Jack Wilson Rumors

Perrotto's Latest: Dye, Jenks, Werth, Madson

Let's dig into the latest column from John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus. Perrotto speaks of whispers of a possible White Sox-Mets blockbuster. The Mets would receive Jermaine Dye and Bobby Jenks and the White Sox would receive Fernando Martinez among others. Regarding the Orioles' possible involvement in a trade that would send Jake Peavy to the Cubs, Perrotto says Baltimore seeks Ronny Cedeno and Felix Pie from Chicago. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has spoken to outfielder Jayson Werth and setup man Ryan Madson about contract extensions. Madson might be a tough one as he's represented by Scott Boras (who...   Continue Reading

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Tigers Rumors: Renteria, Wilson, Zaun, Treanor

Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press has the latest on the Tigers. GM Dave Dombrowski wasn't sure Edgar Renteria would turn down an offer of arbitration, and he didn't feel two draft picks were worth the risk. Discussions with the Pirates regarding Jack Wilson are ongoing, but concrete proposals have yet to be exchanged. The Tigers have interest in free agent catcher Gregg Zaun. Zaun, 38 in April, hit .237/.340/.359 in 288 plate appearances this year while earning $3.75MM. Morosi adds that the Tigers also like Marlins catcher Matt Treanor, but no deal is imminent. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro...   Continue Reading

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Perrotto's Latest: Teixeira, Burnett, Wilson

John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus has his Sunday article up. Let's go through it: The Angels may be willing to match the Yankees $140MM offer to CC Sabathia. They won't offer 10 years to Mark Teixeira. If they can't land Teixeira, they will consider Pat Burrell for first base. A.J. Burnett is looking at the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, Orioles, and Phillies. The Twins want a left-side infielder for Delmon Young, so they can open a spot for Denard Span in the starting lineup. The Tigers are pursuing Jack Wilson from the Pirates and Matt Treanor from the...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Peavy, Wilson

Lots to cover in the latest from Ken Rosenthal: Jake Peavy to the Cubs is still being explored despite complications: The Cubs are being sold. Ryan Dempster was re-signed for 4 years, $52MM. The Padres are trying to include a third party to net the package GM Kevin Towers is seeking. If this happened then the Cubs would need to move Jason Marquis. Rosenthal suggests the Padres could take him if the Cubs ate around $3MM of his $9MM owed next season, or the Cubs could deal him and cash to another team (Rosenthal suggests the Rockies, Reds, or Giants)....   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors: Wilson, Paulino, Byrd

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is back on the scene to get us up to speed with the latest Pirates rumors. Let's start with the team's five veteran trade candidates: Jack Wilson: The Tigers and Dodgers are said to be the main suitors. The problem is that neither team wants to send the Pirates top prospects while paying all of the $7.85MM Wilson has coming. Additionally, the Pirates do not view Dodgers shortstop prospect Chin-Lung Hu as a possible trade centerpiece. The Bucs have spoken to at least two other clubs about Wilson, but Kovacevic rejects the previously reported...   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Talks For Wilson At Impasse

WEDNESDAY, 10:34pm: Rosenthal actually posted this update last night, but we're adding it now. He says the Pirates sought Hu, Delwyn Young, and a third player for Wilson. That caused talks to grind to a halt. Rosenthal added that the Dodgers are showing mild interest in Edgar Renteria but not Orlando Cabrera. TUESDAY, 6:34pm: Rosenthal says the Pirates wanted Hu and two other young players, and the Dodgers balked at the price. 6:06pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers are again considering trading for Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson. The Bucs would like to receive Chin-Lung Hu in return to replace...   Continue Reading

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Brown's Latest: Fuentes, Hoffman, Wilson, Aurilia

Here's a look at the latest from Yahoo's Tim Brown. The Mets kicked around the idea internally of signing both Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman. The eighth inning would be a tough sell for either pitcher though. Brown says that if the Angels fail to sign Mark Teixeira they will try to sign C.C. Sabathia as well as a closer like Fuentes. The Dodgers want the Pirates to eat "a huge chunk" of the $7.85MM Jack Wilson has coming. The Giants and Dodgers have shown interest in Rich Aurilia.   Continue Reading

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Tigers Interested In Jack Wilson

