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2007 MLB Free Agents: Luis Gonzalez

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When we last checked in with future free agent left fielder Luis Gonzalez, he’d been informed by the D’Backs that they didn’t want him back. 

Now, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a few interested teams for us:

"Don’t feel bad about Luis Gonzalez’s Diamondbacks career being over. The Orioles, Tigers, Rangers, and Cubs are already considering him as a DH and/or left fielder for next year."

Word was that Gonzo wanted to stay in the NL, meaning a return to the Cubs might be at the top of the list.  The problem?  The Cubs already have a left fielder, and he’s having a fine age 24 season.

Matt Murton:  .294/.359/.438
Luis Gonzalez:  .274/.356/.453

Given that Murton is improving and Gonzalez is on the decline, and that Gonzalez will make significantly more money, the signing wouldn’t make much sense. 

If the Cubs really are interested, that should mean one of two things. 

1. They plan on using Murton in center field and letting Juan Pierre go (unlikely but not the worst idea in the world if Murton could somehow pull it off on defense).

2. They are considering trading Murton (possible).

If the Cubs want to make a major trade, say involving Miguel Tejada, Murton could be a coveted player. 

Daisuke Matsuzaka Video

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A little more on Japanese hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Check out this video of him throwing his various pitches.  It’s the best look I’ve had at his breaking ball.  It might be a screwball or something weird, but let’s remember that Jeff Passan has established that it’s not a gyroball.

When we last checked in, there was a 50/50 chance of Matsuzaka being posted by the Lions.  Here’s a rundown on the suitors:

This Boston Herald article informed us that the Red Sox, Yankees, and Mets are currently scouting Matsuzaka in Japan.  As of September 11th, his numbers looked like this.  Newsday tells us the Mets will be aggressive in their pursuit.  The Rangers are scouting Matsuzaka as well.  The Orioles expressed interest in August.   

The Dodgers and Mariners are often linked to Matsuzaka, but I haven’t seen anything lately on those clubs.

Minor Moves: Diaz, Ardoin

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A couple of small deals came over the wires recently. 

The Rangers acquired outfielder Victor Diaz for catcher Mike Nickeas.  Diaz, 24, is having big-time problems with Triple A this season (.606 OPS).  It’s surprising because he hit Triple A pitching pretty well as a 22 year-old.  He earned 280 ABs with the big club last year and managed to slug .468. 

Back in the summer of ’03, Diaz was sent from the Dodgers to the Mets in the Jeromy Burnitz deal.  He’s not known for his defense, and has been tried at 1B, 2B, 3B, C, LF, and RF in his career.  Perhaps a steady position and a change of scenery will get this once top-prospect back on track.

Nickeas is a 23 year-old catcher from Georgia Tech.  He has never done much offensively at Double A and will report to the Class A St. Lucie Mets. He could be a Major League backup a few years down the road.

Speaking of backup backstops, the Orioles claimed Danny Ardoin off waivers from the Rockies.  He’s a 32 year-old minor league lifer.  It’s hard to make this move sound interesting.  He played with Miguel Tejada in the minors, does that help?   

Olney: Waiver Trade Candidates

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In case you missed it, Buster Olney posted a list of players who have passed through waivers and can be traded to any team before Thursday’s deadline.  Here’s the list:

David Wells
Shawn Chacon
Jae Seo
Sidney Ponson
Bruce Chen
Jeromy Burnitz
Jeff Conine
Jay Payton
Bobby Kielty
Reggie Sanders
Luis Matos
Jay Gibbons
Geoff Jenkins
Gabe Kapler

Minor Trades and Rumors

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The Cubs unloaded Neifi Perez on the Tigers today, and it was no surprise Neifi got through waivers.  What team would want to be on the hook for $2.5MM for him next year?  Ditching Neifi at this point at least partially rights the wrong of signing him to an extension in the first place for Jim Hendry.  The Cubs’ "everything man" will be making outs atop of Detroit’s lineup now.  Even more impressive is that Hendry snagged a 22 year-old catching prospect, Chris Robinson, in the deal.

The Mets added righty reliever Guillermo Mota today.  Along with Oliver Perez, this is another project with plenty of upside.  Mota was one of the game’s top setup men a few years ago.

Tom Glavine’s got a possible blood clot, which could mean season or career-ending surgery. At least his life is not in danger.  The news first appeared on an ESPN message board from a man said to be Glavine’s brother-in-law.  Back when Glavine appeared healthy, the same source indicated that the southpaw would finish his career with the Braves, at any salary.

Reggie Sanders may have cleared waivers.  Who wants a 38 year-old right fielder with a .248/.304/.424 line?  Don’t forget the $5MM he’s owed next year.   

From Yankees announcer Jim Kaat: the Rangers may be talking to the Orioles about Mark Teixeira.  Tex is from Maryland, for what it’s worth.

