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Archives for June 2008

Rosenthal’s Latest: Sabathia, Griffey, Dunn

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal’s Inside Pitch video:

  • The Indians are going to have to at least entertain deals for C.C. Sabathia.  If they continue to fall in the standings, Rosenthal expects the Indians to try for a Dan Haren type deal involving numerous prospects in return.  Two teams he mentions with interest are the Dodgers and Yankees.
  • Ken Griffey Jr. will not be traded until after he hits his 600th home run.
  • Rosenthal also touches on Adam Dunn.  He can block any trade before June 15th.  After that he can block trades to ten unknown teams.  The Reds are still weighing their options – it is possible they sign him to a long-term deal.

Posted by Shannon McKeown

Season-Ending Surgery For Prior

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MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports that San Diego Padres pitcher Mark Prior will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn muscle in his shoulder. The Padres signed the injury-plagued starter to a $1MM contract this offseason.

While the news of Prior having to miss a season due to surgery doesn’t come as much of a surprise, a healthy rebound would have been a bright spot in what has otherwise been a tough season for the Padres. The team saw Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and Josh Bard all hit the DL in May.

It’s unfortunate, but it seems like this will make teams even more hesitant to look at Prior this offseason. The right-hander undoubtedly has great talent, but has pitched just 43.2 innings since the beginning of the 2006 season.

Olney’s Latest: Bruce, Draft Strategies, Young

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Here’s Buster Olney’s latest blog entry.

  • Olney takes a look back at last winter’s rumored Erik Bedard for Jay Bruce trade.  Bruce has been living up to his untouchable tag.  The Reds have to be happy with the way their young players are developing, but a rotation of Bedard, Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey could rival the Braves of the early 90’s.  That said, Bruce won’t be traded anytime soon.
  • Numerous reports are coming out regarding draft strategies.  Here are a few links –  Astros, Athletics, Brewers, Pirates, Rangers, Rays and Yankees. 
  • Olney also touches base on the seemingly lopsided Delmon Young trade from the past offseason between the Rays and Twins.  The Rays are in first place and have benefitted since receiving  Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett in the deal.  Garza is pitching well, while Young is still homerless on the season.  Young is only 22-years old and is bound to fulfill at least some of what was once limitless potential.

Posted by Shannon McKeown

Morgan Ensberg Designated

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According to Mark Feinsand, Morgan Ensberg has been designated for assignment to make room for reliever Scott Patterson.  At Triple-A Scranton, Patterson accumulated a 3.01 ERA in 22 appearances.

With Joba Chamberlain moving to the starting rotation on Tuesday, bullpen help was needed.  In 80 plate appearances, Ensberg put up a .203/.263/.243 line.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Blanton, Furcal, Penny, Burnett, Greinke

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal’s Full Count video:

  • The Braves called the A’s about Joe Blanton but did not even come close to meeting Billy Beane’s price.
  • The Dodgers may not want to lock up Rafael Furcal, the oft-injured shortstop, to a long term contract.  Also, with Brad Penny’s struggles, they may pass on his 2009 club option and trade him this season. They’d get something in return rather than pay his $2MM buyout in the offseason.
  • The only way the Jays will trade A.J. Burnett is if they fall completely out of contention.  Otherwise, he is a cornerstone to their only chance: "pitching teams into the ground."
  • The Royals could field offers for Zack Greinke.  Their farm system has thinned and they could replace Greinke in the rotation with Joakim Soria.

By Nat Boyle

Odds and Ends: Alvarez, Zimmerman, Vizcaino, Hawkins

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Some random musings around the league:

  • As MLBTR noted before, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also believes the Pirates will take Pedro Alvarez if the Rays pass on him.
  • Ryan Zimmerman may be looking for David Wright money (six years, $55MM), but the Nationals may be willing to pay him Ian Kinsler money (5 years, $22MM), according to Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post.
  • In this piece by Tony Jackson on the LA Daily News, 39 year-old Jose Vizcaino may try to make a comeback in 2009.  He’s currently a special assistant with the Dodgers.
  • Troy Renck suggests the Rockies could be interested in LaTroy Hawkins if he continues to struggle for the Yankees.

By Nat Boyle

Should Rockies Deal Holliday?

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The Denver Post has split opinions on whether or not the Rockies should deal Matt Holliday this season.  Columnist Troy E. Renck says the Rockies have been bad "from top to bottom."  He cites the rotation, situational hitting, leaky bullpen, and dealing with pressure as problem spots and that they would need to go "70-36 in their final 106 games" to be in contention.

As MLBTR has covered here, Woody Paige reports that the Rockies can’t tie up $40MM in three position players and that Scott Boras won’t accept a hometown discount.  Paige proposes:

Holliday would be a significant addition for Cleveland, and the Rockies also could send best friend Garrett Atkins or Brad Hawpe… [for] starting pitcher Cliff Lee (8-1, 1.88 ERA and four superb pitches), a middle reliever and an outfield prospect. The Rox, depending on the second player in the deal, play Ian Stewart at third or in left, and Ryan Spilborghs becomes a full-time starting outfielder who could be the next Holliday.

Alternatively, Mark Kiszla believes trading him would not bring enough back to justify not re-signing him and that trading him would send the wrong message to players and fans.  Instead, they should actively work to re-sign the slugger through negotiations.  Kiszla’s argument:

"When the Texas Rangers decided it could not pay to keep powerful young first baseman Mark Teixeira a year ago, the offer the Rangers finally accepted from Atlanta was for a rookie catcher and four minor-league prospects."

Interestingly, Jon Heyman thinks the Rockies won’t be able to get as good a deal as the Rangers got for Teixeira, a deal that’s not good enough for Mark Kiszla.

By Nat Boyle

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