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Rosenthal On Iannetta, Athletics, Bautista

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports kicks off his latest column with a look at Alex Rodriguez's $30MM worth of home run incentives.  The chase isn't generating the buzz the Yankees anticipated when they re-signed A-Rod.  On to Rosenthal's rumors…

  • Talks are on again between the Red Sox and Rockies regarding catcher Chris Iannetta.  The Rockies would want to improve their big league club with an in-season deal, so perhaps we'll hear heightened Iannetta buzz during the offseason if Miguel Olivo is retained.
  • The Nationals do not seem to have chosen a course with Adam Dunn in terms of trading or extending him now.
  • The Athletics have no intention of trading Coco Crisp or Mark Ellis, as both players have club options for 2011.
  • Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli is "a frequent trade target of rival clubs," but the team likes having depth at the catcher position.
  • As part of the Yunel Escobar–Alex Gonzalez talks, the Braves and Blue Jays discussed Jose Bautista.  For now, the Braves still have time to evaluate Nate McLouth's recovery from a concussion.  MLB.com's Mark Bowman wrote today that the Braves have considered David DeJesus, Cody Ross, Corey Hart, and Josh Willingham as potential trade targets. 

Red Sox Inquired On Leo Nunez, Cody Ross

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The Red Sox inquired about Marlins players Leo Nunez and Cody Ross, reports Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.  Spencer adds that the Rangers asked about Jorge Cantu.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported Saturday that the Yankees are talking to the Marlins as well.  Rosenthal speculated that Nunez and Ross would make sense for the Yanks.  Brian Cashman's actual level of interest in the pair is unknown, but perhaps the AL East foes are targeting the same players.  Nunez is in the midst of his best season, with a 2.87 ERA, 9.3 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and 50.5% groundball rate.  About $837K remains on his contract, and he's under team control through 2012 as an arbitration-eligible player.

Ross' power has taken a dip, as his line stands at .279/.331/.409.  ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted that the Marlins' asking price is "very, very high, despite the fact that some teams view him as a non-tender candidate."  Ross is earning $4.45MM this year after beating the Marlins in arbitration in February.  He's under team control for next year, but as Olney suggests, the Marlins might be unwilling to give him that final arbitration raise.  The Braves are known to have interest in Ross, while Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse reports today that the Padres are not a fit.

Cantu would be a two-month rental, as he's a free agent after the season.  Surely the Marlins would like to clear some of his remaining $2.5MM.  Despite a .258/.309/.416 line, Cantu has 52 RBIs.  Aside from the Rangers, the Rockies are known to have an eye on him.  Both teams might prefer a cheaper player like Ty Wigginton, however.

The Latest On Mike Lowell

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The Red Sox have close to a full lineup of players on the disabled list, but the forgotten man in that group seems to be third baseman Mike Lowell. Prior to hitting the shelf with soreness in his surgically repaired hip, the 36-year-old Lowell hit just .213/.308/.350 in very sporadic playing time due to the presence of Adrian Beltre and Kevin Youkilis, plus David Ortiz's resurgence. 

Lowell told ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes he has given up hope that the team will release him so he can find work elsewhere. 

"I don’t know if it’s specifically because I might beat them, I just don’t think they want me to go to another team while they pay my salary,’’ Lowell said. “At this point, they’re not going to get anything [in a trade]. You’re going to get a subpar prospect at best. There’s too much time left in the season, they’re not going to get money."

There is still $5.3MM left on Lowell's contract this season, after which he'll be a free agent. In his own words, Lowell will "clear waivers in two seconds" because of that salary, so the July 31st trade deadline doesn't really apply to him. The Red Sox can let his market develop in August if they want.

Lowell did back off when asked about retirement, telling WEEI.com's DJ Bean that he's "thinking short term" for the time being. Back in April he indicated that he'd almost certainly call it a career after this season. 

The immediate plan is for Lowell to get a cortisone shot in his hip on Monday, then head to Triple-A Pawtucket for a rehab assignment beginning Thursday. He expects the shot to help with flexibility, and Brian MacPherson of The Providence Journal says it could even allow him to play in 2011.

Despite his injury and ineffectiveness, several teams remain interested in acquiring the former World Series MVP. The Rangers have been connected to Lowell more than any other team, but the Twins, Angels, Mariners, and White Sox have also popped up as potential suitors this season. Regardless of who acquires him, the Red Sox will almost certainly have to pick up most of his salary.

Red Sox Are Over Luxury Tax Threshold

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4:48pm: The Red Sox are operating under the same parameters that they always have and will make an acquisition if they feel that it could help them make the postseason, according to these tweets from ESPN's Buster Olney. 

12:34pm: Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox have learned within the last few hours that they have indeed exceeded the 2010 threshold for the competitive balance tax, better known as the luxury tax. They will be taxed at a 22.5% rate for every dollar spent over $170MM this year, and those figures will increase to 30% and $178MM next year, respectively.

Cot's Baseball Contracts, an unofficial source of salary and payroll data, has Boston's payroll at just under $168.11MM this season, though they obviously closed the gap at some point. Josh Beckett's extension was completed after the start of the season in an effort to save against the luxury tax. 

