Cubs Rumors: Harden, Heilman, Bradley
SATURDAY, 4:02pm: Ken Rosenthal said during a segment on FOX Saturday Baseball that a deal between the Twins and Cubs for right-hander Rich Harden could indeed happen.
Rosenthal made a couple of valid points: First, Harden is an impending free agent and the Cubs could always re-sign him in the winter. Second, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau have been pining for help and would be more inclined to sign long-term deals if Minnesota management shows a desire to win this season.
FRIDAY, 4:12pm: ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine reports that the Twins were in fact awarded the claim on Harden, and that the Giants were awarded the claim on Heilman.
9:03am: Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman were claimed on waivers yesterday, but that doesn't mean the Cubs are about to trade either pitcher away. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times hears that the Cubs hadn't even been contacted by the claiming teams as of late last night. Even if those teams do contact the Cubs, there's no guarantee that GM Jim Hendry would decide to deal either player.
The Cubs might be more open to moving Milton Bradley, but who would have interest? Wittenmyer considers the possibilities and concludes that the Blue Jays and Royals may be fits if the Cubs are willing to take on some of the $21MM remaining on Bradley's deal. It's been a disappointing season for Bradley, but he has still managed a .387 OBP.
Odds & Ends: Twins, Astros, Magglio
Some links for the morning:
- Richard Justice at the Houston Chronicle has a laundry list of ways to make the Astros a more interesting team, including making Jeff Bagwell the manager for the rest of the season.
- Bob Dutton at the Kansas City Star says sources have confirmed discussions involving an extension for GM Dayton Moore, but they caution that nothing is imminent just yet.
- Kelly Thesier at MLB.com gets Twins anchor Joe Nathan's take on the team's recent flurry of moves.
- With the recent claims on Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman, Toni Ginnetti at the Chicago Sun-Times gives a rundown of the decisions ahead for Cubs GM Jim Hendry.
- The Tigers have a decision to make on the future of Magglio Ordonez, whose 2010 option vests with just around 50 more plate appearances this year. Tom Gage at the Detroit News says that it appears the team will let the $18MM option exercise itself, and discusses the ramifications and reasoning.
- George Steinbrenner is on the verge of being sued by one Bob Gutkowski, who claims he came up with the idea for the YES Network, reports Richard Sandomir at the New York Times.
Odds And Ends: Oswalt, Cubs, Chapman, Padres
More links as we get ready for the final weekend of August baseball…
- Jermore Solomon of the Houston Chronicle wouldn't be surprised if Roy Oswalt wants out of Houston.
- Tony Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Rich Harden and Aaron Heilman aren't the only Cubs to have been claimed on waivers.
- Aroldis Chapman continues to practice in Spain and is close to establishing residency in another country, according to Jorge Arangure Jr. of ESPN.com. The Cuban pitcher is considered one of the best amateur talents in the world.
- Arangure Jr. reports that the Padres are close to signing Fabel Filpo for a six-figure deal.
Odds And Ends: Lee, Carroll, Bradley
Because today's acquisition could be tomorrow's trade bait…
- MLB.com's Todd Zolecki talks to Cliff Lee about his right to demand a trade after the season, as someone traded mid-year during a multi-year contract. Lee says he's focused on 2009. "I'm not even worried about that at all," Lee told Zolecki. "I've given zero thought to it. I'm worried about my next outing against Atlanta [on Saturday]. I really haven't put any thought into that at all." The Phillies hold a $9MM option on Lee for 2010. Also working against Lee demanding a trade: his new team would own his rights for three seasons, meaning Lee couldn't become a free agent until after the 2012 season.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer believes Jamey Carroll would be an attractive utility target for contending teams. Hoynes writes, "He's hitting .318 (27-for-85) in his past 24 games and .290 (65-for-224) overall with seven doubles, two triples, two homers, 20 RBI and 42 runs. He's played second base, third base, left field and right field."
- Chicago Tribune columnist Phil Rogers advises the Cubs that they have only one choice with struggling outfielder Milton Bradley: release him. Says Rogers, "As of Wednesday, when Bradley declared he roots for nine-inning games because he can't wait to get home, Hendry no longer can cross his fingers and hope Bradley becomes the player he pictured he would be in right field at Wrigley Field. He has to do something to get him off the roster, the sooner the better."
Hoffman, Harden & Heilman Claimed On Waivers
7:30pm: According to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com, "An American League source with knowledge of the process indicated the Minnesota Twins may be the team that claimed Harden."
2:47pm: An unknown team claimed Trevor Hoffman off waivers, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi, who notes that Hoffman would like to return to Milwaukee next year, says the chances of a deal are slim. Hoffman projects as a Type A free agent, so the Brewers can receive compensation picks if they offer Hoffman arbitration and he signs elsewhere.
