White Sox to DFA Betemit, Promote Beckham
According to a tweet by MLB.com's Noah Coslov, the White Sox will designate infielder Wilson Betemit for assignment before Thursday's game and call up top prospect Gordon Beckham. Beckham was the eighth overall pick in the 2008 Draft, and hit .318/.372/.512 in 184 plate appearances between Double-A and Triple-A this year. He has played mostly shortstop this year, but has seen time at third base recently. Betemit hit just .200/.280/.310 in 50 plate appearances this season after being acquired in exchange for Nick Swisher over the winter.
Mike Axisa writes for River Ave. Blues.
Heyman On Contenders’ Needs
Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Dodgers would have to overpay for Jake Peavy, the Red Sox are going after bats and the Giants are "dangling" Jonathan Sanchez. Here are the details:
- It's unlikely the White Sox could pry Cliff Lee away from the Indians.
- The Brewers aren't sure whether they'll go after a hitter or a pitcher.
- Heyman cites a source who says the Dodgers believe they'd have to pay "insanely" more than anyone else if they want to acquire Peavy. That's not much of a problem for the Dodgers, who are looking strong as-is.
- The Red Sox are "aggressively seeking help," according to their competitors.
- The best player they have a realistic shot at is Victor Martinez. If the Red Sox are going to deal for V-Mart, they'll likely have to part with young pitching.
- Along with Nick Johnson and Aubrey Huff, Heyman says Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham are "possibilities" for the Red Sox.
- Not surprisingly, the Mets would not deal Fernando Martinez for Matt Holliday.
- The Giants are "dangling" Jonathan Sanchez.
- The Cubs remain the favorites for Peavy, though they haven't called the Padres about him recently.
- The Yankees, Angels and Rangers are looking for relief help.
- One AL exec believes Erik Bedard would not adjust well to the attention if he's dealt to the Phillies.
- And could George W. Bush team up with Nolan Ryan to re-purchase the Rangers?
White Sox Standing Pat (For Now)
As reported by Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen insisted Tuesday evening that his club is not involved in any sort of trades at the moment. The reason? It's simple. "It's because we're playing good,'' Guillen said.
"When you're playing good it's kind of hard [to think trade]," the manager continued. "You ask me this thing two or three weeks ago, I would have wanted 20 guys out of the ballclub. Listen, if we have to make a move, it will be a move that had to be made. The chairman said yes to Peavy, which had a lot of money involved, then I have no doubt they will say yes to whatever Kenny presents. If there's something out there that will help this ballclub Kenny will do it, because the chairman already said yes with a lot of money involved.''
The White Sox have been linked to several high-talent players in the past few weeks, but all is quiet on the South Side tonight.
White Sox, Astros Not Discussing Oswalt Trade
According to Dave van Dyck of The Chicago Tribune, White Sox GM Kenny Williams squelched rumors of his team's interest in Roy Oswalt today, saying, "I haven't talked to the Houston Astros about any pitching whatsoever."
Speculation about a deal for Oswalt heated up when The Tribune's Mark Gonzales noted on Friday that White Sox special assistant Bill Scherrer was following the Astros. According to van Dyck, Williams said today that "he didn't even know Scherrer was there."
Yesterday, we heard that Oswalt would invoke his no trade clause if Chicago tried to acquire him. So unless both sides are playing things very close to the vest, it seems that we can put this rumor to rest.
Olney On Oswalt, White Sox, Phillies
ESPN.com's Buster Olney discussed the market for pitchers on ESPN Radio; here are some bullet points worth passing along:
- Teams believe they could deal for Roy Oswalt, it would just take a whole lot of talent to acquire the pitcher, who's a favorite of Astros owner Drayton McLane.
- Pitchers perceive U.S. Cellular Field as a bandbox, which makes it less attractive to them. This is a problem the Yankees could face if the new Yankee Stadium continues to be so hitter-friendly.
