Jamey Carroll Rumors
Brewers Expressed Interest In Jamey Carroll
2:42pm: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel hears that there's "nothing hot" between the Dodgers and Brewers regarding Carroll.
1:54pm: The Brewers reached out to the Dodgers about infielder Jamey Carroll, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. For quite a while now, Carroll has been regarded as a natural fit for the Brewers on the left side of their infield.
Carroll, 37, is hitting .290/.360/.360 this year in 321 plate appearances for the Dodgers. He's capable of playing all around the infield and handling the outfield corners as well. With under $600K owed to Carroll after the trade deadline, he's affordable too.
I spoke to Carroll last month; check that out here.
Dodgers 'Open For Business'
The Dodgers are "open for business," according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The Los Angeles front office will consider trading potentially useful veterans including Hiroki Kuroda, Jamey Carroll, Ted Lilly, Juan Uribe, Matt Guerrier and others.
Peter Gammons reported over the weekend that the Dodgers, now 42-55, are looking to shed salary. Kuroda is drawing interest and may require compensation to accept a deal, though he the Dodgers may decide to keep him. The Brewers, who are looking to acquire help on the left side of the infield, have checked in on Carroll.
Gammons Talks Trade Market
Peter Gammons spoke with a host of scouts, general managers, and MLB executives, all of which is compiled in his latest piece at MLB.com, which is chock full of trade-related news:
- The Astros are asking for as much in return for Wandy Rodriguez as the Rockies are for Ubaldo Jimenez. General manager Ed Wade is in a difficult position, caught between an ownership change.
- Half a dozen teams are looking for right-handed offense, but the Rockies won't trade Ryan Spilborghs and the Cubs are holding onto Jeff Baker. Gammons says that reduces that market to Conor Jackson, Josh Willingham, Reed Johnson, Lastings Milledge, and Jeff Francoeur. The Twins recently announced they won't trade Michael Cuddyer as well.
- The Dodgers want to shed salary, but don't have much to shed besides Jamey Carroll and Hiroki Kuroda. Gammons spoke with two East coast executives that said Kuroda, who has a full no-trade clause, won't accept a deal to an East Coast team.
- The Athletics will move veteran bats and probably a reliever or two.
- The Mariners won't have a fire sale, and aren't likely to get much for Erik Bedard in light of his injury.
- The Nationals are willing to trade Tyler Clippard, and have been continually pursuing Michael Bourn. They're also one of several teams who showed interest in Julio Borbon prior to his injury.
- Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail is in a tough spot because he doesn't know which way owner Peter Angelos wants him to go, according to a rival GM.
- Jordan Pacheco and Wilin Rosario make it possible for the Rockies to trade Chris Iannetta, but the Red Sox seem content wth their catching options.
NL Central Rumors: Cubs, Astros, Brewers, Rasmus
The NL Central lead seems to change hands on a daily basis, meaning we can expect plenty of trade talk over the next two weeks as the Brewers, Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds attempt to gain an edge in a tight race. Here's the latest from out of the division:
- Cubs GM Jim Hendry has "no interest" in moving Matt Garza or Ryan Dempster this season, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB.com.
- New Astros ownership would like to cut payroll to $60MM, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman (via Twitter). As such, Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers are "being shopped," though Houston will likely hang on to Hunter Pence.
- Discussing those three Houston trade candidates, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Astros would have to be "completely blown away" to move Pence, but Myers is very much in play, and there could be a decent market for him. Rodriguez falls somewhere in between - the Astros have fielded plenty of inquires, but it would take a big package to get a deal done.
- Heyman thinks that Jamey Carroll would be a good addition for the Brewers (Twitter link).
- Colby Rasmus' father confirmed to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his son has requested a trade in the past. Strauss breaks down some of the reasons why the Cardinals and Rasmus seem to have trouble seeing eye to eye.
Brewers Seek Boost On Left Side Of Infield
The Brewers aren't done trading yet. They're working to improve the left side of their infield, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Brewers want a definite upgrade over shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt or third baseman Casey McGehee, but they aren’t close to making a deal, since few quality infielders are available in trades.
Jamey Carroll isn’t available now and J.J. Hardy will likely sign an extension with the Orioles, according to Rosenthal. The Brewers would like to obtain a player with a good glove and they can consider adding payroll on a case-by-case basis.
Brewers shortstops (Betancourt, Craig Counsell and Josh Wilson) have combined to rank 28th in MLB with a .267 OBP. Brewers third basemen (mostly McGehee and Counsell) rank 28th in MLB with a .206 average, a .264 OBP and a .277 slugging percentage. Betancourt has a .237/.255/.342 line while McGehee checks in at .223/.279/.315.
NL West Notes: Dodgers, Colletti, Stewart, Padres
On this date last year, the Rockies scored nine runs in the ninth inning to overcome a six-run deficit and beat the Cardinals 12-9. Seth Smith's walk-off homer against Ryan Franklin sealed the win for Colorado. Here’s the latest from the NL West, one year after the Rockies’ amazing comeback...
