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Latest On Roy Halladay

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Last night we heard from former Blue Jays' GM J.P. Ricciardi that Roy Halladay wants to be traded, adding that whenever you have a player of that magnitude, any decision to move him is one ownership makes. The Halladay talk figures to get hot and heavy during the Winter Meetings next week, so let's see what's being written about the situation right now…

  • The Jays are looking for "top prospects at pitcher, shortstop and catcher in any deal," says Phil Rogers of The Chicago Tribune. He adds that the White Sox surely would have been in on Halladay if they didn't acquire Jake Peavy at the deadline.
  • Anthony McCarron of The NY Daily News says the Yankees will "see what's there," referring to potential trade talks with Toronto.
  • ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes says "it's starting to sound like [the Red Sox] have considerable qualms about the kind of money and players it will take to land" Doc.
  • Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus says that a trade to the Angels will not happen because Halladay wants to train in Florida, and that's "absolute." The Halos train in Tempa, Arizona. If true, this demand would also eliminate the Cubs, Dodgers, and Rangers, all of whom train in Arizona and have been linked to Halladay at various times.

Cubs Interested In Cameron, Byrd

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The Cubs have discussed bringing in free agent outfielder Mike Cameron according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun Times, however they must first unload Milton Bradley to see how much payroll that frees up.

Manager Lou Piniella, who knows Cameron from their days in Seattle, said he anticipates meeting with Cameron's agent during the Winter Meetings next week. They also have interest in Marlon Byrd, according to Wittenmyer.

Cubs centerfielders hit .260/.358/.417 in 2009, however their -16.7 UZR was third worst in baseball.

Odds & Ends: Kendall, Uggla, Reds, Pedro

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You want links? Well we got 'em…

  • Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse says that Jason Kendall was looking for $5MM to return to Milwaukee for another year. Yeah, good luck with that. No wonder why the Brewers went with Gregg Zaun.
  • Dan Uggla doesn't have any control over whether the Marlins trade him or not, but if they do, he hopes it happens sooner rather than later, according to Joe Capozzi of The Palm Beach Post.
  • When asked about the hot stove, Reds' manager Dusty Baker said "there's not much of anything going on," reports MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
  • Michael Silverman of The Boston Herald says that Pedro Martinez wants to pitch a full season in 2010, instead of going on the Roger Clemens plan (pitching in the second half only) again.
  • Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic says that the D-Backs' perfect world Winter Meetings scenario "involves them acquiring a cost-effective starting pitcher in a trade and then using their remaining payroll flexibility to upgrade other areas of the club."
  • According to WEEI.com's Alex Speier, Padres' GM Jed Hoyer said that given his (and new assistant Jason McLeod's) experience with the Red Sox, they have a “level of comfort” in any potential trade with them, moreso than with any other team.
  • Re-signing Andy Pettitte is the Yankees' top priority, says George A. King III of The NY Post.
  • MLB.com's Carrie Muskat says as many as three teams are interested in Milton Bradley, and Cubs' GM Jim Hendry will spend next week trying to find the best match.
  • Former Blue Jays' GM J.P. Ricciardi said that Roy Halladay wants to be traded, according to The Canadian Press. Ricciardi added that a "lot of these decisions are out of the general manager's hands as far as what ownership perceives as fan reaction and what the perception of the club (is) and the direction that they are going. I think any time you have a player of this magnitude, that's really an ownership call."
  • In addition to Justin Miller, the Dodgers also signed Prentice Redman to a minor league contract, according to Dylan Hernandez of The LA Times.
  • MLB.com's Steve Gilbert has the news of three players the Diamondbacks inked to minor league contracts: T.J. Beam, Drew Macias, and Carlos Corporan. All three received invites to Spring Training.
  • ESPN's Jayson Stark wrote about the five biggest plotlines going into the Winter Meetings next week, while Scott Miller of CBSSports.com has some pre-Winter Meetings chatter of his own.
  • Got a problem with how FanGraphs puts a dollar amount on a player's performance? If so, Dave Cameron clarifies some things.

Oakland Acquires Jake Fox And Aaron Miles

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10:36pm:  Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com provides us with a look at the newest Cubs, Ronny Morla and Matt Spencer. 

Mayo characterizes Morla as a "solid mid-range" prospect and notes that he has been able to maintain a 93-94 MPH fastball as a starter.  He also speculates that he could increase his velocity into the mid-90s if he is moved to the bullpen. 

Spencer, meanwhile, is a solid athlete, especially when considering he is 6'4, 225 lbs.  He has the versatility to play first base but his strong arm makes him more intriguing as an outfielder.  In fact, there was once talk of him being drafted as a pitcher during his time at Arizona State.

5:51pm:  Oakland will receive $1MM from the Cubs to help offset Aaron Miles' $2.7MM contract, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun Times (via Twitter).

5:35pm:  The other two players in the deal are Ronny Morla and Matt Spencer, tweets Brent S. Gambill of Sirius XM.  The Cubs will also give the Athletics cash considerations as part of the deal.

5:18pm: The Cubs have traded Jake Fox and Aaron Miles to the A's for Jeff Gray and two minor-leaguers, according to ESPNChicago.com. 

