Cubs Acquire Jason Kendall
The Cubs made a deal tonight, sending catcher Rob Bowen and pitcher Jerry Blevins to the Athletics for Jason Kendall and cash. (ESPN keeps saying it was Sean Marshall going to Oakland, which is silly and not true).
Kendall had a respectable .758 OPS in June, but his bat has been anemic otherwise. But as signified by the questionable Michael Barrett trade, the Cubs are looking for defense at catcher. (Incidentally, Jim Hendry acquired Barrett from Beane in December of ’03 for Damian Miller). Kendall can certainly handle the pitching staff. And it wouldn’t be shocking to see him hit a little bit back in the NL; he rarely strikes out and knows how to draw a walk.
The Cubs didn’t give up much here. Bowen is a backup at best. Blevins, a southpaw reliever, will turn 24 in September. He’s been dominant in 53 innings between High A and Double A, but he’s not anyone’s idea of a top prospect. I like the move for the Cubs. As for Oakland, it gives them a chance to try Kurt Suzuki full-time for a few months as an audition for 2008.
Slick-Fielding Shortstops Available
If you’re looking for an all-glove type shortstop this summer, you have plenty of options.
- The Giants could move Omar Vizquel, but only if they feel that he can’t help them in ’08. According to Tim Brown, he loves the city and would stay if they made an offer. The Giants talked extension with him in March but his offensive performance this year may have changed their mind. He has $1.8MM in salary left.
- With Ryan Theriot performing OK this year and Ronny Cedeno tearing up Triple A, the Cubs may deem Cesar Izturis expendable. Giving Cedeno the starting shortstop job to begin last year was questionable, but it might make some sense now. Izturis makes another $1.8MM this year, plus probably another $300K to buy out his ’08 option.
- Juan Uribe may no longer deserve the slick-fielding tag, but he’s been an awful hitter so I have to call him something. Even his customary low OBP/decent SLG is slipping. His salary situation is pretty much the same as crosstown counterpart Izturis.
- Jack Wilson makes another $2.3MM this year, $6.5MM in ’08, $7.25MM in ’09, and a $600K buyout for ’10. He has a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block trades to six clubs each year. About a month ago, Tim Brown spoke to a baseball source who thought he’d draw interest. Wilson is back to playing every day currently.
What team would want any of these guys? The Red Sox would probably be the only contender in need of a shortstop, and they’re probably stuck with Julio Lugo.
All Eyes On Contreras
Buster Olney says that Jose Contreras may be the best available starting pitcher at the moment, which speaks to how weak the market is. Olney lists the Cubs, Braves, Marlins, Indians, and Phillies as teams on hand to watch his six inning, five run performance Sunday night in Baltimore.
To call Contreras the best available indicates that Javier Vazquez is off the market. Contreras’s challengers still include Matt Morris, Dontrelle Willis, and Jason Jennings. If the Pirates were to inexplicably consider trading Ian Snell, he’d easily jump to the forefront. That he’s even available is a dubious rumor at this point.
As for Contreras, his junk might work over in the NL. Maybe that’s why four of the five teams watching his start reside in that league. Olney’s scout said he was working at 87-91, though he did touch 94 last night.
Contreras makes another $4MM this year, $10MM in ’08, and another $10MM in ’09. That shouldn’t scare off too many clubs. Maybe the Marlins. With a 2-4% chance at making the playoffs this year the Marlins would be acquiring Contreras more for 2008-09.
Will Griffey Be Dealt?
To hear Reds GM Wayne Krivsky tell it, "There’s a lot of misinformation out there." We’ll try not to contribute to that. But here’s the latest on Ken Griffey Jr.
Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News believes Junior will only go to Chicago or Atlanta; apparently the Mariners aren’t interested right now. Griffey would have to be interested too, given his trade veto power. When McCoy says Chicago, I assume he means the Cubs. The White Sox seem unlikely, but you never know.
The chatter was reignited on Tuesday, when Peter Gammons quoted Griffey talking about how it made sense for the Reds to trade him now. Griffey’s agent, Brian Goldberg, seemed to indicate that the quote from Griffey may have been taken slightly out of context.
Goldberg also mentions in that article that the Reds called Griffey to shoot down a rumor that had him going to the Brewers. That one was new to me, but it sounds like there’s nothing to it.
Griffey would certainly be a helpful addition in right field at Wrigley. However, as Greg Couch writes, the team’s direction with player acquisitions and contracts is an open question right now. Ken Rosenthal, back on June 24th, said the Cubs were not involved in a trade for Griffey. Jayson Stark debunked the Atlanta rumor a few days before that.
Another major wrinkle for any Griffey trade is that he’s knocking on the door of 600 home runs and could pass Sammy Sosa this year for fifth all-time. The Reds would hate to miss out on that good publicity.
Padres Failed Trade Talks: Dye, Pie
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune has a couple of blurbs about inquires trade inquiries made by Padres GM Kevin Towers.
The first says that Kenny Williams’s asking price for Jermaine Dye a few weeks ago was Khalil Greene and Scott Linebrink. I’m surprised the White Sox would focus on Greene, as him game isn’t terribly different from Juan Uribe‘s. But the Padres don’t have anyone else to turn to at shortstop. Greene doesn’t reach free agency until after the 2009 season. Anyway, the Padres chose to go with Milton Bradley instead of Dye.
Additionally, the Padres asked the Cubs about Felix Pie. Jim Hendry informed Towers that he’s untouchable. Maybe no one is truly "untouchable," but what could the Padres realistically offer? Jake Peavy or Chris Young seems silly, leaving the most valuable young Padres as Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Chase Headley, and maybe Cla Meredith. There doesn’t seem to be a fit for the Cubs. Maybe Towers was just inquiring to see if Hendry would sacrifice the future for a useful 2007 piece.
