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Archives for July 2012

Latest On Giants’ Search For Outfielders

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10:34pm: Alfonso Soriano has told the Cubs he won't accept a trade to San Francisco, Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio tweets.

8:31pm: There's some juice to the trade talks and a deal "could happen," Heyman tweets.  The Giants remain determined to acquire a hitter.

2:43pm: There is no Pence deal in place or close between the Giants and Phillies, writes Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.

12:09pm: The Giants are talking to the Phillies about Pence, confirms Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.  However, ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Giants "appear to have too many payroll issues and too few chips to make that deal work right now."  Stark mentions the Justin Morneau idea for San Francisco, which Heyman alluded to earlier today.  Morneau, however, will make more money than Pence through next year.

10:36am: "It would be a shocker" if the Giants don't acquire an outfielder before the trade deadline, writes ESPN's Buster Olney.  Jon Heyman of CBS Sports agrees that the Giants are seeking an outfielder.  The Giants have been linked to the Phillies' Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino, but it appears no deal is in place currently.

NL West Notes: Miley, Overbay, Dodgers

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The Rockies sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland on this date last year, acquiring prospects Alex White, Drew Pomeranz, Joe Gardner and Matt McBride. Jimenez has pitched to a 5.08 ERA with disappointing peripheral numbers since leaving the Rockies, who are probably pleased they traded him when they did. Here's the latest on the NL West…

  • Diamondbacks rookie Wade Miley is not in play as the trade deadline nears, Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com writes (on Twitter). Ken Rosenthal suggested yesterday that the Diamondbacks might listen on Miley.
  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney guesses the Reds might be a fit for Lyle Overbay, who was recently designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks (Twitter link). The Reds are expected to pursue Overbay, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).
  • Arizona GM Kevin Towers says he's focused on adding pitching leading up to the deadline, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports (on Twitter). Towers will consider trading a position player for an arm.
  • Dodgers pitching prospects Jose Dominguez and Yimi Garcia are drawing the attention of scouts at Class A, Ben Badler of Baseball America writes (on Twitter).
  • Former Dodgers general manager Dan Evans explains how the trade deadline works from the perspective of a GM in an article at Baseball Prospectus.

Orioles Are Blanton’s Most Interested Suitor

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8:55pm: The teams continue haggling about players and money, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).  The Phillies would absorb more money if they get a better prospect in return.

8:15pm: The Orioles are declining to trade Schoop for Blanton, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).  The teams are deep in negotiations, Connolly writes.  Five to seven teams, including the Blue Jays, have showed interest in Blanton, according to Connolly.

8:04pm: The Phillies want to shed all of Blanton's contract (he's owed $3.02MM from here until the end of the season), but the Orioles are hesitant to take on that much salary in this case, Connolly reports (Twitter links). The Phillies believe they have other options, so negotiations could continue until the trade deadline on Tuesday.

7:03pm: Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer hears the Phillies want infield prospect Jonathan Schoop for Blanton.  Schoop, 20, entered the season as the Orioles' number three prospect behind Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado, according to Baseball America.  However, he didn't crack the publication's midseason list of the top 50 prospects in the game.  Schoop has a .244/.301/.391 batting line in 413 plate appearances at Double-A this year.

4:39pm: The Phillies have sent Blanton's medical records to the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports (on Twitter).

11:04am: The Orioles are Joe Blanton's most interested suitor, according to MLB.com's Britt Ghiroli.  She reminds us that the Cardinals and Blue Jays have also expressed interest.  But for the Orioles, the Phillies' righty is "there if they want him," a source tells Ghiroli.  Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com says the Orioles have been checking Blanton out since spring training, and Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reported on the team's interest as well today.  Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun tweets that while the Orioles are one of five to seven teams that inquired on Blanton and they may be the most intrigued, the organization is torn on whether he'll help.

