Jason Schmidt Rumors

Thoughts On Horacio Ramirez, Jason Schmidt

There are a couple of opinions I'm forming that I'm kind of afraid to admit. They don't seem to be on bound with most of what I've read, though a few might agree. Might as well 'fess up. The first one is that the Mariners didn't get ripped off on the Horacio Ramirez for Rafael Soriano trade. This opinion began forming before I read about Soriano looking like a lost puppy on the mound and topping out at 91. There's been a lot of Horacio-bashing, and obviously the thought of a soft-tossing bottom-rotation guy doesn't excite the way a flamethrowing..   Continue Reading

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Schmidt Deal Not Done?

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Cardinals have been told there's no deal yet for Jason Schmidt. This is as of 4:14 CST today. I quote: "DeWitt and Jocketty have been told that there's no deal yet - and that they (Schmidt and his agents) would like to still have discussions.... so as far as the Cardinals are concerned, there's still reason to have discussion with Schmidt's agents... and I am told the Cardinals are making a 'strong" offer.'" This would be quite a development, as the deal has been reported all over   Continue Reading

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Schmidt to LA?

According to MLB, Jason Schmidt is headed to Los Angeles to join all of Ned Colletti's other acquisitions. The deal is reported as 3 years, $47 million. Sounds like LA waited to make their final bid until they knew they were out of the running for Greg Maddux, who is close to a deal with the Padres. This gives the Dodgers a fantastic rotation: Schmidt, Derek Lowe, and Brad Penny at the top, followed by Randy Wolf and one of Chad Billingsley, Mark Hendrickson, Brett Tomko, and a few other possibilities. That, of course, would change quite a bit if..   Continue Reading

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Cardinals To Meet With Jason Schmidt's Agents

Joe Strauss's article from this morning confirms that Walt Jocketty will meet with the Hendricks brothers, who represent Jason Schmidt. About a week ago, Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz mentioned the Cards' interest but seemed to think the switch to the Hendricks brothers will be a hurdle. Jeff at Lookout Landing had this to say on Schmidt: "Jason Schmidt is a guy whose name value rather substantially exceeds what he actually brings to the table on the field." As Larry from Viva El Birdos has mentioned to me, the Cardinals pursue a big-name pitcher every winter and usually fail. Examples include..   Continue Reading

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Cards Still Looking For Starters

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has a roundup this morning of Walt Jocketty's remaining agenda. With one starter (Kip Wells) and a second baseman (Adam Kennedy) now in tow, the mission is to find two more starters and an affordable outfielder. Goold names Jason Schmidt, Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver, and Mark Mulder as players whom Jocketty has contacted or will contact soon. As Larry Borowsky of Viva El Birdos has told us, the Cards always target a top flight starter before settling for less (see Burnett, A.J. last year and many more). The outfielder of choice seems to..   Continue Reading

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Pitchers on the move

Jason Schmidt has been offered $45 million over three years to join the Cubs. If that offer has been leaked already, $60M/4 seems within the realm of possibility. Strangely, Schmidt has already said he's not interested in the East Coast-you'd think he'd wait until Cashman made an offer and drove up his price before saying no. Once Schmidt signs, it'll be fun to watch Scott Boras conduct the sure-to-be-insane bidding for Barry Zito. Some team (to be announced tonight) won the bidding for Kei Igawa for $25 million. Hanshin has accepted. That's the second largest posting fee ever-somebody must think..   Continue Reading

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Paul Sullivan On Cubs Hot Stove

Could the hiring of Gerald Perry as hitting coach signal an era of change in Chicago? Thus far Jim Hendry has made a point of ignoring the free pass, but Perry is said to encourage a little patience. Of course, Oakland's walk mandate was organization-wide so we can't give Perry all the credit. Anyway, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune has the word on the Cubs' latest hot stove dealings. - Final offer for Aramis Ramirez will probably come in Saturday night. - The Cubs wouldn't mind adding Dave Roberts as the new leadoff man. He walks at about 10%..   Continue Reading

