Mark Teixeira Roundup
More on the Mark Teixeira front: Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal Constitution names four guys the Braves have been reportedly targeting in deals for Teixeira. Nobody new appears, but it’s good fodder for conversation:
Kevin Youkilis: Ortiz is healthy and Youkilis has been arguably the Red Sox MVP so far this season, not far off from Teixeira in production. Both sides deny it. Mixed reviews from MLBTR readers. Can we put this to rest?
James Loney: Keith Law reported yesterday on the Dodgers as a good fit with the caveat that Loney would have to either be included in the deal or default to the bench. If included, Loney would be a good a catch for the Braves. At age 24, he’s getting paid $411,000 to hit .301 and drive in a team-high 57 RBI. He won’t hit free agency until 2013. Far be it from me to predict what the Dodgers will do, but Loney has to be at least somewhat untouchable.
Conor Jackson: These rumors have been dispelled for now.
Casey Kotchman: Maybe the only intriguing possibility on this list, Kotchman is 25 and not eligible for free agency until 2012. The Angels dangled him and Joe Saunders in a deal for Teixeira before the Braves one-upped them. The Halos’ offense has picked it up this month and Scioscia’s saying they don’t need help. Still, with the addition of Teixeira, the Angels would be scary.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Dodgers, Washburn
Ken Rosenthal spoke before today’s Yankees-Red Sox game on Fox and had a few items for the Hot Stove…
- The Braves have yet to decide if they are going to be buyers or sellers at the deadline. If they do decide to sell, they will start taking bids for Mark Teixeira. Earlier this week we heard from Jayson Stark that the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees have contacted the Braves about Teixeira. Today Stark told us that we can scratch the Rays off that list. Rosenthal adds the D-Backs to the list and says they make the most sense, but it is unlikely that they will be willing to offer the right players.
- The acquisition of Casey Blake means the Dodgers will probably not seek a better bat to play shortstop.
- The Yankees and Mariners have yet to discuss who the Yankees would give up for Jarrod Washburn.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Might Sox Try To Trade Ramirez?
[Update: 3:51pm] Theo Epstein spoke with Tim McCarver prior to today’s game and said he would attempt to trade Ramirez if the slugger is willing to waive his no-trade clause.
Dan Shaughnessy says that Manny Ramirez’ latest incident was the final straw for the Red Sox.
It was extraordinary. In the past, management and the manager would do handstands to excuse Manny’s strange acts. No more. This time, the manager – apparently confident there’s nothing wrong with the slugger – put Manny’s name in the lineup, then sat and waited for Manny to pull himself out of the lineup. Manny complied. Never concerned with wins or losses, Manny told Brad Mills he was unable to play and took himself out of the batting order for the (thus far) biggest game of the season.
It was predictable. It was ridiculous. It was the last straw.
Ramírez had an MRI yesterday and it was clean. This time, the Sox plan to do something about this situation. Soon.
Shaughnessy did not speculate on whether the Sox would try to trade Ramirez, with whom the team has $20MM options in both ’09 and ’10, or if they would just let him walk after the season.
Sean McAdam noted that Ramirez would have faced a suspension if he did not play in today’s game. Today, the media was kept out of the Red Sox clubhouse longer than usual, but when the doors were finally opened, Ramirez was penciled into today’s lineup.
- Around The Bases says that if Theo Epstein can trade for a power hitting outfielder, the Sox may decide to place Ramirez on waivers in hopes that another team will claim his contract. If nobody claims Ramirez, the Sox may be willing to release Ramirez and swallow the remainder of his ’08 salary.
- The Joy of Sox notes that much of this might be media bias, and Ramirez does have a history of knee problems.
- YankeesRedSox.com is not sure what the Red Sox could get for Ramirez, but believe that "anything is better than a $20mm player not willing to play."
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Graziano’s Latest: Sherrill, Arroyo, Rhodes, Zaun
Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger has a new Trade Winds column.
