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Archives for July 2008

Angels Content With Roster

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The Angels haven’t had substantial trade talks in recent weeks, and GM Tony Reagins likes his club.  The Angels are first in the AL West, six games ahead of the A’s.

The Angels rank 12th in OBP and 10th in SLG.  This puts them 11th in the AL with 4.29 runs per game.  Garret Anderson, Gary Matthews Jr., and Erick Aybar have not contributed offensively.  You can let Aybar off the hook, but an upgrade at DH/LF would be nice.  Fortunately Anderson and Matthews have shown flashes of competence, as their hefty contracts probably mean the Angels are stuck with them.

The Angels’ rotation looks great, and the bullpen is respectable.

Mets Not Interested In Bonds

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In a perfect world, the Mets will get two corner outfielders back this month in Ryan Church and Moises Alou.  If either player has a major setback, GM Omar Minaya plans to look at the trade market more aggressively.

One option is free agent Barry Bonds.  Minaya hasn’t called Bonds’ agent Jeff Borris and doesn’t plan to.  Borris sent a statement through a spokesman saying the team does not have interest in his client.  Minaya, however, did not completely dismiss the idea of signing Bonds.  On the other hand, he didn’t imply interest.  Kenny Lofton is another, less controversial free agent Minaya could consider.

If the Mets choose to enter the trade market for corner outfielders later this month, options abound.  Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Xavier Nady, Brian Giles, and Raul Ibanez would be tough to pry loose though.  Adam Dunn is an interesting name, and recent reports indicate that he is not highly sought-after.  Minaya could also consider less certain players such as Matt Murton, Frank Catalanotto, and Juan Rivera.

Duchscherer Hopes To Sign Extension With A’s

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30 year-old righty Justin Duchscherer hadn’t started regularly since 2003.  He made the switch this year, and the result has been the best ERA in baseball (1.96) and an All-Star appearance.  Granted, that ERA isn’t sustainable (nor is a .227 BABIP or 5.7% HR per flyball rate).  Still, he’s having a fantastic year any way you slice it.

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Duchscherer hopes to sign a three-year extension to stay in Oakland.  That’d cover his last two arbitration years and one of free agency.  GM Billy Beane implied that he’d prefer to pursue a deal in the offseason, after Duchscherer completes a healthy season.  Over the last few years, he’s dealt with a biceps strain, hip surgery, and elbow tendinitis.

Pirates Rumors: Bay, Wilson, Nady, Marte

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sums up the Pirates’ trade deadline strategy in today’s article.

  • Jason Bay and Jack Wilson are not being shopped.  The Bucs like having both under contract beyond this year.  It sounds like Neal Huntington would have to be bowled over to move either guy.
  • Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte are the players most likely to go.  Nady is under team control for next year, while Marte’s $6MM option will be declined.  The Pirates are thinking they can decline Marte’s option, offer him arbitration, and let him decline to accept.  Then they might be able to net two respectable draft picks for ’09, assuming he’s a Type A.  So Nady is a more likely trade candidate than Marte. 

The Catcher Market Revisited

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It’s been over a month since we finished up our Trade Market series.  A lot has changed, so let’s take another look at each position.  Today we’ll look at catchers.  As always, I welcome suggestions in the comments.

  • Gerald Laird, Rangers.  He’s currently on the DL with a hamstring strain.  He should be back this month.  However, the Rangers may be on the fence about selling and committing to Jarrod Saltalamacchia as the main catcher.
  • Bengie Molina, Giants.  The Giants are only five games out, and GM Brian Sabean said he’s not thinking of trading Molina.
  • Rob Barajas and Gregg Zaun, Blue Jays.  Both are free agents after the season, though Barajas has a $2.5MM club option.  The Jays are 14 games out.
  • Miguel Olivo, Royals.  He has a $2.7MM club option for ’09.  Trey Hillman has managed to find playing time for both John Buck and Olivo.  Impressively, Olivo has thrown out 50% of would-be basestealers.
  • David Ross and Paul Bako, Reds.  Neither seems worthy of a starting role, though the Marlins are said to be interested in Ross.
  • Ramon Hernandez, Orioles.  At six games out of the wild card, the Orioles could go either direction.  Hernandez isn’t having a good year, but he did hit better in June.  Signed through ’09, his contract is a burden.
  • Yorvit Torrealba, Rockies.  He wants to be traded, having lost the starting gig to Chris Iannetta.  The Marlins almost signed him last winter, but he’s not on their radar.  Torrealba is signed for ’09 at $3.5MM.
  • Paul Lo Duca, Nationals.  He’s become Jesus Flores’ backup, and doesn’t bring anything to the table at this point.
  • Ronny Paulino, Pirates.  Paulino was banished to Triple A in June.  He was raking there until he sprained his ankle about a month ago.
  • Kenji Johjima, Mariners.  The three-year extension is looking really bad.  Johjima has been abysmal this year.
  • Josh Bard, Padres.  BP’s John Perrotto says the Friars will shop Bard once he returns from his ankle injury, perhaps this weekend.  Bard is under team control for ’09.

