Montero Drawing Interest
According to Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune, D’Backs catcher Miguel Montero is a popular name in trade discussions. He may be traded to address the team’s second base vacancy. Mark Loretta and Adam Kennedy, who are in the $4MM or less range, were deemed too expensive.
Montero, 25, hit .255/.330/.435 in 207 plate appearances this year. He’s under team control through 2012. Magruder suggests the Red Sox, Tigers, Reds, Astros, and Brewers as possible matches. Some of those clubs do have decent second base prospects.
Magruder adds that the D’Backs have received inquiries on Eric Byrnes, but don’t see a contract swap that’d make sense.
Red Sox Inquire On Lowe
According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have inquired on free agent starter on Derek Lowe. Scott Boras even gave them one of his infamous books hyping the 35 year-old righty. Massarotti figures the Red Sox consider Lowe a safer bet than A.J. Burnett or Ben Sheets.
Massarotti adds that the Red Sox are looking for groundballing strike throwers in terms of bullpen additions. He wonders if Doug Brocail or Brandon Lyon could work. I noticed that Brian Shouse, Todd Coffey, Dennys Reyes, and Jeremy Affeldt also fit the profile, for what it’s worth.
Rockies Talking Trade With Reds
8:50pm: Reds GM Walt Jocketty says nothing is close with the Rockies; he’s talked to a lot of clubs. His snide remark: "They all didn’t allow it to get out."
Jocketty talked to the Rockies about Matt Holliday, but it was a short discussion.
7:37pm: Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News says the Reds have definite interest in Atkins, but not Torrealba or Taveras. The Reds like the idea of adding Atkins’ righthanded bat. They don’t like Torrealba’s price and Taveras’ inability to get on base. Ringolsby says the Phillies, Angels, and Twins are also after Atkins.
3:28pm: Troy Renck confirms Rosenthal’s report, and also speaks of speculation that the Red Sox will make a run at Chris Iannetta. A long shot to be sure.
Other Rockies notes: Renck says the Rox told people close to Manny Corpas that he’s still the closer, meaning Street might be on the outs. Additionally, the Rockies have expressed interest in Carl Pavano.
1:17pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Rockies aren’t done dealing – they’re talking trade with the Reds and other clubs. The Reds like Willy Taveras, Yorvit Torrealba, and Garrett Atkins, with a "definite interest" in Taveras.
Meanwhile the Indians like newly acquired Huston Street and the Nationals are one club eyeing Carlos Gonzalez. Rosenthal says the Rockies figure to hang on to Greg Smith.
It seems we can’t yet judge the Holliday trade for the Rockies. It did seem odd that they would acquire a closer and a young center fielder, two positions at which they already had solid options.
Odds and Ends: Pettitte, Zaun, Blanco
Links for Tuesday…
- Scott Bordow feels the D’Backs and Randy Johnson should meet at $5MM, which still seems light.
- David Murphy explains why the Phillies make more sense than the Mariners for Jamie Moyer, geographically.
- David Ortiz would like the Red Sox to add a 30 home run bat.
- Richard Justice wants the Astros to sign both Randy Wolf and Andy Pettitte. He says the Cubs and Cardinals will be talking to Pettitte even though his heart is with the Yankees.
- El Lefty Malo recommends the Giants sign Derek Lowe. The Giants are at least considering the big-ticket free agents.
- Jeff Blair runs through a few options for the Blue Jays if A.J. Burnett leaves.
- Free agent catcher Gregg Zaun is not pleased with Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi.
- The D’Backs want Miguel Montero showcased as a catcher.
- Ken Davidoff has a list of nine intriguing (and older) free agents.
- Joel Sherman joins Buster Olney in saying Brian Giles vetoed a trade to the A’s in August, after the Red Sox won the claim and failed to make a deal. How is this possible?
- Geovany Soto expects Henry Blanco to re-sign with the Cubs.
- Tony Massarotti looks at possible trade partners for the Red Sox.
Matt Holliday Trade Roundup
It seems that the Rockies will send left fielder Matt Holliday to the A’s for Carlos Gonzalez, Greg Smith, and Huston Street soon (assuming Smith’s elbow checks out). While the A’s were rumored to be in the mix for Holliday, the trade still comes as a surprise to most. Let’s round up today’s links on the topic.
- Nick Cafardo says the Red Sox were briefly involved in talks for Holliday.
- ESPN’s Peter Gammons says Beane first engaged the Red Sox on Jason Bay before moving on to Holliday.
- Troy Renck says Holliday is flying to Oakland today to meet with team officials. Garrett Atkins hopes the Holliday trade keeps him in Colorado.
