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Archives for May 2008

Rockies Not Planning Starter Acquisition

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FRIDAY: Rockies owner Dick Monfort says the Rockies aren’t looking to acquire a starter at this time.  As of yesterday Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald said the Rox remained interested in Tavarez but that no advancements had been made.

THURSDAY: On Tuesday we found out that the Rockies have been looking into a number of trade options for their starting rotation. The two most common names in the conversation are Josh Fogg and Julian Tavarez, both former Rox. Fogg has given up over a run an inning for the last place Reds, and could be DFA if the team opts to go with youngster Homer Bailey, who has a 2.72 ERA in AAA. Tavarez might be expendable for the Sox, though that would mean depending on David Aardsma.

Today, Jack Etkin of the Rocky Mountain News tells us that the Rox have inquired on Cardinals pitcher Anthony Reyes. We’ve heard the rumor that the Cardinals are shopping the former USC star, though they are looking for "an upper echelon prospect back, plus another piece." Any Rox fans want to toss out names of trade candidates? Could Brian Fuentes be the other piece?

After a poor major league showing in 2007, Reyes broke camp with the Cardinals this year as a reliever. He didn’t fare very well, allowing eight runs in 13.2 IP, though of course that’s a measly sample size. He’s since been optioned to AAA, where he’ll be showcased as a starter. He has yet to make an appearance.

Etkin further notes that the Rox have had no substantial talks with the A’s about Joe Blanton or Rich Harden, nor the Rangers about Kevin Millwood. It’s unlikely any of that crop will be traded until much later in the season, if at all. The Boston Herald confirms the team’s interest in Tavarez, and as Tim noted, Walt Jocketty didn’t deny the Fogg rumors.

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski. If you see any rumors, send ’em over.

David Wells A Possibility For Yankees?

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Mike Puma of the New York Post has comments from free agent lefty David Wells and Hank Steinbrenner indicating a third tour with the Yankees is possible.  Boomer’s interest is obvious, while Steinbrenner seems intrigued.  Before Brian Cashman gets involved and discussions occur, the Yankees will see how Darrell Rasner and Kei Igawa fare.  Wells had some choice words for Joe Torre, so don’t expect him back in L.A.

How does Wells stack up with Rasner and Igawa, according to Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projection system? 

Wells – 4.80
Igawa – 5.15
Rasner – 5.24

Not much of a difference in the projected ERAs, but Wells would be a fun story.  He managed to make 29 starts last year, but at 5.4 innings per he’d definitely give the bullpen a workout.  Then again, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were averaging about four.  Fun fact – Roy Halladay is averaging 8.14 innings per start this year.  Only Halladay and C.C. Sabathia averaged more than seven innings per start last year.

Jays Targeting Wilkerson

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The rumblings have become something more – Jeff Blair says the Blue Jays are "zeroed in on signing" outfielder Brad Wilkerson.  The Jays had been mulling Jason Michaels previously, but he went to the Pirates.

The Jays are looking for someone who can hit southpaws.  Wilkerson, a left-handed hitter, handled ’em in ’07 and ’05, flailed against them in ’06.  The Mariners designated him after 68 plate appearances of a .232/.348/.304 line.

Broussard Designated

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THURSDAY: According to Jamey Newberg, Broussard has been designated for assignment.

WEDNESDAY: Evan Grant’s article from late last night implies that the Rangers could designate first baseman Ben Broussard when Marlon Byrd returns from the DL next week.  Broussard has been pushed to the bench following 89 ugly plate appearances.  He’s earning $3.85MM this year.  Grant has wondered whether a Broussard release would be paired with a Ron Washington firing.

Broussard, 31, was last effective in 2006 when he hit righties well.  Still, for the minimum salary he’s a low-risk bench addition.  Broussard could be the first of many Rangers vets to depart.  Grant suggests Frank Catalanotto and Gerald Laird would be nice fits for the Yankees.  They probably wouldn’t mind having Kevin Millwood, either.

Pirates Acquire Jason Michaels, Brewers Mull Turnbow

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After being designated for assignment back on May 5, Jason Michaels has been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for, what else, a player to be named later. As Tim noted on Monday, Michaels has been pretty terrible so far this year. Not that he was so hot during his tenure in Cleveland. He wasn’t able to get his OBP above .330 or his SLG above .400. Not so hot for a corner outfielder.

