Odds & Ends: Rolen, Yankees, Astros, Jeter
Links for Sunday, as the celebration continues in Spain….
- Since acquiring Scott Rolen from Toronto roughly one year ago, the Reds are 70-42 when he starts and 12-26 when he doesn't, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday (via Twitter) talked to Yankees catcher Austin Romine, who admitted that a trade of Jesus Montero to the Mariners would have benefited him.
- Looking to improve their NL-worst OBP (.295) and SLG (.348), the Astros have replaced hitting coach Sean Berry with Jeff Bagwell, per a team release. Sean Berry was surprised by his dismissal from the Astros, writes MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
- Last winter, Bob Klapisch of FOX Sports suggested that the Yankees offer Derek Jeter a four-year, $100MM extension. Today, the New York Post's Joel Sherman says that Jeter "hardly looks like a player deserving" of such a contract, except for the fact that he's Derek Jeter. Sherman expects Jeter to be a Yankee past this season, of course, but suggests that the second half of 2010 may be a "salary drive" for the 36-year-old.
- Brian Sabean has no regrets about not promoting Buster Posey or trading Bengie Molina earlier, writes Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer thinks the Indians would like to keep Jake Westbrook, so they have at least one veteran starter in their 2011 rotation.
- Noting that Albert Pujols could have his own "Decision" to make next year, Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hopes the slugger doesn't do to St. Louis what LeBron James did to Cleveland.
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio is reluctant to become a seller because he believes his team can contend next year, if not this year, says Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Within the same piece, Shaikin indicates the Dodgers could still be in "payroll limbo" this offseason if the McCourts' divorce goes to trial.
- Minor league free agents have come through this year for the Phillies, according to Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Beinfest: Marlins “Open To Everything”
Sitting 10.5 games behind the NL East-leading Braves, the Marlins have had a frustrating first half to the season. The Palm Beach Post's Joe Capozzi was one of many reporters on hand today when Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest addressed the media, making it clear that roster changes could be on the horizon:
“We’re just having a tough time and it’s very frustrating,” he said. “Will we be active? Yes, always and it’s already starting. The chatter has picked up in the last week. Teams now have a pretty good idea of who they are and what they’re going to be heading into the break."
MLB.com's Joe Frisaro adds that there are no financial limitations forcing the Marlins to clear salary. Also, the Miami Herald's Clark Spencer notes in this tweet that Beinfest specifically commented on the difficulty of trading starting pitching.
In a separate tweet, Spencer says that he feels some players will be moved prior to the deadline. He speculates that Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu are candidates, but that Ricky Nolasco is unlikely to be dealt. Teams looking for infield additions such as Cantu and Uggla could be the Rockies, Twins, Red Sox, and Padres, to name a few.
Beinfest is hesitant to label Florida "sellers," and clear to note that he's not writing off the 2010 season. He does add, though, that if you're too patient, the season is suddenly over, likely suggesting that he doesn't want to miss any opportunities to improve the club beyond 2010. With Florida's new stadium 18 months away, Beinfest is looking to have a core group of players for that ballpark solidified.
White Sox Want Pitching; Unlikely To Deal Beckham
Things were finally looking up for the White Sox after a terrible start to 2010. Since June 9, the club is an astonishing 24-5, and their ace, Jake Peavy, seemed to have rebounded to his usual Cy Young caliber form. He'd allowed just seven runs over his last 36 innings of work (1.75 ERA) while striking out 29 prior to a start last week that ended his season with a detached latissimus dorsi muscle.
According to this tweet from SI.com's Jon Heyman, the White Sox made a big play to replace their injured ace last week, when Sox GM Kenny Williams tried to swing a deal for Cliff Lee before his trade to Texas. The White Sox, however, were unwilling to part with Gordon Beckham, in spite of his terrible sophomore slump (.564 OPS). Now, Heyman says, the White Sox continue to look around.
Williams is typically one of the more active, aggressive general managers in baseball, so it's unlikely that missing out on Lee will spell the end of his trade thoughts. It's been known for months that Roy Oswalt will accept a trade, though there have been reports that the Houston ace would veto a deal sending him to Chicago. Keep in mind that these things can change, though. Peavy himself vetoed a deal to the White Sox last year before eventually accepting a trade in July. We've heard about Dan Haren's availability as well, though Arizona would need to be "blown away" to trade him.
There's plenty of other non-ace starters who could also be moved. Bronson Arroyo has pitched well lately and the Reds have a great deal of pitching depth, while names like Jeremy Guthrie and Ben Sheets figure to be available as well.
