Could The Marlins Shop Leo Nunez?
The Marlins have been looking for relief help all season, going so far as to sign Armando Benitez to a minor league deal, but MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says to keep an eye for Leo Nunez in future trade talk.
There's no denying that Nunez has been outstanding this season (3.12 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 18-for-23 in save opportunities), but a team may be willing to overpay for the Marlins' closer in a trade given the dearth of quality relievers on the market. As Frisaro notes, the goal isn't just to improve this year, but in 2011 and beyond.
Money, unsurprisingly, would be a driving force behind any Nunez deal. The 26-year-old will earn a total of $2MM this season, his first time eligible for arbitration. He might be able to double that salary the second time through next year, and the Marlins traditionally don't pay their bullpen workers more than $2.5MM per season.
Considering the number of contenders looking for relief help – the Red Sox, Phillies, and Tigers, just to name a few – the Marlins would have no trouble finding a suitor for the hard throwing, high strikeout Nunez. It's just a question of whether or not Florida will make their closer available in a trade.
Cubs Are Getting More Serious About Trades
The Cubs have yet to declare themselves buyers or sellers despite a 37-47 record, but Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweets that the team is starting to get "more serious" about making deals. Davidoff also mentions that the Mets "like the idea" of adding Ted Lilly to their rotation while assuming the $6MM left on his contract in order to give up fewer prospects in a trade.
Lilly is just one of several pieces the Cubs could shop, along with Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, Jeff Baker, Derrek Lee, Kosuke Fukudome, and Xavier Nady. The Giants could have interest in Theriot and Chicago tried to push Fukudome on the Red Sox, but nothing has materialized just yet.
The Mets have expressed interest in adding a quality starter, and Lilly would certainly fit the bill. There is some uncertainty about the team's ability to add payroll however, so whether or not they can actually take on Lilly's salary remains to be seen.
Odds & Ends: Dunn, Phillies, Crisp, Molina, Fielder
Saturday linkage..
- Adam Dunn had hoped to hammer out an extension before the All-Star break to avoid trade talk, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- The Rays' director of scouting in the Dominican Republic believes that Yoel Araujo can develop into a "five-tool type player", writes Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.
- The Phillies initially called up Brian Bocock over Cody Ransom because Ransom was experiencing knee trouble, writes MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Earlier today, the club DFA'd Bocock and promoted Ransom.
- ESPN's Buster Olney speculates that Coco Crisp and the Padres could be a great potential trade match (Twitter links). San Diego tried to sign Crisp this past offseason.
- Bengie Molina didn't find out he was traded to the Rangers until his teammates told him, according to Henry Schulman of The San Francisco Chronicle.
- Andrew Baggarly of The San Jose Mercury News spoke to Barry Zito, who indicated that the team's rift with Prince Fielder following last year's elaborate walk-off homerun celebration wouldn't be an issue if they acquired the slugger. Olney tweets that there has been no recent discussion between the two teams about Fielder.
- Brayan Pena told Jeffrey Flanagan of FSKansasCity.com that he hopes to retire as a Royal.
- Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic spoke to Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick about the dismissal of Josh Byrnes, who said he consulted "respected baseball people" from around the league and heard that the team's farm system is devoid of top-shelf talent.
Phillies Designate Brian Bocock For Assignment
The Phillies have designated infielder Brian Bocock for assignment, tweets FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. The move frees up a roster spot for utility player Cody Ransom.
Bocock, 25, was called up earlier this week when both Chase Utley and Placido Polanco hit the disabled list, though he did not appear in a game. Philadelphia claimed him off waivers back in January, but he hit just .179/.239/.231 in 237 plate appearances with their Triple-A affiliate.
Cliff Lee Rumors: Saturday
With as many as 12-15 teams teams potentially showing interesting in Cliff Lee, ESPN's Buster Olney says that the Mariners still want "big bat potential" in any deal for the lefty ace (Twitter link). He lists two candidates: Justin Smoak of the Rangers, and Yonder Alonso of the Reds. Alonso is blocked in Cincinnati by Joey Votto.
As the Rangers showed with the Bengie Molina deal, they are unable (or unwilling) to take on payroll, instead choosing to give up a higher caliber prospect. Other big bat prospects that could be moved in a trade: Jesus Montero of the Yankees, Fernando Martinez of the Mets, and Domonic Brown of the Phillies. Whether or not those teams are willing to surrender those players in a trade for a 2008 AL Cy Young award winner is another story altogether.
