Cardinals Rumors

Odds and Ends: Pujols, Isringhausen, K-Rod

By Tim Dierkes | September 9, 2008 at 11:15am CDT

I am going to toss up some links as I come across them, so check back on this post.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has an excellent piece on the Pedro Alvarez situation, including quotes from Scott Boras and Max Scherzer. The grievance will be heard tomorrow, but the entire process could take months.
The big news of the day is not hot stove related. Albert Pujols is considering offseason Tommy John surgery, which would require seven to nine months of recovery time. It could cause him to miss April of ’09. UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal’s sources say Pujols does not intend to have the surgery this offseason.
In the same article, reliever Jason Isringhausen says he hopes to be ready for spring training after elbow surgery. He spoke of getting "an incentive-based deal with someone."
Joel Sherman doesn’t buy into the speculation that the Mets will be aggressive in pursuing Francisco Rodriguez due to Billy Wagner’s injury. K-Rod has had 61 save opportunities this year, 14 more than anyone else. No other pitcher has reached 60 opps this decade. Rodriguez may pursue a five-year, $75MM deal.
SI.com’s Tom Verducci looks at the dumbing down of bullpen roles.
Andrew Baggarly offers a possible explanation for Conor Gillaspie’s call-up: a "predraft understanding." Gillaspie signed for slot as the 37th overall pick. Adding him to the 40-man roster now is less than ideal.
RotoWorld’s Matthew Pouliot predicts destinations and contracts for free agent pitchers. His article also includes non-tender candidates.
Cork Gaines gives a rundown of the Rays’ 2009 commitments.
This week’s chat has been moved to Wednesday at 2pm CST.

Odds and Ends: Alvarez, Orioles, K-Rod, Bradley

By Cork Gaines | September 8, 2008 at 5:09pm CDT

A few more notes from the MLBiverse…

Dejan Kovacevic is reporting the Pedro Alvarez case may not be settled until well after the season. While there is a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, some feel that the case is too complex for a single hearing.
P eter Schmuck feels the O’s will sign a "couple of Paul Byrd-type pitchers," rather than open the pocketbook for a front-of-the-rotation starter.
It is just speculation, but Nick Cafardo feels the Tigers and Cardinals will be the front-runners for Francisco Rodriguez…Of course this was written prior to the news that Billy Wagner will be out for the ’09 season.
Manager Ron Washington said he wants Milton Bradley back with the Rangers in ’09, adding that he is not worried about having too many outfielders.
Peter Abraham says the trades made by the Yankees prior to the deadline have backfired, with only Xavier Nady proving to be a valuable pickup.
The Phillies have designated RJ Swindle for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Swindle made three appearances for the Phillies earlier this season. In Triple A, Swindle had 51 strikeouts in 36.1 innings, with a 1.98 ERA in 27 appearances.
Athletics Nation takes a look at the outfield logjam the A’s have for ’09. While a trade or two seems like the obvious solution, Athletics Nation is worried the pieces are currently undervalued.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Bass, Astros, Beltre, Marlins

By Joe Pawlikowski | September 5, 2008 at 11:53am CDT

A roundup of links for your afternoon reading:

Tadahito Iguchi, recently released by the Padres, has returned to the Phillies.
The Brewers have signed Mike Lamb, who had been DFA by the Twins.
Richard Justice praises Ed Wade’s bullpen construction.
El Lefty Malo discusses the Giants’ reported interest in Adrian Beltre. He doesn’t think a straight-up trade for Jonathan Sanchez makes sense for the Giants.
Tons of arbitration eligible players for the Marlins this off-season. Will they start selling off parts? It seems likely. To sign everyone would bring their payroll over $30MM. Tough to sustain when you’re drawing just 600 fans in September.
Tony LaRussa expects the Cardinals front office to work to improve the team this off-season. The have plenty of hefty contracts coming off the books.
In a minor move, the Twins have sent righty Brian Bass to the Orioles for a PTBNL.

Walt Jocketty – GM Trade History

By Tim Dierkes | September 1, 2008 at 9:20am CDT

Brendan Bianowicz is back with another GM Trade History. This time it’s Reds GM Walt Jocketty. Click here to download the spreadsheet, which also includes info on free agent signings and draft picks (for both the Reds and Cardinals).

Click here to access the other GMs Brendan has profiled.