The White Sox do have some help available in Daniel Hudson, who was recently recalled from the minors and is starting today. Hudson was ranked by Baseball America as the game's 66th best prospect, and third-best in the White Sox system. The 2008 fifth-rounder appeared in six games for the Sox last year, totaling 18.2 innings and a 3.38 ERA, though he struggled with his control at the big league level. In 2010, Hudson owns a 3.47 ERA through 17 minor league starts, with a strong 10.4 K/9 to just 3.0 BB/9.
It's a known fact that the White Sox are very interested in Adam Dunn's big bat as well, so Williams may focus his energy on that department. One thing remains certain — with the White Sox surging to just a half-game out of first in the AL Central, Williams will be on the phone and inquiring on just about everyone under the sun as the deadline nears.
Regular MLBTR Features
If you're a regular MLBTR reader, you'll be familiar with our chats, our Week In Review posts and Mike Axisa's Baseball Blogs Weigh In feature. Here's some more detail on when you'll see our weekly features and exactly what to expect from them:
- Radio Appearances – I appear on the Shore Sports Report every Monday at 4:05 CST and Tim Dierkes appears on 590 KFNS in St. Louis every Tuesday at 1:25pm CST. You can always listen live to Tim here.
- MLBTR Chats – Come by every Wednesday at 2pm CST to chat with Tim or me about the latest trades, signings and rumblings around the major leagues.
- Baseball Blogs Weigh In – Every Friday morning, Mike Axisa directs you to some of the best writing on baseball blogs around the web. Whether it's opinion, stats or something else entirely, you can connect to the best of the blogosphere once a week on MLBTR. If you want to send Mike a post of yours, reach him at: mike@riveraveblues.com.
- Week In Review – It's amazing how much happens in seven days. Every Sunday night, we summarize the week's biggest stories and link to some of our original content in our Week In Review posts.
Poll: Cleveland’s Next Trade
The Indians got a head start on trading season last month, when they dealt Russell Branyan to the Mariners. However, that may not be the last move the Indians make before July 31st, as trade rumors have continued to follow a handful of their veterans. Today's poll question:
Who will the Indians trade next?
Arroyo Won’t Consider Restructuring Contract
Bronson Arroyo will not consider redoing his contract even if it means staying with the Reds past this season, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Arroyo is in the final year of his two-year deal and has a club option for $11MM ($2MM buyout) next season. If the team hopes to keep the right-hander in Cincinnati next year, it looks as if they'll have to exercise that $11MM option.
As Arroyo told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the 33-year-old hopes to remain in Cincinnati, but is also looking ahead to what might be his last chance at a big deal on the open market. He indicated to Fay that he wouldn't restructure his contract and accept a discounted rate, like Scott Rolen did:
"Not in a million years," Arroyo said. "Scott's in a different position than I'm in. He's in a position where he feels like he's only got a couple years left in the game. He wanted to retire in this uniform…. He restructured because he’s made $150 million in the game or whatever it is…. I'm not in the same boat."
Fay suggests that it's unclear whether the Reds intend to exercise their 2011 option to retain Arroyo. If Arroyo is not in their future plans, the club might consider exploring his trade value before the deadline. The right-hander would be a "hot commodity" on the trade market, and with Edinson Volquez, Aaron Harang, and Homer Bailey on their way back from the disabled list, the Reds could have the pitching depth to make a move worthwhile.
The bet here though is that the Reds hold onto one of their most reliable arms. As long as they remain in first place, the team may be better off shelving the issue of Arroyo's option until after the season.
Ortiz Would Like To Remain In Boston
David Ortiz envisions himself wearing a Red Sox uniform past this season, and hopes the team feels the same way, writes Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. Ortiz is in the final year of a $52MM contract, with the Sox holding an $12.5MM option for 2011.
"I want to stay here in Boston and always have a home here, go back and forth when I do retire," said Ortiz. "The people here have been good to me and I’ve tried to be good to them."
Ortiz's $12.5MM option for next season looks a little pricey when taking into account the present-day value of designated hitters. Hideki Matsui ($6.5MM) and Vladimir Guerrero ($5MM) are among the DHs that received one-year contracts last winter for approximately half of Ortiz's 2011 price tag. And while Ortiz has recovered from a slow start to put up impressive numbers (.262/.382/.552), the free agent market this winter will be flush with similar players, including Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Derrek Lee, Adam LaRoche, and Carlos Pena.
