Tigers Notes: Oliver, Marquis, Fister
The Tigers are looking for starters and relievers. Here's the latest on their trade talks:
- Scouts tell Yahoo's Jeff Passan that the Tigers are dangling lefty Andy Oliver on a number of trade fronts including Hiroki Kuroda, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis (Twitter link).
- The Tigers and Mariners are engaged in active trade talks, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Detroit is interested in Doug Fister and a reliever.
- The Tigers are more interested in right-handed relief than left-handed relief, according to Morosi (on Twitter).
AL East Notes: Uehara, Yankees, Lee, Guthrie
On this date last year, the Orioles traded Miguel Tejada to the Padres for Wynn Pelzer and the Blue Jays traded Brett Wallace to the Astros for Anthony Gose. Here's the latest from the AL East as we await today's first trade…
- Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that Koji Uehara is drawing "big interest" (Twitter link).
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports believes that the Yankees have to acquire a starter before the
- deadline.
- Jeremy Guthrie, Uehara and Derrek Lee are the main players the Orioles are discussing, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun.
- Mark Reynolds might get an extended look at first base if the Orioles trade Lee, who could be a fit in Pittsburgh or Arizona.
- The Tigers and Indians have talked to the Orioles about Guthrie, Zrebiec confirms.
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi doesn't think the Yankees need another starting pitcher, but the Yankees have a number of options to consider, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News explains. Ubaldo Jimenez, Wandy Rodriguez and Hiroki Kuroda are possible fits for the Yankees.
- Rob Bradford of WEEI.com explains the pros and cons of bringing Erik Bedard or Jimenez to Boston. As we’ve heard this week, the Red Sox are interested in pitching, including Bedard and Jimenez.
Ubaldo Jimenez Rumors: Thursday
The latest on Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez, who is scheduled to pitch Saturday in San Diego…
- The Tigers contacted the Rockies Thursday to discuss possible deals, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Colorado is also discussing Jimenez with the Yankees, Red Sox, Reds and Indians, according to FOX. Names of interest to the Rockies: Kyle Weiland and Will Middlebrooks of the Red Sox, Ivan Nova, Dellin Betances, and Jesus Montero of the Yankees, Jacob Turner of the Tigers, Yonder Alonso and a Major League starting pitcher from the Reds, and Drew Pomeranz of the Indians.
- The Yankees appear to have the best shot at Jimenez, but there are no indications that they will meet the Rockies' asking price, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter).
- The Rockies' asking price for Jimenez "remains very, very high," tweets ESPN's Buster Olney, as in three top prospects. There's been no significant movement in the Jimenez market, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- An NL source tells Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald the Red Sox are "not hot as of now" for Jimenez.
AL Central Notes: Indians, Marquis, Soria
The Indians acquired Kosuke Fukudome from the Cubs today and they might not be done yet. GM Chris Antonetti told Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he’s open to adding another pitcher or a hitter – even another outfielder. Here are some other notes and rumors from around the AL Central…
- The Indians should see a "marginal improvement" after adding Fukudome, according to ESPN.com's Keith Law. The Indians, who gave up two "fringy" prospects for the outfielder, are getting a player with enough on-base skills to help out.
- Antonetti, by the way, called the improvement “incremental.”
- MLB.com’s Bill Ladson confirms that the Tigers are interested in Jason Marquis (Twitter link). A scout suggested to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that Marquis is out there now and could clear waivers next month to enable an August trade (Twitter link).
- There are indications that Joakim Soria will stay in Kansas City, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
Hiroki Kuroda Rumors: Thursday
Righty Hiroki Kuroda tossed six innings of one-run ball against the Rockies yesterday, lowering his ERA to 3.11 in what might have been his last start for the Dodgers this year. Yesterday we heard from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi that the Yankees' interest intensified, with the Red Sox, Rangers, Indians, and Tigers also in the mix. Kuroda has yet to be presented with a formal trade to approve. The latest:
- The Dodgers are not currently taking offers for Kuroda, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff.
- The Dodgers are telling teams they want a "significant piece" for Kuroda, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
- The Dodgers sent a scout to see third base prospect Nick Castellanos, writes Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, but they doubt the Tigers would move him for Kuroda.
- Kuroda's contract stipulates that he will be eligible for conventional Article XX(B) after the season, writes Jon Paul Morosi, so he is a candidate for draft pick compensation if he maintains Type B status.
- A friend of Kuroda told ESPN's Jayson Stark the pitcher can finally focus on the trade possibility with last night's start out of the way. The Yankees have strong interest, Kuroda tops the Tigers' wish list, and the Red Sox were the only contender scouting last night's game. Stark says the Indians and Rangers remain involved. The Dodgers want a true baseball deal, and would prefer a starting pitcher close to the big leagues.
- The Dodgers are "acting like they can trade Kuroda, and not just to the Yankees or Red Sox," tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. The Dodgers have a scout watching the Tigers' A-ball team.
- Uncomfortable with the price tag of Ubaldo Jimenez, as well as concerned about their current rotation, the Yankees are in regular contact with the Dodgers about Kuroda, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- "My honest feeling is that I can't fathom wearing another uniform than the Dodgers uniform right now," Kuroda told MLB.com's AJ Cassavell last night through a translator. He'll go over options with his agent, Steve Hilliard of Octagon.
- Three factors limiting Kuroda's trade value: since his signing bonus is yet to be paid, he's still owed almost $6.8MM of his $12MM contract. Second, he possesses leverage with a full no-trade clause, which I think may require additional compensation to waive. Third, he's never pitched in the American League.
