Odds & Ends: Orioles, Angels, Rangers
It's getting late for big news, but do GMs (or beat writers) ever sleep this time of year? Still a chance for some bedtime stories. Here are some sheep for the non-believers to count:
- Jeff Zrebiec at the Baltimore Sun checks in on five players teams could be targeting on the Orioles and his predictions on where they might end up.
- Though he says he's fine with the current roster, Angels manager Mike Scioscia says that GM Tony Reagins has been active, reports Rhett Bollinger at MLB.com. Scioscia wants a bullpen arm.
- Marty Noble at MLB.com answers questions about what the Mets might do at the deadline.
- Jeff Wilson at the Dallas Morning News says Tanner Scheppers' agent vouches for the top pick's desire to sign with the Rangers, though talks have progressed little.
- Bill Ladson at MLB.com has an extensive and fairly candid chat with Nationals owner Mark Lerner.
- Tommy Rancel at Inside the Rays previews the team's targets and candidates to be moved.
Major Indians Deal “Doubtful”
According to Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports, despite the swirl around a possible blockbuster involving Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez, sources say it's "doubtful" either one is traded. The source calls a Lee deal "a longshot" and a Martinez one "more of a longshot."
The Indians are still pushing for a young, MLB-ready starter, but the Red Sox have been reluctant to deal Clay Buchholz. As noted earlier, the Rays have been in on both Lee and Martinez.
Rays Could Move Kazmir
According to Ed Price at AOL Fanhouse, the Rays are itching to deal, with Roy Halladay, Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee on the radar. Now, they're apparently willing to dangle Scott Kazmir as part of a deal, and the Angels are said to have "some interest" in acquiring him.
The Rays are four games out of first place and were on the bad end of Mark Buehrle's perfect game today, which could be an impetus to make an impact deal. Kazmir has struggled mightily this season, putting up a 6.69 ERA and 58/40 K/BB ratio. He makes $6MM this year and has $22.5MM remaining on his contract after this season.
“Slim” Chance Rays Make Blockbuster Deal
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Rays are pursuing the biggest stars available, but remain unlikely to acquire any of them. Payroll limitations could prevent the Rays from adding Victor Martinez, Cliff Lee or Roy Halladay. The Rays would consider parting with Scott Kazmir and Carl Crawford, though the chances they deal their star left fielder are "close to zero."
Stark On Deadline Deals
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says this year's deadline will be different than others, since more players will clear waivers, allowing teams to deal until the end of August. Matt Holliday, Jarrod Washburn and Jack Wilson are all "likely to zip through waivers" next month. Here are the rest of Stark's rumors:
- The Phillies are as motivated as ever to acquire Roy Halladay. Their goal is to win the World Series, not make the playoffs.
- The Phils don't want to trade Kyle Drabek or J.A. Happ, but one GM believes they should include Drabek if one of the two has to go.
- The Phillies may have to decide which outfielder to include in a deal: Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown. One scout says there's "nothing not to like" about Taylor.
- Acquiring Cliff Lee would take a "four-for-one, Halladay-esque Package."
- The Dodgers, Angels, Phillies, Rays and Brewers are scouting Lee.
- Both the Blue Jays and Indians want top young arms for their aces, but the Indians aren't demanding big-league ready prospects, as long as they get a high-upside group.
- Expect Lee to be traded close to the deadline, if he's moved at all, because the Halladay saga will need resolution first.
- The Orioles have two prices for George Sherrill. Teams willing to take on his salary have to give up a premium prospect and another prospect, but if the O's have to pay Sherrill, they want a premium prospect and two other players.
- Danys Baez's value has plummeted recently.
- The Braves, unsure of how much Tim Hudson can contribute, are leaning heavily towards keeping Javier Vazquez.
- Adding a reliever is now the Dodgers' top priority.
- The Phillies have some interest in Ryan Spilborghs, Scott Hairston and Ryan Raburn.
- The Reds would like to deal some of their expensive pitchers.
