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Minor Moves: Catricala, Taveras, Valaika, Heston

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Today's minor moves…

Steve Adams and Aaron Steen contributed to this post.

Red Sox Rumors: Norris, Gallardo, Volquez, Peavy

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The Red Sox are searching for pitching in advance of Wednesday's trade deadline.  The latest:

Jake Peavy Rumors: Thursday

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Jake Peavy could make his last start as a member of the White Sox this afternoon, as he takes on Justin Verlander and the Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field.  The Sox aren't sure what they want to do with Peavy yet, writes ESPN's Buster Olney, but their asking price is "really high."  The latest: 

  • The Red Sox, Cardinals, Dodgers, Braves, Orioles, and Reds each have a scout in attendance, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark, while the Rangers have two.  Athletics director of player personnel Billy Owens is also there, tweets Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Keep in mind that their presence does not necessarily imply trade interest in Peavy.

Earlier Updates

  • GM Rick Hahn keeps Peavy "abreast of what's going on," the righty told reporters including Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.  Peavy says he doesn't want to be traded, but he's prepared for the possibility.  The Red Sox and Diamondbacks are expected to have two scouts apiece at today's start, notes Gonzales.
  • The Cardinals and White Sox "continue to scout each other's personnel," writes Gonzales.  Shortstop Alexei Ramirez could also be a fit for the Cardinals, but not at the cost of their top arms.
  • "ERA-based reputation still holds a lot of sway," writes Dave Cameron of FanGraphs in trying to understand the perception that Matt Garza had more trade value than Peavy.  That might make Peavy a relative bargain, he suggests.  I tried to make the case for Peavy in our Monday poll, but about 65% of over 26,000 MLBTR readers polled felt Garza had more trade value.

Crain Will Not Be Activated Prior To Trade Deadline

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White Sox reliever Jesse Crain could have been a hot commodity on the trade market, but he will not be activated prior to the trade deadline after experiencing what pitching coach Don Cooper called a "slight setback" today.  Today's bullpen session was cancelled, reported Doug Padilla of ESPNChicago and others.

Crain, a free agent after the season, hit the DL on July 3rd with a shoulder strain.  He made the All-Star team with a 0.74 first-half ERA, but was unable to participate.  If Crain recovers, an August trade could be possible, though the White Sox would have to deal only with the team that wins a claim on him.

AL East Notes: Morrow, Red Sox, Rays, Yankees

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Blue Jays starter Brandon Morrow is likely out for the season due to an entrapped radial nerve in his right forearm, a source told Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca last night.  The issue is likely to be treated with extended rest rather than surgery, Davidi adds.  The Blue Jays have since announced that Morrow will be out for approximately six weeks.  Morrow, who turns 29 tomorrow, is under contract for $8MM next year and has a $10MM club option for 2015.  The Blue Jays are finished this year, as a seven-game losing streak has dropped them to 11 games out in the wild card.  Elsewhere in the AL East…

  • The Red Sox appear "just as likely to stand pat as they are to add another reliever," writes Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.  He says the team has not stepped up its search despite losing Andrew Bailey for the season, though they continue to monitor the market.
  • "We explained to him that this is financial lunacy," agent Seth Levinson said in reference to Dustin Pedroia wanting to approach the Red Sox as early as 2011 about spending the rest of his career in Boston (WEEI's Alex Speier reporting).  "Money was never really a factor," explained Levinson, who also said Pedroia chose years over salary partly to avoid becoming a contract albatross.
  • Contract offers of more than five years are hard to come by, Rays third baseman Evan Longoria told Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal, and he understands why Pedroia left "a few extra dollars lying on the table."  Longoria did so himself in a pair of contract extensions.
  • "There's no glaring place to be doing anything," Rays owner Stuart Sternberg told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times in regard to his club's needs.  Still, the team is always looking to upgrade for the present and future.
  • Along with the Yankees, the Red Sox are also still intrigued by Phillies third baseman Michael Young, a Major League source tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.  Having dropped four in a row, the Phillies are eight games out in the NL East and worse off in the wild card.
  • Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano "asked for a couple days to think about" a potential trade to the Yankees, president Theo Epstein told reporters including Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune yesterday.  Adding Soriano would be a "good first step" for the Yankees, writes Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues, but the team still has to address needs at third base and behind the plate.
  • Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez, who recently signed with the Orioles for $800K, "struggles against live pitching," according to scouts who spoke to Baseball America's Ben Badler.

