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Archives for June 2008

Griffey’s Agent Denies Rays Rumor

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman recently wrote that Ken Griffey Jr. was telling friends he was monitoring the Rays as a possible destination.  Heyman’s source indicated Junior would consider waiving his no-trade rights to play near his Orlando-area home.  Heyman admitted that no serious trade talks have occurred, though.

Today, Griffey’s agent Brian Goldberg apparently debunked the story.  Goldberg considers it to be "a media member thinking out loud."  He adds that Griffey has not been approached with any trade proposals, though no one was claiming that.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Dunn, Sabathia, Teixeira

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Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up.

  • Adam Dunn’s no-trade protection narrows from all teams to ten teams today.  Dunn told Rosenthal he’d like a resolution soon rather than another round of rumors.  He’d be open to an extension with the Reds, but the team has not made contact.  Will Walt Jocketty attempt to re-sign Dunn before shopping him?
  • Tough situation for the Indians – at 6.5 games out, they’re not ready to give up.  However, Mark Shapiro could maximize the return for C.C. Sabathia by trading him now rather than late July.  As many have noted, Sabathia is more than just a rental given the certain Type A draft pick compensation.
  • Rosenthal says the Braves (also 6.5 games out) are even less likely to concede than the Indians.  So don’t look for another summer of Mark Teixeira rumors.  The Braves may be buyers, hunting for a left fielder and a young controllable starting pitcher.

Pirates To Keep Bay?

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Jayson Stark wrote on Thursday that the Pirates could keep their veterans in the name of a run at .500. Dejan Kovacevic doesn’t mention that, but rattles off six other reasons the Bucs may choose not to trade Jason Bay this summer.

Kovacevic hints that the Pirates could afford to sign Bay to an extension after the ’09 season, since outfielders Nate McLouth and Andrew McCutchen would still be quite affordable.

Xavier Nady is more likely to go.  The Boras client is not expected to re-sign with the Pirates when he reaches free agency after the 2009 season.  Trading the him now makes sense – he’s hitting well (at least prior to June) and he’s more than a rental.  Nady will have to prove he’s healthy, though, after bruising his shoulder Saturday night.

Sherman’s Latest: Sabathia, Fielder, Marte

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The New York Post’s Joel Sherman has a host of rumors in his new column.

  • Sherman believes the Indians are leaning toward trading C.C. Sabathia.  He names the usual suspects (Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs) but also throws the Brewers into the mix based on the opinion of an "AL talent evaluator."
  • Speaking of the Brewers, Sherman believes Prince Fielder will be available "almost definitely in the offseason" and perhaps even this summer.  Doug Melvin says he’s not exploring it but never rules out anything.  The presence of Mat Gamel and Matt LaPorta plus Fielder’s unwillingness to sign long-term could lead to a deal.  Fielder figures to jump up to at least $7-8MM upon reaching arbitration for the first time.
  • The Yankees have Damaso Marte atop their list, but the Pirates want something better than two draft picks in return.  He’s looking like a Type A free agent.
  • Walt Jocketty wants to "clean house."  The usual players are named, but Sherman also mentions Bronson Arroyo as a possibility.

Mets Interested In Fuentes

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According to the Denver Post and New York Daily News, the Mets have expressed interest in Rockies closer Brian Fuentes.  Adam Rubin says nothing is imminent.  Troy E. Renck points out that the Rox turned down an offer of Aaron Heilman during the winter.

Fuentes figures to be a hot commodity this summer, so the Rockies may take their time and field offers.  The Mets do have a few decent prospects aside from Fernando Martinez.

Padres Promote Headley

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According to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said on Saturday that Chase Headley, regarded as the top prospect in the Padres’ Minor League system, will join the team this weekend in Cleveland. "He’s on his way," Towers said.

Headley, the converted third baseman who is in his first season playing the outfield, was hitting .305 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs in 65 games for Triple-A Portland.