It was reported earlier this week that the Red Sox weren't willing to spend significant money this July in an effort to avoid the tax. Whether or not the team is willing to dip further into their pockets to add pieces at the trade deadline remains to be seen, though they have indicated that they prefer to wait until their injured players return before targeting high-priced players.

The Yankees are the only other team in baseball over the threshold, and they are taxed at a 40% rate because of past payrolls.

Odds & Ends: Sheets, Padres, Scutaro, Nationals

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A few links to check out while the Yankees play their first game without George Steinbrenner at the helm since 1972…

  • Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Phillies have had a "top scout" on hand for the A's last four series, though Oakland isn't going to move Mark Ellis and Ben Sheets isn't scheduled to pitch this weekend. 
  • James Schmehl of MLive.com says that Sheets could be a "rather inexpensive" trade option for the Tigers if they're looking to add a starting pitcher. 
  • MLB.com's Corey Brock reports that Padres' GM Jed Hoyer told reporters he would like to make a move to improve the team, not just a cosmetic one (all Twitter links). He says the prices must first come down, and that he has the resources to add multiple pieces.
  • WEEI.com's Rob Bradford says (via Twitter) that the Braves did not talk to the Red Sox about a potential Yunel Escobar–Marco Scutaro deal. He says that the Blue Jays were the only team Atlanta spoke to about an Escobar trade.
  • Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo ranked the team's international free agent signings for MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling.
  • Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times tweets that the Tokyo Giants have a scout attending tonight's Dodgers-Cardinals game. If nothing else, it shows that Japanese teams scour the U.S. for talent just like MLB teams do in Japan.

Odds & Ends: Wood, Cards, Uggla, Guillen, Lilly

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Links for Friday, after an impressive start from trade candidate Ted Lilly…

Texas Still Interested In Mike Lowell

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The Rangers pulled out of a deal for Mike Lowell in December due to concerns about Lowell's injured thumb, but were apparently fine with the status of Lowell's right hip.  In spite of the fact that Lowell is currently on the DL with a strain in that hip, Texas still has enough interest to be monitoring the veteran infielder's progress, according to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.

Now that Texas has dealt Justin Smoak, it opens up a need for a right-handed bat at first base should Chris Davis not be able to handle an everyday job.  We know that the Rangers have shown interest in Xavier Nady, who comes at a much lower price tag than the $5.28MM or so that remains on Lowell's 2010 contract.  We heard last month that the Red Sox were willing to pay all of Lowell's salary in exchange for a better prospect, but as the days on the calendar continue to slide away, that offer from the Red Sox becomes increasingly less worth the cost of a higher-rated prospect.  

The Lowell-to-Texas rumors have lingered all season long, so it's perhaps fitting that these negotiations might take us right up to the deadline and beyond.  You'd have to think that if the Rangers still have eyes on Lowell after his further injuries and a lack of production (a .658 OPS in 91 plate appearances), they like him enough to eventually bring him on board after all.

Odds & Ends: Gonzalez, Red Sox, Fielder, Phillies

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Links for Thursday, as the second half begins…

Red Sox May Still Covet Adrian Gonzalez

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Adrian Gonzalez was supposed to be the biggest trade chip at the 2010 deadline, but the 51-37 Padres aren’t about to sell. That doesn’t mean Boston’s interest in the Padres slugger has faded, however. A baseball source tells Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that the Red Sox still like Gonzalez.

"If they could get Gonzalez [before next season], that would solve everything," the WEEI source said. "And I think that's their Plan A. But the way things are going that might be pie in the sky type of thinking."

Gonzalez is hitting .301/.397/.533 and no Padres regular has an OPS within 170 points of that, so A-Gon isn't going anywhere yet. The Padres can keep the 28-year-old for $5.5MM next year, before he hits free agency. For now, Gonzalez says he doesn’t want to go anywhere.

"It's just a relief not to be in trade rumors and be in first place, more than anything,” Gonzalez said.

The Red Sox have a club option of their own coming up. Bradford says it “seems very unlikely” that Boston will pick up David Ortiz’s $12.5MM option for 2011 and notes that the sides haven’t made major progress on contract talks about an alternate deal. Big Papi appears to want a multi-year contract and believes he’ll stay in Boston.

Red Sox Issues, Present And Future

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A series of articles from WEEI's Alex Speier and Rob Bradford dig into pressing Red Sox issues…

  • Speier looks at Boston's current tricky situation in regard to the trade deadline.  Available star players are harder to come by than last year.  The return dates of many injured Sox are unknown.  Plus the Red Sox might not have the right trade chips to make a deal or the payroll space to accomodate a decent-sized salary.
  • Bradford examines the future.  Out of Victor Martinez, Adrian Beltre, and David Ortiz, who returns for 2011?  Kevin Youkilis' future position may depend on which players Boston brings back for 2011.
  • Speier talked to David DeJesus' former teammate John Buck, who feels the underrated outfielder would be a great fit for a contender.  It'd be DeJesus' first taste of a pennant race.
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