Mets Won’t Necessarily Sign Lugo
We heard know that Julio Lugo worked out at the Mets complex in the Dominican, but Alex Speier of WEEI.com says we shouldn't assume he'll sign with the Mets. Earlier in the season, when the Mets were closer to contention and in need of infield help, the Red Sox offered to trade Lugo for little or nothing, but the Mets declined.
Heyman On Halladay, Lee, Rockies
Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the Phillies have decided not to include prospect Kyle Drabek in a package for Roy Halladay. If they haven't informed the Blue Jays of their decision, they're about to. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- Heyman's sources say the Mets rejected a four-player package centered around Fernando Martinez for Halladay. Others have since disputed this.
- The Angels and Red Sox appear unlikely to part with their young prospects for Halladay.
- One Jays person believes it's unlikely they deal their ace at all.
- The Indians are becoming more open to dealing Cliff Lee, who doesn't have a no-trade clause and would have little say in the matter.
- However, they need pitching, so some Indians people believe the team is more likely to move Victor Martinez.
- The Rockies have considered pursuing Chad Qualls, George Sherrill, Danys Baez and Takashi Saito.
Rosenthal On Lee, Reds, D’Backs, Buchholz
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggests the Phillies may find Cliff Lee nearly as appealing as Roy Halladay because the Indians lefty makes just $11.5MM through 2010 and Halladay makes over $20MM before the end of next year. Rosenthal says the Phils could package rookie standout J.A. Happ with Carlos Carrasco and Dominic Brown to get the Indians' attention. Here are the rest of his rumors:
- Though some say the Jays need to acquire Brown or Kyle Drabek in any deal for Halladay, Rosenthal points out that some scouts like Jason Knapp and Michael Taylor just as much.
- The Reds would like to move some of their expensive starters and relievers to make room for younger pitchers, Rosenthal says.
- Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang and Francisco Cordero make enough to scare some suitors away, and while a salary swap is possible, Rosenthal says the Reds are more likely to make offseason deals.
- Jon Garland, Doug Davis and Carl Pavano are drawing little attention. Teams' unwillingness to take on salary limits interest in the two D'Backs starters.
- Michael Wuertz and Rafael Betancourt are drawing "heavy attention," but the A's seem likely to keep Wuertz.
- It would be tough for the Angels to give Brandon Wood up for George Sherrill, especially since Wood could start at third next year if the team doesn't re-sign Chone Figgins.
- It seems unlikely that the Red Sox would trade Clay Buchholz for Victor Martinez. If he's moved at all, Buchholz would likely be dealt for a premium young hitter.
- Orlando Cabrera's hitting better and he could interest the Mariners, Cardinals, Twins, Reds and Mets.
- The Mariners are one of many teams interested in Josh Willingham.
- The Rockies are reluctant to deal Ryan Spilborghs, and refused a Phillies offer that included two quality prospects.
Dodgers Scouting Relievers, Eyeing Aces
The Dodgers are looking for pitching and Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times has the latest on their hunt…
- The Dodgers have scouted George Sherrill, John Grabow and Matt Capps.
- Reds relievers David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes and Francisco Cordero could also interest the Dodgers.
- They are looking at Roy Halladay, but seem reluctant to part with Clayton Kershaw in any deal.
- The Indians are asking a lot for Cliff Lee, so he appears to be a longshot.
- The Dodgers aren't interested in Mark Mulder.
Qualls A Popular Target
The Phillies may be interested in D'Backs closer Chad Qualls, but they're certainly not his only suitor. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic hears that nearly half the teams in baseball have asked about him. The D'Backs seem "unlikely" to move Qualls, but would ask for a strarting pitching prospect in potential trades.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Monday
10:26pm: ESPN.com's Keith Law hears from multiple sources that the SI report below is "bogus."
9:15pm: Mike DiGiovanna at the L.A. Times talked to Angels GM Tony Reagins, who "hasn't ruled out anything" in a trade for Halladay. Still, DiGiovanna notes the Angels may not have the premium prospects to make a deal, let alone the desire to trade the prospects they have in the first place.
5:55pm: Jon Heyman at SI tweets that the Mets rejected a package of Fernando Martinez, Bobby Parnell, Jon Niese and Ruben Tejada for Halladay.