Ken Rosethal just updated his column to include the latest on Jack Wilson. According to Rosenthal's source, the Tigers are one of several teams interested in trading for Wilson. The 30-year-old shortstop will earn just over $7MM next year and he has a club option for 2010. Rosenthal adds that the Pirates would like to acquire Marlins catcher Matt Treanor and then trade him to Detroit along with Wilson. Wilson could start at short for the Tigers, and Treanor could become their back-up catcher.   Continue Reading

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Tigers Want Short-Term Shortstop

According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers seek a short-term solution at shortstop. The Tigers like the idea of using prospect Cale Iorg in 2010. That means they won't be signing free agents Orlando Cabrera and Rafael Furcal. The Tigers view the relief market in the way - they like their long-term options (Ryan Perry, for example). The Tigers have "mild interest" in Khalil Greene, who is signed through 2009. They don't like his $6.5MM price tag, which might mean Jack Wilson is also too pricey. John McDonald is a more affordable name on the...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Twins, Big Unit, Rockies

Links and tidbits for Wednesday. Remember to check back on this post for updates! Dave Cameron notes that the Elias rankings screwed over Damaso Marte by making him a Type A. See also: Doug Brocail, Bob Howry, Darren Oliver. Remember to check out the Previous Entries link at the bottom of the website, as stories get buried pretty quickly in times like these. Japanese outfielder Saburo Ohmura (link in Japanese) would be fine with a minor league deal. Roch Kubatko has info on what it might take to trade for Khalil Greene or Jack Wilson. Pirates president Frank Coonelly confirmed...   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors: Wilson, Sanchez, LaRoche

More Pirates stuff courtesy of Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Shortstop Jack Wilson played very little since breaking a finger on August 31st, but he wanted a plate appearance in front of the die-hard season ticket crowd yesterday at the team's final home game. Wilson received a standing ovation, with fans knowing his Pirates career may end with a trade this winter. Kovacevic says Wilson is a "highly likely trade target," while GM Neal Huntington insists he is not trying to trade his shortstop. He will definitely listen though. Kovacevic adds Freddy Sanchez as a trade candidate, but feels...   Continue Reading

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Week in Review: 8/17 - 8/23

Another week in the books, and we keep seeing big names moved after the July 31 non-waiver deadline. Let's look back on the past week: The Dodgers acquired Greg Maddux from the Padres for two minor league players to be named later. Nice acquisition to bolster their rotation, and does anyone want to place bets on how excited 20-year-old Clayton Kershaw is to get tips from Maddux every day for the rest of the season? The Pirates are exploring the idea of trading Jack Wilson this offseason more and more. Given the slim free agent market for shortstops, he would...   Continue Reading

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Perrotto's Latest: Reds, Dempster, Silva, Lugo

John Perrotto's Every Given Sunday column is up over at Baseball Prospectus. For those without a BP subscription, here's the highlights: Perrotto believes that Reds owner Bob Castellini will give Walt Jocketty the go-ahead to dive into the free agent market this season in an attempt to contend in 2009. The Reds like their young core, and feel a solid bat or two can help them contend in NL Central immediately. Jed Lowrie's play since taking over for the injured Julio Lugo has convinced the Red Sox that he can be the everyday shortstop. They'll look to move Lugo (and...   Continue Reading

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Pirates May Shop Jack Wilson This Winter

Pirates GM Neal Huntington was diplomatic when asked about Jack Wilson's future with the Pirates. But it seems pretty clear the 30 year-old shortstop will be shopped this winter. Wilson makes a fine trade chip for the Bucs, especially given the free agent market for shortstops. Orlando Cabrera may require three or four years, and he'll be 34 in November. Rafael Furcal wants to stay with the Dodgers. All the other free agents are question marks. Teams such as the Blue Jays, Tigers, Twins, Reds, Cardinals, and Giants may be looking for a shortstop. The Jays would probably only enter...   Continue Reading

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Marlins, Red Sox, Pirates Talking Manny Trade

12:03am: Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein believes the Pirates will end up with Stanton, Tucker, and Hermida. 11:21pm: Heyman says there's some prospect haggling but the teams are optimistic a deal will get done. The Marlins and Red Sox seem certain to make a swap, while the Pirates are trying to enhance their part. They are still at risk of being replaced by another club. Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe thinks a deal may be close, but not done. So we've got journalists on both sides of the fence, but everyone seems optimistic. 10:33pm: The Palm Beach Post says a...   Continue Reading

