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Rangers Pursuing Cantu, Eyeing Derrek Lee

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5:06pm: The Marlins are not close to sending Cantu to the Rangers, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). The Rockies have stepped up their bid for Cantu and the Giants are still involved.

4:21pm: The Rangers are interested in Cantu, but are "evaluating a number of bats," a source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link).

3:55pm: The Rangers are "closing in" on a deal for Cantu, a source tells Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.

3:30pm: The Rangers have asked about Cantu more than other clubs have, but they don't necessarily have an edge over the Giants or Rockies, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post (via Twitter).

7:44am: The Rangers are known to be seeking a right-handed hitting first baseman, perhaps a platoon partner for Chris Davis.  USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweets that they are "in deep conversations" with the Marlins for Jorge Cantu, and "taking a close look" at the Cubs' Derrek Lee.  They'd also like to add another starting pitcher and a lefty reliever.

Lee is the new name in the mix for the Rangers, though he and Cantu are used to being regulars.  Neither player has hit like a regular first baseman this year – Cantu is at .260/.309/.412, and Lee stands at .251/.338/.391.  Their contracts are significant – Cantu has $2.28MM remaining and Lee has $4.95MM.  The Rangers have also been linked to players such as Ty Wigginton, Mike Lowell, and Wes Helms.

Nightengale's contention that the Rangers would like to add another starter is surprising.  Four days ago, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggested on Twitter that a pitching surplus could make Rich Harden or Scott Feldman trade bait.

Tigers, Rangers Losing Interest In Lowell

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The Tigers and Rangers have been eyeing Mike Lowell, but both teams are losing interest in the infielder, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com. The Rangers appear to be pursuing Jorge Cantu aggressively, so their interest in Lowell has faded. 

The Tigers had amateur scouting director David Chadd watch Lowell rehab with the Pawtucket Red Sox recently, according to Edes. Detroit just lost infielders Carlos Guillen and Brandon Inge to the DL, but a big league source tells Edes that the Tigers aren’t likely to obtain Lowell.

Lowell, 36, has hit .213/.308/.350 in 91 plate appearances this season, but has recently been sidelined with a hip injury. About $4.2MM remains on Lowell’s contract, but the Red Sox would take on a substantial chunk of salary in any trade.

Rangers Among Teams Interested In Chris Volstad

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Teams are asking the Marlins about Chris Volstad's availability, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. The Marlins appear undecided about the approach they'll take at the deadline, but they are reluctant to deal Volstad, Ricky Nolasco or Leo Nunez. The Rangers inquired on Volstad, but were turned away, according to Capozzi.

Volstad, 24 in September, has a 4.76 ERA with 6.1 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 so far this season. The 6'8" righty is under team control through the 2014 season, and won't hit arbitration until after next year, so it's no surprise that the Marlins prefer to keep him.

Volstad has logged 104 innings so far this season and is on track to surpass his career-high of 159. Unlike many of his teammates, Volstad had not been mentioned in trade rumors this summer before today.

Mets And Royals Discussing Francoeur, Others

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MONDAY, 3:09pm: A source tells ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that the Royals have "no interest" in Francoeur or Perez (Twitter link).

SUNDAY, 7:33pm: Talks between the Mets and Royals are fluid, though it doesn't appear that Guillen will be headed to Queens, says Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.  It seems that if Guillen is dealt elsewhere, then Kansas City would be interested in Francoeur, Martino adds.

7:00pm: Francoeur and Perez are on the block, a source tells Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter).  Another source tells Heyman that a trade with Kansas City "might happen" (Twitter link).

6:36pm: The Mets are in talks with the Royals and three names from each side are "in play," writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Those Royals players are Gil Meche, Kyle Farnsworth, and Jose Guillen while the Mets being discussed are Oliver Perez, Luis Castillo, and Jeff Francoeur.  It is unclear how advanced the talks are, cautions Rosenthal (via Twitter).

While the two sides aren't necessarily looking at a three-for-three swap, the two biggest contracts do match up well.  Meche and Perez's contracts are identical over the next two seasons, with both pitchers earning $12MM in this year and next.  The Mets made an attempt to swap the two just over a week ago.

Francoeur and Farnsworth also match up well, says Rosenthal.  Farnsworth's contract has a club option for 2011 for $5.25MM, though he has the right to void it in favor of a $500K buyout if he is traded before the 2010 World Series.  Francoeur will make $5MM this season before entering his final year of arbitration eligibility.

Cubs Willing To Eat Part Of Fukudome Contract

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The Cubs would pay part of the $4.95MM remaining on Kosuke Fukudome's contract this year and quite a bit of his $13.5MM salary for 2011, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  In mid-June, Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com reported that the Cubs approached the Red Sox about Fukudome but didn't get far due to an unwillingness to take on "an appreciable amount" of the outfielder's contract.  If both reporters are correct, the Cubs have changed their stance.