Fuentes, Taveras Placed On Waivers

By Tim Dierkes | August 27, 2008 at 3:25pm CDT

3:25pm: Rosenthal says Fuentes’ trip to the bereavement list pretty much kills the chances of a trade.

WEDNESDAY, 10:55am: Troy E. Renck weighs in, suggesting that Taveras might clear waivers. The Nationals like him, but don’t want to add payroll. He expects the Dodgers, Rays, and Cardinals to put in claims on Fuentes (the Dodgers would win). The price remains a premium young starter, even though now the receiving team would get one less month of Fuentes.

TUESDAY: As expected, the Rockies have placed closer Brian Fuentes and center fielder Willy Taveras on waivers. Ken Rosenthal does not expect either player to clear.

As Rosenthal says, the Rockies will still require a return superior to two draft picks for Fuentes. He is certain to sign a multiyear deal elsewhere in the offseason. The Dodgers have first crack among contenders, though a non-contender could put in a claim just for sport.

Taveras is under team control through 2010, unless he is non-tendered before then. The speedy 26 year-old is hitting just .264/.316/.312 in 465 plate appearances.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Howard, Burrell, Burnett

By Tim Dierkes | August 22, 2008 at 4:29pm CDT

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up today.

With Ryan Howard looking at maybe a $14MM salary in his second year of arbitration, the Phillies could shop him this winter. Rosenthal lays out a scenario where they trade Howard and use some of those young players to acquire Matt Holliday. In this scenario Pat Burrell could be re-signed to play first base. I was surprised to see that a club official sees the chances of retaining Burrell as better than 50-50.
If A.J. Burnett opts out, he will again favor teams such as the Nationals, Orioles, and Cardinals. Rosenthal thinks the Yankees and Mets are possible as well. And it’s still possible the Jays convince Burnett to stay by adding to his ’09 and ’10 salaries.
Rosenthal frowns upon the Mariners’ double-failure to unload Jarrod Washburn’s contract.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: O’s. Holliday, Glavine, Maddux, Cardinals, Jeter

By Cork Gaines | August 22, 2008 at 12:01pm CDT

A few notes on from around the baseball Blogospehere…

Camden Chat feels the Orioles are stuck with players like Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff, even though both have cleared waivers.
Drunk Jays Fans thinks Matt Holliday will be too expensive in terms of contract and prospects for the Jays.
Talking Chop does not want to see Tom Glavine back in a Braves uniform next season.
Gaslamp Ball is not happy about San Diego trading Greg Maddux to the Dodgers and wonders why the Padres would want to help their divisional rival.
Ducksnorts hates the Maddux deal as a fan, but is happy for Maddux and understands the move from a business standpoint.
Viva El Birdos does not see the Cardinals signing any free agent starting pitchers for ’09, noting that would go against the organizational philosophy.
Derek Jeter is not a free agent until after the ’10 season, but that hasn’t stopped Was Watching from discussing his future.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Kazmir, Thomas, Sweeney

By Tim Dierkes | August 22, 2008 at 10:00am CDT

We’ll kick it off with a few links today and add more bullets periodically.

Cole Hamels feels that he handled his contract renewal last year immaturely.
Over at The Hardball Times, Geoff Young looks at the best compensation picks of the 20th century.
Geoff Blum’s ’09 option vests with one more plate appearance.
Bronson Arroyo has a plan to make the Reds competitive.
Matthew Cerrone explains Carlos Delgado’s ’09 option.
Jeff Passan on the Cardinals’ brilliant signing of Ryan Ludwick.
Baseball Prospectus profiles #26-50 on their list of players to build a team around.
Twins reliever Brian Bass accepted a Triple A assignment, so he won’t become a free agent.
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo takes a preliminary look at the ’09 draft order.
Jamey Newberg wonders if the Rangers could pry Scott Kazmir loose this winter. It’s hard to see the Rays trading him.
Susan Slusser expects the A’s to add an impact bat this winter, but free agent DHs Frank Thomas and Mike Sweeney will probably be let go. In a related note, ESPN’s Buster Olney says the A’s had a chance earlier this year to acquire Jason Bay for a package including pitching prospect Vin Mazzaro.