Schierholtz, Rios Top Pirates’ Wish List

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9:28am: White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams "has been spotted in Altoona," home of the Pirates' Double-A club, notes Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.

6:58am: Chicago right fielders Nate Schierholtz and Alex Rios top the Pirates' wish list, writes Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.  The Bucs "have been watching Schierholtz for more than a month," notes Levine.

Right field is an obvious need for the 60-39 Pirates, who have been using Travis Snider, Jose Tabata, and Garrett Jones there and have gotten an aggregate .228/.291/.360 line.  Schierholtz, 29, signed a one-year, $2.25MM deal with the Cubs in December after being non-tendered by the Phillies.  At .277/.334/.521 with a career-high five RBIs last night, he's having an excellent campaign.  Arbitration eligibility for 2014 is a big plus, though for some GMs Schierholtz has yet to shake the reputation of a platoon bat given his continued lack of playing time and struggles against left-handed pitching.

Levine quotes Cubs president Theo Epstein saying, "I think it is fair to say we have some players who can help other clubs.  That would especially be true for players who are not under contract control next season."   As you might expect, that's an indication that the team is more inclined to move its impending free agents, such as closer Kevin Gregg, as opposed to someone like Schierholtz.

The Pirates' interest in Rios has been previously noted.  He's on the radar of the Rangers, Royals, and Red Sox as well.

Red Sox Looking “Pretty Hard” At Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez

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The Red Sox are looking "pretty hard" at free agent Cuban righty Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, president and CEO Larry Lucchino said on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan show this morning (Tim Healey has quotes).  "The auctioning can begin," said Lucchino.  Noting that GM Ben Cherington guards the team's prospects "like his first-born child," Lucchino explained, "Reaching into your pocket for your wallet is much easier."  Lucchino confirmed the Sox are searching for rotation and bullpen help.

Gonzalez, 26, is expected to sign soon.  On Monday, MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez said he's down to five teams.  MLB.com's Ken Gurnick reported Tuesday that the Dodgers, who had been heavily linked to Gonzalez, are not pursuing him.  Earlier this week, Ben Badler of Baseball America provided a scouting report on Gonzalez (subscription required and recommended).  Badler noted that "projections vary significantly" on the righty, ranging from a big league ready No. 3 starter on the high end to a long reliever on the low end.

Rosenthal On Cardinals, Athletics, Stanton

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Ken Rosenthal's latest column for FOX Sports begins with a look at the Braves' rotation without veteran Tim Hudson, who sustained a season-ending ankle fracture last night.  Rosenthal notes it's a very young group without Hudson, and seems to be lacking a true number one starter.  Such a pitcher is probably not available on the trade market, which I imagine the Braves will be eyeing more keenly.  Elsewhere from Rosenthal's column:

  • The Cardinals are not actively pursuing the Astros' Bud Norris or the Blue Jays' Mark Buehrle.  The Cards didn't push for Matt Garza, but did scout Jake Peavy's last start.  Ervin Santana is available as well, but Rosenthal wonders if "a trade might not be worth the trouble," given the Cardinals' current group of talented young pitchers.
  • The Red Sox never got serious on Garza due to concerns with his injury history.  The Red Sox and Tigers were the other AL clubs in on reliever Francisco Rodriguez, who was recently traded to the Orioles.
  • After making a late run at Garza, the Athletics are interested in Peavy and Santana.  Sometimes it helps to add to a strength, explains Rosenthal.
  • The Rangers ask the Marlins for Giancarlo Stanton "every week," a Major League source tells Rosenthal, and keep hearing "no."  In addition to Alex Rios of the White Sox, the Rangers are considering Justin Ruggiano of the Marlins and Chris Denorfia of the Padres.  However, they have "not mounted a serious push" for Ruggiano, while the Padres don't plan to trade Denorfia or teammate Carlos Quentin.
  • "Some with the Brewers" wonder if the presence of Ryan Braun might make it more difficult to attract free agents.
  • The Phillies are "narrowing their search for a backup center fielder," writes Rosenthal, and the recently-designated Chris Dickerson could be one option.

