Braves, Angels Scouting Cardinals

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch mentioned in a Wednesday chat that the Braves are scouting the Cardinals heavily and the Angels have also been watching recently. One rumor that's been floating about consistently is that the Cardinals are willing to trade pitcher Anthony Reyes. Yesterday Jayson Stark relayed that John Mozeliak wants "an upper echelon prospect back, plus another piece."

Free Agent Stock Watch: Jon Garland

One thing Jon Garland has going for him is his age. He'll spend the 2009 season as a 29 year-old. Only a few other free agent starters will be under 30 that year: Oliver Perez (27), Mark Prior (27), and C.C. Sabathia (28). A team that can't afford Sabathia but misses out on Perez might turn to Garland. Garland is an innings eater, having topped 210 in each of the last three seasons. His low strikeout rate leads to plenty of hits, but he balances that with good control. His groundball rate had been on the decline from 2005-07, but...

Free Agent Stock Watch: Juan Rivera

Angels outfielder Juan Rivera is in a tough situation, fighting for playing time in his contract year. So far he has eight ABs in the team's first 16 games. He's just not getting starter consideration at the DH or corner spots. Rivera seems like an interesting buy-low candidate, whether via trade during the season or free agency after it. The one time he received more than 400 ABs, in 2006, he hit .310/.362/.525. He broke his leg in a winter league game that year and has barely played since. The Angels aren't in any hurry to trade him, despite interest....

Olney's Latest: Lidge, Shields, Eveland, Lahey

Here are some trade-rumor-tidbits from Buster Olney this morning: For the first time in his career, Scot Shields was activated from the DL and rookie pitcher Rich Thompson was sent down to Triple A. The Angels had hoped to keep the kid around but last friday's 1 inning, 5-run meltdown assured his ticket out. A likely story: Dana Eveland is making Billy Beane look smart. He shut down the Indians for 7 innings yesterday, striking out 7. When Dan Haren was sent to Arizona for 6 prospects, Tim thought the Dbacks won and suggested Eveland could be a back of...

K-Rod Won't Negotiate During Season

The Daily News LA has a brief update on the Angels and their attempt to re-sign Francisco Rodriguez. Apparently neither party has made much headway on getting a deal done before the season and now that Spring Training is ending K-Rod and his agent, Paul Kinzer, won't negotiate during the season. "...Kinzer said he has 'absolutely not' given the Angels a deadline or ultimatum to sign Rodriguez before the season starts or watch him leave as a free agent next fall. Rodriguez conceded Saturday that seems to be the likely outcome. 'Everything's headed that way,' he said. 'But there's going...

A Look At Nathan Haynes

As you know, the Rays snagged outfielder Nathan Haynes off waivers yesterday from the Angels. I liked this move; let's take a closer look at the 28 year-old outfielder. MLB.com's Lyle Spencer speaks of Haynes' "sprinter's speed" and defensive talents at all three outfield positions. Haynes' prospect status expired years ago, but he seems equally as valuable as many free agents signed for millions in the last few years. I think there's still a lot of talented late-20s players who just need a chance, guys like Haynes, Marcus Thames, and Jack Cust. Haynes' path has been slowed by many knee...

Odds And Ends: Gotay, Register, Haynes

A couple of minor pickups this afternoon: The Rays have claimed left-hand-hitting Nathan Haynes off waivers from the Angels. Rocco Baldelli will be moved to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man. Marc Lancaster speculates that Haynes, who is out of options, will take a roster spot that was presumed to be Eric Hinske's. The Mets have given up trying to trade for Rule V pick Steven Register, and are letting him go back to Colorado. He'll report to Triple A. Ruben Gotay, who had been DFA'd by the Mets, has been picked up by the Braves. Adam...

Kelvim Escobar's Season May Be Over

Kelvim Escobar's season, and perhaps even career, may be in jeopardy because of his shoulder issue. A contribution this year is a long shot. Baseball Injury Report's Rick Wilton guesses it is related to the rotator cuff. By the way, Baseball Injury Report was all over this last night; check it out and consider subscribing. John Lackey's triceps strain takes on heightened importance with the probable loss of Escobar. Lackey, Jered Weaver, and Jon Garland is still a competitive front three. And between Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana, Dustin Moseley, and Nick Adenhart, the Halos can figure out the last two...

Giants Like Kotchman And Mathis

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News writes that the Giants recently inquired with the Angels about first baseman Casey Kotchman and catcher Jeff Mathis. Baggarly speculates that the Halos might like the idea of a reunion with Bengie Molina (owed $12MM over the next two seasons). Of course, the value of the two Angels players far exceeds that of Molina. No deal is close; Angels GM Tony Reagins was frank about that. The Giants don't have much in the way of valuable trade chips. They've got overpriced, undesirable veterans plus a strong core of young pitching that they...

