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Archives for July 2010

Blue Jays Rumors: Trades, Lee, Bautista

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Alex Anthopoulos told Prime Time Sports that he has been on the phone with rival teams regularly as the Blue Jays continue exploring deals. The Blue Jays GM said on the FAN 590 that the team is willing to get creative between now and July 31st. Here are the details:

  • Trade talks are picking up and the Jays "have been pretty active with respect to phone calls." Rival clubs are "starting to get the itch and starting to gather information."
  • The Blue Jays are open to discussing any deal, though some players will naturally be harder to obtain than others. We heard earlier today that the Blue Jays are open to dealing Scott Downs, Jason Frasor and Kevin Gregg, but it sounds like other players could also be obtained for the right return.
  • Anthopoulos says he likes to get "as creative as [he] can," and is open to three or four-team deals.
  • Anthopoulos was in touch with Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, since the Blue Jays were open to getting involved in possible Cliff Lee trades as a third or fourth team.
  • The Blue Jays like Jose Bautista for his power, strong throwing arm and clubhouse presence, but Anthopoulos chose not to comment on whether the team would consider locking the AL home run leader up.
  • Anthopoulos also noted that players are not immune to rumors. "They all look at MLBTradeRumors.com," he said.

Kyle Farnsworth’s Trade Value

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Kyle Farnsworth isn't the same pitcher he was five years ago, though he may not be quite as effective as his numbers suggest. The 12-year MLB veteran has evolved into a more hittable pitcher – but not in a bad way. He has career-low walk and strikeout rates this year (2.4 BB/9 and 7.2 K/9) and when batters do put the ball in play, they're hitting more ground balls than fly balls (Farnsworth was a fly ball-strikeout pitcher earlier in his career). 

The high ground ball rate is helping Farnsworth keep the ball in the park (two homers allowed) but he is probably going to give up more long balls in the second half since he has an unsustainably-low 5% home run per fly ball rate. The right-hander is stranding more runners than usual and allowing fewer hits on balls in play than he normally does, so his 2.41 ERA has probably been helped by some good fortune.

But lucky or not, there aren't a ton of available relievers who induce ground balls, strike out three times as many batters as they walk and have 95 mph fastballs. Farnsworth has about $2MM plus bonuses remaining on his 2010 contract. If he's traded, the 34-year-old can choose to void his team's $5.25MM option for 2011 and collect a $500K buyout.

Kerry Wood, David Aardsma, Jason Frasor, Octavio Dotel and Matt Capps are among the late-inning right-handers who could be traded this year. Some of those players (like Capps) would require better prospects than Farnsworth and others (like Wood) would require a bigger financial commitment, so the Royals should draw interest in Farnsworth this month.

Lester Hopes To Pitch In Boston Long-Term

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Jon Lester told Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he hopes to sign an extension with the Red Sox at some point. The Red Sox already extended Lester once and control his rights through 2014, at which point the left-hander wants to re-sign in Boston. 

“Hopefully I’ll stay here, and hopefully we’ll be able to do it,” Lester said. “That’s a couple years away, but it’s something I’ve always thought about, and hopefully it’s something we can get done at some point.”

Clay Buchholz said in May that he would like to sign long-term with the Red Sox, but he hasn’t approached the club about a deal, and the Red Sox haven’t brought the subject up either. Buchholz isn’t arbitration-eligible until after 2011 or free agent-eligible until after 2014, so he says he isn’t worried about his long-term future yet.

“I think time will take care of all that stuff,” said Buchholz. “I’m going to focus on playing.”

The Red Sox have Daisuke Matsuzaka under team control through 2012 and John Lackey and Josh Beckett through 2014, so they have more pitching locked up long-term than just about any other team.