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from a source that the Dodgers might not trade Hiroki Kuroda and Jamey Carroll despite plenty of interest in both.
- Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times passes along a note from Bill Plaschke (on Twitter), who reports that next season is the final guaranteed year on Dodgers GM Ned Colletti's contract.
- A few teams are having internal discussions about Ian Stewart of the Rockies, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter).
- The Padres are on a 10-3 run and have just defeated Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, so they can’t justify selling now, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports points out (on Twitter).
- A rival executive tells ESPN.com’s Buster Olney that the Dodgers waited too long to sign Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier to extensions. The outfielders hit free agency after 2012, so Los Angeles may have to overpay to keep the duo in place long-term.
Dodgers Not Ready To Sell
Even though the Dodgers find themselves in the cellar of the NL West, GM Ned Colletti says that it's too early to go into selling mode, writes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times.
"We haven't been healthy all year, but I still don't think we've played as well as we can play," the GM said. "The next three-plus weeks, if we can show some of that, we might be adding people."
The Dodgers could draw interest from contenders in players such as Hiroki Kuroda and Jamey Carroll. Kuroda is in the middle of yet another strong season, posting at ERA of 2.90 with 6.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9. Carroll, meanwhile, is hitting .300/.370/.365 and can play a number of positions. The Rockies are believed to be interested in Carroll, but Colletti said that he'd have to feel very confident about the return in order to trade within the division.
Olney On Deadline Plans For NL Teams
The trade market is still developing at this point in the season, but it’s starting to take shape. Buster Olney outlines the plans for National League teams in a highly recommended insider-only piece at ESPN.com. Here are the details:
- The Dodgers can’t make long-term investments in young stars like Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw because of their uncertain financial status. The Los Angeles front office is now gathering information about some of their trade candidates and taking calls on some players. No teams have called on Jamey Carroll yet, though the Rockies are interested.
- James Loney and Casey Blake have next to no trade value, as Olney explains.
- No team has called about Jose Reyes, who won’t be traded for anything less than a top prospect and a solid secondary prospect.
- Rival executives expect the Phillies to acquire proven veterans this summer.
- Though the Astros will listen to offers on Hunter Pence and Wandy Rodriguez, they will be asking a lot for them.
- The Braves are checking out available hitters. Some rival executives have speculated on the possibility that the Braves will consider trading Jair Jurrjens, whose stock has never been higher.
- Some rival executives think B.J. Upton will be a borderline non-tender candidate this offseason. Upton will earn a raise from $4.825MM next year and he currently has a .223/.308/.396 line with 20 steals. I can’t envision the Rays non-tendering Upton, who would presumably have trade value if Tampa made him available.
- The Padres have told teams that they’re ready to take offers for Heath Bell and Mike Adams. Rival clubs believe Adams will be harder to obtain than Ryan Ludwick.
- The Rockies will wait a few weeks before deciding whether to buy or sell.
- The Giants are looking for catching help and Ramon Hernandez is a possible upgrade, as I explained earlier in the week.
- The Reds are concerned about starting pitching and will consider making moves for upgrades at left field or shortstop. Though rival teams don’t expect Reyes to end up in Cincinnati, GM Walt Jocketty may be aggressive enough to make a deal happen.
- GM Jim Hendry says there won’t be a fire sale, but the Cubs are “open for business,” Olney reports. Jeff Baker and Kerry Wood are “among the most coveted players in the trade market,” since they’re cheap and useful. Rival executives have mixed opinions about Carlos Pena, who is powerful but streaky.
- Wood is near the top of Arizona’s list of targets.
- The 40-39 Pirates will look for modest ways to improve and won’t be selling.
Rockies Interested In Jamey Carroll
The Rockies are looking for second base help, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, and they've expressed interest in Dodgers infielder Jamey Carroll. Carroll spent the 2006-07 seasons with Colorado, sending the Rockies to the playoffs in '07 with a sacrifice fly off Trevor Hoffman.
Carroll, 37, is hitting .300/.368/.366 in 288 plate appearances on the season. He's capable of playing second base, shortstop, third base, and the outfield corners. I examined his trade candidacy about a week ago. Carroll is earning $1.8MM and he's a bit short of Type B status.
Rockies second basemen, mainly Jonathan Herrera and Chris Nelson, are hitting .240/.296/.325 on the season. I think Nelson deserves more of a look, but adding Carroll wouldn't hurt. There aren't too many contenders seeking second basemen, but Carroll, Mark Ellis, and Jeff Keppinger are the top trade candidates. Renck says the Rockies also want to bolster their rotation, but may look internally for that. At six games out, they're on the fringe of contention.
GMs Dan O'Dowd and Ned Colletti matched up on a trade last year, when the Rockies acquired Octavio Dotel from the Dodgers for Anthony Jackson. Before that, the division rivals hadn't matched up since '03.
