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Archives for July 2007

Melvin On The Dunn Rumor

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Brewers GM Doug Melvin had a funny comment on yesterday’s bogus Adam Dunn to Milwaukee rumor:

"I’m taking more calls deflecting these kinds of rumors than I’ve had talking to GMs.  There are freaking geeks who get…off on this kind of stuff."

How did this game of telephone get started?  According to Mark Sheldon at MLB.com, a Cincinnati radio guy posted the trade as a rumor on his blog, and then apparently Sportsradio 1250 in Milwaukee announced it as a completed deal.  ESPN then picked up that radio report, but killed the rumor after Jerry Crasnick spoke to Melvin. 

Tim Brown’s Latest: A’s, Yankees

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Yahoo’s Tim Brown has a new post up, with some trade rumors we’ve heard before and some we haven’t.

  • Clearly the A’s are sellers, and they’re offering up Mike Piazza, Joe Kennedy, and Bobby Kielty.  Brown names the Twins as the club most interested in Piazza.  He also feels the Yankees, Angels, Mariners, and Red Sox would be good fits.  But where would Piazza play on the Red Sox?
  • The Red Sox were apparently close to a deal for Kielty, a 31 year-old switch-hitting extra outfielder.  He hasn’t played much center since ’02, so maybe the Sox have relaxed that requirement.  Kielty was supposed to be moved in a three-team deal that would have sent Wily Mo Pena somewhere.  The deal has stalled, but it’s really starting to look like Pena is on the move.
  • The Yankees and Rangers are still discussing Mark Teixeira.  My guess is that Brian Cashman just wants to see if this can be done without involving Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain.  Failing that, the Yanks have Ty Wigginton and Shea Hillenbrand on their list.  Wiggy would be a useful addition.  Joe Maddon would still find a way not to play Jonny Gomes though.

Cantu On His Way Out Of Tampa Bay?

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Jorge Cantu seems to want out of Tampa Bay; he’s dissatisfied with his lack of playing time this year.  He was recently designated for assigment to Durham again.  Most likely, the only reason he’s still in the organization is that Andrew Friedman couldn’t get anything useful for him via trade.  117 RBIs just don’t have the pull they did in the past.

But even if he doesn’t really have a position and doesn’t draw walks, there should be at least a little interest in a 25 year-old with good power.  Cantu slugged .497 with 28 HR in 2005; he still owns those skills somewhere.  He’s never actually had a full season at the Triple A level.  Maybe it’s time to take a step back before his development moves forward.

I think almost any team would be well served to buy low on Cantu, figure out one position he can play tolerably, and get him back on track.

Scouts Monitoring Yanks/Blue Jays Yesterday

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The New York Post reports of several teams represented at yesterday’s Yankees/Blue Jays contest.  The Dodgers, Twins, Tigers, and Marlins all had scouts on hand.  So which players were being watched?

The starters were Dustin McGowan and Chien-Ming Wang, and we can safely assume neither of those guys is going anywhere.

Possible Yankees being watched: Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth, Bobby Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Luis Vizcaino.  Vizcaino and Cabrera played in the game, though they are the least likely of the group to be dealt.

Possible Blue Jays being watched: Scott Downs, Matt Stairs, Troy Glaus.  Stairs is probably the Jay most likely to be traded; he’s hitting a strong .282/.348/.544 in 206 ABs.  He’s known for his ability to hit righthanders well.

Feel free to mix and match in the comments – who’s after which players?

Yankees In On Dotel

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You can add the Yankees to the growing list of teams interested in Royals’ closer Octavio Dotel.  According to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, the Yankees are interested despite Dotel’s inability to contribute last year.  As you might expect, Kepner says Dayton Moore is still asking for too much.  Prices should get reasonable in about a week.

The list of teams interested in Dotel, as far as I know: Cubs, Dodgers, Brewers, Red Sox, Rockies, Indians, Yankees.  Today the Kansas City Star also mentioned the Tigers and Braves.  I haven’t seen the Phillies or Mariners mentioned in print yet but we’ll see.

One other Royals note: according to Dayton Moore, the Cubs never called about Zack Greinke.

Loretta Drawing Interest From Padres, Yankees

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According to Buster Olney, Astros infielder Mark Loretta is drawing interest from the Padres and Yankees.  The soon-to-be 36 year-old is hitting .307/.383/.402 in 264 ABs this year.  He’s played all four infield positions this year.  Loretta’s ’07 salary is $2.5MM with an additional $1MM in incentives.  So at most, there’s about $1.4MM left on the deal this year.

Marcus Giles has been a disappointment for the Padres, hitting .237/.309/.329 on the year.  That’s really bad.  Loretta would probably play second regularly for San Diego.  Olney believes the Yankees would continue to use Loretta in the supersub role.  You may recall that the Yanks had interest in him back in December.

Dunn To Brewers Rumor Quashed

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Radio rumors are among the most dubious, because I can’t confirm unless I heard the report myself or a trusted person communicated it to me.  So when I heard of a few thirdhand reports of an Adam Dunn to Milwaukee radio rumor, I remained skeptical.

