Latest On Eric Gagne: Brewers Jump In, Red Sox Leading

Deadline day!  I’ll be with you nonstop until the trading is done.  Eric Gagne is the big name to watch, unless things heat up with Adam Dunn and Jermaine Dye.

• UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal mentioned in his recent column that the Brewers are one of the 12 teams that can acquire Gagne without his permission.  So to review:  the Yankees, Mets, Angels, Brewers, and eight other unknown teams can acquire Gagne without his permission.  He’d need to consent to trades to the Tigers, Indians, Phillies, Red Sox, and 13 other unknown clubs.
• UPDATE: Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe is hearing that the Rangers may prefer to hold onto Gagne and try to sign him to an extension.
• Brewers GM Doug Melvin called up Jon Daniels to see what it would take to add Eric Gagne to his bullpen.  We don’t know whether Gagne must consent to a trade to Milwaukee, but I’d guess he does have veto power with them.  Francisco Cordero leads all of baseball in saves, so would Gagne set up for him?  Melvin would have to pay up both in prospects and salary.  The Brewers have some pretty good chips like Manny Parra, Carlos Villanueva, and even Rickie Weeks (could he move to center field?)  Tom Haudricourt says the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox are also in on Gagne.
• SI.com’s Jon Heyman pegs the latter three as the suitors, with Boston in the lead even though Gagne would need to approve a trade there.  The Red Sox will try to find a deal that doesn’t involve Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester.   The Yankees won’t give up Joba or Hughes for Gagne, but maybe they’ll crack on Ian Kennedy.  The Mets won’t trade Carlos Gomez for him. 
• The Boston Herald says the Red Sox made a substantial offer for Gagne, which certainly did not include Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, or Justin Masterson.  Jeff Horrigan talked to one GM who said Boston’s offer was the best.
• The New York Daily News has the Cubs in on Gagne as well.  Mark Feinsand says the Yankees turned down a weekend proposal from the Rangers that included Alan Horne for Gagne.  Feinsand says Kennedy is not up for discussion but guys like Tyler Clippard, Matt DeSalvo, Jeff Marquez, Chase Wright, and Scott Proctor are available.  The Yankees have their eye on Al Reyes as a backup plan but the Rays don’t want to trade him within the division.  Feinsand believes the Red Sox would do David Murphy and Kason Gabbard for Gagne.  Of course they would.
• The New York Post talked to a scout who believes there’s a 75% chance Gagne is dealt today.  The Indians and Tigers appear to be out of the mix.  Scott Boras remarked yesterday that Gagne only wants to go where he can close.  But it’s not entirely up to Gagne now is it, Scott? 
• Newsday confirms the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Brewers as the finalists for Gagne.  Kat O’Brien adds Dan Wheeler as another name the Yanks will consider if they don’t get Gagne.  The Yanks could relent and give up Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner to get Gagne.