Twins Interested In Koji Uehara
Add the Twins to the list of teams interested in Orioles reliever Koji Uehara. Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that both the Twins and O's have sent representatives to scout the other in the past week and Minnesota is known to be looking for bullpen depth.
As Connolly notes, the two clubs have a recent trading history — Baltimore acquired J.J. Hardy from Minnesota last winter. The two also seem like a good match since the Orioles "likely are looking for Major-League-ready starting pitching and young position players" and the Twins have several young outfielders and Kevin Slowey potentially available in a deal.
Uehara has a bit more than $1MM remaining on the one-year, $3MM contract he signed with the O's last winter and he has a $4MM option for 2012 that will vest if he reaches 55 appearances. Given that Uehara has 40 appearances already, this option is a virtual certainty to vest. The 36-year-old Osaka native is having a stellar year, posting a 1.84 ERA, a 7.25 K/BB ratio and an 11.9 K.9 rate in those 40 appearances with Baltimore.
The Reds and Pirates are two other teams rumored to be looking at Uehara.
Cubs Rumors: Aramis, Pena, Johnson, Gillick
A collection of links for all the Cubs fans out there…
- Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena may have played their way into the Cubs' plans for next season, reports CSNChicago.com's Patrick Mooney. The Cubs hold a $16MM club option on Ramirez for next season and while Ramirez has the right to void that option, his refusal to waive his no-trade clause would seem to indicate he wants to remain in Chicago.
- As for Pena, while the Cubs have been rumored as suitors for Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder this winter, Mooney says "next year’s payroll – as well as ownership’s appetite for a megadeal – is still to be determined." Pena could be brought back on a less-expensive contract to play first base.
- The Cubs continue receiving calls on Sean Marshall, but are telling all inquirers that the lefty setup man is going nowhere, tweets SI's Jon Heyman. The 28-year-old has a 3.11 ERA and a 49/10 K/BB ratio through 46 1/3 innings this year.
- ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that while outfielder Reed Johnson is cheap, a trade partner likely wouldn't make the Cubs a very strong offer to acquire his services.
- Former Phillies general manager Pat Gillick denied a Chicago radio report that he'd spoken with Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts about joining their front office, writes MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Gillick says he's never even met Ricketts, and offered praise for Cubs GM Jim Hendry. Gillick is currently a senior advisor in the Phillies front office.
MLBTR's Mark Polishuk also contributed to this post
Red Sox Have Inquired About Rich Harden
The Red Sox have inquired about A's right-hander Rich Harden, reports Peter Gammons (Twitter link). After spending much of the season on the 60-day DL with a muscle injury in his throwing arm, Harden has a 5.00 ERA in three starts with Oakland. Two of those outings were quality starts and Harden has an impressive 17 strikeouts (against just four walks) in 18 innings pitched.
Boston owner John Henry predicted a "quiet deadline" for his team yesterday but acquiring Harden would give the Sox a bit more depth for their struggling and injury-plagued rotation. Of course, the big question with Harden is if he can avoid injury himself and if he can pitch effectively in a hitter-friendly park like Fenway. Not that money is necessarily a major issue for Boston, but Harden is a potentially great late-season bargain — he has only around $600K remaining on the one-year, $1.5MM deal he signed with the A's last winter.
Quick Hits: Red Sox, White Sox, Giants, Rasmus
Saturday afternoon linkage..
- Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweets that the Red Sox and White Sox have been scouting each other a lot in the past week, and it's not just for the upcoming series between the two. Speculation here (from Steve Adams), but both Edwin Jackson and Carlos Quentin were rumored to be potential White Sox trade chips earlier today, and both could help in Boston.
- Phillies prospect Brody Colvin left last night's start because of a groin injury, not because of anything trade-related, tweets FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
- Giants GM Brian Sabean says that his list of untouchables list is different than public perception, tweets Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Schulman wonders aloud if this means that Zack Wheeler might not be an untouchable.
- Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has been making more calls than any other GM, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
- The Cardinals aren't looking to move Colby Rasmus but they're exploring every possible way to improve, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Steve Adams also contributed to this post.
More From Rosenthal: Beltran, Kuroda, Upton
On today's FOX Saturday pre-game show, Ken Rosenthal ran down some trade-related topics with co-host Chris Rose, so here's some more news from FOX's senior writer:
- The Braves are "not going to trade a number of their top pitching prospects" to acquire Carlos Beltran. Rosenthal doesn't mention specific names, but you'd have to think that includes guys like Mike Minor, Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado, and Arodys Vizcaino. Rosenthal does add that several Braves players, however, approached him and expressed their desire for the front office to add Beltran.
- Despite reports that he doesn't want to go to the East coast, Dodgers righty Hiroki Kuroda is "keeping all his options open," Rosenthal learned today. He says it's looking like any team has a chance to get Kuroda to waive his no-trade clause, and mentions the Tigers, Indians, and Rangers specifically as suitors.