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Jason Bay Rumors: Wednesday

8:37pm: Bay doesn't seem to be on the Cardinals' radar. However, talks continue with Tampa Bay according to John Perrotto. Bay could also end up in Boston in a three-team deal. 5:59pm: Jayson Stark reports that the Rays and Pirates haven't had much dialogue today, and that talks have slowed. The Pirates have backed off just a bit, but may want to see what happens with Manny Ramirez in case they can get the Red Sox interested. 3:16pm: Kovacevic has more. Brignac and Jeff Niemann's names are coming up in the Tampa Bay talks. ESPN's Jayson Stark heard the same,...   Continue Reading

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Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday

9:55pm: Jayson Stark attempts to douse the Manny flames, getting denials (again) from the Dodgers and Phillies. 8:39pm: Ken Davidoff says the Teixeira deal makes a Manny trade more difficult, since that's one less option for Boston to replace Ramirez's bat. The Red Sox will keep trying nonetheless. 6:52pm: Jon Heyman says the Phillies might be the frontrunner for Manny. Ramirez will want his $20MM options eliminated upon a trade. The Dodgers are also involved, with the Marlins surfacing as a longshot. 3:07pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Dodgers are not pursuing Ramirez or Teixeira. So, conflicting reports again. The Dodgers...   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Inquire On Michael Young

From Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger: The Dodgers continue to look everywhere for a shortstop, and tons of names have come up in connection with their search. They don't seem likely to land the Pirates' Jack Wilson, but they're scouring other organizations for options, having touched base with Toronto about John McDonald, the Yankees about Alberto Gonzales, the Twins about Adam Everett and even the Rangers about Michael Young, though it's unclear whether or why Young would be available. Young is new to the discussion. The 31 year-old shortstop is hitting .298/.345/.421 in 469 plate appearances this year. He's...   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors: Grabow, Bay, Wilson

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the latest Pirates buzz. Lefty John Grabow is drawing interest from the Rays, Cardinals, Phillies, Red Sox, and Angels. Grabow gave up a couple of homers in his last outing; he missed time earlier this month with arm fatigue. The 29 year-old southpaw is under team control through '09. Calls are still coming in on Jason Bay and Jack Wilson, though the Rays are backing off on Bay. Kovacevic says the Red Sox might provide competition for the Dodgers in the Wilson sweepstakes. The Bucs interestingly called up shortstop Brian Bixler when Adam...   Continue Reading

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Tigers Not Discussing Jack Wilson

According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Tigers haven't asked the Pirates about Jack Wilson since last winter. So while they may be looking for a long-term shortstop, he's not the answer. Wilson was very nearly traded to Detroit for Jair Jurrjens a year ago. Kovacevic says the Dodgers remain the top suitor for Wilson.   Continue Reading

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Kovacevic's Latest: Pirates, Bay, Grabow

Dejan Kovacevic brings us the state of the Pirates in a nice piece in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: As we know, the Pirates don't want to trade Jason Bay. Kovacevic writes, "'We'll need to be blown away," one team source said, referring to Bay." The Braves, Mets, Phillies, and A's are the latest to inquire. If the Pirates don't make any more deals, they will of course revisit the possibility in the offseason. Still, any of Bay, Jack Wilson, or John Grabow could remain long-term if the Pirates aren't offered enough any time between now and next season, or if...   Continue Reading

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Heyman's Latest: Dodgers, Braves, Fuentes, Downs

Today we have a new column from SI.com's Jon Heyman. Heyman writes of turmoil within the Dodgers' front office. Owner Frank McCourt is meddling, and assistant GM Logan White has "unusual say-so." Shortstop targets for the Dodgers include Jack Wilson, Orlando Cabrera, and Edgar Renteria. However, it is unclear which young Dodgers are available. Braves decision-makers remain split on whether to buy or sell, with manager Bobby Cox leading the buy side. Asking prices for relievers remain high, though Heyman seems to think Brian Fuentes wouldn't cost the Mets much more than Aaron Heilman. Heyman relays a report from Joe...   Continue Reading

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Stark's Latest: Teixeira, Padilla, Sheffield, Beltre

ESPN's Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up. You may want to grab a glass of water or something, because this is a beast of a column. If the Braves have a bad weekend and decide to trade Mark Teixeira, a deal could come together quickly. Stark says the Braves have already touched base with the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees. Where Tex fits on the Rays, I'm not sure. Additionally, interest in Will Ohman is said to be "massive." A Jorge Posada move to first base could affect the Yankees' interest in Teixeira this winter....   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors: Wilson, Bay, Nady, Marte, Grabow

