The Royals are interested in Andrew Miller but aren’t currently pursuing Jonny Gomes, Major League sources tell Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Multiple reports have previously connected the Royals to Gomes, but it appears their interest has waned for the time being. Miller, of course, is being pursued by many teams due to his dominant numbers and relatively inexpensive salary. He’ll be a free agent at season’s end but could alter the composition of a bullpen and be a vital postseason piece. Miller tells Bradford that if he’s traded, he’ll harbor no hard feelings toward an organization with which he has “loved” his time. “I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to an end in the next couple of days, but if it does it won’t spoil it for me,” said Miller. “If it does I’m certainly not going to burn a bridge on the way out of town.” Earlier this morning, K.C. was also linked to John Lackey.
Here’s more from the AL Central…
- Despite reported interest from the Yankees, the White Sox might have a difficult time moving John Danks, a source tells Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Anybody who throws 200 innings in the big leagues is worth his weight in gold,” the source said. “But I don’t think his weight is worth $30 million worth of gold.” Van Schouwen’s source feels that the Sox would let Danks go if he were to be claimed on waivers next month in order to free themselves of his remaining salary obligations.
- As for Chicago’s other tradeable pieces, Van Schouwen notes that Adam Dunn, Gordon Beckham, Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo have limited markets due to contractual obligations (Dunn) or poor performance (the others). Alexei Ramirez would fetch a nice return, but the ChiSox don’t have an in-house replacement for the 32-year-old.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer looks at the Indians’ current situation and feels that the team could sell some veterans without hurting their chances in the Wild Card hunt. Justin Masterson has underperformed, and Asdrubal Cabrera has been decent at best, but both have drawn trade interest, Hoynes reports. He suggests calling Oakland and San Francisco about Cabrera to peddle him as a second base option. Ultimately, the Indians could benefit from relying more on names like Jose Ramirez, Danny Salazar and Zach McAllister than their declining stars, Hoynes writes.
- Glen Perkins made no effort to hide his feelings on whether or not the Twins should extend Kurt Suzuki when asked by Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press over the weekend: “That would be the ideal. I think everyone else would agree. Not even just pitchers. He’s fit in this clubhouse great, too, with everybody.” GM Terry Ryan told Berardino that he’s been happy with Suzuki’s contributions, though he acknowledged that Suzuki rates poorly in terms of pitch-framing. Berardino noted that the Orioles, Blue Jays and Giants had scouts in attendance at Twins games over the weekend.
- In more Twins news, Ryan is sending assistant GM Rob Antony on the team’s current road trip to Kansas City and Chicago while he settles in with VP of player personnel Mike Radcliff and special adviser Wayne Krivsky to work out deadline deals, writes La Valle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Ryan acknowledged the team’s position as sellers, telling Neal: “As long as it stops in the near future, then it is worthwhile. … This isn’t what anyone signed up to do. Nobody wants to watch a club get into late July and be in a position where you don’t have a chance.” Neal lists several Twins trade candidates, including Suzuki, Josh Willingham, Brian Duensing and Casey Fien.
Danks hasn’t thrown 200 innings since 2010, and he hasn’t been particularly good since 2010. As a 4/5 with an expensive contract he shouldn’t be worth much. His perceived value is inflated by a stretch he’s probably never even going to get close to again.
I wonder why the Mariniers haven’t inquired about Alexei Ramirez. He would be an offensive upgrade for them and the can include Brad Miller or Nick Franklin in the deal to at least temporarily fill Chicago’s hole at SS .
Would love to get Paxton back and have Sale, Rodon, Quintana, Danks and Paxton for an all lefty rotation. Yes I know Mariner fans…..I am not being serious.
I was so bummed when they let Buerle walk and signed Danks. Coulda paid about the same $ for 4 years of Buerle and coulda netted a decent prospect for Danks. What is it with GMs and using “their” guys.
Buehrle hasn’t been a juggernaut since he left…The wisdowm at the time was Beuhrle was best off in the national league since his fastball velocity was on the decline.
Agreed he hasn’t been a juggernaut, and hindsight is everything. But at the time it didn’t feel right, I’m not even a Sox fan, but he was such a big part of the team for a long time, and I think Buehrle in the end will be close to HF consideration and who doesn’t like the idea of a guy playing his career with one team, breaking team records. Its been over and done with for ages. But always left a bad taste in my mouth, it was pretty debated, as they could only afford one. And of course the following year Danks got hurt and Buehrle kept being Buehrle. But it always felt like KW had to prove he won trades and choosing Danks over Buehrle was one more way to say hey look what I turned 4 starts of McCarthy into!! Sorry for the long post.
Sox probably win the division in 2012 if they sign Buehrle instead of Danks
“..and Asdrubal Cabrera has been decent at best”
According to Fangraphs Cabrera has a 1.2 WAR making him literally a league average shortstop (ie rated 15th out of 30). However when you look at solely at offensive production he’s actually one of the best offensive shortstops in the league with a 98 wRC.
There’s plenty of value in acquiring a player. I expect the tribe to get a solid return for Cabrera particularly given the high demand for second basemen (he can also play 2B) and the existing sellers market.
$30M worth of gold is more than 800 lbs. Just saying.
I sort of want Miller to be traded just because I think he deserves to play for a contender down the stretch with how he’s performed. I know Miller said he wouldn’t be mad about a trade but, really, who WOULD get mad about being traded from a last place team to a contender?
Yankees should get Asdrubal and play him at 2nd base. We need offense and can’t continue trotting guys like Roberts and Ichiro out there everyday. Cabrera for 2nd and Willingham in RF is sadly the best the Yankees can do at this point.
Van schouwen is crazy. Dunn has 2 months left on his contract, I don’t see how that would be an issue. Also semien who already was with the club this year could replace alexei. It really doesn’t even matter who replaces him this year, they aren’t competing for a championship this year.
Van schouwen is crazy. Dunn has 2 months left on his contract, I don’t see how that would be an issue. Also semien who already was with the club this year could replace alexei. It really doesn’t even matter who replaces him this year, they aren’t competing for a championship this year.
My hopes of seeing a Dunn and Beckham to the Reds for Mike Lorenzen and Carlos Contreras trade are all but dashed. Votto’s still questionable to return, Phillips could still be a month from returning and they could move Beckham to SS when BP comes back. This probably made more sense before they went on that losing streak though.