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Knobler’s Latest: Pirates, Brewers, Beltre, Cabrera

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Here’s the latest from CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler.

  • A rumor made the rounds that Pirates president Frank Coonelly and GM Neal Huntington were at odds over the team’s strategy, with Coonelly pushing .500 as a goal.  Huntington denied that, and has five coveted players to work with in the next week.  Keep in mind that only Damaso Marte is a free agent after the season, so moves can be made in the offseason.
  • Teams with available relievers believes the Brewers are still in the market, despite Doug Melvin’s claims.  Many teams are scouting the Brewers’ Double A club.
  • Adrian Beltre’s contract wouldn’t be a problem for the Twins, but the teams haven’t found a match on players.
  • Knobler heard that the Marlins might consider Baltimore catcher Ramon Hernandez.
  • The rumor about Kevin Towers becoming a candidate for the Seattle GM vacancy won’t die.
  • Some folks expect the White Sox to move shortstop Orlando Cabrera before the deadline.  They’re still looking for pitching.

Uribe-Cora Trade Not Happening

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8:48pm: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the Red Sox backed away from a potential Uribe deal, opting to stick with Cora as Jed Lowrie’s backup.

4:31pm: Ken Rosenthal has further details on Danny Knobler’s report of Boston’s trade talks for Juan Uribe.

Rosenthal says a Juan Uribe–Alex Cora swap between the Red and White Sox could happen, with the teams splitting the salary difference.  Then he lays this idea on us:

One scenario would be for the White Sox to use Cora at least part-time at second, move rookie Alexei Ramirez to short and trade shortstop Orlando Cabrera, possibly to the Dodgers for right-hander Derek Lowe.

Hard to say if this scenario has actually been discussed between Kenny Williams and Ned Colletti.  But Rosenthal says the Dodgers are aggressively shopping Lowe, which I didn’t see coming.

Carroll’s Latest: Duchscherer, Burnett, Ibanez, Cabrera

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Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus has some rumors to consider this afternoon.

  • The Tigers are 5.5 games out, but are still on the fence about buying or selling.
  • Carroll says there’s "much more substance to rumors of the White Sox going after Justin Duchscherer" as compared to the one about the A’s pursuing Jason Bay.
  • The Phillies could jump back in on A.J. Burnett if the price comes down.  Also – could Burnett clear waivers in August?
  • The Rockies’ demands for Brian Fuentes might be holding up the relief market.
  • Regarding Raul Ibanez, the Mariners either want to tack Jose Vidro on in a deal or get back premium prospects.
  • The White Sox have become aggressive, and apparently had failed talks about Orlando Cabrera with the Red Sox.  Josh Fields is not considered untouchable.

Odds and Ends: Alvarez, Kotsay, Street

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Time to round up today’s links.

Red Sox In Trade Talks For Juan Uribe

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According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, the Red Sox are "deep in conversations" for White Sox infielder Juan Uribe.  Knobler says the return is unclear but the White Sox want to shed Uribe’s salary.  Uribe has about $1.7MM left on his contract this year.

Uribe’s White Sox career has been on life support several times this year, but he’s managed to stick around.  With Joe Crede’s back ailing, Uribe is currently filling in at third base.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Laird, Washburn, Nady, Bay

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Ken Rosenthal has more new material.  I’ve updated the post, as Rosenthal updated his.

  • The Yankees are looking for catching – Rosenthal and Jon Heyman do not agree with Peter Abraham. Rosenthal says the Yanks have expressed interest in Gerald Laird and Miguel Olivo.  The Rangers want young pitching for Laird, however.
  • Jarrod Washburn’s limited no-trade protection includes the Yankees.  He might want compensation to waive that, putting him out of the Yanks’ price range.  Washburn, a Boras client, wouldn’t mind pitching in New York though.  The Mariners are looking for young pitching for him.  It sounds like the Yankees aren’t willing to eat the entire contract and send good prospects.
  • The Yankees may explore other trades, and are said to have interest in A.J. Burnett and Bronson Arroyo.
  • The Nationals were apparently locked in on a second baseman for Jon Rauch, perhaps explaining why they traded him for just Emilio Bonifacio.  The jury is still out on the speedy young infielder.
  • The White Sox explored a scenario where they would’ve acquired Brian Roberts from Baltimore, traded Orlando Cabrera to the Dodgers, and moved Alexei Ramirez to shortstop.  That obviously didn’t work out.  The Sox may be currently trying to decide whether to part with third baseman Josh Fields, their best trade chip and third baseman of the future.
  • Suitors for Xavier Nady, such as the Rays, Yankees, and Phillies, are balking at Pittsburgh’s asking price.  The Bucs continue to insist they’re being reasonable.
  • Interestingly, the A’s are still talking to the Pirates about Jason Bay.  Rosenthal says a trade seems unlikely.
  • The Cardinals had scouts in Baltimore yesterday, and their interest in George Sherrill is well-known.  But they might not match up with the Orioles’ needs.