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the latest Pirates hot stove chatter. The Pirates are not opposed to creating a hole at shortstop for the rest of the year by trading Jack Wilson. They would just need the right return. Teams are still calling on Wilson, with the Dodgers confirmed and the Tigers possible. A Jason Bay deal seems less likely - the Pirates' price is high for their star. Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte continue to draw interest, with John Grabow in the mix as well. Nady or Marte would require two prospects each. Nady's suitors are the...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: K-Rod, Maddux, Wolf, Street

Rumor guru Ken Rosenthal is at it again. Angels GM Tony Reagins is doing his due diligence on available hitters. Rosenthal admits his own suggestion of a Mark Teixeira/Will Ohman blockbuster acquisition is unlikely. Rosenthal believes Francisco Rodriguez's expected asking price to be five years, $75MM. The Angels would not bite on that. Greg Maddux only wants to be traded to a West Coast team. He might accept a trade back to the Dodgers, if Ned Colletti and Kevin Towers want to go down that road. The Orioles would trade George Sherrill if someone wants to overpay. Tons of teams...   Continue Reading

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Heyman's Latest: Street, Durham, Holliday

SI.com's Jon Heyman just posted a new column. The Brewers and White Sox inquired on A's closer Huston Street. However, A's GM Billy Beane said "there is nothing going on" in regards to Street. The Sox were linked to both Street and Jon Rauch today, so Kenny Williams is clearly monitoring the relief market. Heyman says the Rays have not discussed Street with the A's, and the Dodgers "aren't believed to be heavily involved." Heyman is on board with the recent rumors about Ray Durham and Jack Taschner possibly heading to Milwaukee. Heyman also confirms Ken Rosenthal's report of the...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Dunn, Burnett, Ibanez

Ken Rosenthal's Full Count video Saturday covered many interesting topics; yesterday he put the info into column form and added even more. Same old story with Adam Dunn - he's just not drawing much interest. Even with the whiffs and ugly defense, this is surprising to me. Rosenthal says the Reds "will take a considerable risk" if they offer Dunn arbitration after the season and he accepts. Would having Dunn on a one-year deal at market price really be so bad? Rosenthal says "it remains to be seen whether Jim Bowden's authority will be compromised" in the wake of his...   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Looking For Shortstop Help

TUESDAY, 3:49pm: MLB.com's Jim Molony chimes in on the Dodgers' hunt for a shortstop. He says they'll give Nomar Garciaparra a chance, but they are also considering Toronto's David Eckstein. Back on July 3rd, the Baltimore Sun suggested the Orioles were looking at Eckstein. TUESDAY, 8:53am: Dejan Kovacevic puts the brakes on the Jack Wilson-to-L.A. rumor. He says that while Wilson is not untouchable, the Pirates are not likely to trade him. They consider him affordable and do not have a capable replacement. Kovacevic says talks with the Dodgers "seem dormant," and the Dodgers never offered a player from their...   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors: Bay, Wilson, Nady, Marte

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sums up the Pirates' trade deadline strategy in today's article. Jason Bay and Jack Wilson are not being shopped. The Bucs like having both under contract beyond this year. It sounds like Neal Huntington would have to be bowled over to move either guy. Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte are the players most likely to go. Nady is under team control for next year, while Marte's $6MM option will be declined. The Pirates are thinking they can decline Marte's option, offer him arbitration, and let him decline to accept. Then they might be able...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Jack Wilson, Victor Zambrano, Bedard

Time to round up some non-Sabathia links. The Dodgers are restructuring their offer for Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, according to Ken Rosenthal. Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times has sources who believe at least one general manager is under suspicion as part of the Dominican player bonus-skimming investigation. Additionally, MLB might look into the Michel Inoa signing on the Rangers' behalf. The Yankees plan to scout starter Victor Zambrano. He'll be 33 soon, and has a 9.45 ERA in 40 Triple A innings. Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times talks about Erik Bedard, who is now the best available southpaw...   Continue Reading

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Week In Review

Continuing with Tim's new tradition, here's my take on some of the top rumors of the week from June 29 - July 6: The C.C. Sabathia sweepstakes is nearing an end, with the Brewers' Matt LaPorta package being the frontrunner. We'll let everyone know the full story as soon as possible. The Phillies extended Brad Lidge to a three-year contract. Lidge looks like his old self - great deal for Philadelphia. Looks like this means Brett Myers will remain in the rotation if he can get back on track. We heard a lot about the Rays' growing interest for Colorado...   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Interested In Jack Wilson, C.C. Sabathia

