Would Buehrle Play For Cubs?
Every year, writers try to help ignite the Cubs-White Sox rivalry prior to the interleague series. Back in ’05, Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle was asked if he’d ever sign with the Cubs:
"It depends. It’s one of those things that if no team in baseball wants me and they do, I’ll go over there and sign. But I have my places that in the back of my mind — I’m not saying Wrigley — there are a couple of cities that if I was a free agent and they offered me, I wouldn’t go there. Even if it came down to however much money, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable going to those places to play."
He didn’t exactly seem open to donning a Cub uniform at that point. It’s interesting to note that the article indicates that Buehrle might avoid New York, regardless of money.
Has anything changed, two years later? Not really, but it seems that Buehrle leaves the door open an extra crack now that he may actually depart the White Sox:
"Anything’s possible. Put it that way. I never say never because I said I’d never throw a no-hitter and that happened. Anything’s possible. I’m not a big fan of going over to that place. It would be different. Just with the whole Cubs-Sox rivalry, it’s just so hectic getting over there, tickets and all that stuff."
Still looks like a long shot for Buehrle to become the Cubs’ third southpaw in ’08. Interestingly, it could become four if Donald Veal comes along. Realistically, his hometown Cardinals remain the favorite for Buehrle. If he wants to stay in the midwest, maybe the Reds would become an option.
Stark’s Latest
Jayson Stark posted a new Rumblings and Grumblings column over at ESPN; it’s definitely worth a read. A summary of his trade rumors:
- GMs calling the Marlins have noticed that the team seems a little more open to trading Dontrelle Willis this year. Miguel Cabrera doesn’t appear to be under discussion. If the Marlins are out of the race in mid-July and a team ponies up with three legimate young regulars, they might be able to pry him away. The D’Backs or Dodgers could probably pull this off without damaging their current group too much.
- Stark says the D-Rays are considering promoting both Evan Longoria and Reid Brignac before the trading deadline, filling out the left side of their infield. Someone would have to be pushed out; maybe B.J. Upton to center, Akinori Iwamura to second, and Rocco Baldelli to another team. Stark reminds us of past interest by the Red Sox. And don’t forget all the interest from Atlanta in December.
- The Rich Harden trade rumors may just reflect frustration on Billy Beane’s part, and not actual availability.
- Stark also debates whether the Rangers would still be on the hook for $21MM if Alex Rodriguez opts out and then the Yankees re-sign him. Right now it’s an open question.
Pressure On Mets To Trade Milledge
In general, it seems the New York media would like to see Lastings Milledge pushed out of town. They don’t like his cocky attitude and can’t comprehend his rap music. He’s not seen as a humble team player.
Far more important, though, is that the 22 year-old still looks like he will be a very valuable center fielder. I keep going back to this post from Nate Silver in January. Milledge remains underrated, and his mild transgressions plus this year’s foot injury may only further improve the opportunity to buy low. So he has too much swagger and said some standard stuff in a rap song? To me those are really weak reasons to trade a top prospect for fifty or seventy-five cents on the dollar.
Percival Comeback?
According to Ken Rosenthal, former Angels and Tigers closer Troy Percival may make a comeback attempt. Percival’s agent says the chances are 50/50, and that he was clocked at 97 recently. As Rosenthal says, someone will give him a shot if he does come back. Percival will likely decide today, and he’ll call the Angels first.
Percival turns 38 in August. He received an ill-advised two-year, $12MM deal from Detroit prior to the 2005 season, and ended up pitching 25 innings over the life of the contract.
I want to somehow work in Percival’s hilarious exchange with Sam Walker and his associate in the book Fantasyland, but it’s unprintable. Check it out though.
USA Today Interviews Ichiro
Jon Saraceno of USA Today was granted an extensive interview with the Mariners’ Ichiro Suzuki, through an interpreter. While Ichiro doesn’t say anything groundbreaking regarding his future after the 2007 season, a few quotes have negative connotations for Seattle. For example:
The Mariners say they want to extend his deal and have him retire in a Seattle uniform. Asked if he prefers to stay, Ichiro demurs: "It’s a very touchy subject right now, so I’d prefer not to answer."
It doesn’t sound like Ichiro is going to grant the Mariners a discount, either:
"How much a team would offer a player is an expression of how much the team cares — respects — him," Ichiro says. "It’s very important. How important? Hard to say."