The Trade Market For Catchers

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One team has a clear need for catching depth and a few others could upgrade behind the plate. Here's a look at some teams that could look to acquire catchers before the July 31st deadline:

  • The Red Sox are relying on Kevin Cash and Gustavo Molina with Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez on the DL. There's no timeline for Martinez's return to action, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe.
  • Like the Red Sox, the Tigers have other areas of need (shortstop, pitching), but they could upgrade behind the plate. Gerald Laird has a .524 OPS and just two homers. He and Alex Avila have both limited the running game well, but the Tigers aren't getting much offense from their catchers (Laird has thrown 29% of would-be base stealers out; Avila has nabbed 41%).
  • Russell Martin is also throwing out his share of runners (37%) but he isn't hitting the way he once did. Martin (.679 OPS) and A.J. Ellis (.544 OPS) aren't providing Joe Torre with much pop, so the Dodgers could look to add a backup with power.
  • Jason LaRue hasn't hit much for the Cards (.622 OPS) and All-Star starter Yadier Molina hasn't either (.595 OPS).

These clubs have a few options to consider over the course of the next few weeks:

  • The D'Backs called the Red Sox about Chris Snyder, so he figures to be available, especially with Miguel Montero around. Snyder's ten homers and .240/.355/.448 batting line would appeal to teams, but the $8.6MM remaining on his salary would not. With that salary, there's a chance Snyder would clear waivers, enabling interim GM Jerry DiPoto to trade him in August.
  • Ryan Doumit has at least $7.2MM remaining on his contract, but has a solid .260/.334/.415 line.
  • John Buck, who makes $2MM this year before hitting free agency, is a cheaper option. Like Snyder, he has power (13 homers, .502 slugging percentage).
  • The Rays have two catchers other than John Jaso (who boasts a surprising .393 OBP). Kelly Shoppach or Dioner Navarro could become trade bait.
  • The Indians would presumably part with the recently-DFA'd Mike Redmond.

Pirates Re-Acquire Brian Bixler

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The Pirates re-acquired Brian Bixler from the Indians for a player to be named later, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter). Bixler, 27, has spent the 2010 season playing for the Indians' Triple A team, but he picked up 166 plate appearances for the Pirates from 2008-09. The 2004 second rounder has a .178/.238/.237 line at the major league level.

Bixler is hitting better at Triple A, where he has a .278/.345/.383 line as a super-utility player. He has played all three outfield positions and appeared at second, third and short so far this season. Oddly enough, Bixler is going from the Indians to the Indians, since he'll report to Pittsburgh's Triple A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians.

Rosenthal On Marlins, Crawford, Dodgers

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Good stuff from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports; let's get into it…

  • The Marlins have made Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross available, but are currently holding off on Dan Uggla and Ricky Nolasco.  Rosenthal finds Cantu to be a fine fit for the Rockies, although it might leave Melvin Mora without much of a role.  President Larry Beinfest said yesterday that the Marlins will be active one way or another, but their moves will not be financially motivated.  I'll still note that Cantu, a free agent after the season, has $2.74MM left on his contract.  He's just below Type B status at the moment.  Ross has $2.03MM left on his contract this year and is under team control through 2011.
  • Unlike nearby teams such as the Giants and Padres, the Angels prefer a rental player if they are to acquire a first baseman.  One reason is that Kendry Morales will be back next year, and the other is that the Halos "intend to pursue Carl Crawford as a free agent."  A blockbuster signing of that nature would push Bobby Abreu to the DH spot.
  • The Dodgers would like to add a reliever and a starter, though they may look internally at Kenley Jansen for the 'pen.

