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Archives for July 2007

Mariners Considering Kei Igawa, Al Reyes, Jason Jennings?

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Apparently the Mariners have some interest in twice-demoted Yankees starter Kei Igawa, according to an uncited TV report.  The report pleased Ichiro Suzuki and Kenji Johjima.

Igawa is locked up through 2011, which may or may not be a positive.  He earns another $1.5MM this year plus $4MM annually through the end of the contract.  The posting fee situation ensures that Igawa’s salary is  really cheap, the price a team might pay for a semi-utility guy like Mark DeRosa.  If Igawa can be league average in the comfy confines of Safeco, he’s a bargain.  More likely he’d have value to an NL team. 

The Mariners were in on Igawa this offseason, along with the Padres, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Braves, Mets, Cubs, Tigers, and Indians.  Igawa was said to prefer playing on the West Coast.  The 28 year-old had a decent strikeout rate but has otherwise been rocked in 62 innings as a Yankee.

Meanwhile Dan Graziano says the Mariners are entertaining practically every available starter.  He says they’re "hot on the trail" of Jason Jennings.  I still think Jennings stays put.

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has a few new names for us: the Mariners have "serious interest" in reliever Al Reyes and may go for Edwin Jackson as well.

Yankees Focused On Gagne, Wheeler, Qualls

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It seems highly likely that the Yankees will make a move to upgrade their bullpen before the Tuesday trade deadline.  They appear to have three main targets.

Kat O’Brien of Newsday says the Yanks have had serious discussions with Texas regarding Eric Gagne.  Though Gagne wants to close, remember that he can be traded to New York without his consent.  A Rivera-Gagne combo would essentially turn every game into seven innings.  O’Brien names righthanders Ian Kennedy and Jeff Marquez as two pitchers the Rangers might be after.  Kennedy is definitely more highly regarded.  The Rangers also like Melky Cabrera but the Yankees are resisting.

Meanwhile, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News tells us that the Yankees have "narrowed their sights" to Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls of the Astros.  The Astros control Wheeler through 2009 and Qualls through 2010, so the asking price will be significant.  Jayson Stark says Houston is looking for a young MLB-ready position player; Cabrera seems to fit the bill.

Another Yankee-related note from O’Brien’s article – the Yankees are not pursuing Ty Wigginton anymore.  Other writers do not agree.  Dan Graziano indicates that Wiggy is still in play and the Yankees might try get Al Reyes added to the deal as well.  Peter Abraham talked to an AL exec who expects the Yanks to get Wigginton.  Graziano adds that the Yankees have had recent discussions about Octavio Dotel and Jon Rauch.

Angels Out On Teixeira?

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According to Mike DiGiovanna and Ben Bolch of the L.A. Times, the Angels are done trying to acquire Mark Teixeira.  Casey Kotchman and Joe Saunders were agreed upon.  The Angels wanted the Rangers to settle on Terry Evans or Nathan Haynes as the third player.  The Rangers, however, wanted one of Brandon Wood, Nick Adenhart, Howie Kendrick, and Ervin Santana.

Perhaps there is some middle ground, like a Hank Conger, Sean Rodriguez, or Erick Aybar?  The L.A. Times says the door is not completely closed on Teixeira but the Angels won’t relent to Jon Daniels’ list.

Meanwhile, the L.A. Daily News sings a different tune.  Doug Padilla suggests an offer of Kotchman, Adenhart, and Reggie Willits.  He does not believe the talks to be dead.

Jermaine Dye or Mike Piazza look like the logical alternatives for the Angels.  Buster Olney believes Piazza to be a fine idea, and I agree.  Interestingly, the Angels kicked the tires of Miguel Cabrera but were rebuffed.

Teixeira may now be left to the Braves, Dodgers, and Red Sox.  I still expect a deal to be made.  The sticking point for an Atlanta appears to be John Schuerholz’s demand to get a solid reliever back with Teixeira if he is to include Elvis Andrus.

Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Dotel

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Jayson Stark has updated his big ol’ rumor post over at ESPN.com.  Some highlights:

  • Stark believes Mark Teixeira to the Braves or Angels is "almost certainly going to happen."  The Angels’ willingness to offer Joe Saunders instead of Ervin Santana is seen as a big plus.  Meanwhile the Braves want the Rangers to tack C.J. Wilson onto their trade but Texas is resisting.  Stark’s update counteracts Will Carroll’s latest; Will recently wrote: "It’s looking more and more like Mark Teixeira is going to stay a Ranger."  You decide.
  • Toss a few more scenarios into the Octavio Dotel mix:  to the Red Sox for David Murphy, or to the Mariners for Wladimir Balentien.  Big difference there.
  • Stark calls Mark Loretta a "very big name to watch."  Hmmm, maybe this trade deadline is lamer than I realized.
  • OK, the market is now open on Houston’s relievers. 
  • The Marlins would be happy to trade Armando Benitez or Byung-Hyun Kim.  Both would need to shake off major control problems to be of any use.
  • Stark says to forget about trades of Daniel Cabrera, Joe Blanton, Richie Sexson, Livan Hernandez, Dontrelle Willis, Todd Helton, Aaron Rowand, and Noah Lowry.  C’mon now, that’s no fun.  Something tells me the rumors on some of this group won’t disappear, so it’s all good.

