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Poll: Will Jayson Werth Be Traded?

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The Phillies continue talking to clubs about Jayson Werth, who is enjoying a fine season in spite of a recent slump. The right fielder is hitting .283/.373/.505 and leads the National League in doubles. He has just $2.85MM remaining on his salary and should bring someone two top picks in the 2011 draft (he will likely be a Type A free agent after the season). Simply put, Werth is available and his numbers and salary intrigue teams.

What team will Jayson Werth be playing for on August 1st?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Carlos Pena And Jose Bautista

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What does last year's American League home run leader have in common with this year's AL home run leader besides a habit of hitting the ball over the fence? They both strike out a lot and walk a lot. They were both born in Santo Domingo. They're both bilingual. And both Carlos Pena and Jose Bautista bounced from organization to organization to organization before finding major league success.

The two sluggers have a lot in common, and while some of their similarities don't have any impact on MLB teams, others do. In fact, we can guess what Bautista might make through arbitration next year by comparing him to Pena. 

Like Pena, Bautista is a super two player, meaning he goes to arbitration four times instead of three. After Pena broke out with 46 homers in 2007, he was set to reach arbitration for the third time*. He made $2.8MM in his second arbitration year and was clearly due for a substantial raise after setting a career-high in homers and winning a Silver Slugger in 2007. Ultimately, Pena signed a three-year deal that guaranteed him $6MM for the 2008 season.

Bautista, who has an MLB-leading 26 homers, is headed for his fourth and final arbitration season in 2011. He'll earn $2.4MM this year and, if he keeps hitting like this, will earn substantially more next season. For comparison, Pena's breakout led to a $3.2MM raise. Scott Boras represents Pena, who finished with 20 more homers than Bautista currently has. Even if Bautista continues hitting at an All-Star level, it's hard to imagine him making much more than $6MM next year.

The comparison is imperfect for many reasons, despite the players' similarities. Home run hitters are becoming scarce, Pena's deal was for his third arbitration season and was part of a three-year pact, and Pena had enjoyed more MLB success before his breakout. But it appears that the MLB executives who estimated to Buster Olney that Bautista could earn $10-12MM next year are off the mark. One executive suggested to MLBTR today that Bautista would have a hard time getting much more than $7-8MM in 2011.

So why does this matter? Ask the Blue Jays, who are no doubt wondering how Bautista would fit into their 2011 budget. Or ask the Braves, Giants, Tigers and White Sox, who have all inquired on him. The difference between $6MM and $10-12MM is a big one.

*Pena spent much of 2005-06 in the minors, which slowed his arbitration timeline and path to free agency.

Heyman On Werth, Fielder, Uggla, Mets

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The Phillies have asked the Rays about B.J. Upton and Wade Davis, but someone familiar with the trade talks tells Jon Heyman of SI.com that the Phils may attempt to obtain prospects from Tampa Bay and flip them to Houston to acquire Roy Oswalt. Here’s the latest on the Phillies, plus the rest of Heyman’s rumors:

  • The Phillies offered Jayson Werth a long-term deal, but he didn’t accept it right away.
  • The Blue Jays are looking for middle-infield help, according to Heyman. That’s surprising, since they can retain Aaron Hill through 2014 and Yunel Escobar through 2013. Perhaps the club seeks a versatile depth option.
  • Prince Fielder is not likely to be traded, according to Heyman.
  • One GM tells Heyman that Dan Uggla does not yet appear to be available.
  • The Mets seem to prefer Brett Myers to Ted Lilly. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reported earlier today that the Mets maintain interest in Lilly and have cooled on Myers. The reports are not necessarily contradictory, but let’s just say the Mets have some interest in both pitchers.

White Sox And Tigers Have Inquired On Bautista

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The White Sox and Tigers have inquired on Jose Bautista, as have the Braves and the Giants, according to Yahoo's Jeff Passan (via Twitter). The White Sox are pursuing sluggers including Adam Dunn and Prince Fielder, so their interest comes as no surprise. The Tigers could be eyeing Bautista (who can play third base) partly because of Brandon Inge's fractured hand.

Buster Olney reported today that the Blue Jays are demanding elite young players for Bautista, who leads the major leagues with 26 home runs. The right fielder-third baseman has just less than $1MM remaining on his contract this year, though he'll get a substantial raise through arbitration in 2011, his last season before hitting free agency.

Giants Interested In Bautista, Hart, DeJesus

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The Giants are interested in MLB home run leader Jose Bautista, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter). ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported today that the Blue Jays are asking for elite young players in exchange for Bautista, but the Giants must be getting used to such demands, since they're eyeing other top hitters.

The Giants remain interested in Corey Hart and David DeJesus, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Adam Dunn and Jorge Cantu are also on the team's radar.

