Red Sox Rumors

Odds And Ends: Holliday, Lugo, DeRosa

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 17, 2009 at 2:12pm CDT

Some links for the afternoon…

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the A's want two highly regarded prospects in any deal for Matt Holliday.
Rosenthal believes the Braves have too much pitching not to make a serious run at the playoffs.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that Mark DeRosa will test his wrist to see how much pain it gives him before deciding if he needs surgery. The Cards hope to activate him within a few days.
Multiple teams have inquired about Julio Lugo, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe. The Red Sox designated him for assignment earlier today.
DRaysBay hosts a roundtable discussion with bloggers for each AL East team.
I'll be talking trades on 107.5 The Game in about ten minutes. Click here to listen in.

Heyman On Halladay, Francoeur, Brewers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 17, 2009 at 12:56pm CDT

Jon Heyman of SI.com hears the Blue Jays have told the Yankees and Red Sox they're unlikely to trade Roy Halladay within the AL East and haven't even returned a call the Yankees placed about Halladay over a week ago. That leaves the Phillies and, now, the Dodgers as frontrunners to acquire the Jays ace. Here are the details and a few stray rumors:

One executive believes that any Blue Jays-Phillies swap would have to begin with the supposedly untouchable Kyle Drabek, who impressed in this week's Futures Game.
At least one exec believes the Jays would want to pluck a player from the Dodgers major league roster in any deal.
The Dodgers don't necessarily have enough minor league talent to tempt the Jays.
One Jays person said Cardinals top prospect Brett Wallace may not be enough to acquire Doc.
The Jays are not insisting that teams take on the Vernon Wells contract in a potential deal.
The Yankees and Red Sox have become more protective of their minor leaguers, so they're not likely to overwhelm the Jays with offers.
The Yankees tried to trade for Jeff Francoeur last offseason.
The Brewers could still make a run for a star pitcher.
As SI writer Tom Verducci notes, the Dodgers would like to acquire a top reliever such as Chad Qualls or George Sherrill.

Red Sox DFA Julio Lugo

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 17, 2009 at 11:23am CDT

The Red Sox designated Julio Lugo for assignment according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. The move is not surprising, as Lugo did not travel to Toronto with the Red Sox, who need roster space for players returning from injury.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Red Sox consider Lugo a "sunk cost" and would expect very little in return for him in any trade. Lugo will likely be released if the Red Sox can't trade him.

The 33-year-old has a .352 OBP and fields well enough, so he figures to draw some interest.

Lugo Misses Workout; Team Travels Without Him

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 17, 2009 at 9:34am CDT

Amid rumors that the Red Sox are doing everything they can to move him, Julio Lugo missed a mandatory team workout and didn't travel to Toronto with his teammates for their upcoming series against the Blue Jays. As Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe reports, manager Terry Francona said Lugo missed the workout because of a mix-up.

MLB.com's Ian Browne reports that Lugo didn't travel with the team and says the Red Sox could designate him for assignment and eventually release him. They need to make room on their roster for Clay Buchholz, Mike Lowell and Jed Lowrie.

In response to the news that the Red Sox are shopping Lugo, ESPN.com's Rob Neyer said teams could do worse, even though the Red Sox are sick of looking at Lugo's contract. R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs says Lugo has a league-average bat and a below-average glove.

Red Sox “Desperately” Want To Move Lugo

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 16, 2009 at 5:21pm CDT

5:19pm: Citing a major league source, Rosenthal says that the Red Sox "have informed teams that they are willing to assume virtually all of shortstop Julio Lugo's remaining salary in a trade." He also says that Boston realizes Lugo is a sunk cost at this point, and would accept a fringe prospect in return for him.

1:37pm: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Red Sox are trying "desperately" to move Julio Lugo now that Jed Lowrie, Mike Lowell and Clay Buchholz are about to return to the active roster. The Red Sox won't have room for Lugo anymore, so they're looking to trade him. They've been trying to deal him since last year to no avail, so Rosenthal hears the Red Sox could simply release Lugo if they don't find a match.

