Red Sox Looking At Shortstops
Despite welcoming Jed Lowrie back to lineup after a prolonged injury hiatus, the Red Sox are still looking for an upgrade at shortstop. SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that Boston has been checking out Jack Wilson and Orlando Cabrera, who are no strangers to this year's rumor circuit.
Earlier today we learned that the Twins were also interested in the molten hot Cabrera, who is hitting .373-.395-.530 in July.
Gammons’ Latest: Duke, Halladay, Reds, Rays
ESPN's Peter Gammons has a new blog post up, writing about how teams are reluctant to part with their top young players, even if they are overvaluing them. He also mixes in a little rumory goodness, so let's take a peek…
- The Pirates have indicated that it'll take "a gaggle of prospects" to move Zach Duke.
- When inquiring about Roy Halladay, the Yankees were told the price was Phil Hughes plus prospects Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero.
- One GM says "Cincinnati wants to move a few contracts, like either Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang, but we're not interested in giving players or taking on their money. Harang hasn't been the same guy since last May." Harang has a 4.99 ERA since a 63-pitch relief appearance on May 25th of last season.
- Another GM said "We've looked at Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Kevin Correia, Ian Snell and the long list of available starting pitchers and do not see anyone we would give A- or B-list prospects to get."
- Teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and Dodgers are at an advantage because they can afford to restock their farm systems quickly by spending big in the draft or on the international market.
- The Rays are likely "to see what they can get" for Carl Crawford after the season, and will hold onto prospects they consider keepers.
Cubs Looking For A Lefty Reliever
With starter Ted Lilly on the shelf for approximately three weeks, ESPN Chicago's Bruce Levine says Cubs GM Jim Hendry may have been pushed in the direction of adding a starter before Friday's trade deadline. The team could opt to move Sean Marshall back into the rotation, but that would leave manager Lou Piniella without a reliable lefthanded option in the pen.
The Cubbies have spoken to the Pirates about reliever John Grabow, but Levine says a move for Zach Duke or Tom Gorzelanny "may be the right avenue to follow with the loss of Lilly." He lists Carl Pavano, Jon Garland and Doug Davis as other starters available right now.
Odds & Ends: Braves, Orioles, Arroyo, Strasburg
Some links to check out on the night Derek Jeter tied Ted Williams on the career hits list with 2,654…
- MLB.com's Mark Bowman writes that if the Braves make a move before next Friday's trade deadline, "the best bet is that they'll add a reliever." He mentions Danys Baez, Takashi Saito, Ron Mahay, and John Grabow as available options.
- Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun took a look at the Orioles' main trade chips, including Baez, Aubrey Huff, George Sherrill, and Ty Wigginton.
- Bronson Arroyo is officially on the trading block, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman,
- The camp of top pick Stephen Strasburg has expressed concern over the Nationals' uncertain general manager situation, reports Chico Harlan of The Washington Post.
- Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times says that despite the Matt Holliday haul, the Mariners shouldn't expect as big of a return for Erik Bedard or Jarrod Washburn because they only project to be Type-B free agents after the season.
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said ""We'll be aggressive but we won't be stupid," when it comes to making trades according to Tom Haudricourt.
- Scott Lauber of The News Journal wrote about the dilemma of trading prospects.
Pirates Had Another Offer For LaRoche
Before the Pirates dealt Adam LaRoche to Boston, a second team made them an offer, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. An unknown club proposed a deal that would have sent a major leaguer and a borderline prospect to Pittsburgh for LaRoche. The Pirates would have had to take on the major leaguer's salary in the deal, which wasn't proposed by the Giants.
Red Sox Acquire Adam LaRoche
9:18pm: Baseball America's Matt Eddy has a comprehensive rundown of both prospects Pittsburgh acquired for LaRoche. Eddy likes Diaz's defense, but his bat is "a bit light for a regular role." He says Strickland's fastball gives him a chance to be a big league reliever, but he needs to refine his secondary pitches.
2:09pm: Kovacevic says the Pirates are not sending any cash to the Red Sox.
1:09pm: Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that the Pirates are sending cash to the Red Sox to contribute to the remainder of the $7.05MM LaRoche makes this year. They also sent cash to the Yankees in the Eric Hinske deal.
1:02pm: ESPN.com's Keith Law says Diaz's glove could make him a legitimate MLB backup in spite of his bat. Strickland is "probably a reliever at best."
12:31pm: Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus says Diaz is a very good defender who doesn't hit much. He says Strickland is a projectable righty with a fastball around 90 mph and average secondary stuff.
12:21pm: Ben Badler of Baseball America says the pair of prospects isn't much, not that the Pirates should expect more for two months of LaRoche.
