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Archives for December 2007

Reds In Lead For Bedard?

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UPDATE, 12-10-07 at 2:47pm: I thought this link in the Cincinnati Enquirer was worth including here.  A member of the Reds’ organization rated the team’s chances of getting Bedard at 75%.  Should we consider them the frontrunners in this race?  Some talent would be coming into the NL, for once.  However, Ken Rosenthal believes the Reds’ unwillingness to include Jay Bruce may prevent this deal from happening.

FROM 12-8-07 at 9:05pm:

The Reds definitely have the talent to acquire Erik Bedard from the Orioles.  They may even be able to pull it off without including Jay Bruce.  John Fay believes Homer Bailey, Joey Votto, and a top prospect could work.  Johnny Cueto, a 21 year-old hard-throwing starter, would definitely be on the Orioles’ short list.  Those three would be a slam dunk for Baltimore.  Bedard could become a fashionable NL Cy Young pick, even pitching at Great American.

You could also imagine guys like Josh Hamilton and Edwin Encarnacion piquing Andy MacPhail’s interest.  There are many ways this deal could work.

Rockies Still Looking For Relief

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With LaTroy Hawkins out of the picture, the Rockies have turned their attention to Shawn Chacon, Luis Vizcaino, and Kip Wells.

The Rockies could offer Chacon familiarity and a one-year deal.  They wouldn’t offer him a chance to start, which he might get elsewhere.  It’s been said he seeks three years.  Matthew Cerrone says the Mets, Tigers, Astros, and Brewers have expressed interest in the 30 year-old.

Vizcaino is looking for Linebrink money, which doesn’t seem like something the Rox would do.  Well is trying to reinvent himself as a setup man, and a one-year, $2.5MM deal could be an interesting bargain play.

White Sox Like Alex Rios

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What team wouldn’t like to have Alex Rios?  Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times notes the White Sox’ interest, but admits that the Sox don’t really have what the Jays would want in return.

Not that the White Sox can spare pitching at all, but Javier Vazquez would be quite valuable as a trade chip.  He earns a reasonable $34.5MM over the next three seasons, and he’s always healthy.  Rios has another three years under team control also, though he’ll be significantly cheaper.  If the Sox hadn’t traded Jon Garland, you could almost see this as a slight possibility.

Then again, if J.P. Ricciardi can get Tim Lincecum for Rios, more power to him.

Mailbag: Bedard, Fukudome, Alexei, Pierre

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Feel free to hit up the MLBTR mailbag at mlbtraderumors@gmail.com.

Do you think it is really in the Reds’ best interest to even talk about moving a prospect such as Homer Bailey or Joey Votto for Erik Bedard? – Ryan

If it’s a deal centered around Bailey and Votto, then yes.  The NL Central is winnable and neither player is a sure thing.  Bedard could be a Cy Young contender in that division.

In terms of "interesting rumblings" that come up at the end of the winter meetings, with new potential deals in the mix, what is circling around about the Angels? I haven’t heard a thing about any deals and logic has to suggest that they are at least TRYING to get a big bat somewhere. – Scott

I agree, the Angels’ hot stove has been very quiet lately.  I would not be surprised to see them get Scott Rolen though.  Troy Glaus is another one I could see.

Where do you see Fukudome signing and when do you think it will happen? – Terrence

I see Fukudome landing with the Cubs at three years, $42MM.  I think it happens this week.

Have the White Sox given up on Brian Anderson? Despite the fact he is not hitting, he is such a gazelle in CF. Have they considered trading him? What is the current situation? – Karena

Yes, I think they’ve given up on him.  Anderson and the White Sox just don’t see eye to eye.  I would be surprised if he’s not traded before Opening Day.

This is such a pathetic question:  What does each number mean when you write something like "He hit .267/.305/.441 for the…"?  Sigh, I feel embarrassed even asking. – Amish

That is not a dumb question at all – it’s my fault for not being more clear.  When I do the "triple slash" stats like that it refers to AVG/OBP/SLG.

Who do you see Alexei Ramirez signing with…Not much has been said about him so far this off season. Do you think the Cardinals might be players with him or not? – Alireza

I don’t see the Cards going after him; their priority is starting pitching.  I could see the White Sox getting Ramirez.  He could compete for the second base job if the Sox trade Juan Uribe.  He might be able to help out in center field, and the presence of fellow Cuban defector Jose Contreras might help his transition to the United States.

What happened to the Needs/Luxuries postings for each team?  I really enjoyed reading them.  And as a Phils fan I was looking forward to other opinions on what the team needs/doesn’t need. – Mike

It’s been a while since I made a new entry in this series, due to the demands of the Winter Meetings and other things.  Look for them to resume around January.