- Graziano notes how incredible the Erik Bedard trade could look for Baltimore if they spin George Sherrill for prospects. He names the Cardinals, Rays, Marlins, and Red Sox as suitors. The Mets fear Sherrill’s price tag, while the Yankees don’t expect a deal within the division.
- The Yankees haven’t spoken to the Reds about Bronson Arroyo (although based on previous reports, they have scouted him). The Yanks aren’t likely to sign Barry Bonds, and aren’t terribly thrilled with the catching market.
- Fernando Martinez‘s possible injury could increase the Mets’ urgency to find a left fielder. For some reason, Adam Dunn is not in the mix. The Mets are in on relievers Brian Tallet, Jack Taschner, and Arthur Rhodes.
- The division rival Marlins are after Rhodes, as well as Gregg Zaun.
- Graziano says no one denied his rumor that the Blue Jays were quietly discussing Roy Halladay with other teams. The offseason might be a better time to shop him, though.
Uribe-Cora Trade Not Happening
8:48pm: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Red Sox backed away from a potential Uribe deal, opting to stick with Cora as Jed Lowrie‘s backup.
4:31pm: Ken Rosenthal has further details on Danny Knobler’s report of Boston’s trade talks for Juan Uribe.
Rosenthal says a Juan Uribe–Alex Cora swap between the Red and White Sox could happen, with the teams splitting the salary difference. Then he lays this idea on us:
One scenario would be for the White Sox to use Cora at least part-time at second, move rookie Alexei Ramirez to short and trade shortstop Orlando Cabrera, possibly to the Dodgers for right-hander Derek Lowe.
Hard to say if this scenario has actually been discussed between Kenny Williams and Ned Colletti. But Rosenthal says the Dodgers are aggressively shopping Lowe, which I didn’t see coming.
Carroll’s Latest: Duchscherer, Burnett, Ibanez, Cabrera
Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus has some rumors to consider this afternoon.
- The Tigers are 5.5 games out, but are still on the fence about buying or selling.
- Carroll says there’s "much more substance to rumors of the White Sox going after Justin Duchscherer" as compared to the one about the A’s pursuing Jason Bay.
- The Phillies could jump back in on A.J. Burnett if the price comes down. Also – could Burnett clear waivers in August?
- The Rockies’ demands for Brian Fuentes might be holding up the relief market.
- Regarding Raul Ibanez, the Mariners either want to tack Jose Vidro on in a deal or get back premium prospects.
- The White Sox have become aggressive, and apparently had failed talks about Orlando Cabrera with the Red Sox. Josh Fields is not considered untouchable.
Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Padilla, Sheffield, Beltre
ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up. You may want to grab a glass of water or something, because this is a beast of a column.
- If the Braves have a bad weekend and decide to trade Mark Teixeira, a deal could come together quickly. Stark says the Braves have already touched base with the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees. Where Tex fits on the Rays, I’m not sure. Additionally, interest in Will Ohman is said to be "massive."
- A Jorge Posada move to first base could affect the Yankees’ interest in Teixeira this winter.
- Though Brian Fuentes has many suitors, the Rockies have actually exchanged names with only the Marlins and Yankees. GM Dan O’Dowd has not dropped his price. By the way, Todd Helton‘s injury takes Garrett Atkins off the market. As for Matt Holliday, many execs believe the Rockies will never trade him.
- The Phillies are focused on a left-handed reliever, with Fuentes, Damaso Marte, George Sherrill, and Jack Taschner in the mix.
- The Phillies were scared off by the asking prices on Holliday and Xavier Nady, and never even made an offer. They still could acquire a lesser hitter.
- The Pirates are inspiring much grumbling with high asking prices for Jason Bay, Nady, Marte, John Grabow, and Jack Wilson.
- The Rangers are looking for young, controllable starting pitching. Vicente Padilla is available, with the Tigers and Yankees showing mild interest. Eddie Guardado and Jamey Wright are not available.
- In pursuing Jarrod Washburn, Bronson Arroyo, and Padilla, the Yankees are demonstrating their plan to reduce the prospect price for pitching by taking on a decent-sized contract.
