A’s Rumors: Garciaparra, Springer, Crosby
Susan Slusser at the San Francisco Chronicle says that the A's will be pressed to make a roster move upon the return of Jason Giambi this Tuesday, though it's unclear what the move will be. She notes that the A's essentially have five first basemen on their roster and wonders if one could be traded.
Slusser suggests that Nomar Garciaparra could generate interest as a bench bat in a waiver deal, but Billy Beane would likely ask for Garciaparra's approval before any move. She also notes that four teams' interest in Russ Springer before the deadline could spell a deal this month (the Cardinals were known to have some interest in Springer). No teams have reportedly made a call about Bobby Crosby, and she believes it's unlikely he is waived.
Twins Seek Pitching
According to Joe Christensen at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins were hot after pitching before the July 31st deadline but came up empty. However, they're optimistic that they can get something done in August. As Twins GM Bill Smith told Christensen:
“There were very few relievers who got traded this week,” GM Bill Smith noted. “I won’t claim this, I read this the other day: Every team with a reliever was trying to turn a Larry Anderson into a Jeff Bagwell.”
With recent rocky starts by the Twins' young staff and a depleted bullpen, Christensen believes the team could use simply a consistent option–it need not be a "sexy addition," just a veteran to provide depth. He lists Jon Garland, Doug Davis, Kevin Correia and Miguel Batista as potentially interesting names for the Twins.
Rays Sign Jeff Bennett
2:41pm: We have a little more clarity on this situation. According to Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Braves suspended Bennett's pay on June 25, the day after he fractured his hand with an angry punch to a clubhouse wall. Here's more:
"The Braves didn’t announce it at the time, but they suspended his pay beginning June 25. He filed a grievance with the players association and continued his rehab, including two recent minor-league appearances," O'Brien writes.
"When the grievance was heard, the Braves were directed to either “cure the default” by giving him his back pay for the period he was suspended, or allow him to become a free agent. Braves media-relations director Brad Hainje said Bennett requested the team release him from his contract, which they did."
1:04pm: Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune reports minor league left-hander James Houser was released to make room for Bennett on the 40-man roster. Houser, 24, was 4-5 this season with a 5.16 ERA and a 44/50 K/BB ratio in 18 appearances (15 starts) for Triple-A Durham.
12:31pm: According to Ed Price at AOL Fanhouse, the Rays have inked righty Jeff Bennett to a deal. Bennett, 29, had recently asked for his release from the Braves, though it was unclear why. He put up a 3.18 ERA and 23/21 K/BB ratio for Atlanta this season.
Players Not Traded
This year, more teams seem to think they're in contention and fewer teams wore the tag of a true "seller." Countless names were bandied about as potential trade bait before yesterday's deadline, but as always only a few were actually dealt. Let's take a look at names on some of the teams that we'd most closely define as "sellers" this deadline that are staying put for now:
- Orioles: Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora, Danys Baez, Luke Scott, Ty Wigginton, Mark Hendrickson. They got two good prospects for the popular George Sherrill, but as time ticked away none of these guys seemed to have much interest. Team president Andy MacPhail probably didn't get any offers for the impending free agents better than what the O's might get back in draft picks this offseason, as Huff projects as a Type A free agent and Mora a Type B (though it's unlikely Mora is offered arbitration). Can't rule out a waiver deal for the more expensive guys.
- Athletics: Adam Kennedy, Justin Duchscherer, Michael Wuertz. That Wuertz comes cheap and is under control till 2011 probably meant Billy Beane wanted a big return. Duchscherer is still recovering from elbow surgery and was scratched from his rehab start yesterday, but as an impending free agent with $1.3MM left on his deal this year there's a chance he could be moved this month.
- Blue Jays: Roy Halladay, Jason Frasor, Scott Downs, Lyle Overbay, Brandon League. Some speculated that a Halladay deal would be the impetus for a Scott Rolen deal and create a domino effect, but it looks like the Rolen trade was the only one to truly bowl over J.P. Ricciardi. Overbay might be a waiver deal candidate, as he makes $7MM this year and next.
- Pirates: Zach Duke, Matt Capps. With the explosion of the Pirates' roster, it's a minor surprise neither of these guys were dealt. But they come cheap, and they're under control through 2011.
- Padres: Heath Bell, Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Kouzmanoff, David Eckstein, Kevin Correia. By the time the deadline approached, it seemed like Bell or Gonzalez might actually be dealt despite early reports that there would be no way they get moved. Instead, it was Peavy, which seemed to mean the Padres were cost-cutting.
- Diamondbacks: Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Chad Qualls. It became more evident before the deadline passed that the D'Backs would keep Qualls. Garland and Davis are candidates to be moved in August.
- Indians: Kerry Wood, Carl Pavano. With Wood's poor year and hefty contract, he wasn't an altogether attractive option. Pavano's set to net a draft pick as a Type B free agent, which probably appeals to the Indians more than what they were offered.
- Nationals: Josh Willingham, Adam Dunn, Ron Villone, Austin Kearns. Jim Bowden is gone, but it still seems the Nationals are asking quite a lot for their veterans at the deadline. Remember when they neglected to deal Alfonso Soriano at the deadline when he was an impending free agent? Not dealing Willingham can't be worse than that non-move, but it seemed to make sense to maximize value for him for a ballclub going nowhere this year.
