Rocco Baldelli Rumors

Jayson Stark's Latest: Rays

Jayson Stark touches on a few rumors circling around the Tampa Bay Rays... The Rays and the Phillies both made multiplayer offers to the Indians for Casey Blake, but neither was willing to offer a top prospect and a second prospect close to the big leagues. With Blake and Xavier Nady both traded, the Rays are leaning towards eventually filling their need for a right-handed outfielder with Rocco Baldelli who played in the outfield this week on a rehab assignment. It was his first outfield action since May of '07 and will play 5 more innings today. After discussing Mark...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Trade Deadline

Some random links as we head toward the trade deadline, from the Blogosphere... One writer at Bugs and Cranks thinks that the Rockies should not lower their demand for Brian Fuentes and feels that the Cardinals are the most likely team to land the closer. UmpBump wants the Rockies to keep Matt Holliday and would prefer moving Garrett Atkins, allowing Ian Stewart to play third. Meanwhile, another writer at Bugs and Cranks wants the Cardinals to pass on Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, but think St. Louis should go after George Sherrill and/or Fuentes. Outs Per Swing does not feel...   Continue Reading

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Sherman's Latest: Bay, Nady, Holliday, Fuentes, Blake

The New York Post's Joel Sherman is working hard today, filing blog posts here and here. Multiple teams are in the hunt for a right-handed hitting outfielder: the Mets, Rays, and maybe the Yankees. The Pirates are asking for too much for Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, while the Rockies are waiting to see what Bay costs so they can ask for more for Matt Holliday. The Rays' might find their solution internally, with Rocco Baldelli. Holliday as a replacement for Manny Ramirez this winter? Right now it's just a couple of execs speculating to Sherman. The Rockies want either...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Baldelli, Rincon, Clemens

The Tampa Tribune is reporting that Rays OF Rocco Baldelli (60-day DL, mitochondrial disorder) is close to joining a minor-league team for a 20-day rehabilitation assignment. Baldelli thinks he can return to the Rays this season, but he has yet to hold any workouts in the outfield and hinted he could return as a DH. "Obviously, I'd like to be playing the field," Baldelli said. "But realistically, I'm trying not to look too far ahead." Juan Rincon has declined the Twins' offer of an assignment to Class AAA Rochester, and the team formally designated him for assignment. In all likelihood,...   Continue Reading

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Rays To Stay Flexible

Some Rays notes to report on from Marc Lancaster: A quote from Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg: "We have room to cut payroll, we have room to grow payroll. We'll be opportunistic. I know you guys have heard it, but we're never going to take our eye off of that. If somebody happens to want a high-priced talent of ours and we can get low-priced talent, great. And if they want a low-priced talent and we get high-priced talent that we think is very additive, that's fine, too." According to Lancaster, just because the Rays didn't pick up Rocco Baldelli's option...   Continue Reading

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Rays Notes: Crawford, Baldelli, Wheeler

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has the latest on the Rays' moves today. The first two were expected. Carl Crawford's $8.25MM option for '09 was exercised. The Rays still have a $10MM club option for '10 that is highly likely to be exercised. After that, it's anyone's guess. The Rays chose Rocco Baldelli's $4MM buyout over his $6MM option. It's a sad situation but it had to be done. Dan Wheeler was signed to an extension. His '08 contract was replaced; the new three-year deal runs through 2010 and is worth $10.5MM. He would've been a free agent...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Dan Johnson, Baldelli, Soria

Let's round up some linkage. Last Thursday I appeared on WVOX 1460 out of New York with Russell Mafes. You can download the file here (it's about 12 mb and 16 minutes long). Jim Hendry is very candid about the Cubs' desire to add a right-handed hitting outfielder who can handle center. Mike Sweeney's success and good health could mean Dan Johnson is on his way out of Oakland. Jim Salisbury says the Phillies might have taken Rocco Baldelli 15th in the 2000 draft instead of Chase Utley, if they'd had the chance. Would the Mets or Dodgers have taken...   Continue Reading

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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...   Continue Reading

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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...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Loretta, German, Belliard, Baldelli

An update to the Ken Rosenthal article discussed earlier suggests that either Esteban German or Ron Belliard would be better, cheaper alternatives for the Dodgers than Joe Crede or Brandon Inge. It would take less to get Belliard or German, they're paid less, and either of them could back up Jeff Kent, 40, at second base in addition to playing third. Both players are "attracting the Dodgers' interest" according to Rosenthal. The Baltimore Sun is now reporting that the Orioles have an interest in Mark Loretta. Hopefully this is a sign that the Brian Roberts-to-Chicago saga will soon mercifully come...   Continue Reading

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Baldelli's Hamstrings May Open Door For Lofton

With Rocco Baldelli appearing only twice in spring games this year, the Rays may consider reviving talks with free agent outfielder Kenny Lofton. Tampa Bay's right field and fourth outfielder depth is light enough that they've begun to look at infielders Joel Guzman and Ben Zobrist at left and right field, respectively. Ray's manager Joe Maddon won't even guess when Baldelli will return to full-time play. Baldelli is nursing sore hamstrings this spring. He's expected to play right field, if he can run, and will split time with Cliff Floyd and Jonny Gomes at DH. Given Floyd's fragility, the Rays...   Continue Reading

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Decision Time On Baldelli

Back on December 23rd, I asked Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times what kind of trade value Rocco Baldelli had. Of course, Topkin told me his trade value was miniscule. Topkin also said: An interesting sidenote is that the Rays have to decide by April 1 on his 2009 option, picking between a $4MM buyout or a $6MM salary AND then being on the hook for his combined 2010-11 option or a $2MM buyout. Quite a pickle, and I think the fact that this decision must be made in three weeks was lost in the shuffle. MLBTR contributor Cork...   Continue Reading

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Topkin On Rocco Baldelli

I recently named the St. Petersburg Times' Marc Topkin as Rumor Royalty for the Rays. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for the site. MLBTR: Do you expect Rocco Baldelli to be with the Rays on Opening Day? What kind of trade value does he have right now? Topkin: I definitely expect him to be there, as much because the Rays need him badly the way the team is presently constructed as because his trade value is so low because of his lack of playing time due to a series of injuries. I can't imagine the Rays...   Continue Reading

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Braves Trying To Get Rocco Baldelli

As you may know by now, John Schuerholz is working on a trade for Devil Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli would play left field for the '07 Braves, and then could shift back to center in 2008. David O'Brien of the AJC cautions that the Braves are just one of several teams (White Sox, Orioles) going after Baldelli. The general structure of the deal is thought to be catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop Yunel Escobar, and a starting pitcher. The Rays want that pitcher to be Chuck James, but the Braves might only be open to Kyle Davies. Saltalamacchia turns 22..   Continue Reading

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