- While A.J. Burnett is "eminently available," no trade talks are cooking. The Jays apparently won’t deal him within the division. Other Jays veterans might be available, though Roy Halladay isn’t among them.
- The Tigers are looking for pitching and a long-term shortstop. They’d be willing to move Gary Sheffield, though they’d have to eat salary.
- Top Rays prospects such as Wade Davis, David Price, and Jeremy Hellickson are off-limits. Rays Index recently ran through the more likely trade candidates.
- The Braves asked the Royals about Jose Guillen, but Dayton Moore is asking for a ton.
- Stark says the Twins’ talks for Adrian Beltre are "far from dead." The Twins are zeroed in on a third base upgrade. Beltre, by the way, has the Dodgers on his no-trade list. Joe Christensen says the Twins have found the asking price prohibitive for various third basemen.
- The Rangers are looking for a young pitcher for Hank Blalock, who is drawing interest from the Twins, Giants, and Dodgers. The Dodgers also like Casey Blake, who is likely to be traded somewhere.
Odds and Ends: Alvarez, Kotsay, Street
Time to round up today’s links.
- Hank Steinbrenner admits Barry Bonds‘ name will be mentioned at today’s meeting of Yankees execs.
- Mark Cuban is a finalist to buy the Cubs.
- Pirates president Frank Coonelly expressed frustration with the Pedro Alvarez negotiations, in the first public comments on those talks.
- Dejan Kovacevic’s source says the Pirates aren’t requiring two prospects for Xavier Nady or Damaso Marte. One elite prospect would work.
- Mark Kotsay wonders if he’ll be traded this year. As with Mark Teixeira, it’ll depend heavily on the next week.
- Richard Justice takes Drayton McLane to task.
- DRays Bay relays a Peter Gammons report that the A’s are shopping Huston Street to the Red Sox, Rays, and White Sox.
- David Weathers doesn’t remember which teams are on his limited no-trade clause.
- Tom Henke’s Army is back, with reinforcements.
- Sam Mellinger thinks the Royals should sign Rafael Furcal this winter. I concur.
- Joe Posnanski believes that the Royals should try Tony Pena Jr. as a pticher, all kidding aside. He bemoans the lack of "outside the box" thinking in baseball.
Red Sox In Trade Talks For Juan Uribe
According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, the Red Sox are "deep in conversations" for White Sox infielder Juan Uribe. Knobler says the return is unclear but the White Sox want to shed Uribe’s salary. Uribe has about $1.7MM left on his contract this year.
Uribe’s White Sox career has been on life support several times this year, but he’s managed to stick around. With Joe Crede‘s back ailing, Uribe is currently filling in at third base.
Odds and Ends: Bedard, Hudson, Inoa, Varitek
Let’s dig through today’s links.
- Cork Gaines takes a look at the Rays most likely to be traded.
- According to Ken Davidoff, the Rockies have been scouting Yankees pitching prospect Humberto Sanchez. He’d be a more reasonable return for Brian Fuentes.
- Erik Bedard‘s MRI came out clean, but it’s still hard to see him in a big league game before August.
- Dan Haren used to follow every trade rumor on the Internet, but Justin Duchscherer doesn’t monitor the hot stove buzz.
- Shane Victorino is aware of the rumors, but wants to stay in Philly.
- With Emilio Bonifacio gone, Scott Bordow thinks the D’Backs should try to sign Orlando Hudson. Bordow would only offer $8MM a year though.
- Paul Hoynes looks at the Indians’ areas of need for the offseason.
- Peter Abraham doesn’t expect the Yankees to pursue a catcher.
- Melissa Segura of SI.com writes about Michael Inoa‘s buscon.
- Patrick Newman profiles Kenshin Kawakami, who should be quite popular this winter.
- Buster Olney expects Jason Varitek to feel a ripple effect from Jorge Posada‘s injury. His sources expect the Red Sox to offer Varitek one or two years at $6-8MM per.
- MLB.com is looking for a fan to guest host their show The Dish.