The Pirates options OF Nyjer Morgan to Triple A to make room for Michaels.  The Bucs now have two open spots on the 40-man roster.  Feel free to speculate.

In other recently-designated news, it is believed that the Brewers have placed reliever Derrick Turnbow on waivers. The former closer was DFA a week ago, so something needs to be done soon. Tom Haudricourt believes he could clear waivers by Friday.

If he clears, he could accept an assignment to Triple A with the Brewers. Otherwise he’d become a free agent and forfeit the remainder of this $3.2MM salary.

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski.

Odds And Ends: Clemens, Soria, Randolph, Mulder

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A couple of notes for this Thursday afternoon.

  • Bob Watson, GM of the U.S. Olympic baseball team, says Roger Clemens is not welcome. "We don’t need that type of distraction," said Watson.
  • Should the Royals give Joakim Soria a shot as a starter? I’m always inclined to say yes. If he fails in the rotation, just bump him back to the bullpen. Same logic goes for Joba Chamberlain.
  • In a minor trade, the Astros have sent 34-year-old lefty Stephen Randolph to the Phillies for a player to be named later. Randolph was 0-1 with a 1.23 ERA in AAA this year.
  • Rehabbing Cardinal Mark Mulder will be sidelined for the next week to 10 days with a rotator cuff strain.

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski.

Buster Olney Drops Uncommon Trade Thoughts

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Buster Olney talks trade in his latest insider-only piece. Let’s have a look at the guys he names.

  • Ryan Howard. This is a tough one. Philly is in second place right now, and they should be in contention throughout the year. Howard has started poorly, but you can figure a rebound. While the Phillies might not be eager to pay Howard $25 to $30MM over the next two years, some other team might. I figure they could get a decent haul from, say, the Angels. Still, it’s hard to justify trading away your best power hitter (at least in name) while you’re vying for a playoff berth. The odds are long, very long for this one.
  • Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon. No way, no how. Then again, Phillies fans are probably saying the same about Howard. The Yanks stagnant offense figures to improve once A-Rod returns next week and Jorge Posada gets back behind the dish next month. But Matsui leads the team in average, OBP, and slugging, while Damon is second in OBP. Unless the Yanks fall out of contention, there’s no way they’re trading these guys. Even so, they’re a pair of 34-year-old outfielders making $13 million a season, with 2009 guaranteed. There’s no way a team will offer anything close to equal value.
  • Ben Sheets. If the Brewers are going to contend this year, they’re going to need Sheets in the rotation. However, they’re 16-17 right now, and likely won’t see Yovani Gallardo for the rest of the season. The Brewers likely won’t keep Sheets after this year, anyway, so if they’re still in the middle of the pack, they can use the oft-injured ace to reload on players that can help them next year. Their lineup is still very young, with only two regulars over the age of 28. An influx of pitching could set them up well for next year.

Joe Pawlikowski writes for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog.

Advertise On MLB Trade Rumors

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Heyman On Teixeira

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Jon Heyman’s latest column does a fine job analyzing Mark Teixeira’s future.  To sum it up:

  • Heyman’s source expects the asking price to be around ten years and $200MM.  Personally, I don’t see him getting a term nearly that long.
  • Heyman and his sources do not see the Braves re-signing Tex.
  • The suitors, in order of likelihood: Yankees, Mets, Orioles, Mariners, Braves, Red Sox, Giants.  A battle of the New York powers is a reasonable prediction – both clubs should have first base open and the market for the position is otherwise poor.
  • In a February MLBTR poll, the Yankees were picked as Tex’s most likely future club.

Odds and Ends: Botts, Red Sox, McLouth

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Roundup of links!

  • According to Jamey Newberg, Jason Botts has cleared waivers.  He probably won’t get another chance with the Rangers though.
  • Gordon Edes notes that the Red Sox have five picks in the first three rounds of the June draft.  Even though they don’t start until the 30th pick, the Sox have had much success in recent years.
  • No extension talks have begun with Nate McLouth, but Dejan Kovacevic does expect it to happen.
  • I updated the fantasy baseball closers depth chart over at RotoAuthority.
  • SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Freddy Garcia is "progressing nicely" in rehab and will throw off a mound about a week from now.
  • Marc Topkin wonders if the Rays should consider Jason Michaels (among others) if they aren’t satisfied with their current right field options.

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