Amaro: Phils Have Flexibility To Add An Ace
Everyone else says the Phillies are frontrunners for Roy Halladay, but what about the Phillies themselves? GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that he has "flexibility" to add a stud pitcher. Though Amaro Jr. spoke only in general terms, the conversation was largely about Halladay.
Sherman: Yankees Won’t Trade For Halladay
Yankees officials told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that there's zero chance they trade for Roy Halladay, for the same reasons they didn't deal for Johan Santana. The cost in terms of both salary and prospects is too high.
White Sox Sign Top Pick Jared Mitchell
The White Sox are set to sign top pick Jared Mitchell, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. The 20-year-old hasn't officially signed, but he's expected to sign soon and report to Class A tomorrow. The White Sox, who selected Mitchell 23rd overall, haven't disclosed the terms of the bonus they'll award their top pick. Mitchell met the media and Ozzie Guillen at U.S. Cellular Field today.
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo now says it's a done deal. The bonus is for $1.2MM, according to PGCrossChecker.com.
Odds And Ends: Atkins, Ryan, Halladay
More links for the afternoon…
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports that the Red Sox phoned the Rockies about Garrett Atkins, who's hitting much better since the beginning of June.
- Bradford Doolittle of the Kansas City Star says the Royals can't give Mark Teahen away, but they should be open to trading him.
- Joel Sherman wonders if a contender will pick B.J. Ryan up as a lefty specialist.
- Jorge Arangure Jr. says Ryan could fit with the Marlins, who have been handing out second chances non-stop.
- MLB.com's Lyle Spencer looks at pieces the Angels could offer for Roy Halladay, about whom they have called the Blue Jays.
- But the Angels are not the only ones inquiring. As Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports, J.P. Ricciardi has received "several" calls about Halladay.
Blue Jays Release B.J. Ryan
The Blue Jays have released B.J. Ryan, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. The 33-year-old lefty signed a five year $47MM deal with the Jays before the 2006 season that was, at the time, the largest deal ever for a reliever. The contract expires after 2010, but the Jays still owe Ryan about $15MM.
Ryan dominated in 2006, striking out more than four times as many as he walked and allowing 30 fewer hits than innings pitched. However, he's been a major disappointment since missing 2007 with Tommy John surgery. He was effective last year, but has struggled in 2009, walking 7.4 batters per nine with a career-low strikeout rate and more hits allowed than innings pitched.
O’s Could Offer Sano A Deal Soon
The Orioles may be close to offering Miguel Angel Sano a deal that could surpass the $2.4MM they awarded top pick Matt Hobgood this year, according to Steve Melewski of MASN.com. ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. said Monday that the Orioles were not going to award Sano more than Hobgood or 2008 draftee Brian Matusz, who received $3.2MM. Now, Melewski says the O's could offer Sano more than $2.4MM, as they value him more than a late first rounder.
Odds And Ends: Red Sox, Strasburg, Halladay
Links for Wednesday afternoon…
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier reports that the Red Sox signed two international players named Alcantara to six-figure bonuses, but they are unrelated and neither one is related to former Red Sox player Izzy Alcantara. Mario Alcantara and Raul Alcantara are both right-handed pitchers.
- The Baltimore Sun reports that the Red Sox signed Johns Hopkins graduate Chez Angeloni as a free agent.
- Keith Law tells Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker that Stephen Strasburg has more upside than Yu Darvish, though Darvish has faced better competition.
- Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe asks Red Sox fans to slow down on the Roy Halladay talk, because Theo Epstein has given no indication that the Red Sox are interested.
- Jorge Says No! suggests the Jays should ask teams to take on a bad contract in any Halladay deal. They have a few overpaid players to choose from, especially Vernon Wells and B.J. Ryan.
- I'll be on ESPN Radio in Madison at 3:40 CST talking trades on The Big 1070. Also, check out my chat with the Benchwarmers on 590 KFNS from last night.
Ricciardi On Halladay
Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that he won't provide teams with a window to negotiate a contract extension with Roy Halladay in the event that the Jays deal their ace. Ricciardi made a variety of points about potential trades:
- The Jays have only had preliminary talks with other teams and they're still trying to decide which teams to assign their scouts to.
- The Jays would like a shortstop, but they'll pursure the best prospects available.
- The team would have no trouble paying Halladay in 2010.
- Halladay did not ask the Jays to move him.
- Halladay provided a long list of places he wouldn't play, but Ricciardi didn't name any teams.
- The Jays value Halladay as a top player in the game so Ricciardi has a gut feeling he'll keep his ace this summer.
Ricciardi says it's unlikely the Jays will keep Halladay after his current deal expires:
Heyman On Halladay, Davis, Holliday
Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Jays aren't likely to deal Roy Halladay within the AL East and will likely seek premium bats and shortstops in possible deals, since Marco Scutaro becomes a free agent after the season. Heyman hears that Halladay would likely be open to playing for most contenders. Here are some details and more rumors:
- The Jays had interest in Phillies shortstop prospect Jason Donald last year.
- Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi won't publicly rule out any destinations, but it would be much more bearable for the Jays and their fans to see Halladay pitching in the NL, or at least outside the AL East.
- Heyman wonders if the Giants could have interest. Imagine a rotation with four Cy Young Award winners plus Matt Cain. However, the Giants say they're looking for offense.
- One White Sox official says the team wouldn't have traded Gordon Beckham straight up for Jake Peavy, but they would likely have to consider dealing Beckham if they want Halladay.
- Heyman hears the Cardinals may not have the prospects to acquire Halladay. Brett Wallace and Jess Todd would presumably interest the Jays.
- Could the A's simply hold onto Matt Holliday and collect draft choices? They'd have to risk paying him $15MM or so in arbitration next year to do so and Heyman thinks it's a possibility.
- The D'Backs don't think they're hearing good enough offers for Doug Davis.
Phils Are Early Favorites For Halladay
One source told Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse that "the Phillies are leaders at this point" in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. However, that doesn't mean the Jays ace will be dealt. As another source points out, J.P. Ricciardi is not in a hurry to trade Halladay, so there's an equal chance he stays in Toronto.
And the haul Halladay could bring? The Erik Bedard trade (Adam Jones, George Sherrill and others) and the Dan Haren trade (Carlos Gonzalez, Brett Anderson and others) could be benchmarks.
Jon Heyman of SI.com heard from an executive who believes the Jays would hesitate to deal Halladay within their own division. Does that make the Phillies favorites?
The executives who spoke with Joel Sherman of the New York Post believe the Phillies are the frontrunners for Halladay. The Phillies want to win now and they think Halladay's ground ball-based approach would thrive in their homer-friendly park.
Sherman also heard the Rangers and Cardinals could make strong plays for Halladay. The Rangers are borrowing money from MLB, but some believe they could spend enough to make a push for the Blue Jays' ace, who has about $23MM remaining on his current deal. Texas has many appealing pieces to offer. However, we heard last week that they have "limited" ability to add payroll.