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Archives for July 2007

Conor Jackson Showcased For White Sox?

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You may have noticed Conor Jackson oddly playing left field last night.  On the surface, the idea was just to get Jackson, Mark Reynolds, and Chad Tracy into the same lineup against Dave Bush.

However, Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reports that the Diamondbacks’ real motivation was to showcase Jackson for the White Sox.  Left field is the only place the Sox could use him.

Rogers writes that while the D’Backs scouted Jose Contreras, they’re after Jon Garland or even John Danks.  Javier Vazquez’s name did not come up, but wouldn’t it be crazy to see the Chris Young trade reversed?  [As the always sharp commenters immediately noted, Vazquez has a no-trade clause allowing him to block trades to all nine AL/NL West teams.  But it would still be cool to see the trade reversed.]  Baseball America had some interesting thoughts on the impending Young/Justin Upton center field logjam today (the On The Brink section).

Rogers also adds that the D’Backs would trade right fielder Carlos Quentin.  Quentin is 10 for 22 since his return to Triple A Tucson.  Keep in mind that he was dealing with a small labrum tear in his left shoulder in the beginning of the season, which probably contributed to his poor play.

Either player would be a nice pickup for the Sox, who desperately need outfielders for 2008.  If you’re a PECOTA fan, here are the projections for ’08 in the AVG/OBP/SLG format:

Jackson: .305/.389/.512
Quentin: .288/.380/.491

Josh Byrnes and Kenny Williams work well together, and match up nicely for another deal this summer.

Odds and Ends

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Some random lunchtime reading for you:

Dan Johnson For Scott Proctor?

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Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle believes that yesterday’s Jason Kendall trade could be the first in a series of forward-looking moves for the A’s.  Billy Beane doesn’t say it outright, but he seems ready to play for next year.  Simmons says rumors have swirled around Dan Johnson, Esteban Loaiza, and Mike Piazza.

Johnson has been linked to the Twins (DH) and Yankees (1B) previously.  The idea is to clear some room at first base for top prospect Daric Barton.  As a cheap league average 1B, Johnson has decent value.  Simmons says a Johnson for Scott Proctor trade is "all the buzz."  However, the teams have not talked in over a week.  The 30 year-old Proctor has been worked pretty hard by Joe Torre, but has performed decently over the last two seasons.  For a while during the offseason, the Yankees considered using him as a starter.  The A’s could go through with that plan in ’08.

Piazza is said to be a candidate for the same teams as Johnson, plus maybe the Angels.  He’d due back in about a week from a strained shoulder.  He’ll only be able to DH.

Loaiza has yet to make his season debut due to neck, shoulder, and knee injuries.  He recently threw a bullpen session and felt good, but won’t be big league ready until August.  He’s owed $7MM in ’08; not sure if that salary would pass through waivers in August without a claim.

Dodgers Interested In Dotel

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According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, the Dodgers are currently the top suitor for 33 year-old reliever Octavio Dotel.  Dutton reports that Royals GM Dayton Moore is said to be asking for a position player regular, like James Loney or Matt Kemp.  Lest you think Dutton is off his rocker, consider that Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News says the same thing.  Jackson even mentions Russell Martin.

I have to begin by questioning the Dodgers’ need for Dotel – he would be their third-best reliever.  I don’t know why he would jump ahead of Jonathan Broxton on the depth chart.  Broxton has become one of the game’s best relievers, and he’s posted zeroes in his last eight appearances.

But beyond that, the asking price is silly.  Maybe the White Sox were offered a player like Kemp for Mark Buehrle – maybe.  Dotel isn’t nearly as valuable.  I applaud Moore for trying, but he’s really asking for the moon right now.  Dotel might be worth a Delwyn Young, maybe a Blake DeWitt, not that the Royals need those guys.  A pitcher such as Hong-Chih Kuo seems about the high end of what Moore could reasonably get, in my opinion.

The Indians and Rockies have also been said to have interest in Dotel, who is making $5MM plus incentives this year.  He’s also got a $5.5MM option for ’08, which he probably won’t exercise if he stays healthy and effective in 2007.  Additionally, John Perrotto mentioned in his Sunday column that the Tigers have been scouting Dotel.

Jason Jennings And The Padres?

