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Archives for March 2008

Umpbump In The House

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Beginning today, Umpbump.com is taking over Saturday afternoon blogging duties here at MLBTR. Each week a different Umpbump writer (there are five of us) will bring you all the latest from the free agent and trade fronts.

Our goals are simple: to provide the same quality rumors you’re accustomed to, and to shamelessly plug our site at every opportunity.

If you haven’t been to Umpbump.com yet, check out our Hot Offseason Action series, where we belittle and berate each team for their blunderous offseason bungling and sparingly salute them for scarce successful stratagems. Point and laugh at our Unfortunate Facial Hair.

Next week, Paul will be your Saturday afternoon blogger. Please, be kind.

By Umpbump Coley

Braves Shopping Thorman

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Scout.com writer Bill Shanks is reporting that the Braves are shopping backup first baseman Scott Thorman and are considering other options at first base, including Mark Kotsay, Brayan Pena, Matt Diaz, and Joe Borchard.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution baseball writer David O’Brien confirms this report in the comments section of his blog.

Thorman is out of options, so this makes sense. Shanks points out that Pena is also out of options, "but with his time at first and his ability to be a third catcher he could have more value than Thorman." O’Brien says he doesn’t think Pena will make the team. Nor does he think Kotsay will see time at first.

Atlanta’s once strong bullpen took a few hits this offseason. They traded Oscar Villarreal to the Astros in November for outfielder Josh Anderson. Ron Mahay signed with the Royals. And Mike Gonzalez is out until mid-season after having Tommy John surgery. So Atlanta is most likely looking to land a reliever.

By Umpbump Coley

Does Crede Make Sense For Dodgers?

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South Side Sox wonders if the Dodgers will look to acquire White Sox third baseman Joe Crede now that Andy LaRoche is out two months with a torn thumb ligament and Nomar Garciaparra’s status is day to day after getting hit in the wrist by a pitch.

Buster Olney says the Dodgers are likely to trade for a player like Crede because "the perception about Garciaparra, among scouts, is that his unusual throwing mechanics make it very difficult for him to play third base on a regular basis."

Previously, Los Angeles had been mentioned as a possible destination for Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge. But, as South Side Sox points out, "Crede brings more power, a better contact rate, and a smaller salary" than Inge. So why not Crede?

One more point in Crede’s favor: because he’s in the final year of his contract, he wouldn’t block LaRoche at the position next season. Then again, Crede, who is coming off back surgery, is hardly a safe bet to stay healthy and the last thing the Dodgers need is three third basemen on the DL.

By Umpbump Coley

On The Block: Coco Crisp And Juan Rivera

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Coco Crisp isn’t too happy about his competition for Boston’s center field job. Today, the Boston Herald reports that Coco is calling the situation "bogus." Why would you want to sit on the bench?" Coco asks. "Why would you want to do that?"

Meanwhile, on the left coast, the Angels’ Juan Rivera finds himself the odd man out in L.A.’s crowded outfield, but isn’t getting worked up about it. The L.A. Times says Rivera wouldn’t mind sitting the bench, if it comes to that. "There’s no pressure from the owner, no pressure from the fans, no pressure from the media," Rivera says.

Both Crisp and Rivera are candidates to be dealt by the start of the season. The Times points out that the Angels could trade Rivera for pitching depth, given that Kelvim Escobar and Chris Bootcheck will start the season on the disabled list and John Lackey and Scot Shields are fighting nagging injuries. As Big Mike noted earlier, San Diego might be looking for an outfielder now that Jim Edmonds is out with an injury. And the Mets are dangling pitchers in an attempt to find a replacement for injured Moises Alou.

By Umpbump Coley

Mets Dangle Relievers For OF Help

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Scott Schoeneweis is miffed that the Mets may be considering using him as bait to snag an outfield replacement for Moises Alou.

The Mets have hinted they’d like to remove Schoeneweis and Jorge Sosa from their payroll, but the Alou injury situation makes the departure of the two relievers even more likely.  Schoeneweis will make $7.2MM in 2008 and ’09 to complete his current three-year deal. Sosa makes an even $2MM in a one-year pact. Schoeneweis disappointed Omar Minaya last year with a 5.03 ERA in 70 games.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Mets called the Pirates to chat about Xavier Nady. New York may not have the pitching prospects the Pirates would want in return. Pittsburgh also may figure Nady’s value will increase toward the trade deadline.

