Olney On Phillies, Bautista, Dodgers, Red Sox
Rumors from the blog of ESPN's Buster Olney…
- Olney suggests the Phillies acquiring Roy Oswalt and trading Jayson Werth would in large part be about positioning the team for 2011. Oswalt would still be under contract next year, while Domonic Brown would get big league seasoning.
- Some teams feel that the Blue Jays are bluffing by asking for elite young players for MLB home run leader Jose Bautista. Rival executives feel that Bautista's salary will jump to eight figures in his final arbitration year, and the Jays would be reluctant to pay.
- The Dodgers expect they'll be able to add a starter and reliever in the next ten days, giving up better prospects while the other team pays the player's salary. Not the best long-term strategy. The Dodgers have been linked to Paul Maholm, Roy Oswalt, Ted Lilly, Jake Westbrook, Fausto Carmona, David Aardsma, and the Blue Jays' relievers.
- Some teams believe the Red Sox will be aggressive on the waiver wire next month, placing strategic claims at a time when few teams are willing to take on salary. Today on the Dennis & Callahan show, Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said the team has "money set aside to acquire talent if we can find it," at that they're at the "bottom end of the tax threshold."
Angels Discussed Cantu, LaRoche
Jorge Cantu and Adam LaRoche are among the names the Angels have discussed, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Those veteran rentals could help the Halos at first base, but changing leagues is said to be a big factor for the Angels. Alberto Callaspo wouldn't be making the change; Rosenthal says the Royals infielder is on the Angels' short list. Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles first reported that target yesterday afternoon.
Regarding the first base situation, the Angels are said to prefer a rental player since Kendry Morales will be back next year. Aside from Cantu and LaRoche, the market features Lance Berkman, Derrek Lee, Xavier Nady, Lyle Overbay, and others. Despite the name value, keep in mind that many of these first basemen are having lackluster seasons.
Cardinals Focused On Westbrook, Haren
The Cardinals are trying to acquire a starting pitcher, wrote Ed Price of AOL FanHouse last night, and they're focused on Jake Westbrook and Dan Haren.
Recently we summed up the market for both pitchers. Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ten days ago that he expected to "shy from a rental deal that requires us to give up a ton of talent." Neither Westbrook nor Haren fits that description, so it makes sense that they'd be in play for newly-extended GM John Mozeliak.
Rockies Discussing Deal With First Rounder Parker
8:12am: Parker will announce he'll return to Clemson to be their quarterback as a sophomore, tweets Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies, but the Rockies can still sign him by August 16th. Jim Callis of Baseball America says Parker had given the Rockies a July 20th deadline to sign him to a baseball-only contract.
WEDNESDAY, 7:19am: Renck tweets that he's heard Parker will make an announcement today.
TUESDAY, 9:30pm: The Rockies don't have a deal with Parker yet, according to Renck (via Twitter). The negotiations are taking time, partly because the sides had a lot to discuss. The Rockies are willing to "be creative" and accomodate Parker's desire to play football (Twitter link), but they would offer a smaller bonus if they allow him to play football.
10:44am: Rockies first-round pick Kyle Parker is expected to agree in principle on a deal today, tweets Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Renck believes the contract will be closer to $2MM than $3MM. Parker would join Todd Helton and Seth Smith as Rockies who played quarterback in college.
Parker was drafted at #26, where the slot recommendation might be below $1.5MM. Parker has to be paid extra to be lured away from three years of football eligibility and the starting quarterback gig at Clemson. He projects to land in an outfield corner if he chooses baseball.
Red Sox Designate Ryan Shealy For Assignment
The Red Sox designated first baseman Ryan Shealy for assignment, tweets Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe. Shealy was added two weeks ago after posting an aggregate Triple A line of .240/.361/.489 at Durham and Pawtucket. However, he went 0-for-7 in his time with the Red Sox.
Haren Would Consider Trades
Dan Haren told Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com that he would accept a trade under the right circumstances. As Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported this weekend, Haren can veto deals to 12 teams, thanks to a clause in his contract. Haren does have his preferences, though he would consider trades.
“I was born and raised on the West Coast,” he said. “Obviously staying on the West Coast would be nice. If I went to the East, if a trade came with a team on my no-trade [list], I would have to consider it.”
Haren realizes his unspectacular 2010 numbers and substantial (but team-friendly) contract may make it tricky for the Diamondbacks to complete a trade. The D’Backs have not received concrete offers for Haren, though the Phillies appear to be discussing a deal for a top pitcher.