Odds and Ends: Rivera, Hamels, Sherrill

Here's today's gathering of links. John Shea examines the Giants' roster crunch, which would be greatly relieved by trading Dave Roberts and Steve Kline. Adam Rubin implies that the Angels want too much from the Mets for Juan Rivera - Jon Niese or Bobby Parnell. A deal seems unlikely. Cole Hamels, accused by a heckler of being a cross between Casey Fossum and Shawn Camp. BURNED! Buster Olney is hearing from other teams that the Orioles may shop 30 year-old newly anointed closer George Sherrill this summer. Joe Christensen believes that we'll learn about Joe Nathan's future with the Twins...

Odds and Ends: Jerome Williams, Linden, Lo Duca

Below you'll find the day's random rumors and links. Remember Jerome Williams? He's begging the Giants or any other team to give him a shot, "even if it means in A-ball" according to John Shea. The 26 year-old Hawaiin couldn't find any success last year with Washington. He started out pretty strong with the Giants back in 2003-04. Todd Linden can get out of his minor league deal with Oakland if offered a deal in Japan, which is a possibility. Paul Lo Duca has choice words for the Mets, rejecting the notion that they were ever interested or that he...

Angels In Need Of Another Arm?

At the end of his most recent column Ken Rosenthal posits a nightmare scenario for the Angles, going back to 2001 when the Mariners cracked out to a 20-4 start to seize the AL West crown before May Day. With John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar on the shelf for at least 4-6 weeks, should the Angels be concerned going into 2008? Is a move to pick up an extra starter in order? The team is looking at filling 14-16 starts. With a surplus of outfielders the Angels are certainly in position to make a move. They could opt for a...

Odds And Ends: White Sox, Angels, Crisp, Gillick

Here are a few links to whet your appetite, including a Brian Roberts sighting. You didn't think we could go two days without a Robert update, did you? Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune notes that the White Sox are looking for a middle infielder and wonders if they might get involved in the Roberts sweepstakes. However, Rogers wonders if there is anything left in the system to intrigue the Orioles. Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline looks at the recent rash of injuries plaguing the Angels pitching staff and wonders if it was a blessing that they did not trade...

Rangers Were Close To Acquiring Johan

SI.com's Jon Heyman checks in with some inside info from the What Might've Been file. He says the Rangers and Twins were close to an agreement on the players involved in a trade that would've sent Johan Santana to Texas. The Twins pulled the plug when Santana was noncommital about whether he'd approve a trade to the Rangers. They felt that this would've decreased his market value (instead the Twins ended up overplaying their hand and accepting the second or third-best offer). Heyman speculates that the Rangers could've offered Eric Hurley and/or Edinson Volquez, for starters. A Taylor Teagarden and...

Rosenthal's Latest: Roberts, Horacio, Willits

Rumor guru and baseball insider Ken Rosenthal has a new column at FOX Sports. Let's discuss. Rosenthal does not see the Cubs taking on the salaries of both Brian Roberts and Coco Crisp, even if they shed their Jason Marquis commitment. Roberts remains the focus. Horacio Ramirez's agent says seven clubs have already expressed interest in his client. Perhaps he meant to say 0.7. Rosenthal runs through many Rocco Baldelli replacement options for the Rays: Reggie Willits, Kenny Lofton, Gabe Gross, and Reed Johnson. Only Willits seems the perfect fit, and the Angels aren't making him available. Willits and his...

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Barry Bonds

The biggest name remaining in the free agent market is one Barry Lamar Bonds. The most recent rumored destinations for the all-time home run champ have been the Rays, Mets and even Japan. The Rays say there was never any serious consideration and the Mets say they are not interested. The biggest question mark concerning Bonds is whether his production at age 43 is worth the circus that follows, both in the clubhouse and in the media. Yesterday at my home base, Rays Index, I contacted Chone Smith of Anaheim Angels All The Way, and creator of the CHONE projection...

Odds and Ends: Baldelli, Salcedo, Piazza, Rivera

Time for today's linkage. RotoAuthority looks for some fantasy baseball sleepers at second base. Rocco Baldelli has a rare muscle condition that does not allow his body to recover after a short workout. He'll hit the DL but won't retire. The Rays will likely decline his option but maybe they'll re-sign him at a lower price. The Indians are in the running for 16 year-old shortstop Edward Salcedo, but the Boras client remains unsigned. IGN has their own What Might've Been type series, and recently they took a look at the Mike Piazza trades of 1998. Haven't heard much on...

