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Archives for July 2008

Odds and Ends: Happ, Igawa, Hawkins, Lowe

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Rounding up rumors and links from the weekend…

Jarrod Washburn Rumors

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10:05pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman seems to be saying the Mariners are still asking for Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner, though many think one of them would be plenty.

9:27pm: Talks seem to have stalled; Jerry Crasnick got the impression that GM Brian Cashman is not optimistic about a deal happening.

5:59pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Yankees are holding firm, offering a marginal prospect and salary relief.

1:25pm: The Jarrod Washburn talks seem to be plodding along; I am going to start a fresh thread here and update it throughout the day.

Ken Rosenthal says the Yankees made an offer of an average prospect and absorption of most of his contract.  So far no agreement has been reached.  Washburn started today and shut down the Jays in Toronto.

Manny Would Approve Trade

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10:02pm: Jon Heyman provides some Manny musings.  Despite Manny’s comments, he doesn’t believe he’d waive his no-trade rights for nothing.  Like others, Heyman doesn’t find a trade likely.

8:36pm: Todd Zolecki finds a Manny acquisition unlikely for the Phillies, though he says they have discussed him internally.  Signing Ramirez as a free agent might be more feasible, if Pat Burrell leaves.

5:40pm: Jayson Stark puts the kibosh on the idea of the Phillies pursuing Ramirez.  Never made much sense anyway.  Stark says the Phils remain focused on relief help.      

3:56pm: Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez said today that he’d approve a trade if the team can reach one.  The implication is that Ramirez would not require additional compensation to waive his no-trade power, but that’s uncertain.

The quote:

"If they can get a trade, I’d approve it. If they can’t trade me, then they will simply have to inform me by the end of the season that they won’t use the options and we’ll go separate ways."

Notice how Manny doesn’t mention the possibility of his ’09 option being exercised.

Week In Review: 7/20 – 7/26

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This one will be a bit lengthy, which can be expected as the deadline approaches. Here’s a review of some of the major moves and rumors of the last week:

  • The Yankees acquired Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates for OF Jose Tabata, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Dan McCutchen and RHP Jeff Karstens . I agree with Tim that Ian Kennedy would’ve been a better centerpiece, but Tabata is pretty highly-touted himself. Kennedy would have made a more immediate impact, while Tabata is only 19 years old.
  • The Dodgers acquired Casey Blake for minor league RHP Jon Meloan and C Carlos Santana. The Dodgers get a nice boost to their lineup without giving up too much, although Santana’s putting together a very impressive season in Class-A ball.
  • The Nationals sent Jon Rauch to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league 2B Emilio Bonifacio. Rauch adds to a strong bullpen for Arizona, while Bonaficio could become a very solid leadoff hitter in the future for Washington. They may have been able to get more for Rauch, but I personally like the move, regardless.
  • The Brewers acquired Ray Durham from the Giants for minor leaguers Darren Ford and Steve Hammond. Rickie Weeks has been a disappointment to an otherwise red-hot club. Can Durham provide a bit more stability? The power’s gone, but he can still get on base.
  • The Astros acquired Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke. This one confuses me a little bit; with all due respect, did the Astros forget they were 12.5 games out? I don’t see the logic in buying on a pitcher.
  • The Cardinals traded Anthony Reyes to the Indians for minor league pitcher Luis Perdoma. I don’t get this one either. I feel like the Cardinals could have gotten more, despite Reyes’ struggles in the past. The Indians could make this one look like a steal, in my opinion.
  • The Yankees are in deep discussion with the Mariners about acquiring Jarrod Washburn. Tim cites Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal in saying that the Mariners want a top prospect in addition to the salary dump, but the Yankees are only offering a marginal prospect. Can’t say I blame them. A top prospect for an mediocre pitchers who’s due an additional $14MM? Sounds like Seattle’s getting greedy…
  • A new, and surprising name surfaced in trade talks: Manny Ramirez. Manny has said he would waive his no-trade clause, and based on interviews, has basically said that 2008 will be his last season in Boston. I can’t see Boston trading their (arguably) best hitter in the middle of a pennant race, however. I’d bet on him finishing out the season.
  • Speaking of corner outfielders, the Mets need one, and they know it. Having missed out on Nady and Blake, they will likely zero in on Raul Ibanez. Ibanez makes great sense for them, and the Mariners would obviously like to rebuild. I expect this one to get done.
  • There was a report that Roy Halladay came out and told the Blue Jays that he is unhappy in Toronto, which has provoked the Jays to explore their potential options. Halladay’s price would have to be astronomical, I’d think. He’s signed through 2010 and pitching like it’s 2003 all over again. Personal speculation: I think Halladay to the Cardinals with a Colby Rasums centerpiece would make sense.
  • Crisitan Guzman signed a two-year, $16MM contract extension. Guzman has revived his career after surgery following an awful 2005. I like the signing for the Nats.
  • Jorge Posada could be out for the season. The Yankees are looking for catchers. In addition to the names mentioned there, they could take a shot at signing Johnny Estrada, who was DFA’ed by Washington this week. Estrada was terrible in Washington, but has put up solid offensive numbers for a catcher throughout his career.
  • Brian Fuentes, Huston Street, and George Sherrill are all still potential trade pieces. Fuentes is the most likely to go, I’d say, although the Rockies are asking for quite a bit.
  • Tim updated the left-handed reliever and left field markets.

