Rosenthal On Wagner, Rays, Hawkins
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from one GM who believes Billy Wagner's best financial move may be to accept arbitration after the season. The Red Sox have the right to offer Wagner arbitration, but they'd have to offer over $8MM, so they could choose not to. Here are the rest of Rosenthal's rumors:
- Jeff Niemann and Jason Hammel have performed well for their respective clubs, so the Rays' decision to trade Hammel worked out for everyone.
- A number of teams are sure to claim LaTroy Hawkins by noon CST today, when his waivers expire, but it's likely the Astros will pull him back. Rosenthal hears that Hawkins is open to returning to the Astros after the season.
- Rangers GM Jon Daniels estimates that three quarters of MLB players hit waivers in August, so don't fret about this news if you're a Brewers fan, but Trevor Hoffman, Mike Cameron, Craig Counsell, Jason Kendall, Braden Looper and Felipe Lopez have all been placed on waivers, according to Rosenthal's source. The Brewers say they don't intend on becoming sellers.
Angels Had Interest In Wagner; Still Looking
The Angels had interest in Billy Wagner before the Red Sox worked out a waiver trade to acquire the lefty from the Mets, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. The Angels may or may not have claimed Wagner- GM Tony Reagins wouldn't say- but the Red Sox, who have a worse record than LA, had priority regardless.
The Angels have an inexperienced group of relievers after Brian Fuentes and Darren Oliver, so Reagins said the club continues to monitor the waiver wire and explore possible trades.
Odds & Ends: Holliday, White Sox, Giants
Some more links to close out the evening:
- Scott Miller at CBS Sports says that Matt Holliday has enjoyed his stay in St. Louis, but remains uninterested in talking about his future.
- White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has pulled out of negotiations to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes NHL team, says Mark Gonzales at the Chicago Tribune. Are Jake Peavy and Alex Rios hockey fans? Maybe they could help with the funding.
- Red Sox GM Theo Epstein likes the rebuilt product he's put out on the field at Fenway, reports Daniel Barbarisi at the Providence Journal.
- Matthew Pouliot at NBC Sports rolls out number 15 in his interesting "Restoring the Rosters" series, taking a look at the Giants.
- August 31st is around the corner, and there's still a chance some waiver deals sit on the horizon. Be sure to follow MLB Trade Rumors on Twitter.
Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Cubs, Free Agents
Some links to mull over during game time:
- Matthew Pouliot at NBC Sports notes that three upcoming free agents did not have pleasant days.
- Dave Cameron at Fangraphs thinks the Red Sox got a break in that Billy Wagner requested they don't exercise his 2010 option.
- Mark Kotsay holds no grudges against the Red Sox after being dealt to the White Sox earlier this year, reports Kevin McNamara at the Providence Journal.
- Steve Rosenbloom at the Chicago Tribune thinks that if the Cubs seek out a new president, former Cubs broadcaster and current White Sox announcer Steve Stone should be considered for the post.
Red Sox Acquire Billy Wagner
5:51pm: According to Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe, the Red Sox were given permission from MLB to talk to Wagner, and Theo Epstein claims he didn't know Wagner would even be shipped over until the final hours of the proceedings. In reaction to previous reports that Wagner would not join the Sox, Epstein said:
"You guys (media) had nothing to do during those 48-hour windows, so there have been a lot of stories come out. Basically he had a full no-trade clause, so it was up to him whether he wanted to stay with the Mets or go to the Red Sox. Ultimately, in the end he woke up and said he wanted to join a team that was in the middle of a pennant race, had a chance to pitch into October, and a chance to get a ring."
4:39pm: The Boston Herald reports that the Mets will acquire Triple A outfielder Chris Carter in the deal. The second player, whose identity remains unknown, is apparently "not of significance."
12:53pm: Olney reports that the Red Sox won't send any top prospects to the Mets. Bart Hubbuch hears they're AA-level players. Olney says the Red Sox have agreed not to pick up Wagner's 2010 option, but they can still offer him arbitration (and collect compensation picks if he signs elsewhere).
The Red Sox will pay the rest of Wagner's salary, according to Heyman.
12:39pm: Heyman says the Red Sox acquired Wagner. Lennon says the Mets obtain two players to be named later.
12:26pm: Heyman reports via Twitter that Wagner is "on the verge" of accepting a deal to the Red Sox. He has four minutes to decide.
12:23pm: Olney reports that the Red Sox are expected to complete a deal for Wagner.
12:22pm: Via Twitter, Lennon says it looks like the deal will go through. An announcement is coming shortly.