Odds and Ends: Murphy, Vizquel, Roberts

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Today’s collection of links and rumors.

White Sox Looking For Pitching

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According to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler, the White Sox are hunting for pitching of both the starting and relieving variety.

Based on previous reports, GM Kenny Williams is eyeing Oakland’s Huston Street and Washington’s Jon Rauch.  With the success of southpaws Matt Thornton and Boone Logan, it appears that Williams is focused on right-handers.  Most of the top available names aside from Street and Rauch are lefties, unless you’re a David Weathers fan.

With Jose Contreras on the DL with elbow tendinitis, the Sox also may explore the starting pitching market.  So far they’ve only been linked in published reports to Freddy Garcia, and that was before the Contreras injury.  Plus, Ozzie Guillen doesn’t seem terribly optimistic on Garcia.  The best available starters are probably Justin Duchscherer and A.J. Burnett.  Knobler says more than a dozen scouts watched Burnett’s last start.

Rosenthal’s Latest: K-Rod, Maddux, Wolf, Street

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Rumor guru Ken Rosenthal is at it again.

  • Angels GM Tony Reagins is doing his due diligence on available hitters.  Rosenthal admits his own suggestion of a Mark Teixeira/Will Ohman blockbuster acquisition is unlikely.
  • Rosenthal believes Francisco Rodriguez’s expected asking price to be five years, $75MM.  The Angels would not bite on that.
  • Greg Maddux only wants to be traded to a West Coast team.  He might accept a trade back to the Dodgers, if Ned Colletti and Kevin Towers want to go down that road.
  • The Orioles would trade George Sherrill if someone wants to overpay.  Tons of teams are looking for lefty relievers, and many are available.  Rosenthal notes that the Orioles have plenty of players likely to clear waivers, making August trades quite possible.
  • The Dodgers are apparently interested in Toronto shortstop John McDonald.  Talks for Cristian Guzman and Jack Wilson have stagnated.  An extension is more likely than a trade for Guzman.
  • Randy Wolf and Cla Meredith are the most popular Padres in trade talks.  Wolf’s no-trade clause doesn’t include the teams that like him, so that won’t be an issue.  If the Friars were to move Kevin Kouzmanoff, they’d ask for a young outfielder back.
  • Even with their second base surplus, the A’s want to sign Mark Ellis to an extension.
  • A Milton Bradley deal is unlikely, but the Rangers are getting calls on Marlon Byrd and Nelson Cruz.  In return, they might be looking for young starting pitchers.
  • The Royals are said to be "actively shopping" Miguel Olivo and Mark Grudzielanek.  However, it’s been suggested that the Royals might not have the catching depth to move Olivo.
  • Rosenthal’s list of Huston Street suitors: Mets, White Sox, Dodgers, and Brewers.

Dodgers Sign Ozuna, Look To Stay Active

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Ken Gurnick from MLB.com writes that the Dodgers signed veteran utility player Pablo Ozuna today. The White Sox designated Ozuna for assignment on July 8 to make room for Paul Konerko when he returned from the DL. He elected to become a free agent after clearing waivers. Ozuna had posted a mediocre line of .281/.313/.328 in 69 plate appearances for the White Sox this year.

Luis Maza was designated for assignment to make room for Ozuna, Gurnick writes. Maza was called up as a quick shortstop fix earlier in the year, but had posted an abysmal .228/.278/.282 line through 79 ABs with the Dodgers.

Manager Joe Torre refers to Ozuna as a "safety net" at three positions, and also expects the Dodgers to continue to be active over the next 10 days:

"I know Ned [Colletti, general manager] is on the phone, trying to make our club better," Torre said. "Chances are, we’ll be active. Having said that, we’re trying."

Gurnick mentions that the Dodgers are hesitating to bring pinch-hitting specialist Mark Sweeney off the DL, perhaps signaling that an additional move is near on the horizon. General Manager Ned Coletti said that with shortstop options limited in Rafael Furcal’s absence, his desire to acquire a run-producing third baseman would intensify.

Personal speculation: Adrian Beltre is available, and the Twins look to have thrown in the towel on their attempt to acquire him, but the asking price there is quite high. Minnesota could still offer competition to the Dodgers in an attempt to acquire a third baseman. Here’s a look at the third base market.

Casey Blake’s name has been tossed around with the Dodgers. Hank Blalock could be another option, if he can remain healthy and return to his old self. His great run from 2003-2005 seems like a long time ago at this point, but a turnaround would be a tremendous boost to the Dodgers’ lineup.

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