The Cardinals are targeting Jake Westbrook, rival teams tell ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. The Cards are no longer pursuing Aaron Cook or Livan Hernandez, since they’re focused on the Indians right-hander. However, Stark hears that there’s just a 50% chance of a trade.
The Indians don’t want to absorb salary in a deal, but Westbrook will make about $4MM between now and the end of the season. He also obtains a $2MM bonus if the Indians trade him.
The Cardinals have been looking for an innings eater and Westbrook fits that description. The 32-year-old has posted a 4.65 ERA in 127.2 innings, with 5.1 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. Westbrook is scheduled to face the Blue Jays tomorrow.
what would the indians seriously want for this guy….i doubt it can’t be more than a AAA reliever or something.
I just don’t see this happening now. Why not just wait and see if he clears waivers?
According to Buster O. The Indians turned down Simon Castro for Westbrook last week because the Padres wanted the Indians to pay the remain monies owed to Westbrook.
Now Buster said that he thanks this deal could still happen it both teams agree to each pay half of what Westbrook is owed or if the Padres decide to include another prospect to get the indians to absord all the monies.
I will say you won’t touch Westbrook for a relief pitcher. The Indians are looking for lower level prospects at the HI A or just moved to AA guys while they are looking at their own prospects.
They also have NO interest in any prospects who are over age for the level they are at. They are interested in anybody who looks to translate into a righthanded power hitter, Shortstops , Center Fielder type with pop and speed, lower level 3rd baseman , and of course starting power arm type pitchers these are the types they will look for they are loaded at every level with relief type pitchers.
“right handed power hitter”
mark hamilton?
He’s a lefty, someone like Xavier Scruggs
Guys the indians will be intersted in no order
D’Marcus Ingram
Deryk Hooker
Xavier Scruggs
Arquimedes Nieto
Matt Carpenter
Jarred Bogany
Alex Castellanos
Edgar Lara
Several local sources the Indians radio station 1100 Am, Sto the teams tv network Chucks Last Call have both stated tonight that the Indians are so close to dealing Westbrook to the Cardinals that he may not even make his start tomorrow.
I can find this info anywhere about the Padres offering Castro for Westbrook. Can you provide a link.
Buster Olney said this about a week ago during a trade rumor update on ESPN mike and mike show Golic asked about Westbrook then he provided the following that info.
Also on the XM Mlb channel Dibble also made a comment pretty close to the same thing on Monday but I was think he most likely saw the same Mike and mike show as I did.
I cant seem to find it, thou his blog states that the Indians ask for Castro not the Padres offering Castro.
Very good fit imo. All they need is an average 4th starter/5th starter when Lohse comes back, and this guy fits the bill perfectly, especially for a staff headed by Dave Duncan. Just as long as we don’t give him a 4 year 40 million dollar contract after….
/end Lohse contract rant
The Cards need to make this happen relatively quickly in order to prevent (gulp!) Jeff Suppan from making any more starts but Westbrook will likely clear waivers. The Cards, therefore, shouldn’t feel like they absolutely have to get something done in the next 15 hours or so.
I think Suppan is starting tomorrow.
Several local sources the Indians radio station 1100 Am, Sto the teams tv network Chucks Last Call have both stated tonight that the Indians are so close to dealing Westbrook to the Cardinals that he may not even make his start tomorrow.
I really think the Cards need to be more focussed on getting middle infield help
Nah, the market seems rather barren of decent help, and Ryan is getting really unlucky. Once Freese comes back, Felipe will take over for Skip if he doesn’t get out of his funk. Uggla would be my choice if it didn’t involve Miller if we absolutely had to make a trade.
The Indians have said repeatedly that money isn’t a concern when they are trading people. They are willing to cover salary if it means a better return. Where this “Indians don’t want to absorb salary” bit comes from I have no clue.
The problem if you are trading Westbrook + 6.5 mil to cover Bonus, bump in Salary and the existing salary a trade like that will envolve a more than a 1 for 1 deal and the player returned to the Indians would have to be more than a out of the top 20 prospects for the team receiving Westbrook.
Most likely 1 player in the lower top ten prospect 1 play in the # 15 – # 20 range and 1 lower level guy outside the top 20. I have been told by my friend who is a baseball executive that this is what the return would look like with the Indians paying all the money since Westbrook has showed he is healthy.
Now I’m not saying they will get this type of return for Westbrook just saying from what I’ve been told that is the way in a perfect situation the return should look like.
I pray that they make a trade because I’m going to the game tomorow, and was ready to see Waino’ pitch in the two spot but Suppan, c’mon please get this done.