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Mets Dangle Relievers For OF Help

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Scott Schoeneweis is miffed that the Mets may be considering using him as bait to snag an outfield replacement for Moises Alou.

The Mets have hinted they’d like to remove Schoeneweis and Jorge Sosa from their payroll, but the Alou injury situation makes the departure of the two relievers even more likely.  Schoeneweis will make $7.2MM in 2008 and ’09 to complete his current three-year deal. Sosa makes an even $2MM in a one-year pact. Schoeneweis disappointed Omar Minaya last year with a 5.03 ERA in 70 games.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Mets called the Pirates to chat about Xavier Nady. New York may not have the pitching prospects the Pirates would want in return. Pittsburgh also may figure Nady’s value will increase toward the trade deadline.

By Big Mike Glab

Attanasio Wants To Keep Core Together

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Brewers’ owner Mark Attanasio promises that Milwaukee will do its best to sign its core of young talent to long-term deals. At the same time, he washes his hands of any blame if Prince Fielder is feeling slighted by the $255,000 raise he got in a contract renewal earlier this year.

Fielder, second baseman Rickie Weeks, left fielder Ryan Braun, and outfielder Corey Hart form the core of Milwaukee’s young team that’s expected to contend in the NL Central for years. "[W]e’re interested in signing all of our younger players to longer-term deals," Attanasio told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel yesterday.

Attanasio blames "the system," which gives pre-arb players no leverage, for Fielder’s relatively modest $670,000 salary this year. The hefty Brewers first baseman became the youngest player in MLB history to clout 50 home runs in a season in 2007.

By Big Mike Glab

Baldelli’s Hamstrings May Open Door For Lofton

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With Rocco Baldelli appearing only twice in spring games this year, the Rays may consider reviving talks with free agent outfielder Kenny Lofton. Tampa Bay’s right field and fourth outfielder depth is light enough that they’ve begun to look at infielders Joel Guzman and Ben Zobrist at left and right field, respectively.

Ray’s manager Joe Maddon won’t even guess when Baldelli will return to full-time play. Baldelli is nursing sore hamstrings this spring. He’s expected to play right field, if he can run, and will split time with Cliff Floyd and Jonny Gomes at DH.

Given Floyd’s fragility, the Rays will be taking quite a chance if they depend on that combination.  Floyd has appeared in 150 games once in the last ten years. Baldelli appeared in 150 games in his rookie year but hasn’t in the three years since.

By Big Mike Glab

Injuries May Revive Inge To Dodgers Talk

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The Dodgers’ Andy LaRoche suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb when he was hit by a pickoff throw in Friday’s spring game. In the same game, Nomar Garciaparra was hit by a pitch on his right wrist.  LaRoche will undergo surgery and will miss eight to 10 weeks. Garciaparra suffered no break but is in pain and will be evaluated today.

If Garciaparra joins LaRoche in sick bay, the recent Brandon Inge-to-the-Dodgers rumor that was declared dead this week may be resurrected. If both LaRoche and Nomar miss significant parts fo the season, the Dodgers’ already shallow infield will need a warm body or two.

By Big Mike Glab

Crumbling Edmonds Makes Pads Think Trade

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The Jim Edmonds Implosion Watch is on in San Diego. The centerfielder is on the shelf until the end of the month with a strained calf muscle, suffered in Thursday’s spring game.

Just a little more impetus for the Pads to get a deal done for an outfielder. Kevin Towers, though, says not so fast.  He’ll wait a week or so to see how Edmonds is progressing before pulling the trigger on any trades.  Edmonds, who’s in the last year of a two-year deal he signed with the Cardinals, will make $8MM this season. He’s missed 97 games over the last two years with a variety of aches and pains.

The strain may be worse than the one Edmonds suffered in 2003, causing him to miss significant playing time. Towers and Theo Epstein chatted yesterday over email, though Coco Crisp is seen as a long shot. Towers says Boston can’t have either Chase Headley or Matt Antonelli.

By Big Mike Glab

Dodgers Not Interested In Inge?

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TODAY: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times shoots this one down, citing the large amount of money owed to Inge.

SATURDAY: The Dodgers put in a call to the Tigers asking about Brandon Inge, according to Danny Knobler. Both Joe Torre and Larry Bowa are pushing for Inge, who would play third base in LA.

Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche have been jockeying for the position but the Dodgers aren’t sold on either as a solution just yet.  Inge is set to earn $19.1MM over the next three seasons.  The Dodgers definitely have salary dump candidates in Nomar, Juan Pierre, and Esteban Loaiza, but I’m not sure if there’s a fit.

By Big Mike Glab and Tim Dierkes

Votto May Crowd Hatteberg Out

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If John Halpin is right, Scott Hatteberg of the Reds ought to be looking forward to a lot of bench time this coming season.

Writing about fantasy baseball on foxsports.com, Halpin is wild on Joey Votto. The Cincy first baseman ranks second in Halpin’s list of rookies to watch in 2008. If Votto comes through, would Hatteberg be trade bait at mid-season?  Hatteberg will earn $1.85MM this year after Cincinnati picked up his option. It’s a bargain for a professional hitter who controls the strike zone.

The Yankees may need a first baseman once Joe Girardi gets tired of seeing Jason Giambi play matador at the corner. The A’s may be attracted by his pricetag if Daric Barton doesn’t provide enough offense.  The Royals and Giants also are possibilities, in my estimation.

Votto joins teammates Homer Bailey and Jay Bruce in the list of eleven first-year players. Boston’s Clay Buchholz heads the list.

By Big Mike Glab

Delgado MRI May Reveal Mets’ Hole At First

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With Carlos Delgado being sent to New York for an MRI on his sore right hip, the Mets may be in need of first base help.

Delgado hurt the same hip toward the end of last season, missing 2 1/2 weeks during the stretch run. The Mets say it’s not serious this time but Delgado is starting to show signs that he’s becoming old before his time. He may not be able to bounce back as quickly as he once did.

Now the Mets might be another potential destination for Scott Hatteberg if Joey Votto shoves him out of Cincinnati.

By Big Mike Glab

Hairston Key To Pads’ OF Dealings

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The Padres still may need more outfield help. Centerfielder Jim Edmonds and rightfielder Brian Giles both are well into the brittle phases of their careers.

Sean Devaney of the Sporting News has Kevin Towers casting his left field lot with Scott Hairston – for the time being. Look for more chatter about Jason Bay, Matt Murton and any other available outfielder if Hairston fails to lock the job down within three weeks.  It’s unclear whether Gabe Gross (who is out of options) is currently of interest.  Kenny Lofton could be a free agent possibility.

Would Towers be willing to part with relievers Wilfredo Ledezma (LH) or Clay Hensley (RH) alone or part of a package to fill an outfield hole?

Hairston put in a nice month’s-worth of games with the Pads last year, slugging .644. That spurt was uncharacteristic of the 27-year-old’s major league career, though.

By Big Mike Glab

Alex Gonzalez Is Out; Who’s In?

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Now that Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez is out with a knee fracture, will Wayne Krivsky be on the lookout for a short-term replacement?

New manager Dusty Baker has shown a propensity to trust veteran fill-in middle infielders, so Jeff Keppinger may have an opportunity to play Lou Gehrig to Gonzalez’s Wally Pipp if Krivsky doesn’t dig up any help.  Bet Keppinger’s never been compared to Gehrig before, eh?  Moving Brandon Phillips to shortstop will not be considered.

The free agent market offers next to nothing even as a short-term Gonzalez replacement.  Unless…wait for it…Neifi!

By Big Mike Glab and Tim Dierkes

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