Meanwhile, two players on the division rival Cubs have also been claimed, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. A National League team claimed Aaron Heilman and Rich Harden was claimed by an unknown team.
Harden earns $7MM this year, but, like Hoffman, he projects as a Type A free agent, so his value is high. Teams such as the Giants, Rockies and Dodgers would all figure to have interest in Harden, but the Cubs would be in a position to command a lot for him.
Odds And Ends: Santana, Sano, Zambrano
More links, with less than a week remaining for contenders to add pieces…
- Pete Abraham of the Journal News says the Brian Cashman and the Yankees were smart not to trade for Johan Santana, even though it seems likely that the Mets will get their ace back.
- Matthew Carruth of FanGraphs argues that Santana won't likely be worth the $90MM-plus remaining on his extension.
- Ryan Zimmerman's extension has worked out well for the Nationals, and Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors believes the team deserves some credit.
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that talks between the Pirates and Miguel Angel Sano have stalled. The Pirates made a formal offer at the beginning of July, but pulled it back more than a month ago.
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says Carlos Zambrano's next meaningful start will come on Opening Day 2010.
- It looks like top Japanese amateur Yusei Kikuchi will play in Japan, as Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker shows.
- Jerry Ford of PerfectGame.org says Bryce Harper has been overhyped. But has his ability been overrated? Not at all – Ford says he has tons of potential. Check out the entire piece for a wide-ranging discussion of the top prospect.
Olney On The Market For Billy Wagner
If he finishes the season well, Billy Wagner could see multi-year offers as a free agent after the season, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney. If, as expected, Wagner becomes a Type A free agent, teams would have to surrender a draft pick to sign him, but a mid-nineties fastball and high-leverage success could be enough to attract teams regardless. Of course, there's a chance Wagner pitches to mixed results with the Red Sox. If that's the case, he could become this year's Juan Cruz and see limited interest because of his Type A status.
Olney breaks down possible suitors in depth and finds that the Tigers, White Sox, Cubs, Brewers, Orioles and Braves could have some interest in closers this offseason. However, Wagner is one of many in a deep class of closers that includes Trevor Hoffman and Jose Valverde.
One talent evaluator suggested the Red Sox could keep Wagner as their closer while Daniel Bard continues to develop. This would enable them to trade Jonathan Papelbon. Two other evaluators believe teams will be willing to forfeit a draft pick to sign Wagner.
Odds And Ends: Ackley, Reds, Bradley
Some links for the morning…
- Dustin Ackley will arrive in Seattle Monday to work out with the team, meet the media and officially sign his $7.5MM deal, according to MLB.com's Jim Street.
- Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News says the Reds are desperate for starting pitching just a few months after it looked like their rotation was set.
- This is not what the Cubs envisioned when they signed Milton Bradley to a multi-year deal last offseason. Bradley told Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune that he "never" feels comfortable at Wrigley Field because he gets booed. However, he insists that he'll be all right in spite of the hatred he faces "on a daily basis."
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Mets GM Omar Minaya looks clueless at times, but the mess hardly stops with him.
Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Cubs, Free Agents
Some links to mull over during game time:
- Matthew Pouliot at NBC Sports notes that three upcoming free agents did not have pleasant days.
- Dave Cameron at Fangraphs thinks the Red Sox got a break in that Billy Wagner requested they don't exercise his 2010 option.
- Mark Kotsay holds no grudges against the Red Sox after being dealt to the White Sox earlier this year, reports Kevin McNamara at the Providence Journal.
- Steve Rosenbloom at the Chicago Tribune thinks that if the Cubs seek out a new president, former Cubs broadcaster and current White Sox announcer Steve Stone should be considered for the post.
Olney On Rockies, Brewers, Harden, Santana
Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd tells ESPN.com's Buster Olney that team ownership has never prevented him from acquiring the players he needs. The team had to take on salary to acquire Joe Beimel and Rafael Betancourt, but the relievers have solidified the Rockies bullpen. Olney also suggests the Rockies might not have finished upgrading their pitching staff. Here are a few more rumors:
- The Brewers haven't put their players on waivers and, even though they've fallen out of contention, they may decide to hold onto everybody and win as many games as possible before the end of the season.
- Olney guesses that Rich Harden won't make more than $20MM as a free agent. Even after pitching well for nearly a full season last year, Ben Sheets wasn't seeing offers in the Oliver Perez range, so I wonder how many teams would offer Harden a multi-year deal given his injury history.
- The Yankees and Red Sox wondered about Johan Santana's elbow when they considered dealing for him after the 2007 season. In a separate report, Olney says Santana won't likely need serious surgery, but Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post says the Mets haven't ruled surgery out.