12:05pm: Speier reports that the Pirates receive pitcher Hunter Strickland and shortstop Argenis Diaz.
11:49am: Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports that Manny Delcarmen will not be part of the trade.
11:45am: What you need to know about LaRoche: He's a 29-year-old first baseman hitting .247/.329/.441; he has a history of playing well in the second half; his defense is slightly below average; he makes $7.05MM this year before becoming a free agent and he's on the cusp of projecting as a Type B free agent, though he's currently below the cut.
11:15am: Kovacevic says the Pirates have traded LaRoche to the Red Sox.
11:00am: John Perrotto says LaRoche has been traded.
10:58am: Kovacevic says LaRoche is not in today's lineup.
10:56am: Ed Price of MLB FanHouse hears that LaRoche has been traded.
10:44am: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Pirates clubhouse is buzzing over the possiblity that Adam LaRoche will soon be traded. However, LaRoche is taking batting practice and is expected to play today.
Edes On Lee, Feliciano, Pirates
Yahoo's Gordon Edes says the Phillies and Dodgers are interested in Cliff Lee, but the Indians aren't anxious to move him. Not only would it mean trading Cy Young Award winners in back-to-back years, it would diminish the team's chances at contending next season. Here are the rest of Edes' rumors:
- The Dodgers would have interest in Pedro Feliciano if the Mets become sellers.
- The Brewers scouted Brad Penny over the weekend, but a trade seems unlikely now that Tim Wakefield's on the DL.
- At least one NL executive believes the Pirates are ready to move almost anyone. Zach Duke, Paul Maholm, Matt Capps, John Grabow, Freddy Sanchez, Adam LaRoche and Jack Wilson could all be targets.
- It looks like the Reds would listen to offers for Francisco Cordero. However, he has no-trade protection and an big contract.
- The Red Sox had a scout watch Nick Johnson this weekend.
Sanchez And Wilson Reject Extensions
MONDAY 7:15pm: Langosch has an update on the situation, and says that Sanchez and Wilson both express desire to continue negotiations to stay with the Pirates despite their early contract rejections, citing a "miscommunication." The players believed the original offers to be "take-it-or-leave-it" and didn't think they were negotiable.
SUNDAY 2:27pm: MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch informs us that both Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson have rejected the contract extensions offered to them by the Pirates.
Sanchez, 31, received an offer for a two-year extension worth $10MM. Wilson, also 31, received an offer for a two-year, $8MM extension. Both extensions would have voided the players' options for 2010. Sanchez has an $8MM vesting option with 600 plate appearances, and Wilson has an $8.4MM club option. General manager Neal Huntington commented on the rejections:
Huntington felt both deals were fair, citing the fact that only four of the 107 position players that were free agents this offseason received deals greater than two years in length.
Rob Biertempfel reports that both Sanchez and Wilson responded "with a firm 'no'" to the offers.
With no counteroffers from Wilson and Sanchez, the Pirates will likely listen to offers on their middle-infield tandem as the trade deadline approaches.
Odds And Ends: Nats, Schedule, Wang
Some links for the afternoon…
- Jay Jaffe of Baseball Prospectus (via ESPN) determines that among contenders, the Yankees, Rays and Rangers will have the toughest opposition the rest of the way.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer suspects the Pirates extended offers to Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson so they could say they did. Realistically, Neyer says it's hard for the Pirates to pay veteran players fair market value.
- Count Nationals interim manager Jim Riggleman among those who believe teams will continue to trade well into August, according to Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post.
- Within the piece, acting GM Mike Rizzo hints that Nick Johnson could return to the Nats next year.
- Tyler Kepner of the New York Times suggests we shouldn't expect Chien-Ming Wang to return for a while, "if at all." He experienced tenderness playing catch today.
Odds & Ends: Marlins, Pirates, Gammons
A fresh batch of links on a busy Sunday evening around the baseball world…
- Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post suggests the Marlins may quickly turn into trade-deadline "sellers" if they continue to fall back in the NL East. We probably won't see one of those classic "fire sales," but a few chips may be dealt.
- According to MLB.com's Jennifer Langosch, the Pirates are having a little trouble agreeing to terms with a few of their younger draft picks because the Commissioner's Office "frowns on clubs that offer above-slot money." It's an interesting read.
- If you're into moving images, ESPN's Peter Gammons has a new video up previewing the July 31 trade deadline. He talks Giants, Rockies, Red Sox, Phillies, Astros and, of course, Roy Halladay.
- The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto is confused as to why the Indians continue to give playing time to Jhonny Peralta while Andy Marte is at Triple-A, and just a phone call away.