NL West Notes: Lee, Upton, Pena, Street, Denorfia
We've already checked out some Giants and Rockies rumors today, so let's look around the rest of the NL West…
- The Dodgers won't trade top pitching prospect Zach Lee for a rental player like Ryan Dempster, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter link). We heard earlier today that Los Angeles had made the Cubs an offer for Dempster.
- Though the Diamondbacks and Pirates have had trouble connecting on a trade match for Justin Upton, the outfielder remains "at or near the top" of Pittsburgh's search for a hitter, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
- The Diamondbacks have signed 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Ismael Pena, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America. Badler describes Pena as "a 6-foot-3, 175-pound lefty with a sound swing, a good approach and a hit-first, power-second profile. He's an average runner with a 45 to 50 arm on the 20-80 scale."
- Huston Street was "aggressively" pursued by the Mets last winter, a source tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), but through the Mets are searching for bullpen help now, they don't think the Padres will move the closer. We heard earlier today that the Padres were looking to propose long-term extensions to Street and Carlos Quentin before the trade deadline.
- Street and Chris Denorfia have drawn more trade interest than Quentin, reports Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- Also from Center, the Pirates and Orioles are "among the teams pushing hardest" for Chase Headley. Center added the Mariners to the long list of Headley's suitors. The third baseman himself says he has heard "between six and 10 teams" have shown interest.
Stephen Drew Drawing Interest
3:37pm: The Pirates haven't had discussions about Drew with the Diamondbacks either, Olney reports (on Twitter).
3:27pm: The Red Sox and Diamondbacks have not spoken about Drew, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter).
1:21pm: The Pirates, Red Sox and Tigers are among the teams interested in Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report. Drew has played in 15 games this season since returning from the ankle injury that sidelined him for most of a year.
No team in baseball has obtained a lower OPS from its shortstops than the Pirates (.515), as noted in the FOX report. The Red Sox would likely use Drew in a reserve role and the Tigers, who are also interested in Diamondbacks infielder Ryan Roberts, could use him off the bench or at shortstop. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks would rely on Willie Bloomquist and John McDonald if they complete a trade.
Drew earns $7.75MM this year on a contract that includes a $10MM mutual option for 2013 ($1.35MM buyout). He has a .192/.246/.250 batting line in 57 plate appearances since returning from the disabled list. Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick expressed his disappointment in Drew earlier this year.
The Mariners have discussed Drew with the Diamondbacks, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported this week. Rosenthal has suggested that the Athletics could also be a fit for Drew.
Competitive Balance Lottery Results
Baseball’s first Competitive Balance Lottery took place in New York City today. The lottery, which allocates additional draft picks to small-market and low-revenue teams, provides teams with draft choices they can choose to use or trade. The Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, Royals, Athletics, Pirates, Padres, Rays, Reds, Rockies, Marlins, Brewers and Cardinals were eligible to obtain draft picks. The Tigers were also eligible, though only for the group of selections that takes place after the second round. Here are the results, via MLB.com:
Selections Between First & Second Rounds (Round A)
- Royals
- Pirates
- Diamondbacks
- Orioles
- Reds
- Marlins
Selections After Second Round (Round B)
- Padres
- Indians
- Rockies
- Athletics
- Brewers
- Tigers
The Rays and Cardinals did not receive a pick in either of the Competitive Balance Lottery Rounds.
Justin Upton Rumors: Wednesday
Justin Upton will be traded — it’s a question of whether the Diamondbacks make a deal now or over the winter, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported this morning. Upton, who can block trades to the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Indians, has drawn interest from many teams, including the Pirates, Blue Jays and Yankees. Here are the latest Upton-related rumors, with the most recent updates up top:
- Much of the interest in Upton is coming from non-contenders, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports. It’s becoming increasingly likely that the Diamondbacks will wait until the offseason to trade Upton.
- Though the Red Sox love Upton’s ability, they haven’t called the Diamondbacks about him, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweets.
Competitive Balance Lottery Takes Place Today
Baseball’s first Competitive Balance Lottery takes place today, when small-market and low-revenue teams will have the chance to win extra selections in next year’s amateur draft. The ten smallest-market teams and ten lowest-revenue teams will have the chance to win extra selections in 2013, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
There’s overlap between small-market teams and low-revenue teams, so there are 13 clubs involved in the first-round lottery: the Diamondbacks, Orioles, Indians, Royals, Athletics, Pirates, Padres, Rays, Reds, Rockies, Marlins, Brewers and Cardinals. The first six selections will be made between the first and second rounds of next year’s draft. A second group of six picks will be available to the teams from the first group that didn’t get an early pick, plus the Tigers. The second group of selections will be made after the second round of the draft.
MLB teams can trade the draft picks they obtain in the Competitive Balance Lottery. The picks, which can only be traded once, cannot be sold or traded during the offseason. In theory, the draft picks could be involved in some of this summer’s deadline deals.
The lottery takes place today at 12:30pm CDT/1:30pm EDT in New York and the winners will be announced 75 minutes later. A team’s chances of winning depend on its winning percentage from the previous season.
