LaTroy Hawkins Rumors

Week in Review: 7/27 - 8/2

We saw the non-waiver trade deadline come and go this week, and plenty of action to go along with it. Let's recap the big moves of the week: The Dodgers, Pirates, and Red Sox completed a three-team, blockbuster trade that sent Manny Ramirez to Los Angeles, Jason Bay to Boston, and Andy LaRoche, Bryan Morris, Craig Hansen, and Brandon Moss to Pittsburgh. The Pirates got a pretty nice haul, and while Bay won't necessarily replace Manny's production, he's much more affordable, signed through '09, and doesn't disrupt the clubhouse. The Dodgers add the big bat they need for a push...   Continue Reading

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LaTroy Hawkins Traded To Astros

According to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle, the Astros acquired LaTroy Hawkins from the Yankees. The Yanks will receive minor league second baseman Matt Cusick in return. Does this set up a deal for another Astros reliever, or are the 'Stros just trying to close the 9.5 game wild card gap?   Continue Reading

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Tigers Unlikely To Acquire Reliever

Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press says the Tigers aren't liking the market price for relief help. The chances of Dave Dombrowski adding a top guy like George Sherrill are slim to none. (By the way, if Sherrill has another outing like last night his ERA will be approaching 5.00.) Morosi says picking up a cheap unwanted reliever like Brian Wolfe or LaTroy Hawkins is plausible, but promoting from within is even more likely. If the Tigers are contending in September might we see Ryan Perry as the first '08 draft pick to reach the bigs?   Continue Reading

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Twins Interested In LaTroy Hawkins

TUESDAY: The Twins now have some competition from the Tigers for Hawkins. MONDAY: According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins have interest in bringing righty reliever LaTroy Hawkins back. Hawkins came up through the Twins' system as a starter, but eventually found his niche as a setup man before signing a free agent deal with the Cubs. Christensen talked to a person close to Hawkins who believes he'd like to come back to Minnesota. Multiple teams have shown interest in Hawkins since the Yankees designated him for assignment. They might be able to unload some of the...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Happ, Igawa, Hawkins, Lowe

Rounding up rumors and links from the weekend... SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Mariners are asking the Mets for Jon Niese for Raul Ibanez. Not likely. ESPN's Buster Olney says the Braves would require Conor Jackson from the D'Backs in a Mark Teixeira deal, but Arizona is not biting. Another quick hit from Olney: the White Sox are surveying the relief market in the wake of Scott Linebrink's shoulder injury. Several readers have written in about Phillies' lefty J.A. Happ being pulled early from a Triple A start (2.2 scoreless innings) with no sign of injury. Something to keep an...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Kemp, Bradley, Fuentes, Street

New Rosenthal. Seems like he just put a column out a few days ago. Rosenthal believes the Dodgers would consider trading a young player (especially Matt Kemp) for a slugger. He discusses what it would take to get Jason Bay, Magglio Ordonez, Adam Dunn, or Matt Holliday. This all seems like a bad idea for the Dodgers. There are certainly arguments for the Rangers to keep or even extend Milton Bradley. But Rosenthal thinks he could net "multiple high-end prospects" if Jon Daniels goes the trade route. He says the Rangers could shop some of their veterans while also trying...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Alvarez, Zimmerman, Vizcaino, Hawkins

Some random musings around the league: As MLBTR noted before, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also believes the Pirates will take Pedro Alvarez if the Rays pass on him. Ryan Zimmerman may be looking for David Wright money (six years, $55MM), but the Nationals may be willing to pay him Ian Kinsler money (5 years, $22MM), according to Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post. In this piece by Tony Jackson on the LA Daily News, 39 year-old Jose Vizcaino may try to make a comeback in 2009. He's currently a special assistant with the Dodgers. Troy Renck suggests the...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Bruce, Ensberg, Boone, Weaver

Plenty of links for today. Indians top prospect Adam Miller is pretty much done for the season. '09 free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera and manager Ozzie Guillen are not getting along. Peter Bendix explains the savings the Reds get by waiting to promote Jay Bruce. Morgan Ensberg is a DFA candidate, while LaTroy Hawkins may be getting there. Bret Boone's comeback attempt has ended. Jeff Weaver (6.69 ERA in Triple A) can ask for his release if not called up by June 15th. Hank Blalock may not be in the Rangers' long-term plans. The Indians designated Jorge Julio for assignment.   Continue Reading

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Minor Trades and Rumors

The Cubs unloaded Neifi Perez on the Tigers today, and it was no surprise Neifi got through waivers. What team would want to be on the hook for $2.5MM for him next year? Ditching Neifi at this point at least partially rights the wrong of signing him to an extension in the first place for Jim Hendry. The Cubs' "everything man" will be making outs atop of Detroit's lineup now. Even more impressive is that Hendry snagged a 22 year-old catching prospect, Chris Robinson, in the deal. The Mets added righty reliever Guillermo Mota today. Along with Oliver Perez, this..   Continue Reading

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