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Rosenthal On Headley, Blue Jays, Myers, Dodgers

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports points out that we should expect the unexpected once trade talk picks up this summer. For example, who expected Ubaldo Jimenez to be traded this time last year? Here are Rosenthal’s notes from around MLB…

  • White Sox GM Kenny Williams says he’d prefer to focus on short-term goals for now and figure out whether to buy or sell closer to the July 31st trade deadline. “We’ll see where we are in July and then we’ll figure it out,” he said.
  • Chase Headley is a popular trade target, Rosenthal reports. The Padres could replace Headley at third with Jedd Gyorko or move Gyorko to second if they hold onto Headley.
  • The Diamondbacks explored the trade market for young catchers before signing Miguel Montero to an extension, only to find that acquiring a backstop such as Travis d’Arnaud or Austin Romine would have cost them top pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs and then some.
  • Some executives wonder if the Blue Jays should make their move this summer, asking “If not now, when?” One person says the Blue Jays are monitoring Matt Garza of the Cubs.
  • Carlos Lee can block trades to 14 teams, including the Dodgers, Rosenthal reports. Almost all of the teams on Lee’s no-trade list are high-revenue clubs. This provides Lee with some leverage, but doesn’t necessarily mean he’d block a deal.
  • Brett Myers’ $10MM option for 2013 likely vests with between 40 and 50 games finished, Rosenthal estimates. If a team acquired the right-hander and used him as a setup man, the option wouldn’t become an issue. But teams interested in using Myers as a closer might have interest in re-working the option like the Brewers did with Francisco Rodriguez a year ago.
  • The contracts for Cliff Lee, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halladay of the Phillies include the same no-trade protection, Rosenthal reports. Each player can block deals to 21 teams per year.
  • Dodgers president Stan Kasten expects his team to be “aggressive, but not reckless” in considering possible upgrades.

Red Sox Notes: Youkilis, Phillies, Diamondbacks

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A few items on the Red Sox as they get set to take on the Blue Jays in Toronto..

  • The Phillies and Diamondbacks have been in Toronto scouting third baseman Kevin Youkilis, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.  Earlier today, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com identified the Phillies and D'Backs as two of ten clubs that could be in the chase for the veteran.
  • Youkilis is too good to just simply give away, opines John Tomase of the Boston Herald.  Instead of selling Youkilis now because plays the same position as rising star Will Middlebrooks, Tomase would like to see the Red Sox find a way to keep him in the lineup.
  • The new draft regulations will handcuff what the Red Sox are able to do, Tomase writes.  One of the best examples of Boston taking advantage of their ability to spend in the draft came in 2007 when they gave fifth-round pick Will Middlebrooks $925K rather than the recommendation of $130K.

Latest On Kevin Youkilis

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The Dodgers, Phillies and Diamondbacks are among the teams showing early interest in Kevin Youkilis, people familiar with the situation tell Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  One Red Sox person termed talks as "very preliminary'' but others familiar with the club's thinking say that they feel the need to trade him, barring more injuries.

Red Sox people are telling others that they're looking for value in exchange for Youkilis, but it is said that they would ask for less if a team will pay the $9MM plus remaining on his contract ($12MM salary).  That deal also has a $13MM option with a $1MM buyout for 2013.

Aside from the aforementioned clubs, Heyman writes that the White Sox, Angels, Brewers, Giants, Rangers, Indians, and Reds are also possible destinations for the 33-year-old.  While Texas had a scout at a recent Red Sox game, Heyman notes that they are pretty set in the infield and the right-handed bat they seek is much more likely to be an outfielder.

Rosenthal On Wright, Astros, Garza, Youkilis

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Here's the latest Full Count video from Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com …

  • Mets third baseman David Wright, a free agent after next season assuming his 2013 option is picked up, will likely seek an eight-year contract extension of $150MM, using the long-term deals of franchise players Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Kemp and Joey Votto as negotiating points.
  • With several hard-to-trade veterans on the roster in Wandy Rodriguez, Carlos Lee and Brett Myers, the Astros might be well advised to trade second baseman Jose Altuve as a means to replenish their farm system. Houston has a well-regarded second base prospect in the minors in Jimmy Paredes, who was acquired in the deal that sent Lance Berkman to the Yankees.
  • Most teams expect the Cubs to trade Matt Garza, but the North Siders are also considering re-signing the right-hander to a long-term extension. If the Cubs opt to trade Garza, though, they should be able to draw interest from pitching-needy AL East teams, as well as the Tigers.
  • The Red Sox are motivated to trade Kevin Youkilis sooner than later, wanting to preclude a distraction and limit the positional shuffling of Adrian Gonzalez, but potential suitors want to see Youkilis remain healthy and productive before buying. The Dodgers are an obvious fit, while the Diamondbacks, who expressed interest last offseason, might not have the financial flexibility to take on the $12MM owed to Youk.

GMs Look Ahead To Trade Deadline

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Several general managers predict diminished trade activity this summer, when teams navigate baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement for the first time, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. Additional playoff berths mean more teams than ever are in contention and modified rules mean team can no longer obtain draft pick compensation for players acquired midseason. 

The Brewers and Diamondbacks have struggled through the season’s first two months and might have become sellers in other years, but neither team is inclined to make its players available yet. Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers knows his team faces a light schedule in the coming weeks and with Matt Kemp on the disabled list in Los Angeles, the Diamondbacks could strike. Similarly Brewers president of baseball operations Doug Melvin remains optimistic about his team’s chances of re-entering the race.

