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Odds and Ends: Jacque, Lee Hak-ju, Tavarez

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Here’s today’s collection of links.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Lidge, Daniel Cabrera, Bonds, Edmonds

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.  I put the Griffey info in a separate post; let’s discuss the rest.

  • Rosenthal suggests that Brad Lidge would be harder to replace than Pat Burrell, and for that reason the Phillies will make a bigger effort to re-sign him.  I imagine Phillies fans would prefer that course of action.  The problem?  The Phillies have little chance of offering four years, according to Jayson Stark.
  • The Rangers will face a delicate situation in coming years: moving Michael Young to a different position.  The chain reaction could make Hank Blalock available.  Blalock has a club option for ’09 at $6.2MM.
  • Aside from Rick Porcello replacing Kenny Rogers at some point, the questionable Detroit rotation is set and signed through 2010.
  • One scout seems to think Daniel Cabrera has turned the corner and shouldn’t be traded.  He’ll become a free agent after the 2010 season and earns $2.875MM this year.
  • Though it might be seen as a desperation move, the Tigers don’t have much to lose by signing Barry Bonds.  Gary Sheffield endorsed it.
  • Rosenthal says the Rays and Jays are teams with "possible interest" in Jim Edmonds but are likely to pass.  That leaves the Cubs.
  • Will Jason Giambi find a job next year after the Yankees decline his option?  He plans to try.
  • The Red Sox asked about Mark Loretta during Spring Training as "infield insurance."  Rosenthal suggests the Sox consider Omar Vizquel, a defensive upgrade over Julio Lugo.

Odds and Ends: Bay, Roberts, Cliff Lee

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And here we have some random links I’ve collected over the past day or so.

Gammons’ Latest: Bradley, Griffey, Padilla

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ESPN’s Peter Gammons has a new blog post to discuss.

  • Gammons says Cubs manager Lou Piniella would like to add a left-handed hitting right or center fielder to bat fifth.  Milton Bradley and Ken Griffey Jr. seem like long shots though.  It’s odd that the Rangers wouldn’t want to move Bradley.
  • Gammons notes that the Rangers wanted Mike Pelfrey, Aaron Heilman, and Deolis Guerra for Vicente Padilla in the offseason.  Even as a negotiation starting point, that’s a ton for Padilla.

Teams Scouting Griffey, Dunn

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If the Reds slip out of contention in May, Walt Jocketty might begin to field offers for corner outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn.  Both are paid well and have at least some control over trade destinations.  According to MLB.com’s Jim Molony, "a few teams are having their scouts keep an eye" on the pair in case they become available.

The standard speculation for Griffey is that he could be traded back to Seattle after he gets his 600th home run with the Reds.  Junior might be a nice boost in right field for the Ms if Wladimir Balentien needs time to adjust.  I doubt the Mariners would give up Jeff Clement for Griffey though.  There’s been some Chicago speculation, never mind that both the Cubs and Sox are set at the corner outfield positions.

Dunn would help the Padres, who are last in baseball in both OBP and SLG.  The Jays, Mets, or Indians could also make sense.

Odds and Ends: Burrell, Pedro, Fukudome

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Today’s link collection.

  • Jon Heyman notes that Pat Burrell only wanted to go to the Yankees or Red Sox when the Phillies tried to trade him a few years ago.  They’re not great fits, but perhaps Burrell will have those two clubs at the top of his list when he hits free agency.
  • Ross Newhan looks at the Dodgers’ trade of Pedro Martinez for Delino DeShields.  He rates it the worst in franchise history.  He also names the Brad Penny acquisition as the fourth-worst.
  • Josh Kalk takes a look at Kosuke Fukudome’s hot start for RotoAuthority.
  • The Dodgers and Juan Castro have mutual interest.

Heyman’s Latest: Lofton, Owings, Sabathia

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up.

  • Heyman and Buster Olney both believe the Cubs should sign free agent Kenny Lofton to help fill in for Alfonso Soriano.  However, Olney noted that the Cubs don’t seem interested.
  • Apparently the Yanks pushed hard to get Micah Owings in the Randy Johnson deal a few years ago.  Ross Ohlendorf still looks interesting, at least.
  • Heyman has heard whispers about C.C. Sabathia having arm problems but admits there’s no real evidence.  Sabathia threw 256.3 innings last year (postseason included), an increase of almost 60 IP over 2007.

Cubs May Have Use For Murton After All

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One of the players most-rumored to be traded in the past month is Matt Murton after he failed to make the Cubs opening day roster and was sent to AAA. Now it appears the Cubs may have a use for Murton after all, recalling him from the minors today.

Jon Greenberg notes that Murton is still not an everyday player but could get an occasional spot-start in the outfield as well as regular pinch-hit at bats.

Earlier this week, Ken Rosenthal noted that the Rays were still interested and earlier this month wrote of the Padres also pursuing the outfielder. The sticking point appeared to be the Cubs demand for a top pitching prospect.

This could just be a ploy by the Cubs to try and up the offer from other clubs, showing that he is still of value to the Cubs or the Cubs are just now realizing that he is just more useful in the majors than he is in the minors.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Lugo, Murton, Scherzer

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A handful of random links…

Rosenthal’s Latest: Crisp, Murton, Lowrie

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Ken Rosenthal, your favorite hot stove reporter, has a new article up.  Let’s discuss.

  • The Red Sox seem inclined to keep Coco Crisp unless they’re blown away with an offer.  Jayson Stark noted last week that the Sox don’t want to eat any of the $11MM owed to him.
  • The Rays still like Matt Murton, and are not content with Nathan Haynes as their only outfield acquisition.  Rosenthal says the Cubs are asking for a lot for the 26 year-old, who is hitting .333/.487/.333 in 30 Triple A at-bats.
  • Rosenthal notes that Jed Lowrie is pretty well blocked in Boston with their infielders signed through at least 2010.  Could bring something nice in trade.
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