Haren has a 4.60 ERA this season, with 8.9 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9. He is set to earn $12.75MM in each of the next two seasons, and his team will have the option of paying him $15.5MM in 2013 or buying him out for $3.5MM.
Phillies Exploring Oswalt, Werth Trades
The Phillies are exploring acquiring Roy Oswalt and moving Jayson Werth in a companion trade, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says nothing is close, but Ed Price of AOL FanHouse says the Oswalt talks are "heavy." Oswalt has yet to be presented with a deal for his approval. Stark says the Phils have also discussed Dan Haren, Jeremy Guthrie, and Ben Sheets as they leave no rock unturned. As for Werth, Stark believes the Rays "head the list of interested teams." The impending free agent would be moved to save money, stock the farm system, and open up a spot for Domonic Brown. Stark says the Red Sox, Giants, and Padres are also interested in Werth.
The Phillies recently optioned Kyle Kendrick to the minors and lost Jamie Moyer to an elbow strain, so they could use starting pitching depth. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. hinted today that the club could acquire a starter by Saturday. The Phils have already committed $135MM to next year's payroll, so adding an expensive arm like Haren or Oswalt would take some maneuvering.
One candidate to start Saturday, or perhaps be traded, is J.A. Happ. Stark says the Phillies have shopped the lefty, and the Astros scouted him on Tuesday.
Click here to predict the Phillies next move.
Poll: The Phillies’ Rotation
GM Ruben Amaro Jr. hinted that the Phillies could trade for a starting pitcher earlier today, telling reporters that he has a plan for Saturday, when there's a hole in the team's rotation.
"We know exactly what we’re going to do," Amaro said. "I just choose not to tell you."
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com heard that the Phils are still looking for a "high-end" starter and that was before Jamie Moyer strained his left elbow tonight. So will the Phillies wait it out with J.A. Happ and others already in the organization? They have already committed $135MM to next year's payroll, but the third-place Phils consider themselves "buyers."
Will the Phillies trade for either Dan Haren or Roy Oswalt?
Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.
Odds & Ends: Hanrahan, Phillies, Berkman, Yankees
Another round of links for Tuesday, with 11 days remaining before the deadline…
- The Pirates are getting calls about Joel Hanrahan, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Not surprisingly, they're asking a lot for the reliever.
- Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com hears that the Phillies would still like to add a top starter. Earlier today, before Jamie Moyer strained his left elbow, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. hinted that the club could trade for an arm.
- Lance Berkman tells MLB.com's Brian McTaggart that he realizes he may hit free agency after the season. The Astros can buy Berkman out for $2MM or pay him $15MM next year.
- Former big league player and minor league manager Pat Listach would have interest in managing the Cubs next year, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman tells Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger that he doesn't like the looks of the current trade market and isn't optimistic about making major deals.
- MASN.com's Ben Goessling explains that offering Adam Dunn a four-year deal would be risky.
- USA Today considers some potential replacements for Lou Piniella, starting, of course, with Ryne Sandberg.
- The Cubs will have a new manager next year, but Jim Hendry is still the team's GM going forward, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter).
- The Pirates signed eight Latin American players and Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com has the details.
- An AL executive tells ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick that teams are demanding a ton for their relievers (Twitter link). Here are some of the arms teams can consider.
Wes Helms On Rangers’ Radar
The Rangers have been connected to Ty Wigginton, Mike Lowell and Jorge Cantu and we can now add a new name to the list of corner infielders they have had interest in: Wes Helms. MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports that the Rangers have had interest in Helms, though no deal for him or any other player is imminent. Assistant GM Thad Levine confirmed to Sullivan that the Rangers are looking to add depth around Chris Davis.
"For quite some time, we have been looking for a right-handed complement [at first base]," Levine said. "That hasn't changed as a piece we'd like to add."
The Rangers hope to see Davis translate his minor league success (.958 OPS in Triple A) into major league production. They can’t take on salary, so Levine and others in the Rangers front office are hoping Davis can start hitting.
Helms, 34, has just $390K remaining on his contract before he becomes a free agent. The corner infielder has only played four games at first base since 2008, but he has played 300 games at the position in his career. The Yankees are also interested in Helms, who is hitting .241/.296/.388 this season.
The Rangers do not seem high on Xavier Nady, according to Sullivan. The 31-year-old has many incentives in his contract that could inflate his price, but Nady has not hit well for the Cubs so far in 2010.