Twins Willing To Add Payroll
The Twins already boast one of baseball's top payrolls at $97MM, but that doesn't mean the club will be unwilling to take on money at the trade deadline. Team president Dave St. Peter spoke to La Velle E. Neal III of The Star Tribune yesterday, telling him that the front office discussed ways to improve the club during a routine meeting, including the ability to up the payroll.
"We think we have some flexibility," St. Peter said. "The last couple of years we have had some flexibility to try to make the team better."
"We feel like we are well-positioned, if we so choose, to make a move to make the team better," he said. "Ultimately, we are about trying to get better. If that means trade, if that means kids from the minor leagues, great."
The Twins made several moves last season and acquired Jon Rauch, Carl Pavano, Ron Mahay, and Orlando Cabrera at the trade deadline. Although their rumored interest in Cliff Lee is the hot topic, the team also has a clear need at the hot corner: Twins' third basemen are hitting a league low .228/.297/.299. Minnesota reportedly will not surrender 2009 first round pick Kyle Gibson in a trade, but they have a great chip in catcher Wilson Ramos, who was recently activated from the disabled list in Triple-A.
Marlins Designate Brian Barden For Assignment
The Marlins have designated infielder Brian Barden for assignment, tweets Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post. The move frees up for a roster spot for infielder Donnie Murphy, who was summoned from Triple-A.
Barden, 29, hit just .179/.281/.179 in 32 plate appearances for Florida this season, and is a career .211/.268/.303 hitter in close to 200 big league plate appearances. He played every infield spot except first base, but it wasn't enough to keep him with the team.
Poll: Best Prospect To Be Traded
Every team is hesitant to trade their best young players, but if you want to acquire a Cliff Lee or David DeJesus, you’re going to have to give up some valuable prospects. Last year we saw several top prospects traded at the deadline, including Brett Wallace, Aaron Poreda, Nick Hagadone, and Zach Stewart, which brings us to today’s question…
Who will be the best prospect traded by the 2010 trade deadline?
Olney’s Latest: Lee, Zambrano, Dodgers, Fielder
In today's blog post at ESPN (Insider req'd), Buster Olney says that even though the Yankees already have five good starters, the tight race in the AL East is enough to keep them engaged with the Mariners about Cliff Lee. They will probably make an offer at some point, but they're unlikely to land him because they've been philosophically opposed to trading prospects for a player they could just sign as a free agent after the season.
Here are the rest of Olney's rumors…
- Olney's message to any team looking for bullpen help: Good luck with that. There are no difference-making relievers on the market, and guys like Kerry Wood, David Aardsma, and Jason Frasor are no sure things.
- Carlos Zambrano has some value as an innings eater, and the Cubs could probably get a team to absorb $10-15MM of the $45MM left on his deal. If he does get traded, Olney says it would likely be in the offseason.
- People in the Dodgers' organization say there is "little or no hope" that money will be available for the team to make moves.
- Olney doesn't see the Giants and Brewers matching up in a Prince Fielder trade. Matt Cain is a deal breaker given Tim Lincecum's recent struggles, and Jonathan Sanchez or Madison Bumgarner won't be enough.
Yankees Looking To Add Bench Help
The Ty Wigginton rumor appears to be just the tip of the iceberg for the Yankees, who have prioritized improving the bench before the trade deadline according to Marc Carig of The Star-Ledger.
"The bench is the area of priority as of right now," said GM Brian Cashman. "That doesn't mean we're not open to anything else. But if you ask me what's the priority? What's the area of weakness? It's the bench."
Cashman didn't name any specific targets for obvious reasons, and he wouldn't say whether he preferred a left-handed or right-handed bat. Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com recently named Willie Bloomquist and John McDonald as potential options for the Yankees, but Adam Kennedy and Craig Counsell could also become targets. Those last two are just me speculating, though.
At the moment, the team boasts a homegrown and inexperienced bench consisting of Ramiro Pena (17 OPS+), Kevin Russo (36 OPS+), Chad Huffman (39 OPS+), Colin Curtis (159 OPS+, just 10 PA), and Francisco Cervelli (92 OPS+), though Marcus Thames is currently on a rehab assignment working his way back from a hamstring issue. The Yanks recently added Eric Bruntlett on a minor league deal as well. Last year the Yanks acquired Jerry Hairston Jr. and Eric Hinske before the deadline, so rebuilding a bench on the fly is nothing new for Cashman.