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers have jumped into the fray for C.C. Sabathia. They don't have a Matt LaPorta-caliber prospect, but they could make a substantial three-player offer. The Dodgers, being a big market club, could try to sign Sabathia before he hits free agency. Rosenthal says the Dodgers are simultaneously pursuing Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson. He might require some of the same prospects, so L.A. probably can't get both Wilson and Sabathia. Since Wilson is signed for '09, such an acquisition might allow the Dodgers to let Rafael Furcal walk as a free agent. Based on Ned Colletti's...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Kouzmanoff, Ricciardi, Wilson

Today's linkage... Athletics Nation proposes a couple of deals for the A's. RotoAuthority looks at Reds rookie pitcher Daryl Thompson, who draws a tough debut assignment on Saturday. CBS Sports' Scott Miller expects Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff to be traded this summer. Kouzmanoff, 27 in July, is hitting .268/.328/.476 in 42 games following another lousy April. J.P. Ricciardi apologized for his comments about Adam Dunn. From the What Might've Been File: the Tigers offered Jair Jurrjens for Jack Wilson about a year ago. Nice to see that .500 will not be a goal for the Bucs, by the way....   Continue Reading

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To Be Dealt: Bay, Nady, Marte, Morris, Wilson

A short but sweet article came out in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette this morning detailing the Pirates' five main trade candidates. No new or surprising names appear on the list but it's a handy roundup for those not up to date on their Bucco news. As we head into the '08 season (tonight!) the Pirates may not be contenders, but they could be difference makers. Jason Bay - $5.75MM in '08, $7.5MM in '09 - I was surprised they didn't deal him in the offseason, but the Pirates are wisely taking a wait and see approach with Bay. Surely he...   Continue Reading

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Pirates Interested In Brad Thompson?

Scott Wuerz of the Belleville News-Democrat suggests that Cardinals pitcher Brad Thompson is a rumored target for the Pirates. He could be part of a larger package, where players such as Jack Wilson, Matt Morris, and/or Jason Bay could be involved. Thompson turns 26 soon. The Cardinals tried him as a starter last year, and he posted a 4.66 ERA in that role. He was at 4.91 in relief, but for his career he's been better coming out of the pen. Thompson lost his groundball mojo a bit in '07, and as a result his HR rate rose dramatically. At..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Castillo, Marte

Some random rumorage as the mill slows down a bit... RotoWorld reports that the Pirates have released infielder Jose Castillo. Castillo has had flashes of brilliance, for example his 7 HR month in '06. But he's been a disappointment overall and doesn't figure to be anyone's starting second baseman. The Yankees and Bucs are discussing a Damaso Marte deal. At the same link a failed Jack Wilson for Chris Duncan rumor is mentioned   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors: Bay, Morris, McLouth, Nady

Dejan Kovacevic and John Perrotto have the latest on the plans of Neal Huntington's Pirates. Both beat writers are saying not to expect Jason Bay to be traded at the Meetings. It would be a sell-low move with bad PR. Both also agree that Matt Morris staying put. Kovacevic spins it as if the Pirates should actually want to keep Morris, while Perrotto's sources suggest the Bucs would have to eat more than 70% of Morris' contract to ditch him. Kovacevic also suggests that the Pirates need Jack Wilson, and that's why he won't be going anywhere. Relievers Salomon Torres,..   Continue Reading

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Cards Could Get Morris, Wilson From Pirates

Yesterday Joe Strauss wrote how the Cardinals' #1 reasonable target for shortstop appears to be the Pirates' Jack Wilson. Today, Dejan Kovacevic confirms it and adds Matt Morris as another possibility to head to St. Louis. Kovacevic notes that the Cardinals tried to acquire Morris last summer, though that wasn't John Mozeliak. The Pirates would have to be willing to eat some of Morris' salary, though they would take on all of Wilson's. So far Anthony Reyes, Tyler Johnson, and Brad Thompson are named as the pitchers the Cardinals will trade. I still have some hope for Reyes. Kovacevic adds..   Continue Reading

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Cards Considering Jack Wilson, Izturis, Tejada