- July 31st is also the deadline for Japanese teams to acquire foreign players for the rest of their season, so if Scott Boras is going to send Stephen Strasburg overseas, this will have to be the week.
- The Cubs are looking at left-handed relievers, including Sherrill, John Grabow and Joe Beimel.
Rays Pursuing Victor Martinez
The Rays are now pursuing Victor Martinez, Jon Heyman of SI.com reports. They have Jeff Niemann, Wade Davis and Jeremy Hellickson to offer the Indians, though the clubs aren't believed to have exchanged names. The Red Sox have many top young pitchers as well and have been discussing Martinez for weeks with the Indians. Boston remains interested in V-Mart, even after adding Adam LaRoche, but one GM believes the two clubs would have completed a deal weeks ago if one was going to happen.
Rays catcher Dioner Navarro has been a disappointment this year, hitting just .223/.253/.327. He has five homers, but his strikeout to walk ratio has deteriorated badly.
The Rays are also discussing Cliff Lee with the Indians and R.J. Anderson of DRaysBay hears that the club has interest in Chad Qualls.
Rays Talked To Indians About Acquiring Lee
1:07pm: Ken Rosenthal now hears that the Rays may involve a third team in the deal to provide the Indians with more pitching.
8:25am: No deal is imminent, but the Rays and Indians discussed a deal that would send Cliff Lee to the Rays for prospects, accoding to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Wade Davis is believed to be among the top prospects that interest Indians GM Mark Shapiro, but the Rays have been reluctant to deal the 23-year-old righty.
Stark: Cliff Lee Is “Quasi-Available”
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says the Indians could deal Cliff Lee, but don't particularly want to. In other words, he's "quasi-available." We heard that the Rays and Indians discussed Lee and Stark says it's "not impossible" that the Rangers could pursue the Indians ace. Both teams would be able to trade the Indians the young, high-upside talent they seek.
Rosenthal Roundup: Rays Could Make Big Move, Red Sox Out On V-Mart
Ken Rosenthal's latest is seemingly at odds with the report we noted earlier from Bill Chastain that the Rays will not be major players at the deadline.
"The Rays are engaged in a whirlwind of activity, investigating [Cliff] Lee, [Roy] Halladay and numerous other options — 'major, major stuff,' according to one source," Rosenthal writes.
Other notes from Rosenthal:
- The Red Sox deals "should eliminate any chance of them trading for Victor Martinez."
- "The Phillies, Rays, Brewers and Dodgers are on Lee, and the Rangers have expressed continued interest" as well.
- The Angels are targeting Baltimore's George Sherrill and Cleveland's Rafael Betancourt.
- The Rockies are after Baltimore's Danys Baez.
- The Giants want to hold onto Jonathan Sanchez, given Randy Johnson's fragility.
Rays, Rangers May Be Left Out
While many of baseball's contenders are set to stock up on talent, the Rays and Rangers may not be among them. Oh, they're contenders, all right. They just may not add to what they have.
In Tampa Bay's case, MLB.com's Bill Chastain points out that the Rays have already dealt Jason Hammel and Edwin Jackson within the past year, making any further pitching depletion a risky move. He adds:
"Ben Zobrist's improvement has made the right field and second base situations look better, while the double-dose of Gabes in right field — Gross and Kapler — has begun to look like what the Rays hoped it would prior to the season. Both are producing when facing either a right-hander in Gross' case or a left-hander in Kapler's. Finally, a proven closer would be nice, but, again, look at what the bullpen is doing without one and you wonder how much better could the bullpen be with such an addition. Meanwhile, J.P. Howell appears to be taking charge of the closing role."
As for the Rangers, it simply comes down to money, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, though Texas would like to add starting pitching.
"The Rangers are also limited in their ability to take on significant payroll with a possible sale of the club by owner Tom Hicks still pending," Sullivan writes.
Of course, it also hurts Texas that Roy Halladay won't approve a trade to Texas, and Cleveland won't trade Cliff Lee, according to Sullivan.