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Archives for July 2007

Contract Extension For Dmitri Young?

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Dmitri Young learned of teammate Ron Belliard’s two-year contract extension, and now is talking about staying in Washington himself.  He’s cautious to add that there’s a ceiling on what kind of discount he will provide.

What would Young want?  It would have to be two years, already a questionable idea for Washington.  I’m guessing maybe he’d want $8-10MM?  Just doesn’t make sense for the Nats, no matter how good Young thinks he is in the clubhouse.  He’s not a reliable player; he’s a DH nobody wanted who happens to be on a hot streak. 

Even if it’s just a B-level prospect, it’s hard to see why Jim Bowden would not trade Young in the next week.

Teixeira Talk Heating Up

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UPDATE: Jon Heyman of SI.com has a nice rundown of the Teixeira suitors.  His sources seem to indicate that the chances of a trade are now better than Rosenthal’s 50/50.  Good point raised by Heyman and many commenters – even if the Braves wanted to trade Escobar, the Rangers don’t really have a need for a middle infielder.

UPDATE 2: Jim Molony of MLB.com says the Red Sox are the frontrunner.  The Rangers have scouted all of their major pitching prospects.

Ken Rosenthal has the latest on Mark Teixeira, who is now 50/50 to be dealt according to one source of his.

Rosenthal describes the scene as the Braves and Angels at the forefront, with the Yankees, Red Sox, and Giants lingering.  Evan Grant adds the Dodgers to the mix.  He also suggests the Rangers package Joaquin Benoit with Teixeira to get the best possible player.  Interestingly, the Yanks might be after Adam Dunn as another first base option.  They may have to focus on Dunn, because Jon Daniels is demanding Joba Chamberlain for Teixeira.

The Braves were really trying to shake things up; they would’ve done the Jon Garland for Edgar Renteria deal in tandem with a Teixeira acquisition.  The Garland proposal has been rejected, but Teixeira is very much alive.  Rosenthal describes the Braves as unwilling to trade Yunel Escobar and reluctant to trade Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  In my opinion, Salty is the more valuable player.  To me, Escobar for Teixeira is the right move.

I recently talked to ESPN’s Keith Law about Escobar.  He told me the glove is there to play shortstop, but he worries about the bat.  Based on observation, Law could see Escobar developing into a .300 hitter with little power.

Dontrelle Willis Staying Put

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According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Dontrelle Willis is not available right now.  The Marlins aren’t having discussions about him, and scouts are not watching him pitch.

I believe Juan, so keep this article in mind when things heat up around Tuesday’s deadline.  Rumors will fly fast and furious and I’m sure a few will erroneously involve Willis.

Even if he were available, I probably wouldn’t name Willis the best available starter.  As I’ve said, that’s probably Joe Blanton.  Knowing Billy Beane, he would at least field offers.  Well, I don’t know Billy personally but that’s my guess.  If you wanted a poor man’s Blanton, you might be able to pry Noah Lowry away from the Giants for some very good position player prospects.  We also have Jon Garland from the White Sox, a third solid starter who does not miss bats.  If you want strikeout stuff you’d have to chase Javier Vazquez, whose availability seems very limited.

What To Do In Cincy?

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Bet you thought this post was going to be about Adam Dunn, eh?  Nope – it’s all about me.  Specifically, my wife and I snagged some tickets for a Cubs-Reds game in Cincinnati in September.  Good seats at Wrigley have become so expensive that I decided it would be easier to just follow the team to Great American Ballpark.

It’s my first time to Cincinnati.  We’ll be spending about two days there.  Any advice?  What hotel should we go for, what should we eat, what should we not eat, what sights should we see?  Someone told me Skyline Chili is overrated, is this true?  Can I park my car at my hotel and then just walk everywhere?  These are my burning questions.  Feel free to leave a comment or email me at dierkes@gmail.com if you have any insight.

Yankees Interested In Garland, Thornton

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According to George King of the New York Post, the White Sox have scouts watching the Single-A Tampa Yankees.  Outfielders Austin Jackson and Jose Tabata are the big names from that team, far as I can tell.

Which White Sox players interest the Yankees?  They’ve already had a go with Javier Vazquez and Jose Contreras, which leaves Jon Garland.  It seems the Yanks might want lefty reliever Matt Thornton as well, according to King.  Thornton had a breakout last year by developing decent control, but he’s regressed this season.  His strikeout rate is down as well.  Rather than go year-to-year with Thornton the Sox decided to lock him in cheaply for 2007-09.

