Odds & Ends: Astros, Indians, Reds, O’s, Reyes
Assorted rumblings from around the majors…
- Former MLB manager Ned Yost tells MLB.com's Alyson Footer that he thinks the Astros are just one starter away from having a quite a good rotation. (Footer agrees.) At the moment, the Astros have Roy Oswalt, Wandy Rodriguez, Brian Moehler, Bud Norris and Felipe Paulino.
- As Howard noted earlier, Yost is a candidate to manage the Astros next year.
- Former Nats manager Manny Acta confirmed to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com that he interviewed for Cleveland's managerial opening.
- As Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus notes, Mike Leake will make his unofficial pro debut in the Arizona Fall League today. The Reds chose Leake in the first round of this year's draft.
- If the O's decide to pursue John McDonald, Roch Kubatko of MASN.com expects they'd want him to play a utility role.
- The AP (via ESPN) reports that Jose Reyes should be ready for the 2010 season after undergoing surgery on his right leg in Dallas today.
Orioles Have Interest In Kikuchi & Chapman
The Orioles have some interest in the world's most coveted amateur lefthanders. Director of international scouting John Stockstill tells Roch Kubatko of MASN.com that the club has some interest in Yusei Kikuchi, a top Japanese amateur. But Kikuchi's not the only big name the O's would consider.
"We're looking at all of them," Stockstill says. "It's the same thing with (Aroldis) Chapman and anyone else."
Stockstill says he isn't sure how interested the Orioles are at this point. Kikuchi will still have plenty of suitors to choose from if the O's decide not to pursue him. The Giants, Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Rangers, Mariners and Indians are expected to start meeting with the 18-year-old lefty this week.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bradley, Burrell, M’s, Jays
On this date 43 years ago, Frank Robinson accounted for the only run in game four of the World Series with a home run, completing a four game sweep. It was Robinson's first season with the Orioles, having been traded to Baltimore the previous winter for Jack Baldschun, Milt Pappas and Dick Simpson. With the regular season over, rumors of trades that could impact next season's World Series have already begun. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Jorge Says No! sees the Mariners as a nice fit for Milton Bradley.
- Blue Jay Hunter looks at what it might take for the Blue Jays to land Bradley.
- Trop Talk breaks down the arguments for Bradley, and yet still wants the Rays to stay away.
- Dock of the Rays explains why the Rays are so eager to rid themselves of Pat Burrell.
- Rays Index notes that the Burrell-for-Bradley rumor still has a number of unanswered questions, even if the deal comes down to just money.
- The Rays Party is not thrilled with the idea of the Cubs dumping a player on the Rays because of personality issues.
- Cubs Locker wants Bradley out of town, even if it takes cash and a relief pitcher.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Cubs, Rays Talking Milton Bradley
FRIDAY: ESPN's Buster Olney says "it's very much a longshot that this deal gets worked out."
THURSDAY: The Cubs are focused on one particular trading partner, as they look to move Milton Bradley. Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times hears that the Cubs are pushing the Rays to make a quick deal.
De Luca suggests the Rays could send Pat Burrell to the Cubs for Bradley. Burrell has $7MM remaining on his contract and Bradley has $21MM remaining on his, so the Rays would likely want the Cubs to cover a considerable amount of Bradley's contract in any deal.
The Blue Jays and Padres are possible destinations for Bradley, but the Blue Jays have a new GM (Alex Anthopoulos) and the Padres haven't yet named a permanent GM. As De Luca points out, it's doubtful that either club would want to acquire Bradley to kick off a new regime given the outfielder's volatility.
Orlando Cabrera Wants To Return To Minnesota
Orlando Cabrera tells the Pioneer Press that he wants to remain in Minnesota. He'll be a Type A free agent after the season, but the Twins can't offer him arbitration, so he won't cost any team a draft pick.
We took a close look at Cabrera's market value this morning. His .284/.316/.389 line and questionable defense will limit his value. However, MLB.com's Scott Merkin points to Cabrera's positive clubhouse presence and no one can deny his durability (Cabrera has played in at least 140 games every year since 2000). Still, it would be a surprise to see the Twins dole out a base salary worth more than the $4MM he signed for this spring.
