The Yankees are not actively looking for a utility infielder, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal names Willie Bloomquist, John McDonald and Jayson Nix as options the Yanks could consider should they decide that they want more experience than Kevin Russo and Ramiro Pena can offer. Here are the rest of Rosenthal's rumors:
- Adrian Beltre will almost certainly reject his player option after the season and re-enter free agency. He has been one of the game's best players this year, rating characteristically well on defense (according to UZR) and hitting .336/.371/.528.
- The Mariners won't necessarily get a first round pick in next year's draft if they hold onto Cliff Lee. First of all, a losing team could sign Lee (the first 15 picks are protected). Secondly, a team could sign Lee and a free agent who ranks higher under the Elias system. That would mean the Mariners get a supplementary rounder and a second rounder.
- If the Rangers are sold before the winter, they could be a potential landing spot for Carl Crawford, one executive suggested.
- Rosenthal hears that Astros owner Drayton McLane is not against the idea of trading Roy Oswalt to Texas, though the Rangers' ability to take on payroll and the pitcher's no-trade clause could prevent a deal from going through.
- The Marlins inquired on Matt Thornton back when the White Sox were sellers. Now, the White Sox would not consider dealing the left-hander.
- If White Sox GM Kenny Williams becomes a buyer, he may pursue a left-handed bat.
- The Mariners want major league or major league-ready hitters for Cliff Lee, but the Dodgers' best prospects are a few years away from the majors.
- The Rockies are interested in Ty Wigginton, according to Rosenthal's colleague, Tracy Ringolsby.
- The Rays will look for impact players at the trade deadline.
Off the Wall Suggestion for the Orioles:
Trade Adam Jones, Nolan Reimold and another 2 prospects to the M’s for Cliff Lee.
Sign Lee to a long-term deal. Move Pie to CF when healthy (meaning next year) and sign Carl Crawford to play LF. Lee and Crawford will need to be paid more than market value and we will still need a power hitting 1B, but I think it would be a huge step in the right direction.
Now, before anyone starts yelling what crap this is…I agree it will never happen, but an O’s fan has to dream about superstars and wins, well because it ain’t going to happen in reality.
This is all fine and dandy, but why trade for Lee? You’re going nowhere this year. Just keep your prospects and sign these two players. Trading prospects is the dumbest thing a franchise like this could do.
Type A signings like Crawford need to be timed well for franchises like Baltimore. Specifically, those players need to be brought in only when team is prepared to make a run for a few years.
In the absence of like three other significant moves, the Orioles just aren’t there right now.
I am listening…what are the “like three other significant moves.”
Since clearly I am the second coming of P. Angelos, I need to be advised on how to turn around a franchise with 12 consecutive seasons.
Exactly. There don’t seem to be any. So don’t make them. Lose more in the immediate so you can have a chance at success in the future.
It is as if you have never seen baseball outside of Baltimore.
Wait…baseball is actually played in Baltimore.
Do they actually still play it IN Baltimore? Doesn’t seem like it these days.
If the Rangers could somehow manage to land Carl Crawford AND Cliff Lee/Roy-O… game over AL West for the next five years.
you could say that about basically any team…
yeah… but the rumors are about the rangers. so i’ll say it about them.
none of the 15 protected pick teams can take on a contract as large as Lee’s as a free agent and even if they can they aren’t competetive enough.
Please tell me how you know which teams will have protected 1st round picks in next years draft. Also if you could tell me who is going to win the next 5 world series I’d appreciate that as well…
The Yankees. Happy?
Just kidding. It’s the Orioles. I heard they’re going to trade Jones, Reimold, and two other prospects for Cliff Lee. Then, after they resign Lee, they’re going to sign Carl Crawford.
And that about does it amirite
Haha, awesome.
If I’m not mistaken, the Mets were a bottom 15 team last year, and they signed some guy to a big contract. I think his name was Jason Bay or something.
you should be a gm
“If White Sox GM Kenny Williams becomes a buyer, he may pursue a left-handed bat.”
Really? I had no idea… Rosenthal, your powers of deduction are mind-boggling.
Wonder which horrible offensive stadium Boras will stick Beltre at next season? Seattle is out, he already mugged that ownership for 5 seasons and suffered offensively. Return to Chavez Ravine perhaps? Maybe the divorce gets finalized and they find some cash under a few pillows with Ramirez finally gone. Oakland? Beane might even take a gamble again like last year, he likes this guy. Giants? Sabean is another prime candidate for a move like this and Sandoval could move across the diamond.
One thing, he sure looks different playing 1/2 his games at a park more or less built for him, shame it will only be for a season.
$10M for first-rate defense a .330/.370/.500 year and two picks would be a helluva bargain.
Crawford’s power numbers would almost certainly increase if Texas was able to sign him, but I see the Rangers pursuing pitching if they have their finances worked out.
The yankees aren’t going to change anything unless they start losing, and if they were going to change anything it wouldn’t be for a utility player.
Only issues for Oswalt to Texas are money and prospects. The no-trade clause is nothing because Oswalt wants to go to a team that is in 1st place–which the Rangers are.
Does no one think the Sox will try to extend Beltre before the season and void the option next year? I know Boras is against it, but if Beltre is thinking whats best for his career, as many have said, his swing is made for Fenway. He’s having a great season across the board, and it would just surprise me if negotiations didn’t at least start up, even if no deal is reached.
Jesus I sure hope not.
.373 BABIP and a 15:45 BB/K ratio. Absolutely not. Completely unsustainable. Given the contract he’d demand after a year like this, give me Middlebrooks before Beltre again, not to take away the impressive start, but he’s been very lucky.
I don’t know that the Sox won’t be willing to pay it again. They have been after beltre for a long time and I don’t see them trying to do a “stopgap” at 3B next year, unless somehow lowrie magically gets it together or Bill Hall proves he can do it on a daily basis.
They have a “stopgap” in Cameron. Scutaro is a stopgap to Iglesias (hopefully). It would be risky to let Beltre go.
Secondly, I disagree with you Beltre can’t sustain, and itd be bad for his career to leave Boston. He’s in a great lineup where he can produce, and with all the money comin off the books, I can’t imagine they wouldn’t be able to afford Beltre. Is he going to continue to hit .330, very unlikely. But the power numbers are about on par with what I honestly expected and the glove is amazing to watch. He works great with the current Sox infield.
Lastly, his age will give the Sox some leverage. The Sox are obviously not going to pursue him if he looks for 5 years, just like Bay. He’s not going to have Bays luck finding a very stupid big deal.
If they extended him 3/38 or something like that with a signing bonus, I think itd be hard for him to turn down and I think its a good deal for both sides.
.373 BABIP and a 15:45 BB/K ratio. Absolutely not. Completely unsustainable. Given the contract he’d demand after a year like this, give me Middlebrooks before Beltre again, not to take away the impressive start, but he’s been very lucky.
There’s not much threat to not getting the 1st round pick for Lee (assuming Elias rankings stay fairly similar to what they currently are), the biggest being the protected picks. Only Jeter and Pujols (for 2011) have higher rankings, and Pujol’s option is no question. Jeter will probably be resigned by the Yankees, and the closest FA is Rafael Soriano at 88.683 vs Lee’s 88.860.
So I wouldn’t put it past the Mariners to expect a bigger haul for Lee, mostly because I wouldn’t be surprised if Jack Z followed MLBTraderumors and is aware of the current rankings.
If I were the Rays, I’d be looking for an “impact” bat, the pitching will take care of itself (with Hellickson coming up from AAA). Whos available, Dunn perhaps?