Mets Offer Humber For Cordero
UPDATE: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets have offered Philip Humber to the Nationals for Cordero, but are holding fast with their bigger name prospects. He also confirms that the Diamondbacks are in on Cordero and could offer Carlos Quentin.
According to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, the fates of Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch might be tied to Eric Gagne. Gagne has the lower asking price and limited no-trade protection, and Jim Bowden may wait until that situation is resolved.
Some possible names on the Nats’ radar include Wily Mo Pena, Carlos Quentin, and Philip Humber. Humber is one prospect the Mets are willing to trade, according to Jayson Stark. Those names don’t exactly gel with the previous demands were hearing from Jim Bowden. Will Bowden back down? Will a desperate team offer a top flight prospect like an Adam Jones? Or will Cordero and Rauch just stay put like last year?
Yankees Discouraged On Gagne, Cubs Still In?
UPDATE: Peter Abraham confirms that the Yankees seem unlikely for Gagne. He says the Red Sox are offering David Murphy and Kason Gabbard, while the Cubs are still quietly involved. Not sure whether Gagne would have to consent to a trade to the Cubs, but he could be used as their closer without a major uprising.
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Yankees aren’t liking their chances to get Eric Gagne. That might mean he’s going to the Red Sox, Mets, or Brewers, or that he’s staying put.
The Mets don’t seem likely given some previous reports and the Rangers’ demand for Carlos Gomez.
The Red Sox would probably give up David Murphy and the Brewers would surrender Tony Gwynn Jr. If the Rangers would settle for Gwynn, a deal could happen quickly because Gagne cannot veto a trade there. However, he can block a move to Boston and that would present another obstacle.
Speaking of the Red Sox, Rosenthal sees their chances for Jermaine Dye faded. After all, that deal would have a no-trade obstacle too.
Dye Not Asked To Waive No-Trade Yet
The Boston Globe’s Gordon Edes spoke to Jermaine Dye‘s agent, Robert Bry. It seems that certain concessions will have to be made for Dye to approve a trade to Boston – most likely money rather than playing time.
However, Bry has yet to be contacted regarding Dye waiving the no-trade clause. That implies that the Red Sox and White Sox still haven’t reached an accord. If they are to pull off a Dye trade, it might go down to the wire.
Latest On Eric Gagne: Brewers Jump In, Red Sox Leading
Deadline day! I’ll be with you nonstop until the trading is done. Eric Gagne is the big name to watch, unless things heat up with Adam Dunn and Jermaine Dye.
- UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal mentioned in his recent column that the Brewers are one of the 12 teams that can acquire Gagne without his permission. So to review: the Yankees, Mets, Angels, Brewers, and eight other unknown teams can acquire Gagne without his permission. He’d need to consent to trades to the Tigers, Indians, Phillies, Red Sox, and 13 other unknown clubs.
- UPDATE: Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe is hearing that the Rangers may prefer to hold onto Gagne and try to sign him to an extension.
- Brewers GM Doug Melvin called up Jon Daniels to see what it would take to add Eric Gagne to his bullpen. We don’t know whether Gagne must consent to a trade to Milwaukee, but I’d guess he does have veto power with them. Francisco Cordero leads all of baseball in saves, so would Gagne set up for him? Melvin would have to pay up both in prospects and salary. The Brewers have some pretty good chips like Manny Parra, Carlos Villanueva, and even Rickie Weeks (could he move to center field?) Tom Haudricourt says the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox are also in on Gagne.
- SI.com’s Jon Heyman pegs the latter three as the suitors, with Boston in the lead even though Gagne would need to approve a trade there. The Red Sox will try to find a deal that doesn’t involve Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester. The Yankees won’t give up Joba or Hughes for Gagne, but maybe they’ll crack on Ian Kennedy. The Mets won’t trade Carlos Gomez for him.
- The Boston Herald says the Red Sox made a substantial offer for Gagne, which certainly did not include Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, or Justin Masterson. Jeff Horrigan talked to one GM who said Boston’s offer was the best.
- The New York Daily News has the Cubs in on Gagne as well. Mark Feinsand says the Yankees turned down a weekend proposal from the Rangers that included Alan Horne for Gagne. Feinsand says Kennedy is not up for discussion but guys like Tyler Clippard, Matt DeSalvo, Jeff Marquez, Chase Wright, and Scott Proctor are available. The Yankees have their eye on Al Reyes as a backup plan but the Rays don’t want to trade him within the division. Feinsand believes the Red Sox would do David Murphy and Kason Gabbard for Gagne. Of course they would.
- The New York Post talked to a scout who believes there’s a 75% chance Gagne is dealt today. The Indians and Tigers appear to be out of the mix. Scott Boras remarked yesterday that Gagne only wants to go where he can close. But it’s not entirely up to Gagne now is it, Scott?
- Newsday confirms the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Brewers as the finalists for Gagne. Kat O’Brien adds Dan Wheeler as another name the Yanks will consider if they don’t get Gagne. The Yanks could relent and give up Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner to get Gagne.
Cardinals Acquire Joel Pineiro
John Hadley of KTRS out of St. Louis is reporting that the Cardinals have acquired starter/reliever Joel Pineiro for a player to be named later. Hey, it worked with Ryan Franklin.
Here’s an ESPN link for the first trade of the day.