Odds & Ends: Blue Jays, Braves, Indians, Jenks
Some more links for the afternoon…
- You heard all about one big trade that the Blue Jays didn't make, but Rob Bradford of WEEI.com hears the Jays were talking about another blockbuster. The Blue Jays made a play for Victor Martinez before the trade deadline this year, with an eye to contention in 2010.
- Rival GMs expect the Braves to pursue a right-handed hitter to play a corner infield or outfield position, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.
- The Indians are considering "eight to 10" possible managers, according to the AP (via ESPN). GM Mark Shapiro says he hasn't asked permission to speak with candidates in other organizations. He says MLB experience is "helpful, but not a necessity."
- ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says Bobby Jenks will be tough to trade this offseason. In fact, Jenks is as much a non-tender candidate as he is a trade candidate.
- The Boston Globe reports that the Padres will consider Red Sox execs Jed Hoyer and Ben Cherington "very seriously" for the team's GM vacancy.
- Bill Shaikin of the LA Times wonders if John Lackey might see offers worth $100MM if he pitches well in October.
- Lynn Henning of the Detroit News wonders if the Tigers will consider moving Curtis Granderson this offseason.
Tigers Rumors: Polanco, Lyon, Rodney
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski says this year's club was good, even though it had "shortcomings," according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. Here's how the GM plans on improving the Tigers:
- Dombrowski hasn't been handed a firm 2010 budget yet.
- He sounded prepared to move on if the club can't complete a reasonable deal with Placido Polanco. The GM says prospect Scott Sizemore is "ready to play."
- Expect the Tigers to rotate a number of players through the DH spot next year. Looks like Hideki Matsui, Jim Thome, Vladimir Guerrero and other free agent DHs can rule Detroit out for now unless they'd accept a part-time role.
- It sounds like the Tigers will fill their rotation out from within.
- The Tigers will emphasize plate discipline at all levels.
- It looks like Joel Zumaya will be able to throw as hard as ever next year.
- Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney will both be free agents after the postseason, so the Tigers don't have much certainty in the 'pen right now.
Padres Release Cha Seung Baek
MLBTR has learned that the Padres released righty Cha Seung Baek. The Korean hasn't pitched in the majors since 2008, when he split time between the Mariners and Padres. Baek, who turns 30 in May, allowed 118 hits and 30 walks in 111 innings of work last year, striking out 77.
Tim had identified him as a non-tender candidate, so his release isn't a huge surprise. We heard in August that Baek may require a second Tommy John operation (via MLB.com's Corey Brock), but his numbers suggest he can pitch if healthy.
Heyman On Pavano, Gomez, Nick Johnson
Reggie Jackson tells Jon Heyman of SI.com that Alex Rodriguez will have a big postseason. Jackson says as much every year, but A-Rod did hit well last night – maybe 2009 is his year. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- Like most Yankees people, Jackson is no fan of Carl Pavano.
- Carlos Gomez is hesitant to call the trade that sent him (and others) to Minnesota for Johan Santana fair. But, as Heyman points out, the Twins beat the Mets to the playoffs.
- The Mets will look at free agent first basemen this offseason, but don't expect them to sign Nick Johnson. GM Omar Minaya and the Mets are shying away from injury-prone players. I wonder if that applies to pitchers like Ben Sheets, Rich Harden and Erik Bedard.
Odds & Ends: Red Sox, V-Mart, Nats, Tigers
Some more links before another playoff triple-header…
- If you're rooting for the Red Sox this month, you have more in common with Theo Epstein than you might expect. The Boston GM tells Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe that he spends October "watching the fates unwind." Epstein has assembled a good team, but he sits back and watches this month with an understanding that good teams can't always win it all.
- As WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reports, the Red Sox were in talks this summer to acquire Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee from the Indians for a prospect-rich package including Clay Buchholz.
- WEEI.com's Alex Speier points out that it would have been hard for the Red Sox to find a more perfect fit than V-Mart.
- The Nats dismissed Jose Cardenal according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Cardenal had been a special advisor to the GM since 2005.
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski was upset that Miguel Cabrera got drunk between games last weekend, according to the AP (via ESPN).