Astros Claim Chris Coste
The Astros claimed catcher Chris Coste off waivers after the Phillies released him, according to Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal. Coste, 36, was hitting .245/.342/.382 in 45 games for the Phillies, with a pair of homers. The Phillies let the fan favorite go to make room for Raul Ibanez.
Olney On Nats, Rockies, Halladay
ESPN.com's Buster Olney likes the looks of the Mariners, especially with a top three of Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn. Here are Olney's latest rumors:
- Nats GM Mike Rizzo says he doesn't have to dump payroll, which gives the team flexibility when considering deals for Nick Johnson, Austin Kearns and others. If they find a worthwhile deal, the Nationals could likely contribute money to make it work.
- As much as the Rockies would like to add a reliever, there are few desirable options out there now, so they may have to wait until closer to the deadline.
- No team has come forth with an aggressive offer for Roy Halladay so far.
- Olney hears that the Phillies would like to add two starters. Halladay and Pedro Martinez are the names they've been connected to recently.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Halladay
On this date one year ago, Richie Sexson was released by the Seattle Mariners with almost $8MM remaining on his contract. Sexson would later sign with the Yankees and appear in 22 games and hit one home run. With the trade deadline fast approaching, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- MLB Notebook breaks down the contenders for Roy Halladay.
- Over the Monster says the Red Sox won't trade for Roy Halladay and they don't need him.
- The Yankee Universe takes a look at what trading for Roy Halladay would mean for the Yankees' payroll.
- Sports Jabber says the Phillies "must" acquire Roy Halladay as long as they don't have to give up anybody that would potentially help the team this year or next.
- Simon on Sports weighs the pros and cons of trading Roy Halladay.
- Fire Brand of the American League sees the Red Sox as the best fit for Roy Halladay as long as the Jays are willing to deal within the division.
- The Phrontiersman makes a case that the Phillies farm system is deep enough to surrender their top prospects for Roy Halladay.
- Sox and Pinstripes argues that neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox will land Roy Halladay.
- Sports of Boston looks at who the Red Sox should keep and who they should move in the next few weeks, in light of the Roy Halladay rumors.
- The Blue Jay Hunter offers the viewpoint of a Jays fan on the Roy Halladay rumors.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Heyman On Halladay, Pedro, Ackley, Andruw
SI.com's Jon Heyman hears that the Blue Jays could keep Roy Halladay, especially since Toronto fans would not be receptive to a deal that sends their ace elsewhere. If the Jays do deal Halladay, they say they're looking for two premium prospects who will be ready for the majors next year and two other prospects who are further away from making big league contributions. Here are the details and the rest of Heyman's rumors:
- One executive says the Phillies, Giants and Angels have the best shots at acquiring Halladay.
- The Yankees and Mets have both spoken with the Blue Jays.
- It seems odd for teams to set some prospects off limits when the Jays are making Halladay available, but teams like the Rangers and Giants could conceivably deal for Doc and hold onto one or two of their top prospects.
- Executives haven't heard that the Blue Jays are trying to unload Vernon Wells' salary in a combined deal with Halladay.
- No executives believe teams would take Wells under any circumstances. They have "no shot" at moving him, according to one executive.
- Heyman credits Pedro Martinez's agent, Fern Cuza, for some impressive deals but doubts the report that suggested the Phillies will pay Pedro $4MM, unless it's prorated.
- Scott Boras met Mariners people to discuss second-overall pick Dustin Ackley, but the two sides made little progress.
- Heyman praises Andruw Jones for turning down offers from the Braves and Yankees to sign in Texas with coach Rudy Jaramillo.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Friday
For all of the Pedro Martinez rumors, Roy Halladay remains the best pitcher available. Here's the latest buzz surrounding the ace ace of a Jays team that's now fallen below .500:
- The Rangers have enough money coming off the books in 2010 to afford Halladay then, so his 2009 salary could be the team's biggest obstacle, according to Jamey Newberg. If the Rangers can afford Halladay this year, Newberg says the Rangers could give up Neftali Feliz or Justin Smoak- not both- along with Taylor Teagarden and others. But Derek Holland and Martin Perez are untouchable for Newberg.
- MLB.com's Todd Zolecki suspects that the Phillies would part with Jason Knapp, Dominic Brown or Kyle Drabek in the right deal if it meant adding Halladay.
- He only spoke in general terms, but Cards GM John Mozeliak told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch "there is always a chance to do a deal."
- Jim Donaldson of the Providence Journal doesn't think Halladay's worth the price for the Red Sox.
Phils In “Serious Talks” With Pedro; No Deal Yet
7:56pm: Stark is now reporting that Pedro has changed his mind and will throw for the Phillies a second time on Friday at 1pm.
