July 2009

Jake Peavy Dealt To White Sox Again

By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2009 at 4:45pm CDT]

4:45pm: Two White Sox officials tell USA Today's Bob Nightengale that the Sox will pay all of Peavy's contract. That means they'll pay him $56MM by the end of 2012 and maybe more afterwards.

4:12pm: Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod, told Tom Krasovic that his client accepted the deal because there was no guarantee that the Cubs and Dodgers, Peavy's preferred teams, would have made a move for the righty in the offseason. Axelrod knows Peavy's contract no longer looks like a bargain, so he says he wasn't expecting a deal.

"Frankly I am flabbergasted that the White Sox would want to make this deal with him in his physical condition," Axelrod said.

3:35pm: USA Today's Bob Nightengale, via Twitter, says the White Sox confirmed they just got Peavy.  Brock agrees – Peavy approved the trade this time.  Peavy is owed $56MM through 2012, or $74MM through 2013 if the Sox exercise his option.

3:29pm: MLB.com's Corey Brock via Twitter: Aaron Poreda's in the deal.  Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse has righty Adam Russell in the trade as well.  Righty Dexter Carter and southpaw Clayton Richard are also going to San Diego, according to multiple reports.

3:22pm: Not sure what to make of this, but SI's Jon Heyman tweeted that Padres pitcher Jake Peavy was dealt to the White Sox again.  Heyman is not sure if Peavy OK'd it.  He says the Padres get minor leaguers.  Peavy is currently recovering from a torn ankle tendon.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Aaron Poreda | Adam Russell | Chicago White Sox | Jake Peavy | San Diego Padres | Transactions

Rockies Acquire Joe Beimel

By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2009 at 4:08pm CDT]

4:08pm: MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that the Nats get righty Ryan Mattheus and Robinson Fabian in the deal.

2:20pm: The Rockies acquired lefty reliever Joe Beimel from the Nationals, according to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post.  The Nats received two minor leaguers, says SI's Jon Heyman via Twitter.  Beimel, 32, has allowed a .233/.288/.417 line to lefties this year.  He has about $800K left on his contract and projects as a Type B free agent after the season.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Colorado Rockies | Joe Beimel | Transactions | Washington Nationals

Marlins Acquire Nick Johnson

By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2009 at 3:00pm CDT]

3:00pm: A 180 in this rumor – FOX now says the Marlins acquired Johnson for Double A lefty Aaron Thompson, with the Nats paying Johnson's remaining salary.

2:37pm: Rosenthal and Morosi report that the Marlins are no longer pursuing Johnson or Heath Bell.

2:15pm: Via Twitter, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says the Marlins are not expected to complete any trades by the deadline, which is in 45 minutes.

11:29am: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports say the Marlins increased their offer for Johnson by adding another minor leaguer along with Tucker.

11:07am: ESPN's Peter Gammons reports that the Marlins "appear to be moving closer" to a Nick Johnson trade.  Last we heard, the Fish offered pitcher Ryan Tucker to the Nationals and asked Washington to pay part of Johnson's contract (he has $2MM remaining).  At the same time, Danny Knobler of CBSSports says the Marlins are growing frustrated with the trade talks and may move on.

Johnson, a free agent after the season, currently projects to fall short of Type B status, so it makes sense for the Nats to take what they can get.  At the same time it'd be big for the Marlins to put a .408 OBP player in front of Hanley Ramirez.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Aaron Thompson | Miami Marlins | Nick Johnson | Transactions | Washington Nationals

Heath Bell Rumors: Friday

By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2009 at 2:54pm CDT]

2:54pm: USA Today's Bob Nightengale, via Twitter, says the Twins' talks for Bell are all but dead.  However, they're in on Arizona's Jon Rauch.

2:38pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that the Marlins are no longer pursuing Bell or Nick Johnson.  That should leave the Angels or Dodgers if anyone.

2:11pm: ESPN's Buster Olney says the Twins have interest in Bell, as well as Oakland's Michael Wuertz.

1:18pm: Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times says the Angels and Dodgers are battling for Bell.

9:19am: Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the Padres wanted Cameron Maybin and Miller for Bell.  The Fish have seen other trade ideas dry up as well, leading Rodriguez to suggest "it might be Nick Johnson or bust for the Marlins."  SI's Jon Heyman agrees.

7:02am: The latest on Padres closer Heath Bell, who is under team control through 2011…

Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune says that "late Thursday night, both the Angels and Marlins were still talking to the Padres regarding Bell."  We learned yesterday that the Padres requested Andrew Miller or Sean West from the Marlins, and Florida declined.  Marlins president David Samson appeared on the radio yesterday to discuss the trade deadline, and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald has a nice summary of that.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Andrew Miller | Arizona Diamondbacks | Cameron Maybin | Heath Bell | Jon Rauch | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Miami Marlins | Michael Wuertz | Minnesota Twins | Nick Johnson | Oakland Athletics | San Diego Padres | Washington Nationals

Braves Acquire Adam LaRoche For Casey Kotchman

By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2009 at 2:49pm CDT]

2:49pm: Danny Knobler of CBSSports says LaRoche will be traded for Kotchman.

2:38pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says LaRoche could be swapped for Casey Kotchman.

2:16pm: LaRoche has been traded to the Braves, according to Yahoo's Gordon Edes.

1:59pm: First baseman Adam LaRoche becomes expendable for Boston if they complete the Victor Martinez trade; Jon Heyman of SI tells us via Twitter that the Braves are interested.  LaRoche came up with the Braves; they traded him to Pittsburgh for Mike Gonzalez and Brent Lillibridge in '07.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Adam LaRoche | Atlanta Braves | Boston Red Sox | Casey Kotchman | Transactions

Yankees Acquire Jerry Hairston Jr.