I still haven’t talked to anyone to learn which specific person at SportsRadio 1250 initiated this rumor, but it doesn’t seem completely fabricated given that ESPN picked it up.  The scenario:

The Reds would trade Adam Dunn to the Brewers for Tony Gwynn Jr., Matt Wise, and an unknown infield prospect.  Wise is solid, and Wayne Krivsky likes relievers.  But the bounty still seems too small for the best available slugger.  The other red flag is that Wise and Gwynn continued to play in today’s game after the rumor surfaced.

Fortunately, Jerry Crasnick spoke to Doug Melvin and confirmed that there’s nothing to this trade rumor.

Best Option For Astros: Keep Jennings

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I once thought Jason Jennings would be the best available starter at the trading deadline.  However, he was terrible last night.  He’s really racking up the losses, even if some were undeserved.

With health and performance a major concern, I was wondering whether it would make more sense for the Astros to hang onto him this year, and take some draft picks if he leaves via free agency after the season.  So I asked ESPN’s Keith Law whether Jennings would earn the Type A designation.  His reply:

"Almost certainly yes. It would mean the signing team’s first-round pick (subject to the various rules on that) PLUS a sandwich pick."

Not too shabby, and I sincerely doubt the Astros would snag something better via trade this month.  So who’s the best available starter? 

Assuming the Erik Bedard whispers weren’t serious, I’d have to go with Bronson Arroyo.  Javier Vazquez doesn’t really seem available, and Matt Morris and Jose Contreras just aren’t good right now.  And I doubt any AL team would go after Arroyo.  The point many have been making bears repeating: the market for pitching is downright awful.  I wonder whether Billy Beane will take advantage of that and trade Joe Blanton for a king’s ransom.

Stark’s Latest

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Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings column up at ESPN; check it out.  Here are some new trade rumors I picked up from it:

  • Stark’s sources indicate that Kenny Williams is only serious about moving Jose Contreras, not Jon Garland or Javier Vazquez.  Makes sense, if he’s trying to win in 2008.  Problem is that Contreras doesn’t have much trade value, the way he’s been pitching for the last year.
  • Of course the Mets would have interest in Dontrelle Willis if made available, but the Tigers?  That’s a new one.  Not sure why a team so deep in pitching would trade young players for Willis.  But, it’s just a rumor.
  • Zack Greinke is admittedly a long shot to be traded, but that doesn’t mean teams aren’t asking all the time.  The Braves connection is obvious.  Stark says John Schuerholz is getting very aggressive and creative trying to improve his team.  Two prospects on the block are Elvis Andrus and Dan Smith.
  • The Rangers are asking for way too much for their relievers right now.  As you know, the options for Eric Gagne are quite limited because of his no-trade clause and desire to close.  The Cubs, Phillies, and Braves could accomodate him, but it seems the Tigers seemingly don’t want to move Todd Jones out of the closer role.  Odd.
  • The Mets would move Mike Pelfrey in a major trade, perhaps annoyed with the Scott Boras influence on him.
  • The Phillies are falling all over themselves to get a starter, but the main options appear to be Joe Kennedy, Kyle Lohse, and Steve Trachsel.  Awww yeah, World Series here we come.  For good starters or relievers, teams want Shane Victorino.  The Phils need him to take over center field next year.
  • Contrary to previous reports, the Reds intend to hold on to David Weathers.
  • There’s no real fit anywhere for Ken Griffey Jr., given the limited list of teams he’ll play for.
  • Expect the Angels to stand mostly pat, this year and next.  That’s just how they roll.  No A-Rod, no Barry, no Adam Dunn.
  • Relievers under consideration by the Dodgers: Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, Octavio Dotel, Al Reyes, and a new one – Luis Vizcaino.
  • Stark believes $30MM a year for A-Rod is laughable.  But Stark and Scott Boras have had public beef before so he may be biased on this.  I can see Boras getting his magic number for Rodriguez.

Pirates Acquire Cesar Izturis

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The Cubs have traded shortstop Cesar Izturis and cash to the Pirates for a player to be named later.  I suppose the move is meant to push Jack Wilson, but I don’t really see the point as they’re similar players. 

Addition by subtraction for the Cubs, who might want to call up Ronny Cedeno soon.  Instead they brought up Jake Fox, who was moved off the catcher position earlier this year.  He’s hitting .284/.327/.504 in 91 games at Double A.  Fox has been playing first base and outfield for the Smokies lately, so he can help fill in for Derrek Lee.  Fox could become a Ryan Doumit type one day, catching on occasion.  He was college guy, and has been old for his levels.  This could possibly be a trade showcase, though Fox doesn’t have a ton of value.

A fellow had emailed me about the Bucs’ interest in Izturis a few days ago, but I couldn’t confirm it and didn’t print it.  The reason I mention it is that he also said the Cubs have interest in Xavier Nady.

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