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Here’s a connection to consider: Jason Jennings and the Padres.  The article is a few weeks old, but Kirk Bohls wrote that insiders say Jennings is hoping to be in San Diego next season.  Jennings seems like a tried and true Texas guy, but maybe he has a thing for the West Coast.

One could see the Padres snagging him this winter on one of those make-good, California discount type deals.  Kind of like the one Randy Wolf received from the Dodgers.  He’d also be a nice fit for the Padres right now, as they are said to be considering adding a starter. 

It’s tough to gauge Tim Purpura’s asking price for Jennings, as there haven’t really been any trade rumors.  It might be advantageous for the Astros to hold onto him and just collect some draft picks after the season.

Zambrano Expects To Stay With Cubs

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Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune has some quotes up today from Carlos Zambrano, and they strongly indicate he’ll sign a contract extension to stay with the Cubs once the season ends.  Specifically, he said there’s a "90% chance" he re-signs.  Negotiations may not have re-opened, but Z is certainly positive about the situation.  The Cubs are likely to pay extra for waiting.

Signing Zambrano might put the Cubs in a position to enter 2008 with the exact same rotation they have now – Zambrano, Rich Hill, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, and Sean Marshall.  That group will almost certainly regress from where it is now, but it still looks like a better than average staff to me.

Time to put on my fan cap and speculate about some moves I’d like to see for 2008 (if you hate this sort of thing, just stop reading.  No complaints about too much Cubs stuff.) 

  • For the catching situation, I’d just turn it over to Geovany Soto and Henry Blanco.  They should be acceptable.
  • I’d like to see a third of the Iowa Cubs promoted for ’08.  Bring up the DP combination of Eric Patterson and Ronny Cedeno, and give Felix Pie a legitimate full-time shot at CF.  These kids are all hitting well at Triple A.  Can you imagine a Cubs lineup with four of eight position players homegrown?
  • No more patchwork stuff in right field.  Go out and spend some money on the best right fielder available – Kosuke Fukudome.  It would be fun to see the Cubs garner Japanese attention.  Even at $14-15MM a year, I’d throw it down.  This will compensate if a few of the kids falter.
  • I don’t have a great solution for Matt Murton.  Trade him for a respectable reliever if possible, or just use him as the fourth outfielder.  Projecting him as more than that may have been wishcasting anyway.  Similar situation with Mike Fontenot.
  • Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot are solid guys but they’re on my bench. 
  • Nontender Scott Eyre and Jacque Jones, eat the salaries and be done with it.
  • Keep Ryan Dempster in the pen but use Carlos Marmol as the closer.  Mix and match with kids and vets, same as this year.  Don’t spend big bucks on free agent relievers.  Dempster could slide into the fifth starter role if the pen is a strength and Marquis bombs.
  • Another $3.6MM on Mark Prior on the chance he can outpitch Marquis?  Sure.  Wouldn’t be opposed to bringing in a Freddy Garcia/Jon Lieber/Kenny Rogers if the price is right. You can never have too much pitching.

Cubs Acquire Jason Kendall

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The Cubs made a deal tonight, sending catcher Rob Bowen and pitcher Jerry Blevins to the Athletics for Jason Kendall and cash. (ESPN keeps saying it was Sean Marshall going to Oakland, which is silly and not true).

Kendall had a respectable .758 OPS in June, but his bat has been anemic otherwise.  But as signified by the questionable Michael Barrett trade, the Cubs are looking for defense at catcher. (Incidentally, Jim Hendry acquired Barrett from Beane in December of ’03 for Damian Miller).  Kendall can certainly handle the pitching staff.  And it wouldn’t be shocking to see him hit a little bit back in the NL; he rarely strikes out and knows how to draw a walk. 