He did have one particularly odd thing to say about his future, though. Ichiro wants to become a pitcher when he’s 40 and is "kind of serious about it." Still seems like a joke, but it would just be cool to see him switch to the mound. Or play center field most of the time and pitch on occasion. We need more guys like that, and to see a superstar do it would be incredible. The article says Ichiro might play until he’s 45.
Back in February, Ichiro’s agent publicly discussed the possibility that trading him might make the most sense this summer. Feel free to speculate wildly on that one.
Mets Acquire Second Baseman
According to Anthony DiComo at MLB.com, the Mets have acquired 27-year old minor league infielder Jake Gautreau from the Cleveland Indians for a PTBNL or cash.
Nothing very exciting here; it seems the Mets needed to fill out a middle-infield spot at AAA. Gautreau was the 14th pick overall in the 2001 Amateur Draft, a highly touted third baseman out of Tulane. In his minor league career, Gautreau has shown a dissapointing lack of patience; still, he has some power and would be passable as a major league second basemen.
However, the Mets already have two near-replacement-level players in Damion Easley and Ruben Gotay. I don’t think they have to worry about Gautreau nipping at their heels.
John Peterson writes for the baseball blog Blastings! Thrilledge.
Yanks Interested In Jose Molina
The Yankees, not thrilled with Wil Nieves as Jorge Posada’s backup, have expressed interest to the Angels in Jose Molina.
Molina turns 32 in June; he’s caught 348 big league games to date. He was a Cubs farmhand until he release in 2000. To part with him, the Angels would have to have full confidence in the tandem of Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis. Napoli’s hitting like a backup this year, while the 24 year-old Mathis is at .256/.296/.360 in Triple A. So, seems doubtful that Molina is going anywhere.
RotoAuthority On Litsch, Bergmann
A couple of lesser knowns have had phenomenal starts recently, and fantasy leaguers are wondering whether they’re for real. RotoAuthority has the details and recommendations on Jesse Litsch of the Blue Jays and Jason Bergmann of the Nationals.
Rosenthal On Slugger Market
Yesterday’s Ken Rosenthal article does a great job breaking down the market for sluggers this summer. As usual there are some big names for the taking, and as usual many of them come with hefty salaries or other flaws like injury history or Scott Boras.
A couple of AL West teams, the A’s and Angels, have been particularly powerless this year (both slugging less than .395). The Twins and White Sox could use some pop too. Over on the NL side, the Cardinals, Dodgers, Padres, and D’Backs could look to add a power bat. One of the three NL West teams mentioned could pull away with a major addition.
The most intriguing name in Rosenthal’s article is Sammy Sosa. He is having a respectable resurgence so far at .268/.331/.512. While it would be fun to see him back in the NL, his right field defense could prohibit it. But come on – how funny would it be to see Sosa don Cardinal red? Another interesting subplot thrown out by Rosenthal would be Ken Griffey Jr. back to Seattle, something that seems to come up every year if Junior is healthy.
Scott Rolen Dodgers Trade Rumor
Looking for a trade rumor, and don’t care whether it’s been confirmed in any way? We got you covered. A couple of Cards fans have emailed me this thread from Bernie’s Pressbox. St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz throws this scenario out for debate:
Wilson Betemit and one of Matt Kemp/Andre Ethier for Scott Rolen.
Now, according to Bernie, there’s nothing concrete and he’s just talking. Still, it’s interesting to ponder. Factors to consider:
- Rolen is owed $12MM annually through 2010.
- He’d have to be convinced to waive his full no-trade clause. Although maybe he wouldn’t mind playing under a different manager.
- Rolen is off to a horrible offensive start; he’s on a popup binge. He hasn’t hit lefties since his shoulder surgery, and his surgically repaired shoulder bothered him late last season. You would expect a team to want him to show some signs of life and health before taking his contract through 2010.
- Andy LaRoche is L.A.’s third baseman of the future. Then again, they signed Nomar Garciaparra to block James Loney.
Now, there’s certainly still a chance Rolen will bounce back. He was mashing as recently as August of ’06. But would the Dodgers bank one of their best prospects on it? I really don’t think so, which is why Kemp seems highly unlikely. On the other hand, Betemit and Ethier for Rolen seems fair. That doesn’t exactly resolve the Cards’ offensive woes, but they’d get a ton of salary relief and some cheap players.