- Royals: Mark Teahen, Brian Bannister, Ron Mahay, Willie Bloomquist. The Royals apparently wanted a Washburn-type return for Bannister, and teams might not have agreed with that asking price.
Padres To Release Mark Prior
Another chapter ends in the Mark Prior saga, and it still isn't on a positive note: According to MLB.com's Corey Brock, there are indications that the Padres are about to release Prior from his minor-league contract, possibly today.
The 28-year-old Prior hasn't thrown since April, says Brock. The former phenom had signed a deal with the Padres in January that would have been worth $1MM had he reached the majors. But as it stands, Prior hasn't played in a big league game since 2006.
Indians DFA Abreu, Gosling
According to Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com, the Indians have designated pitchers Winston Abreu and Mike Gosling for assignment. Those spots will clear the way for a call-up of Jensen Lewis and the newly-acquired Justin Masterson.
The Indians had previously gotten Abreu from the Rays in exchange for Jonathan Meloan. Abreu should find work on another team, as he had been performing well in the minors, but he was abysmal for the Tribe, allowing six earned runs and nine baserunners in 2.1 IP.
Odds & Ends: Giants, Tigers, Brewers
Some more links as we unwind from yesterday:
- Bob Ryan at the Boston Globe doesn't like the trade deadline, as he thinks it creates an unfair market for richer teams.
- Aaron Rowand is comfortable with the Giants' additions and thinks the lineup can lead to a playoff appearance, reports Andrew Baggarly at the San Jose Mercury-News.
- Lynn Henning at the Detroit News says that the Tigers still have much on their to-do list after acquiring Jarrod Washburn, which would include plugging in some "muscle" into their batting order.
- Kevin Kaduk at Yahoo Sports wonders what the Indians should do with their two planned Victor Martinez stadium giveaways now that he's a goner.
- The Orioles mostly held on to their veteran free-agents-to-be at the deadline, notes Spencer Fordin at MLB.com.
- Adam McCalvy at MLB.com has more on the three-team trade that fell through yesterday, where the Brewers would have acquired a pitcher. One clue to the unnamed pitcher: He reportedly would not have been able to start for the Brewers today.
More Trade Reactions
Lots of ink and keystrokes are being spent on analyzing yesterday's big deals. Here are a few, with more to be added on throughout the day:
- The Peavy deal, despite its earlier iteration in May, came "out of nowhere," says Scott Miller at CBS Sports. A rival executive says that White Sox GM Kenny Williams has "the biggest balls in sports," according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, who calls it one of his "all-time favorite" trades. Both of these stories, though similar, are good reads.
- Jayson Stark at ESPN lays out his top winners and losers at the deadline.
- South Side Sox notes that since the Peavy deal had the future in mind as well as the present, they "can't complain in the slightest" about the trade.
- Keith Law at ESPN thinks the Jays came out "extremely well" in the Scott Rolen deal. He also likes the versatility now afforded to the Red Sox in acquiring Victor Martinez.
- Rob McQuown at Baseball Prospectus says that in the Rolen deal, "Walt Jocketty undersold his assets. Badly."
Yankees Still Hunting For Starters?
After a drubbing to Sergio Mitre last night, Yankees skipper Joe Girardi admitted that the team is hurting for depth at the back end of their rotation, reports Marc Carig at the Newark Star-Ledger:
"I'm not sure we have a lot of options at this point," Girardi said. "[Mitre's] got to get it done."
The Yankees weren't able to make a move for pitching before the 4 p.m. deadline yesterday, but Carig provides this quote from GM Brian Cashman:
"I think over the years, this trade deadline is no longer even in existence… The waiver stuff is not going to prevent deals in August. Guys are going to get through because people are going to be afraid to claim and get stuck with money that they can't afford. And so the July 31 trade deadline is more of a fictitious one now, anyway."
Girardi reportedly said Friday he does not believe the dealing to be finished on the Yankees' end. So who would make sense in a deal? And why is Paul Byrd still unsigned?
Breaking Down The August Deadlines
And so we turn another leaf: As an insane non-waiver deadline has passed, all eyes are focused on the August 31st waiver deadline. Be sure to check out our detailed post on the logistics of August trades.
Many analysts have noted that teams' financial concerns could mean this upcoming deadline is far more active than previous years, as trades this time of year often involve the unloading of fat contracts. If yesterday was any indication, we could be in for some solid action.
Lest we forget, August 17th is the other major deadline–the last day teams are given to negotiate contracts with their 2009 draft picks. Many top picks remain unsigned, including Stephen Strasburg, so you can expect some Boras drama to kick into high gear.
Here are some fairly significant trades we saw go down before August 31st last season:
- The Diamondbacks made an August playoff push, acquiring Adam Dunn and David Eckstein.
- The Phillies acquired Matt Stairs from the Blue Jays, which led to the creation of a pretty awesome t-shirt. They also picked up lefty Scott Eyre.
- The Dodgers picked up Greg Maddux from their divisional-rival Padres.
- The Red Sox improved their depth with acquisitions of Mark Kotsay and Paul Byrd.
- The Rays acquired Chad Bradford from the Orioles.