Gagne/Otsuka Suitors
Teams are lining up to pluck away the top two members of the Rangers’ bullpen, and Jon Daniels is in "listening mode."
MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan has the scoop: the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Red Sox, and Yankees are the top suitors for Eric Gagne. The Mets, Braves, Phillies, Tigers, and Brewers are focused on Akinori Otsuka. And the Tribe likes both relievers.
Benefits of Gagne: he can be unhittable and he’ll give you two good draft picks after the season. Plus he seems to be finally healthy. The Indians, despite their interest, are not on Gagne’s list of 12 teams he can be dealt to without his consent.
The benefit of Otsuka is that you have him through 2009. That’s why the Rangers are more likely to hang on to him. Conversely, a team like the Mets would prefer him because he’s not a rental.
Twins Rumors: Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones
One club that doesn’t get a lot of play on MLBTR is the Twins. They don’t make a lot of big trades or signings. Although last year they did inquire on Alfonso Soriano. Today, we don’t have any blockbusters, but do have rumors regarding Torii Hunter and Jacque Jones from La Velle Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Regarding Hunter – he is leaving the door open for a contract extension with the Twins. He told a radio station yesterday he doesn’t want Vernon Wells money but the Twins still haven’t talked to him about an extension at all. He sounds bummed about it, but it just doesn’t seem likely the Twins can retain Hunter. He’s going to need more than three years and more than $12MM annually. The Twins aren’t in a position to give him even a reasonable discounted contract.
Meanwhile, Neal reveals that the Twins were previously in on Jacque Jones. That would’ve been an interesting re-acquisition. However, the Cubs pulled out of the Marlins deal because they didn’t want to eat 90%+ of his contract. That stance probably knocks the Twins out of the running.
Neal notes that because of commitments for 2008, any deadline acquisition for a hitter made by Terry Ryan this year would likely be a rental. Which is what makes Adam Dunn so perfect.
Jacque Jones Update
Jacque Jones is still a Cub, with yesterday’s Marlins deal quashed. Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune writes that Tribune owner Sam Zell was not the reason the trade died, contrary to other reports. Money caused the snag, but not Zell. Sullivan says talks with the Marlins are unlikely to be revisited.
On a side note, all of the Tribune baseball writers are blogging! They must be thrilled.
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times says Cubs GM Jim Hendry has had recent talks with the Padres, Rangers, White Sox, and others. Jones had a pinch-hitting appearance in today’s game, grounding out to Todd Helton.
Marlins Trade For Jacque Jones Nearly Dead
UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal says this deal has pretty much died. I knew $1MM sounded too good to be true for the Cubs. Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline has more details: the Cubs were set to pay roughly 97% of Jones’ remaining salary but the deal unraveled at the Commissioner’s Office. It seems that the Cubs couldn’t get approval there because of their impending sale.
PREVIOUS RUMOR:
According to Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Marlins have traded for outfielder Jacque Jones. Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post says the Cubs are kicking in only $1MM of the $7.1MM remaining on Jones’ contract. The Cubs will get a pitcher from Class A Greensboro, possibly 23 year-old lefty Graham Taylor.
The Cubs’ motivation is to free up a roster spot while paying less than half the money still owed to Jones. Jim Hendry got the best of Larry Beinfest in the Derrek Lee/Hee Seop Choi deal, but Beinfest exacted his revenge two years later by stealing three useful pitchers for Juan Pierre.
If Jones can play a credible center field, the Marlins will come out ahead here. My guess is that Jones will return to his career offensive levels once out of the Chicago spotlight. He should still be benched against lefties though.
Rosenthal’s Latest – Buehrle To Brewers?
Ken Rosenthal has a new article, and as usual he’s broken several brand new trade rumors. A brief summary:
- Here’s a good one: the Brewers have "kicked the tires" on Mark Buehrle. You can never have too much pitching, I guess. It’s a long shot that Doug Melvin could pull it off without involving Yovani Gallardo or Ryan Braun, and he won’t trade those two. Without either player, the Brewers would pretty much be offering quantity over quality in terms of prospects. My own speculation: Corey Hart might intrigue Kenny Williams, but he’d be hard to part with.
- Rosenthal estimates ten teams are looking at Buehrle. He names the Mets, Braves, Mariners, and Cardinals. Add the Brewers and we’re still five short. The five Rosenthal doesn’t mention could include the Red Sox, Yankees, Marlins, Rockies, Dodgers, and Phillies. Just guessing on the last five.
- The Blue Jays have changed their tune on Troy Glaus – they’ll now listen to offers for him. It is believed Glaus might waive his no-trade clause to play close to home for the Padres, Angels, or Dodgers. Glaus is owed about $5.9MM more this year and $12.75MM in 2008. He also negotiated an $11.25MM player option for ’09 when he was traded to Toronto. Perhaps to agree to a trade he’d want his deal extended through ’09 for $13MM or so. Rosenthal says the package for Glaus would likely involve a young third baseman, like Chase Headley, Brandon Wood, or Andy LaRoche. Such a deal would be hard to ignore for J.P. Ricciardi. Of the three teams mentioned, Ricciardi has only previously dealt with Bill Stoneman (on the Brad Fullmer trade).
- Rosenthal says the Cubs are not involved in a trade for Ken Griffey Jr. The ownership change will prohibit them from taking on his contract. Rosenthal also mentions that the Cubs are having difficulties finding a taker for Jacque Jones.
- The Angels still like Adam Dunn, though I still don’t see how he fits into their roster.
- The prospect going to the Tigers for Mike Maroth won’t be anything special; the point was to unload his $3MM salary.