Any teams rumored to be interested in Juan Pierre? – Eric

Chris DeLuca thinks he might be a fit for the White Sox.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sox are at least mulling him over.  It’s the four more years that’s the problem.  Many teams might get involved if it was one or two years.  The Rangers have also been connected to Pierre, but I think he stays put.

I’d like to hear your thoughts in further depth about the Milledge trade by the Mets. – Mike

My feeling is that if Schneider and Church was the best Omar Minaya could get, he was better off keeping Milledge to play right field.  Milledge isn’t even 23; he hasn’t really gotten a chance.  And being cocky seems to be the worst offense he’s committed recently.  I would’ve just made Castro the full-time catcher and tried Milledge in right. 

The Orioles have said they want to rebuild around young pitching, so why is there zero talk about trading Nick Markakis for Lincecum or Cain? – David

I could almost see this working, but building around young pitching doesn’t mean you have to trade your star outfielder.  Markakis was quietly excellent as a 23 year-old.  Swapping him for Lincecum adds risk for the Orioles.  Also, he’s a fan/Peter Angelos favorite from what I’ve read.

Please, please, please get rid of the white on black. let me know when you do. – Matthew

Maybe one day…but in a survey this year 2/3 of MLBTR readers said to keep it the way it is.  I know 2/3 isn’t an overwhelming majority.  But I feel the white on black has become part of the MLBTR brand.  Only thing I don’t like about it is that it might make it harder for you to covertly read at work.

Kevin Mench DFA’d

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The Brewers designated Kevin Mench for assignment today to create room on the roster for Salomon Torres.  They’ve now got ten days to trade, release, or place him on waivers.  Tom Haudricourt says the Brewers tried to trade Mench at the Meetings but no one was interested.

Mench turns 30 in January.  He hit .267/.305/.441 for the Brewers in 288 ABs this year, at least showing some power.  He’s a lefty-killer, with a .924 career OPS against them.  He’d be a nice match with Shawn Green or Kenny Lofton in a platoon.

Kearns Unlikely To Be Dealt

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It’s hard not to like the Nationals.  They have a savvy manager and something of a patchwork team.  They’re trying to build a club from the ground up without spending big on free agents.  They’re also not scared off by supposed attitude issues, acquiring players like Dmitri Young, Lastings Milledge, and Elijah Dukes.

Given the Nats’ desire to give Wily Mo Pena a full-time job, the team is left with four outfielders for three spots.  You might think this would make Austin Kearns available.  The 27 year-old hit .266/.355/.411 this year and hasn’t shown much power at RFK.  He makes $5MM in ’08, $9MM in ’09, and has a $10MM club option for ’10 with a $1MM buyout.

However, Kearns is unlikely to be traded according to both Jim Bowden and Manny Acta.  They’re happy to have four outfielders and hope to get ABs for all.  It would be surprising if everyone stayed healthy all year, anyway.  With his salary escalating in ’09, it makes sense to wait on Kearns.  Plus, he might have better power numbers in the new park.

Padres May Learn Today About Fukudome Offer

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Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune has a new column up, chock full of Padres rumors.  Let’s discuss.

  • The Padres have a three-year offer out to Kosuke Fukudome that may make him the highest paid Padre ever, aside from Jake Peavy.  Kevin Towers expects to get an answer today from Fukudome’s agent, Joe Urbon.  Urbon basically said that geography would only come into play if offers from competing teams were similar.  Towers admitted he sees the Cubs as the lead horse in this race.
  • San Diego has a strong need for an outfielder or two, especially now that Milton Bradley went to the Rangers for an extra million bucks.  There was some sentiment from Bradley that the Padres were glad they were outbid, maybe even planned it that way.  It would seem more clever if they’d offered Bradley arbitration, though. 
  • Mike Cameron, Geoff Jenkins, and Jason Bay remain on Towers’ radar as alternatives to Fukudome.  Krasovic recently suggested the Reds could jump in on Cameron if they trade Josh Hamilton.

D’Backs Put Offer On Table For Haren

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According to John Mahnke of the East Valley Tribune, the Diamondbacks have a trade offer out to the A’s for Dan Haren.  The package includes Carlos Gonzalez, Emilio Bonifacio, and Brett Anderson – but not Max Scherzer. 

Gonzalez is apparently the headliner – the A’s would try him in center field even though he’s mostly played right.  Mahnke says Gonzalez hasn’t appeared in a winter league game in over a week, and that’s a sign that he’s part of a possible trade.

It’d be surprising to see Josh Byrnes pull this off without giving up any young Major Leaguers.  However, none have been named as part of Arizona’s offer as of yet.  The D’Backs are one of few teams that could pull this off without disrupting their big league club much.  Pairing Brandon Webb with Haren could really help the team plow through playoff series. 

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