Ghiroli says the Orioles have scouted Blanton heavily, and one source tells her the Phillies seek an MLB-ready utility player or a middle relief prospect.  Blanton, 31, has a 4.59 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 1.2 BB/9, 1.49 HR/9, and 43.9% groundball rate in 133 1/3 innings this year, and he's averaged over 6.6 innings per start.  He'll take the ball every fifth day and won't hurt himself with walks, but will also allow tons of hits and home runs.  Blanton signed an extension with the Phillies in January of 2010 and has just over $3MM left on his contract.     

Red Sox Notes: Saltalamacchia, Masterson, Ellsbury

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The Red Sox have a 51-51 record after taking two of three from the Yankees in New York over the weekend. Here are the latest rumors surrounding the Red Sox as they host the Tigers at Fenway Park…

  • Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Aviles have drawn interest from rival teams, Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports. The Red Sox are looking to add at the trade deadline, but a modest deal is more likely than a blockbuster.
  • The Red Sox remain interested in Justin Masterson, even though they saw him struggle in his most recent start, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter). The Indians have told teams they will consider trading Masterson, who pitched for the Red Sox in 2008-09.
  • A few teams inquired on Jacoby Ellsbury, but the Red Sox will likely wait until the offseason to seriously consider trading him, Cafardo reports (on Twitter). The Reds asked about Ellsbury, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com (on Twitter).
  • The Rangers have pursued Red Sox players more aggressively than other teams, Cafardo reports (Twitterlinks). Texas has scouted both Aaron Cook and Kelly Shoppach and while Rangers officials have backed off on Cook, they maintain interest in Shoppach.
  • Here’s the latest on Josh Beckett.

Minor Moves: Wise, Brewers

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The latest minor moves from around MLB… 

  • Dewayne Wise refused the Yankees' outright assignment to Triple-A, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports (on Twitter). The Yankees have until Wednesday to trade or release Wise, who was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A earlier this month.
  • The Brewers released Seth McClung, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reported earlier today. The right-hander, who last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2009, appeared in 21 games for Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate this year, posting a 6.36 ERA in 103 1/3 innings.

Latest On Ryan Dempster

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8:26pm: The Cubs and Dodgers are still discussing scenarios involving Dempster and Soriano, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).  The Dodgers repeated today that they won't trade Webster for Dempster, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports (on Twitter).

4:57pm: There hasn't been any recent dialogue between the Dodgers and Cubs, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter).

2:41pm: Dodgers pitching prospects Zach Lee, Allen Webster, and Chris Reed are all off the table in Dempster talks, tweets Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus.

1:41pm: Talks between the Dodgers and Cubs for Dempster are gaining momentum, reports Scott Miller of CBS Sports.  The Cubs are trying to bend over backwards to get Dempster to the Dodgers, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

1:09pm: The Nationals have positioned themselves as the perfect fallback option for the Cubs on Dempster, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.  It's unknown whether Dempster would approve a trade to the Nats.

12:08pm: The Cubs and Dodgers are still discussing righty Ryan Dempster, tweets Yahoo's Tim Brown.  Left fielder Alfonso Soriano remains part of these trade talks, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  The Dodgers are said to be Dempster's first choice, and he controls the process with 10-and-5 rights.  Yesterday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote that the Cubs' failed attempt to obtain pitching prospect Allen Webster from the Dodgers for Dempster left those talks stalemated.  The Dodgers have had an offer on the table for Dempster since July 19th, writes Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago.com.

Last week, the Braves seemed close to acquiring Dempster for Randall Delgado, and Wittenmyer has a few details on that still-vague failed deal.  Dempster said Sunday, "Who’s to say I was going to say no or yes to whatever team.  All I said was that I just, at that time, needed to think about everything."  From the Braves' end, there's no guarantee Delgado would still be available, writes MLB.com's Mark Bowman.

