Odds & Ends: Orioles, Angels, Rangers
It's getting late for big news, but do GMs (or beat writers) ever sleep this time of year? Still a chance for some bedtime stories. Here are some sheep for the non-believers to count:
- Jeff Zrebiec at the Baltimore Sun checks in on five players teams could be targeting on the Orioles and his predictions on where they might end up.
- Though he says he's fine with the current roster, Angels manager Mike Scioscia says that GM Tony Reagins has been active, reports Rhett Bollinger at MLB.com. Scioscia wants a bullpen arm.
- Marty Noble at MLB.com answers questions about what the Mets might do at the deadline.
- Jeff Wilson at the Dallas Morning News says Tanner Scheppers' agent vouches for the top pick's desire to sign with the Rangers, though talks have progressed little.
- Bill Ladson at MLB.com has an extensive and fairly candid chat with Nationals owner Mark Lerner.
- Tommy Rancel at Inside the Rays previews the team's targets and candidates to be moved.
Reds Still Buyers?
John Fay at the Cincinnati Enquirer chatted with Reds GM Walt Jocketty, who says that "nothing's changed" in the club's philosophy before the deadline:
"We’re still 5 1/2 games out. We’re still looking for ways to improve the club."
Jocketty also says, however, that he isn't looking for any "short-term" boosts to the team, which would rule out all impending free agents. He says the Reds have fielded some calls, but don't expect anything substantive until the deadline gets closer. Teams have reportedly expressed interest in veteran relievers like David Weathers and Arthur Rhodes, but one would have to imagine Jocketty wouldn't part with them unless he felt the Reds had fallen out of contention.
Hal McCoy at the Dayton Daily News also talked to Jocketty, who reiterates the position above. McCoy isn't convinced the Reds can climb back, however, and lists Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Edwin Encarnacion, Ramon Hernandez and Francisco Cordero as potentially attractive trade pieces should the team become sellers.
Fay notes that the Reds have dropped four of the first six games in their 10-game road trip, so it looks like the next week will determine the team's position at the deadline.
Yanks Could Target Arms
Bryan Hoch at MLB.com talked to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who acknowledges that "there is a [pitching] depth issue that is real." Cashman says the Yankees "aren't at all focused" on a bat before next week's trade deadline.
As Hoch notes, there are a number of factors that could force Cashman's hand: Chien Ming-Wang is potentially out for the season, and top choices to slide into the rotation like Alfredo Aceves and Phil Hughes have instead found successful roles in the bullpen. Additionally, Joe Girardi reminds that Joba Chamberlain could face an innings cap, having pitched over 95 this season.
Who might make sense to patch up the Yanks' depleted pitching depth? Have at it in the comments.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Thursday
7:56pm: MLB.com's Todd Zolecki says GM Ruben Amaro has dismissed reports that Kyle Drabek is untouchable, confirming Olney's earlier report. Amaro apparently "did not have a sense either way" that the Phils would make any trades before the deadline, but Zolecki still says the Phils are in "hot pursuit" of Halladay.
4:52pm: The LA Times reports that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti knows which of his players the Jays have interest in. The Dodgers have watched Halladay's last two starts, but do not plan on including Clayton Kershaw in any trades.
4:45pm: Angels owner Arte Moreno told Bill Shaikin of the LA Times that he's interested in acquiring an ace starter and has no "financial constraints." Halladay and Cliff Lee are out there and the Angels say they'll keep all options open.
4:39pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that Kyle Drabek is not untouchable, though at least one top Phillies executive would prefer to hold the team's top young talent. Olney's sources tell him that serious talks are expected to begin this weekend.
3:35pm: Ricciardi told Jordan Bastian that Halladay has provided him with a list of teams to which he would approve a deal.
Ricciardi also says Halladay wants to test the free agent market after next season.
3:31pm: Ricciardi told The Canadian Press that talks have become "a little bit more heated up." He believes some teams are trying to make preliminary moves to acquire Halladay.
12:28pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney lists eight reasons why a Halladay trade could work for the Jays and Phillies. Halladay's value is arguably at its highest now and with him, the Phillies could build a legacy of winning.
12:14pm: The consensus the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: the Cards don't have what it takes to acquire Halladay.
11:34am: MLB.com's Jordan Bastian passes on comments Ricciardi made on the FAN 590 in Toronto. Ricciardi says he's exploring deals in part because Halladay wants to test the free agent market after his deal expires next season. Some teams are serious about Halladay; others are delirious, Ricciardi said.
11:02am: J.P. Ricciardi told ESPN Radio he still doesn't expect to trade Roy Halladay. He believes his negotiating partners should be prepared to part with at least as much as the Mariners gave up to acquire Erik Bedard.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says the Phillies remain the one team that matches up perfectly with the Blue Jays. However, the Jays continue to seek big-league-ready pitching and other top prospects in any deal. Stark gets the sense that the Jays want to make a deal and doesn't expect them to lower their asking price as the deadline nears.
10:44am: Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says the Jays could potentially expand a Halladay trade to include Marco Scutaro, Jason Frasor, Scott Downs or Brian Tallet, depending on their trading partner's needs.
One scout tells Elliott that some surprise teams are calling the Jays about Halladay.
