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Rosenthal’s Latest: Possible Waiver Deals

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Ken Rosenthal has a new post up; below are some points of interest for rumor-hounds like us. 

  • Josh Towers and Steve Trachsel have both cleared waivers.  You’ll find their contract info as well as a complete list of those who have cleared waivers here.  Rosenthal says the Rockies are monitoring both pitchers; they were forced to start journeyman Tim Harikkala today.  The Rox also called the A’s about Chad Gaudin but found the price prohibitive.  Another reason a Gaudin trade wouldn’t make sense is that he wouldn’t pass through waivers. 
  • Towers is attracting multiple suitors.  I think he’ll have moderate success in the NL as a #4 starter.
  • Mark Loretta and Mike Lamb were both claimed on waivers and then pulled back, so they’re not going anywhere. 
  • The Yankees have no reason to throw down a chunk of change on a free agent starter this winter.  They’re all set for 2008 with a formidable rotation of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, and Andy Pettitte.  I think we’ve learned by now that there’s really no such thing as a surplus of starting pitching, so I imagine the Yanks will only trade Kei Igawa in the right deal.  Buster Olney said this morning that there was a 50% chance of Igawa going to the Padres soon.  Additionally, it will be nice to have Ian Kennedy around as the sixth starter.

Graziano’s Latest: Andruw, Dunn, Fukudome

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Dan Graziano has a new article up regarding the free agent outfielder crop.  He spoke to two anonymous GMs.  Let’s take a look at some highlights.

  • Andruw Jones has an awful .216/.312/.418 line this year.  He’s been outdone by Shawn Green, Sammy Sosa, Jose Vidro, and Shannon Stewart in terms of OPS.  Nonetheless, Jones isn’t expected to come at a discount.  Scott Boras will just play up the defense, the RBIs, the career totals, whatever. 
  • Graziano says "it’s hard to see" the Reds picking up Adam Dunn’s $13MM option.  This would just be plain dumb on Wayne Krivsky’s part.  Given the $0.5MM buyout, it’s basically like signing Dunn to a one-year, $12.5MM deal.  How many teams would pass on a huge power bat on a no-risk one-year commitment?  If the Reds don’t exercise the option, it will be change for change’s sake.  And a bad decision.
  • Kosuke Fukudome is the dark horse, a possible impact right fielder from Japan.  He will not require a posting fee.  Graziano says the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, and White Sox are among the teams scouting him.  More on Fukudome in a separate post.

Padres Awarded Claim On Kei Igawa

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UPDATE: Buster Olney gives the deal a 50/50 chance and says the deadline is 2pm Tuesday.  The Yanks would target one of the Padres’ many fine relievers.  As expected, the posting fee is a sunk cost and doesn’t factor in here.

The Padres were awarded a waiver claim on Kei Igawa today, a pitcher they pursued in the offseason.  A healthy dose of a National League pitcher’s park may be just what Igawa needs.  As Ken Rosenthal notes, all AL teams as well as clubs like the Dodgers, Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, and Braves passed on Igawa.  I’m surprised the Mariners passed, also.

The Yankees and Padres now have 48 hours to work out a trade.  The Yankees could just dump the contract on the Padres, but it’s really not that bad since the posting fee is a sunk cost.  Igawa gets $4MM annually through 2011, which is really cheap if he can be even league average.

Multiple Teams Looking At Kielty

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UPDATE: The Red Sox signed Kielty.

Bobby Kielty is a 31 year-old switch-hitting outfielder.  He can typically draw a few walks and hit lefties.  He can handle the corner outfield positions but hasn’t played center with any regularity since 2002.  Kielty is a free agent now after being released by the A’s.

According to the Boston Herald, Kielty is receiving interest from the Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Astros.  The Herald mentions Kielty’s ties to New England, while the San Francisco Chronicle considers him the favorite.  Question: why would the Astros be interested?

Do Yanks Have Room For Damon And Giambi?

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I think Johnny Damon’s comments yesterday have been overblown – he backed off a few hours after he made them.  And when asked point blank if he wanted a trade, he said no.  He did hint that a trade might make sense if he couldn’t play regularly, but calmed down after talking to Joe Torre.