By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2009 at 2:17pm CDT]

The Yankees acquired Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Reds, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Ken Davidoff of Newsday (via Twitter) says the Reds will receive minor league catcher Chase Weems.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Cincinnati Reds | Jerry Hairston Jr. | New York Yankees | Transactions

Adrian Gonzalez Rumors: Friday

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 31, 2009 at 1:55pm CDT]

1:55pm: From Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports: the Dodgers are making a run at Gonzalez and Bell (separately or together); they could send James Loney to San Diego in such a deal.

12:26pm: A Jayson Stark source says the asking price for Gonzalez is "astronomical, three times the asking price on Halladay."

12:04pm: SI's Jon Heyman hears the Red Sox are still in talks for Gonzalez.  Buchholz, Lowrie, and Masterson are "in the mix" with the Padres asking for Westmoreland and Anderson.  Heyman adds, "However, the sides are still pretty far apart, and Boston is still in the mix for Martinez."  Heyman also says Bell's name has come up in these talks.

11:35am: MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo via Twitter: "I'm hearing odds of Padres dealing Gonzalez are very low at this point."  Bonus: Mayo's Twitter background has a Magic Eye effect.

10:22am: ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Red Sox still "have pokers in the fire" on Gonzalez, Martinez, and Roy Halladay.  Stark continues to suggest the Sox may try to include a third team to faciliate one of these deals.

6:45am: Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden of the New York Daily News say the Red Sox are in "full pursuit" of Gonzalez, and believe Boston could get Heath Bell too if they're willing to include pitcher Daniel Bard.  Also, Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald confirms that the Red Sox are more interested in Gonzalez than Victor Martinez. 

12:51am: We heard yesterday that the Padres and Red Sox spoke at length Wednesday night about a possible Adrian Gonzalez trade. However, there was no indication the talks had developed by the end of the day. Not only are the Red Sox discussing a three-way deal with the Indians and another club, they're involved on the Gonzalez front as well. Here's the latest:

  • Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports that there are indications the talks were active late last night and will likely peak today.
  • It would be surprising if this were not the case, but Kevin Towers is asking for "a ton" in return for Gonzalez, according to Cafardo's source.  
  • The teams are discussing Clay Buchholz, Lars Anderson, Jed Lowrie, Ryan Westmoreland, Justin Masterson and others.
  • A rival executive told Jon Heyman of SI.com he believes the Red Sox prefer Gonzalez to Victor Martinez.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Adrian Gonzalez | Boston Red Sox | Clay Buchholz | Cleveland Indians | Daniel Bard | Heath Bell | Jed Lowrie | Justin Masterson | Lars Anderson | Ryan Westmoreland | San Diego Padres | Victor Martinez

Blue Jays Acquire Sean Smith

By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2009 at 1:50pm CDT]

From Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, via Twitter: the Blue Jays acquired Double A pitcher Sean Smith from the Pirates for future considerations.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Pittsburgh Pirates | Toronto Blue Jays

Bannister, Bloomquist, Teahen Drawing Interest

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 31, 2009 at 1:47pm CDT]

1:47pm: ESPN's Jayson Stark says the price for Bannister is similar to that of Jarrod Washburn – "big league-ready starter, pitching prospect with upside."  He says the Yanks maintain mild interest.

10:16am: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports say the Brewers made an offer for Bannister but the Royals chose not to counter it.  The Royals would have to be bowled over to move the 28 year-old righty.

FRIDAY, 9:22am: Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the Royals rejected overtures from the Marlins on Bannister.  He wonders whether the next best thing for Florida might be to bring Carl Pavano back.  We've heard surprisingly little about Pavano lately.  He projects to fall short of Type B status, so there's no point in the Indians keeping him.

THURSDAY, 7:58pm: Jayson Stark and Buster Olney of ESPN.com report that the Yankees inquired about Bannister, but talks didn't develop because the Yankees asked the Royals to pay the $650k that remains on Bannister's 2009 contract. Since when does $650k stop the Yanks from making a deal? As Stark and Olney say, welcome to the wacky world of baseball 2009.

7:50pm: Teams are inquiring on righty Brian Bannister, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. The Royals weren't close to dealing him as of this evening, but we still have 20 hours before the deadline. Bannister, 28, makes $1.7MM this year and isn't scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2012 season. Here are a few more quick hits on the Royals:

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Brian Bannister | Carl Pavano | Cleveland Indians | Kansas City Royals | Mark Teahen | Miami Marlins | Milwaukee Brewers | Willie Bloomquist

Red Sox Acquire Victor Martinez

By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2009 at 1:38pm CDT]

1:38pm: Done deal, says Yahoo's Gordon Edes. MLB Network's Tom Verducci says pitcher Bryan Price is the third hurler going to Cleveland in the trade.

1:35pm: MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo says (via Twitter) pitchers Nick Hagadone and Justin Masterson are in the deal (ESPN's Peter Gammons agrees).  Gut reaction: nice haul.  Mayo also says the two clubs are looking at additional names to add for Cleveland.

1:27pm: FOX now says Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard are not in this deal.

12:55pm: USA Today's Bob Nightengale via Twitter: the Red Sox are about to acquire first baseman/catcher Victor Martinez from the Indians.  Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, trying to confirm, says it "looks good."  FOX Sports agrees, and notes a lack of a third team involved.  They also believe this kills the Adrian Gonzalez talks.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Adrian Gonzalez | Boston Red Sox | Bryan Price | Cleveland Indians | Justin Masterson | Nick Hagadone | San Diego Padres | Transactions | Victor Martinez