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Joe Strauss has an excellent update on the Cardinals' pursuit of a new starting shortstop. Sounds like the end of the David Eckstein Era in St. Louis - Strauss says it's a widespread belief that Eckstein will not be offered arbitration and probably will not stay around. While the Cards are drawn to Miguel Tejada, a deal seems highly unlikely. John Mozeliak wants to move quickly to fill the shortstop position and the Orioles are taking their time with Tejada. Sounds like there's a very good chance the Cards get Jack Wilson from the Bucs. They're..   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors From Bucco Blog

Jake at Bucco Blog has some hot stove material, in addition to his roundup of Pirates prospects. The Rays are looking for a shortstop, and Jake hears that they might be interested in Jack Wilson. Jake said he debunked this rumor earlier this month, but there "might be renewed interest." I don't see it. Wilson has had a few decent years, but with over $14 million left on his contract, I see the Rays taking a cheaper route. Jake is hearing that the Pirates "we're not actively shopping any players" line is just a front. According to his source, the..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Clark, Izturis, Clemens

First day for teams to negotiate with free agents, always a good time. Here are today's odds and ends. Jeff Blair notes that one athlete may still be better paid than Alex Rodriguez: Kimi Raikkonen, a Formula One driver, earns $51MM per year. No need to debate on whether race car drivers should be considered athletes, I just thought it was interesting. The D'Backs don't figure to spend much on free agents, because they're a smart team. Tony Clark wants two years, $4MM, and the team is thinking it over. The Bucs will probably hold onto Jack Wilson this winter,..   Continue Reading

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Tigers Hot Stove Talk

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News runs down all of the big names rumored to be possibilities for the Tigers this winter and assesses the likelihood of each. It's a well-written article so be sure to read it. Here are the players, ranked by the percent chance of playing for Detroit next year: Kenny Rogers - 90% Todd Jones - 80% Geoff Jenkins - 75% Edgar Renteria - 50% Jack Wilson - 30% Francisco Cordero - 5% Alex Rodriguez - 3% Mariano Rivera - 3% Raul Ibanez - 0.5% Torii Hunter - 0% Andruw Jones - 0% Henning believes Jenkins..   Continue Reading

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Carlos Guillen to Play 1B Next Season

The Tigers anticipated this. Carlos Guillen's okay with it. Despite signing Guillen in March to a 4 year deal for $48MM to begin next season, the shortstop is going to be moving across the diamond sooner than expected to play first base. The move is designed to protect his knees from the physical stresses of SS. Tim argued that 4/48 was a bargain as long as he remained the Tigers' shortstop. Unfortunately, it appears Manager Jim Leyland has had to talk him into moving to first, despite Guillen's condition last week that the Tigers had to bring in a gold..   Continue Reading

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Jack Wilson Staying Or Going?

Dejan Kovacevic and Rob Biertempfel both spoke to Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson recently. While the quotes gathered from each aren't mutually exclusive, they don't seem to gel when compared. The main point of Kovacevic's section on Wilson is that he would like to stay in Pittsburgh, mainly because of the change in management. Biertempfel had an extended Q&A with Wilson. With him, Wilson speaks of a "very good possibility" this is his last season as a Pirate. The shortstop has been mulling over some kind of goodbye to Pirates fans at the last home game this year. Wilson's OPS was..   Continue Reading

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Random Rumors: Erstad, Gagne, Podsednik

Here's a smattering of random rumors. The Twins have tried and failed to acquire Mike Piazza, Jermaine Dye, and Kevin Mench. Instead of Dye, the White Sox offered up 33 year-old outfielder Darin Erstad, he of the .671 OPS. The Twins passed. Eric Gagne will apparently earn Type A status as a free agent, despite pitching only two innings in 2006. Rob Bradford has the details. This was apparently a big factor for the Red Sox in making the deal. The Chicago Sun-Times debunks a rumor that the Cubs are trying to trade for Scott Podsednik. How come I wasn't..   Continue Reading

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Jack Wilson Will Waive No-Trade Clause

Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson has a six-team limited no-trade clause, but he recently let the team know that he'll waive it for any deal. Apparently he just wants out of Pittsburgh. Dejan Kovacevic isn't sure if the team has placed him on waivers yet. But I'm sure they will and he should get through unclaimed. As far as I've read, almost every player in baseball is put on waivers in August just to mask those that the team is actually trying to trade. There's no risk to this because you can pull a player back if he's claimed. Kovacevic says..   Continue Reading

