Mets Acquire Trot Nixon
According to MetsBlog, the Mets have acquired outfielder Trot Nixon from the D’Backs for a player to be named later or cash. The Mets, as you know, are currently weak on corner outfield depth.
Nixon, 34, was hitting .309/.437/.558 in 58 games at hitter-friendly Triple A Tucson. He should probably not go anywhere near a southpaw though.
Odds and Ends: Bradley, Floyd, Threets
Let’s round up some links.
- Juan Rincon rejected the Twins’ Triple A assignment. Anyone want him?
- The Reds received a 23 year-old righty named Henry Arias from the Royals to conclude the March Brad Salmon deal.
- I had forgotten about this…the Royals almost acquired Milton Bradley a year ago for Leo Nunez but the deal was voided.
- Paul Hagen offers some pitching ideas for the Phillies.
- David Cameron explains why the Mariners are so bad.
- The international signing period begins on July 2nd; pitcher Michel Inoa heads the class. It’s been suggested the A’s could offer him $4MM.
- Jon Heyman says this might be Cliff Floyd‘s last season. Floyd has a $2.75MM club option for ’09.
- Howard Megdal considers Scott Schoeneweis and Brian Schneider the Mets’ most tradeable commodities.
- Erick Threets is shocked no team was willing to pick him up and keep him in the Majors. For El Lefty Malo, this serves as a reminder that fans often overvalue their team’s players.
Loaiza Not Released
5:09pm: Loaiza will remain with the Sox for now, but he’s headed to the DL.
8:45am: According to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin, the White Sox will release Esteban Loaiza prior to today’s game.
It was a short-lived experiment; only three innings. The Sun-Times may have the reasoning behind it in today’s article. Joe Cowley says Loaiza hadn’t been working out or throwing before the Sox signed him, which may be one of the reasons he can barely crack 80 mph.
Braves Sign Jorge Julio
According to Tim Pearrell, the Braves have signed reliever Jorge Julio to a minor league deal. Julio may not contribute much at the big league level, but Frank Wren is probably just trying to add depth. Fortunately, Mike Gonzalez may finish his rehab assignment soon.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sabathia, Durham, Bedard
A few random musings from the Blogosphere…
- In the wake of the recent C.C. Sabathia-to-the-Yankees rumors, River Ave. Blues lays down a few ground rules for commenting on trade rumors.
- Bottom 9 insists that the Indians have the pitching to stay in the race and Sabathia is not going anywhere.
- Indians Confidential is also emphatic that Sabathia is not going to be traded and is still holding out hope that the Indians and Sabathia can agree to a long-term extension.
- Yankees Chick is not anxious to trade away Robinson Cano and/or Melky Cabrera but notes that if the Yankees are going to make a playoff push the pitching staff needs an upgrade.
- Rivera’s Cutter speculates that the Yankees could just trade for Sabathia as a rental and let him leave after the season and take the free agency compensation draft picks.
- Viva El Birdos would like to see the Cardinals upgrade at second base and believe Ray Durham would be a nice alternative if Brian Roberts is unattainable.
- Phillies Nation is not convinced that Erik Bedard would be a nice addition to the Phillies rotation, noting that Bedard has been awful away from the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.
Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.
Stark’s Latest: Holliday, Lofton, Hudson, Greinke
Time to delve into Jayson Stark’s latest column for ESPN.
- The Rockies are 9.5 games out, and if they slip further over the next month they may trade Matt Holliday or Garrett Atkins (not both). If so, they’d be flexible on the number and ages of the players they’d want in return. Aaron Cook will not be traded.
- Stark talked to one team official who speculated the Pirates could keep their outfield intact in the name of a run at .500. Presumably they’d be doing this for the fans, but diehards would probably prefer a sweet bounty of young players and a better ’09 draft pick.
- As we’ve discussed here, the Mariners don’t have much to trade. Raul Ibanez has decent value, but Erik Bedard will probably stay put unless a new GM is installed.
- The White Sox "made the most serious run yet" at Kenny Lofton, but he they balked at his $2.5-3MM asking price. Kenny…c’mon. We want to see you in baseball this year.
- Orlando Hudson might’ve signed below-market to play in New York, but the Mets signed Luis Castillo through 2011. How about the other New York team, in the event of a Robinson Cano trade?
- One AL exec believes the Royals would be best served to trade Zack Greinke now, and get an influx of even younger talent.
Twins To Sign Aaron Hicks
LEN3 says the Twins are set to sign first-rounder Aaron Hicks for around $1.7MM. Hicks, a high school center fielder, was chosen 14th overall.
Jonathan Mayo sums up the first-round signings and near-signings so far over at his blog.
Heyman’s Latest: Griffey, Garcia, Sabathia
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up.
- Ken Griffey Jr. is reportedly telling friends that the Rays are his preference if he is to be traded. He’d be close to his Orlando home, always a major consideration for him. Heyman says Junior would prefer to be dealt after the All-Star game. It’s not known whether the Rays have interest in Griffey, though. Jayson Stark suggested yesterday that Griffey could sign there as a free agent next year.
- Freddy Garcia hit 85 mph in a recent session. It’s been suggested he could be in the Majors by late August.
- Heyman talked to a "hopeful competing GM" who expects C.C. Sabathia to be traded.
Yankees-Sabathia Chatter
Tyler Kepner of the New York Times believes Victor Martinez‘s injury "will probably lead to a trade of the ace left-hander C.C. Sabathia." He says the Yankees will have "strong interest" if Sabathia becomes available. Kepner also expects the Cubs and Red Sox to be in the mix.
As for a return, Kepner suggests the Yankees could match the Indians’ needs of pitching and infield help. He does not see Robinson Cano as a possibility, though.
According to Baseball America, the Yankees have three Top 100 prospects aside from Joba Chamberlain: Jose Tabata (#37), Austin Jackson (#41), and Ian Kennedy (#45). Others on the fringe of the Top 100 when BA compiled the rankings in March: Alan Horne, Jeff Marquez, and Jesus Montero. Some of these players have seen their stock drop, however. What do you think it’d take to get a deal done?
Josh Hamilton Switches Agents
TODAY: The blog It Is About The Money, Stupid got a call from agent Matt Sosnick and learned a little more about Hamilton’s decision.
6-2-08: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Josh Hamilton and the Rangers were closing in on a long-term deal until the player decided to switch agents. Heyman says Hamilton switched from Sosnick Cobbe Sports to Moye Sports Associates because he "wanted to be with a Christian stable."
Hamilton, 27, is the early favorite for the AL MVP award. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2010.