Eddie Schmid | MLB Trade Rumors

Odds & Ends: Bradley, O’s, Mariners

By Eddie Schmid | July 29, 2009 at 5:23pm CDT

Some more interesting nuggets we've mined as we reel from the madness today:

Paul Sullivan at the Chicago Tribune got comments from Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who called rumors that Milton Bradley could head to the Tigers "unfair to the player."
Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun hears that Danys Baez, Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora, who are all about to become free agents, have attracted minimal interest on the trade market.
The Mariners signed second round pick Rick Poythress, who'll be immediately shipped to the AA affiliate, reports Geoff Baker at the Seattle Times.
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick takes a look at some of the all-time hyped prospects who have turned out to be busts.
In a similar piece to Crasnick's, Yahoo's Jeff Passan looks at how once-hot prospect Brandon Wood has seen his value as a trade chip diminish.

Angels Rumors: Aybar, Harang, Bell

By Eddie Schmid | July 29, 2009 at 12:02am CDT

Mike DiGiovanna at the L.A. Times talked to Angels GM Tony Reagins, who said "There are various scenarios we're working on." DiGiovanna says they're still very much in the mix for Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, but summarizes a bit of news and lists intriguing potential targets should talks for the aces fail:

The Blue Jays reportedly asked for Erick Aybar, Jered Weaver or Joe Saunders, Brandon Wood, and one of either Trevor Reckling or Peter Bourjos.
The Angels might not have the top-flight pitching prospects the Indians desire in return for Lee.
The second tier of their pursuits for a starter could include Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Jarrod Washburn, Jon Garland, or Ian Snell. Chances for this kind of deal are slim, DiGiovanna notes.
Among relief help being sought by the Angels: Brandon League, Scott Downs, George Sherrill and Chad Qualls. The Halos' offers for Michael Wuertz and Heath Bell have apparently been turned down.

Odds & Ends: Nationals, Mets, Padres

By Eddie Schmid | July 28, 2009 at 9:43pm CDT

Mark Buehrle is human, for now. Aren't we all? Congrats to him on a ridiculous run. Here are some links to chew on in the meantime, with more to come:

Chico Harlan at the Washington Post runs down the Nationals' trade chips, and says that the Nats' asking price for them is still reported to be high.
Mets COO Jeff Wilpon has come out to defend the job of GM Omar Minaya, as David Lennon at Newsday reports, after his bizarre meltdown in a press conference yesterday announcing the firing of assistant Tony Bernazard.
With the Padres apparently more willing to sell their big pieces, Corey Brock at MLB.com wonders whether dealing Heath Bell or Adrian Gonzalez would be more beneficial in the rebuilding process.
Bill Ladson at MLB.com says that if the Nationals can't trade Nick Johnson, they'll need to figure out his contract situation soon. He's seeking a two-year deal, and reportedly wants a raise from the three-year, $16.5MM extension he previously signed.
Jayson Stark at ESPN provides some background drama to the positions of the GMs in Philadelphia and Toronto.
Rob Biertempfel at the Pittsburgh Post-Tribune reports that the Pirates signed fifth-round pick Nathan Baker, but he's only one of 18 signed out of 51 as the deadline looms.
Lyle Spencer at MLB.com doesn't think you should expect the Angels to include Erick Aybar in any deals.

Rangers “Scrambling” For Starters

By Eddie Schmid | July 28, 2009 at 7:51pm CDT

According to T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com, the recent health issues with Vicente Padilla and Kevin Millwood have the Rangers "scrambling" to add a starting pitcher before the deadline. As Sullivan reported earlier, the Rangers were in the mix for Roy Halladay but balked at the asking price of three top prospects.

As we already know, the Rangers' recent financial troubles will make it less likely they add significant payroll. Sullivan also reports that the Rangers were a contender for Ryan Garko before he was traded to the Giants.

