Pirates/Yankees/Braves Deal About Complete
Bucco Blog is reporting tonight that the oft rumored three-team trade between the Yankees, Braves, and Pirates is all but complete.
Mike Gonzalez is taking a requested physical for the Yankees today and, if he passes, it looks like he will be a Yankee for Christmas. The Pirates will be getting Adam LaRoche and the Braves will get Melky Cabrera and at least one unidentified Pirate who is thought to be either Nate McLouth or Jose Castillo. There are a couple versions of this trade running according to Bucco Blog so more as we hear it.
Latest On Adam LaRoche
This thing just won’t die. John Perrotto reports that the Pirates’ talks with Atlanta about Adam LaRoche are "picking up steam again."
The Braves originally wanted Paul Maholm, but are backing off and could go for Mike Gonzalez and Jose Castillo/Chris Duffy. Bucco Blog has been on this one for a long time. Perrotto writes that the Bucs want Kyle Davies in there if it’s going to be a four-player trade.
Meanwhile, the Yankees wouldn’t include a second player for Gonzalez and the Red Sox aren’t offering anything interesting.
Adam LaRoche For Brian Roberts?
The AP is reporting that the Braves and Orioles have discussed a straight-up swap of Adam LaRoche for Brian Roberts. They further indicate that Mark Loretta‘s agent has spoken to Baltimore; he could replace Roberts at 2B.
LaRoche’s power numbers would benefit from a switch to Camden Yards, though not significantly. Turner Field suppresses home runs for left-handed hitters by about 11% while Camden suppresses them by around 4%. The figures come courtesy of the Bill James Handbook.
LaRoche turned 27 recently and offers three full years of service time. Roberts turned 29 this year and has two years of service time left. LaRoche made $420,000 in ’06 while Roberts made $3.075MM. According to WARP, LaRoche was worth 6.2 wins in 2006 and Roberts 4.7. Fan favorite or not, the O’s should swap Roberts for LaRoche if given the chance.
Melky Cabrera To Braves?
Ken Davidoff of Newsday has amended yesterday’s Melky for Mike Gonzalez rumor. The latest one is Melky Cabrera to Atlanta, Mike Gonzalez to the Yankees, and Adam LaRoche to Pittsburgh. See, everyone’s happy. Melky could handle LF for the Braves in 2007 and then switch to center after that.
Davidoff mentions that such a deal could pave the way for one more year of Bernie Williams. Not sure if the Bucs could get more, but I think snagging LaRoche and his 35 HR potential would be a fine return. LaRoche would still have three years of service time under the Pirates’ control. The team could return to contention in 2008 if the young pitchers come along.
Braves To Nontender Giles, Reitsma?
In large part because of salary concerns, the Braves are likely to nontender second baseman Marcus Giles and reliever Chris Reitsma according to David O’Brien.
There are still some second basemen on the free agent market, but Giles should intrigue several clubs. He’ll turn 29 in May and aside from 2006 hits well above average for a second baseman. The Devil Rays, Red Sox, and Mets would be smart to consider him.
Reitsma turns 29 in December. The former Braves closer had Tommy John surgery in July, so he could still recover in time to help a team during the 2007 season. He had three fairly respectable seasons prior to 2006 and even made 21 starts in ’02. For a few million bucks he’d be a good play in either role. I’d try him as a fifth starter option; he has strong groundball tendencies. Overall, the free agent market is up 47% this winter.
Pirates To Sign Kuwata; LaRoche Deal Not Dead
John Perrotto of the Beaver County Allegheny Times reports that the Pirates are close to signing Japanese pitcher Masumi Kuwata. Kuwata could join the starting rotation. It was previously thought that the Red Sox would snag him on a minor league deal.
He also reports that potential for a multi-player deal between the Bucs and Braves still exists, with Mike Gonzalez, Humberto Cota, Jose Castillo, Nate McLouth, Kyle Davies, and Adam LaRoche involved.
The Nats are getting demanding for Ryan Church, causing the Pirates to back off.
Braves Trying To Get Rocco Baldelli
As you may know by now, John Schuerholz is working on a trade for Devil Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli would play left field for the ’07 Braves, and then could shift back to center in 2008.
David O’Brien of the AJC cautions that the Braves are just one of several teams (White Sox, Orioles) going after Baldelli. The general structure of the deal is thought to be catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, shortstop Yunel Escobar, and a starting pitcher. The Rays want that pitcher to be Chuck James, but the Braves might only be open to Kyle Davies.
Saltalamacchia turns 22 next May; he struggled in 92 Double A games this year. In his defense, he dealt with a wrist injury and also came on strong in July and August. Plus, he hit .565 in the AFL before straining a groin muscle. Salty is a switch-hitter with a sweet swing; he was thought to be untouchable last winter.
Escobar, a Cuban defector, turned 24 in November. His bat didn’t impress at Double A, but he has solid tools and plays decent defense at short.
James you already know. In examining his Major League work a few months back, I decided that his stats were quite inflated and he’s probably more of a 4 ERA guy. Still, that’s nothing to sneeze at. He’s a flyball pitcher with a fantastic changeup.
Davies turned 23 this year. He’s struggled in 151 Major League innings, but pitched well at Triple A as a 21 year old.
Baldelli is just 25 and has 384 Major League games under his belt. He showed nice power growth this year and has a favorable contract.
LaRoche For Gonzalez Offer Withdrawn
David O’Brien’s latest for the AJC confirms that the Braves have traded starter Horacio Ramirez to the Mariners for Rafael Soriano. Unless I’m missing something, John Schuerholz pillaged and maybe even plundered Bill Bavasi.
Additionally, the Braves have withdrawn their offer of Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez. That makes sense given the completion of the Soriano deal. O’Brien opines that Atlanta could re-engage the Angels, hoping to acquire some combination of Chone Figgins, Casey Kotchman, and a pitcher.
Gonzalez has been cleverly subtracted from the Pirates’ front page, with Ian Snell replacing him.
Mariners Trade Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez
Bill Shanks of Scout.com is reporting that the Mariners have traded reliever Rafael Soriano to the Braves for Horacio Ramirez. He also mentions that Atlanta is close to an Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez swap.
The first rumor, if true, seems a steal for the Braves. Soriano would automatically become Atlanta’s best reliever, Wickman included.
The second trade has been tossed around for some time but it was said that Dave Littlefield wouldn’t surrender Gonzalez.
UPDATE: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Bucs will make this deal, but the Braves are waiting to verify Gonzalez’s health. Particularly, his left elbow.
Braves on the block
Marcus Giles and Adam LaRoche are still on the block, and apparently the Angels are interested in LaRoche. David O’Brien speculates that the Braves would be interested in Chone Figgins, who would give Atlanta a "real" leadoff hitter for the first time since Rafael Furcal left. However, John Schuerholz says he’s mostly looking for pitching. And since Tanyon Sturtze was an upgrade, I’d say he’s right to do so.
Talking Chop discusses the possible trade of LaRoche, and raises an important question: if he leaves, who plays first for the Braves? They have Scott Thorman and Daryle Ward on board, but I can’t imagine Atlanta would go into the season with just those two. Richie Sexson has been linked to the Braves, but he’s just as expensive, and even less valuable, than Tim Hudson, so it would take a creative deal to get that done. TC also mentions that Chipper Jones could finally move to first, but that leaves a hole at third…unless a LaRoche trade brings Figgins, who could play third, leaving second base for Giles or his planned replacements (Willy Aybar? Kelly Johnson? who knows).
By Jeff Sackmann, Brew Crew Ball