Still, the Yankees will face a roster crunch once Jason Giambi returns to the club to act as the regular DH.  Damon has lingering injuries that will keep him from starting in center field regularly.  Between Giambi and Damon, that’s $34MM in 2007 salary spent on the designated hitter.

It’s not just Damon who could be traded – either player is eligible.  Let’s start with Damon though.  His name first came up on July 26th, with the Braves slightly interested.  Damon’s contract pays him $13MM annually through 2009, so that’s an obstacle.  And he’s owed another $4.4MM this year.  His partial no-trade clause probably isn’t a big problem, because it sounds like he’d rather go elsewhere to play every day.  The Yankees would have to eat some salary to trade Damon, probably around $8-10MM.  Damon at $8MM annually through ’09 isn’t a bad risk.

The Angels were reportedly interested in Giambi back in May, though Bill Stoneman denied it.  If healthy, he’d still supply the Halos a needed dose of OBP and power.  The problem is that he’s still owed about $33MM from now through the 2008 season and has a full no-trade clause.  The Yankees could eat half of the money, but that wouldn’t address a concession for waiving the no-trade.  The other problem is that the Yankees and Angels could be battling for the wild card this year if the Mariners overtake the Halos.

Giambi would be harder than Damon to trade, and I imagine it’d be a pure salary dump.  Chone Figgins was mentioned in the Angels rumor in May, but that’s a stretch and the Yanks have since acquired Wilson Betemit.  Damon might net a better player in return with less salary relief.  Both players would probably pass through waivers unclaimed, and I imagine the Yankees will at least go that far this month.

Prospects could be acquired, though probably in the form of a player to be named later realized after the season.  Getting immediate help back seems unlikely.

Failed Trades

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Let’s take a look at some deals that almost happened yesterday.

Kyle Farnsworth for Bob Wickman.  This would’ve been fun, reunions with former teams for both players.  However, the Braves wanted the Yankees to pick up all of Farnsworth’s salary, apparently.  Brian Cashman didn’t want to make him go away that badly, and Wickman would probably be a nonfactor back in the AL.

Mariners acquire Mark Loretta.  Eh.  Let’s not overstate the abilities of Loretta.  It sounds like Tim Purpura wanted some kind of legitimate prospect for him.

Rockies send Jeff Baker and others to Tampa Bay for Dan Wheeler.  We can’t really evaluate this one without knowing who else would’ve been involved.  And the Rays don’t really have a place to play Baker; they’re already squeezed finding playing time for Jonny Gomes.  If Rocco Baldelli ever gets healthy they’ll really have a pickle.  I mentioned in a recent interview at D-Rays Bay – Wheeler would probably be one of the ten best relievers available if he was a free agent after the season.  The Rays can pump up his value and get a promising young pitcher next year, as the Royals did with Octavio Dotel.    

Brewers send Tony Gwynn Jr., Zach Jackson, and another minor league for Eric Gagne.  This could’ve been the difference-maker that Scott Linebrink ain’t in a tight NL Central race.  But it doesn’t seem like Doug Melvin got a chance to counter the Red Sox offer, so you can’t really fault him.

Red Sox send Wily Mo Pena and Craig Hansen to White Sox for Jermaine Dye.  Well, there has to be some statistical way to evaluate whether this pair beats two draft picks.  You’d have to know the attrition rates of first/second rounders, and get some scouts on Pena and Hansen to see if they can ever reach their potential.  If I was the Kenny Williams I probably would’ve made the deal.  I think Pena gets docked in value from where he was two years ago, but still has pretty much the same upside if you manage him right.  Who knows, maybe Williams will go after Pena again this winter.

Padres Interested In Igawa, Lamb, Loretta

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UPDATE: Will Carroll reports that the Padres appear to be close to a deal for both Lamb and Loretta.  Not sure if the Ensberg acquisition changes this.