The Cubs didn’t give up much here.  Bowen is a backup at best.  Blevins, a southpaw reliever, will turn 24 in September.  He’s been dominant in 53 innings between High A and Double A, but he’s not anyone’s idea of a top prospect.  I like the move for the Cubs.  As for Oakland, it gives them a chance to try Kurt Suzuki full-time for a few months as an audition for 2008.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Lohse, Hunter, Contreras

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The latest trade and signing rumors from Ken Rosenthal:

  • Rosenthal believes Alex Rodriguez’s ability to play shortstop could increase the number of suitors.  Take a look at the free agents – there may not be a single viable option at short this winter.  Still, the number of suitors for Rodriguez is severely limited by his massive contract requirement.  Not too many clubs aside from the Yankees and Red Sox can get in on $240MM over eight years or whatever.  The lack of available, reasonably priced shortstops could compel the Braves and Orioles to aggressively shop Edgar Renteria and Miguel Tejada.
  • As a 29 year-old free agent starter with decent stuff, Scott Boras could sell Kyle Lohse as the next Gil Meche this winter.  Meche’s work in the season’s first three months would only aid the wishcasting.  I put up a little Lohse history here, writing that his deal will likely fall somewhere between Jason Marquis and Meche.  Other free agent starters who will be under 30 for the 2008 season: Carlos Zambrano, Jason Jennings, Joe Kennedy, and Byung-Hyun Kim.
  • Rosenthal believes the Rangers will bid on Torii Hunter this winter unless they acquire a proven center fielder this summer.  He mentions that Jon Daniels set his sights on Shane Victorino but the Phils would rather trade Michael Bourn.  Unless the Rangers get a proven guy they will still go after Hunter.
  • The Mariners scouted Jose Contreras and Matt Morris recently, but both were lousy.  I still think Jennings could sneak in there as the best available starter, but he too hasn’t pitched well in July.  Definitely seems like the Mariners will snag some kind of starter.
  • Rosenthal disputes Evan Grant’s report of the Brewers and Indians showing interest in Kenny Lofton.  The Brewers are getting Bill Hall back soon and the Indians have some outfielders on the road to recovery as well.  Perfect, this frees him up for the Cubs!
  • Rosenthal mentions the same teams I did for Kevin Millar, but sees an August deal as a possibility.  Waiting until August doesn’t seem to make sense for the Orioles, as things get trickier then.
  • The Padres could trade Scott Linebrink in order to make payroll room for a starter.  Or they could just sign Brian Lawrence.  I discussed some other options for the Friars here.

Slick-Fielding Shortstops Available

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If you’re looking for an all-glove type shortstop this summer, you have plenty of options.

  • The Giants could move Omar Vizquel, but only if they feel that he can’t help them in ’08.  According to Tim Brown, he loves the city and would stay if they made an offer.  The Giants talked extension with him in March but his offensive performance this year may have changed their mind.  He has $1.8MM in salary left.
  • With Ryan Theriot performing OK this year and Ronny Cedeno tearing up Triple A, the Cubs may deem Cesar Izturis expendable.  Giving Cedeno the starting shortstop job to begin last year was questionable, but it might make some sense now.  Izturis makes another $1.8MM this year, plus probably another $300K to buy out his ’08 option.
  • Juan Uribe may no longer deserve the slick-fielding tag, but he’s been an awful hitter so I have to call him something.  Even his customary low OBP/decent SLG is slipping.  His salary situation is pretty much the same as crosstown counterpart Izturis.
  • Jack Wilson makes another $2.3MM this year, $6.5MM in ’08, $7.25MM in ’09, and a $600K buyout for ’10.  He has a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block trades to six clubs each year.  About a month ago, Tim Brown spoke to a baseball source who thought he’d draw interest.  Wilson is back to playing every day currently.

What team would want any of these guys?  The Red Sox would probably be the only contender in need of a shortstop, and they’re probably stuck with Julio Lugo.

How About Kevin Millar?

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One player who hasn’t gotten much play here at MLBTR is 36 year-old 1B/DH Kevin Millar.  He’s up to a solid .282/.399/.462 on the season, including a 1.063 OPS this month.  Millar might be one of the few players who exhibits a consistent second half trend.  He’s been significantly better after the break in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

Millar has a mere $1.2MM left on his contract this year.  His $2.75MM option for ’08 becomes guaranteed with 475 plate appearances, and he’s on pace for about 500 right now.  He’ll probably pass the 130 game threshold, bringing his ’08 salary to $3.05MM.  Very affordable for solid production and clubhouse presence.

The Yankees would be a logical destination for Millar.  Sean Casey has come alive since a terrible April, so the Tigers probably wouldn’t be interested.  The Twins would be a fine fit at DH.  Angels or Mariners too.  Over in the NL Millar could help the Braves or Diamondbacks at first base. 

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