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Archives for June 2007

Possible Milton Bradley Suitors

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Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle mentions several potential suitors for Milton Bradley in today’s column.  She names the Padres and Pirates as possibilities, citing connections to Paul DePodesta and Jim Tracy.  Additionally, Slusser quotes Billy Beane in saying that he worked on a Bradley trade within the past three weeks but it fell through.

The Pirates, as a noncontender, really don’t need to be picking up impending free agents.  There’s just no reason for it.  They need to give as much playing time to young players as possible.

The Padres, though, make a fine fit.  Bradley could help them in all three outfield spots, when healthy.  John Perrotto confirms interest from both teams. 

Meanwhile, the Mets will apparently pass because of Bradley’s baggage.  Bradley, though, had a relatively peaceful stay in Oakland. 

Random Links

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Some random thoughts and links…

  • Jacob Jackson has an absorbing article up over at The Hardball Times. Jackson tries to find the next Jack Cust in the minor leagues.  Cust is a fascinating story this year.
  • I don’t know how one gazes in awe at a radio show – but I will be appearing on Sportszilla Live this Sunday evening.
  • I agree with Fire Joe Morgan – come on.
  • Random thought: I love when a baseball TV broadcast accidentally picks up something a player says.  I just heard Jeff Kent curse at an umpire in Toronto.  By the way, why did I wait so long to sign up for MLB.TV?
  • Cool idea over at Baseball Prospectus – Will Carroll is soliciting for the best realistic trade offers from BP readers.

Latest From Gammons

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The man himself, Peter Gammons, had a blog posting on Saturday that I neglected to mention here.

  • Gammons mentions some suitors for Mark Buehrle: the Mets, Cardinals, and Mariners.  He draws the Jermaine Dye/Padres connection we have seen in the past.
  • Gammons believes the Astros will move one of Brad Lidge, Dan Wheeler, or Chad Qualls.  However, that was written before Lidge hit the DL for a strained oblique.  Houston would also love to move Morgan Ensberg, but that’s nothing new.
  • The Dodgers are looking for a corner infield slugger, but aren’t interested in Troy Glaus or Scott Rolen.  Adam Dunn isn’t in the Dodgers’ plans, either.  Dunn’s defensive limitations really seem to be hindering a deal.  If they are going to give up multiple young future stars, it’s going to take Mark Teixeira.  In other words, they’d go all-in. 
  • Bill Stoneman is "cautiously looking for a bat."  Cautious is the name of the game with Stoneman.  It’s a seller’s market for power hitters.  Imagine what the Marlins could get for Miguel Cabrera. 

Stark’s Latest

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark has his latest Rumblings and Grumblings column up, and it’s chock full o’ rumors.

  • Stark speaks to one NL exec who thinks any Barry Bonds trade rumor is hogwash.  That source believes that there would be no market for him.  Personally, I don’t buy it.  There would only be $8MM or so left on the deal, and as a two-month DH Bonds could make a huge impact on a contender.  And he did indicate he’d waive his no-trade clause.
  • Word is that the Mets wouldn’t trade Lastings Milledge for an impending free agent – Mark Buehrle included.  Milledge could go in a Dontrelle Willis deal though.
  • The Braves are seen as a more likely suitor for Buehrle, once he’s truly made available in a week or two.  Atlanta won’t settle for a Mike Maroth type.  What would the Braves give up for Buehrle?  Kenny Williams should pry away Jarrod Saltalamacchia if he can.  Otherwise a package involving Brent Lillibridge or Brandon Jones would make sense.
  • Meanwhile, the market on Jermaine Dye seems tepid.  It would help if he was healthy and hitting.  Ah, alliteration.
  • Stark debunks the popular Ken Griffey Jr. to Atlanta rumor.  He says the Braves aren’t looking for big contract commitments and are more focused on pitching than offense.  Rightfully so.
  • The Yankees have added Scott Hatteberg to their list of first base targets.  As if they needed more OBP. 

A’s Designate Bradley For Assignment

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In a surprising move, the Athletics designated Milton Bradley for assignment today.  The A’s will have to trade Bradley and his $4MM contract within ten days or just release him and eat the cost.  Around $2.2MM remains.  He’ll become a free agent after the season. 

Bradley is one of the most fragile players in all of baseball, the Kerry Wood of position players.  He spent 2006-07 as an Athletic, hitting .279/.371/.447 in 416 ABs.  Bradley remains a very useful center fielder when he’s able to play, so a number of teams should pursue him.  At least at this moment, he is relatively healthy.  The Marlins and Cardinals could have interest.

Athletics Nation isn’t sure why Billy Beane made this decision, but trusts his judgment.

Marlins Still Like Elijah Dukes

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The Marlins have flirted with the idea of acquiring Elijah Dukes for center field for at least a few months.  Back in March, Jayson Stark mentioned the idea.  At that point, Peter Gammons felt that the Fish would not trade young pitching to get their center fielder.

Now they may be able to get Dukes for next to nothing.  The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the Marlins have Dukes on the radar if they can get him for little.  Any breathing reliever might do the trick.  If the Marlins think, for some reason, that they can alleviate Dukes’ off-the-field issues, it could be a fantastic example of buying low.

By the way, one source tells me that the Nationals are definitely not interested in Dukes.

