Cubs Outfield Situation: Crisp, Johnson, Byrd
Quite a bit of info is floating about this evening regarding the Cubs’ quest to add an outfielder. Let’s put it all together.
- SI.com’s Jon Heyman names Coco Crisp, Jay Payton, Marlon Byrd, and Brandon Inge as possible targets. Inge makes the least sense given his salary and the Tigers’ need for him while Curtis Granderson is out.
- ESPN’s Jayson Stark confirms Ken Rosenthal’s assertion that the Cubs are leading the pack for Reed Johnson. Stark speculates that such an acquisition could prompt the Cubs to trade Matt Murton.
- ESPN’s Peter Gammons says Red Sox scout Allard Baird is currently observing the Cubs. Other scouts in ‘zona are speculating about a Sean Gallagher for Crisp scenario. Gammons notes that the Red Sox wouldn’t mind getting Murton back, either. He thinks the Sox are wary of trading Crisp right now though, echoing a sentiment from Buster Olney.
- Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News writes that the Rangers want Murton plus one of Jose Ceda, Gallagher, or Donald Veal for Byrd. Jim Hendry did recently re-engage the Rangers, according to Grant.
Cubs’ Talks For Roberts Reach Impasse
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are unlikely to acquire second baseman Brian Roberts prior to the start of the season. Jim Hendry and Andy MacPhail apparently could not find a match for the players involved. The Cubs have also been scouting the Nationals; Felipe Lopez may be Plan B. Shortstop is the main position where the Cubs are questionable.
It sounds like Hendry’s priority may now be finding outfield help, with Reed Johnson atop his list. The Cubs don’t want to enter the season without a backup plan for Felix Pie.
Who Wants Reed Johnson?
3:40pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs are "showing the heaviest interest" in Johnson. Johnson does make sense for the Cubs, playing center when the team faces a lefty. It might hold Felix Pie back slightly, but it’s a win-now move.
Rosenthal says the Red Sox, Rays, and Rangers are the other teams in on Johnson. It’s definitely surprising to see the Sox and Rangers in the mix as neither club is light on outfielders.
9:40am: If 31 year-old outfielder Reed Johnson clears release waivers, he’s going to be a hot commodity. Already, the expected three teams have been named as possibilities in their respective newspapers.
- On Sunday, Joel Sherman characterized the Mets’ interest as "mild at best." Bart Hubbuch says the Mets are interested but quotes Omar Minaya as saying the Mets will go with internal options.
- Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs have interest in Johnson, noting that Jim Hendry is likely to make an acquisition this week. Jeff DaVanon is another (less likely) option. Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs would have interest in Johnson if he clears release waivers.
- Joe Smith connects the Rays to Johnson and DaVanon, though only in speculation.
- I asked ESPN’s Keith Law how Johnson handled center field. He said: "I haven’t seen him since the injury, but he could play it every day when I was with Toronto, and he has a plus arm."
Braves Expect Trades
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien talked to Braves GM Frank Wren, and he learned that Wren expects to "make a deal or two."
DOB says the Braves are looking to add a proven bench bat. They can spare an out of options reliever from the group of Blaine Boyer, Chris Resop, Tyler Yates, and Royce Ring. O’Brien sees Yates as the one to go. Catcher Brayan Pena and first baseman Scott Thorman are other possible trade chips.
As for who’s coming to Atlanta, O’Brien pretty much ruled out Reed Johnson and Robert Fick. He considers Wes Helms a possibility. The Orioles and Giants are two teams with veterans to spare, though most are of the overpriced variety.
Joe Nathan Agrees To Extension With Twins
2:07pm: LEN3 has details. He says it’s $11.25MM per year for 2008-11. He’s unsure of the amount of the 2012 option, but it has a $2MM buyout. Since Nathan was set to earn just $6MM in ’07, it seems that’s been overwritten or increased.
1:19pm: MLB.com reports the deal as done. It’s a three-year extension with a club option for a fourth.
