D’Backs Tried To Acquire Ace Pitcher
5:33pm: The Diamondbacks were indeed working to acquire Garza today, Olney reports (on Twitter).
12:58pm: Lefty Patrick Corbin has been scratched from his start for Arizona's Triple-A affiliate, tweets Chris Gabel of the Reno Gazette-Journal. Magruder has been told Corbin will not be moved, but says he guesses things could change in what Kevin Towers likes to call the "lightning round."
12:46pm: The Diamondbacks are not currently discussing a deal with the Cubs involving Upton and Garza, reports MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. It was only Olney's speculation in the first place.
12:31pm: The D'Backs are "working hard on something big," tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. Olney feels that an Upton-Matt Garza framework makes sense for the Cubs and Diamondbacks. Upton does have the Cubs on his no-trade list, notes Olney.
10:56am: Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick dismissed talk of acquiring Lee, Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com reports (Twitter links). "He is owed $100MM. If they want to keep $90MM" Kendrick said. "Really problematic to move him." Arizona would still like to acquire a starter, but Kendrick says we should not expect front page news.
8:37am: The Diamondbacks are one of the teams to which Lee can block a trade, notes Rosenthal.
8:08am: The Diamondbacks say Upton is definitely staying and there is no truth to rumors of Lee or Hernandez, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today. That, of course, does not make Rosenthal's report of the D'Backs seeking an ace pitcher untrue. Meanwhile, Nightengale notes that the club is likely to trade shortstop Stephen Drew today.
3:59am: The Diamondbacks are trying to swing a blockbuster for an unknown ace starting pitcher, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. One rival executive "received indications that the Phillies and Diamondbacks had discussed a deal involving Cliff Lee and Justin Upton," but that scenario is unconfirmed and it is not known whether the D'Backs are among the 21 teams to which Lee can block a trade. Plus, Kevin Towers and company would need serious assistance covering the $95.1MM guaranteed to the Phillies' lefty through 2015.
Rosenthal notes that the Mariners inquired on Upton earlier this month, but talks failed to progress. Given that club's repeated comments on and off record, we can probably forget about Felix Hernandez.
Rosenthal did not mention the Marlins' Josh Johnson, who is reportedly expected to stay put through today's deadline. It's difficult to name another ace-like starting pitcher on whom a team might listen.
Red Sox To Acquire Craig Breslow
The Red Sox will acquire left-handed reliever Craig Breslow from the Diamondbacks, Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com reports (Twitter links). The Red Sox will send Matt Albers and Scott Podsednik to Arizona to complete the trade.
Boston had been seeking left-handed relief. The Angels were also looking at Breslow, according to Magruder. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe first reported that the Red Sox might acquire Breslow.
Breslow has a 2.70 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 in 43 1/3 innings this year. The 31-year-old earns $1.8MM and will go to arbitration again this coming offseason. He's on track to reach free agency following the 2013 season.
Podsednik, 36, posted a .387/.409/.484 batting line in 70 plate appearances this year, but missed substantial time with a groin injury. He earns $750K at the MLB level and will become a free agent after the season.
Albers has a 2.29 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 39 1/3 innings so far in 2012. He is earning $1.08MM this year and will remain under team control as an arbitration eligible player through 2013.
Photo courtesy of US Presswire.
Latest On Orioles, Joe Blanton
31-year-old innings eater Joe Blanton has about $3MM left on his contract, and the Orioles are his most interested suitor. The latest:
- The Phillies are coming off the $3MM demands, tweets Connolly, and Blanton to the Orioles is picking up steam again.
- The Orioles would have to take on $3MM to acquire Blanton, and they aren't comfortable with that amount, so they're considering other options, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports (all Twitter links). The Mariners want a lot in return for Jason Vargas, Connolly writes. Joe Saunders and Bud Norris are alternatives, but it's not clear whether they're fits for Baltimore. The Orioles don't want to give up much in a trade for starting pitching, Connolly writes.
- The Orioles tried to get Paul Maholm from the Cubs, Ghiroli reports. She confirms the team's interest in Saunders and Vargas. The Orioles are looking on the relief market as well, Ghiroli reports.
- The Orioles are turning their attention back toward other starters, tweets MLB.com's Britt Ghiroli.
- The Orioles were sent medicals on Blanton as well as two Phillies minor leaguers, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com.
- Money continues to be a stumbling block on a Blanton deal, tweets MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. The chances of the deal dying have increased since yesterday.
Latest On Athletics’ Search For Infielders
11:18am: It doesn't look like the Athletics will acquire a shortstop today, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter).
TUESDAY, 10:55am: MLB Network's Peter Gammons is a hearing a flat "no" on the idea of Drew going to the A's.
MONDAY, 6:03pm: Trade talk about a potential deal that would send Stephen Drew from Arizona to Oakland still has life, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (Twitter link). However, Peter Gammons of MLB Network reported today that the Athletics have backed off their pursuit of Drew and Yunel Escobar for now, (Twitter link).
Ken Rosenthal recently reported that the Athletics aren't favored to acquire Drew if the Diamondbacks trade him. Oakland is reluctant to match Toronto's asking price on Escobar, according to Rosenthal. Drew and Escobar are Oakland's top two choices for a shortstop upgrade, Jon Heyman reported today.
The A's looked into the possibility of acquiring Jimmy Rollins, but would have had to take on his entire contract ($11MM per season through 2014 with a vesting option for 2015) to complete a deal, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports. The price in terms of prospects wasn't high, but there's no guarantee Rollins, a Bay Area native, would approve a trade to Oakland. The Dodgers are no longer a fit for Rollins, Knobler writes.
