10 Spring Training Trade Candidates
Today I contributed to the Spring Training ’08 website with a piece called Most Likely Trade Candidates. I highlighted ten players who might be on the move before Opening Day.
After you read my article, browse the general Spring Training ’08 site. It was created by a friend of mine. He recruited bloggers for every team to create team-specific Spring Training guides.
10 Spring Training Trade Candidates
Today I contributed to the Spring Training ’08 website with a piece called Most Likely Trade Candidates. I highlighted ten players who might be on the move before Opening Day.
After you read my article, browse the general Spring Training ’08 site. It was created by a friend of mine. He recruited bloggers for every team to create team-specific Spring Training guides.
Giants Make Offer To Kim
According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants offered a minor league deal to free agent Byung-Hyun Kim. Schulman’s source believes Kim is holding out for a big league deal. Gutsy move, for a guy who posted a 6.08 ERA last year.
The following hurlers had to settle for minor league deals: Tony Armas Jr., Kris Benson, Brendan Donnelly, Jorge Julio, Rudy Seanez, and Steve Trachsel. It’s hard to see where Kim is coming from, if the Schulman report is accurate. You’d think Kim would just be anxious to get to camp and start working. In his defense, he is 29 and whiffed 107 in 118.1 innings last year.
Giants Make Offer To Kim
According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Giants offered a minor league deal to free agent Byung-Hyun Kim. Schulman’s source believes Kim is holding out for a big league deal. Gutsy move, for a guy who posted a 6.08 ERA last year.
The following hurlers had to settle for minor league deals: Tony Armas Jr., Kris Benson, Brendan Donnelly, Jorge Julio, Rudy Seanez, and Steve Trachsel. It’s hard to see where Kim is coming from, if the Schulman report is accurate. You’d think Kim would just be anxious to get to camp and start working. In his defense, he is 29 and whiffed 107 in 118.1 innings last year.
Lowry Failing To Draw Interest
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News discusses the Noah Lowry situation. On the surface, a 27 year-old lefty who won 14 games with a sub-4.00 ERA would seem to be a hot commodity. However, Baggarly says teams were scared off by Lowry’s ugly 1.0 K/BB ratio and August elbow tenderness. Lowry’s on the hook for $2.25MM in ’08 and $4.25MM in ’09, with a 2010 club option for $6.25MM.
Baggarly notes that the Giants "remain active in trade talks." Given that it’s 2008 and not 1988, Brian Sabean isn’t going to fleece any GM based on Lowry’s win total or ERA. I’m starting to think that a trade for Joe Crede straight up might be fair, after all.
Rumor Royalty: Todd Zolecki (Phillies)
Todd Zolecki is our Rumor Royalty recipient for the Phillies. Todd covers the team for the Philadelphia Inquirer and also keeps a blog, the soon-to-be-renamed Zo Zone.
Todd has kindly agreed to answer a handful of reader questions for the series. Please leave your Phillies hot stove queries in the comments and I’ll choose the best three or four.
Brian Roberts Rumors
Here’s the latest on the Brian Roberts situation. From Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times:
Cubs want the switch-hitting leadoff hitter, are ready to deal from a pretty deep hand of prospects and would like to have Roberts in camp by the time the full squad reports next week. But nobody at Fitch Park seems to be counting on that, given the teeth-pulling, teeth-gnashing nature of talks with the glacial O’s.
And then there’s Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun:
Will Roberts be the next former Oriole? Perhaps, but maybe not right away. President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has engaged in trade talks about the All-Star second baseman for months, so it won’t be surprising if he pulls something off soon. But there’s really no rush.
To sum it up: there’s nothing new, nothing imminent. Wittenmyer also dismisses a rumor that the Cubs are after Joe Nathan. The Cubs have the pieces they need to field a strong team, if they use them properly.
Astros Show Interest In Chacon
The Astros look to be heading into camp with Roy Oswalt heading their rotation, but not much else. They used 10 different starters last year, and the only one who made more than 10 starts and had an ERA under 4.50 was Oswalt. So they surely could be looking at the free agent starters. Word is that they’ve made an offer to Shawn Chacon.