7:22pm: A source has told Jayson Stark that the Phillies have requested to see Pedro throw a second time “to see how his arm responds,” but that Pedro has refused. The source told Stark that Pedro feels the Phillies “have enough information to make a decision from his simulated game Tuesday and shouldn’t need him to throw again.”
7:18pm: Here is Todd Zolecki’s summary of the Pedro situation.
5:45pm: The AP has some quotes from Pedro and Amaro. Pedro says this is the best he has felt “for some time.” Amaro reiterated that Pedro has not been signed and that Pedro is “not in town.”
5:30pm: Jon Heyman spoke with Pedro’s agent who says Pedro will make a decision by Sunday.
5:29pm: Nobody has addressed this yet, but if the $4MM figure is accurate, it would most certainly have to be prorated, which would mean the Phillies would only pay Pedro about $2MM for the remainder of the season.
5:12pm: Zolecki is now reporting that Pedro has informed the AP that his agent “is negotiating” with the Phillies.
4:57pm: Amaro told Zolecki the Phillies haven’t signed Pedro, but wouldn’t say whether they had reached an agreement or if Pedro had a physical scheduled.
4:49pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Phils are in “pretty serious talks” with Pedro, but doesn’t confirm the report below.
4:15pm: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. declined to comment on a report saying the Phillies signed Pedro Martinez, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. The report from CandelaDeportiva.com says Pedro signed for $4MM after showing off a fastball between 88 and 91 mph and good secondary pitches.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Prospect Update
The Blue Jays want top talent in exchange for Roy Halladay, but we heard yesterday that the Phillies have some untouchable players, perhaps Kyle Drabek. Here's what the Cards and Mets are saying about their top prospects:
- Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch confirms that John Mozeliak will call the Blue Jays, but suggests some in the organization would not consider dealing Brett Wallace, who the Jays wanted in last year's draft. Baseball America ranks Wallace as the 21st best prospect in baseball and the Cards' only prospect in the top 50.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Mets want to keep Jennry Mejia, Brad Holt and Ike Davis. Along with Fernando Martinez, Mejia and Holt are considered their best prospects, so it's hard to envision a Halladay deal without them.
- Three Phillies prospects join Drabek in BA's top 50: Dominic Brown (17), Michael Taylor (23), and Jason Knapp.
- The Rangers and Giants each have three prospects in the top 50; the Red Sox and Yankees each have a pair.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Thursday
All of this morning's Roy Halladay rumors:
- Could the Red Sox make a play for Halladay? Sure, but Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe says "they won't."
- Nick Cafardo of the Globe says the Red Sox hadn't inquired about Halladay as of late yesterday afternoon.
- Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald says the Red Sox would have to be prepared to surrender Clay Buchholz and two other top prospects to acquire Halladay.
- Josh Beckett told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that he'd like to pitch in the same rotation as Halladay, but thinks the Red Sox have enough talent to win already.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Jays would need "near-perfect health and near-peak production" to contend next year, so their best chance to obtain more than draft picks for their ace could be right now.
- Halladay's one of the best, but as Joe Berkery reminds us, Doc struggled mightily before finding his place in the majors.
- Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun lists the Angels and Brewers as the leaders to acquire Halladay.
- Andy Martino and Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer report that the Phillies have been in regular contact with the Jays about Halladay and are "serious players."
- They may be the favorites, but Sherman hears that the Cardinals and Rangers have real interest, and the Angels do too.
Amaro: Phils Have Flexibility To Add An Ace
Everyone else says the Phillies are frontrunners for Roy Halladay, but what about the Phillies themselves? GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki that he has "flexibility" to add a stud pitcher. Though Amaro Jr. spoke only in general terms, the conversation was largely about Halladay.
Heyman On Halladay, Davis, Holliday
Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Jays aren't likely to deal Roy Halladay within the AL East and will likely seek premium bats and shortstops in possible deals, since Marco Scutaro becomes a free agent after the season. Heyman hears that Halladay would likely be open to playing for most contenders. Here are some details and more rumors:
- The Jays had interest in Phillies shortstop prospect Jason Donald last year.
- Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi won't publicly rule out any destinations, but it would be much more bearable for the Jays and their fans to see Halladay pitching in the NL, or at least outside the AL East.
- Heyman wonders if the Giants could have interest. Imagine a rotation with four Cy Young Award winners plus Matt Cain. However, the Giants say they're looking for offense.
- One White Sox official says the team wouldn't have traded Gordon Beckham straight up for Jake Peavy, but they would likely have to consider dealing Beckham if they want Halladay.
- Heyman hears the Cardinals may not have the prospects to acquire Halladay. Brett Wallace and Jess Todd would presumably interest the Jays.
- Could the A's simply hold onto Matt Holliday and collect draft choices? They'd have to risk paying him $15MM or so in arbitration next year to do so and Heyman thinks it's a possibility.
- The D'Backs don't think they're hearing good enough offers for Doug Davis.