5:47pm: Peter Gammons weighs in on the situation, and talked to one GM who said "The general feeling is that he won't be traded." Gammons thinks that since Halladay's addition would give the Phillies a feasible chance to be world champions for three straight years as well as potential tutoring for Cole Hamels, the team should pursue Doc.
4:42pm: Theo Epstein told MLB.com's Ian Browne that he wants to hold onto his core of talented pitchers, but admits it's tempting to acquire an ace. He doesn't say Halladay's name, but it's fair to assume that's who he's talking about.
4:34pm: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel doesn't expect the Brewers to acquire Halladay, primarily because they'd have to give up so much to get him.
4:05pm: Olney says he thinks the Phils should deal for Halladay, but says they may be reluctant to part with young talent for him, now that they've won 12 of 13.
3:43pm: Jeff Blair hears that just a few teams are serious about Halladay: the Phillies, Dodgers and Angels.
Cards GM John Mozeliak seems less interested in Halladay now that he has "lowered his sights in the trade market" and the Yankees and Red Sox don't believe Ricciardi will deal within the division.
12:50pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Phillies' need for Halladay could diminish if their division lead (now 6.5 games) continues to grow. Olney hears from executives who don't expect anyone to meet the asking price for Doc.
12:33pm: A friend of Halladay's tells Jon Heyman of SI.com that Doc's top priority is winning, but the righty would apparently prefer a quiet environment and a team that trains in Florida. Heyman's source believes the Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals and Phillies are among the teams to which Halladay would approve a deal.
10:43am: MLB.com's Ken Gurnick says the Dodgers have the need for Halladay and the talent to acquire him. However, ownership may not be willing to commit enough money to land the Jays' ace.
8:58am: The latest on Roy Halladay, one day after his complete-game effort against the Red Sox…
- Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun says Phillies executive Pat Gillick, Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash and scouts for the Rangers and Dodgers all watched Halladay's start yesterday.
- The Globe's Tim Wharnsby reports that Gillick discussed the severity of Halladay's recent groin injury with the Blue Jays' team physician.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says the Tigers, Twins and Red Sox also had people at the game, though the Red Sox "don't appear to have serious interest."
- It's possible the teams were around to scout relievers, position players, or the Red Sox.
- A rival GM says J.P. Ricciardi "won't trade Halladay unless he gets the deal he wants," Morosi hears. "But he wants to get a deal."
- Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail says the Jays scouted the Phillies' Single A team last week.
- Blue Jays catcher Rod Barajas told MLB.com's Jordan Bastian that Halladay's the best pitcher he's ever caught. High praise, considering Barajas caught Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling with the D'Backs.
Odds And Ends: Nats, Schedule, Wang
Some links for the afternoon…
- Jay Jaffe of Baseball Prospectus (via ESPN) determines that among contenders, the Yankees, Rays and Rangers will have the toughest opposition the rest of the way.
- ESPN.com's Rob Neyer suspects the Pirates extended offers to Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson so they could say they did. Realistically, Neyer says it's hard for the Pirates to pay veteran players fair market value.
- Count Nationals interim manager Jim Riggleman among those who believe teams will continue to trade well into August, according to Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post.
- Within the piece, acting GM Mike Rizzo hints that Nick Johnson could return to the Nats next year.
- Tyler Kepner of the New York Times suggests we shouldn't expect Chien-Ming Wang to return for a while, "if at all." He experienced tenderness playing catch today.
Phillies Scouted Chad Qualls
The Phillies sent a scout to watch D'Backs closer Chad Qualls this weekend, according to Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse. The 30-year-old righty makes $2.5MM this year and won't be a free agent until after next season, so he should command good prospects in any trade, especially considering how well he's pitched this year.
Injuries Limit Padres Trades
Most teams are sellers at the deadline if they're 18 games under .500 and 13.5 games out of a playoff spot. But as Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports.com says, this year's San Diego Padres will struggle to unload payroll and add prospects in trades because they have so many injured players. With Jake Peavy, Brian Giles, Henry Blanco, David Eckstein, Chris Young, Nick Hundley, Cliff Floyd, Cha Seung Baek and Shawn Hill on the DL, the Padres have few pieces to consider moving.
Indians Seek Pitching; Are “Extremely Busy”
Indians GM Mark Shapiro has no idea if he'll make any trades this July, but he's "extremely busy and active," according to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince. Though he's not sure he'll make a deal, Shapiro knows he would want to acquire pitching in return for any of his players.