“Pretty Good” Chance Of Red Sox Getting Dye?
UPDATE: Edes says it would be Manny Delcarmen or Justin Masterson as the pitcher.
UPDATE 2: Now Edes is saying that the Red Sox are not close to a deal for Dye. They are currently refusing to give up Delcarmen or Masterson.
Things are heating up…Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe has a Major League source indicating that the Red Sox have a "pretty good" chance of completing a trade for Jermaine Dye.
The White Sox would apparently receive Wily Mo Pena and a pitching prospect other than Jon Lester or Clay Buccholz. That could still leave Michael Bowden, Daniel Bard, Bryce Cox, or Craig Hansen. All four have struggled this year but still have plenty of promise. Justin Masterson is another intriguing name, but he’s pitched well in four starts at Double A.
The Market For Eric Gagne
Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog has the latest regarding Texas closer Eric Gagne. It seems the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Indians, Mariners, and Dodgers may all be in on him depending on who you listen to. We’ve heard the Tigers in on him previously but not so much anymore. We’ve heard the Diamondbacks and Cubs connected to Gagne in the past but not as much lately.
There still seems to be some confusion about which teams Gagne can be dealt to without his consent. To review what’s been published:
Gagne can be traded to the Yankees, Mets, Angels, and nine other clubs without his consent.
If Gagne is to be traded to the Tigers, Indians, Phillies, Red Sox, or thirteen other unknown clubs, he must consent. That means additional concessions on the part of the acquiring team.
So, we don’t know where the Mariners, Dodgers, Cubs, or Diamondbacks fall. But I don’t know why the Yankees would have to worry about Gagne missing his incentives if they acquire him. Being on the first list is a big plus for the Yanks.
Filling In The Gaps On The Failed Dye Trade
A few pieces of information were revealed today on the failed three team trade that was to send Jermaine Dye to Boston.
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox would’ve had to surrender reliever Hideki Okajima in order to get Dye. Whether Okajima would’ve ended up with the White Sox or the third club is unknown, but Chicago makes the most sense. Okajima has been absurdly good this year – he’s allowed five earned runs in 51.2 innings. The unexpected huge success of he and Takashi Saito should cause MLB teams to sign every Japanese reliever with a functional arm this winter. Of course, the Red Sox refused to give up Okajima to get Dye.
Meanwhile, Buster Olney reported that the third team was the Brewers. RotoWorld speculated that the Red Sox may have been trying to get Derrick Turnbow from Milwaukee. The White Sox might’ve been eyeing Turnbow as well. Kenny Williams is also known to like Manny Parra.
Red Sox Scouting Eckstein?
UPDATE: A few Cardinal fans have emailed me, suggesting that Hrabosky’s comments about Eckstein may have been misconstrued as a trade rumor. Apparently he was just discussing scouting and how Eckstein was a talent from the Boston system. I have to be careful with broadcast rumors I did not hear myself; my aplogies.
Tonight, color commentator Al Hrabosky mentioned on the FSN Midwest broadcast that the Red Sox were scouting David Eckstein. Eckstein led off tonight in the Cardinals’ defeat of the Brewers.
Eckstein is hitting .298/.339/.362 this year for the Cardinals, not too far from career levels. He’s spent some time on the DL this year with back pain. The elfish 32 year-old is part of a weak free agent crop for shortstops that also includes Omar Vizquel, Juan Uribe, and Cesar Izturis (most likely).
The Red Sox, however, are locked in with Julio Lugo through 2010. Lugo hasn’t been hitting much in the past week but his bat finally came alive this month with an .875 OPS.
Red Sox Continue Discussions For Dye
UPDATE: The Chicago Tribune cites two factors for the non-trade – a disagreement over the players involved and Dye’s lack of desire to go to Boston. The Hartford Courant adds that Kenny Williams demanded either Clay Buchholz or Jacoby Ellsbury.
UPDATE 2: Could the Phillies be the third team, working Michael Bourn into the mix somehow?
Ken Rosenthal has updated this post with some information regarding Boston’s ongoing pursuit of Jermaine Dye.
Apparently Dye was willing to waive his no-trade clause for some performance bonuses and a guarantee of playing five days a week. A third club would’ve been needed to somehow facilitate the deal Kenny Williams wanted. Rosenthal says talks are ongoing.
Tough to figure out how the Red Sox would pull off the five days a week thing. Dye has rarely played any positions other than the outfield corners. (Though he did play a game each at first base and shortstop in ’05 when the Sox were in a pinch).
If you consider Dye eligible to play first base, left field, right field, and DH, you can envision him starting five times a week. Kevin Youkilis’s homer tonight notwithstanding, he and J.D. Drew haven’t done a whole lot lately. Their playing time could be squeezed a bit, while Manny and Papi could use the extra rest. The problem? Dye is no picture of health himself and using him at multiple positions each week would probably increase the likelihood of injury.
Dye almost seems like a luxury for the Red Sox; why would they expend any serious effort to get him? Perhaps they aim more to keep him away from the Yankees or Angels. Dye could certainly be squeezed onto the Yankees’ roster as easily as Boston’s. Another motivation for Theo Epstein could be that he thinks he can give up players worth less than the draft picks he’d get for Dye. Kenny Williams is no fool though, so maybe that’s how the third team got roped in.