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Archives for July 2007

Mariners Targeting Al Reyes

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Recent reports had indicated that Tampa Bay closer Al Reyes was off the market. Maybe those were false, or maybe the Dan Wheeler acquisition has increased the Rays’ willingness to listen.  At any rate, interest is growing in Reyes.

Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times notes the Mariners’ interest; they had two scouts at Tropicana Field yesterday.  Reyes did not pitch, however.  One of those scouts was Norm Charlton on a special assignment.  Topkin seems to imply that the Rays would want young catcher Jeff Clement in return for Reyes.  He also alludes to the Mets’ interest but believes a three-team deal could be necessary to get the Rays what they want.

From the start of the season through June 17th, Reyes was a revelation for the Devil Rays.  During that time period Reyes had a 2.17 ERA, 10.9 K/9, and 2.5 BB/9 with 16 saves in 29 innings.  But since then Reyes has allowed 12 earned runs in nine innings, all of them coming from three separate four-run blowups.  He gave up four home runs during the span.  That time period also included a couple of weeks off for a rotation cuff strain, so there’s a definite correlation with his performance.

To give up a player like Clement for a reliever as shaky as Reyes would be a very questionable move.  The idea that the Rays could get him is pure speculation on my part.  As I mentioned earlier, expanding the trade to include Carlos Pena could really sweeten the deal for Seattle. 

By the way, the Devil Rays hold a club option on Reyes for 2008 that tops out at $2.25MM.

Yankees To Pass On Gagne?

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Jon Heyman wrote yesterday that the Yankees appeared to be the frontrunner for Texas closer Eric Gagne, given the Yanks’ need and Gagne’s lack of veto power.

However, today Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger says the Yankees’ involvement on Gagne is exaggerated.  Apparently the Rangers wanted Melky Cabrera in return.  Joba Chamberlain has been switched to relief at Triple A; he could be 90% of Gagne without the cost.

Mets Hunting For Reliever, Second Baseman

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Pretty much the same old story with the Mets, though Joel Sherman and Mark Hale of the New York Post do have some new tidbits.

  • The authors name Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, Octavio Dotel, and Eric Gagne as relievers on the radar.  However it seems the asking price is too high for Gagne and the Indians have become the frontrunner for Dotel (they may have passed the Dodgers).  Shawn Chacon doesn’t catch the Mets’ eye, and they don’t want Chad Bradford’s three-year commitment.  They had that option with Bradford this winter.  I think that logic is silly – Bradford’s pitched well this year, and acquiring him now would be akin to a two-year contract.  Sometimes it seems GMs pass over certain players because they simply want to add a fresh name.
  • You can add Al Reyes to the mix for the Mets, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
  • The Mets think many of the available starting pitchers could be traded in August – Jose Contreras, Kyle Lohse, and Steve Trachsel for example.  I don’t agree on Lohse – he’ll be traded today or tomorrow.  But Contreras’s contract would probably get through waivers without a claim.
  • The Post reports no substantive talks to the Royals about Mark Grudzielanek.  An inquiry has been made on Mark Loretta. 
  • Meanwhile, Newsday says the Twins are open to trading Luis Castillo but don’t want any of the current Major League Mets.  Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger seems to disagree, citing a Twins scout at Shea yesterday.  Graziano does not believe Castillo would get through waivers unclaimed.  He believes the Twins want Double A starter Kevin Mulvey and then some (perhaps Ruben Gotay).
  • Graziano says a deal for Castillo could be expanded to include 28 year-old righty reliever Juan Rincon.  Rincon had been consistently solid for three years (perhaps aided by steroids) but has seen his strikeout rate and overall performance plummet in 2007.  Rincon is under control next year and will make at least $2MM again.
  • Graziano notes that the Mets have talked to the A’s about Joe Blanton, but Billy Beane wants Lastings Milledge.  The Mets can’t do that without damaging the current team.  The Mets could actually add an outfielder in Jay Payton; the Cubs’ interest has waned.  The Sammy Sosa rumor also has some legs, as the Mets could bring him in to platoon with Shawn Green if they decide they can tolerate the sideshow.

Latest Mark Teixeira Trade Rumors

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Now we’re really getting down to the wire; will Jon Daniels take this thing all the way to tomorrow’s deadline, knowing that some teams will move on if he doesn’t commit soon?