I’m not sure when it was published, but Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Padres have interest in Mark Loretta or Mike Lamb from the Astros.  That we knew, but Krasovic also mentions that the Padres would like to buy low on Kei Igawa but the Yankees aren’t shopping him.

Yankees Discouraged On Gagne, Cubs Still In?

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UPDATE: Peter Abraham confirms that the Yankees seem unlikely for Gagne.  He says the Red Sox are offering David Murphy and Kason Gabbard, while the Cubs are still quietly involved.  Not sure whether Gagne would have to consent to a trade to the Cubs, but he could be used as their closer without a major uprising.

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Yankees aren’t liking their chances to get Eric Gagne.  That might mean he’s going to the Red Sox, Mets, or Brewers, or that he’s staying put.

The Mets don’t seem likely given some previous reports and the Rangers’ demand for Carlos Gomez. 

The Red Sox would probably give up David Murphy and the Brewers would surrender Tony Gwynn Jr.  If the Rangers would settle for Gwynn, a deal could happen quickly because Gagne cannot veto a trade there.  However, he can block a move to Boston and that would present another obstacle. 

Speaking of the Red Sox, Rosenthal sees their chances for Jermaine Dye faded.  After all, that deal would have a no-trade obstacle too.

Latest On Eric Gagne: Brewers Jump In, Red Sox Leading

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Deadline day!  I’ll be with you nonstop until the trading is done.  Eric Gagne is the big name to watch, unless things heat up with Adam Dunn and Jermaine Dye.

  • UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal mentioned in his recent column that the Brewers are one of the 12 teams that can acquire Gagne without his permission.  So to review:  the Yankees, Mets, Angels, Brewers, and eight other unknown teams can acquire Gagne without his permission.  He’d need to consent to trades to the Tigers, Indians, Phillies, Red Sox, and 13 other unknown clubs.
  • UPDATE: Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe is hearing that the Rangers may prefer to hold onto Gagne and try to sign him to an extension.
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin called up Jon Daniels to see what it would take to add Eric Gagne to his bullpen.  We don’t know whether Gagne must consent to a trade to Milwaukee, but I’d guess he does have veto power with them.  Francisco Cordero leads all of baseball in saves, so would Gagne set up for him?  Melvin would have to pay up both in prospects and salary.  The Brewers have some pretty good chips like Manny Parra, Carlos Villanueva, and even Rickie Weeks (could he move to center field?)  Tom Haudricourt says the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox are also in on Gagne.
  • SI.com’s Jon Heyman pegs the latter three as the suitors, with Boston in the lead even though Gagne would need to approve a trade there.  The Red Sox will try to find a deal that doesn’t involve Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester.   The Yankees won’t give up Joba or Hughes for Gagne, but maybe they’ll crack on Ian Kennedy.  The Mets won’t trade Carlos Gomez for him. 
  • The Boston Herald says the Red Sox made a substantial offer for Gagne, which certainly did not include Buchholz, Jacoby Ellsbury, or Justin Masterson.  Jeff Horrigan talked to one GM who said Boston’s offer was the best.
  • The New York Daily News has the Cubs in on Gagne as well.  Mark Feinsand says the Yankees turned down a weekend proposal from the Rangers that included Alan Horne for Gagne.  Feinsand says Kennedy is not up for discussion but guys like Tyler Clippard, Matt DeSalvo, Jeff Marquez, Chase Wright, and Scott Proctor are available.  The Yankees have their eye on Al Reyes as a backup plan but the Rays don’t want to trade him within the division.  Feinsand believes the Red Sox would do David Murphy and Kason Gabbard for Gagne.  Of course they would.
  • The New York Post talked to a scout who believes there’s a 75% chance Gagne is dealt today.  The Indians and Tigers appear to be out of the mix.  Scott Boras remarked yesterday that Gagne only wants to go where he can close.  But it’s not entirely up to Gagne now is it, Scott? 
  • Newsday confirms the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Brewers as the finalists for Gagne.  Kat O’Brien adds Dan Wheeler as another name the Yanks will consider if they don’t get Gagne.  The Yanks could relent and give up Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner to get Gagne. 
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