Chad Billingsley Rumors

Odds & Ends: Lowell, Perez, Zambrano, Ross

By [July 30, 2010 at 6:26pm CST]

Links for Friday, with less than 24 hours before the deadline…

  • The Pirates acquired minor league outfielder Mitch Jones from the Braves, according to MLB.com's transactions page. David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Braves obtained cash in return (Twitter link).
  • The Rangers are the only team that has slight interest in Mike Lowell, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com (via Twitter).
  • The Mets shopped Oliver Perez today, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
  • The Cubs are resigned to the fact that if they want to trade Carlos Zambrano, it will have to happen in the winter, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports will believe that Cody Ross is unavailable once the deadline passes tomorrow. Until then he's a skeptic (Twitter link).
  • Teams like Joe Beimel, but are only offering the Rockies non-prospects, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter). The Rockies are shopping Randy Flores.
  • GM Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash explained to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy that the Brewers look for "plus" fastball velocity, quality breaking pitches, solid arm action and delivery and height in the pitchers they pursue.
  • The Rangers are talking to rival teams to determine if there's interest in Rich Harden or Scott Feldman, according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
  • The Astros wanted Chad Billingsley in exchange for Roy Oswalt, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (Twitter link). The Dodgers countered with a four-prospect offer, but the Astros preferred the Phils' offer.
  • The Royals aren't making much progress on deals, according to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark (Twitter link).
  • I answered questions from Neil Keefe and broke down the trade deadline in detail at WFAN.com.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Atlanta Braves | Boston Red Sox | Carlos Zambrano | Chad Billingsley | Chicago Cubs | Colorado Rockies | Joe Beimel | Kansas City Royals | Los Angeles Dodgers | Mike Lowell | Milwaukee Brewers | New York Mets | Oliver Perez | Pittsburgh Pirates | Randy Flores | Rich Harden | Scott Feldman | Texas Rangers | Transactions

Odds & Ends: Dunn, Dodgers, Lee, Tigers

By [July 10, 2010 at 9:32pm CST]

Links for Saturday night, after Roy Halladay and Travis Wood traded zeros for nine innings….

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Adam Dunn | Chad Billingsley | Cliff Lee | Detroit Tigers | James Loney | Los Angeles Dodgers | Miami Marlins | New York Yankees | Ricky Nolasco | Texas Rangers | Transactions | Washington Nationals

Odds & Ends: Martinez, Rangers, Strasburg, Zambrano

By [April 21, 2010 at 9:10pm CST]

Links for Wednesday…

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: A.J. Pierzynski | Adam Jones | Arizona Diamondbacks | Boston Red Sox | Carlos Silva | Carlos Zambrano | Chad Billingsley | Chicago Cubs | Chicago White Sox | Cincinnati Reds | Kevin Millar | Los Angeles Dodgers | Mark Buehrle | Nate Robertson | Seattle Mariners | Stephen Strasburg | Texas Rangers | Victor Martinez | Washington Nationals

Top Trade Chips: NL West

By [April 9, 2010 at 7:10pm CST]

Let's take stock of each team's top trade chips, starting today with the NL West…