MONDAY, 8:22am: La Velle E. Neal III says only minor details remain on Nathan’s extension. They still need to figure out what to do about a no-trade clause. Buster Olney says the deal will have "significant no-trade provisions."
SATURDAY: ESPN’s Buster Olney (Insider required) reveals in his blog that the Twins have all but re-signed Joe Nathan to a four-year deal, paying $11-12MM per.
Olney considers this a surprising move for a mid-market team. It’s particularly unusual for the Twins, as they re-signed Justin Morneau earlier in the year (and Joe Mauer last year), but couldn’t hold on to Torii Hunter or Johan Santana.
Alejandro Leal writes for umpbump.com. He can be reached here.
Indians To Designate Fultz
Despite exercising the lefty’s option for $1.5MM in November, the Indians have decided to get rid of Aaron Fultz. They’ve replaced him with Craig Breslow.
MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince said the Indians are likely to designate Fultz and attempt to find a trade partner. The Tribe is likely to be on the hook for his salary.
In ’07, Fultz posted a 1.71 ERA and 1.70 K/BB ratio in 21 innings prior to a strained ribcage. Even then he was a bit over his head in allowing just 11 hits in that time. After Fultz returned in August, he posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.38 K/BB in 16 innings. The biggest change was the 20 hits allowed over that period; I’m not sure his injury caused that difference.
Tim On WMUC Radio
I’ll be on University of Maryland radio (WMUC) today at 3:10pm CST. You can listen live here.
MLBTR Logo Contest
I had a small firm design the new MLBTR logo. They presented about a dozen and I chose my favorite. MLBTR readers were not terribly impressed by the new logo though. I want to keep an open mind, because I am not an artistic guy. I received several emails from people who thought they could do better. One person, Mo Ahmadieh, revised the logo in a way I thought made it better. Here is a look at that revision (click to enlarge).
I’ve decided to open this up and have a contest to design the best logo. The prize is $100 plus your name/design company mentioned in a post. Here’s what I’m looking for.
- It should be an original design – doesn’t have to look like the new blue logo or the current black and white one.
- It has to beat the logo shown in this post. I may still go with this one; I like it. In that case there would be no winner.
- Needs some kind of color. I like the blue used for this one, but I am open to other colors. Red, white, and blue together is not going to work though.
- Can’t use copyrighted photos (ie, MLB players).
- Needs a transparent background.
- Needs to have the full tagline.
- Size: 800×110 pixels.
- Email your entry to mlbtraderumors2008@gmail.com and enter as many as you’d like. Please get them in by end of day Friday. This should be fun.
Odds and Ends: Papelbon, Darvish, Crisp
Let’s round up some morning links.
- McCovey Chronicles feels that the Jose Castillo signing reduces the Joe Crede threat level for the Giants.
- Jonathan Papelbon wants to drive the market for closers upward.
- Keith Law discusses J.P. Ricciardi’s decision to overrule scouting advisers and draft Ricky Romero over Troy Tulowitzki for the Blue Jays back in ’05.
- If Yu Darvish is posted after this season, will it cost $75MM just to negotiate with him?
- From Buster Olney on Sunday: "Rival teams are not entirely sure if the Red Sox are devoted to the idea of trading Coco Crisp."
- Pedro Martinez will not worry about his next contract until after the season.
Survey Results: Brian Roberts
Brian Roberts‘ name came up often in our recent reader survey. It’s a love/hate thing – people either want more Roberts updates or none at all.
The Roberts frustration is not unlike our experiences with Erik Bedard and Johan Santana earlier this winter. Readers were happy to see those deals finalized; they dragged too long and many of the news items weren’t interesting.
One thing I can’t do is stop posting updates on the Roberts trade or any other predominant hot stove story. This site exists to provide the latest trade and signing news. If you’re sick of a certain deal it should be easy to glance at the headline and scroll right past it.