Nats Expect To Be Quiet; Will Consider Deals
The Nats will likely consider dealing Joe Beimel, Willie Harris and Nick Johnson within the next two days, but Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says the team has incentive to keep Adam Dunn and hot-hitting Josh Willingham. Harlan hears that the Nats are asking a lot for either slugger and would happily keep both.
The market for Nick Johnson has worsened now that the Red Sox and Giants added first basemen. Earlier in the month, GM Mike Rizzo said he didn't anticipate a particularly active trade deadline.
Reds Acquire Wladimir Balentien
Ed Price of AOL FanHouse reports that the Reds acquired Wladimir Balentien from the Mariners for righty Robert Manuel, who was MiLB.com's right-handed reliever of the year in Double A last year, as Jonathan Mayo points out. The Mariners designated Balentien for assignment over the weekend.
Mets Interested In Lefty Relievers
Via twitter, Danny Knobler of CBS Sports confirms Jon Heyman's report that the Mets are looking for left-handed relievers. The Mets are eighth in the Wild Card race, 5.5 games back, but they've won four straight. Some thought Pedro Feliciano could be trade bait, but the Mets now hope to add, rather than subtract.
Heyman names John Grabow, Joe Beimel and Scott Downs as possible targets for the Mets.
Pirates And Mariners Make Seven Player Deal
1:24pm: Kovacevic reports that the Pirates will pay nearly all of the money owed to Wilson and Snell this year. The Mariners will pay each player $400k. Kovacevic breaks out the calculator and finds that the Pirates will send a total of $3,308,702.19 to Seattle along with Snell and Wilson.
12:28pm: Kovacevic hears that the Pirates are contributing a "significant amount" of cash in the deal.
12:16pm: ESPN's Buster Olney believes the Mariners might be inclined to exercise Wilson's 2010 option, which wasn't likely for the Pirates. Jack Zduriencik's comments support this: "As we move forward over the next few years it is nice to know that we have solidified the shortstop position."
11:58am: Kovacevic says Cedeno's the only player who will report to the Pirates. Clement will head to Triple A, the others to A ball.
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo calls it a "pretty good haul" for the Pirates and Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus says it's the best deal the Pirates have made yet.
11:45am: Kovacevic says the Mariners acquire Wilson and Ian Snell for Clement, Ronny Cedeno, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock.
11:41am: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Mariners acquire Jack Wilson in the deal.
11:40am: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse hears that the Pirates are getting Jeff Clement from the Mariners along with other minor leaguers.
WEDNESDAY, 10:14am: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that the Indians and Rays say they're not involved in talks for Clement, who was told last night that he's about to be dealt.
TUESDAY, 11:36pm: DH/catcher Jeff Clement was pulled from the Tacoma Rainiers' lineup in the third inning tonight, according to Ryan Divish of The News Tribune. His analysis:
I have it on pretty reliable source that it is not injury related. Clement has been rumored to be part of possible trades already this season and maybe he is part of a package deal. Or perhaps, he is being called up in place of another player for the Mariners, who might be getting dealt.
Meanwhile trade target Jarrod Washburn just wrapped up what could be his last start with the Mariners. He tossed seven strong innings to lower his ERA to a sparkling 2.64 in front of scouts from the Yankees, Phillies, Brewers, and Rangers. Washburn, a Boras client and impending free agent, sure knows how to time his best seasons.
Giants Interested In Sanchez, Scutaro, Teahen
Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that Freddy Sanchez remains atop the Giants' list of bats as they continue their determined search for offense. Free agent-to-be Marco Scutaro and Mark Teahen also interest the Giants.
Quiet Deadline For Yankees?
Joel Sherman of the New York Post has the latest on the Yankees, and it sounds like they could have a quiet trade deadline. Sherman says the team is showing no inclination to pursue Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee, and has not engaged in extensive talks for Jarrod Washburn. They're not in on Bronson Arroyo, Doug Davis, or Jon Garland either. Sherman believes the Yanks might be content to let the Red Sox get Halladay:
A person close to the Steinbrenner family said that Cashman has not even asked permission to expand the 2009 payroll nor is there anticipation that ownership would allow a significant financial increase now. This is pertinent because the Yankees do believe that the Red Sox have put Clay Buchholz into a trade offer for Halladay and that Boston just might get the ace righty.
So the first-place Yankees are tightening the purse strings, despite Chien-Ming Wang's season-ending shoulder surgery.
Heyman On Blue Jays, Indians, Crawford
Believe it or not, there's more to this year's deadline than Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee. Jon Heyman of SI.com has the latest on some other trade possibilities:
- Scott Downs, Jason Frasor and Brandon League are coveted around the league, but the Jays want to figure out what to do with Halladay before dealing secondary players.
- The Dodgers are "pressing hard" for George Sherrill.
- Chad Qualls and Michael Wuertz are likely to stay put.
- The Yankees aren't involved in the Cliff Lee talks after hearing the Indians wanted Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes in return.
- It's becoming more likely that the Indians will deal Lee and Victor Martinez.
- The Nationals requested Jonathan Sanchez for Nick Johnson.
- One GM says the Rays briefly dangled Carl Crawford a few weeks ago. Sounds like they'll consider anything.
Slightly Increased Interest In Davis & Garland
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that interest in D'Backs starters Doug Davis and Jon Garland has grown "slightly." The D'Backs are open to moving one or both of the pitchers if a team approaches them with a fair offer. Earlier in the month they weren't impressed with the Brewers' offers and interest in the pair has been minimal since.
Brewers Aren’t Pursuing Washburn
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that the Brewers aren't seriously discussing a trade for Jarrod Washburn. They've lost 16 of their last 23 games and are reluctant to give up the prospects the Mariners would require in return, especially when Washburn profiles only as a Type B free agent.
The Mariners are looking to make a bigger deal involving Washburn, possibly one involving recent trade candidate Jeff Clement. Rosenthal says the Yankees inquired about the Mariners' lefty recently.
Josh Fields Wants To Be Traded
It worked for Brian Anderson, maybe it will work for Josh Fields, too. After being demoted to Triple A, the third baseman told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that he wants to be traded. Fields says he had a good meeting with White Sox GM Ken Williams, but hopes he's dealt before the deadline nonetheless.
The 26-year-old is hitting .220/.301/.354 this year and hasn't been able to find the power stroke that carried him to 23 homers in his 2007 rookie season.