Farnsworth’s Trade Value Slips Further?

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The Yankees brought Kyle Farnsworth in for a junk appearance yesterday against Baltimore.  They were up 10-6 and probably wanted to get him out there for scouts one last time (A Tigers scout was indeed watching).  He was working around 93-94 but touched 96.  He threw only a handful of sliders.  Farnsworth allowed a two-run home run to Brian Roberts in the inning.

But an incident took place that may further decrease his trade value, according to George King.  King describes it:

Brought into yesterday’s game against the Orioles at Camden Yards with a six-run bulge in the eighth inning, Farnsworth not only walked the first batter and gave up a two-run homer, he crossed up Jorge Posada and then had the audacity to walk off the mound when the catcher went to talk to him about why he threw a fastball that hit Posada in the arm when Posada called for a slider. Things became so heated Alex Rodriguez played peacemaker on the mound.

I just watched the incident in question twice.  The New York cameramen either did a lousy job capturing the incident or purposely decided not to show it.  Posada definitely glared at Farnsworth after the cross-up; he took a 95 mph heater off the wrist because the pitcher missed the sign.  Then the catcher was shown calling time-out but the broadcast cut to replay until Posada returned to his position.  So the entire confrontation on the mound was missed.  Farnsworth was shown swearing to himself and muttering before he threw the next pitch.

When asked afterward if he and Posada were OK, Farnsworth simply said, "We’ll see."  He also complained about not pitching enough.

As I’ve said before, the Yankees would seemingly have to eat half of Farnsworth’s $5.5MM for 2008 in order to move him.  His velocity is down, his attitude is up – his value is pretty low right now even with relievers a hot commodity.  Jim Leyland may elect to keep this type of player out of his clubhouse.  Plus, those glasses Farnsworth wears are kind of weird.

Could D-Rays Flip Dan Wheeler?

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Keith Law raises a good point in his blog post today – the Devil Rays might be able to spin Dan Wheeler for a younger, cheaper player.  Law thinks it’s very likely that Andrew Friedman and Co. will aggressively shop Wheeler in the next two days.  They’ve managed to spin Ty Wigginton into a more scarce commodity with higher demand.

For example: if Octavio Dotel is worthy of a discussion about Dodgers’ shortstop Chin-Ling Hu, does Wheeler fall within the same realm?  If not, does controlling him through 2008 close the gap?  With Reid Brignac struggling in Double A overall, why not attempt to add another shortstop?  Or if Brignac succeeds (his bat has come alive this month), the Rays could move Hu to second base.  Evan Longoria at third base would make Akinori Iwamura expendable.

Another option would be to target Seattle’s Jeff Clement, though I’d imagine Bill Bavasi would want more than just Wheeler.  Carlos Pena would be a nice fit.

The Rockies could re-engage talks to get Wheeler, perhaps offering up one of their young flamethrowers or a guy like Jeff Baker.

Matt Harrison Removed From Teixeira Deal

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UPDATE: Sent Bowman an email about Harrison – it was definitely supposed to be his left (pitching) shoulder.  The MLB.com article has been updated. 

22 year-old Double A southpaw Matt Harrison might be the Braves’ top pitching prospect, and he was part of the team’s offer for Mark Teixeira.  However, Harrison is having shoulder problems and has apparently been removed from the deal.  Ken Rosenthal does not indicate which shoulder, while MLB.com’s Mark Bowman repeatedly says it’s his right shoulder.  Harrison is to see a doctor on Monday.

Furthermore, one source of Bowman’s thinks Harrison is still in the Braves’ offer along with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Elvis Andrus.  Another source of Bowman’s believes the injury isn’t a dealbreaker.

Rosenthal, however, says the Braves gave Texas a list of pitchers to choose instead of Harrison, not including Jo-Jo Reyes.  Rosenthal adds that talks are fluid and it could become a 4 for 2 deal.  That might convince the Braves to part with Reyes.