Fox is the more attractive of the two for Oakland, as he has performed quite well in the Cubs' minor league system over the last three years.  The 27-year-old took it to another level in '09 when he posted a remarkable slash line of .409/.495/.841 in 45 games for Chicago's Triple-A affiliate.  This led to a promotion in late May in which he recorded a .779 OPS with 11 HRs in 241 plate appearances.

Miles disappointed the Cubs with his 2009 performance after receiving a two-year deal worth $4.9MM.  The second baseman recorded an atrocious .466 OPS in 74 games.

One wonders if the addition of Fox could mean that Jack Cust's time in Oakland is through, as he may not be tendered an offer.

Cubs And Cards Lead Chase For Padilla?

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6:52pm: Matthew Leach of MLB.com says not to read too much into word of the Cardinals considering Padilla, although he is likely of "some interest" to them (via Twitter).

5:25pm: The Cubs and Cardinals are in the lead to sign free-agent hurler Vicente Padilla, according to a report from La Prensa passed along by Diamond Notes.

La Prensa's source for the report is Cesar Batista, who is linked to the agency that represents the 32-year-old.  Batista says that formal negotiations will not begin until after the winter meetings.  The White Sox, Orioles, Nationals, Braves, Mets, Red Sox, and Dodgers have also expressed interest in the righty.

Cubs Rumors: Bradley, Granderson, Castro

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The Chicago Cubs are interested in Curtis Granderson, but would prefer to move Milton Bradley before aggressively pursuing Granderson, according to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune.

Earlier today, we heard rumblings that talks of a Bradley-Pat Burrell swap are still alive. If the Cubs were to deal Bradley and acquire Granderson, it would allow them to play Granderson in center field and move Kosuke Fukudome to right (Bradley's position).

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Rogers indicates that the Tigers are seeking multiple major-league-ready players in any trade for Granderson or right-hander Edwin Jackson. The Cubs also seem unwilling to part with top prospect Starlin Castro in order to acquire Granderson, so it remains to be seen if they have the chips to complete a deal.

Rogers expects Bradley and Granderson discussions to heat up during or before next week's winter meetings.

Rosenthal, Morosi On Betancourt, Doumit, Jackson

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A look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports…

  • The Cubs and Giants were interested in reliever Rafael Betancourt before the Rockies offered arbitration to him yesterday.  The Phillies were named as another suitor.  The writers are not sure whether the Cubs and Giants maintain interest now that Betancourt will cost a draft pick (assuming the Type A free agent turns down the Rockies' offer).  The Giants would have to surrender their #24 pick, the Cubs their #49.  Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News gave the impression yesterday the Giants prefer to keep their first-round pick.   As for the Cubs, one source with knowledge of the situation said there's nothing to it at this time.
  • The Blue Jays have mild interest in Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit, who is guaranteed $9.15MM over the next two years.  Doumit was sidelined by wrist surgery and a concussion this year.  Looking at the trade market for catchers, the Jays have already inquired on Chris Snyder and Doumit, while Kelly Shoppach is now a Ray.
  • While the Braves like D'Backs first baseman/left fielder Conor Jackson, Arizona would only trade him for a young starting pitcher.  A Jackson trade appears unlikely and the Braves have not expressed interest recently.  Jackson seems back on track and should be tendered a contract after a strong showing in the Domincan winter league.

Strong Possibility Of Bradley-Burrell Swap?

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A Milton Bradley–Pat Burrell swap is still a "strong possibility," according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Sherman notes that since Burrell is owed $9MM over one year and Bradley $21MM over two, the Cubs would have to eat good money (he guesses $6MM) to make the trade work.

There is no question that the Cubs would have to flip Burrell in this scenario.  Sherman speculates that they could offer him to the Mets for Luis Castillo, a player the Cubs wouldn't mind adding.  Sherman says, "It is hard to find a baseball official who actually thinks the Mets are going to land either Jason Bay or Matt Holliday," though ESPN's Buster Olney found one today in regard to Holliday.

My guess is that the Cubs would prefer to get a more usable piece than Burrell for Bradley.  Acquiring Burrell increases uncertainty and drags out the process.  Acquiring another bad contract more directly, someone they can use in center field, the rotation, or second base, would be ideal. 

Red Sox Interested In Rich Harden

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Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports are reporting that Boston is "serious about pursuing" free agent starter Rich Harden.  The Canadian right-hander had been rumored to be a target of the Red Sox given — as Rosenthal and Morosi note — the club's recent strategy of signing proven pitchers with health issues to short-term deals in an attempt to find a bargain.  Unlike Boston's signings last season (John Smoltz and Brad Penny), Harden has proven that he can pitch well in the American League, which makes him particularly attractive to the BoSox.

Harden is a Type B free agent who was not offered arbitration by his previous team, the Cubs, earlier today.  Rosenthal and Morosi were told by a source that Boston has yet to formally offer Harden a contract.

Cubs Do Not Offer Arb To Gregg, Harden

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The Cubs did not offer arbitration to free agents Kevin Gregg (A), Rich Harden (B), Reed Johnson (neither), and Chad Fox (neither), tweets MLB.com's Carrie Muskat.  Dave Kaplan had written the same earlier today.

The Harden decision is worth questioning…was he really not worth risking a one-year deal on?  In the Cubs' defense, as Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald writes, the team has more info on Harden than anyone.    

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