  • Diamondbacks: Arizona moved two of its best trade chips this winter in Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth, and there's obviously no way Justin Upton will be moved. The cupboard is a little bare right now, but Stephen Drew could be available for the right price. He has two more years of team control left after 2010. Conor Jackson, who won't be a free agent until after 2011, could be attractive as well. Top prospect Jarrod Parker is recovering from Tommy John surgery.
  • Dodgers: Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw are deal breakers, but Chad Billingsley could be dangled after popping up in rumors during the offseason. The 25-year-old posted a 5.21 ERA in his final 19 appearances last year, though his peripheral stats were in line with what they had been in previous seasons. He won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season.
  • Giants: Tim Lincecum and Pablo Sandoval aren't going anywhere and Matt Cain just signed a new extension, so Brian Sabean's best trade chip is lefty Jonathan Sanchez. The 27-year-old owns a career 9.3 K/9 and won't be eligible for arbitration until after the 2012 season. Madison Bumgarner's stock is down while he battles with Missing Velocity Disease, and Buster Posey isn't going anywhere.
  • Padres: Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell aren't just San Diego's two best trade chips, they're among the best in the game. Gonzalez is one of the baseball's premier power hitters at age 27, and will make just $4.75MM in 2010 with a $5.5MM club option for 2011. Bell has emerged as one of the league's most dominant closers, and won't be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season.
  • Rockies: Everyone wants to get their hands on Troy Tulowitzki, but it's just not happening. Brad Hawpe is the player most likely to be moved, and there should be interest given his annual .890 OPS's and 25+ homers. He has a $10MM option for the 2011 season with a cheap $500K buyout, and Colorado has a glut of young and productive outfielders to replace him.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Adrian Gonzalez | Arizona Diamondbacks | Brad Hawpe | Chad Billingsley | Colorado Rockies | Conor Jackson | Heath Bell | Jonathan Sanchez | San Diego Padres | San Francisco Giants | Stephen Drew | Top Trade Chips

The Dodgers’ Fifth Rotation Spot

By [March 20, 2010 at 5:33pm CST]

The front of the Dodgers' rotation is pretty well set, with Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda, and Vicente Padilla set to occupy the first four spots. There's no shortage of candidates for that fifth spot, but as Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times notes, most of the contenders have unfavorable contract situations. 

Eric Stults and Charlie Haeger are both out of options, Carlos Monasterios is a Rule 5 pick, and both Ramon and Russ Ortiz are believed to have out clauses in their contracts. The one rotation candidate that doesn't have any strings attached is James McDonald, but it doesn't help that he has a 20.25 ERA and a 3.56 WHIP in just over five innings this spring. Regardless of who LA picks for that last spot, there's a chance they'll lose some depth as the other guys succumb to roster limitations.

Let's open this one up for discussion. Who do you think the Dodgers should put in their last rotation spot, and what should they do with the other players? Essentially your choices are a) put them in the bullpen, or b) risk losing them to waivers/out clause/Rule 5 rules. Here are the Spring Training stats, not that they mean anything. 

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Carlos Monasterios | Chad Billingsley | Charlie Haeger | Clayton Kershaw | Discussion | Eric Stults | Hiroki Kuroda | James McDonald | Los Angeles Dodgers | Ramon Ortiz | Russ Ortiz | Vicente Padilla

Dodgers, Billingsley Avoid Arbitration

By [January 15, 2010 at 11:35am CST]

The Dodgers avoided arbitration with Chad Billingsley, agreeing on a contract for 2010, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. Billingley, who made $475K last year and was arbitration-eligible for the first time, will earn $3.85MM this year, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Chad Billingsley | Los Angeles Dodgers | Transactions

Dodgers “Long Shot” To Land Halladay

By [November 23, 2009 at 5:28pm CST]

Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers are a "long shot" to land Roy Halladay, while Los Angeles GM Ned Colletti indicated an unwillingness to add Chad Billingsley into any Halladay deal.

It doesn't take much of a leap to think the former is a result of the latter.

Colletti refused to discuss Halladay specifically, but said of his desire to improve the pitching staff, "We would like to improve our pitching, especially starting pitching. I don't believe we can subtract from it in order to improve it."

The Dodgers have plenty of prospects for a potential Halladay deal, but adding Billingsley, an established arm, would give them a leg up on other teams who would have the financial flexibility to sign Halladay long-term.

Hernandez also writes that Colletti has been in contact with Brad Ausmus, but hasn't had discussions about Brandon Phillips or Dan Uggla.

