Dodgers Rumors: Colletti, Thome, Garland, Hudson
The latest from Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times covers the future of Dodgers GM Ned Colletti and also reveals details from the team's acquisitions of Jon Garland and Jim Thome.
- Colletti faces a mutual option for 2010. He says he'd love to be back, but hasn't discussed his future with owner Frank McCourt yet. Sure, Colletti has been able to operate under a budget. But his work as a GM is a mixed bag at best. SI's Jon Heyman recently weighed in on Colletti's recent work; check that out here.
- The White Sox are paying $1.4MM of the $2.4MM still owed to Thome. From Chicago's point of view, the benefit was saving a million bucks. With all the penny-pinching in the Dodgers' trades the past few years, I'm surprised they were willing to spend that million for one month of a bench bat.
- Hernandez heard that Tony Abreu is the player to be named later in the Garland deal, as had been rumored. Abreu, a Scott Boras client, is hitting .351/.382/.609 in 213 Triple A plate appearances.
- Hernandez says the Dodgers are "not expected to retain" second baseman Orlando Hudson. Hudson may not be up for a one-year, incentive-laden contract this time around.
Twins Acquire Jon Rauch For Kevin Mulvey
TUESDAY: Arizona will receive pitcher Kevin Mulvey as the player to be named later in the Rauch trade, according to John Gambadoro of Sports 620 KTAR. Mulvey, of course, joined the Twins in February of last year as part of the Johan Santana trade. The 24 year-old righty has a 3.93 ERA with 113 strikeouts and 54 walks in 149 Triple A innings this year.
FRIDAY: The Twins acquired Jon Rauch from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later, according to an MLB.com press release. Rauch, who should become a free agent after next season, makes $2MM this year and his contract includes a $2.9MM club option for 2010.
The 6'11'' righty has allowed 57 hits and 17 walks in 54.1 innings, striking out 35. Rauch, who turns 31 next month, has seen his strikeout rate dip and his walk rate rise this year, though his ERA is identical to last year's 4.14 mark.
Garland, Contreras Trade Reactions
A couple of heroes of the 2005 postseason, Jon Garland and Jose Contreras, were acquired by NL West teams yesterday. Let's round up reaction links.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports likes the stability Garland provides the Dodgers, and wonders if they should exercise his $10MM option for 2010. The Rockies and Rangers both had interest in Garland, who turns 30 this month. His contract states that he cannot be offered arbitration if he's a Type A free agent, but that's irrelevant since Garland is currently battling just for Type B status. ESPN's Buster Olney says the D'Backs are paying the entire freight for Garland, so the Dodgers will give up a decent player (we don't know who yet).
- Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies acquired Contreras as a reaction to Aaron Cook's injury. Contreras was the consolation prize after the Rox were unable to meet the D'Backs' demands for Garland. The Sox will pay most of Contreras' remaining $2.7MM, compelling the Rockies to send pitching prospect Brandon Hynick to Chicago. Hynick talked to Jack Etkin of Inside The Rockies about the trade. Baseball America says he profiles as a back of the rotation innings eater, in their latest Handbook.
- How do you rank the recent NL West rotation additions, weighing these two moves and the Giants' signing of Brad Penny? Most folks would probably be inclined to say Garland, Penny, Contreras, but in one month's time anything can happen. All three pitchers have free agency as extra motivation.
Dodgers Acquire Jon Garland
8:18am: Via Twitter late last night, Gilbert mentioned a rumor that the D'Backs may receive infielder Tony Abreu in the Garland deal. He notes that Abreu would have to clear waivers; after the season as a player to be named later would also work. The 24 year-old crushed the ball in Triple A this year.
TUESDAY, 12:10am: Gilbert says Arizona is paying the rest of Garland's salary for this year, as well as the buyout of his 2010 option. Sweet deal for the Dodgers.
MONDAY, 11:18pm: The Dodgers have acquired righthander Jon Garland, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman. MLB.com's Steve Gilbert says the Diamondbacks will receive a player to be named later in return.
GM Ned Colletti has been looking to add a starter to his club for what seems like an eternity, and Garland gives them someone they can count on to take the ball every five days. He's started at least 32 games every season since 2002, and is on his way to completing that feat again this year. He had a 4.29 ERA in 167.2 IP for the Diamondbacks this year, his first foray into the National League.
There is a $10MM mutual option for Garland's services in 2010, with the buyout amount depending on who declines the option. Assuming the deal was completed before midnight ET on August 31st, Garland is eligible for the Dodgers' postseason roster.
Two Teams Interested In Garland
11:00pm: Heyman says a deal between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers "looks pretty likely to happen."
10:22pm: Heyman tweets that talks between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers about Garland are "heating up." He also mentions that the Rockies and Yankees look less likely at the moment.
9:02pm: ESPN's Buster Olney says the Yanks "are not involved in any on-going trade talks for Jon Garland."
8:03pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Rockies and Yankees have inquired about Garland.
