Injuries Limit Padres Trades
Most teams are sellers at the deadline if they're 18 games under .500 and 13.5 games out of a playoff spot. But as Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports.com says, this year's San Diego Padres will struggle to unload payroll and add prospects in trades because they have so many injured players. With Jake Peavy, Brian Giles, Henry Blanco, David Eckstein, Chris Young, Nick Hundley, Cliff Floyd, Cha Seung Baek and Shawn Hill on the DL, the Padres have few pieces to consider moving.
Indians Seek Pitching; Are “Extremely Busy”
Indians GM Mark Shapiro has no idea if he'll make any trades this July, but he's "extremely busy and active," according to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince. Though he's not sure he'll make a deal, Shapiro knows he would want to acquire pitching in return for any of his players.
Marlins No Longer Buyers?
It looked like the Marlins might be buyers this July, but after losing three games to the NL East-leading Phillies, that may be about to change. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Marlins are neither buyers nor sellers at the moment. Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post believes they're buyers for now, but says that could change soon.
Brad Penny’s Future
The Red Sox have a surplus of starting pitching, and ESPN.com's Buster Olney says it's possible they'll deal Brad Penny for a Grade B prospect in the next couple weeks. We've heard very little about Penny in the last month, but he could fit on a team like the Brewers, who are short on starters.
Odds And Ends: Reds, Tigers, Hernandez
Even more links for your perusal…
- Larry Stone of the Seattle Times says the Mariners' combination of brilliant fielding, top starters, journeymen and injuries present a "true conundrum" to GM Jack Zduriencik: Buy or sell?
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told MLB.com's Jason Beck that "scoring runs is a concern," but not an urgent one. Carlos Guillen is rehabbing, so he'll provide a boost, but Dombrowski says his hitters have to perform better as a group.
- It's not getting any easier for the Reds. They face the Dodgers and Cubs this week and they'll have to play without Ramon Hernandez, who will miss 4-6 weeks to undergo knee surgery, according to the Sports Network, via the Miami Herald. The Reds will rely on Ryan Hanigan, who has out-hit Hernandez so far this year.
- Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post says the Mets, for now, are the most expensive fourth-place team in history. Their $136MM payroll leads the NL.
- Bradford Doolittle of the Kansas City Star says the Royals are in trouble because their relievers are "expensive and bad."
- Follow MLBTR on Twitter for all of your trade deadline updates.
Odds & Ends: Draft, Salazar, Meredith, Royals
Some more links as we inch closer and closer to the July 31 trade deadline…
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker suggests Major League Baseball should consider re-working its draft system. Here's the gist of his idea: "What I’d propose is a regulated amateur free agent system, in which the draft is discarded entirely. Every amateur player who meets the entry criteria (age, education, whatever) would be allowed to negotiate and sign with any team, regardless of national origin." Check it out.
- The Baltimore Sun's Peter Schmuck gives his take on the Oscar Salazar-for-Cla Meredith swap: "Oscar was the ultimate good soldier, waiting for his turn without complaint and performing very well as a spot player recently."
- As Joe Posnanski points out, the Royals have won just 19 of their last 62 games. Just how bad is that mark? The Dodgers have never lost as many games in a 62-game stretch.
- Baseball America's Ben Badler reports that the Indians signed Jairo Kelly, a switch-hitting Dominican shortstop.
Dodgers Eyeing Reds Relievers
The Dodgers can help themselves in more ways than one if they play well against the Reds this week. As MLB.com's Ken Gurnick points out, the Dodgers can push the Reds further from contention and give themselves a better shot at obtaining one of the Cincinnati relievers they've been watching. The Dodgers are trying to improve their 'pen, so they've been eyeing Francisco Cordero, David Weathers and Arthur Rhodes along with O's closer George Sherrill.
Odds And Ends: Smoltz, Cards, Rangers
Some links as we begin a week of non-stop rumors…
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post says John Smoltz, Jonathan Sanchez and Jason Schmidt, who all start tonight, will have an impact on their teams' deadline decisions. Red Sox officials want to see how much they can count on Smoltz, Sanchez can quiet teams' concerns about his control with a good start and Schmidt can provide the Dodgers a back-of-the-rotation arm.
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Troy Glaus and Khalil Greene are both advancing to Triple A for the next stage of their respective rehab assignments.
- Evan Brunell of the Hardball Times finds the Padres-Orioles trade baffling from the Padres' perspective.
- Texas Rangers Trades interviews MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan and the chat is worth a read.
- Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram lists 11 pitchers the Rangers could potentially trade for, including Roy Halladay.
Orioles Rumors: Huff, Scott, Meredith, Sano
The Orioles could move a number of their players; here are the latest rumblings on the subject:
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the O's aren't enthused about dealing Luke Scott or Aubrey Huff.
- Roch Kubatko of MASN.com notes that Oscar Salazar is out of options, so the Orioles did well to trade him for bullpen inventory and acquire Cla Meredith.
- Steve Melewski of MASN.com hears that the Orioles remain "very interested" in Miguel Angel Sano, but it could be a month before the Dominican shortstop signs.
Multiple Teams Interested In Sherrill
The Marlins, Dodgers, Brewers, Angels and Cubs all have some interest in Orioles closer George Sherrill, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Orioles would listen to offers, but one rival GM says they're "playing the 'don't-have-to-move-him-so-make-us' card." However, others are confident the O's will move him.