Despite some early indications to the contrary, it’s really starting to look like Garland is in play.  Does he become the best available starter?  Depends on how available Joe Blanton and Ian Snell really are.  The Yankees won’t give up Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes for Garland.  Given Chicago’s desire for MLB-ready players, I wonder if the Yankees would surrender Robinson Cano.  Going after A ball players, no matter how promising, doesn’t seem like Kenny Williams’ style.

The other question: how does Garland fit into the Yankees’ rotation?  He makes sense next year, but I can’t see him bumping Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, or Phil Hughes in 2007.  Wouldn’t make much sense for the Yanks to dump one of the five, unless they decide to become sellers.

Latest On Octavio Dotel

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You know what I love about the Kansas City Star?  The enormous, extreme close-up pixellated player photo that seems to accompany every article.  It’s bizarre in a good way.

Anyway, Bob Dutton gives us the latest on hot commodity Octavio Dotel.  According to Dutton, the Dodgers and Indians are at the forefront, with the Red Sox, Mets, and some other teams monitoring the situation.

As before, Dutton indicates that the Dodgers are the best possibility.  They refuse to part with Tony Abreu, however.  Abreu is seen as Jeff Kent’s replacement at second base, though Kent is still going strong and his 2008 option becomes guaranteed with 550 plate appearances this year.  Barring injury, he’ll reach that.

This seems parallel to the shortstop situation, where Rafael Furcal is signed through 2008 and Chin-Lung Hu is knocking on the door.  For some reason Dutton seems to view Hu as more available than Abreu.

The Indians won’t give up outfielders Franklin Gutierrez or Ben Francisco, at least not yet.  Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer confirms the info.  Is Francisco really anything more than a fourth outfielder? 

The Red Sox could go after Dotel and Reggie Sanders in a package deal, perhaps with Wily Mo Pena going to KC.

If Dayton Moore gets anything close to his asking price, the Dotel rental will end up a fantastic move. 

Blue Jays Not Interested In Jack Wilson

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It sounded dubious when it first surfaced, and now J.P. Ricciardi has spoken: the Blue Jays are not interested at all in Jack Wilson.  Did the Pittsburgh front office plant that one?

Ricciardi does seem open to trading Josh Towers.  As far as I can tell, Towers doesn’t reach free agency until after 2009.  For an NL team, Towers could help at the back end of a rotation.  Thing is, no one seems to be actively searching for a backend rotation guy. 

Nationals Sign Belliard To Extension

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More on this in a bit, but the Nationals have surprisingly locked in Ron Belliard through 2009.  He’ll get $3.5MM over the two seasons, so you can’t really complain about it.  Belliard hits for decent average, shows a little pop, and plays multiple positions.

Belliard will make $1.6MM in 2008 and $1.9MM in 2009.  Nice security for a guy nobody wanted last winter. 

Garland For Renteria Discussed?

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Found via Buster Olney’s blog: Peter Gammons suggested that the White Sox and Braves have discussed a Jon Garland for Edgar Renteria swap.

Renteria, soon to turn 32, is hitting better this year than he ever has.  He’s quite a bargain for Atlanta, because the Red Sox are footing much of the bill.  Assuming Boston’s $8MM contribution was spread evenly for 2006-08, the Braves are paying Renteria about 6.66MM this year and the same in 2008.  Renteria also has an $11MM option for 2009 on which Boston would pay the $3MM buyout if necessary.  At present it seems very likely to be exercised though.  Yunel Escobar can handle shortstop defensively, so the Braves have an in-house replacement.  Kelly Johnson deserves to be playing every day.

Garland will turn 28 in September.  He’s making $10MM this year and $12MM in ’08.  He’d give the Braves some much-needed stability, and the team would have a formidable front four of John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Chuck James, and Garland.  Despite a lack of strikeouts, Garland should be able to keep his ERA under 4 in the NL.  One concern is that Garland has a persistent knot in his throwing shoulder, though it doesn’t hurt and he thinks he will just pitch through it for the rest of his career.

If Kenny Williams can’t come up with a shortstop this summer, I could see him going after Omar Vizquel, who he tried to sign in the winter of 2004-05.

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