Odds And Ends: Pujols, Pirates, Marlins
Links for Friday…
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Cardinals would lock Albert Pujols up to an extension as soon as possible in a perfect world.
- Bud Selig told Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Pujols, Derek Jeter and Trevor Hoffman are among baseball's best ambassadors.
- Their interest in Miguel Angel Sano is on hold, but that's not stopping the Pirates from being aggressive in Latin America. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette passes along descriptions of six Pirates signees.
- Greg Cote of the Miami Herald says the Marlins need to acquire a closer, even if it means giving up Cody Ross, Jeremy Hermida or Dan Uggla.
- MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that possible trade candidate Javier Vazquez will miss his next start with an abdominal strain.
- Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune asks his readers whether the Twins should trade for Freddy Sanchez.
- The Indians signed second rounder Jason Kipnis, according to a team press release.
- MLB.com's John Torenli reports that Padres prospect Mat Latos pitched five perfect innings last night.
Yuniesky Betancourt Rumors
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.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Friday
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
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.
Red Sox Agree To Terms With Cuban SS
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.
Pirates Hope To Deal Adam LaRoche
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.
Freddy Sanchez Rumors: Friday
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
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.
Odds And Ends: Moneyball, Draft Signings, Halladay
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.
Phils In “Serious Talks” With Pedro; No Deal Yet
7:56pm: Stark is now reporting that Pedro has changed his mind and will throw for the Phillies a second time on Friday at 1pm.
7:22pm: A source has told Jayson Stark that the Phillies have requested to see Pedro throw a second time “to see how his arm responds,” but that Pedro has refused. The source told Stark that Pedro feels the Phillies “have enough information to make a decision from his simulated game Tuesday and shouldn’t need him to throw again.”
7:18pm: Here is Todd Zolecki’s summary of the Pedro situation.
5:45pm: The AP has some quotes from Pedro and Amaro. Pedro says this is the best he has felt “for some time.” Amaro reiterated that Pedro has not been signed and that Pedro is “not in town.”
5:30pm: Jon Heyman spoke with Pedro’s agent who says Pedro will make a decision by Sunday.
5:29pm: Nobody has addressed this yet, but if the $4MM figure is accurate, it would most certainly have to be prorated, which would mean the Phillies would only pay Pedro about $2MM for the remainder of the season.
5:12pm: Zolecki is now reporting that Pedro has informed the AP that his agent “is negotiating” with the Phillies.
4:57pm: Amaro told Zolecki the Phillies haven’t signed Pedro, but wouldn’t say whether they had reached an agreement or if Pedro had a physical scheduled.
4:49pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Phils are in “pretty serious talks” with Pedro, but doesn’t confirm the report below.
4:15pm: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to comment on a report saying the Phillies signed Pedro Martinez, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. The report from CandelaDeportiva.com says Pedro signed for $4MM after showing off a fastball between 88 and 91 mph and good secondary pitches.