- Olney predicts the Phillies will trade for a starting pitcher "at some point."
Oswalt Would Not Pitch For White Sox
SUNDAY: Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle says Oswalt "would invoke his no-trade clause if the White Sox attempted to acquire him." Ortiz also suggests that despite Scherrer's scouting mission, the White Sox and Astros are not in trade talks.
FRIDAY: According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, White Sox special assistant Bill Scherrer "is following Houston." Gonzales seems to wonder if Roy Oswalt could be the target, given Chicago's willingness to take on Jake Peavy's contract.
Pure speculation, but I wonder if the Sox could also be eyeing Miguel Tejada as a third base candidate. Thoughts?
White Sox Targeting Bedard, Oswalt?
Don't expect Kenny Williams to just sit back and wait for Jake Peavy to change his mind. According to Joe Cowley at the Chicago Sun-Times, the White Sox general manager "is rumored to be smack dab on the trail of the likes of an Erik Bedard or Roy Oswalt." Where Cowley heard these rumors, we do not know. Manager Ozzie Guillen told Cowley he never knows what's next with Kenny.
Cowley also has comments from A.J. Pierzynski, Jim Thome, and Clayton Richard on the situation.
We heard speculation from Jon Heyman earlier this week that if the Mariners move Bedard, they could require a package similar to or greater than what was offered for Peavy. I can't see Williams ponying up like that, but both aces will require a sizeable bounty from anyone who targets them.
Clarifications have been made to the original post. – Tim Dierkes
Cafardo’s Latest: Hart, Tejada, Red Sox, White Sox
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has his share of rumors every Sunday. Let's have a look.
- The Tigers, Giants, and Red Sox have either scouted or discussed Corey Hart. While the Sox have the pitching the Brewers need, with Mark Kotsay expected back soon and Rocco Baldelli not on the disabled list, I'm not sure an everyday player like Hart makes as much sense for Boston as he does for the Giants. Thoughts?
- Jeff Francoeur used to carry a Red Sox Mastercard until his teammates made him cancel it. Cafardo says one Sox official was unaware of any interest in Francoeur, who has struggled for two years now.
- The Astros would consider dealing Miguel Tejada if they could net a pitching prospect in return. Cafardo notes Tejada's reputation as a great teammate. MLBTR speculated the White Sox could be interested in him as a solution at third base.
- Speaking of White Sox third basemen, watch out Josh Fields. Cafardo notes Gordon Beckham was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A and moved to third base.
- Cafardo also notes Jake Peavy's willingness to reconsider a trade to the White Sox down the line, and that the White Sox "will surely make that deal again" if in contention.
White Sox Not Done Dealing, Probably
Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says "general manager Ken Williams will continue to seek ways to improve the White Sox" and that "more deals seem imminent." Gonzales notes that the pool of prospective players will expand on June 15 when teams can deal free-agent players signed last winter without their consent.
Scott Merkin of MLB.com agrees:
Despite starting the month with 12 losses in 16 games, the White Sox have finished strong in May, going 8-3 with 4 straight series victories. We know they're seeking starting pitching and there's speculation that they have been scouting Roy Oswalt. Jake Peavy insists he could reconsider a deal later in the season. White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf implied nobody is untouchable. How would you improve the White Sox?
Oswalt Might Prefer Change Of Scenery
The Chicago Tribune has some rumors for our consumption:
- Would Roy Oswalt waive his no-trade clause if he were dealt? The paper suggests he just may want a change of scenery. He is disappointed that the Astros haven't made an effort to acquire Jake Peavy and has seemed "at odds with manager Cecil Cooper."
- The Yankees and Braves are apparently possible destinations for Mark DeRosa. MLBTR discussed the Yankees as well as the Mets and Cardinals. The Indians are seeking Major League-ready pitching for the 34 year-old DeRosa, who will be a free agent this offseason.
- Peavy "insists he could reconsider" a trade to the White Sox later in the season, although the scenario seems a long shot.