Cantu has drawn interest from the Rangers and Angels; the Nationals are reluctant to trade Dunn; the Brewers want Jonathan Sanchez or Madison Bumgarner for Hart; and the Royals have a steep asking price for DeJesus but teams are still interested. None of those bats will come cheap and the Giants know that better than anyone. They're presumably willing to give up talent to improve an offensive attack that ranks ninth in the NL.

The Braves, Padres, White Sox, Rays and Rangers are among the teams that could also be bidding for hitters, so the price could remain high until the July 31st deadline.

Pedro Won’t Pitch In 2010, Could Return In 2011

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Pedro Martinez won't pitch in 2010, but may return in 2011, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald also reported the news.

Agent Fernando Cuza told Rojas that Pedro wants to spend more time with his family in the Dominican Republic at this point. It's not a retirement, since Pedro may pitch in 2011. Rojas reports that a number of teams had interest in Pedro, including the Phillies.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner posted a 3.63 ERA in nine second-half starts for the Phillies last year with 7.5 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9. This season, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is eyeing another top starter, Roy Oswalt, but running into some obstacles in pursuit of the Astros ace.

Oswalt’s Demands Slowing Trade Talks

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Roy Oswalt is making the most of his no-trade clause and it's slowing the Phillies down as they attempt to acquire him. Two people familiar with the discussions tell ESPN.com's Jayson Stark that Oswalt is asking that his 2012 option be picked up by any team that trades for him. The Phillies don't mind the idea of paying Oswalt $6MM this year and $16MM next year, but they are not comfortable guaranteeing the right-hander $16MM in 2012.

J.A. Happ would likely head to Houston in an Oswalt trade, probably along with some prospects from the lower minors. For now, the Phillies are pursuing Dan Haren and Ben Sheets, but are not actively pursuing Jeremy Guthrie, Fausto Carmona or Ricky Nolasco.

The Phillies are talking to a number of teams about Jayson Werth, but are demanding a lot in return. They asked the Rays for B.J. Upton or Wade Davis, and GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is not willing to take on any of the $2.8MM remaining on Werth's deal.

Fernando Cabrera Clears Waivers

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WEDNESDAY: Cabrera cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A, according to the team.

SATURDAY: The Red Sox will designate righty reliever Fernando Cabrera for assignment according to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford. The move frees up a roster spot for Manny Delcarmen, who is returning from the disabled list, though manager Terry Francona told Bradford that multiple moves could be announced today.

Cabrera, 28, appeared in one game for the Sox this year, giving up a grand slam to Bengie Molina last night in an appearance that included two walks, two hits, three runs, and four outs. He spent the majority of the season with Boston's Triple-A affiliate, where he posted a 3.50 ERA with a 12.5 K/9 in 36 innings. The former Indian and Oriole has struck out an impressive 9.9 batters per nine innings in 175.1 big league innings, but his 5.24 ERA and 5.0 BB/9 are rather forgettable.

Mike Lamb Clears Waivers

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WEDNESDAY: Lamb cleared waivers and the Marlins outrighted him to Triple A New Orleans, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post (via Twitter).

SATURDAY: The Marlins will designate Mike Lamb for assignment tomorrow, tweets Juan C. Rodriguez of The Sun Sentinel. 

The 34-year-old Lamb hit .189/.231/.270 in 39 plate appearances spread across two stints with the big league team this year. He was designated for assignment back in June when the Marlins called up Mike Stanton, though he cleared waivers and headed to Triple-A.

Casey Daigle Clears Waivers

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WEDNESDAY: Daigle cleared waivers and accepted a Triple A assignment, tweets Footer.

SUNDAY: The Astros have designated reliever Casey Daigle for assignment and purchased the contract of veteran reliever Gary Majewski, tweets MLB.com's Alyson Footer.

Daigle, 29, entered today's game having allowed 10 earned runs in 10 innings with the Astros this year. The three earned runs, four hits, and walk that he allowed through just a third of an inning today likely didn't help the former first-round pick's case.

Daigle was drafted by the Diamondbacks 31st overall back in 1999, and spent eight years in their organization. He also has seen time with the Twins' Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, and of course, the Astros. Entering play today, Daigle had accumulated 71.1 big league innings over parts of three seasons, but struggled tremendously. He'd notched a 6.81 ERA and walked more hitters (38) than he'd struck out (29).

Majewski, 30, hasn't appeared in the bigs since 2008 with the Reds. After beginning his career with a 3.11 ERA in his first 107 innings with the Expos/Nationals franchise, he's posted just a 5.81 ERA in 133.1 innings since. For his career, Majewski has fanned 5.3 hitters per nine innings, while walking 3.3.

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