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Mariners Aim To Retain Ichiro

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Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik expects to keep right fielder Ichiro Suzuki past the July 31st trade deadline, and also expects the 38-year-old back with the team in 2013, he told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Ichiro remains a "franchise player" in Zduriencik's eyes despite a .260/.286/.348 line so far in 2012.  Ichiro seems to be entering the most difficult phase of a superstar's career, coming up for a new contract as his game declines across the board.  I imagine his $17MM salary would have to be more than cut in half, but if Ichiro's struggles continue, even a starting role will be a debatable choice.

As for Felix Hernandez, Zduriencik continued to hammer home the ace's unavailability.  Instead, Morosi reminds of us Jason Vargas' trade candidacy, noting that "Zduriencik is expected to look for offense in return" for the lefty.

Trade Targets Who Could Bring Draft Pick Compensation

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Recently, Joel Sherman of the New York Post talked to an NL GM who said he does not expect a robust market for rental players this summer.  Under the previous collective bargaining agreement, players acquired in their contract years could still be more than rentals due to draft pick compensation.  But due to a rule in the new CBA, a rental is truly a rental for the 2012 trade deadline: traded players are not eligible for draft pick compensation.  As Sherman notes, that adds extra appeal for someone like Matt Garza — a team acquiring Garza can enjoy him for the rest of 2012 and all of 2013 and then receive a draft pick as compensation if he departs as a free agent.

Keep in mind that for a team to receive draft pick compensation for a departing free agent after the 2012 season, a qualifying offer in the $12.5MM range must be tendered.  Since that amount represents an average of the top 125 salaries, it will increase every year.  It could be dangerous to surrender quality prospects for Garza now partly due to the assumption that he'll be worthy of a $13-14MM qualifying offer after the 2013 season.

Still, take a look at our list of players who, like Garza, project to be eligible for free agency after the 2013 season.  Which could be acquired with a partial eye on draft pick compensation after '13?  Chase Utley has a good amount of no-trade protection, and given time missed due to injury and reduced production, it'd be optimistic to expect a qualifying offer.  Hunter Pence, on the other hand, is a decent bet for such an offer.  Among position players, Corey Hart also has a shot.  Both outfielders figure to be part of their team's 2013 plans, however.

Aside from Garza, Josh Johnson is a starting pitcher to consider.  Johnson has been uncharacteristically hittable this year, but he has been healthy and stands as a candidate for a qualifying offer after '13, should the Marlins decline to extend him again.  Despite their all-in offseason, the Marlins appear a long shot for the playoffs, it is possible they could move Johnson for MLB-ready players.  Jason Vargas has been a hot name on the trade market.  While I think GMs would find it appealing to control Vargas for 2013, I doubt they would have any expectation of making him a qualifying offer afterward.

We haven't discussed Justin Upton types, players who are under control beyond 2013 and seem to be reasonable candidates for future draft pick compensation.  Those are rare players.  Looking only at trade targets eligible for free agency after 2013, the qualifying offer will be a pretty high bar, and future draft pick compensation can't be a primary consideration for an acquiring team. 

Poll: Will The Phillies Extend Cole Hamels?

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The Phillies are reportedly preparing a large extension offer for 28-year-old southpaw Cole Hamels, who shut down the Rockies today at Coors Field in a well-scouted game.  We've heard Hamels expects to be paid as an elite pitcher, so his next contract is surely headed north of $100MM.  In recent months Matt Cain and C.C. Sabathia both chose extensions over the open market, signing five-year contracts worth $112.5MM and $122MM in new money, respectively.

The Cain and Sabathia contracts include reasonable sixth-year vesting options, but that fully guaranteed sixth year is probably what both pitchers sacrificed by signing prior to full-blown free agency bidding wars.  The Phillies already have one starting pitcher megadeal on the books, having created the template by signing Cliff Lee for five years and $120MM plus a vesting option in December 2010.  A year and a half later, a Lee/Cain/Sabathia-type contract would be a reasonable offer from the Phillies for Hamels, but he may want more.  The clock is ticking, because if they can't extend Hamels, the Phillies' best path is probably to trade Hamels for a nice bounty this month.  How do you see it playing out?

Will the Phillies extend Cole Hamels this month?
No 56.46% (6,991 votes)
Yes 43.54% (5,391 votes)
Total Votes: 12,382

Cubs Rumors: Garza, Barney, Wood, Stewart

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Pitching amid trade rumors yet again, 28-year-old Cubs righty Matt Garza blanked the Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field this afternoon, lowering his ERA to 4.02 while being scouted by the Yankees, Blue Jays, Rangers, Tigers, Dodgers, and Pirates, according to ESPN Chicago's Doug Padilla.  With just over two weeks remaining until the trade deadline, Garza may have only a handful of starts remaining as a Cub.  The latest on the club:

  • "The rumor mill can wait," Garza told reporters, because his wife is due in less than a month.  Garza knows he can't control the trade rumors, but noted that he is open to an extension. 
  • According to Padilla, the Tigers have asked about Garza, second baseman Darwin Barney, and starter Ryan Dempster.  Padilla says the Tigers' interest in Barney began over a month ago.  Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported on that situation on July 6th, adding that "talks didn't progress." 
  • "It's nice to know people are interested but I want to be here," Barney told reporters including Padilla after powering the Cubs' victory today with his fourth home run.
  • Fan favorite Kerry Wood visited the Cubs' clubhouse today, telling MLB.com's Rowan Kavner and other reporters he's enjoying his first summer off in 25-plus years.  Wood says his kids are still too young for him to ponder a coaching career.  The former strikeout artist hung up his cleats in May this year.
  • Third baseman Ian Stewart also made an appearance, expressing relief to reporters that a surgeon finally found the cause of his persistent wrist problems.  The solution involved removing a bone from Stewart's wrist, and he currently has no timetable for his return.  The 27-year-old's salary would likely remain in the $2.2MM range if the Cubs decide to tender him this winter and try again in 2013.  Including Stewart, Cubs third basemen have tallied a dismal .223/.297/.374 so far in the post-Aramis era.
  • It "wouldn't be cool" to see rotation-mate and mentor Dempster traded, Jeff Samardzija told Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday.  The Cubs are best-served trading Dempster now to clear a path for a Garza deal later this month, opined ESPN's Buster Olney earlier today.