Odds and Ends: Elias, Izzy, Silva, Colletti

By Tim Dierkes | August 20, 2008 at 12:49pm CDT

Linkage for Wednesday…

Eddie Bajek over at Detroit Tigers Thoughts has successfully reverse-engineered the Elias Type A/Type B formula. Today he assigns statuses to the American League catchers. Jason Varitek clings to Type A, while Ivan Rodriguez has slipped to Type B. Read more about how free agent compensation works here.
Jason Isringhausen’s season, and maybe his career, is over due to a torn flexor tendon in his elbow.
J.C. Bradbury puts on his GM hat for the Braves. Rather than plug in free agent signings, he’d sell off most of the infield.
MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone extinguishes a Carlos Silva rumor.
ESPN’s Buster Olney grades the deadline deals. He has Ken Griffey Jr., Kyle Farnsworth, and Damaso Marte bringing up the rear.
Tim Brown explains that Ned Colletti’s job is safe.
Johnny Damon hopes A.J. Burnett opts out of his deal. Does he just want Burnett out of the league, or is he hoping the righty joins the Yanks’ rotation next year?
Twins reliever Brian Bass may become a free agent, if he refuses a Triple A assignment.

Bonser Not Discussed In Washburn Talks

By Tim Dierkes | August 15, 2008 at 8:44pm CDT

8:42pm: Hold the phone – John Hickey says Bonser’s name never came up in the Washburn talks. Jim Street and Larry Stone agree. The criticism of the Mariners may be somewhat unjustified. Hickey says Nick Blackburn was on the table for a very brief period of time. Lee Pelekoudas was tight-lipped on the topic.

4:52pm: Even Washburn can’t believe the Mariners wouldn’t trade him for Bonser. He’s disappointed the trade didn’t go through. Perhaps a new GM will deal him this winter.

FRIDAY, 12:19pm: Joe Christensen has details on the Twins’ uncharacteristic claim of Washburn. He heard they offered the Mariners Boof Bonser (plus apparently the salary relief), but the Ms wanted someone like Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey. It is hard to see this as anything but a blunder for the Mariners’ front office.

On a related note, Scott Miller says Lee Pelekoudas will not become the Mariners’ permanent GM, while Jon Heyman says Kevin Towers is unlikely. Pat Gillick is still rumored as a possibility for the next team president.

THURSDAY

11:48pm: Baker says the Twins put in claims on both Washburn and Ibanez, but only won the Washburn one. With Washburn, the Twins would’ve put him in the rotation and moved a starter to the setup man role. Baker notes that a deal still could happen.

4:58pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Twins won the Washburn claim and the Tigers won the Ibanez claim. The Red Sox and Mets also put in claims on Ibanez. Interesting on both fronts, but no deals were struck so both players will remain with the Mariners.

Heyman says that while the Twins’ Washburn claim had the flavor of a blocking move, the two teams did have trade discussions. There wasn’t really anyone to block, unless the White Sox were lying about their lack of interest.

4:56pm: The Cardinals did not put in a claim on Washburn, according to Derrick Goold.

3:00pm: Geoff Baker expects that the Mariners will hold onto Ibanez, given the compensatory picks they’ll receive this winter. He further speculates that Washburn’s next start will not be for Seattle.

10:54am: The Twins didn’t win the claim on Ibanez, according to Joe Christensen. Ibanez doesn’t expect a trade, though the Mariners have not discussed an extension with him.

9:57am: Geoff Baker confirms both players have been informed they’ve been placed on waivers. He sees the Jays, Red Sox, and Rays as possible AL claimants for Ibanez. Buster Olney considers the Twins a possibility as well. There seems little chance Ibanez would slip to the NL. Baker and Olney also heard an unconfirmed rumor that the Cardinals claimed Washburn.

WEDNESDAY

According to Ken Rosenthal, Mariners players Jarrod Washburn and Raul Ibanez were claimed on waivers yesterday. The Ms have until tomorrow afternoon to work out a deal with the claiming teams. Rosenthal says the Yankees did not claim Washburn.

At the least, the Mariners have a chance to unload Washburn’s contract. Ibanez is inexpensive, so they’ll want quality prospects in return. The Mariners can also elect to keep both players if they don’t like the offers.

The American League received first crack at the two Mariners, in the following order (omitting non-contenders):

Tigers
Rangers
Blue Jays
Yankees
Twins
White Sox
Red Sox
Rays
Angels

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