Cardinals Not Likely To Make More Trades
A playoff run appears unlikely for the Cardinals, who trail the Brewers by ten games in the NL Central. Though the Cards haven’t ruled out a late run, they’re also looking ahead to 2012. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak acknowledged to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he would listen to trade offers for his players, but said he doesn’t expect to make more moves.
“I don't look at doing any additions unless it really makes sense or has impact for future years," Mozeliak said.
Draft pick compensation will also be a factor as St. Louis considers trades, Mozeliak said. He added that the Cardinals would like to see Tyler Greene get more of an opportunity so that they can see whether his minor league success can translate into big league results. The 2005 first rounder has a .336/.424/.623 line with 14 homers and 16 stolen bases in 258 Triple-A plate appearances this year, but he has never hit much in three Major League stints.
Latest On Beane, Cubs
Some baseball people who know Billy Beane well say the longtime Oakland general manager might consider an offer to join the Cubs if they approach him about their vacant GM job, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Cubs fired Jim Hendry on Friday and are already considering replacements, possibly Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Andrew Friedman, Ned Colletti and Brian Cashman.
A’s executives are frustrated with the slow pace at which MLB is considering a possible move for the franchise, Slusser reports. There’s concern within the organization that Beane might leave if the A’s don’t get permission to build a stadium in San Jose and the team is sold.
Slusser suggests A’s owner Lew Wolff would grant Beane permission to interview elsewhere if the GM wanted to be considered for other opportunities. Nine years ago, Beane nearly joined the Red Sox, before deciding to stay in Oakland.
Should Beane leave, assistant GM David Forst would be the logical candidate to replace him. Forst, who has declined opportunities to pursue GM jobs elsewhere, currently assumes much of the responsibility in Oakland. His name appeared on MLBTR’s list of GM candidates earlier in the month.
Cubs Interested In Friedman, Colletti, Cashman
Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts has been gathering information about Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cubs, who are on the hunt for a new general manager, also appear to have interest in Rick Hahn of the White Sox and Josh Byrnes of the Padres.
The Cubs are drawn to Colletti, a Chicago native and former Cubs employee, since they believe he could bring Hall of Fame second baseman turned minor league manager Ryne Sandberg back as the team’s Major League skipper. Sandberg has said he’d return to the Cubs now that former GM Jim Hendry has been fired, according to Wittenmyer.
Ricketts has also discussed the possibility of trying to lure Yankees GM Brian Cashman to Chicago along with New York manager Joe Girardi. Cashman’s contract expires after the season, but Girardi, a Peoria, Illinois native, is under contract with the Yankees through 2013.
Wittenmyer hears from associates of Friedman that the Rays executive isn’t likely to leave Tampa Bay for Chicago.