Devil Rays Swap Seth McClung For Grant Balfour

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Drays Bay broke the story tonight: the Devil Rays sent Seth McClung to Milwaukee for Grant Balfour.  A change of scenery isn’t a bad idea for either player.

McClung gets a lot of attention for his ability to light up the radar gun.  The Devil Rays were wishcasting him as their closer as recently as last year.  The problem for a while now has been his ridiculously bad control.  He’s 26 now.  Let’s see what Mike Maddux can do with him.  Or at least what Stan Kyles can do with him. 

Balfour has spent a ton of time under the knife; I covered his travails in this post.  He’s 29 presently.  Given the Devil Rays’ bullpen, he could be closing by year’s end (said with tongue only half in cheek). 

Basically, a live arm was swapped for another live arm.  We’ll see if anything comes of it.   

Padres Acquire Hillenbrand

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Even a rumormonger has to step away from the computer for a few hours, right?  As you may have heard, the Padres signed beloved 32 year-old DH Shea Hillenbrand to a minor league contract.  He’ll go to Portland and try to prove that his ship has not fully sunk.

I’ve been praising Kevin Towers a lot here but this move probably won’t amount to much.  In the best case, Hillenbrand can fill in a little bit at first and third base, and as a pinch-hitter.  Aside from this year, he’s hit lefties well.  That’s also Kevin Kouzmanoff’s best trait, though, and Adrian Gonzalez doesn’t bear an massive split.  This didn’t cost the Padres anything, but the effect should be next to nothing.

Padres Trade For Scott Hairston

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In a nice little move, the Padres sent 26 year-old Triple A reliever Leo Rosales to the Diamondbacks for 27 year-old outfielder Scott Hairston.

I’ve always wanted to see what Hairston could do with a healthy 500 ABs, but he’s run into bad luck at the worst times.  He was once very highly regarded; you can read a post I wrote on his history here.  Hairston’s only played outfield this year, but he broke in as a second baseman so he might be able to fill in for Marcus Giles if the Padres can put up with subpar defense.  Otherwise he can help out at either outfield corner, especially against lefties.  Hairston has proven himself time and again in Triple A; I think he can succeed at the big league level.  He’s also under control for quite some time in the event that he does hit for the Padres.

This looks like another smooth move by Kevin Towers – he bought low on Hairston and didn’t give up much.

Unconfirmed Rumor: Cubs Looking At Griffey, Dunn

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UPDATE: Will Carroll chimed in on the idea of Dunn to the Cubs in a recent update.  He cited the intra-division and salary factors as reasons it won’t happen.

Didn’t hear the report myself, but a loyal reader dropped me an email.

Apparently a recent Bruce Levine report for ESPN Radio 1000 had some interesting Cubs rumors.  Levine says the Cubs might try to trade for Adam Dunn or Ken Griffey Jr.  Any deal would likely include Sean Gallagher, and the Cubs called up Matt Murton today to showcase him.

This rumor leaves more questions than answers:

  • Would the Cubs again move their superstar signing Alfonso Soriano to center or right field to create a spot for Dunn?
  • If not, how ugly would Dunn be in right field at Wrigley?  He hasn’t played the position regularly since 2001.
  • With the management situation in flux, could the Cubs really take on Griffey’s contract, which runs through 2008?  Or even the $3.8MM still owed to Dunn this year?
  • Are Arby’s new popcorn chicken shakers as tasty as they look on TV?
  • Would Gallagher and Murton be enough for either of those players?

Phillies Acquire Tadahito Iguchi

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According to WSCR 670 out of Chicago, the Phillies have acquired second baseman Tadahito Iguchi from the White Sox for 21 year-old Low A ball reliever Mike Dubee.  Dubee, son of Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, was originally drafted by the White Sox in 2004 but did not sign.  Here’s the press release for the trade, if you’re interested.

You really can’t fault the Phils for making the move; they had to bring someone in to man second base.  They didn’t give up much in Dubee, and they could snag some draft picks for Iguchi after the season.  [Correction: Sounds like the Phils won’t get draft picks for him.  I suppose if that was possible the Sox would’ve just kept him.]

The move leaves Mark Loretta, Mark Grudzielanek, Jose Castillo, Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham, Ty Wigginton, and maybe Luis Castillo as the available second baseman if the Padres or Mets are interested.  Plenty of options, really.

Pirates Trade Rumors

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Time for a Pirates roundup.  They deserve some love here at MLBTradeRumors.

  • Dejan Kovacevic reports that Salomon Torres’s grievance against the Pirates may prevent the team from trading him.  On the off chance he wins the grievance, he would become a free agent and the acquiring team would be screwed.  While that scenario is unlikely, it does look like this thing needs to be resolved before any deal is made.  I imagine that if some team wanted him badly all the involved parties could figure something out.
  • The Bucs owe Shawn Chacon a phone call on whether they’re open to negotiating a contract extension with him.  Their lack of action speaks volumes; even Dave Littlefield isn’t going to sign Chacon for multiple years at $4MM+ per.  Chacon has managed to subdue righties this year and increase his strikeout rate significantly.  He’s still got lousy control though.  He’s a trade candidate but shouldn’t bring much.
  • On the other hand, Damaso Marte is known to be available.  He’d be helpful as a lefty-killer.  For Marte, Chacon, or Torres, the Pirates want a Major Leaguer of some sort (according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman).  Bowman says the Braves would get in on Marte if Littlefield would drop the price. 

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