Braves Interested In Juan Rivera?

Juan Rivera is in a tough place - he doesn't have an opportunity to prove he can be a healthy and effective outfielder despite heading into his contract year. He's been very respectful to the Angels about his situation though. Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times recently speculated that Rivera would have a starting role on teams like the Braves, Mets, or Giants. Rivera's best year was '06, when he hit .310/.362/.525 in 124 games. But then Rivera broke his leg in winter ball in December of that year and it's been a long time coming back. Ken Rosenthal suggested...

Angels, Orioles Eyeing Barmes

TUESDAY: Add the Orioles as another team with Barmes on the radar. Troy Renck says he's not available despite the interest. The O's really need to get in a few more capable shortstop candidates, regardless. MONDAY: Remember 2005, when Rockies shortstop Clint Barmes hit .329/.371/.516 through 51 games to start the season? Then he was sidelined for two months with a broken clavicle from the infamous deer meat incident. Maybe the hot-hitting was a simple fluke, but Barmes posted just a .584 OPS in 640 career ABs since coming back from the injury. He lost his job to Troy Tulowitzki...

Odds and Ends: Garland, Linden, A-Rod

Time to round up various tidbits and rumors. Jon Garland says that unless his agent kept him in the dark, a long-term deal was never discussed with the White Sox. But in the unlikely event the Sox pursue Garland this winter, he'll listen. Here's a look others who will be free agents after this season and under 30 years old for '09. We've heard the Brandon Inge/Joe Crede rumors regarding the Dodgers. Tony Jackson speculates that Wes Helms or Jeff Cirillo could also be options. Paul Sullivan says Aaron Rowand was the Cubs' Plan B to Kosuke Fukudome. ShysterBall can't...

Odds and Ends: Roberts, Gibbons, Matthews

The Cubs and Orioles continue to be linked in trade speculation involving Brian Roberts. The latest from the Chicago Tribune says that an Orioles scout was in attendance for Sean Gallagher's two hitless innings on Saturday. The amount of time it's taking for these two clubs to get their acts together on this deal continues to be mind-boggling. The Trib is also reporting that Jon Lieber took a big step towards earning the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation on Saturday, coming through with four shutout innings against the Diamondbacks. Ryan Dempster and Jason Marquis are also in the mix....

Rosenthal's Latest: Crede, Willits, Rivera, Belliard

Ken Rosenthal checks in with all kinds of hot stove info. Continuing on yesterday's post regarding Joe Crede and the Dodgers , Rosenthal reports that a source close to Dodgers management explained that the team trading for a third baseman like Crede or Brandon Inge is "all about the budget and whether [owner Frank] McCourt will allow them to add money." Rosenthal continues to point out that Crede is a better deal than Inge in terms of their contracts, and that Crede could also be more attractive to Dodgers management because the White Sox might be willing to trade for...

On The Block: Coco Crisp And Juan Rivera

Coco Crisp isn't too happy about his competition for Boston's center field job. Today, the Boston Herald reports that Coco is calling the situation "bogus." Why would you want to sit on the bench?" Coco asks. "Why would you want to do that?" Meanwhile, on the left coast, the Angels' Juan Rivera finds himself the odd man out in L.A.'s crowded outfield, but isn't getting worked up about it. The L.A. Times says Rivera wouldn't mind sitting the bench, if it comes to that. "There's no pressure from the owner, no pressure from the fans, no pressure from the media,"...

Blocked Prospects: Reggie Willits

As a 26 year-old with roughly one full season worth of Major League experience, Reggie Willits may not technically be a prospect. But with Torii Hunter signed through 2012, Vladimir Guerrero through 2009 and likely to stay longer, and Gary Matthews Jr. through 2011, Willits certainly qualifies as blocked. Terry Evans and Nathan Haynes are similarly impeded, and the latter is out of options. But let's center on Willits. I want to focus on Willits because he is capable of playing center field. In their 2007 handbook, Baseball America called him an "above-average center fielder with an average arm and...

Odds and Ends: Crede, Rodriguez, Marlins

Just a couple items worth mentioning: Matt Hurst notes Elasticman Scot Shields says "(Heck) yeah" to whether or not the Angels should dish out the big bucks for Francisco Rodriguez, this despite incentives in Shields contract that would kick in should he be transitioned into the closer role. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times touches in on Joe Crede's fate after notching his first homerun of the spring, easing concerns for his surgically repaired back. Says Cowley, "Crede's agent, Scott Boras, already has told general manager Ken Williams that they want to explore the market. With Josh Fields waiting...

