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Cafardo's Latest: Ausmus, Towles, Mariners, Giants, Sheffield, Salty

By Cork Gaines [August 17, 2008 at 9:33am CST]

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a few items in his Sunday column...

Cafardo says that the Red Sox, despite being in the market for a catcher, are not interested in Brad Ausmus. They did inquire with the Astros about J.R. Towles, who is currently in Triple A, but were told he is unavailable.
One executive told Cafardo that the Mariners continue to demand other teams take entire contracts and give up prospects for players like Raul Ibanez, Jarrod Washburn and Adrian Beltre. In the cases of Ibanez and Beltre, that position is defensible.
Cafardo interviewed Brian Sabean about several topics: 1) When asked about trading veteran players, Sabean responded "There's still time"; 2) When asked whether the Giants would "go young" or target free agents in the offseason, Sabean was noncommital but said they will look for free agents and trade pieces to fix problems, specifically mentioning the bullpen and first base; 3) When asked if he was tempted to sign Barry Bonds, Sabean would not answer.
Cafardo was just musing on a few players, but feels that Gary Sheffield could help the Rays, but only if the Tigers pay some of the salary. He also thinks Jarrod Saltalamacchia would be a nice fit in Boston next season.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here .

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Comments

I hope they don't go to the rays and red sox they would be hard to beat but it sounds like it it is not going to happen and why aren't the giants trading

Posted by: mynameborat | August 17, 2008 at 09:43 AM

more dum moves by Seatle ibanez I can understand but they will suck for years to come they wont be able to sign anybody because of this watch when I say it isn't likely to happen thats tommorow breaking new the yanks should get jarrod salt man

Posted by: mynameborat | August 17, 2008 at 09:48 AM

honestly if I was the Red Sox, I would go after Taylor Teagarden, and not Salty.

Teagarden is a quality defensive catcher, and has shown the ability to become an above average hitter. He's not quite the hitter Salty is, and his ceiling is lower, but he's a far superior defender and should be ready for 2009.

As for the Astros' catching, I don't quite get what they're doing. Their best prospect coming into this year was Towles, a catcher, and now he's in AAA. That's alright, but drafting a college catcher with the tenth pick, even though he was really was just a top 25 prospect. This is a team that has a serious lack of young pitching and a good young catcher, and with the 10th pick they chose a catcher? And this is after they failed to sign a single pick from the top four rounds in the draft last year. I just don't get it

Posted by: scribbletone | August 17, 2008 at 09:59 AM

Mets should trade Parnell and Carp for Salty

Posted by: Chris | August 17, 2008 at 09:59 AM

"more dum moves by Seatle..."

Spelling and sentences are your friends.

Also: Pot, kettle, black. ;)

Posted by: StarryEyed | August 17, 2008 at 10:59 AM

An emphasis on first base...Mark Teixeira? The Giants are more than a few players away from competing, they need middle relief and some serious offense. Walker, Winn, and Aurilia dealt to contenders would be a decent move on Sabean's part.

Seriously, Lee isn't making any good impressions as interim GM. He most likely will not get the permanent GM job in the offseason. Washburn should be dumped, period. Asking for prospects in exchange for Ibanez is fine. Washburn? Not so much. Settle for one: salary relief or prospects.

Posted by: melonis rex | August 17, 2008 at 11:37 AM

"This is a team that has a serious lack of young pitching and a good young catcher, and with the 10th pick they chose a catcher?"

The Astros were able to get Brad Dydalewicz, Ross Seaton and Jordan Lyles. Seaton and Lyles are considered 1st round talent and Dydalewicz was a 2nd/3rd round guy they got in the 8th round. Seaton was rated as top HS arm in Texas by Baseball America.

The Astros drafted a ton of pitchers in this draft. Lots of HS kids and lots of left handers.

If Jr Towles and Jason Castro both work out, then the Astros have a good problem on their hands.

Posted by: Darin | August 17, 2008 at 11:38 AM

I'm completely guessing here, but something tells me that the Giants are going to offer a big contract to Bobby Abreu or Pat Burrell...

Sheffield is a bad fit for the Rays who finally have great chemistry and a positive attitude. If Sheff was still good, then the Tigers would be in a better position for a spot in the postseason...Randy Winn makes too much money and is not a good fielder at this point. Why not trade for Melvin Mora who can play 3B and the OF? I don't think the O's consider the Rays as a big rival. Thoughts?

Posted by: luissojo | August 17, 2008 at 11:51 AM

"Jarrod Saltalamacchia would be a nice fit in Boston next season."

Is there a team where he wouldn't be a good fit?

Posted by: Bank Street Grounds | August 17, 2008 at 12:04 PM

Detroit needs a catcher...come to detroit salty!

Posted by: Quantumleaper(GoTigers) | August 17, 2008 at 12:43 PM

Before you guys put Salty in Cooperstown, remember he's not a good defensive catcher. Also, he might not call a good game. Obviously, it can be tolerated if he puts up 20+ hr and 85+ RBI each season. However, I'm making the point b/c Boston fans have been spoiled with Jason Varitek for the past decade.

Posted by: luissojo | August 17, 2008 at 01:57 PM

the rangers will demand young pitching in return for salty, and they will probably have to be top prospects at that. i don't know what detroit has to offer, but the rangers will definitely be looking at their options. i wouldn't be surprised if the rangers shopped multiple catchers, but for some reason i see them sticking with laird at least for next season.

as far as salty to boston, i would assume the asking price from texas would probably start at buchholz, but seeing as that never would happen (though i shouldnt say never), i could see the rangers looking at masterson. either way, regardless of the team, the asking price by JD is going to by sky high, because he knows salty has a high ceiling, and one more really bad trade could lose his job.

Posted by: tmoney352 | August 17, 2008 at 02:05 PM

Other than both L.A. Teams, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and MAYBE the Brewers (Kendall is highly underrated), Salty makes sense pretty much anywhere. Makes me wonder just how much Texas is asking.

That said, who does this guy in Seattle think he is? Billy Beane with bad contracts? Ibanez is worth something, but Washburn is worth nothing but salary relief or a B level prospect with Seattle picking up most of the tab. Even Beltre is no longer worth much more than salary relief, because his contract is terrible. Actually, Beltre is a better deal for a good prospect and Seattle picking up his tab. People should realize his contract year was a one off.

Posted by: AA | August 17, 2008 at 05:45 PM

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Cafardo's Latest: Ausmus, Towles, Mariners, Giants, Sheffield, Salty

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