Braves Discussing Arroyo With Reds
According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, the Braves are talking to the Reds about Bronson Arroyo. This wouldn’t be the first time they’ve shown interest in him.
Despite his decline this year, Arroyo would still probably be the best starter dealt this July. John Schuerholz would really be going for broke if he snagged Arroyo. I have to imagine Jo-Jo Reyes and/or Yunel Escobar would be involved, because they’re running out of prospects.
Stark’s Latest: Gagne, Dye
Jayson Stark has an update over at ESPN.com. The latest:
- Looks like the Dodgers could turn to Joaquin Benoit, with Octavio Dotel off the market.
- Stark has the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox in on Eric Gagne. The latter two teams hold the advantage as Gagne cannot veto deals to them. Yahoo’s Tim Brown confirms Boston’s interest.
- The Mariners, Yankees, Mets, and Indians have called the Rays about Dan Wheeler and Al Reyes, but they require an "aggressive offer" as both can be kept for ’08.
- Rather than worry about acquiring Jermaine Dye, the Diamondbacks might just call up uberprospect Justin Upton.
- The Astros seem likely to hold onto Chad Qualls and Brad Lidge.
Mets Close To Deal For Luis Castillo
UPDATE: Doesn’t look like the Twins got much here – Double A catcher Drew Butera and High A outfielder Dustin Martin. Martin might become a fourth outfielder one day.
Ken Rosenthal snags another one: the Mets are close to acquiring Luis Castillo for two minor leaguers.
If my memory serves me correctly, this would be Omar Minaya’s first deal since December’s acquisition of Ambiorix Burgos. [Edit: Well, the Jake Gatreau acquisition in June counts.] He’s been uncharacteristically inactive. Is Castillo even an upgrade at second base? Maybe, but it’d be hard to argue he’s a difference-maker. The Mets have a 4.5 game lead over the Braves; Atlanta’s Teixeira and Dotel upgrades may be worth right around that difference.
Finding a lefty-masher to pair with Shawn Green should be Minaya’s next task. Sammy Sosa makes almost too much sense. Jonny Gomes or Brad Wilkerson could work too. Hell, they could throw Damion Easley out there.
Phillies Acquire Kyle Lohse
Ken Rosenthal again. The Phillies just traded for Reds starter Kyle Lohse. They gave up 23 year-old Double A southpaw Matt Maloney. With both Kyle Kendrick and J.D. Durbin in the rotation, the Phils had to try something.
Wayne Krivsky did well here, as Maloney was the Phillies’ ninth best prospect entering the seasona according to Baseball America. He’s more about deception and pitch selection that velocity or electric stuff. His upside is pegged as a #4 starter.
Lohse has been an enigma – quite good in April and July, awful in May and June. Tom Koch-Weser of the STATS, Inc. blog may have unraveled the mystery somewhat.
Chat With Tim On ProTrade Live
In between posts here on MLBTradeRumors, I’ll be answering questions at ProTrade. I’ll be hanging out in the Cubs-Phillies game from 3-5 pm CST answering questions and talking trade rumors. Click here to enter the game (it actually doesn’t start until this evening).
“Pretty Good” Chance Of Red Sox Getting Dye?
UPDATE: Edes says it would be Manny Delcarmen or Justin Masterson as the pitcher.
UPDATE 2: Now Edes is saying that the Red Sox are not close to a deal for Dye. They are currently refusing to give up Delcarmen or Masterson.
Things are heating up…Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe has a Major League source indicating that the Red Sox have a "pretty good" chance of completing a trade for Jermaine Dye.
The White Sox would apparently receive Wily Mo Pena and a pitching prospect other than Jon Lester or Clay Buccholz. That could still leave Michael Bowden, Daniel Bard, Bryce Cox, or Craig Hansen. All four have struggled this year but still have plenty of promise. Justin Masterson is another intriguing name, but he’s pitched well in four starts at Double A.
The Market For Eric Gagne
Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog has the latest regarding Texas closer Eric Gagne. It seems the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Indians, Mariners, and Dodgers may all be in on him depending on who you listen to. We’ve heard the Tigers in on him previously but not so much anymore. We’ve heard the Diamondbacks and Cubs connected to Gagne in the past but not as much lately.
There still seems to be some confusion about which teams Gagne can be dealt to without his consent. To review what’s been published:
Gagne can be traded to the Yankees, Mets, Angels, and nine other clubs without his consent.
If Gagne is to be traded to the Tigers, Indians, Phillies, Red Sox, or thirteen other unknown clubs, he must consent. That means additional concessions on the part of the acquiring team.
So, we don’t know where the Mariners, Dodgers, Cubs, or Diamondbacks fall. But I don’t know why the Yankees would have to worry about Gagne missing his incentives if they acquire him. Being on the first list is a big plus for the Yanks.
Braves Acquire Mark Teixeira
UPDATE: ESPN adds that one of the pitching prospects is Neftali Feliz.
According to Ken Rosenthal, the deal is finally done, pending a review of medical records. The Braves will receive Mark Teixeira and lefty reliever Ron Mahay, while the Rangers will get Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and two pitching prospects. Matt Harrison is said to be one of them; his MRI today came up clean.
I’ll have some analysis of the deal once we have all the details. Kind of makes tomorrow anticlimactic, doesn’t it?
Pie For Laird and Mahay?
Phil Rogers has a rumor up on the Tribune blog today, where he indicated that the Cubs are thinking short-term and may be willing to give up Felix Pie in a deal. According to Rogers, Pie for Gerald Laird and Ron Mahay is a possibility.
It seems that Mahay has since gone to Atlanta, so perhaps Rogers’ post went up before then. Even if it was C.J. Wilson instead of Mahay I’d consider it a horrible deal for the Cubs. Pie is a five-tool center fielder and he’s raking at Triple A. Trading him for Laird would be absurd even if Laird threw out 100% of baserunners.
Now if Torii Hunter is in play, the Cubs should at least listen. Not sure if I’d make that move, but at least Hunter would net the Cubs a few extra wins this year.
Isringhausen Would Veto Any Trade
Several teams have expressed interest in soon-to-be 35 year-old Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen. However, as a 10-and-5 player, Izzy has earned the right to veto any trade. He’s prepared to exercise that right.
According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Isringhausen told the Cardinals he would not waive his no-trade clause and wants to finish his career in St. Louis. He said as much publicly, too. 300 career saves might be a goal; he’s at 269 now.
Isringhausen’s career was nearly left for dead in September of ’06, when he elected to have surgery for his degenerative hip condition. He’s silenced that talk with a 1.45 ERA and 20 saves so far this year. It would be absurd if the Cardinals didn’t exercise his $8MM option for ’08. I could even see them renegotiating and extending as they did with Jim Edmonds (if they haven’t learned their lesson).