-4s ERA type guy in the NL.

Posted by: ejruiz777 | August 13, 2007 at 11:02 AM

"Am I the only one who, if given the choice, would rather have 5 years of Sabathia than Santana? Probably, huh?"

From today on? or the day they hit FA respectively on. Either way I think your nuts, but its a little different.

What makes you want Sabathia more, is it his athletic frame? His lesser stuff? The only thing he has going for him over Santana is being 16 months younger.

Posted by: ArodSucksAtLife | August 13, 2007 at 11:24 AM

I would rather have Sabathia. He is almost a year and half younger and will come considerably cheaper. The money saved by signing Sabathia versus Johan could bring in another middle of the roation starter IMO. Plus Johan isn't the most athletic indivual either. But I would be upset to see my team get either one.

Posted by: camarodude39 | August 13, 2007 at 11:48 AM

Its mostly the larger frame (and I think his weight has leveled off, no?); I trust him to hold up longer than a smaller power pitcher. Also, Santana has never been much of a GB pitcher and he's even more extreme FB this year. If he loses a few ticks on the fastball, everything else becomes more hittable and, if they're in the air, things could get bad.
(Granted, this could eventually look like one of the dumber projections I make, but I'm pretty convinced in my head. Atleast today.)

Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | August 13, 2007 at 11:55 AM

Johan isn't the most athletic individual?
Uhhhhh... yeah he actually is. Especially compared to the fatsack that is Captain Cheeseburger Sabathia.

Posted by: New Guy | August 13, 2007 at 01:14 PM

I would take Sabathia for the reasons camarodude39 mentioned...namely the money issue.

Posted by: WHIPit | August 13, 2007 at 01:31 PM

Rosenthal's Latest: Possible Waiver Deals

TrackBack

Comments

Post a comment

Top Stories

Search MLBTR

MLBTR Mailing List

MLBTR Features

Recent Posts

Rumors By Team

Monthly Archives

Live Chats


Home Contact About Advertise Archives Widget Fantasy RSS Usage