Central Notes: Royals, Konerko, Gregg, Pirates

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Baseball's central divisions have four clear sellers in the Cubs, Brewers, White Sox, and Twins.  At seven games out, the Royals are on the bubble.  The team sees "a winning record as an important secondary goal even if they don’t reach postseason," according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, so they may stand pat.  Meanwhile, the Tigers, Indians, Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds are the five central division buyers.   Links from both divisions…

  • In a Q&A mailbag, a reader asks Dutton how hot the seat is under Royals GM Dayton Moore.  Dutton writes that despite fan criticism for the team's longtime decision maker, there's nothing to suggest his job is actually in jeopardy.  Elsewhere in the mailbag, Dutton notes that there is no indication the team is shopping starter Ervin Santana, and that he does not expect the team to reduce payroll next year.
  • "We ought to know and be right on the first couple of picks. But it's those middle-round guys that your scouts push and say, 'We need to get this guy,' who make your organization," Royals senior advisor to the GM Mike Arbuckle told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick in regard to former 10th round draft pick Greg Holland, now the team's All-Star closer.
  • "Trying to think like another team, usually the guys who are traded are going better than I am," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko told Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune on his minor league rehab assignment in the Southern League.  Konerko, 37, is battling a back injury in the last year of his contract with the White Sox.
  • Cubs closer Kevin Gregg is on the trading block alongside starter Matt Garza, and Gregg seems ready to jump to a contender.  "Garza’s a headline piece, but I think that in the baseball world, people are looking for relievers.  I hope I’m on that list," Gregg told Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times recently.  The 35-year-old has enjoyed an improbable rise back to prominence and the Cubs' closer job, though he has a 7.36 ERA over the last month.
  • Speaking to Tom Singer of MLB.com, Pirates GM Neal Huntington explained that his strong farm system gives him the confidence to make trades without depleting it.  Huntington didn't rule out rental players, saying, "We've never gone in with a premeditated view on rentals, whether we want or don't want them.  We've gone into the Deadline to impact that year's club as best we could. Now, while it does not make a ton of sense for us to give up an elite prospect for a two-month rental, you've always got to have the majority of attention on today."

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Injured Trade Candidates

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Players can be traded while on the disabled list, but it rarely happens.  Teams rarely want to acquire an injured player, especially if they're just renting a veteran.  Here are some injured players to watch this month and in August:

  • Tommy Hanson, Angels: Hanson should be activated tomorrow after a right forearm strain.  He'd a non-tender candidate in the offseason.
  • Ryan Madson, Angels: Madson still hasn't pitched in a big league game since 2011, after complications following Tommy John surgery.  Still, if he looks like the Madson of old on a rehab assignment, he could be a stealthy pickup for a contender next month.
  • Jason Vargas, Angels: He had surgery to remove a blood clot and may be back in August.  He could certainly be moved then.
  • Aramis Ramirez, Brewers: His knee injury is likely to keep him out until August, but his salary should allow him to clear waivers.
  • David DeJesus, Cubs: DeJesus should return this week from a shoulder strain.  He could be moved, but the Cubs do have a club option for 2014.
  • Ryan Sweeney, Cubs: Recovering from a rib fracture, Sweeney can't come off the 60-day DL until late August.  The Cubs may prefer to try to re-sign him.
  • Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners: The oft-injured center fielder is currently on a rehab assignment, trying to shake a hamstring injury.  The team may not intend to exercise his 2014 club option.
  • Mike Morse, Mariners: He may begin a minor league rehab assignment this week as he comes back from a quad strain.  He'd probably be claimed on waivers in August, but could still be dealt.
  • Frank Francisco, Mets: Remember him?  Francisco's last minor league rehab appearance came a week ago.  If he gets his elbow right, the Mets could move him in August.
  • Jason Marquis, Padres: With a recent right elbow strain, Marquis is an August trade candidate if anything.
  • Roy Halladay, Phillies: Halladay, recovering from shoulder surgery, threw a bullpen session recently.  He'd clear waivers in August if the Phillies want to move him, but he'd have to show big league readiness first.  
  • Josh Willingham, Twins: Willingham should return next month from a knee injury.  His offensive production has been way down this year, but he is cheap enough to be claimed on waivers in August.
  • Jesse Crain, White Sox: He could be back this month from a shoulder strain, and the impending free agent will be well-scouted if so.
  • Tim Byrdak, Mets: He's made a dozen minor league appearances on a rehab assignment following September shoulder surgery.  

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