Cliff Lee Rumors

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Lee, Halladay, Holliday, Zito

On this date one year ago, the Phillies traded three minor leaguers to the A's for Joe Blanton. He would go on to make 13 starts for the Fightins, finishing 4-0 with a 4.20 ERA. With only two weeks remaining before this season's trade deadline, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... MLB Notebook says it is time for the Indians to move Cliff Lee. The Ghost of Moonlight Graham breaks down the needs of the contenders as we approach the deadline. Drunk Jays Fans explains why Roy Halladay should be traded and why he...   Continue Reading

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Roy Halladay Rumors: Friday

12:30pm: Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com hears from an AL executive who would be "very surprised" if White Sox GM Kenny Williams isn't pursuing Halladay. The White Sox have seen attendance drop and Gordon Beckham appears to be untouchable. This means the White Sox could have trouble paying Halladay or enticing the Blue Jays with a package centered around Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dayan Viciedo and Tyler Flowers. Tom Verducci of SI.com hears that Clayton Kershaw is off-limits, but the Dodgers want to make a run at Halladay with other prospects. The Jays like minor league third baseman Josh Bell. 10:10am:...   Continue Reading

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Trade Candidates: Starting Pitchers

Roy Halladay's availability changes everything, because teams in search of an ace can target him instead of settling for lesser pitchers. But many arms could be moved in the next 17 days and some could even be traded in August. These pitchers, who could all conceivably be dealt, are ranked from highest 2009 salary to lowest: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays - At $14.25MM he's pricey, but he's one of the top pitchers in the game, capable of transforming a team's playoff chances like C.C. Sabathia did last year. Javier Vazquez, Braves - The rumors surrounding Vazquez have quieted lately, but...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Deadline Deals

Jon Heyman of SI.com believes Roy Halladay will be traded before the end of the month. Here are some teams that could pursue him: The Phillies have the right combination of money, prospects and need to go after Doc. The Rangers probably don't have the money to take on the $14.25MM Halladay makes this year. It's hard to see the White Sox obtaining Halladay without surrendering Gordon Beckham in the deal. Heyman considers Beckham as close to untouchable as it gets, along with Neftali Feliz, Derek Holland, Brett Wallace and others. Heyman lists over 30 trade candidates; here are some...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Street, Indians, Pedro, Davis

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

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Cliff Lee Rumors: Monday

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

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Heyman On V-Mart, Red Sox, Chapman

Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Red Sox will come calling if the Indians are willing to part with Victor Martinez. And take this for what it's worth, but the Indians were scouting Boston's best prospects this week. Here are details on those two clubs and the rest of Heyman's rumors: Clay Buchholz, Justin Masterson and Michael Bowden are just the sort of MLB-ready pitchers the Indians seek. Still, the Indians would require a stunning amount in return for Martinez or Cliff Lee, since both players can be part of a contending Indians club for affordable 2010 options. Generally speaking,...   Continue Reading

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Stark On Royals, Phillies, Holliday

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark asks some thoughtful baseball people why we're not greeting Manny Ramirez like the "team-wrecking, alibi-distorting, female-fertility-drug-popping scoundrel he is." And, of course, Stark has piles of rumors. Here they are: The Mets were never willing to move Bobby Parnell or other top young arms for Mark DeRosa, so they weren't as close to acquiring him as the Reds and Cubs were. The Phillies, Marlins and Giants were also in the mix. The Indians are more interested in dealing Rafael Bentancourt than Kerry Wood, whose contract ($15MM remaining) would be hard to move. The Royals will listen on...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Blue Jays, Cotts, Indians

Manny's back to help celebrate the Fourth of July weekend! Here are some links to start the day off... Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that Blue Jays execs will decide what course of action to take this month once they see how the team performs on its ten-game road trip against divisional rivals. Jamey Newberg ranks this week's top 20 Rangers prospects for MLB.com. Texas just keeps churning out quality players; this week it's Julio Borbon. Cubs reliever Neal Cotts underwent Tommy John surgery, according to the Sports Network, via the Miami Herald. Geoff Baker of the...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal On Holliday, Lee, Jays

On the MLB Network, Ken Rosenthal says he wouldn't be surprised to see the Indians deal Cliff Lee. Here are the details and the rest of his rumors: There's a good chance Matt Holliday will be dealt, though the A's aren't shopping him now. They say they'd have to be impressed to deal him, but Rosenthal suggests this is just a more subtle way of asking for offers. Several GMs believe Billy Beane will trade Holliday this month. Rosenthal isn't sure Cliff Lee will be in Cleveland for the rest of the year. He says the Indians aren't going to...   Continue Reading

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