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Archives for July 2008

Odds and Ends: Phillips, Chacon, Hewitt, Griffey

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Random links for Tuesday. 

Rosenthal’s Latest: Padilla, Manny, Beltre, Dunn

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Rumor man Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.

  • At least three teams have inquired on the Rangers’ Vicente Padilla: the Mets, Yankees, and Brewers.  Jon Daniels is looking for "quality young pitching."
  • Manny Ramirez’s $20MM option for ’09 isn’t a lock.  It’s a tough call – .900 OPS players on one-year deals don’t grow on trees.
  • Rosenthal suggests David DeJesus or Melky Cabrera would be nice fits for the Diamondbacks, who aren’t looking for a rental.  He also speculates on names like Brian Giles, David Dellucci, and Randy Winn.  Note: Rosenthal is playing GM here, not relaying inside info of trade talks.
  • Rosenthal believes Matt Stairs would be a nice addition for the Dodgers, and notes that the Dodgers and Blue Jays have spoken.  The Jays’ direction for ’08 is still uncertain though.
  • Still sounds like it’d take a "knockout offer" to pry Rich Harden loose from the A’s.
  • The A’s are said to like Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre.  He can block trades to eight unknown clubs though.
  • Adam Dunn isn’t generating much trade interest yet.
  • KC’s Ron Mahay is "drawing significant interest."  The trade market for lefty relievers is fairly robust.

Grudzielanek Wants To Play Two Or Three More Years

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According to the Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton, Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek would like to play two or three more years.  Grudzielanek, 38, is hitting a healthy .307/.365/.406 in 269 plate appearances.  He’s earning $4.5MM this year.

Dutton notes the Royals’ other second base options, and wonders if the team will shop Grudzielanek this month.  Grudzielanek is undecided as to whether he’d prefer to stay in Kansas City beyond this year.

The Blue Jays and Dodgers seem like possibilities.  However, the Jays have Joe Inglett playing well and Jeff Kent had a decent June for the Dodgers.  There is not an obvious suitor for Grudzielanek.

White Sox May Trade Juan Uribe

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According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Juan Uribe trade talks are rumored to be heating up.  Kenny Williams may be trying to finish a deal before Paul Konerko returns from the disabled list.  Manager Ozzie Guillen talked about finding "the best opportunity" for Uribe, so it’s no secret the Sox are trying to make a trade. 

Uribe, 29, is hitting .215/.269/.341 in 147 plate appearances as a utility infielder this year.  He’s making $4.5MM, so that’ll be an issue.

The Orioles seem the most likely suitor, unless they complete a deal for Felipe Lopez.  The Chicago Tribune’s Mark Gonzales says the Orioles had a scout in attendance for yesterday’s White Sox-Indians game (Uribe did not play).

Gammons’ Latest: Murton, Nady, Wilder

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Rumory goodness from Peter Gammons’ latest blog post, aside from the Sabathia and Cubs stuff.

  • The Rays are focused on a right-handed hitter.  Matt Murton and Xavier Nady are on the radar.
  • As you know, the White Sox fired scouting director Dave Wilder and two scouts for violations of the team’s scouting and signing procedures in Latin America.  At the time, the Chicago Tribune said the investigation involved skimming and was limited to the Sox.  However, Gammons says Wilder is telling investigators about other teams.
  • Gammons agrees with Scott Merkin of MLB.com – the White Sox will not be active in the trade market.

GM Trade History: Brian Cashman

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Next up in our GM Trade History series, the Yankees’ Brian Cashman.  Cash’s current contract with the Yanks runs through this season.

Many thanks to Brendan Bianowicz for putting together Cashman’s history, which can be downloaded as an Excel spreadsheet here.  Please let us know in the comments if you find any errors or omissions.

Commenters have mentioned that this info would be better as a searchable webpage, and I agree.  We’ll look into that after Brendan has finished all the GMs.

Gammons On The Cubs’ Starter Pursuit

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ESPN’s Peter Gammons has a new blog entry up, with the focus on the Cubs’ desire to add a starting pitcher.  Gammons talked to a Cubs official who said, "We almost certainly will do something.  But we really don’t want to give up Sean Gallagher at this point."

Here’s a quick rundown of the candidates:

  • C.C. Sabathia – Cubs don’t believe they have enough to get him.
  • Rich Harden – Gammons doesn’t specifically say the Cubs are interested, just that they’re monitoring Oakland.
  • Randy Wolf – The Cubs have interest, and Gammons says Wolf would waive his no-trade to go to a contender.  Plus, Wolf treated the Cubs well when they courted him in the 2006-07 offseason.  Gammons adds that the Padres still like Matt Murton.  History has shown that Jim Hendry and Kevin Towers work well together on trades.
  • A.J. Burnett – The Cubs "also keep looking" at him.  Last Thursday, Gammons’ colleague Jayson Stark hadn’t found "any indication that the Cubs have even batted his name around."
  • Aaron Cook – Gammons says the Cubs would love him, but Rockies’ GM Dan O’Dowd said earlier this month, "We’re not doing anything with Cookie."
  • Bronson Arroyo, Kevin Millwood – Gammons says the Cubs have "kicked around" these names.

Latest C.C. Sabathia Rumors

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We’ve entered trade deadline month, with Indians ace C.C. Sabathia front row and center.  Let’s discuss.

  • Ken Davidoff has a nice summary of the situation, agreeing with Buster Olney’s suggestion that the Brewers have the best mix of means and motivation to acquire Sabathia.  Olney’s handicap yesterday ranked the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Cubs behind the Brewers (in that order).
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin calls the speculation "just the same old rumors."  Still, Melvin would consider moving prospects for a rental and notes that his stacked Double A club has been popular with other clubs.
  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman does not sound like someone who plans to go all-in to get Sabathia.  Gammons says they’ve "lurked."
  • On the topic of the Cubs, ESPN’s Peter Gammons writes, "They doubt they have enough to get Sabathia, although Hendry constantly touches base with Indians GM Mark Shapiro."  Regardless, Gammons expects the Indians to move quickly on Sabathia.
  • Gammons says the Rangers are out but the Phillies "shouldn’t be overlooked."  The Rays?  They’ve lurked.

Freddy Garcia To Audition Later This Month

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Coming off shoulder surgery, Freddy Garcia is a major question mark.  But since he only costs money, more than a dozen teams are interested in the free agent starter.  He is supposed to audition in late July, roughly a week before the trade deadline.  If he can make it onto a big league mound by August 31st, he’ll be eligible for the playoffs.  Garcia says he feels like he has a new shoulder.

So far twelve teams have been named as interested in various reports: the Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, Indians, Mariners, Tigers, Rays, Astros, and Cubs.  The Indians and Mariners seem unlikely.

Marlins Looking For Reliever, Catcher

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According to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, the Marlins are looking to acquire a righthanded reliever and a veteran catcher.  Frisaro says indications are that the Fish are "not serious" about Paul Lo Duca.

Possibilities at catcher include Paul Bako, Yorvit Torrealba, and Michael Barrett (in my estimation).  Back in November, the Marlins had interest in Torrealba and Barrett.

Possible righty relievers: guys like David Weathers, Chad Bradford, LaTroy Hawkins, and Mike MacDougal.  I don’t see the Marlins chasing bigger fish like Huston Street and Jon Rauch.  There are no reports indicating it, but I’d like to see the Fish go after Trevor Hoffman (an original Marlin).

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