A less exciting but safe option for Florida would be Brady Clark, who recently became a free agent.  The Marlins have some interest.

Rangers Interested In Jacque Jones

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This is unexpected.  Apparently the Texas Rangers have discussed a for right fielder Jacque Jones with the Cubs.

Jones makes $4MM this year and $5MM in ’08, so at first glance it’s perplexing that a team like Texas would want him.  There are two scenarios I can see.  Maybe the Rangers are working on a larger deal and Jones helps fill some other club’s need.  Or, maybe the Rangers like Jones at $5MM for 2008 and think he could be a useful part of next year’s club.  Regardless, I don’t expect Jim Hendry to get much in return for Jones.  Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times mentions that the Cubs are in talks with several other teams about Jones as well.

Wittenmyer also mentions that the Cubs would like to acquire a middle-of-the-order left-handed hitter.  He specifically names Ken Griffey Jr., who surfaced in a rumor a few days ago.  Wittenmyer mentions that Griffey is owed $6.5MM in 2007 and 2008 with a team option for 2009.  That’s not exactly true, as Griffey actually makes $12.5MM but with a lot deferred.  According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, that makes the present day value of the contract something like $9-10MM.  And don’t forget the $4MM buyout for ’09 and possible compensation for waiving the no-trade clause.  According to Wittenmeyer, Griffey has told friends he’d welcome a move to Chicago. 

On my first draft of this post, I had a hard time identifying other lefty sluggers the Cubs could acquire.  Somehow I missed the obvious one, which is Adam Dunn.  Such an acquisition would require creativity, such as moving Alfonso Soriano to right field.  But Dunn is definitely someone the Cubs should consider if in need of a lefty slugger.

More Info On Gagne’s Veto List

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As you know, Eric Gagne’s contract allows for him to be traded to 12 teams without his consent.  Earlier we learned that the Tigers, Indians, and Phillies are not among the 12 allowable teams.

Today, Ken Rosenthal verified the above info and added that the Yankees, Mets, and Angels are on the allowable list.  The remaining nine he can be traded to without consent are thought to be inconsequential.  And the Angels aren’t going to worry about Gagne. 

The Mets have been looking for bullpen help for at least a few weeks now.  Gagne has been on the radar, among others.  Rosenthal believes Omar Minaya’s focus is instead on players like Mark Buehrle, Jeff Conine, and Mark Sweeney.  It’s interesting to note that (by my count) Minaya has yet to make a trade this year.  By this time in previous years he’d made five or six.  (Coming soon: Minaya trade profile).

The Yankees have been scouting the Rangers for a while.  They could be looking at Gagne, or Akinori Otsuka.  Mark Teixeira hasn’t been active.  I suppose Joaquin Benoit or Brad Wilkerson could be on the radar as well.

Braves/Tigers Reliever Swap

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The Braves and Tigers swapped relievers today, with the Braves sending Macay McBride over to Detroit for Wilfredo Ledezma.

McBride, a 24 year-old left-handed reliever, has experienced control problems for most of his Braves’ career.  The Braves drafted the little lefty 24th overall in 2001, and he was converted to relief in ’04.  He did have a solid second half year, crediting a change in his delivery.  His control was again terrible in April of this year but he seems to have corrected that.

Ledezma, 26, is also a southpaw.  He was a Rule V pick out of the Boston system, which caused him to jump from A ball to the Majors.  It’s been an odd development path for him.  A sore elbow surfaced in ’05, but he’s been OK since. Ledezma can be used as a starter if necessary; he’s got a good curveball.

Should White Sox Break Their Rules For Buehrle?

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The White Sox have a rule: no contracts exceeding three years for pitchers.  This is because they signed Jaime Navarro for four years before the 1997 season and Navarro was terrible.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune urges Jerry Reinsdorf to break the rules and give Mark Buehrle a five-year deal.  Rogers feels that Buehrle compares to Billy Pierce and Tom Glavine, southpaws who remained successful for their age 29-33 seasons.  Baseball Prospectus equates Buehrle with Jim Kaat, who was also better than average at that age.  Even #2 comp Jerry Reuss would’ve been a strong buy for his age 29-33 seasons.

Rogers thinks the Sox should offer five years and $75MM, publicly.  If Buehrle chooses the free market over that, the team at least made a legitimate, reasonable offer.  Even better would be to pull off a four-year agreement.  One problem is that Buehrle is riding high on a .264 BABIP, and it’s giving him an artificially low ERA.  Regardless, the Sox do not seem likely to pony up that kind of cash for Buehrle.  While signing him truly could work out, it’s quite possible Kenny Williams could better allocate that money and fill his spot internally.

There was chatter involving both 1993 expansion teams and Buehrle this morning.  Buster Olney quotes a rival GM pondering whether the Marlins could make a surprising play for him.  Right now GM Larry Beinfest still thinks his club is a contender.  Meanwhile, Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post urges the Rockies to acquire Buehrle as part of a playoff push.  It would definitely be an unexpected move, but the Rockies are two games over .500 and only 5.5 out.

A final note on the White Sox: Mark Gonzales reports that scouts from the Dodgers, Mets, Phillies, Orioles, and Devil Rays were in attendance at the White Sox-Marlins game last night.  Those scouts could’ve been looking at a number of Sox players.  Or perhaps Marlins starter Dontrelle Willis.

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