Plenty of buzz going around in various forms of media that the Red Sox may acquire reliever LaTroy Hawkins.  We’ll know soon enough.  The 33 year-old has, at least, kept the ball in the yard and exhibited good control with the Orioles this year.

Red Sox Acquire Javy Lopez

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As you well know, the Red Sox have picked up their 3-5 week catcher replacement in Javy Lopez.  The Red Sox are sending 26 year-old outfielder Adam Stern to the Orioles in return. 

Multiple reports mention that the Devil Rays could claim Stern as revenge for the Red Sox illegally talking to Julio Lugo’s agent.  Ah, the drama.  If the D-Rays try it the Red Sox can just send Stern as a player to be named later this winter. 

Lopez makes $8.5MM in the last year of his deal.  He’s another data point for not signing catchers over age 30 to multi-year deals.  Didn’t work well for Jason Kendall, Mike Lieberthal, and many others.  Jason Varitek declined drastically with the bat this season.  No catcher on the market this winter will get a long-term deal, anyway. 

Red Sox Pursuing Javy Lopez

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Newspapers from both Boston and Baltimore are confirming that the Red Sox have contacted the Orioles about catcher Javy Lopez.  The 35 year-old Lopez has only caught twenty games this season, but he could certainly provide acceptable offense for the rest of the month until Jason Varitek comes back.

The Boston Herald indicates that Lopez could clear waivers today.  A source tells me that the Red Sox may part with 23 year-old southpaw starter Abe Alvarez.  Alvarez is the guy who wears his hat crooked to compensate for being legally blind in one eye.  He’s proven quite hittable in Triple A this year.  Back in June, the Red Sox offered Alvarez for Ryan Shealy.  Alvarez seems to get mentioned in a lot of trade rumors.

The Yankees wouldn’t be able to block a claim of Lopez, as they have a slight lead in the standings today.  It’s hard to picture another American League team blocking the claim, but you never know.  Should Lopez fall through, here are some other options the Red Sox might consider.  Among those, a couple of Philly papers have already indicated that the Sox aren’t interested in Mike Lieberthal.   

Tejada Off The Market

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Ken Rosenthal has taken Jayson Stark’s 5% chance of Miguel Tejada being traded and one-upped that by indicating that Tejada is off the trade market entirely.

The Orioles had various offers floating about, but Peter Angelos ultimately did not see one he liked.  We’ll never be positive that the Angels really offered Ervin Santana and Erick Aybar.  But if they did, the Orioles may have made a mistake by passing.

Roy Oswalt’s Name Enters The Fray

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Here’s a new one: could Roy Oswalt be traded in the next 18 hours?

According to the Baltimore Sun:

"Several industry sources confirmed the Orioles and Astros are negotiating dealing Tejada for third baseman Morgan Ensberg, shortstop Adam Everett and Oswalt, 28, who has already won 91 major-league games."

The O’s have said they are looking for established Major Leaguers in return for their superstar shortstop, and Oswalt fits the bill.  Baltimore would have to have competitive designs for the 2007 season, as Oswalt is a free agent after that.

According to Value Over Replacement Player, Oswalt has been the fourth best pitcher in the league this season.  Last year he ranked fifth in VORP.  It’s tough to see how the Astros would win this year with no dependable starters behind Roger Clemens.  Perhaps a Rodrigo Lopez type pitcher would come to Houston in the unlikely event Oswalt is dealt. 

Miguel Tejada Trade Update

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Next up, Miggy.  Tejada got cold feet yesterday, saying that he wanted to stay in Baltimore and didn’t want to move to third base.

Also, the Orioles have rejected the offer of Ervin Santana and Erick Aybar. Seems foolish.  According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun:

"If the Angels added another prospect to their package of Santana and Aybar, like possibly first base prospect Casey Kotchman, the trade could be completed. It is believed that the Angels’ top two offensive prospects – Double-A shortstop Brandon Wood and second baseman Howie Kendrick – are not available."

Angelos!  We are talking about a young, established, effective starter in Santana.  Don’t let this one slip away.  Jorge Arangure Jr. of the Washington Post adds Nick Adenhart’s name to the mix as the possible third player coming from L.A.  My Angels source had named Adenhart as an untouchable player back on July 13th.

The Astros came in with a fairly weak offer of Morgan Ensberg, Adam Everett, and Fernando Nieve, as Will Carroll mentioned yesterday.  Zrebiec tells us that Baltimore turned this one down but is still talking with Tim Purpura.  Zrebiec calls Houston one of the favorites at this point.

The Rangers are in the game with Hank Blalock and prospects available, which would create a logjam at third for the Orioles.  The Dodgers are offering Cesar Izturis and prospects, and Rafael Furcal’s name has come up as well.

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