Nightengale On Cubs, Upton, Mariners
Arizona GM Kevin Towers told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he expects a “lightning round” of trades during the 48-hour period leading up to the July 31st trade deadline. “That's when things really are going to pick up," Towers predicts. Until then, here are Nightengale’s latest rumors:
- The Dodgers are the leaders for Ryan Dempster, a Cubs official told Nightengale (latest Dempster rumors here).
- Meanwhile, the Rangers and Tigers would love to trade for Matt Garza.
- Justin Upton will be traded, Nightengale writes. It’s a question of whether the Diamondbacks complete the trade now or after the season.
- The Diamondbacks plan to trade shortstop Stephen Drew by the end of the month. They talked to the Mariners about a potential deal, but infielders Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager and pitching prospects Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen and James Paxton are off-limits in trade talks.
- Nightengale suggests the Marlins and Mariners could consider trades for Hanley Ramirez and Ichiro Suzuki, respectively.
Quick Hits: Dempster, Headley, Yankees, Greinke
Some interesting links of note as Roy Halladay, activated from the disabled list today, takes the mound for the first time since May 27 at Dodger Stadium …
- Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster is receptive to being traded and would prefer to go to a contender, with first the Dodgers and then the Braves topping his list of desired landing spots, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. There are are only a few teams to which he wouldn't accept a trade, adds Rosenthal.
- The Dodgers are considered the frontrunners to acquire Dempster, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, but the Cubs are doing their due diligence in exploring other suitors. Some officials are questioning whether Dempster would prefer to go to the NL West or the AL East, Olney adds (Twitter links).
- The Diamondbacks are interested in acquiring Padres third baseman Chase Headley, but strained relations between the organizations would make it difficult for them to strike a deal, tweets Olney.
- The Yankees could trade for a left fielder in the wake of Brett Gardner's most recent injury setback, tweets Olney, but they're not in a hurry to make a deal and would only do so if the right one presented itself.
- Some team executives are expressing concern over Zack Greinke's health after the Brewers' recent decision to skip his turn in the rotation, tweets Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.
- The Tigers, a team with a hefty payroll, have managed to qualify for MLB's new Competitive Balance Lottery, explains Jason Beck of MLB.com. It's an interesting read, especially if you're unfamiliar with this new wrinkle to the draft, which will begin next year.
Olney On Marlins, Rays, Upton
General managers say the trade market has been surprisingly stagnant, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. The value of a Wild Card berth has diminished under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement, and executives wonder if this change has affected the trade market. “There's not as much incentive to being a Wild Card team as there has been,” one NL GM told Olney. Here are the rest of Olney’s notes and rumors:
- Under the new CBA, the spending money attached to draft picks is more valuable than the picks themselves, one GM said. Teams with large spending limits have more flexibility than other clubs and can pursue players more aggressively.
- Olney spoke with officials who are convinced the Diamondbacks will trade Justin Upton. Here are all the latest rumors on Upton.
- The 43-46 Marlins and the 46-44 Rays could create a significant shift in the trade market between now and the end of July. Both Florida teams are hovering around .500 for now.
- The Marlins will be willing to discuss every player on their roster, including Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Johnson and Omar Infante, if they decide to sell, Olney writes.
Justin Upton Rumors: Tuesday
Justin Upton's no-trade protection enables him to block trades to the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Indians. The Yankees have checked in on Upton, but there doesn't seem to be much traction between the two teams. Here's the latest on Upton, who collected three hits against the Reds last night…
- Agent Larry Reynolds told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that Upton hasn’t ruled out the possibility of accepting a trade to a team on his no-trade list (Twitter link). If nothing else, the no-trade list provides Upton and Reynolds with some potential leverage.
- The Pirates have stayed in contact with the Diamondbacks about Upton, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. So far Pirates GM Neal Huntington has refused to part with outfield prospect Starling Marte or pitching prospect Jameson Taillon in trade talks, Morosi writes.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney spoke with more officials who are convinced the Diamondbacks will trade Upton.
- The Blue Jays are interested in Upton, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported today.
- The Pirates and Diamondbacks are having trouble matching up on a trade because Arizona is seeking a shortstop, tweets Olney.
Tigers Interested In Stephen Drew, Ryan Roberts
The Tigers have shown interest in infielders Stephen Drew and Ryan Roberts, Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports report. The Tigers and Diamondbacks have discussed scenarios involving one or both players, but it’s not clear how advanced talks are, Morosi and Rosenthal report.
Drew, who recently returned from an extended stint on the disabled list with a broken ankle, drew interest from the Tigers two summers ago. He’s earning $7.75MM this year and on track to hit free agency after the season. The Diamondbacks could ask for Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta in trade talks, Morosi and Rosenthal suggest. The Tigers have a $6MM club option for Peralta in 2013.
Roberts, 31, is a utility player who could play second base in Detroit. He has played second and third for the Diamondbacks this year, posting a .239/.287/.353 batting line in 260 plate appearances. Roberts earns $2.01MM in 2012 and will remain under team control through 2015.
Diamondbacks infielder John McDonald is on the disabled list, but expected back soon. The Athletics are also interested in acquiring shortstop help. Here's a look at potentially available shortstops and third basemen.