Lugo makes $9MM this year and the same amount next season, but he's underperforming so the Red Sox would have to pay most of his salary in any deal. While some teams seek middle infield help, it's doubtful that Lugo would appeal to many of them.

Odds And Ends: Vinicio, Sano, Mets

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 16, 2009 at 2:47pm CDT

Odds And Ends: Twins, Iglesias, Rockies

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 16, 2009 at 1:09pm CDT

More links to read through as the second half gets underway…

Which AL teams have the easiest route to the playoffs? ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Twins have a favorable schedule from here on.
Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus has the details on the Jose Iglesias deal. The Red Sox awarded the slick-fielding shortstop a $3MM bonus and will pay the remainder of his $8.25MM deal over the next four years.
ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick says the Rockies need to fortify their bullpen before the end of the month.
Tune in to The Big 1070 at 3:25 CST and Team 1380 in St. Louis at 6:20 CST, as I'll be talking trades on both stations.

Odds And Ends: Zito, Red Sox, Pedro

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 16, 2009 at 11:50am CDT

Some links for the morning…

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the Giants have to think about releasing Barry Zito after the season because he's weighing them down.
ESPN.com's Rob Neyer says the Giants can't afford to release Zito just yet.
Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe says the Red Sox could use another lefty specialist in the 'pen.
Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the Pirates are confident Miguel Angel Sano is a 16 years old, like he says.
Jamey Newberg updates us on the top 20 Rangers prospects at MLB.com. You have to think the Blue Jays are looking at a version of this list.
Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle says no one will be watching Matt Holliday more closely than the Giants.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if Pedro Martinez can have a David Cone-like late career renaissance in Philadelphia.
And check out the final part of my discussion over at NESN.com for a look at the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays and an under-the-radar trade candidate.

Rosenthal On Halladay, Frasor, Rios, Bay

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 16, 2009 at 9:55am CDT

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Angels and Cardinals will have a hard time assembling a package enticing enough for the Blue Jays to part with Roy Halladay. One GM said the Angels have "zero chance" at acquiring the Jays ace. Players like Brandon Wood and Howie Kendrick have lost some of their appeal and prospect Jordan Walden finds himself on the DL for the second time this season.

Halladay would be a good fit in St. Louis, and Brett Wallace could be the centerpiece of a deal, but the Cards may not have the young pitching the Jays seek.

The Phillies have enough prospects to make a deal and Rosenthal suggests we should never rule out the Yankees. Here are a few more rumors:

The Dodgers are interested in Halladay, Jason Frasor and George Sherrill.
The White Sox would probably have to part with Gordon Beckham to acquire Doc.
The Jays and White Sox haven't discussed an Alex Rios deal recently, but the White Sox have long been interested in the Jays outfielder.
Jason Bay is close to setting a cutoff date for negotiations on an extension with the Red Sox.

Odds And Ends: Strasburg, Huff, Pedro

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 15, 2009 at 2:24pm CDT

Some links to read through this afternoon…

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick says the Nats "absolutely, positively must sign" Stephen Strasburg this summer. The Strasburg saga is just one of Crasnick's nine stories to watch in the second half.
Stan McNeal of the Sporting News says a fringe prospect should be enough for the O's to ship Aubrey Huff and his $8MM salary away.
Pedro Martinez said he was pitching hurt with the Mets, but feels better now, according to the AP (via ESPN).
Benjamin Kabak of River Ave. Blues says the Yankees would have to be prepared to give up a painful amount in a possible Roy Halladay deal.
Pirates reliever Tyler Yates had Tommy John surgery, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Check out my thoughts on the market for outfielders this offseason at NESN.com. Evans Clinchy of NESN.com believes it's now time for the Red Sox to lock Jason Bay up.

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