Headley got off to a slow start at Triple-A this season, but has since heated up. Frankly, what does San Diego have to lose? The Padres are 7.5 games back. Their outfield is a major weakness. This promotion was beyond due. If you own Headley in your keeper fantasy league, today is a happy day.

Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. He can be reached here.

Odds And Ends: Baldelli, Rincon, Clemens

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  • The Tampa Tribune is reporting that Rays OF Rocco Baldelli (60-day DL, mitochondrial disorder) is close to joining a minor-league team for a 20-day rehabilitation assignment. Baldelli thinks he can return to the Rays this season, but he has yet to hold any workouts in the outfield and hinted he could return as a DH. "Obviously, I’d like to be playing the field," Baldelli said. "But realistically, I’m trying not to look too far ahead."
  • Juan Rincon has declined the Twins’ offer of an assignment to Class AAA Rochester, and the team formally designated him for assignment. In all likelihood, that means Rincon will become a free agent in 10 days. Rincon has been with the Twins for his entire career and had a couple of good years in 2003-2006, but he’s fallen on hard times lately.
  • If anybody out there harbored hopes that Roger Clemens would return to pitch this season, here’s some cold water to splash on your face. A former federal prosecutor tells the New York Daily News that the evidence against Roger Clemens – testimony from Andy Pettitte and Brian McNamee, as well as the bloody gauze pads, used syringes and steroid vials McNamee turned over to authorities in January – is more than enough to indict Clemens.

Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com and can be reached here.

Rosenthal Talks Griffey

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Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal tackles Ken Griffey, Jr. and where Reds’ slugger might finish the season. Rosenthal explores all the options. He speculates that the Reds could keep Griffey and collect two draft picks if he leaves as a free agent, but that gets complicated:

However, to gain draft-pick compensation, the Reds would need to decline Griffey’s option, pay him a $4 million buyout and then offer him salary arbitration — a process they almost certainly would prefer to avoid. The Reds could also get the picks if a team signed Griffey before the deadline to offer him arbitration. But such a scenario is unlikely.

Ultimately, Rosenthal concludes that if Griffey requests it, the Reds should do everything in their power to ship Junior to a contender, including eating a chunk of his 2008 salary.

Where could Griffey land? Rosenthal speculates the Rays are an option, though, as he points out the Rays’ biggest need is pitching. The Indians and Blue Jays could be buyers, but they could just as easily be sellers.

The Mets could be an option. They’ve already got Moises Alou and Trot Nixon. Why not corner the market on injury prone outfielders?

Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. He can be reached here.

Odds And Ends: Rangers Outfielders, Trade Misconceptions

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A little Odds and Ends for lunch can’t hurt.

  • A Rangers insider tells Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram that the team should sign Josh Hamilton, Milton Bradley and David Murphy long term.GM Jon Daniels tells Wilson he’s been "thinking about that since spring training."
  • JC of the Sabernomics blog gives fans a few tips of what not to say come trade-deadline time.

    —Trading bad players. The most popular fan solution to poor performance is to ship the guy out in a trade, especially if the player was once much better. If he’s not good, then you can’t get much for him unless other teams are dumber than the fans suggesting the trade

  • Shelly Duncan was DFAd by the Yankees. His second assignment this year.
  • Newly-signed draft pick Reese Havens, a short stop, will shift to second base as he’s blocked by a fellow named Jose Reyes in the Mets infield.

By Alejandro A. Leal

 

Rangers Expected To Waive Tejeda

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The Texas Rangers are expected to place Robinson Tejeda on waivers today, reports Evan Grant in the Dallas Morning News.

It would be Tejeda’s second trip through waiver wires this year. He cleared waivers at the end of spring training, and if he does so again, he can refuse an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma and file for free agency.

The move is contingent on the Rangers not having to place Joaquin Benoit on the DL.

Tejada is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA in four appearances this year. 

By Alejandro A. Leal. Heard a rumor? Email me: alexo05 [at] umpbump [dot] com

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