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Olney: Schmidt Is Yanks' Plan B

If the Yankees don't win the Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes, which pitcher becomes the top target? According to ESPN's Buster Olney, it will be 34 year-old free agent Jason Schmidt. Said Olney in his blog: "I've heard the Yankees' Plan B, if they don't get Matsuzaka, will be the pursuit of Jason Schmidt. Talked to his agent the other day, and he said that any perception that Schmidt is devoted to the idea of playing close to his home in Washington is 'completely inaccurate' and that he hasn't ruled out any team, in any time zone." Schmidt brings more risk than..   Continue Reading

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Available Starting Pitchers: The Horses

One very important aspect in a starting pitcher is the ability to go deep into games. Teams can avoid resorting to inferior middle relievers if the starter can consistently pitch seven innings. Only two starters this year - Brandon Webb and Roy Halladay - are averaging seven innings per start. Neither of those guys will be available this winter. Let's take a look at some starters who are available and can save bullpens. Jason Schmidt, in addition to being one of the NL's best this year, has averaged 6.83 innings per start. The 33 year-old is destined for one of..   Continue Reading

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Red Sox Trade Rumors

It's tough to get anything out of Boston these days; Theo Epstein has plugged all of his leaks. Let's see what we can piece together though. According to Sean McAdams of The Providence Journal: "Friends of the Rocket insist he's sorry that he chose the Astros over the Red Sox." McAdams mentions that Clemens would love a trade to Boston if it could be done without infuriating the Houston fanbase. Also, a source of mine tells me that the Mets have inquired about Clemens. Then there's the possible three-way trade with the Rockies and Padres. The Padres would get Mike..   Continue Reading

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Mets Trade Rumor: Milledge For Oswalt Or Schmidt

Jon Heyman busts out a big one early Monday morning: the Mets are in "serious talks" for Jason Schmidt or Roy Oswalt. The key to any deal would be Lastings Milledge. Heyman mentions that Brian Bannister would be needed to pry Oswalt away but not Schmidt. He also says Aaron Heilman could be used to "enhance" a deal. It seems now that Oswalt really is in play, which is strange given the Astros' lack of depth behind Roger Clemens. Speaking of which, why not put the Rocket on the block instead   Continue Reading

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Stark: Mets, Rangers, Red Sox Inquire On Jason Schmidt

Jayson Stark's got a good one for us this evening over in his Stark Market. Stark indicates that the Giants are now listening to offers for Jason Schmidt on the heels of their recent losing streak. Apparently the Mets, Red Sox, and Rangers have inquired. Schmidt will be a free agent after this season, and he's said he would like to play for the Mariners. The 33 year-old grew up in Kelso, Washington. If the Giants really do change gears and pack it in for 2006, Moises Alou and Ray Durham could be a couple of other names that could..   Continue Reading

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White Sox Pursuing Jason Schmidt?

Of couple of ESPN columnists seem to have independently arrived at the same trade rumor in their blogs in recent days. Buster Olney's source is a "talent evaluator" while Jayson Stark got word from "an executive who has heard this talk." According to Olney and Stark, the White Sox would trade Brandon McCarthy and Brian Anderson to the Giants for Jason Schmidt. The Sox would then acquire a center fielder in a separate trade. Schmidt, 33, has been the NL's second best pitcher this year behind Brandon Webb. This is his contract year and he's making $10.5 million. Anderson and..   Continue Reading

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Trade Candidates Part 1

With the hot stove not all that hot at the moment, I thought I'd run down some guys who could be traded between now and July 31st in an attempt to peer into the future. Part 1 of the series will focus on some of the players in their contract year. Barry Bonds is unlikely to be dealt, given that the Giants have pinned most of their offensive hopes on him. But if, for some reason, the team is out of contention in July and Bonds is looking more awful than usual in the field, a deal to the AL..   Continue Reading

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