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Peavy’s Agent Discusses Vetoed White Sox Deal

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Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune talked to Jake Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod, who said he and his client were taken by surprise when the White Sox offered to trade Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, and two unnamed pitchers for the ace. "Honestly, the White Sox had never come up, even as speculation or rumor," said Axelrod.

Axelrod outlined the difficulties teams will face when trying to deal for Peavy:

"I have always said that this is a hard deal to make because the team that seeks to acquire Jake Peavy is going to take on a significant financial responsibility in terms of his future contract. And also, according to the reports, they are going to have to give up some decent young players in exchange."

Axelrod also reiterated that Peavy strongly prefers to pitch for a National League team.

News From Twitter: Red Sox, Corey Hart, Victor Martinez, Cardinals

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A few of tonight's trade tidbits from baseball writers on Twitter:

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal: "GM Doug Melvin told me any talk of the Brewers shopping RF Corey Hart is pure nonsense."

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated: "Red Sox looking hard for a hitter. Victor Martinez would be perfect. but [C.C.] Sabathia told me no way Tribe trades V-Mart."

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that Troy Glaus is ready to resume baseball activities and noted that the Cardinals are "expanding [a] wide net for possible help."

You can follow MLB Trade Rumors on Twitter here.

Braves Seek Outfield Help In Stagnant Market

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Mark Bowman of MLB.com talked to Braves GM Frank Wren about the possibility of trading for outfield help, and Wren's comments paint a picture of a tough market:

"It's not going to be easy. We've been talking to clubs for a while, and most of them are reluctant to make a move right now. There are a number of clubs looking for offense with a power bat. None of us can shake one loose."

Bowman writes that "there would likely be some power bats that come into the picture" if the Braves were willing to offer top pitching prospect Tommy Hanson, but notes the they have "absolutely no desire" to trade the righthander.

Wren went hard after pitching last offseason, picking up Derek Lowe, Kenshin Kawakami, and Javier Vazquez, but their offense has let them down so far.

Which hitters might be a good fit for the Braves? If Wren is unwilling to part with Hanson, how much should he give up for offensive help?

White Sox, Astros Not Discussing Oswalt Trade

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According to Dave van Dyck of The Chicago Tribune, White Sox GM Kenny Williams squelched rumors of his team's interest in Roy Oswalt today, saying, "I haven't talked to the Houston Astros about any pitching whatsoever."

Speculation about a deal for Oswalt heated up when The Tribune's Mark Gonzales noted on Friday that White Sox special assistant Bill Scherrer was following the Astros. According to van Dyck, Williams said today that "he didn't even know Scherrer was there."

Yesterday, we heard that Oswalt would invoke his no trade clause if Chicago tried to acquire him. So unless both sides are playing things very close to the vest, it seems that we can put this rumor to rest.

Agent Tight-Lipped About Ben Sheets’ Status

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Andrew Marchand of 1050 ESPN Radio spoke to Ben Sheets' agent, Casey Close, who gave away very little about his client's status. Close said he would make no comments about where Sheets might end up and "wouldn't even say how Sheets is doing," according to Marchand. Sheets had surgery in February to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow.

In the same article, Marchand writes that Sheets might be "a low-risk, high-reward option for the Mets."

Jeff Wilson of the Dallas Morning News discussed Sheets in a Q&A on Friday. In response to a question about whether the Rangers would sign the injured star, Wilson urged readers that they should not "count on Sheets for a stretch run."

Wilson points out that Rangers pitcher Jason Jennings had the same surgery twice, and "should serve as poster child for not rushing back from the injury."

Sheets was last seen visiting the Rangers' pitching coach Mike Maddux two weeks ago. As we await word on his status, which teams do you think should make a play for him? Do the Mets make sense?

Looking Back At June 2008

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A glance through the MLBTR archives reveals what happened last June. Here are some highlights from a busy month:

  • The A's signed 16-year-old prospect Michel Inoa with a $4.25MM bonus. Miguel Angel Sano can't sign this month, but there are parallels between the two teenage Dominicans.
  • In one of several nasty twists to the month, pitcher Shawn Chacon shoved Astros GM Ed Wade to the floor. Not surprisingly, the altercation led to the righty's release.  
  • Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi took a cheap shot at Adam Dunn, not literally, like Chacon, but on the radio. He said the slugger didn't have "passion" for baseball. Passionate or not, Dunn went on to hit 40 homers for the fourth straight season.
  • Three managers lost their jobs: Willie Randolph of the Mets, John Gibbons of the Blue Jays and John McLaren of the Mariners.
  • Believe it or not, the Stephen Strasburg rumors began a full year ago. 
  • C.C. Sabathia, Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes were some of the bigger names involved in trade rumors.  
  • And of course there was the draft. Tim Beckham went first overall to the Rays, followed by Pedro Alvarez (Pirates) and Eric Hosmer (Royals). 

Odds And Ends: Red Sox, Peavy, Indians, Torre

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More links for Monday…

MLBTR Glossary

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We're creating a glossary of terms that explains baseball transactions. We hear "service time," "arbitration" and "designated for assignment" constantly; it's time to create a reference tool that explains these terms to MLBTR readers. Here's what we have:

Draft Updates: M’s, Padres, Pirates, O’s

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Here are some updates to prepare you for the top five picks in the 2009 draft, which takes place a week from tomorrow.
  • The Mariners pick second and they have four of the first 51 picks. That's why the Mariners' scouting director told MLB.com's Jim Street that this is the most important draft in franchise history. That's a bold statement considering the Mariners drafted both Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez. Dustin Ackley, who the Mariners may well choose, told David Laurila of Baseball Prospectus that he doesn't care who drafts him.
  • The Padres are tight-lipped about what they plan to do with their third overall pick, as MLB.com's Corey Brock reports.
  • Pirates GM Neal Huntington identified Stephen Strasburg as the best available pitcher and Ackley as the best available hitter in Jenifer Langosch's MLB.com article. The Pirates, who pick fourth, say there's a group of quality arms available after those two players.
  • Baltimore's director of scouting says the O's will take the best available player in next week's draft. MLB.com's Spencer Fordin says they'll have the chance to take an elite arm with their fifth overall pick. 
  • Lane Meyer of NoMaas.org heard that the Yankees are impressed by the depth of the left-handed pitching class in this year's draft. 

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