Erik Bedard Rumors: Thursday
Mariners southpaw Erik Bedard will be a popular man tomorrow night, as he faces off against the Rays in his first start in over a month and last before the trade deadline. The latest:
- The Mariners like Bedard and he loves Seattle, tweets SI's Jon Heyman, so they haven't ruled out re-signing him.
- The Tigers are very unlikely to acquire Bedard, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.
- The Red Sox and Yankees will have scouts in attendance, report Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, who say the Sox are "all over" the lefty. The Mariners have been scouting Boston's Double and Triple-A affiliates, according to the FOX writers.
- As I mentioned yesterday, it wouldn't be surprising if the Indians, Rangers, Pirates, Reds, and Diamondbacks scout this game as well. Despite Bedard's fragility, the Mariners' asking price is said to be high.
Tigers Rumors: Starting Pitchers
The Tigers acquired Jhonny Peralta a year ago today, but this year they're trying to hold off the Indians rather than make trades with them. Who will they add before Sunday's deadline? The latest:
- It sounds like the Tigers' three options for a starting pitcher currently are Hiroki Kuroda, Aaron Harang, and Jeremy Guthrie, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.
- The Dodgers, Mariners, Astros, and Rays had scouts assigned to watch the Tigers' Low-A team last night, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The game was postponed due to rain, however. At any rate, Nick Castellanos and Bruce Rondon are a couple of notable prospects on that club.
Los Angeles Notes: Carroll, Ethier, Kuroda, Angels
The Angels are buyers and the Dodgers are sellers, but what are the Angels looking to acquire and who are the Dodgers willing to part with? Here are the latest rumors…
- The Indians are discussing Kuroda and Carroll with the Dodgers, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (on Twitter).
- The Brewers have had continued dialogue with the Dodgers about Jamey Carroll, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
- Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that interest in Hiroki Kuroda is intensifying, with the Yankees at the forefront. The Red Sox, Rangers, Tigers, and Indians remain in the mix. Kuroda has not yet been presented with a formal trade offer to accept or decline.
- The odds of an Andre Ethier trade are "very slim" and the Dodgers would have to be blown away to move the outfielder, according to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Red Sox haven't had serious discussions with the Dodgers about a deal for Ethier, who isn't eligible for free agency until after the 2012 season.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that there's little belief that Kuroda will accept a trade out of Los Angeles (Twitter link). The right-hander can block deals to any team.
- The Angels are more focused on acquiring relievers than adding third base help, according to Rosenthal (on Twitter).
Ubaldo Jimenez Rumors: Wednesday
Yesterday's Ubaldo Jimenez info: about seven teams are in on him, but the Yankees and Reds are best-positioned to make a deal if the Rockies are as motivated as has been reported. So far, the Rockies' asking price of "three sure-thing young players, including one pitcher who goes into their rotation immediately" has not dropped. The latest:
- The Red Sox are still in on Jimenez, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com (on Twitter).
- The Indians have asked about Jimenez, but are a "real longshot," according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
- The Indians are strongly in the mix for Jimenez, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Indians have been working aggressively to upgrade their offense and rotation, Rosenthal writes. They're "thinking big in multiple deals."
- Though the Yankees and Reds have been the most active suitors for Jimenez, they aren’t close to a deal, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The Yankees aren’t close to matching Colorado’s asking price and it’s hard to imagine the Reds obtaining Jimenez without surrendering Mesoraco. The Tigers and Red Sox are ‘on the fringe’ of the trade talks and the Rangers are no longer considered a candidate to acquire the right-hander.
- The Yankees have the best chance of landing Jimenez, reports Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. The Rangers are all but out, while the Tigers and Blue Jays are remote.
- The Rockies do not require Reds untouchables Devin Mesoraco or Billy Hamilton in a deal with the Reds, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- The Rockies are in active trade talks with six to eight teams, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark. A source tells Stark that two NL teams, yet to be identified, are in the mix, and the guess is that one of them is the Nationals.
- As of yesterday, the Reds were the most motivated Jimenez suitor and the Red Sox were more seriously inquiring than the Yankees, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Still, the Rockies appear amenable to doing a Jimenez deal for three of these Yankee youngsters: Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Jesus Montero, and Ivan Nova. The Yankees, however, are hesistant to even include two. Ownership is not pushing Yankees GM Brian Cashman to make a deadline splash, writes Sherman, and the front office is more focused on relievers.
AL Central Notes: Lindor, Tigers, Slowey
Historically speaking, July 26th has been a busy day for the Indians. The Indians and Cardinals swapped Mark DeRosa and Chris Perez on this date in 2009; the Tribe acquired Carlos Santana for Casey Blake on this date in 2008; the Indians acquired Shin-Soo Choo for Ben Broussard on this date in 2006; they sent Russell Branyan to Milwaukee on this date in 2004 and they signed Marco Scutaro as an amateur free agent in 1994. This year, they're buyers. Here's the latest on the Indians and their division rivals…
- Indians GM Chris Antonetti says the Tribe has had continued dialogue with the agent for first round pick Francisco Lindor, though there’s no real update on the talks (Twitter link).
- Tigers owner Mike Ilitch told Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News that he'd be "extremely disappointed" if the Tigers don't make the playoffs this season. GM Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland are in the final years of their respective contracts.
- The Rockies and others continue to pursue Kevin Slowey, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown (on Twitter). Earlier in the month, it became clear that the Pirates and Rockies were among the clubs with interest in the Twins right-hander.