9:20am: Here are the highlights from yesterday's Roy Halladay rumors GM J.P. Ricciardi expects to exchange names with interested teams early next week; the Blue Jays would consider dealing after their self-imposed deadline of July 28th; the Brewers remain a threat to acquire Doc; the Dodgers are still involved; the Rockies won't bring Halladay home to Colorado. But it doesn't stop, so here's the latest on the Jays righty, with more rumors to come:
- One NL GM believes the Red Sox need Halladay and told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that they have enough to acquire him.
Cubs Still Monitoring Options
Dave van Dyck at the Chicago Tribune talked to Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who says that while anything can happen, the Cubs are looking more to "tinker" rather than make a big splash at the deadline. Van Dyck reminds that the Cubs just don't have the pieces to make a major trade, and Hendry sees team health as the major issue at hand.
Such tinkering, Van Dyck speculates, could involve the acquisition of a veteran backup catcher, left-handed reliever or vet outfielder along the lines of Jim Edmonds. He mentions there is room to add salary, but that it is "limited," which would discount someone like Jake Peavy. The Cubs have been in the mix for George Sherrill and Joe Beimel on the relief front, and Lou Piniella has said he desires "a couple hitters" before the deadline.
Odds & Ends: Garland, Washburn, Giants
Lots of interesting rumblings from around the league–could be an exciting evening here at ol' MLBTR. Here are some intriguing links to feed the insatiable frenzy:
- After Mark Reynolds criticized his D'Backs teammates a few weeks ago, Jon Garland took it a step further Wednesday, saying he "doesn't see any fight" in his teammates. As Bob Romantic at the East Valley Tribune notes, this could accelerate trade rumors already surrounding Garland.
- The Dallas Morning News asks Rangers fans who they'd deal for Cliff Lee.
- Buster Olney at ESPN gives a video-blog rundown of what the Red Sox have done in the trade market and what they plan to undertake.
- Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse says that a number of scouts reported to the Dodgers' Double-A affiliate, including two from the Braves.
- Geoff Baker at the Seattle Times talked with trade target Jarrod Washburn, who expresses interest in signing a contract extension with the Mariners.
- Henry Schulman at the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Nationals are scouting the Giants' Double-A affiliate, and speculates that Adam Dunn, Joe Beimel, Ron Villone or Nick Johnson might be on the Giants' radar.
- Chris Haft at MLB.com answers fans' questions about the Giants' stance at the upcoming deadline.
- Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com wonders if improved play would make Ryan Garko the next to leave the Indians, as Matt LaPorta waits in the wings.
Cards & A’s Discussing Holliday For Wallace
6:18pm: Ken Rosenthal calls the Cards' interest "mild, for now." However, Jon Heyman has a few updates on the proceedings–as noted in the past, Cards manager Tony La Russa is said to "badly" want Holliday. Heyman also reports that the Cardinals might want the A's to pay a portion of the $1.8MM bonus Wallace received after the 2008 draft.
3:41pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Cards are "seriously pursuing" Holliday, possibly for Wallace. The Tigers are also in the mix for Holliday.
12:55pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Cards and A's are indeed discussing a possible Wallace for Holliday trade. One of Olney's sources says the odds of a deal are 50-50. The Cardinals ownership may be prepared to take on salary, or the A's may pay a portion of Holliday's contract to obtain a better return.
10:00am: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the Cardinals might be readying themselves to part with prospect Brett Wallace for Matt Holliday. The Cardinals need a bat to protect Albert Pujols and Holliday has a .310/.416/.492 line since May 5th despite a well-documented drop in power. He's walked 41 times in that span and continues to play above average defense in left field.
Major Indians Deal “Doubtful”
According to Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports, despite the swirl around a possible blockbuster involving Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez, sources say it's "doubtful" either one is traded. The source calls a Lee deal "a longshot" and a Martinez one "more of a longshot."
The Indians are still pushing for a young, MLB-ready starter, but the Red Sox have been reluctant to deal Clay Buchholz. As noted earlier, the Rays have been in on both Lee and Martinez.
Rays Could Move Kazmir
According to Ed Price at AOL Fanhouse, the Rays are itching to deal, with Roy Halladay, Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee on the radar. Now, they're apparently willing to dangle Scott Kazmir as part of a deal, and the Angels are said to have "some interest" in acquiring him.
The Rays are four games out of first place and were on the bad end of Mark Buehrle's perfect game today, which could be an impetus to make an impact deal. Kazmir has struggled mightily this season, putting up a 6.69 ERA and 58/40 K/BB ratio. He makes $6MM this year and has $22.5MM remaining on his contract after this season.
Red Sox After Adrian Gonzalez?
According to Sean McAdam at the Boston Herald, the Red Sox have been "very aggressive" in their pursuit of Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres, but their offers have been "rebuffed."
The Adam LaRoche acquisition may have just been one domino falling before a major acquisition, McAdam notes, as the Sox have been spending the final week before the trade deadline to hunt for an impact bat. Their interest in Victor Martinez is well-known, but a source tells McAdam the cost for Martinez has been "prohibitive." McAdam also says that if another deal is in the works, it will be for a player "that can upgrade the Sox not only this year, but for several seasons to come."
The Padres haven't formally put Gonzalez on the trading block, and indications are that the first baseman is staying put.