Cleveland Indians Rumors
By Cork Gaines [July 9, 2009 at 6:05pm CST]
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says that the Indians are not interested in signing BJ Ryan even though they nearly signed him four years ago. Instead, Hoynes says the Indians are interested in Jimmy Gobble, who was just designated for assignment by the White Sox. If the Indians do acquire Gobble, Hoynes says the lefty would be assigned to AAA. Gobble allowed 14 hits and seven walks in 12 innings this season, striking out ten. Alyson Footer of MLB.com also reports that Ed Wade said the Astros do not have any interest in signing Ryan, or Pedro Martinez...
Continue Reading
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 7, 2009 at 11:48am CST]
One year ago today, the Brewers and Indians officially announced the trade that sent C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee for Matt LaPorta and others. The deal worked perfectly for the Brewers, who made the playoffs thanks to 13 dominant starts by Sabathia, including seven complete games and three shutouts. The Brewers also received two compensation picks for losing Sabathia in free agency, which they used last month to select Kentrail Davis and Maxwell Walla. The Indians received LaPorta, who has hit well for them in Triple A, putting up a .307/.384/.535 line with 27 extra base hits this year. He struggled...
Continue Reading
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 6, 2009 at 4:03pm CST]
Even more links for your Monday afternoon... Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the Rays signed Venezuelan third baseman Cesar Perez for $1MM. The "kid can play," according to Heyman. Ben Badler of Baseball America reports that the Indians agreed to terms with two players: a shortstop and Angel Berroa's cousin, who's a pitcher. ESPN.com's Rob Neyer doesn't see Scott Hairston in the lineup of the next A's playoff team. MLB.com's Mark Bowman says he doesn't get the sense the Braves have any desire to deal Yunel Escobar.
Continue Reading
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 6, 2009 at 12:10pm CST]
Jon Heyman of SI.com lists his mid-season award winners, led by Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer. Here are Heyman's latest rumors: Huston Street alone is worth more on the trade market than Matt Holliday. Dan O'Dowd must be happy with his return, which also included Carlos Gonzalez. Jhonny Peralta, Kerry Wood and Carl Pavano are all available. Indians GM Mark Shapiro believes he can still get a fair return for Cliff Lee if he deals him a year from now, a few months before the lefty is scheduled to become free agent. One executive says the Royals are "pushing" Brian...
Continue Reading
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 6, 2009 at 10:16am CST]
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Indians GM Mark Shapiro would not specifically discuss possible trades involving Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez. Instead, Shapiro repeated that the Indians seek pitching in any deals, particularly young, controllable pitchers who are close-to-major-league-ready. The Rangers have a number of talented young pitchers, but don't expect them to dangle Neftali Feliz or Derek Holland to make a play for Lee. Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News doesn't anticipate the cash-strapped Rangers will be active at the trade deadline.
Continue Reading
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 6, 2009 at 9:03am CST]
Some odds and ends to start the week off... Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution hears the Royals "covet" Yunel Escobar. As O'Brien says, Mark Teahen alone would not likely be enough to acquire the Braves' shortstop. Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus reports that the Tigers signed a pair of shortstops from Panama. Almost 70% of Cleveland Plain Dealer readers don't think Eric Wedge should be around for the rest of the year. Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle tells us how some well-placed calls by Ryan Sadowski's mother helped the Giants starter make the big leagues. Remember that...
Continue Reading
By Eddie Schmid [July 5, 2009 at 7:42pm CST]
According to Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com, the Indians signed LHP Bobby Livingston to a minor-league deal yesterday. Livingston had been granted his release from the Orioles on July 2nd, and he'll now slide into the rotation at Double-A affiliate Akron. This marks another scrap-heap acquisition for the Indians, who have been shuffling their vaunted bullpen.
Continue Reading
By Nat Boyle [July 5, 2009 at 10:42am CST]
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says Brian Sabean quelled rumors of the Giants interest in Jermaine Dye and Victor Martinez, referring to each as "pie in the sky." Last month it was rumored that the Giants were scouting both. Baggarly quoted Sabean saying V-Mart would require "a (Madison) Bumgarner-plus type of blockbuster deal. And that's not going to happen because we're not going to trade Bumgarner."
Continue Reading
By Mike Axisa [July 4, 2009 at 10:59am CST]
ESPN.com's Buster Olney chimes in with some players and teams that could matchup in a trade with the Braves, who could dangle Javier Vazquez and/or Yunel Escobar as bait. Most of the rumors are just Olney's own speculation, but let's round 'em up anyway. The Red Sox have liked Escobar for a while, but don't match up very well for a trade. Olney mentions that Jacoby Ellsbury might be the only fit since JD Drew is owed a ton of money and Jason Bay will be a free agent after the year, but that wouldn't work for Boston since they...
Continue Reading
By Mike Axisa [July 3, 2009 at 10:51pm CST]
Dennis Manoloff of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Indians designated veteran reliever Matt Herges for assignment following tonight's game. The move freed up a roster spot for the recently acquired Winston Abreu. Herges had been effective for the Tribe, pitching to a 3.55 ERA in 25.1 innings, allowing fewer hits than innings pitched.
Continue Reading