There’s no word on exactly what the offer was, but from the article it appears it’s a Major League deal. It’s also uncertain if the teams are even close as far as terms. I’d assume that the Astros offered a one-year deal.
I’m not really familiar with the Astros system, other than it’s ranked near or at the bottom of the league. They have a couple of young guys listed on the 40-man roster: Paul Estrada, Samuel Gervacio, Brad James, Fernando Nieve, Felipe Paulino, Chad Reineke, and Wesley Wright, though I know nothing about any of them, other than that they’re my age or younger. They also have former Padre Jack Cassel. Do any ‘Stros fans see them as being better than Chacon?
Chacon has shown flashes of solidness in his career. He was stellar in the first half of 2003, going 8-2 with a 3.17 ERA through June 2. The wheels came off after that, though, as he allowed 12 runs over 3.2 innings in his next start against Kansas City, pumping his ERA up more than a run. He made 10 starts after that game, most mediocre, a couple really good, and a few real bad ones. He ended the season early due to injury.
He is perhaps most famous for his role in 2005 with the Yankees, when he pitched brilliantly in August and September, essentially leading the team, along with Jason Giambi, to the playoffs.
His problem, as I see it, has always been that he walks too many guys. He’s got a good curveball, but seemingly doesn’t have the fastball to make it a knockout offering. He’s looking to be a starter, despite success last year in Pittsburgh’s pen. He definitely has a shot to start in Houston.
– Joe
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Joe Blanton
After letting Barry Zito walk last year and trading Danny Haren in December, the A’s appear to be entertaining offers for Joe Blanton. While the Reds and the Dodgers appear to be the most aggressive suitors, Ken Rosenthal speculated that Blanton would be a good fit for the Twins or the Rays and Buster Olney named several other clubs that could be interested in acquiring the right-hander. Blanton, 27, is still three years from free agency, and will make $3.7MM this season. With pitchers and catchers due to report this week, let’s take a look at reactions to the Blanton rumors from the blogosphere.
- Athletics Nation is surprised that Blanton has not been moved yet. They expect that a deal is more likely now that Johan Santana has been traded, and the free agent market is drying up.
- Redleg Nation thinks the Reds should be willing to part with Homer Bailey or Johnny Cueto in addition to Joey Votto for a proven pitcher.
- On the other hand, Red Reporter believes the Reds should only take Blanton if they do not have to surrender one of their top prospects.
- Pinstripe Alley wouldn’t mind the Yankees acquiring Blanton as long as the trade does not require Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes. The would be willing to part with Alan Horne or Austin Jackson from the lower levels.
- Rays Anatomy believes that Blanton is an asset that the Rays could use (an innings eater), but ultimately does not think the trade makes sense for the Rays. They are hesitant With so many pitching prospects knocking on the Rays’ door and do not want to part with prospects such as Wade Davis, Jake McGee or Desmond Jennings.
- Over the Monster does not see the Red Sox giving up Coco Crisp for Blanton as that would be a deviation from their plan to develop pitchers in their system. Rather, they think it is more likely that the Sox sign a free agent or move Julian Tavarez to the rotation.
Angelos To Nix Roberts Trade?
Some owners make headlines by talking to the press or releasing statements. This is best exemplified in New York, where the Steinbrenners aren’t strangers to reporters. Some owners, though, like to make headlines in other ways. Take Peter Angelos for example. People know him not because he speaks to the press, but rather because he’s always about to kill a certain move — a free agent signing or a trade. Yes, despite dealing Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada this off-season, Angelos still isn’t keen on dishing Brian Robers.
Jon Heyman is hearing that the haul for Roberts might not be enough for Angelos’s liking. The reported package includes pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, and infielder Ronny Cedeno. This isn’t the first deal for Roberts that Angelos has reportedly killed.
Heyman has an interesting bit on Angelos:
There is also a sense that Angelos has an unreasonable attachment to Roberts, who may well remind the owner of himself: a little guy who’s scrapped his way to the top of his profession (no, not baseball; Angelos is at the top of the legal profession, at least in terms of dollars earned).
Of course, there is no way to verify that this is the case. But if Angelos is holding back a possible Roberts deal, he might be doing a disservice to his team. They stand to benefit more in the future from the young talent they’d receive than they would from Roberts, who is 30 this year.
– Joe