Still, even if the club declines his option, Ortiz is optimistic that he and the Sox can work something out: "Hopefully, it gets done…. I think I will be here. I may look crazy, but I'm not stupid. I don't see myself playing nowhere else and that's important to me."
The 34-year-old said earlier this year that he'd like to play for two or three more years, so if the Red Sox are interested in bringing him back, Ortiz will likely look to finish his career in Boston.
Cafardo’s Latest: Arroyo, Carmona, Garza, Lilly
In this week's installment of his Baseball Notes feature, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe discusses the 2006 deal that sent Bronson Arroyo to Cincinnati for Wily Mo Pena. "I'm sure it's not one [trade] that Theo has on his mantle at home," Arroyo jokes, before going on to say that he'd love to stay with the Reds past this season. The team holds an $11MM 2011 option ($2MM buyout) for Arroyo. Here are Cafardo's other notes of interest:
- The Brewers and the Rangers, before they acquired Cliff Lee, were among the teams "sniffing around" Fausto Carmona.
- Cafardo wouldn't be shocked if the Rays were willing to discuss trading Matt Garza, with Jeremy Hellickson waiting in the wings (2.21 ERA in 105.2 Triple-A innings). In exchange for an impact bat, the Rays appear more inclined to deal major league players than prospects. A National League scout tells Cafardo that the team has been "very willing to include B.J. Upton in trade talks" and may even think about moving Wade Davis, if the price was right.
- The Rays also have some interest in Ted Lilly, who could be a fit for the Twins and Tigers as well.
- Cafardo thinks the Red Sox should pursue Evan Meek if the Pirates make him available.
- Lou Piniella's agent Alan Nero says that the Cubs' skipper will definitely finish out the season, but isn't sure about Piniella's future past this year.
Odds & Ends: Dunn, Dodgers, Lee, Tigers
Links for Saturday night, after Roy Halladay and Travis Wood traded zeros for nine innings….
- Bill Ladson of MLB.com writes that Mike Rizzo isn't looking to deal Adam Dunn. Rizzo repeated what's becoming a favorite phrase lately, telling Washington broadcaster Bob Carpenter that it'd be "very painful" to move Dunn, both for the Nationals and for the team acquiring him.
- The Dodgers were involved in talks with the Mariners for Cliff Lee, but wouldn't part with Chad Billingsley or James Loney, according to MLB.com's Evan Drellich.
- Jamey Newberg provides his detailed take on the Rangers' acquisition at The Newberg Report.
- In light of the Lee trade, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times takes a look at how some past blockbuster deals between division rivals worked out.
- Jim Leyland reiterates to MLB.com's Jason Beck that the Tigers could use some bullpen help.
- Ricky Nolasco knows that he might be on the trade block this month, writes Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. Joe Frisaro of MLB.com wonders (via Twitter) if the Yankees' scout in Arizona yesterday had an eye on Nolasco, noting that Joe Girardi managed the right-hander in 2006.
- River Ave. Blues passes along a story from El Universal (Spanish link) in which Ernesto Armenteros reports that the Yankees signed 18-year-old Colombian catcher Alfredo Castellon Jr.
Brewers Listening On Prince Fielder, Corey Hart
The Brewers are listening to offers on Prince Fielder and Corey Hart, tweets ESPN.com's Buster Olney. The tweet echoes a similar report by Jeff Fletcher of AOL FanHouse, though Olney suggests that the Brewers have no interest in moving Rickie Weeks.
Fletcher reported that the Brewers were entertaining offers for Fielder because they don't expect to be able to re-sign him when he hits free agency in 2011. Olney offers similar thoughts in two more tweets, indicating there's a very slim chance Milwaukee could afford to lock up the Scott Boras client to an extension. Boras figures to be looking for a contract larger, in both years and dollars, than Ryan Howard's five-year, $125MM deal. Earlier this season, Fielder and Boras turned down an extension offer similar to Howard's, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, the Giants have been the team most frequently linked to Hart, though the last rumor we heard had the Brewers asking for more than San Francisco was willing to pay. Hart will earn $4.8MM this year, while Fielder is making $10.5MM. Each player will be eligible for arbitration for the last time in 2011 before becoming free agents.
In a final tweet, Olney adds that David Bush could also be an interesting trade chip for the Brew Crew if they go into sell mode. Bush, who will be eligible for free agency this winter, has a 4.23 ERA in 17 outings this year, including a 2.74 mark since his seven-run blow-up in Minnesota on May 21st.