- Dave Cameron thinks Holliday can hit around .300/.380/.500 for the A’s.
- Athletics Nation considers this a message that the A’s are trying to compete in ’09, and expects more additions. They also believe Billy Beane will take stock in July and decide whether to trade Holliday or keep him all year and take the draft picks. I agree on both points.
- Jack Etkin of the Rocky Mountain News and Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post have scouting reports on the players Colorado will receive.
- Depressed Fan tries to get a handle on Beane’s motivation for the trade.
- Holliday’s dad would like to see his son join the Yankees.
Angels Hold Off On Teixeira Bid
Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times describes the Angels’ strategy regarding free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. He says that since Tex will test the open market regardless, the Halos will not make an offer within their exclusive negotiation period. So much for resolving the situation quickly.
The Angels do not want Scott Boras shopping around their offer to the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, and Nationals and driving up the price. Just a guess, maybe the Nats consider Josh Willingham their cleanup hitter acquisition and will back out of the Teixeira derby.
DiGiovanna adds that the Angels "plan a serious run" at C.C. Sabathia and could bid on A.J. Burnett. He also describes their stance on their own free agents aside from Teixeira:
The team will look to re-sign reliever Darren Oliver, is open to retaining closer Francisco Rodriguez and outfielder Juan Rivera, and seems lukewarm to the idea of retaining pitcher Jon Garland and outfielder Garret Anderson.
Hanshin Preparing $18 Million Offer For Kawakami
Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker says the Hanshin Tigers are preparing a four-year, $18MM offer for starter Kenshin Kawakami. Kawakami, a free agent, has yet to decide whether to come over to MLB. The Braves and Red Sox may be interested if he does.
Newman figures Kawakami will come over, and pegs him as a solid mid-rotation type. If so, he may be able to match Hiroki Kuroda‘s three year, $35.3MM deal.
Holliday To Cards Dead
MONDAY: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch also checked in with Mozeliak, who said, "That one’s not happening – at all" in reference to a Cards-Holliday trade. The Cardinals balked at the required player package. Mozeliak was irritated that (inaccurate) details of the talks leaked to the press. The Cards are looking at other things now, though Strauss’s source believes Holliday talks could be resurrected.
SUNDAY: Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News talked to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who admitted the idea of a Matt Holliday trade is dead. The Rockies sought Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker, and Mitchell Boggs from the Cards, and talks hit a wall.
The A’s may still be in play, while Ringolsby says the Phillies did not discuss Holliday with the Rox during the GM meetings. The Phils are unwilling to part with Shane Victorino. Ringolsby adds that the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees have expressed interest in Holliday. Joe Strauss recently said the Mets are in pursuit, and Bill Ladson had him as a Nationals target.
Odds And Ends: Saltalamacchia, White Sox, Ludwick
Links for Sunday…
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia says playing with Jason Varitek for the Red Sox would be a "dream come true."
- Ken Davidoff writes that the White Sox would like to trade Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko or Jim Thome.
- Bernie Miklasz asks whether the Cardinals believe in Ryan Ludwick.
- According to the Chicago Tribune, 19-year-old Cuban prospect Dayan Viciedo has raw tools and questionable commitment. Yesterday, the Chicago Sun-Times suggested the Sox were interested.
- Mike Jacobs doesn’t expect to walk more than he did last year.
- Tim Cowlishaw thinks the Rangers should try to sign Manny Ramirez.
- Phil Rogers says that the Cubs could sign Ryan Dempster by Thursday. Rogers doesn’t expect Manny Ramirez or C.C. Sabathia to sign soon.
Indians Rumors: Shoppach, Roberts, Street
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer discusses the Indians’ offseason needs.
- With Victor Martinez, Kelly Shoppach, Carlos Santana, and others, the Indians have a surplus of catching (and mad guitar skills). The Red Sox, Marlins, Reds, and Tigers are known to be in the market, so maybe the Indians can deal a catcher to fill another need. Those other needs: an infielder, a late inning reliever, and a starter.
- Hoynes believes the Indians will fall short of meeting the demands of free agents Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, and Rafael Furcal.
- Hoynes implies the asking price for one year of Brian Roberts is Fausto Carmona and Asdrubal Cabrera. That won’t work for the Tribe; they are looking to add a starter. They might have the same problem if they try to acquire Garrett Atkins.
- As we’ve heard, the Indians are in on Huston Street.
- Hoynes tosses out a couple of possible free agent bargains that may come with the necessary price break: Joe Crede and Jason Isringhausen.