Maddux-Braves Speculation
It’s pure speculation at this point, but MLB.com Braves beat writer Mark Bowman believes the Braves could bring Greg Maddux back for another tour. Braves fans seem to like the idea, based on chat questions I received yesterday.
The Braves’ rotation of Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tom Glavine, Jo-Jo Reyes, and Chuck James/Jeff Bennett could seemingly use an innings eater. Maddux is usually good for six decent innings, and he’s healthy at 42. He makes $10MM this year and has no-trade protection. The Padres probably wouldn’t demand any of the Braves’ top five prospects. A Maddux-Smoltz-Glavine reunion seems entirely possible to me.
Heyman On Teixeira
Jon Heyman’s latest column does a fine job analyzing Mark Teixeira‘s future. To sum it up:
- Heyman’s source expects the asking price to be around ten years and $200MM. Personally, I don’t see him getting a term nearly that long.
- Heyman and his sources do not see the Braves re-signing Tex.
- The suitors, in order of likelihood: Yankees, Mets, Orioles, Mariners, Braves, Red Sox, Giants. A battle of the New York powers is a reasonable prediction – both clubs should have first base open and the market for the position is otherwise poor.
- In a February MLBTR poll, the Yankees were picked as Tex’s most likely future club.
Braves Acquire Greg Norton
The Braves just put out a press release; they’ve acquired Greg Norton from the Mariners for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Norton, 35, certainly didn’t do anything wrong with the Mariners. He was 7 for 16 with a couple of doubles before they DFA’d him. He’s a solid switch-hitting bench bat, a nice pickup for Frank Wren. We might be able to give Norton a mulligan for his off-year in ’07; he was coming off knee surgery and finished the year with elbow surgery.
More Rosenthal’s Latest
Slow day for rumors, and yet Ken Rosenthal gets two posts! No surprise there. This time from his nifty sidebar Notes of Importance:
- With John Smoltz returning as the closer, the Braves will be exploring trades for a starter. Rosenthal says Atlanta could afford to give up prospects but won’t overpay. MLBTR covered this a couple days ago.
- Doing his best Monty Python, Rosenthal looks on the bright of life and sees the Troy Tulowitzki injury as an opportunity for Clint Barmes to rebuild his trade value. If he can produce anywhere near the level of his 80+ games in ’05 then Barmes could generate a lot of interest. If not, then we’ll continue to mention venison whenever Barmes comes up in conversation. I think Barmes has a lot of proving to do to be looked at favorably by scouts as he’d become a bit of a liability for the Rockies both in the field and at the plate.
- At the moment, the Nationals are carrying three catchers: Paul Lo Duca, Johnny Estrada, and Wil Nieves. Lo Duca is off the DL and returning to starting. Estrada is making $1.25MM and could be released, suggest Rosenthal. Nieves, however, signed with the Nats for less money over the Yankees in the offseason, hoping for a better opportunity. If the Nats put him on waivers, the Yankees – who wanted to retain Nieves – may indeed claim him if they view him as a better option than Chad Moeller.
By Nat Boyle
Odds and Ends: Gallardo, NPB, Braves
Today’s link collection…
- Check out the latest MLB Roundup video. The crew hands out April awards, assesses Billy Beane’s gameplan, and looks at Jeff Ma’s third-place Tout Wars team.
- RotoAuthority helps Yovani Gallardo owners pick up the pieces and find a replacement (he has a torn ACL). The Brewers have guys they can plug in but Gallardo seemed primed for a stellar season. They’ll keep an eye on the trade market.
- Mike Hampton could retire, but it’s highly unlikely that he’ll abandon the rest of his ’08 salary.
- Nippon Professional Baseball might shorten the tenure needed for free agency, except for those looking to go overseas. Players hoping to jump from Japan to MLB would still have to serve nine years or be posted.
- In the sidebar of this article, Ken Rosenthal suggests that Frank Wren will explore the trade market for starting pitching but won’t overpay for mediocrity. Tracy Ringolsby wonders whether the Braves will consider re-acquiring Kevin Millwood.
Braves, Angels Scouting Cardinals
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch mentioned in a Wednesday chat that the Braves are scouting the Cardinals heavily and the Angels have also been watching recently.
One rumor that’s been floating about consistently is that the Cardinals are willing to trade pitcher Anthony Reyes. Yesterday Jayson Stark relayed that John Mozeliak wants "an upper echelon prospect back, plus another piece."
Smoltz Situation Could Prompt Trade
John Smoltz is planning to return from the DL as a reliever in three weeks or so. This leaves the Braves with question marks in the rotation beyond Tim Hudson, Tom Glavine, and Jair Jurrjens.
The fifth starter job is often in flux for a lot of teams, but it seems the Braves need to figure out one more long-term starter for the year. The Braves do have some arms to bring up from Triple A, namely lefties Jo-Jo Reyes and Chuck James. Reyes has a 1.17 ERA in five starts.
In my opinion, the Braves need an innings eater if anything. Two trade possibilities come to mind: Joe Blanton and Kevin Millwood. I wonder if Billy Beane would demand top prospect Jason Heyward.
Schreiber DFA’d, Lillibridge Called Up
In a move that could have trade implications for both players involved, Braves prospect Brent Lillibridge is making his major league debut today, as shortstop Yunel Escobar suffered a shattered fingernail in last night’s game. To make room for Lillibridge on the 40-man roster, the Braves designated righty reliever Zach Schreiber for assignment. Lillibridge is pretty much blocked by Escobar, unless the Braves want to make him into a utilityman. However, with Escobar out until at least Tuesday, the slumping Lillibridge will have a chance to make an impression. Whether he’ll be auditioning for manager Bobby Cox or for the many other organizations that covet him, however, is a toss-up.
Schreiber, for his part, is just 25 years old and posted a 2.43 ERA in 33 and a third innings at AAA Richmond last year and a 2.22 ERA in 44 and two-thirds innings in Double A. The Braves drafted Schreiber, then a starter, out of Duke in the 16th round back in 2004. Though he’s struggled with his control so far this year, someone will want him.
Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com. She can be reached here.
Oswalt Staying Put
Last night on Baseball Tonight, Peter Gammons suggested that Roy Oswalt might become available and that he was willing to waive his no-trade clause.
The Astros, however, are far from cashing in their chips. They’ve won their last four and have no intention of trading Oswalt. Oswalt is signed through 2011 with a full no-trade clause. Oswalt repeated his stance from last year – he’d consider waiving it if the Astros approached him (and if the acquiring team is the Cardinals, Braves, or Red Sox). I imagine most players feel this way. It’s a moot point right now; Ed Wade isn’t considering trading him.
Oswalt seemed like the one true healthy ace who might be available come July. I’ll touch on the remaining options in the next MLB Roundup.
Odds and Ends: Klesko, Street, Davis
I’ve got a slew of links for you.
- Saberscouting has a mock June draft up.
- Ryan Klesko officially retired. Chipper Jones let the cat out of the bag in February.
- Voros McCracken sees the Evan Longoria contract as a low-risk proposition for the Rays.
- The A’s are still discussing an extension with Huston Street, though nothing appears imminent.
- The Giants DFA’d Rajai Davis. Anyone need an outfield burner?
- Sam Mellinger explains how the Hideo Nomo signing was the type of move the Royals need to make.
- Our Brian Bannister Q&A continues to get mileage, this time snagging a mention in the Seattle Times. I’m trying to line up some more player Q&As, by the way.