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Rays Likely To Fill Outfield Void Through Trade

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According to Marc Lancaster, the Rays would prefer to fill their need for a fourth outfielder via trade as opposed to signing a free agent such as Kenny Lofton.

Lancaster notes the Rays are likely to offer one of their surplus of starting pitchers. The Rays have five pitchers competing for the final two spots in the rotation and two of those pitchers (Edwin Jackson and Jason Hammel) are out of options. In addition Lancaster mentions that the Rays have a number of pitching prospects at AA and AAA that could be included in a deal.

The Rays would prefer a player that in addition to regular playing time in right field, can serve as a backup to center fielder BJ Upton. Lancaster lists several players that match this description including Juan Rivera, Reggie Willits, Coco Crisp, Reed Johnson and Ryan Freel. Ken Rosenthal previously said that Willits is untouchable, and Crisp and Johnson seem unlikely as trades rarely occur within a division. The Reds seem like the best fit of this group as they have been rumored to be active in the trade market this off-season for a starting pitcher.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Should The O’s Hang On To Roberts?

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Following the Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard trades, most assumed that the next Baltimore player to go would be Brian Roberts. There were conflicting reports yesterday regarding whether or not the Cubs offered 21-year old reliever Jose Ceda, but today it appears that nothing is imminent.

Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun sees no activity either, and offers his opinion that the Orioles may be better off beginning the season with Roberts in the lineup:

The chances of the Orioles obtaining full value for him in trade might actually increase if he gets off to a good start, and the market for him could expand if another contending club suffers a costly injury at second base or at the top of its batting order.

Schmuck also notes that Roberts isn’t exactly blocking anyone’s progress due to Baltimore’s lack of a second base prospect, which is a pretty accurate assessment. Among their list of the top 30 prospects within the Orioles system, Baseball America mentions one middle infielder, shortstop Tyler Henson, who comes in at #22 and is yet to play above Class-A ball.

But the Orioles may be in the market for pitching, especially given the news that 23-year old Adam Loewen had to be pulled from his scheduled start yesterday due to a sore shoulder. Loewen’s 2007 season ended in May following a stress fracture in his elbow.

Paul Moro writes for UmpBump.com and can be reached here.

Manny Looking For Four More Years In Boston

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Tony Massarotti writes today that slugger Manny Ramirez wants to play in Boston for four more years. Ramirez told reporters “I’m going to get the two options and I’m going to get two more years.”

The guaranteed portion of Manny’s contract is up at the end of the 2008 season. The club owns the rights to exercise options on both the 2009 and 2010 seasons at 20MM per.

This statement may come as a surprise to the Red Sox brass, however. When Ramirez was asked if he and the club have discussed any of this, he responded, “They don’t need to. I know I’m going to get it.”

By UmpBump Paul

A’s Revive Talks For Crisp

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According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s and Red Sox are "believed to be discussing Coco Crisp again."  Slusser wonders whether the Sox could target Chris Denorfia.

Crisp is guaranteed $11MM over the next two seasons, assuming his 2010 option is bought out.  Oakland seems like a nice fit for Crisp as they seem likely to fully appreciate the value of his tough-to-quantify defense. 

There seems only a slim chance Crisp makes the Japan trip with the Sox.  He’s making progress on his groin injury, but any acquiring team is probably going to want to see him in games first.

Cubs Did Not Offer Ceda

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FRIDAY, 7:42pm: I have it on good authority that Ceda has not, in fact, been added to any kind of offer to Baltimore.  With minor league games having begun today, the O’s are still doing their due diligence.   Dave van Dyck’s sources agree that no deal is imminent.

FRIDAY, 7:13am: We’ve actually got some movement this morning on the Brian Roberts front.  According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs have added hard-throwing 21 year-old reliever Jose Ceda to their offer.  They’d also send Sean Gallagher, Ronny Cedeno, and Donald Veal to Baltimore.  The Cubs had been holding out on Ceda, a nasty relief prospect.  With him included, they’d be sending their three best pitching prospects (according to Baseball America) in the 4-for-1 deal.

Wittenmyer also notes that the deal could be expanded to a 5-for-2 with cash if Jason Marquis and Jay Payton are included.  He believes a deal will get done before Opening Day, but it may go down to the wire.

Cubs Still Talking To Rangers About Byrd

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MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan writes today that the Cubs’ talks for Marlon Byrd still have some life.  Not much has changed – the Cubs would give up Matt Murton, but the Rangers want young pitching.

Since the potential Brian Roberts acquisition seems to be on the frontburner, perhaps talks for Byrd would move to the next level if that’s completed.  The Rangers may have to wait and see whether the Cubs bring Jay Payton in and which pitching prospects they give up.

Ken Rosenthal quoted a scout today who suggested the Cubs will never fully commit to center fielder Felix Pie and let him work through his growing pains.  Rosenthal believes the Cubs would do well to give Pie a legitimate shot, as the Yankees and Red Sox are doing with their young center fielders.

Lohse/Cardinals Deal Official

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TODAY: Lohse passed his physical; it’s official.

THURSDAY: According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals signed Kyle Lohse to a one-year deal (pending a physical).

The deal is worth $4.25MM plus incentives, a fine deal by John Mozeliak.  The Cardinals needed some depth, and Lohse offers upside beyond just innings (especially under Dave Duncan).  Lohse has to be bummed – he was looking for ten times what he received.  On the other hand, he’s still set for life.

Odds and Ends: Inge, Salcedo, Corey, Nathan

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I write this odds and ends post with two less wisdom teeth than I had yesterday.  Looks like applesauce for dinner.

  • Jon Heyman says the Dodgers and Tigers haven’t talked lately, and doesn’t see L.A. taking on Brandon Inge’s $19.1MM.  Aside from the standard Giants suggestion, Heyman puts on his speculation cap and wonders whether Inge could catch for Houston.  What is J.R. Towles, chopped liver?
  • This is questionable, but hey, it’s a Friday.  Hi5 is a popular social networking site in Central America.  A reader sent me a link to this page, which may belong to future superstar kid shortstop/Boras client Edward Salcedo.  The owner of the page slapped up a big ol’ Indians logo over a month ago with the caption "my team."  I have to reiterate that I don’t know if this is really Salcedo’s page.  The Tribe said on Tuesday that Salcedo remained unsigned.
  • The Orioles are observing 34 year-old journeyman reliever Bryan Corey.
  • Joe Nathan, still chatting contract with the Twins.  Kelly Thesier noted that it was the Twins reaching out recently.  Nathan’s agent will meet with them Tuesday.
  • Jacob Jackson goes out on a limb and wonders if Justin Upton could be Oakland’s first $100MM player.
  • The new Phils-ville blog is up.

Rangers Were Close To Acquiring Johan

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman checks in with some inside info from the What Might’ve Been file.  He says the Rangers and Twins were close to an agreement on the players involved in a trade that would’ve sent Johan Santana to Texas.  The Twins pulled the plug when Santana was noncommital about whether he’d approve a trade to the Rangers.  They felt that this would’ve decreased his market value (instead the Twins ended up overplaying their hand and accepting the second or third-best offer).

Heyman speculates that the Rangers could’ve offered Eric Hurley and/or Edinson Volquez, for starters.  A Taylor Teagarden and various high-ceiling types could’ve been in there too, I imagine.  Would’ve been interesting to see Minnesota get Teagarden and shift Joe Mauer to third base in ’09.

The Rangers hoped to pair Johan with Torii Hunter, but Hunter couldn’t pass on the Angels’ offer.  Five years, $90MM is the kind of offer he had to pounce on. 

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