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Archives for July 2009

Angels Rumors: Aybar, Harang, Bell

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Mike DiGiovanna at the L.A. Times talked to Angels GM Tony Reagins, who said "There are various scenarios we're working on." DiGiovanna says they're still very much in the mix for Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, but summarizes a bit of news and lists intriguing potential targets should talks for the aces fail:

  • The Blue Jays reportedly asked for Erick Aybar, Jered Weaver or Joe Saunders, Brandon Wood, and one of either Trevor Reckling or Peter Bourjos.
  • The Angels might not have the top-flight pitching prospects the Indians desire in return for Lee.
  • The second tier of their pursuits for a starter could include Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Jarrod Washburn, Jon Garland, or Ian Snell. Chances for this kind of deal are slim, DiGiovanna notes.
  • Among relief help being sought by the Angels: Brandon League, Scott Downs, George Sherrill and Chad Qualls. The Halos' offers for Michael Wuertz and Heath Bell have apparently been turned down.

Cliff Lee Rumors: Tuesday

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11:21pm: Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports have some new bullet points on the Lee situation, most involving the Dodgers:

  • The Dodgers, Red Sox, Phillies and Angels have all inquired, and the Angels hadn't until the last day or two.
  • The Rangers want a starter, but haven't asked about Lee just yet.
  • The Dodgers have enough prospects to acquire both George Sherrill and Lee, but officials haven't green-lighted giving up too much of their talent.
  • The Dodgers like the idea of getting Lee, as it will likely mean they won't have to depart with Clayton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley in a deal.
  • It's unclear if the Dodgers would deal third base prospect Josh Bell.

10:41pm: MLB.com's Todd Zolecki gives a rundown of the Phillies' leanings toward Lee. Yahoo's Gordon Edes says that recent Phillies call-up Kyle Kendrick is "one of the pieces expected" to head to the Indians should the Phils commit to obtaining Lee.

9:27pm: Word from Paul Hoynes at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer is that the Phillies are indeed focusing their attention on Lee. The Indians have intimate knowledge of the Phils' system after scouting them for a potential C.C. Sabathia deal last summer as well. However, one source from the Indians says the team is likely "closing up shop" on deals before the deadline. We'll see about that.

4:50pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that the Phillies and Indians are doing extensive background work on minor leaguers to prepare for a possible Lee trade. The Indians want top pitching that could contribute in the majors soon. Kyle Drabek would appeal to the Indians, but the Phillies have been reluctant to trade Drabek, even for Halladay. 

However, the Phillies may have enough high-upside pitching to meet the Indians' demands without including Drabek.

10:53am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that there's a 25-50% chance the Indians trade Cliff Lee. Here are more details on the Indians' ace:

  • The Phillies, Dodgers, Angels, Rays and Rangers all have interest in Lee.
  • If no one offers the Indians multiple prospects, including a high-upside pitcher, they won't deal him.
  • The Indians discussed an extention with Lee this spring, but never made him an offer, so Lee told the team he'll test free agency after 2010 (assuming the Indians pick up his $9MM option for next year).
  • Lee says he understands he might be traded. Unlike Roy Halladay, he has no say in where he ends up, however.

Roy Halladay Rumors: Tuesday

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11:02pm: It appears we've passed J.P. Ricciardi's self-imposed deadline to deal Halladay. We probably should just pack it in, huh? Nah. MLB.com's Jordan Bastian has the word from Ricciardi, who dismisses the "soft" deadline he laid out. Still, Bastian reports that they're no closer to making a decision, and that it appears more and more likely Doc remains a Blue Jay. And so it goes.

9:11pm: Gordon Edes at Yahoo has a pretty big update on the discussions. It appears the Red Sox have amped up their efforts to obtain the Doc, and they're willing to include Buchholz, one of Lars Anderson, Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden, and lesser prospects to fill out the rest of the offer.

Edes also reneges on his earlier report that Westmoreland had been part of a Red Sox proposal, and thinks that any reports about the Red Sox involving a third team to get a shortstop to Toronto are untrue.

7:07pm: Jon Heyman tweets an AL executive's comment that Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden and Ryan Westmoreland "won't get it done" to obtain Halladay.

6:44pm: T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com says that the Rangers are reluctant to part with their top prospects for Halladay. The Blue Jays reportedly asked for a king's ransom of Derek Holland, Justin Smoak and Julio Borbon.

5:00pm: ESPN.com's Keith Law hears that the Red Sox have no intention of including Westmoreland in any deal. 

4:40pm: Jayson Stark reports that the same Blue Jays scout who watched Kyle Drabek pitch last night will be in Lehigh Valley to watch as shortstop Jason Donald comes off the DL for his first start since June. Both minor leaguers could be part of a Phils-Jays trade.

3:59pm: Dan Roche, an anchor for WBZTV, hears that the Red Sox did not offer Buchholz, Bowden and Westmoreland for Halladay.

1:57pm: Yahoo's Gordon Edes reports that the Red Sox offered "at least" Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden and Ryan Westmoreland to the Blue Jays for Halladay.  In my opinion, that is a very strong offer.  Edes says the Jays would like to acquire a shortstop since they are "vigorously shopping" Marco Scutaro.  That means the Sox might need to get creative.