7:26pm: Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports that two unknown teams have been "actively discussing" pitcher Jon Garland with the Diamondbacks. He mentions that a "potential trade likely would require the Diamondbacks to include cash to offset what remains on
The supremely durable Garland has started at least 32 games in the last seven years, and he's five starts away from making it eight consecutive years. The soon-to-be 30-yr has a 4.29 ERA and cleared waivers earlier this month. A team would need to acquire him before midnight tonight for him to be eligible for the postseason roster.
Perrotto’s Latest: Twins, Damon, Franklin, Penny, Dye
John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus brings us his latest from around the leagues:
- When they come off the DL, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins will be used in relief. So, the Twins are hoping to add a starter who can pitch in the playoffs. This means they have until tomorrow at midnight to do so.
- The Yankees would like to re-sign Johnny Damon to a one year deal and give Austin Jackson a second year to develop at Triple-A, while pursuing Matt Holliday and Jason Bay in the offseason.
- The Marlins and Giants are frontrunners to land Brad Penny.
- The Cardinals expect to exercise Ryan Franklin‘s $2.75MM club option and then sign an extension with their closer for 2011.
- The Royals want to extend G.M. Dayton Moore who is signed through 2010.
- Perrotto says the Cubs are likely to deal Milton Bradley this winter, even if it means eating a large portion of the $21MM owed to him through 2011.
- Jermaine Dye will more than likely not see his $12MM option exercised by the White Sox after a dip in production in tandem with the salary demands of Alex Rios and Jake Peavy.
- For the postseason, the Dodgers are seeking “a left-handed bat with power” for their bench.
- The Nats are auditioning Livan Hernandez as a veteran innings eater for 2010.
- The Diamondbacks may non-tender Conor Jackson.
- Brewers manager Ken Macha said G.M. Doug Melvin “scoured the area for pitching” before the deadline but was unable to add a starter because he refused to trade Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar.
- After making seven trades this year, the Pirates are the youngest team in the MLB.
Luis Gonzalez To Announce Retirement
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that outfielder Luis Gonzalez will officially announce his retirement tomorrow during "Luis Gonzalez Appreciation Night" in Arizona. Gonzalez will join the Diamondbacks' front office as a special assistant to team president and CEO Derrick Hall, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
Gonzalez will retire with 2,591 hits, 354 career homers,and 1,439 RBI to his credit, but the most memorable hit of his career will surely be the walk-off bloop single in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series that gave the Diamondbacks the only championship in franchise history.
Conor Jackson’s Future
This should have been one of Conor Jackson's best years. He had plate discipline, moderate power and was entering his age 27 season. Now, after an extended bout with valley fever, Jackson's value has tumbled and he doesn't have a guaranteed job next season. He told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that his disappointing season has created uncertainty about the team's offseason plans.
If the D'Backs offer Jackson a contract, they can't offer him less than $2.4MM under baseball's arbitration rules because he makes $3.1MM this year. Last offseason, when Jackson was coming off three straight years with an OPS over .800, the club had an easy call. But Jackson has hit poorly since then, so the team could decide to non-tender him.
Heyman On Rockies, Wagner, Gonzalez
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Rockies are in contention because GM Dan O'Dowd has made more worthwhile moves than anyone in the last year. He acquired Huston Street and Carlos Gonzalez for Matt Holliday, turned Luis Vizcaino into Jason Marquis and acquired Rafael Betancourt. Here are Heyman's latest rumors:
- O'Dowd's contract expires after the season, when Giants GM Brian Sabean and Dodgers GM Ned Colletti can also become free agents. One rival GM would be shocked if the Rockies didn't offer O'Dowd an extension.
- Heyman imagines the exact same scenario that Buster Olney brought up earlier today. The Red Sox could keep Billy Wagner to close next year while Daniel Bard sets up. This would enable the Red Sox to trade Jonathan Papelbon, who would bring in a nice return. Heyman says it's "mostly speculation" and reminds us that it's "far-fetched."
- The D'Backs put Chad Qualls on waivers. He's expected to be claimed, but the D'Backs aren't expected to move him.
- Some expect the Padres to listen to offers for Adrian Gonzalez after the season,
Odds And Ends: Giambi, Wagner, Oswalt, Snyder
Another round of links…
- Ed Price of AOL FanHouse reports that the Rockies officially announced the signing of Jason Giambi to a minor league deal.
- Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus says some clubs watch Latin American teams in the Little League World Series to establish preliminary lists of interesting players.
- Billy Wagner pitched an inning for the Mets today and Gameday says he hit 95 mph. He threw nine of his 19 pitches for strikes and picked up two strikeouts, walking one without allowing a hit. The Red Sox were surely watching the outing since they have another day to work out a deal with the Mets for Wagner.
- Roy Oswalt tells MLB.com's Brian McTaggart that time is running out and he wants the Astros to win soon, while he's around with Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman and possibly Miguel Tejada.
- As MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reports, Chris Snyder is glad to have signed an extension when he did.