By Big Mike Glab

Attanasio Wants To Keep Core Together

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Brewers’ owner Mark Attanasio promises that Milwaukee will do its best to sign its core of young talent to long-term deals. At the same time, he washes his hands of any blame if Prince Fielder is feeling slighted by the $255,000 raise he got in a contract renewal earlier this year.

Fielder, second baseman Rickie Weeks, left fielder Ryan Braun, and outfielder Corey Hart form the core of Milwaukee’s young team that’s expected to contend in the NL Central for years. "[W]e’re interested in signing all of our younger players to longer-term deals," Attanasio told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel yesterday.

Attanasio blames "the system," which gives pre-arb players no leverage, for Fielder’s relatively modest $670,000 salary this year. The hefty Brewers first baseman became the youngest player in MLB history to clout 50 home runs in a season in 2007.

By Big Mike Glab

Baldelli’s Hamstrings May Open Door For Lofton

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With Rocco Baldelli appearing only twice in spring games this year, the Rays may consider reviving talks with free agent outfielder Kenny Lofton. Tampa Bay’s right field and fourth outfielder depth is light enough that they’ve begun to look at infielders Joel Guzman and Ben Zobrist at left and right field, respectively.

Ray’s manager Joe Maddon won’t even guess when Baldelli will return to full-time play. Baldelli is nursing sore hamstrings this spring. He’s expected to play right field, if he can run, and will split time with Cliff Floyd and Jonny Gomes at DH.

Given Floyd’s fragility, the Rays will be taking quite a chance if they depend on that combination.  Floyd has appeared in 150 games once in the last ten years. Baldelli appeared in 150 games in his rookie year but hasn’t in the three years since.

By Big Mike Glab

Injuries May Revive Inge To Dodgers Talk

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The Dodgers’ Andy LaRoche suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb when he was hit by a pickoff throw in Friday’s spring game. In the same game, Nomar Garciaparra was hit by a pitch on his right wrist.  LaRoche will undergo surgery and will miss eight to 10 weeks. Garciaparra suffered no break but is in pain and will be evaluated today.

If Garciaparra joins LaRoche in sick bay, the recent Brandon Inge-to-the-Dodgers rumor that was declared dead this week may be resurrected. If both LaRoche and Nomar miss significant parts fo the season, the Dodgers’ already shallow infield will need a warm body or two.

By Big Mike Glab

Crumbling Edmonds Makes Pads Think Trade

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The Jim Edmonds Implosion Watch is on in San Diego. The centerfielder is on the shelf until the end of the month with a strained calf muscle, suffered in Thursday’s spring game.

Just a little more impetus for the Pads to get a deal done for an outfielder. Kevin Towers, though, says not so fast.  He’ll wait a week or so to see how Edmonds is progressing before pulling the trigger on any trades.  Edmonds, who’s in the last year of a two-year deal he signed with the Cardinals, will make $8MM this season. He’s missed 97 games over the last two years with a variety of aches and pains.

The strain may be worse than the one Edmonds suffered in 2003, causing him to miss significant playing time. Towers and Theo Epstein chatted yesterday over email, though Coco Crisp is seen as a long shot. Towers says Boston can’t have either Chase Headley or Matt Antonelli.

By Big Mike Glab

No Recent Brian Roberts Talks

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman wrote on Monday that the Cubs and Orioles had resumed talks for Brian Roberts.  However, Cubs GM Jim Hendry came out on Wednesday and said he hadn’t had any trade talks for five or six days.  Tonight, the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec chimes in, confirming Hendry’s statement of inactivity.

Zrebiec was able to confirm from two sources that the Cubs offered Ronny Cedeno, Sean Gallagher, Donald Veal, and another unknown player for Roberts.  The teams can’t agree on the fourth player, and the O’s may want a fifth too.  The Orioles are said to like top Cubs’ prospects like Jose Ceda, Felix Pie, and Tyler Colvin.  Andy MacPhail is clearly demanding a high price for two years of his second baseman.  Zrebiec also confirms that the Cubs and Orioles have talked about a scenario where outspoken veterans Jason Marquis and Jay Payton are in the deal. 

For now, it appears that the Cubs will open the season without Roberts. I’m of the opinion the Cubs would be better off going with Mark DeRosa and Cedeno as their doubleplay combo over Roberts and Ryan Theriot.

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