D’Backs Designate Lyle Overbay For Assignment
TUESDAY, 12:47am: The Orioles have some interest in Overbay, reports Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com (on Twitter).
MONDAY, 11:12pm: The Reds and Diamondbacks are discussing a trade that would send Overbay to Cincinnati, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).
5:54pm: The Diamondbacks announced that they designated first baseman Lyle Overbay for assignment. The move creates roster space for newly-acquired infielder Chris Johnson.
Overbay, 35, posted a .292/.367/.448 batting line in 110 plate appearances this year. Manager Kirk Gibson made sure to limit Overbay's exposure to left-handed pitching (95 plate appearances vs. RHP, 15 plate appearances vs. LHP), using him as a part-time complement to Paul Goldschmidt. Overbay, who's signed to a one-year, $1MM contract, has a .271/.354/.439 batting line in 12 MLB seasons.
NL West Notes: Miley, Overbay, Dodgers
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.
Heyman On Morneau, Dodgers, Athletics, Mets
The latest from Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:
- The Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Giants "appear to have some interest" in Twins first baseman Justin Morneau. Heyman notes that the Dodgers are looking at many offensive options, possibly as many as 10. Morneau, 31, has somewhat bounced back to a .260/.322/.457 line after a 2011 season lost to concussion symptoms and other injuries. He has $5MM in salary remaining this year and is owed $14MM in 2013.
- The Athletics' top two choices for a shortstop upgrade are still Stephen Drew of the Diamondbacks and Yunel Escobar of the Blue Jays. The A's remain interested in Padres third baseman Chase Headley as well, but Heyman finds a match unlikely.
- The Mets have talked about Geovany Soto of the Cubs, Kelly Shoppach of the Red Sox, and Ramon Hernandez of the Rockies, but the prices are too high on these catchers. Heyman says the Mets may be willing to delay their catcher search until the winter.
West Notes: D-Backs, Drew, Yunel, Headley
It's been a busy weekend in baseball's Western divisions; the Angels have landed Zack Greinke, the Padres have extended Huston Street, the Giants have landed Marco Scutaro and the Diamondbacks have acquired Chris Johnson. There's still plenty of news and potential action out west, however… here are tonight's links:
- The Diamondbacks may not be finished dealing yet, writes Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic. Arizona GM Kevin Towers told reporters on Sunday that he could pursue additional pitching prior to Tuesday's deadline. Towers also hinted that one of the club's infielders could be on the move: "As it stands now it will be tough to get them all at-bats, but we'll see what happens the next two to three days."
- There's no guarantee that the Diamondbacks trade Stephen Drew, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The D-backs are currently deciding whether they want to give the bulk of the playing time at shortstop to Drew or Willie Bloomquist.
- If they go with Bloomquist, the Athletics are not the favorites to land Drew; an unspecified mystery team would be most likely, according to Rosenthal's source.
- Within the same piece, Rosenthal notes that the Athletics are reluctant to match the Blue Jays' asking price for Yunel Escobar.
- The Padres are weighing several offers for Chase Headley, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, but San Diego isn't sure if they want to move him.
- Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow felt that the high asking price on Headley had a beneficial effect on the market for Johnson, according to Zachary Levine of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
Diamondbacks Acquire Chris Johnson
The Diamondbacks have acquired third baseman Chris Johnson from the Astros for minor league outfielders Marc Krauss and Bobby Borchering, the teams announced. Borchering, 21, was Arizona's first round pick in the 2009 draft while Krauss, 24, was taken in the second round of the same draft.
Johnson, 27, has a slash line of .279/.329/.428 with eight homers in 368 plate appearances this season. The right-handed hitter, who also played a handful of games at first base for Houston this year, won't be arbitration eligible until after the 2013 season unless he qualifies for super two status this coming offseason.
The Diamondbacks dealt from an area from strength in this trade as they are rather deep in the outfield. While Krauss and Borchering were standouts at the Double-A level, they also have prospects Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollock in Triple-A Reno.
GM Jeff Luhnow continues to sell off Major League pieces as a part of the club's rebuilding effort. In the last ten days, the Astros have traded Wandy Rodriguez to the Pirates, Brett Myers to the White Sox, and J.A. Happ to the Blue Jays.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Rosenthal On Garza, Reds, Miley
Demand for starting pitching exceeds supply right now, so Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggests it'd make sense for teams to listen to offers for certain starters. Pitchers such as Felix Hernandez, Matt Garza, Bartolo Colon, Jon Lester, Phil Hughes, Homer Bailey, Wade Miley, Justin Masterson and Bud Norris could draw considerable interest if they were made available. Here are some of Rosenthal’s notes on the starting pitching market:
- Teams continue calling the Cubs to check in on Garza, Rosenthal reports. However, the Cubs won’t offer a discount based on the fluid buildup in Garza’s triceps and a trade remains “doubtful.” Garza isn’t expected to pitch until after the trade deadline.
- The Reds have relied on just five starters this year, and their rotation ranks fifth in MLB with a 3.58 ERA, but Rosenthal senses that the team isn’t completely comfortable with its rotation. They’ve asked about starting pitchers and are “all over the place” this summer, in the words of one MLB executive.
- Rosenthal suggests Arizona GM Kevin Towers would listen on Miley, as starting pitching is an area of strength for the Diamondbacks.
- Norris could be a fit for the Orioles, Blue Jays or Cardinals, Rosenthal writes.