- On Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, Rosenthal says: "[He] will be traded. You can trust me on that."
Rosenthal’s Full Count: Braves, Upton, White Sox, Reds
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a special trade deadline edition of his weekly Full Count Video, so let's run down the highlights:
- For all the talk of the Braves and Carlos Beltran, Rosenthal reminds us that Atlanta could also use a right-handed reliever. Jonny Venters (lefty), Craig Kimbrel (righty), and Eric O'Flaherty (lefty) are all in the top four in the NL for total appearances. Atlanta is hopeful Peter Moylan will return in August, and they just moved Arodys Vizcaino to their Triple-A bullpen. They've also got three hard-throwing Triple-A righties as options, but each is also drawing trade interest: Anthony Varvaro, Jairo Asencio, and Juan Abreu. Each has a K/9 of 10.7 or higher.
- The Indians have joined the growing number of teams interested in Rays' center fielder B.J. Upton. Rosenthal compares Upton offensively to Ryan Ludwick and Josh Willingham, but notes that teams like Upton's glove and baserunning skills. Upton is also controlled through 2012, unlike the other two.
- Don't be surprised as to see the White Sox end up as sellers, says Rosenthal. They've got six starters as it is, so Edwin Jackson could be moved without harming the rotation much. Carlos Quentin could be dealt as well, and be replaced by Dayan Viciedo. Controlled through 2012, Quentin would become one of the hottest chips on the market.
- Reds' Triple-A catcher Devin Mesoraco is "all but untouchable," but that doesn't guarantee the Reds will deal Ramon Hernandez and use Mesoraco down the stretch. They've yet to receive an offer they like for the veteran Hernandez, and some within the organization are reluctant to hand make a pennant run with a rookie backstop.
Outrighted To Triple-A: Scott Richmond
Here are today's outright assignments…
- The Blue Jays have outrighted Scott Richmond to Triple-A according to the Pacific Coast League transactions page. MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm notes that the 31-year-old lefty had been designated for assignment earlier this week. Richmond has made 18 starts for Toronto's Triple-A affiliate this year, posting a 6.80 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 95 1/3 innings. He retired the only batter he faced with the Jays on a fly ball back in April.
Yankees Rumors: Adams, Sabathia, Pitchers, Igawa
It's scorching hot in New York, but not as hot as the trade rumor circuit. Here are the latest Yankees' rumors…
- There's a "big gap" between what the Padres are asking for Mike Adams and what the Yankees are willing to pay, reports ESPN's Buster Olney (on Twitter). He says a deal is unlikely.
- In today's Insider-only blog post, Olney writes about CC Sabathia's impending opt-out clause, saying that the exclusive negotiating period between the end of the World Series and the start of free agency will be crucial to the team's efforts to bring back their ace.
- Bob Klapisch of The Bergen Record says (on Twitter) that the Yankees are still leaning towards not trading for a starter even though Phil Hughes got hit around by the Athletics last night. Their next option is summoning Ivan Nova back from the minors.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Bill Pennington of The New York Times that he negotiated deals in 2008 and 2009 that would have let Kei Igawa return to Japan, but the lefty refused both times. Cashman also said he was prepared to trade Igawa to the Padres in 2007 after San Diego claimed him off waivers, but "ownership was not willing to let him go yet."
Blue Jays Designate Jo-Jo Reyes For Assignment
The Blue Jays have designated Jo-Jo Reyes for assignment according to the team (on Twitter). The move frees up a roster spot for Wil Ledezma, who was called up from Triple-A.
Reyes, 26, posted a 5.40 ERA in 110 innings across 20 starts this season. He struck out 5.2 batters per nine innings while walking 2.9 per nine. Opponents hit .306 off of him, the highest batting average against in baseball. Ledezma pitched to a 4.63 ERA in 46 2/3 relief innings for Toronto's Triple-A affiliate, though he struck out 63 while walking just 18 during that time.
Mets Notes: K-Rod, Starters, Capuano
Carlos Beltran is getting most of the attention, but there are still plenty of other Mets that could be dealt before the deadline. Here's the latest from Flushing…
- Before trading Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers, the Mets spoke briefly to his former agent (Paul Kinzer) about reworking the closer's contract to include a "bi-level mutual option" according to SI.com's Jon Heyman (on Twitter).
- Adam Rubin of ESPN New York hears that the recent signings of Miguel Batista and Gustavo Chacin don't necessary mean the Mets will trade a starting pitcher (Twitter link). Both Batista and Chacin are starting for the team's Triple-A affiliate.
- Andy Martino of The New York Daily News reports (on Twitter) that it is "unlikely" the Mets will move any players other than Beltran, even free agents to be like Chris Capuano. They have interest in re-signing the lefty, who has a 4.16 ERA in 110 1/3 innings.