One GM says Zack Greinke, Josh Hamilton and Cole Hamels are the only prospective free agents assured of receiving one-year qualifying offers from their respective clubs after the season. More than three free agents will obtain these offers, but most players aren’t worth $12-3MM on a one-year deal, so teams will be pressured to make trades if they aim to convert players on the brink of free agency into long-term assets. As Rosenthal notes, GMs predict a quiet trade deadline annually, but lots of trades happen every year.

NL West Notes: Kemp, Montero, Giants, Youkilis

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Two of the NL West's biggest stars were sidelined today as Matt Kemp (left hamstring strain) and Troy Tulowitzki (strained left groin) were both placed on the 15-day disabled list.  It's a particularly tough blow for Kemp, who had just returned on Tuesday from a DL stint due to the same injury.

Some other news from around the division….

Quick Hits: Vazquez, Oviedo, Acosta, Montero

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Happy Memorial Day! Here are today’s links…

  • It doesn't sound as though Javier Vazquez has baseball at the forefront of his mind.  When asked what he's up to, friends of the pitcher told Peter Gammons of MLB.com (via Twitter) that he's playing semi-pro tennis.  In April, the right-hander said that he's not planning on playing but also wasn't ready to announce his retirement.
  • MLB announced an eight-week suspension for Juan Carlos Oviedo, the right-handed pitcher formerly known as Leo Nunez, for engaging in age and identity fraud (Twitter link). Oviedo is making his way back to the Marlins after a prolonged absence.
  • Mike Puma of the New York Post wonders if Manny Acosta's days with the Mets could be numbered (Twitter link). Acosta has an 11.86 ERA after allowing three runs to the Phillies this afternoon.
  • The Diamondbacks were willing to pay up to keep Miguel Montero’s two-way play on the roster, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes. While Montero isn’t hitting much so far this year, he has thrown out 39.2% of potential base stealers since the beginning of the 2011 season. He recently signed a five-year, $60MM contract with Arizona.

Quick Hits: Oswalt, Dempster, Diamondbacks, Jones

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Sunday afternoon linkage..

  • ‪The Dodgers‬ inquired on Roy Oswalt at one point but don't appear involved now, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).  This morning we learned that Oswalt would still rather play for the Rangers or Cardinals than the Red Sox.
  • Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster hopes to stay in Chicago even though he knows that he could be trade bait, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.  "I want to be here and be part of what’s going to be a bright future," Dempster said.  "Sometimes you have to endure some of the tough times in the present to get to that. We’ll just see how it goes."
  • At certain points, Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers put out feelers with other teams to see what another catcher might cost in trade and didn't like what he heard, writes Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic.  Arizona realized what they have in catcher Miguel Montero and locked him up to a five-year extension over the weekend.
  • Orioles center fielder Adam Jones told reporters that securing a no-trade clause in his six-year, $85.5MM contract was important to him, tweets Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com.
  • The Nationals could be interested in bringing back Erik Komatsu, who was DFA'd by the Twins earlier today, tweets Amanda Comak of the Washington Times.

D’Backs Sign Miguel Montero To Extension

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SATURDAY, 3:36pm: Montero will earn $10MM in 2013, $10MM in '14, $12MM in '15, $14MM in '16, and $14MM in '17, according to Keith Law of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

12:30pm: The team has officially announced the five-year extension with a press release.

FRIDAY: The Diamondbacks and catcher Miguel Montero have agreed to a five-year, $60MM contract extension, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The deal is the richest in Arizona club history and is expected to be announced at a press conference tomorrow.  ESPN's Buster Olney reports (via Twitter) that the contract doesn't afford Montero any no-trade protection.

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The two sides had been discussing an extension over the winter and had seemingly tabled negotiations, though GM Kevin Towers said earlier this month that the D'Backs were open to in-season talks.  Montero was scheduled to hit free agency this winter and would have been one of the more sought-after players on the market.  Montero, an Octagon client, turns 29 in July.

Montero can probably thank Yadier Molina for his five-year, $75MM extension with the Cardinals in March that raised the bar for catcher contracts.  As Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic points out on Twitter, the D'Backs originally offered Montero a four-year, $32MM deal in late February before talks broke off.  Montero's wish for a contract similar to Victor Martinez's four-year, $50MM deal with the Tigers was more than granted in terms of length and dollars, if not in average annual value.  Still, Montero's contract will award him the fifth-highest AAV for any catcher — Martinez is not included in that group since he has mostly been a DH since going to Detroit.

Montero broke out in 2011, hitting .282/.351/.469 in 2011, making his first All-Star Game and leading the league by throwing out 40% of baserunners attempting to steal.  While his hitting has taken a step back (.255/.350/.343) thus far in 2012, his already-strong defense has improved even further, with a caught-stealing percentage of 59% (16 of 27).

Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire

Minor Moves: Maine, Hernandez, Lindsay

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The latest minor moves…

  • The Yankees will sign right-hander John Maine to a minor league deal, Evan Drellich of MLB.com tweets. The Red Sox recently released the 31-year-old, who has missed considerable time with shoulder injuries. He posted a 7.43 ERA in 46 innings with the Rockies' top affiliate in 2011 before signing with the Red Sox this January.
  • The Cubs signed infielder Diory Hernandez, Matt Eddy of Baseball America tweets. The Astros had released Hernandez earlier in the week.
  • The Diamondbacks signed right-hander Gaby Hernandez from the independent Frontier League, Eddy tweets. The 26-year-old pitched at Triple-A for the Diamondbacks and White Sox last year.
  • The Dodgers released right-hander Shane Lindsay, Eddy tweets. The reliever had walked more than one batter per inning at Triple-A this year.
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