Garret Anderson Enters Contract Year

One 2009 MLB free agent who's not getting a ton of attention yet is lifetime Angel Garret Anderson. The Angels are faced with a tough decision - $14MM for '09 or a $3MM buyout. So Tony Reagins will need to ask himself if he'd sign Anderson to a one-year, $11MM deal. PECOTA says he'll be worth less than $2MM in '09. Finally free of injuries, Anderson had a big second half in '07. This year, the Angels will wisely give him a break by rotating him through the DH spot on occasion. As Mike DiGiovanna writes in the above-linked article,...

K-Rod Loses Case

According to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez lost his arbitration case. He'll make $10MM rather than the $12.5MM he wanted. K-Rod might be looking for something like $50MM over four years when he reaches free agency after the season, which would be a record amount for a reliever. Angels owner Arte Moreno won't close the door on him, and notes that the Angels have tried a couple of times to sign their closer.

Odds and Ends: Roberts, Garcia, Crede

Today's assortment of links. Gary Sheffield is not fond of Scott Boras. Arte Moreno and the Angels aren't closing the door on K-Rod yet. Turns out Brian Roberts left camp because of a possible kidney stone. From Small Ball To The Long Ball has all kinds of cool data that I haven't seen elsewhere. For example, average initial pitch speed for pitchers. Dustin McGowan's fastball: 96.11mph. Tim Wakefield's: 75.62mph. Seems that Freddy Garcia might wait a few months before signing. Andrew Baggarly says the Giants consider Joe Crede a possible long-term piece even with his impending free agency. So maybe...

Where Will The Starters Go? AL West Edition

Sorry for the delay from the last edition of Where Will The Starters Go. Since then, we've seen two guys come off the market in Kris Benson and Odalis Perez, and another strongly speculated to sign: Shawn Chacon with the Astros. So here's what we've got left: Bartolo Colon, Josh Fogg, Freddy Garcia, Byung-Hyun Kim, Kyle Lohse, Rodrigo Lopez, Eric Milton, Tomo Ohka, Russ Ortiz, John Thomson, Jeff Weaver, David Wells Once again, I'm open to corrections on my pitching depth charts. I tried to cull as much information from blogs and sites like Baseball America as possible. Anaheim Angels:...

K-Rod Looking For Rivera Money?

On Saturday, we discussed the Francisco Rodriguez situation. He's been historically good for a closer his age, and his next contract could be record-breaking. That contract doesn't seem likely to come from the Angels. K-Rod has arrived in camp, and he admits that '08 is probably his last season with L.A. Mike DiGiovanna speaks of repeated rejected extension attempts by the Angels. After the '07 season, the Angels offered something near three years and $34MM. Rodriguez unsurprisingly turned this down, as it's $11MM short of the Mariano Rivera money he craves. GM Tony Reagins is thinking about a future that...

K-Rod May Leave Angels After '08

It's looking more and more like 2008 will be Francisco Rodriguez's last season with the Angels. His '08 contract situation is not said to be the reason he's late to camp. But the two sides are a solid $2.5MM apart and Rodriguez will try to become the first player to win a hearing this year on Thursday. Mike DiGiovanna thinks the hearing "could lead to animosity." Rodriguez recently turned 26. He has a career ERA of 2.37 in 383 innings, with 146 saves under his belt. That's the most saves in baseball history for a pitcher before his 26th birthday....

Miguel Cabrera Rumors

I think it's about time to dissect the Miguel Cabrera situation, don't you? The Angels, Dodgers, Giants, White Sox, and maybe the Rangers are battling to acquire him. Five days ago, the Angels were the frontrunners. It was even suggested a trade could be completed by Thanksgiving. But according to Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers now have the lead. It may require Matt Kemp, Andy LaRoche, and Clayton Kershaw. Now that's quality. Rosenthal has a source saying the Halos may counter with Ervin Santana, Howie Kendrick, Chris Bootcheck, and Nick Adenhart. It's thought that the Angels' acquisition of Jon Garland frees...

White Sox Trade Jon Garland For Orlando Cabrera

UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal reports that the White Sox received $1.5MM in the deal. It certainly seems that the Sox are clearing payroll for Torii Hunter. Mark Gonzales notes that while the Sox hope to sign Cabrera long-term, they'll still benefit from this trade if they don't. Cabrera is likely to be a Type A a year from now while Garland will probably be a B. According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, the White Sox acquired shortstop Orlando Cabrera for starter Jon Garland today. In a vacuum, this seems like a pretty even swap to me. Just comparing the...