Draftstreet Baseball Championship (Sponsored Post)

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An MLBTR reader now has a shot at $200,000 in cash prizes!  On Wednesday, we had a freeroll with DraftStreet.com where the winner received a free spot in Friday's $109 qualifier league.  Congrats to "thatteamfromcle," who took home first place and now has a shot to win a seat in the Draftstreet Baseball Championship Main event.  He lived up to his username by taking Indians players such as Justin Masterson and Lonnie Chisenhall.

If you missed out, you can still enter Friday's qualifier.  After Friday's qualifier there are only 15 spots left for the main event, which will award $200,000 in cash prizes.  Get on to DraftStreet, start playing, and claim one of those final 15 spots!  DraftStreet is offering MLBTR readers an additional $350 freeroll for Friday night to get your practice in.  Click here to join!

Ben Sheets Throws For Teams

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Righty Ben Sheets threw for scouts today in Monroe, Louisiana, MLBTR has learned.  Scouts from the Phillies, Braves, Yankees, and Angels were in attendance.

Sheets, 33, signed a one-year, $10MM deal with the Athletics in January 2010 despite missing all of the '09 season due to a partial tear in the flexor tendon near his right elbow.  He made 20 middling starts for the A's in 2010 before going down for a second flexor tendon procedure in August.  At the time, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Sheets actually had three procedures done on his elbow, including Tommy John surgery.  

Word is that Sheets didn't want to return to baseball unless he felt 100%, and he'd like to help a team down the stretch.  Assuming he flashes his old form in throwing sessions, Sheets will be a popular free agent this summer.

Royals Sign Third-Round Pick Colin Rodgers

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The Royals have signed third-round draft pick Colin Rodgers, MLBTR has learned.  The Louisiana high school southpaw signed for $700K, exceeding MLB's slot of $476,500 for the 100th overall pick.  Rodgers is represented by Tripper Johnson of Sosnick Cobbe Sports.

Rodgers, who had committed to Auburn, told Justin Hokanson of AuburnSports.com he had a tentative agreement with the Royals but had yet to make a final decision.  Baseball America ranked Rodgers 207th on their top 500, grading the lefty's curveball as plus when he's at his best.

Baseball Trade Rumors App Now iPad-Friendly

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Our Baseball Trade Rumors app has undergone another major upgrade: it's now iPad-friendly!  The app fills the entire iPad screen for greater readability, and can be viewed horizontally on the device.  Of course, the app remains iPhone-friendly.  Those who have already purchased the app can download the update for free.

The newly released version 2.2 of our Baseball Trade Rumors app also features integration with our commenting system, Disqus.  You can now log into Disqus in the app to leave comments.

With the Baseball Trade Rumors iPad/iPhone app, you can also enjoy longstanding features such as push notifications tailored to the teams and players you select and the ability to filter the main news page by team or transactions.  The app keeps getting better, and still costs just $2.99 one time.  Check it out today!

Beat The Expert With DraftStreet (Sponsored Post)

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Bring your A game: DraftStreet is offering $2000 in cash prizes for an exclusive "beat the expert" MLBTR/DraftStreet league using Friday night's MLB games.  The entry fee is $11, but DraftStreet is raising the pressure on me (Tim Dierkes) by offering $10 back to anyone who beats my team, separate from the regular prize pool.

The beat the expert contest is for Friday night's games (the afternoon Cubs-White Sox game is not included), so you have until 6:00pm central time to create your team.  However, there are only 200 slots in this league, so sign up early.  

You're given a $100K salary cap, and each player is assigned a price by DraftStreet.  For Friday, Justin Verlander is considered the most valuable player since he starts against the Pirates, but he'll cost you over $20K.  Your roster will cover these positions: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 3 OF, 2 utility, 2 SP, 1 RP, 1 P and 2 Reserves (14 starters).  You get points based on how your team performs Friday.  For example, you'll get 0.75 points for each strikeout Verlander racks up and 1.5 points if he gets the win.  The teams with the most points get the prize money.  You can apply all kinds of strategy in building your roster, but since we're in direct competition this time I won't divulge my secrets.  Here's my roster in the beginning stages:

Draftstreet

Be sure to sign up as soon as possible, before the 200 slots are all taken.  DraftStreet has raised the stakes by putting my fantasy baseball reputation on the line; are you up to the challenge?

Check Out HoopsRumors.com

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NBA fan?  Our partner site Hoops Rumors has you covered.  Half of the NBA's 30 teams are already looking ahead to the offseason, and the other half will join them as they're eliminated from the playoffs over the next few weeks. This summer's draft and free agent period will be crucial for a number of organizations as they rebuild and retool. Lottery teams will be hoping to land the first overall pick and the chance to draft University of Kentucky star Anthony Davis, while clubs with cap space will pursue top free agents like Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Chris Kaman. Follow all the latest NBA news, rumors, and transactions at Hoops Rumors!

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