AL West Notes: Greinke, Ryan, Rangers

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The Angels will do everything they can to sign Zack Greinke long-term, ESPN’s Tim Kurkjian reports (on Twitter). The Angels surrendered three prospects for Greinke, but the Casey Close client is just two months away from the free agent market. Greinke appears to have turned down an extension offer exceeding $100MM before the Brewers traded him to Anaheim. Here’s the latest from his new division…

  • The Yankees attempted to acquire Brendan Ryan from the Mariners, but Seattle turned them down, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Ryan is one of many infield options the Yankees have considered this month.
  • The Phillies have scouted the Rangers' farm system aggressively, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).
  • The Rangers discussed Josh Beckett before obtaining the rights to Yu Darvish last offseason, but aren't comfortable with the Red Sox right-hander, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). The Rangers are focused on upgrading their bench and bullpen, and they could consider trades for catchers.

AL East Notes: Shields, Wigginton, Betancourt

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Links from the AL East, which remains the only division without a sub-.500 team…

  • The Rays are 'cooler' on the idea of trading James Shields, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (onTwitter). It's difficult for Tampa Bay to act as a buyer because the positions at which they might seek upgrades, shortstop and catcher, are positions of scarcity in MLB.
  • Ty Wigginton isn't at the top of the Yankees' list of potentially useful third basemen, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). The Yankees are looking for someone who can provide defense at the hot corner.
  • The Yankees haven't contacted the Rockies about Rafael Betancourt, and it's doubtful the Rockies will trade him at all, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (on Twitter). The Orioles, Athletics, Rangers,Braves, Red Sox and Blue Jays have all been linked to Betancourt.
  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman said the Yankees can't take on a substantial contract, so Bryan Hoch of MLB.com says Yankees fans shouldn't expect to see Cliff Lee in navy pinstripes anytime soon (Twitter links). Cashman said it's possible but unlikely that the Yankees will make a trade before tomorrow's deadline, Hoch writes. "I highly doubt it," the GM said.
  • The Blue Jays are unlikely to complete a trade for Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). The Marlins expect to keep Johnson instead of trading him.
  • Here are the latest Red Sox-related rumors.

NL Central Notes: Lowrie, Brewers, Cardinals

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The NL Central includes the Senior Circuit's most potent offense (the Cardinals) and its lowest-scoring team (the Cubs). The Cardinals outscore the Cubs by more than one run per game (4.88 runs per game vs. 3.69). Here are the latest links from the NL Central…

  • The Astros are telling teams they're open to more trades, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Even Jed Lowrie, who has been on the disabled list with a sprained ankle for the past two weeks, is available.
  • Brewers president of baseball operations Doug Melvin joined Casey Stern and Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM and explained how the Zack Greinke trade went down (audio here).
  • The Brewers released Seth McClung, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports (on Twitter). The right-hander, who last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2009, appeared in 21 games for Milwaukee's Triple-A affiliate this year, posting a 6.36 ERA in 103 1/3 innings.
  • The Cardinals have never been more open to trading pitching prospect Shelby Miller, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. However, at least one team has lost interest in Miller.
  • Cubs manager Dale Sveum will be surprised if Ryan Dempster isn't traded, Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com reports (on Twitter). Click here for the latest rumors surrounding the right-hander.

Chase Headley Rumors: Monday

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With a .267/.363/.423 line that looks even better on the road, 28-year-old Padres third baseman Chase Headley has drawn interest from many teams this month.  Throw in team control through 2014 and you've got a hot commodity, but it appears Headley may stay put for now.  The latest:

  • The Padres wanted Jake Arrieta and two prospects for Headley, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports (Twitter links).  After Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado, Arrieta is the young Orioles player rival teams covet most, Connolly writes.  However, those clubs are trying to buy low on Arrieta.  Connolly reports that one of the two prospects the Padres sought with Arrieta is a high ceiling player at Class A Delmarva.
  • The Padres told clubs Sunday they'll keep Headley unless the market changes dramatically, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.  Earlier, Yahoo's Jeff Passan wrote that the Padres expect to decide today whether to keep Headley.
  • The Athletics won't trade starting pitching prospect Dan Straily in a Headley deal, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB Network.  Lightly regarded by prospect gurus prior to the season, the 23-year-old is in the midst of a breakout campaign and is now considered a quality pitching prospect.  Still, despite leading the minor leagues in strikeouts, Straily did not crack top 50 prospects lists published by ESPN's Keith Law and Baseball America this month.

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