Salty was the only position player not used in today’s 14-0 blowout; Brian McCann did not get relief.  That decision certainly seems related to an impending trade.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks inquired on Teixeira and were told it would take Conor Jackson, Carlos Gonzalez, and a pitching prospect.  The Dodgers have been slipping while Arizona has been playing well, and the result is a virtual tie for first place.  It would be interesting if the Diamondbacks jump in and become aggressive buyers. 

Long Shot: Willis Back To Cubs?

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Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus has an interesting note in today’s Rumor Mill:

"The Cubs also still covet Dontrelle Willis as "the one that got away" and–despite his not being on the market–Willis is one player the Cubs could get if Larry Beinfest suddenly changes his mind about that. Adding Felix Pie to Jacque Jones and Donald Veal would get it done, while not adding to the Cubs payroll."

Jim Hendry already tried to patch up one of the all-time classic Cub mistakes by signing Greg Maddux before the 2004 season.  At least that departure didn’t happen under Hendry’s watch. 

Back in March of 2002, Hendry traded Ryan Jorgensen, Jose Cueto, Julian Tavarez, and Willis to the Marlins for Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca.  Where are they now?

  • Jorgensen, a catcher, had a four-game cup of coffee for the Fish in ’05, and now toils for the Reds’ Triple A team.
  • Cueto, a pitcher, never made it past Double A and finished off his career back in the Cubs’ system in ’04.
  • Tavarez started 27 games for the 2002 Marlins, but his performance was worth only 0.4 wins.  He left via free agency after the season to sign with the Pirates.  Now he’s with Boston, of course.
  • Clement provided a ton of value to the Cubs during 2002-04; he was worth about 17 wins over those three years according to Baseball Prospectus.  He was worth 4.8 wins in 2003, but Willis was worth 5.8 in fewer innings.  Getting Clement made this a respectable deal for Hendry, though in hindsight he would’ve rather just kept Willis.  Clement signed a three-year deal with B Boston and succumbed to shoulder woes in Year 2 of the pact.  He hopes to help Boston as a reliever in September, which should be interesting.
  • Alfonseca was OK as the Cubs’ closer in ’02, saving 19 games.  He was not helpful in ’03, and the Cubs let him go.  Now he’s in the Phillies’ pen.

Back to the present day rumor.  Jones, while hitting better of late, probably would not be missed by the Cubs.  He’s still only slugging .382 in July.  Veal was the Cubs’ best pitching prospect heading into the season but has taken a step backward in Double A.  Veal has been control problems, though his arm has been described as "electric."  Lefty starters who can touch 95 can be hard to find.

Pie, though, would be the gem of the deal and the player with the best shot at stardom.  Literally – BP gives him a 30-40% chance at becoming a star player.  He struggled mightily in his first 139 ABs with the Cubs, but he now owns Triple A pitching.  He should be the Cubs’ starting center fielder for the next six years at least. Trading him for the declining Willis would create another "one that got away" situation, which seems perfectly Cub-like.  Most likely nothing happens in the next two days, but we might revisit this rumor this winter.

Indians Interested In Percival?

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Remember when the hottest rumor centered around which team would sign Troy Percival?  Percival ultimately signed with St. Louis, but the Indians were one of many teams rumored to be in on him.

Now comes word via MLB.com’s Jim Molony that the Indians might "try to make a pitch" to acquire Percival from the Cardinals.  Percival has pitched 14.2 innings for the Cardinals, and he’s been very sharp with a 3.75 K/BB.  I’m sure he’d be open to a role in the back of Cleveland’s pen.

The Tribe would probably have even more interest in Jason Isringhausen, but he’s said to be unavailable.

Morgan Ensberg Designated For Assignment

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UPDATE: Jim Molony of MLB.com says the Dodgers and Padres have scouted Ensberg recently.  Will Carroll adds that the Twins and Phillies kicked the tires, with the Phils possibly offering up Chris Coste.

To make room for Ty Wigginton, the Astros designated 32 year-old third baseman Morgan Ensberg for assignment today.  They have ten days to trade, release, or send him to the minors.  Tim Purpura is hoping to work out a trade.

2005 was Ensberg’s career year; he hit .283/.388/.557 with 36 home runs.  His bat kind of died after the first two months of 2006, and he may never return to full-time status.  But I do think he deserves one more shot with a new organization.  The Twins, Phillies, Dodgers, or Giants could try him at third base.

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