Freddy Sanchez Scratched

By Eddie Schmid | July 28, 2009 at 7:26pm CDT

7:24pm: And down goes another rumor (for now): Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi at FOX Sports say Sanchez was not a healthy scratch, as his lingering knee issues forced him from the lineup. Still, with the Pirates in town for a series, the Giants' trainers reportedly personally examined Sanchez's knee last night, and teams are still in talks.

6:53pm: Multiple people have informed us that Freddy Sanchez was a healthy scratch from the Pirates' lineup tonight, and Henry Schulman at the San Francisco Chronicle is "getting more hints" that a trade is on the horizon, though it's not clear to whom. He cites the Giants and Twins as the top suitors. Stay tuned.

Padres Willing To Deal Bell?

By Eddie Schmid | July 28, 2009 at 7:20pm CDT

Jon Heyman at SI has a tweet that jives with what Joel Sherman reported earlier: The Padres are listening to offers on reliever Heath Bell. But the asking price may be steep–Heyman says the Padres are telling teams they want to fill in "multiple" needs to obtain him. He lists "corner bat, starter, catcher, middle infield" as the most glaring holes in the Pads' lineup.

Odds & Ends: Harang, Brewers, Orioles

By Eddie Schmid | July 28, 2009 at 6:43pm CDT

Here are some fresh links from only the most verified sources on the Internet:

Mark Gonzales at the Chicago Tribune reports that White Sox GM Kenny Williams spoke with Josh Fields' agent. Gonzales wonders if Fields might be on the outs.
Andy Martino at the Philadelphia Inquirer gets a rundown of the Phils' big prospect names being tossed around in a potential deal for Roy Halladay from Baseball America's Ben Badler.
Mark Sheldon at MLB.com reports that Aaron Harang has a limited no-trade clause, but Harang had this to say: "I don't know which teams I put. I put them down a couple of years back."
Brewers GM Doug Melvin is still in buying mode, he tells Tom Haudricourt at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
Steve Melewski at MASN Sports talked to O's president Andy MacPhail about Miguel Angel Sano. No offers yet, apparently.
Roch Kubatko at MASN says that there are "rumblings" that the Orioles might have interest in the Dodgers' 3B prospect Josh Bell, potentially as a piece in a George Sherrill deal.

Red Sox Not Close To Deal For Cliff Lee

By Eddie Schmid | July 28, 2009 at 5:40pm CDT

6:21pm: Rob Bradford passes along that the WEEI Twitter account we were sourced was a rather elaborate hoax. Twitter complicates things, but we apologize for being duped, and we're going to push harder to keep our sources verified.

5:40pm: Well isn't this ridiculous. Rob Bradford at WEEI tweets: "I have not reported anything. Somebody is hacking into my account."

5:26pm: Rob Bradford at WEEI reports that the Red Sox are close to a deal that would net Cliff Lee from the Indians for Michael Bowden, Josh Reddick and another prospect. Stay tuned.

Teams Scouting George Sherrill

By Eddie Schmid | July 25, 2009 at 1:03pm CDT

Ed Price at AOL Fanhouse tweets that the Twins, Angels and Dodgers are all scouting Orioles lefty George Sherrill.

The Orioles have frequently stated they're not interested in becoming a farm system for other teams, but it's believed Sherrill will still be moved. Sherrill has also been recently linked to the Rangers, as well as the Brewers and White Sox, and recently the Marlins and Cubs. The Orioles are said to potentially want young pitching in return.

Mariners DFA Balentien

By Eddie Schmid | July 25, 2009 at 12:29pm CDT

According to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, the Mariners have designated outfielder Wladimir Balentien for assignment. He's bumped to make room for Michael Saunders.

The move is somewhat interesting, as the Mariners had once considered the powerful Balentien the future of their outfield when Adam Jones departed to the Orioles in the Erik Bedard trade. The 25-year-old Balentien has been disappointing, though, posting a .619 OPS in 434 plate appearances the last three seasons. He was ranked the Ms' #5 prospect by Baseball America as recently as last year. You can bet he'll latch on to another team willing to gamble.

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