12:12pm: Newsday's David Lennon hears that, while no deal is complete, the Mets and Red Sox could agree on one "soon."
12:00pm: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe reports that Billy Wagner is now considering a deal to Boston. He is apparently drawn to the Red Sox because they're in the pennant race. Earlier today, we heard that Wagner blocked a deal because he didn't want to risk injuring himself down the stretch. ESPN.com reported today that Wagner's agent believes his client should only pitch once every three days.
With the deadline for a deal approaching, the Red Sox were talking to Wagner in an attempt to work out a deal, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Mets are "trying to talk sense" into Wagner. Heyman hears that the Red Sox still hope a deal will go through.
Odds And Ends: Wagner, Santana, Strasburg
More links for Tuesday afternoon…
- Today's chat is coming up at 2pm CST.
- Billy Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow tells Joe Haggerty that his client changed his mind at the "last minute" and decided to go to Boston. The agent told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that Wagner "threw caution to the wind."
- Finally, some relatively good news for the Mets. Jon Heyman of SI.com reports via Twitter that doctors recommend arthroscopic surgery for Johan Santana, who should be back for next year. Ben Shpigel reports that the surgery will end Santana's season.
- As MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports, Stephen Strasburg will pitch in the Arizona Fall League this year
- Tom Verducci of SI.com marvels at the success of the older Yankees hitters. Within his article, he suggests Brad Penny is no longer cut out to start in the majors.
Odds And Ends: Halladay, O’Day, Scott, Giambi
Some links for the morning…
- Be here at 2pm CST for this week's chat.
- Jamey Newberg compares Roy Halladay and Derek Holland since July 31st and shows that the Rangers are looking good even though they didn't deal for Doc.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post says designating Darren O'Day for assignment was an "under-the-radar mistake" by the Mets.
- MLB.com's Spencer Fordin says the Orioles are trying to evaluate Luke Scott at first base to see if he can play there long-term. No one's hitting him anything, so the O's are having trouble reading his ability.
- Jason Giambi tells Troy Renck of the Denver Post that he has no problem playing in the minors or coming off the bench for the Rockies.
- Curt Schilling said on WEEI in Boston that he's not surprised to hear Billy Wagner is passing up the chance to enter a playoff race.
Wagner Blocked Deal Because Of Health Concern
Billy Wagner invoked his no-trade clause because he wanted to protect his arm for the final month of the season, according Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe. The Globe's sources say Wagner doesn't want to compromise his chances of landing a contract in the offseason and prefers to play in lower-leverage games for the Mets. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports passed along similar information in his FOX Sports report last night.
The Red Sox were interested in Wagner for this season and would likely have turned down the $8MM option for next year and chosen to offer him arbitration instead. Apparently, Wagner was more concerned about possible injuries than the possibility that the Red Sox might lower his value by offering arbitration.
Wagner could change his mind by 12:30pm CST, but one source said the talks are "probably dead."
Rosenthal On Mets, Cubs, Yankees, Hawkins
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wonders how Mets GM Omar Minaya and Cubs GM Jim Hendry will untangle themselves from their respective messes. Both execs have overpaid for players in the recent past, but both can point to recent successes. Here are the details:
- The Mets are expected to lower their payroll from the $150MM range next season.
- The Rockies obtained Carlos Gonzalez from the A's in last winter's Matt Holliday trade and, for all of Holliday's heroics in St. Louis, Gonzalez is out-slugging Holliday by 142 points since the A's flipped him to the Cards.
- A Yankees official says it's "very likely" the team will bring Johnny Damon back after the season if he's willing to take a paycut.
- Like their cross-town rivals, the Yanks are expected to be operating on a lower payroll next year.
- The Yankees figure to be in the mix for Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, or both.
- Alex Gonzalez could have vetoed the trade that sent him to Boston.
- The Astros placed LaTroy Hawkins on waivers and Rosenthal expects the Rockies, Cardinals and Dodgers to at least consider him.
Team Claimed Penny; Red Sox Pulled Him Back
An unknown team claimed Brad Penny earlier in the month, only to see the Red Sox pull him back, sources tell WEEI.com's Rob Bradford. The window for the Red Sox to deal Penny to the claiming team has passed, so they won't be able to trade him at all.
Penny, who lost his rotation spot, makes just $5MM plus incentives, so he's a more affordable option than Doug Davis or Jon Garland, but the Red Sox wanted more than salary relief or they would have handed Penny over. He isn't likely to net the Red Sox any compensation picks, since he doesn't project to be a Type B free agent.