Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Archives for July 2009

Heyman On Halladay, Pedro, Ackley, Andruw

By | at

SI.com's Jon Heyman hears that the Blue Jays could keep Roy Halladay, especially since Toronto fans would not be receptive to a deal that sends their ace elsewhere. If the Jays do deal Halladay, they say they're looking for two premium prospects who will be ready for the majors next year and two other prospects who are further away from making big league contributions. Here are the details and the rest of Heyman's rumors:

  • One executive says the Phillies, Giants and Angels have the best shots at acquiring Halladay.
  • The Yankees and Mets have both spoken with the Blue Jays.  
  • It seems odd for teams to set some prospects off limits when the Jays are making Halladay available, but teams like the Rangers and Giants could conceivably deal for Doc and hold onto one or two of their top prospects.  
  • Executives haven't heard that the Blue Jays are trying to unload Vernon Wells' salary in a combined deal with Halladay.  
  • No executives believe teams would take Wells under any circumstances. They have "no shot" at moving him, according to one executive.
  • Heyman credits Pedro Martinez's agent, Fern Cuza, for some impressive deals but doubts the report that suggested the Phillies will pay Pedro $4MM, unless it's prorated.  
  • Scott Boras met Mariners people to discuss second-overall pick Dustin Ackley, but the two sides made little progress. 
  • Heyman praises Andruw Jones for turning down offers from the Braves and Yankees to sign in Texas with coach Rudy Jaramillo.  

Odds And Ends: Pujols, Pirates, Marlins

By | at

Links for Friday…

Yuniesky Betancourt Rumors

By | at

11:32am: Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune reports that Betancourt is healthy and was genuinely puzzled after being removed from last night's lineup. As Divish points out, Zduriencik's "no comment" suggests something's up.

9:22am: As MLB.com's Jim Street notes, the Mariners have been pleased with Ronny Cedeno's performance during Yuniesky Betancourt's DL stint, so there's a chance they deal Batancourt within the next week. 

Betancourt was removed from the lineup before a rehab game in Triple A last night, so Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times asked GM Jack Zduriencik whether an injury or a disciplinary issue prompted the move, but Zduriencik declined to comment.

If the Mariners deal Betancourt, who still has at least $10MM coming his way on his current deal, they would presumably be paying some of his contract.

Roy Halladay Rumors: Friday

By | at

For all of the Pedro Martinez rumors, Roy Halladay remains the best pitcher available. Here's the latest buzz surrounding the ace ace of a Jays team that's now fallen below .500:

  • The Rangers have enough money coming off the books in 2010 to afford Halladay then, so his 2009 salary could be the team's biggest obstacle, according to Jamey Newberg. If the Rangers can afford Halladay this year, Newberg says the Rangers could give up Neftali Feliz or Justin Smoak- not both- along with Taylor Teagarden and others. But Derek Holland and Martin Perez are untouchable for Newberg.
  • MLB.com's Todd Zolecki suspects that the Phillies would part with Jason Knapp, Dominic Brown or Kyle Drabek in the right deal if it meant adding Halladay.
  • He only spoke in general terms, but Cards GM John Mozeliak told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch "there is always a chance to do a deal."
  • Jim Donaldson of the Providence Journal doesn't think Halladay's worth the price for the Red Sox.

Jays And Reds Talked; No Rolen Deal Likely

By | at

10:18am: Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News says the Reds are not trading for Rolen. The Blue Jays and Reds talked, but the Jays are not interested in Encarnacion and the Reds would have trouble taking on Rolen's contract.

McCoy spoke with a Reds official who says the team has no room for Garrett Atkins.

9:42am: The Reds are interested in hot-hitting third baseman Scott Rolen, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. They've discussed him internally, scouted him and dangled Edwin Encarnacion to the Blue Jays. Elliott says J.P. Ricciardi would like prospects in return for Rolen, whose contract the Jays wouldn't mind shedding. Rolen's on a 25-game hit streak, with a .330 average and an .876 OPS, so the $16.5MM remaining on his deal before the end of next year is palatable, especially when you consider his strong defense.

Encarnacion is much cheaper than Rolen, but he's hit poorly in the few games he hasn't missed due to wrist problems this year.

