The starting pitching market may be ‘mediocre’ if you ask officials around the major leagues, as ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark did, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t tons of rumors out there with just over a week before the deadline. Here they are:
- Six teams or more are interested in Ted Lilly, who will almost certainly get traded. The Tigers, Mets and Dodgers have interest, but the Yankees probably won’t be involved. The Cubs are not willing to pick up any of Lilly’s salary and probably won’t have to.
- The A’s, on the other hand, will pick up much of the $4MM or so remaining on Ben Sheets’ salary and are ready to deal him.
- The Indians are willing to deal one of Jake Westbrook or Fausto Carmona for a “compelling” package, but not both.
- They’re also growing more and more confident that they’ll be able to trade Kerry Wood. If they don't strike a deal before the deadline, they could do so after Wood clears waivers in August.
- The Yankees are kicking tires on many starters, including Westbrook and Dan Haren.
- The Astros would have to be “overwhelmed” to move Brett Myers (as FOX Sports reported) or Wandy Rodriguez. Myers has a mutual option, so there’s no guarantee he returns in 2011. I find it hard to believe that the Astros wouldn’t deal him for a good-but-not-great group.
- The Marlins appear to have decided to focus on extending Dan Uggla, instead of trading him.
- The Dodgers have told rival teams that they have $2-3MM to play with.
Meh, Lilly. Would rather have Haren.
Why are the Dodgers telling rival teams how much money they have to play with? It doesn’t seem like a well run franchise would do that.
Ed Wade strikes again. He would have to be “overwhelmed” to move Brett Myers? Really? The phone is for you Mr. Wade, it’s Reality. It wants to know how you’re doing out there all by yourself.
The Cubs should pay some of Lilly’s salary if it means getting back better prospects. I find it a little upsetting that the new owners are apparently more concerned with salary relief than quality of return. Lilly is already on the books, getting a little windfall is nice, getting better players is nicer.
Lilly is already on the books? Really? I think that even in baseball a $5.5 million savings is a welcome sight when you are out of contention. If there are enough teams bidding on Lilly then there is no reason that the Cubs can’t move him and all of his salary, and get some good prospects in return.
Well, the Dodger routinely traded better prospects the last few years for salary relief in trades. If it comes down to it I would much rather have the Cubs pick up a little money and get good prospects rather than save a little money and get a couple average middle relief candidates. Could be the difference between a star player in 2012 and a couple million dollars saved in 2010, and this year is already over for the Cubs.
I understand your point. I think in Lilly’s case there is no reason to pick up salary since they will (hopefully) get someone decent back…not a haul, but something decent. The Cubs need to save that Lilly money since they will most likely have to eat a portion of just about anyone else’s contract in the next few days or offseason.
If it was not that for the fact the Cubs have so many bloated contracts, your idea is a good one. Lilly is the easier one. Some teams want him. Not so much with Lee, Fukudome, Zambrano, ec. It will be interesting what they do with larger contracts after Lilly.
Translation: The Dodgers are telling teams they’d be willing to gut the farm system if you pay for the player that’ll get us to the NLCS only to lose to a NL East team of your choice.
No kidding. I hope Dodger fans haven’t gotten attached to Gordon, Withrow, Jansen, E. Martin or Sands… prepare for the farm system to be raped.
(for nothing)
Hence my point about the Cubs picking up salary to get better prospects rather than saving a bit of money.
At the risk of sounding stale, Dodger management is a ——– joke!
I’m going to make a little prediction. Myers to Dodgers. Haren to Detroit. Lily to Mets. Guthrie to Padres. That’s it for good SP trades.
Wouldn’t be surprised if any of those happened, especially Haren to the Tigers. They’ll have the money to pay him.
//They’ll have the money to pay him.//
Exactly. Tigers have about $50 million coming off the books for ’11.
I could see the Cards getting Sheets – any SP better than that (Oswalt, Haren, Myers) is probably too costly in money and/or prospects for Mo’s liking.
Careful Ben, the article says the cubs WILL pick up his salary this year, probably so they can receive better prospects
Why doesn’t MLB let the Yankees just take anybody they want? They’re pretty much doing that now.
what kind of compelling package could Westbrook or Carmona bring?
IMO I think that they would look for lower level stud type guys back in return to give them a chance to look at their own prospects over the next 18 months.
IMO nobody pries Carmona locked up and signed long term to a very team friendly contract away unless the deal looks as good as this
Trayvon Robinson
Ethan Martin
Jerry Sands
Josh Wall
Fangraphs puts Carmona trade value in and around the above return.
Before someone brings up Kyle Russell the Indians wouldn’t have much interest because he is a lefty and the Indians are stricktly looking for power righty, switch hitters or centerfield type outfielder and power arm pitchers and relief pitchers.
I could also see this deal expanded where it also included a relief pitcher like Raffey Perez or maybe even Kerry Wood with cash included and Wood would be a set-up guy for the Dodgers and see James McDonald and Kyle Smit coming back to Cleveland also.
I will say this on local TV today they said that the Indians were actively talking with 3 teams about Carmona and the 3 teams were the Pirates / Cardinals and the Dodgers.
dodgers no money, no prospects end of the season.
Uggla should be moved to 3rd if they want to extend him…trade Cantu and call up Morrison.
The Dodgers have 2-3 Million to play with? Hmmmm……. Frank & Jamie are probably both eyeing budget condos in Reseda, Chattsworth & Pacoima right about now.
“The Dodgers have told rival teams that they have $2-3MM to play with.”
Sounds like they’re trying to arrange a pretty sweet Vegas trip.
The only way the Indians can deal Carmona is if they get Matt Kemp in return. That may sound crazy, but Carmona is not a guy you deal for “prospects”. His contract is too friendly and is our ace, so it better be for an impact player now!
You’re right………it does sound crazy.
Why would the Indians want major league ready players? Its not like they’re going to compete next year. They’re looking for good prospects that are going to be major league ready in 2012 or so. So yeah, that does sound crazy.
The Cubs will trade Lilly and not eat any of his salary since he is only owed about 4.8 Million. 6 teams are very interested but the Cubs will only trade him if the offer is for
some good prospects.. He will be a type A free agent so he will give a team a good draft pick if they can not resign him. It is time also to trade Lee – again like Lilly,
no need to eat any of his salary and good draft picks will be required. Fukedome
and Zambrano would require Cubs eating 50% of their Salary. I am surprised
that rumors surrounding Zambrano have not surfaced. A change of scenery
and he could possible win 7 or 8 games in the second half of the season..He is not
a club house problem, he is just a highly emotional person who doesn’t like losing.
I like Lilly a lot but Zambrano could be a better purchase in the long run…