Sabathia To Brewers Trade Official

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Let’s round up today’s C.C. Sabathia links in a fresh post.

  • The Brewers’ trade for ace pitcher C.C. Sabathia is official.  As a reminder, the Indians will receive Matt LaPorta, Rob Bryson, Zach Jackson, and maybe Taylor Green.  Paul Hoynes says Michael Brantley could end up the player to be named later instead of Green.  Ken Rosenthal suggests Lorenzo Cain may also still be possible.  MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo analyzes the prospects received by the Indians.
  • Here’s an interesting link.  This is apparently the blog of agent Joshua Kusnick of Double Diamond Sports Management.  Among others, Kusnick represents Cain, Brantley, and Green.  He says Green hasn’t been informed of anything but seems more likely to be included than Brantley.
  • Yahoo’s Jeff Passan calls the package of players an "OK haul."
  • ESPN’s Keith Law agrees, suggesting that Mark Shapiro should’ve held out for a higher probability return.  He sees Bryson as the key to the deal.  The 20 year-old is a projectable live arm.
  • Joel Sherman says the Brewers aren’t done – they want to add a late-inning reliever as well.
  • Indians owner Paul Dolan explains the Sabathia trade in a letter to fans.
  • Rosenthal has details of other teams’ attempts to acquire Sabathia.  He says the Dodgers wanted the Indians to package Sabathia with Casey Blake.  Surprisingly, the Yankees were "very heavily involved."  They did not want to give up Phil Hughes, however.
  • Most articles seem to assume that the Brewers have no chance of signing Sabathia.  I agree that it’s unlikely, but I wouldn’t rule it out.  We’ve read repeatedly that Sabathia does not intend to chase every last dollar.  What if he loves Milwaukee and he leads the team deep into the playoffs?  The Brewers could let Ben Sheets and Eric Gagne leave and put that money toward a competitive five-year Sabathia offer.  It’s not out of the question.

Red Sox Trade Wish List

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Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald takes a look at Boston’s wish list, some of which could be fulfilled via trade this month.

  • The Red Sox are still looking for an heir to Jason Varitek’s throne.  Apparently the Sox have inquired about catching prospects.  The Rangers are considered to have the game’s largest surplus at the position.
  • Julio Lugo is signed through 2010, but the Red Sox are looking for a better long-term option at short.  Massarotti doesn’t mention how Jed Lowrie fits into the plan.
  • Massarotti says the Red Sox are "closely monitoring" Braves first baseman Mark Teixeira.  Their interest will be linked to David Ortiz’s health.
  • The Sox are also in the market for a left-handed setup man.  Names to consider: George Sherrill, Brian Fuentes, Damaso Marte, Ron Mahay, and Jeremy Affeldt.

Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Fuentes

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Let’s dig into those recent Rays-Rockies rumors.

  • Southpaw reliever Brian Fuentes has been linked to the Marlins, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, A’s, Cubs, Cardinals, and Rays.  Troy E. Renck wrote Saturday that the Rays are the most aggressive suitor, noting that the Rockies like Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson. Trading either for Fuentes does seem crazy and unlikely.  Nonetheless, MLB.com Rays beat writer Bill Chastain verifies the Rockies’ interest in Davis.
  • As for Matt Holliday, Chastain says the Rockies want David Price.  While Price is probably untouchable, we have seen top prospects like Cameron Maybin, Elvis Andrus, Carlos Gonzalez, and Matt LaPorta traded in recent months.

Odds and Ends: Jack Wilson, Victor Zambrano, Bedard

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Time to round up some non-Sabathia links.

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