Red Sox Agree To Terms With Cuban SS

By | at

The Red Sox have agreed to sign Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias to a deal worth over $8MM, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. We heard that the Red Sox were close to signing the defensive phenom a week ago, but it looks like the agreement is complete, though an official announcement isn't expected until later in the month.

Iglesias, 19, has drawn comparisons to Ozzie Smith for his glove-work and while scouts don't love his hitting, he should bat will enough to become a major league regular, according to Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus.

Pirates Hope To Deal Adam LaRoche

By | at

The Pirates would like to deal Adam LaRoche and his $7MM salary, but he's only attracting minimal interest, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The 29-year-old first baseman becomes a free agent for the first time after the season. He's hitting .259/.345/.464 with 12 homers so far, better than he usually does in the first half. Over the course of his career, LaRoche's OPS is 129 points higher in the second half.

The Pirates are prepared to continue dealing after July 31st, since some of their players, possibly LaRoche, could clear waivers, allowing them to make more moves.

Freddy Sanchez Rumors: Friday

By | at

The Giants and Twins are interested in Freddy Sanchez, but no deal is imminent for the Pirates' second baseman. Here are the latest Sanchez rumors from Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports and Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

  • Morosi says the Twins and Giants are interested, but would probably want to see Sanchez, who has missed the last six games with a back issue, prove his health before making a deal. 
  • The Rockies don't appear to have serious interest. That's hardly a surprise, given Clint Barmes' work at second base and Colorado's need for relievers.
  • In addition to the Giants and Rockies, Kovacevic hears that the Pirates have spoken to as many as five teams.
  • The Giants would move Jonathan Sanchez, but he would not be enough on his own.  
  • Both reporters identify an obstacle for interested teams: the vesting option that will allow Sanchez to make $8MM next year if he continues playing regularly.

Pirates “Pushing Hard” To Deal Sanchez

By | at

8:49pm: Geoff Baker reports that one of the Pirates’ top scouts is in Seattle to watch the Mariners play the Rangers. Baker speculates that it could be related to the availability of Sanchez or Jack Wilson.

8:34pm: Jeff Fletcher of AOL Fanhouse has a source that says if a Sanchez deal is imminent “it’s not to the Giants.”

4:48pm: Troy Renck of the Denver Post says giving up Young to acquire Sanchez “makes no sense” for the Rockies, who would be more likely to pursue Matt Capps.

3:52pm: Perrotto reports that the Pirates could deal Sanchez by this weekend. The Rockies are frontrunners, and appear to be willing to part with 2007 first rounder Casey Weathers. Apparently Carlos Gonzalez’s name has been mentioned in talks as well. The Twins and Giants still have interest in Sanchez.

Perrotto hears that the Pirates would not have a player replace Sanchez at the All-Star Game if they deal him before Tuesday.

11:49am: One NL executive told Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Pirates are “pushing hard” to deal Freddy Sanchez. The Rockies, Giants and as many as five other teams have spoken with the Pirates about their All-Star second baseman.

Sanchez makes $6.1MM this year and will make $8MM in 2010 if he picks up 271 plate appearances before the end of the season.

10:05am: The Rockies are interested in Freddy Sanchez, according to John Perrotto at The Insider On Pittsburgh Sports. The Pirates apparently “love” Rockies minor leaguer Eric Young Jr., a 24-year-old with 23 extra base hits, 37 walks and 47 steals already. 

The Rockies have had Clint Barmes at second base for most of the year, who has the same number of extra base hits as Sanchez and a comparable OPS, so the Rockies would be paying a lot for simlar production if they give up Young.

Odds And Ends: Moneyball, Draft Signings, Halladay

By | at

A few more links for your evening…

  • Jon Weisman of the LA Times reports that the movie based on “Moneyball” has once again been green-lighted with Aaron Sorkin signed on to finish the script.
  • The Mariners have signed their supplemental first round pick, Steven Baron, for $980K.
  • Keith Law reports that negotiations between the Brewers and one of their supplemental picks, #39 overall Kentrail Davis, have “gotten ugly” after the Brewers agreed to his demands and then he turned it down.
  • Joel Sherman reports that if Roy Halladay is traded to the NL before the All-Star game, he will not be permitted to pitch in the mid-summer classic for the AL, but could be allowed to pitch for the NL representing his new team.
  • Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says the Roy Halladay situation is unlike two other situations in which big-name pitchers were traded within the AL East, including David Cone and Roger Clemens.

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top