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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Brad Ausmus | Brandon Phillips | Chad Billingsley | Dan Uggla | Los Angeles Dodgers | Roy Halladay

Nightengale On Jackson, Swisher, Rays, Halladay

By [November 19, 2009 at 11:46am CST]

USA Today's Bob Nightengale suggests we keep an eye on a possible three-way trade between the Tigers, Mariners and one other club. The Tigers would give up Edwin Jackson and the Mariners would give up Brandon Morrow. Here are some more rumors to read as you wonder who that third team might be:

  • Nightengale says the Rays are the "clear-cut favorite" to acquire Milton Bradley from the Cubs.
  • The Yankees are apparently letting teams know that Nick Swisher is available. Swisher was involved in his share of trade rumors after the Yankees acquired him last season.
  • The Dodgers are focusing on Roy Halladay, who would potentially cost Chad Billingsley and others.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Brandon Morrow | Chad Billingsley | Chicago Cubs | Detroit Tigers | Edwin Jackson | Milton Bradley | New York Yankees | Nick Swisher | Roy Halladay | Seattle Mariners | Tampa Bay Rays | Toronto Blue Jays

Odds & Ends: Gonzalez, Halladay, Pettitte, Snyder

By [November 9, 2009 at 3:52pm CST]

Here's some more links on a busy first day at the GM meetings…

  • WEEI.com's Alex Speier writes that when Jed Hoyer took over as GM of the Padres, it only made it tougher for the Red Sox to pull off a deal for Adrian Gonzalez. “He knows all my tricks, and I know his,” said Theo Epstein of Hoyer.
  • Meanwhile, WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reports that Roy Halladay has identified the Red Sox as a team he'd be willing to accept a trade to. Doc has a full no-trade clause.
  • Andy Pettitte has apparently told his Yankee teammates that he'd like to come back for one more year, though there's been no definitive word according to SI.com's Jon Heyman. GM Brian Cashman said he expects the team to be more "cautious than anxious" this offseason, and that he plans to go slow, even with their own free agents according to Joel Sherman of The NY Post.
  • Mets' GM Omar Minaya "has told several of his friends in the industry that he badly wants to add a run-producing bat at either first base and/or left field," according to Sherman.
  • MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reports that Chris Snyder confirmed there has not been a setback in his rehab from back surgery. The Blue Jays nixed a potential Snyder for Lyle Overbay swap over the weekend over concerns about the catcher's back.
  • The Orioles claimed righthander Armando Gabino off waivers from the Twins, according to Joe Christensen of The Star Tribune. Meanwhile, a team press release says the Rays claimed righty Ramon Ramirez off waivers from the Reds.
  • FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report that Melvin Mora is working out at other positions to increase his versatility and up his value as a free agent.
  • Dave Cameron of FanGraphs compared Jason Bay to Mike Cameron, and determines that the latter is a better value.
  • Jon Weisman at Dodger Thoughts breaks down some Chad Billingsley rumors.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Adrian Gonzalez | Andy Pettitte | Arizona Diamondbacks | Baltimore Orioles | Boston Red Sox | Chad Billingsley | Chris Snyder | Cincinnati Reds | Jason Bay | Los Angeles Dodgers | Lyle Overbay | Melvin Mora | Mike Cameron | Minnesota Twins | New York Mets | New York Yankees | Ramon Ramirez | Roy Halladay | San Diego Padres | Tampa Bay Rays | Toronto Blue Jays | Transactions

Heyman On Dodgers, Valentine

By [October 22, 2009 at 2:30pm CST]

The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…

  • Heyman, like many writers, believes the Dodgers need a #1 starter.  He says Dodgers people "aren't overly optimistic" about snagging Roy Halladay or John Lackey, however.
  • Heyman believes the Dodgers should consider trading one or all of James Loney, Russell Martin, and Chad Billingsley.  Billingsley was ineffective in July and September, but the 25-year-old is under team control for three more years.  Interest would be very strong.
  • Heyman guesses the Indians might be willing to go to $2.5MM for Bobby Valentine, while GM Mark Shapiro doesn't expect money to be a factor.
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Full Story | Comments | Categories: Chad Billingsley | Cleveland Indians | James Loney | John Lackey | Los Angeles Dodgers | Roy Halladay | Russell Martin | Toronto Blue Jays