Edes says Daniel Bard and Casey Kelly "have been declared off-limits by the Red Sox."  And while the Dodgers deem Clayton Kershaw untouchable, they've at least discussed internally the possibility of moving Chad Billingsley.  Billingsley might be the best name we've heard yet in connection with Halladay, though remember that Edes labeled that an internal discussion.

1:29pm: The Associated Press (via ESPN) reports that Rogers Communications, the company that owns the Blue Jays, wants to bring its costs under control. The Blue Jays have said they don't have to deal Halladay, who has over $20MM left on his contract, for financial reasons.

1:12pm: ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says the Blue Jays and Phillies both need to complete a Roy Halladay trade. Ruben Amaro Jr. will be criticized if he can't get Halladay and J.P. Ricciardi's chance to get more than one impact player for his ace disappears at 4:01 EST on Friday.

12:53pm: Sherman says the Rangers are very much involved in the Halladay talks. The Jays want three of the Rangers' best prospects. Not only is GM Jon Daniels reluctant to give up that much talent, he has limited financial flexibility and the Blue Jays are refusing to take on salary.

The Jays want high-ceiling, MLB-ready players instead of many players who are further from contributing in the majors.

10:55am: Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail says many top Blue Jays people are deciding whether to trade Halladay. It's not just Ricciardi's decision.

Meanwhile, SI's Tom Verducci weighs in.  He talked to a scout who spoke of an organizational "tug of war" in Philly, with Pat Gillick and Charlie Manuel pushing the win-now move for Doc while Ruben Amaro Jr. and other player development guys are reluctant to move top prospects.

Verducci says Carlos Carrasco doesn't do anything for the Jays, and they'll require either Drabek or Jason Knapp.  The Angels and Dodgers are the other top suitors for Halladay, in Verducci's opinion.

10:07am: Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears that the Blue Jays insist on receiving Drabek because they consider Happ a middle-to-back-of-the-rotation starter. They want Happ, but may relent if the Phillies give up Drabek.

The Phillies remain favorites to add Doc, but the Red Sox and Rangers could still acquire him.

9:04am: Here's a quick summary of yesterday's Roy Halladay rumors, 15 updates and nearly 400 comments later. The Phillies and Jays reached an "impasse" in their negotiations since neither side wanted to change its offer. The Red Sox are planning a big move, but the Jays would ask the Red Sox or Yankees to give up more than other teams. And what about those other teams? Don't expect the Twins to trade for Halladay, and the Dodgers don't seem likely either. Here are today's rumors:

Tim Dierkes also contributed to this post.

Mariners Ready To Sell

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10:45pm: Adam McCalvy at MLB.com talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who confirmed his discussions with Zduriencik. According to Melvin, Zduriencik "hasn't decided yet" if he'll deal a starter. The Brewers were hit hard today, as fill-in Carlos Villanueva allowed five runs in four innings, and the team also discovered that Jeff Suppan has a strained oblique and will be out indefinitely.

8:30pm: There's more from Morosi and Rosenthal, who say scouts from the Phillies, Rangers, Yankees and Brewers are all checking out Washburn's start tonight.

6:57pm: Morosi and Rosenthal updated their previous post, and they say that the Brewers and Mariners have talked about Washburn. They remind us that Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik was a former exec for the Brewers and say that "many in the industry believe the Brewers have an edge." Zduriencik is said to be a fan of the injured Rickie Weeks, who could be included as a PTBNL.

6:06pm: Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal are now reporting that Washburn is "officially available" and that the Mariners have informed the Yankees, who plan to make an offer soon. The Brewers also could be interested in Washburn.

12:27pm: The Mariners are shifting into "sell mode," according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Jarrod Washburn is available and contending teams may be able to pry pitchers Mark Lowe, Sean White and Brandon Morrow away as well.

One rival official says the Mariners are "about ready to do some things" now that they're 7.5 games out of a playoff spot and on a four game losing streak.

Dodgers After George Sherrill

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TUESDAY: Paul Hoynes reported earlier that the Dodgers might be shifting efforts from Cliff Lee to Sherrill, and Gordon Edes at Yahoo agrees. Edes says the Dodgers could package Elbert as well as third baseman Blake DeWitt to fill in the Orioles' immediate needs. He also lists the Phillies among four other teams interested in Sherrill.

MONDAY: Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse tweets that the Dodgers "are in hard on" Orioles closer George Sherrill. The O's, in turn, have been looking at LHP prospect Scott Elbert, "but have reservations about him." Elbert missed just about the entire 2007 season with shoulder surgery, but has recovered nicely to strike out 20 batters in 17.1 big league innings.

The Dodgers have been looking for pitching help for some time, and they added a key lefthander to the roster today, activating Hong-Chih Kuo from the disabled list.

Pirates Intend To Deal Sanchez, Wilson?

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9:53pm: Henry Schulman at the San Francisco Chronicle and Gordon Edes at Yahoo have both heard that a deal sending Sanchez to the Giants was close to completion last night, but were halted due to aforementioned concerns about Sanchez's knee. Schulman hears conflicting reports on what the Pirates are demanding in return, but says any prospects involved will be on a higher level than the previously-dealt Scott Barnes.