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Jack Wilson May Still Be Dealt

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported yesterday that the Tigers and Pirates continue to discuss shortstop Jack Wilson. Passing Wilson through waivers shouldn't be a problem; no team would want his entire contract dumped on them. Kovacevic describes the current state of the deal: "One source intimately familiar with the matter said that a deal was virtually done Tuesday and that the Pirates would receive two of Detroit's top six prospects, including an unnamed pitcher ready to join the major-league staff. But the sides haggled on how much of Wilson's contract the Pirates would pick up, the source added,..   Continue Reading

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Tigers Could Acquire Jack Wilson

UPDATE: My source may have jumped the gun here, because talks are still ongoing. UPDATE: An insider tells me Wilson has indeed just been traded, though he could not confirm the recipient or any details yet. According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson may be traded to the Tigers today. Wilson and his agent were getting phone calls about possible deals all day yesterday, making a trade seem likely. The Tigers wouldn't assume all of the $16.3MM Wilson still has coming to him through the 2009 season. But they might eat a larger portion of..   Continue Reading

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Blue Jays Not Interested In Jack Wilson

It sounded dubious when it first surfaced, and now J.P. Ricciardi has spoken: the Blue Jays are not interested at all in Jack Wilson. Did the Pittsburgh front office plant that one? Ricciardi does seem open to trading Josh Towers. As far as I can tell, Towers doesn't reach free agency until after 2009. For an NL team, Towers could help at the back end of a rotation. Thing is, no one seems to be actively searching for a backend rotation guy   Continue Reading

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Pirates Ask For Glaus In Jack Wilson Deal

The Pirates are shopping shortstop Jack Wilson, and the Blue Jays are known to be interested. One would expect the Bucs to be happy with the salary relief and maybe ask for a token prospect. Instead, Dave Littlefield asked about Troy Glaus. Now, it was just an inquiry, and the Jays quickly shot it down. Obviously we don't know how the phone call went, so Littlefield might've devised a reasonable trade scenario involving additional players. The Pirates could definitely use a big bat like Glaus, but he does not seem likely to approve a trade to Pittsburgh even if the..   Continue Reading

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Blue Jays Interested In Jack Wilson

Previously on this site we have questioned why any team would want to acquire Pirates' shortstop Jack Wilson (no offense to him). Now comes word that at least one team is in on him - the Blue Jays. But Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes a deal couldn't be reached by the July deadline because the money issues could get tricky. Wilson makes $6.5MM in '08, $7.25MM in '09, and a $0.6MM buyout for '10. He can block trades to six teams each season. Kovacevic thinks a deal would most likely occur in the offseason, as Wilson might not..   Continue Reading

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Slick-Fielding Shortstops Available

If you're looking for an all-glove type shortstop this summer, you have plenty of options. The Giants could move Omar Vizquel, but only if they feel that he can't help them in '08. According to Tim Brown, he loves the city and would stay if they made an offer. The Giants talked extension with him in March but his offensive performance this year may have changed their mind. He has $1.8MM in salary left. With Ryan Theriot performing OK this year and Ronny Cedeno tearing up Triple A, the Cubs may deem Cesar Izturis expendable. Giving Cedeno the starting shortstop..   Continue Reading

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Could Bucs Trade Jack Wilson?

The Pirates have benched shortstop Jack Wilson in favor of Jose Castillo for the time being, and Pirate fans are quite pleased with the decision. Wilson, 29, is signed through 2009. Here's his contract situation: 2007: $5.25MM 2008: $6.5MM 2009: $7.25MM 2010: $8.4MM club option with $0.6MM buyout Limited no-trade clause: Wilson can block trades to six teams each season Is Wilson a $7MM player? He is if you really like his defense. Yahoo's Tim Brown spoke to a baseball man who seemed to think there would be interest in Wilson. I don't know. His defense had better be really,..   Continue Reading

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In Defense Of The Jack Wilson Signing

Yesterday I noticed that the contract extension given by the Pirates to Jack Wilson was universally panned throughout the Internet. Maybe someone somewhere liked the deal, but I haven't seen it in print yet. While I won't go as far as to say I liked this extension, I will say that I don't mind it. Faint praise, yeah, but let's not tear the Bucs a new one over this just yet. I have to admit that the Pirates didn't do a good job exploiting Wilson's lousy year with the bat. He hit .257/.299/.363 in his age 27 season last year,..   Continue Reading

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