Cubs Looking For Middle Infielder
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are trying to acquire another middle infielder so that they can play Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot simultaneously. I’m not a big believer in Theriot’s offense, but preventing Jacque Jones from facing lefties is long overdue.
This may be related to the vague rumor I mentioned yesterday, that the Cubs had a scout at a recent Jays/Braves game. Just a guess, but maybe the Cubs have their eye on 23 year-old second baseman Martin Prado? I don’t know – neither of these teams is stocked with middle infield depth. Why not just use Eric Patterson?
UPDATE: An astute reader pointed out that Yunel Escobar is the most likely middle infielder on the Braves to be dealt. Many teams have expressed interest in him, and it makes sense that the Cubs would be one of them.
UPDATE 2: David O’Brien mentioned in his AJC blog today:
"Talked to a scout before the game who had spoken with a Cubs official this week and heard they (Cubs) are looking for a utility man. Chris Woodward’s name was mentioned, but I don’t know whether the Braves are considering moving him or not."
So, Woodward. Nothing too exciting but at least we can put the crazier rumors to bed.
Cubs Looking To Deal?
MLBTradeRumors.com has word from a reputable source that the Cubs are looking to make a deal. They are after one more solid player, but I’m not sure what position they’re trying to fill.
A possibly related piece of info is that a Cubs scout was in attendance at a recent Braves/Blue Jays spring game. That pretty much sums up the extent of what I know; anything else would be speculation.
Browsing that box score, I’m not sure what would make sense. Josh Towers is available and was on display, but how does that help the Cubs? Jason Marquis can already post a 5.50 ERA. The Cubs have Jacque Jones to spare, but neither the Braves not the Jays need a right fielder. Take your best guess in the comments; I really don’t know what could be cooking. Please, no Andruw Jones speculation.
Braves Sign Mark Redman
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves have signed lefty starter Mark Redman to a minor league contract. Mike Hampton could be out 4-6 weeks with an injury to his side, and the Braves needed a little depth in the rotation anyway. Redman follows Steve Trachsel as this offseason’s direct beneficiaries of injuries.
Last year, Ozzie Guillen hooked Redman up by making him the Royals’ All-Star rep over Mark Grudzielanek. Fortunately the Royals seem to have enough talent this year to get a real All-Star chosen. Personally, I kind of like the one per team rule. I’m amused when crappy players sneak onto the team. As a Cubs fan when they were terrible (almost always), I really did watch the All-Star Game mainly to see Steve Trachsel or Jon Lieber get his inning, or Mark Grace get his AB.
Anyway, a return to the NL should help Redman; he should be able to pitch like a fifth starter typically does or even better. Remember, the average fifth starter has an ERA over 6. If Redman is under 5 that’s not bad at all.
Hampton Injury May Force Trade
Mike Hampton injured his side this morning and could miss all of April or more. At the bottom of his article, MLB.com’s Mark Bowman mentions that the injury may prompt the Braves to scour the trade market for a starting pitcher. Right now the front four are Smoltz, Hudson, James, and Davies. Lance Cormier could fill in for Hampton if Schuerholz doesn’t find a reasonable trade.
One available starter might be the Cubs’ Wade Miller, assuming he is healthy but does not win the fifth starter job. I imagine the Phils won’t send Jon Lieber over to the Braves. Brad Penny‘s stock seems down lately, and he could be an option. And don’t forget that the Braves may have had someone on hand to watch Carl Pavano pitch a few days ago.
The Tigers might have a small surplus with Zach Miner apparently pushed out of the rotation by Mike Maroth. The Braves sent Miner to the Tigers for Kyle Farnsworth in July of ’05. Paul Byrd is another former Brave who might be available. And I’m sure Shawn Chacon could be had for a decent-sized bag of peanuts. Plus there’s the Rockies, with Josh Fogg or Byung-Hyun Kim seen as expendable. Finally, as mentioned in the comments, Mark Redman is still a free agent.
Interest In Pavano
Yesterday I mentioned that Carl Pavano had his first healthy effort this spring, a major step towards a trade. The Cards, Rockies, and Mariners have expressed interest in the past.
Today, a George King report indicates some other possible suitors. King mentions that scouts from the Braves, Mets, and White Sox attended the game at which Pavano pitched. Whether they were there to watch him is an open question, but it is reasonable.
A cross-town trade would be particularly interesting, although the Mets are not short on Pavano-like options.
Braves Sign Craig Wilson
The Braves have brought in some competition for Scott Thorman at first base. Today they signed Craig Wilson to a one-year deal for only $2MM, according to a team press release.
Looking at Wilson’s and Thorman’s splits, it might make sense to use Wilson primarily against southpaws and Thorman against righties. This signing may have been in queue for a while, given how quickly it was completed.
Pirates Acquire LaRoche For Gonzalez
UPDATE: A source tells me the Pirates included shortstop Brent Lillibridge in the trade, and it’s a four-player deal. That’s quite a price – Baseball Prospectus’s PECOTA system indicates that the college product would be baseball’s ninth best shortstop in 2007 (based on projected WARP).
The above info is now confirmed by John Perrotto of the Beaver County Allegheny Times. The Braves are sending outfielder Jamie Romak to the Bucs to complete the deal.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have agreed to send Mike Gonzalez and another unknown player to the Braves for first baseman Adam LaRoche. Nice to finally put the daily LaRoche rumors to rest. Given the inclusion of Lillibridge, I’d say the Braves won another deal here.
Check out RotoAuthority to read the fantasy implications of this deal.
Pirates, Braves Still Talking Swap
The Mike Gonzalez for Adam LaRoche trade rumor lives on. However, as we’ve read at Bucco Blog numerous times, John Schuerholz has always wanted to add Paul Maholm or Jose Castillo to the deal.
Bucco Blog recently sat down with an NL East scout to discuss LaRoche and whether he’d be a good fit in Pittsburgh. Take a look.
Reds Talking To Chris Reitsma
David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that 29 year-old reliever Chris Reitsma will not be returning to the Braves on a lesser contract. Yesterday we learned that the Marlins are not involved either. Six teams have made offers to Reitsma, and he’s well into negotiations with the Reds.
Reitsma formerly pitched in Cincinnati before he was traded to the Braves in March of 2004. He had elbow surgery in July and hopes to be ready by spring training. I’m no doctor, but I know that is different than Tommy John. Even in the midst of recent struggles, Reitsma has always gotten groundballs. He could be a setup candidate for the Reds or even force his way into an unstable closer situation.
Carroll: Andruw Jones, Mark Teixeira Rumors
Over at Baseball Prospectus, Will Carroll elaborates a bit on some rumored big names mentioned yesterday as trade candidates.
Carroll indicates that John Schuerholz is hard at work and a host of star players are emerging from the rumor mill. We know the Braves have been shopping Adam LaRoche; Andruw Jones could be available as well if he’ll waive his no-trade. Available long-term CF options for Atlanta floated by Carroll: Rocco Baldelli, Curtis Granderson, and Nick Markakis. The last two names are new to me; Markakis is probably capable of moving to CF.
As if that weren’t enough, Carroll names Tim Hudson, Mark Teixeira, and Dontrelle Willis as other trade candidates. I’m sure any such deal would be quite complicated. As Buster Olney mentioned recently, it would probably make sense to trade Willis now before he gets injured or posts another uninspiring season.