Perrotto’s Latest: Ross, Jacobs, Kent, Burnett

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Baseball Prospectus’ John Perrotto has a new column.

  • The Mets are looking at relievers Huston Street, Brian Fuentes, Arthur Rhodes, and Eddie Guardado.  On the radar for outfielders: Jason Bay, Raul Ibanez, and Randy Winn.
  • A new suitor for Fuentes has emerged: the Diamondbacks.  Would they really make another move for a reliever?  Other known suitors were named here.
  • The Marlins would consider trading Cody Ross or Mike Jacobs for relief help.
  • New name on the Rays’ radar: Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent.  They’re better off with Akinori Iwamura aren’t they?
  • George Sherrill suitors: Cardinals, Tigers, Dodgers, Marlins, and Phillies.
  • The Blue Jays may offer A.J. Burnett an additional $2MM per year to convince him to stay for 2009-10.
  • The Rangers are "expected to be among the top bidders" for CC Sabathia this winter.

Marlins Inquire On Bengie Molina

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According to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com, the Marlins recently inquired on Giants catcher Bengie Molina.  Frisaro believes the asking price may be too high, but the situation is worth watching.

Molina, 34, is hitting .282/.313/.421 in 368 plate appearances this year.  Molina rarely draws a walk or strikes out. Behind the dish, he’s thrown out a third of attempted basestealers, fifth in baseball.  Jason Kendall leads that stat by a wide margin, which is surprising to me.

Molina is owed another $2.2MM this year and $6MM in ’09, plus performance bonuses for games started as a catcher.  He has some level of no-trade protection, though it’s unclear which teams are included.  The Yankees have also been linked to Molina.  The price is said to be a young power hitter.

Tigers Eyeing Taschner

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The Brewers, Mets, Phillies, Marlins, and Cardinals have been linked to Giants’ lefty Jack Taschner in the past.  Today, MLB.com’s Trade Talk blog says the Tigers have been observing him as well.  However, the Tigers have fallen to 7.5 games out in the AL Central (they might shave that to 6.5 today if the bullpen can hold a four-run lead). 

Taschner, 30, has struggled this month after a solid stretch in May and June.  Control has always been an issue.  Taschner is under team control for quite a while.

Manny Ramirez Speculation: Phils, D’Backs, Mets

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Theo Epstein told Tim McCarver he’d try to trade Manny Ramirez if he’d waive his 10-and-5 no-trade rights.  If Ramirez were to be dealt, I’m guessing he’d either require an extension or reassurance that his $20MM option would not be picked up so he could reach free agency. Here’s some reverb from Epstein’s remarks:

  • Ken Rosenthal doesn’t see a good match anywhere.  He notes that Manny got himself into this odd contractual situation in the first place.
  • Jon Heyman says the Mets have no interest in Manny.  His string of bad behavior this year has been undoubtedly a turnoff.  They’d rather pursue Raul Ibanez.
  • The Boston Herald’s Tony Masarotti doesn’t think the team needs "to find a Hall of Fame-caliber player to replace him anymore because Ramirez no longer is a Hall of Fame-caliber player."  He even cites David Murphy as a more productive outfielder since April.
  • Joel Sherman and Mike Puma speculate on Manny to the Phillies, noting how Charlie Manuel and Ramirez have remained close since Manuel was his hitting coach in Cleveland.  They go on to list Arizona as having interest as well.

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