Jamey Carroll Q&A
Yesterday I had a chance to talk with Dodgers infielder Jamey Carroll. Click below to read his preferences in free agency, how he's affected by the Dodgers' ownership situation, and what he was thinking facing Trevor Hoffman in the Rockies' 2007 tiebreaker game against the Padres.
Tim Dierkes: You've played second base, third, shortstop, and the outfield corners...do you have a preference? What position did you play in college?
Jamey Carroll: I grew like everybody else, I played shortstop. I played a lot of short throughout the minor leagues. It wasn't until the last couple of years in the minors that I started to bounce around everywhere and came to an understanding that if I was going to have a shot that was going to be the way, playing everywhere. The more positions I learned the better I was going to be able to get my opportunity and help the team. I think each position has something different, something a little exciting about it. It keeps everything fresh, being able to go out and play something different. It keeps it challenging for me. You get to do something new every day when you bounce around.
Each position has something fun about it. I love turning the double plays from second. I love playing short because it's a position where you have to be in on everything. At third it's a whole different world over there. And when you throw me in the outfield after being so close in the infield I feel so far away. There couldn't be anything more different than playing in the outfield. But I definitely love playing in the middle of the infield because it's really in on the action. At the end of the day it doesn't really matter. As long as you do something to help contribute, that's the bottom line.
TD: The reaction time at third base must be the biggest difference over there.
JC: It's either smoked to you or just chopped like no other, so you're either racing for your life or sprinting for your life. If you're playing third base for a little while and you go back to the middle infield you kind of forget how much your feet have to be in motion. That's why for me it's important to make sure I'm always taking groundballs at short.
TD: You scored the last run in Expos history. How was the relocation experience for you?
JC: It was definitely something different. It was cool to know that I was a part of something like that. I had mixed emotions - I enjoyed Montreal because 1) it's a great city and 2) it's the place where I got my shot, my opportunity. At the same time for years they had been talking about moving out of Montreal. To get some finality to that and know you're going to DC, the nation's capital, and being a part of the first year back there was something special in itself too. It was mixed emotions. You're sad to leave one place but excited to start anew somewhere else. I'm thankful to have been a part of that in my career.
TD: How would you feel about adding the designated hitter to the National League?
JC: I'm old, so I like the NL - that's the type of player I am. At the same time it was fun to play in the AL and it does add that hitter and it does open up another spot for a hitter to have a chance. I grew up watching the NL and played most of my career in the NL. For example last night for us Clayton Kershaw gets a big hit to help himself with the bases loaded in the eighth. It's just kind of exciting and fun to see, but then again seeing the big guys hit some homers is just as exciting. But I like the strategy, double switches and stuff like that, so if I had to choose I'm an NL kind of guy.
TD: What was it like being traded to the Rockies in 2007?
JC: It came at a good time for me. My mom had passed away and I joined a group of guys that were phenomenal for me outside of the game of baseball. I developd a lot of unbelievable friendships with guys on that team. It was something different - I only knew one place, the Expos/Nationals system. I was a little nervous but at the same time I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to get traded to.
TD: You'll be entering free agency coming off a strong year. What factors are most important to you in deciding where to play, if you receive multiple offers?
JC: Obviously I think you want to win. That's the bottom line. I think that's a big factor. I also think it's how you fit in with the team and the organization and where I feel like my family has the best fit. It's not about me anymore. Being in the playoffs once was incredible and I'd love to have that opportunity again.
TD: Do you have a geographic preference?
JC: We couldn't be any further from home than where we are now and we've really enjoyed it. It depends on who wants me, you take those options and go from there and make the best decision out of that.
TD: Tell me what you were thinking during the 2007 tiebreaker game when Todd Helton was intentionally walked and you're coming up against Trevor Hoffman with a chance to send the Rockies to the playoffs.
JC: I was basically a defensive replacement - I wasn't really doing anything at the plate that year and so I'd end up getting pinch-hit for. Just knowing that I was on deck I kind of turned around and looked because I'd been getting pinch-hit for every other time and wasn't sure why this was any different. I kind of turned and looked at the bench and Brad Hawpe, who was up behind me, just looked at me and told me to go up there and get it done. I turned back around and it was almost somehow a little vote of confidence in a sense. I was just going to do anything I could to get him in. I knew how Hoffman approached it. I'm not a first pitch swinger but I knew I was probably going to get a fastball away and tried to take advantage of it. I think I hit it just far enough so Matty could get in there.
TD: Did you think Holliday was safe on the play?
JC: I didn't think it was going to be as close as it was. From where I was, still running down to first, it was the longest few seconds of my life to see Tim McClelland finally call him safe. But he was safe as far as I'm concerned.
TD: How closely do you and your teammates follow Frank McCourt's divorce and the stories about the team's finances?
JC: We've taken the approach that there's nothing we can do about it and it's not our situation. We probably learn more about it when we get asked about it. It shouldn't affect we way we prepare or hit a ball, field a ball, pitch a ball. Obviously we're aware of it but at the same time I really don't believe it has much of an effect on us.
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