Fukudome, 33, is hitting .253/.356/.410 in 273 plate appearances this season.  April has been Fukudome's best month in each of his three big league seasons.  He slumped badly thereafter this year and in '08, though he hit well in July and August last year.  Fukudome is capable of playing right and center field.

Derrek Lee’s No-Trade Clause

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Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee has full no-trade rights.  Reporters have consulted Lee's friends for opinions on whether he'd waive them.  ESPN's Jayson Stark tweeted today:

A source who has known Lee for years says it's "highly doubtful" he'd waive his full no-trade to OK any deal at this stage.

That runs counter to what Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports wrote 12 days ago:

Lee has remained noncommittal on the issue of his no-trade clause. But some friends of the Cubs first baseman said this week that they believe he would accept a deal to the right team.

Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue pointed out to me that Lee remarked a few days after Rosenthal's report, "I would bet that not one of my friends knows who Ken Rosenthal is" (Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune via Twitter).

Here's what we know for sure: first basemen aren't in huge demand, Lee's having a lousy season, and he has a hefty $4.95MM left on his contract.

Edwin Jackson-Adam Dunn Three-Team Rumor

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1:27pm: The Diamondbacks have not yet held three-way talks with the Nationals and White Sox, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Still, they will "not hesitate to deal Edwin Jackson if they get what they want."  ESPN's Buster Olney adds via Twitter, "The Nats have made progress in their effort to trade prospects for Jackson."

11:43am: It wouldn't be late July without rumors of intriguing three-team deals.  ESPN's Jayson Stark:

Rumblings continue to surface about a possible three-team deal involving the Nationals, White Sox and Diamondbacks that would send Edwin Jackson to Washington, Adam Dunn to Chicago and a bunch of young pitchers to Arizona.

We know the Nationals like Jackson and the White Sox like Dunn, so perhaps the D'Backs can facilitate a deal and further stock up on prospects.  Jackson, who is no stranger to three-team deals, has a 5.01 ERA, 7.0 K/9, and 4.0 BB/9 in 20 starts for Arizona.  On the plus side, he turns 27 in September, averages 94 mph on his fastball, and is signed for next year.  As he was with Dan Haren, D'Backs interim GM Jerry Dipoto might be forced to sell low on Jackson.

Marlins Confused About Deadline Direction

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The Marlins are confused about their next step, according to one source of Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  The team's strong play of late puts them in a gray area – 6.5 games back in the wild card, but trailing six teams.  The Mets, Red Sox, Athletics, and Angels are in similar spots.  With the Dan Haren acquisition, the Angels wisely made a move that can help them now and in the future.

Rosenthal notes that the Marlins could trade Jorge Cantu without hurting their chances in 2010, if Logan Morrison's Triple A success carries over.  ESPN's Jayson Stark tweets that the Marlins aren't in sell mode, but they're still shopping Cantu to the Rangers, Rockies, and Giants.  Stark's colleague Gordon Edes talked to one big league source who believes a Cantu deal will get done with the Rangers, assuming the commissioner's office signs off on the financials. 

On the other hand, now might be the best time to cash in on Cody Ross if the Marlins wave the white flag.  The Fish could opt to trade Ross in the offseason before the December non-tender deadline, as they did with Jeremy Hermida last year.

Rays Interested In Chad Qualls

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The Rays are interested in Diamondbacks reliever Chad Qualls, tweets Jon Paul Morosi, but there's an "if."  The Rays would like Qualls to show at least a little consistency first.

Qualls has a brutal 8.49 ERA in 35 innings this year, though his strikeout and groundball rates are strong.  The 32-year-old righty has managed to allow 59 hits in 35 innings, which can't all be attributed to bad luck.  Qualls' stock is low enough that interim GM Jerry Dipoto would do well just to free up some of the $1.59MM left on his contract.

Tommy Hanson Switches To Scott Boras

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Braves righty Tommy Hanson hired Scott Boras as his agent this month, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Hanson had previously been with Beverly Hills Sports Council, an agency that was fractured when Dan Lozano left and took several big-name clients with him.  O'Brien notes that Boras now represents three members of the Braves' rotation, with Jair Jurrjens and Derek Lowe already in tow.  Click here to see our full list of Boras clients.

For those worried that Hanson is now less likely to sign a multiyear deal, keep in mind that that isn't really the Braves' cup of tea anyway.  Hanson will have one year and 120 days of service time after this season, so he won't be arbitration-eligible yet.  There is a possibility Hanson is arbitration-eligible after the 2011 season, if the Super Two rule remains unchanged by the new collective bargaining agreement and the cutoff keeps decreasing.  It's much too early to worry about any of that; Braves fans can rest easy knowing the team controls Hanson through 2015.

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