9:35pm: Though scratches of Sanchez and Wilson from the Pirates' lineup made people curious tonight, Kovacevic says that there's "nothing likely" to happen tonight with them.

5:35pm: Kovacevic has updated his previous report, saying that "primary" talks about Sanchez have been with the Giants, and they "were believed to have intensifed last night." But Kovacevic says the Twins are still in the mix as well.

3:28pm: A Pirates official tells Kovacevic that the club doesn't need to move either Sanchez or Wilson and won't trade them unless they see a good offer.

Meanwhile, Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the Giants are pretty seriously involved in talks for Sanchez.

2:16pm: Jeff Fletcher of AOL Fanhouse hears that the Angels are "likely looking" at Sanchez.  The way Howie Kendrick and Maicer Izturis are hitting lately, that'd be a curious acquisition.

1:33pm: ESPN.com's Jayson Stark hears that the Pirates plan on dealing Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson this week. The Giants could be suitors for Sanchez and the Red Sox have considered Wilson in the past.

9:58am: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hears that the Pirates have put off extension talks with Sanchez and Wilson until after the deadline and will instead entertain trade offers for them. The trade talks may not stop this Friday; if either player clears wiavers, the Pirates will be able to deal him until the end of August.

Kovacevic hears the Pirates may be open to paying some of Sanchez's 2010 contract to acquire better prospects in a possible trade.

8:27am: The Pirates still have a number of players attracting interest from other teams. Here's the latest on their trade candidates, from John Perrotto of PiratesReport.com:

  • Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is trying to persuade his GM to go after Zach Duke, who won't become a free agent until after the 2011 season.
  • The Cubs have stepped up their pursuit of reliever John Grabow, but they may not have the prospects to interest the Pirates.
  • The Twins and Braves have checked in on Freddy Sanchez, but some executives believe the Pirates will have trouble moving him without contributing to the $8.1MM option for next year that's likely to vest.
  • The Red Sox are once again "kicking the tires" on Jack Wilson.
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Odds & Ends: Nationals, Mets, Padres

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Mark Buehrle is human, for now. Aren't we all? Congrats to him on a ridiculous run. Here are some links to chew on in the meantime, with more to come:

  • Chico Harlan at the Washington Post runs down the Nationals' trade chips, and says that the Nats' asking price for them is still reported to be high.
  • Mets COO Jeff Wilpon has come out to defend the job of GM Omar Minaya, as David Lennon at Newsday reports, after his bizarre meltdown in a press conference yesterday announcing the firing of assistant Tony Bernazard.
  • With the Padres apparently more willing to sell their big pieces, Corey Brock at MLB.com wonders whether dealing Heath Bell or Adrian Gonzalez would be more beneficial in the rebuilding process.
  • Bill Ladson at MLB.com says that if the Nationals can't trade Nick Johnson, they'll need to figure out his contract situation soon. He's seeking a two-year deal, and reportedly wants a raise from the three-year, $16.5MM extension he previously signed.
  • Jayson Stark at ESPN provides some background drama to the positions of the GMs in Philadelphia and Toronto.
  • Rob Biertempfel at the Pittsburgh Post-Tribune reports that the Pirates signed fifth-round pick Nathan Baker, but he's only one of 18 signed out of 51 as the deadline looms.
  • Lyle Spencer at MLB.com doesn't think you should expect the Angels to include Erick Aybar in any deals.

Braves Looking For A Reliever?

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8:12pm: Rosenthal and Morosi now believe the Braves might be backing off their hunt for relief help. The reason? The imminent return of Tim Hudson, who they may use in the bullpen to lighten his load. They had been looking at Wuertz and the Blue Jays' Jason Frasor.

10:22am: The Braves may be confident they can win without making deals, but they'd still like to add a reliever, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Atlanta inquired on A's reliever Michael Wuertz, and the club is also in hot pursuit of an under-the-radar arm, according to FOX Sports' sources.

Rangers “Scrambling” For Starters

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According to T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com, the recent health issues with Vicente Padilla and Kevin Millwood have the Rangers "scrambling" to add a starting pitcher before the deadline. As Sullivan reported earlier, the Rangers were in the mix for Roy Halladay but balked at the asking price of three top prospects.

As we already know, the Rangers' recent financial troubles will make it less likely they add significant payroll. Sullivan also reports that the Rangers were a contender for Ryan Garko before he was traded to the Giants.

Freddy Sanchez Scratched

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7:24pm: And down goes another rumor (for now): Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi at FOX Sports say Sanchez was not a healthy scratch, as his lingering knee issues forced him from the lineup. Still, with the Pirates in town for a series, the Giants' trainers reportedly personally examined Sanchez's knee last night, and teams are still in talks.

6:53pm: Multiple people have informed us that Freddy Sanchez was a healthy scratch from the Pirates' lineup tonight, and Henry Schulman at the San Francisco Chronicle is "getting more hints" that a trade is on the horizon, though it's not clear to whom. He cites the Giants and Twins as the top suitors. Stay tuned.

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