Available Leadoff Hitters

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For contenders looking to acquire a new leadoff hitter, here are a few potentially available options (100 plate appearances leading off required):

  • Kelly Johnson, Diamondbacks.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports finds the D'Backs likely to retain their second baseman, as he's under team control for 2011.  We've read that Josh Byrnes was willing to listen on Johnson, but it's less clear what Jerry Dipoto is planning.
  • Rickie Weeks, Brewers.  It appears that Weeks would be even tougher to pry loose, as ESPN's Buster Olney recently tweeted that the Brewers have no interest in trading him.
  • Fred Lewis, Blue Jays.  He cost only cash for the Jays to acquire, so perhaps they'd consider flipping him.
  • Scott Podsednik, Royals.  The Royals hold a $2MM club option on Pods for 2011, though if he tallies 146 more plate appearances he can void it.  He should be available.
  • David DeJesus, Royals.  It's rumored the Royals will wait a little longer before deciding whether to trade DeJesus, who can be retained in 2011 for $6MM.  The Padres and Giants could make sense.
  • Corey Patterson, Orioles.  He's never been known for getting on base, but he's doing a decent job overall back with Baltimore.  But if he's healthy, you'd think the Orioles would want to give more playing time to another former Cubs "next big thing," Felix Pie.
  • Nyjer Morgan, Nationals.  Four days ago, Rosenthal noted that "some within the Nats’ organization are in favor of trading Morgan to clear center field for Roger Bernadina."  However, the Nats would be selling low on Morgan.
  • Ryan Theriot and Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs.  Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports recommended a month ago that the Cubs consider moving both players.  Theriot is under team control through 2012 as an arbitration-eligible player, while Fukudome is signed through '11 at a large salary and has no-trade protection against 15 teams.

Dane Sardinha Clears Waivers

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MONDAY: Sardinha cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to the Phillies' Triple A club, tweets MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.

SATURDAY: The Phillies have designated catcher Dane Sardinha for assignment, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).  The move was made in order to activate Carlos Ruiz off of the 15-day disabled list.

Sardinha, 31, appeared in 13 games for the Phillies this season.  In 40 plate appearances, the Hawaiian hit .205/.225/.487. 

Prior to hooking on with Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate this season, Sardinha spent six years in the Reds' organization and three years with the Tigers.

Minor League Transactions: Meyer, Colome

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The latest minor league transactions from Baseball America's Matt Eddy…

  • The Astros released second baseman Drew Meyer, who was then signed by the Angels.  Meyer has already racked up 39 plate appearances for the Salt Lake Bees.
  • The Dodgers released reliever Jesus Colome.  They'd signed him on June 24th, but he made only three appearances for the Isotopes before being let go.
  • Other familiar names were cut, including Brian Buscher (Indians), Ruddy Lugo (Tigers), and Mike Koplove (Mariners).  The Red Sox signed Argenis Reyes, who had been playing independent league ball.  

Odds & Ends: Cardinals, Mariners, Red Sox

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Four years ago today, the Rays sent Aubrey Huff and cash to the Astros for Ben Zobrist and Mitch Talbot.  The Astros finished 1.5 games out in '06 despite Huff contributing 13 home runs, and GM Tim Purpura chose not to offer arbitration after the season.  On to today's links…

  • ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that the Yankees have no plans to acquire a starting pitcher – "Cliff Lee was a special case."  Speaking of Lee, he told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that the trade from the Phillies did not sour him on the team, and he's not opposed to any club once he reaches free agency. 
  • The Blue Jays had a scout at this weekend's Cardinals-Astros series, reports Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Strauss wonders if shortstop Alex Gonzalez could be a match for the Cards, and he notes that the Jays have had previous interest in Brendan Ryan.
  • Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and CEO Howard Lincoln weren't aware of the full extent of pitcher Josh Lueke's 2008 trouble with the law, reports Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times.  Lueke went to Seattle as part of the Lee trade.
  • Talking to WEEI's Alex Speier, Red Sox GM Theo Epstein explained that in the case of Casey Kelly and other prospects, he'd rather challenge them against advanced competition than allow them to compile numbers and trade value at more age-appropriate levels.
  • In the same article, Speier notes that the Red Sox have agreements, pending physicals, with a pair of international free agents.  One is a righthanded pitcher, the other an outfielder.
  • As part of an extensive Q&A with Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, Commissioner Bud Selig says he would not consider contracting the Athletics or Rays if their ballpark situations are not resolved.

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