KW Denies Abreu Rumor…Or Does He?
Respected Chicago Tribune sportswriter Mark Gonzales got in touch with Kenny Williams through a spokesman tonight. Based on this article, it seems that Gonzales inquired about the recent Abreu for Contreras/Dye rumor. The word:
"Williams, through a team spokesman, said there is nothing to the report, adding he hadn’t spoken to the Phillies in eight or nine days and that no proposal was tendered."
Now, we didn’t report that this thing was on the verge. My point, rather, was that the White Sox love Abreu. That was confirmed by my source; the actual Dye/Contreras scenario was reportedly broken by Howard Eskin of 610 AM in Philadelphia.
Given that Jermaine Dye is a capable, affordable right fielder, the White Sox aren’t desperate to upgrade right now. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the White Sox go after Abreu down the road. Kenny Williams didn’t seem to be denying interest in Abreu.
What about Jose Contreras? Word is that Houston is the top contender for his services. Nothing would happen either way until the Clemens situation shakes out, and Rosenthal expects him back. We reported the same back in December.
Odds And Ends: Abreu, Manny
In very minor news, ESPN is reporting that the Cubs have signed righthanded pitcher Jason Simontacchi to a minor league deal. He was slightly less than terrible for Triple A Memphis last year and saw 15 ugly innings in the Majors. He’s not young, but did win 11 games for the Cards back in ’02.
Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News acknowledged the Abreu to the White Sox trade rumor, branding it an "Internet rumor." Fair enough; I could’ve sworn Howard Eskin started this one though. Regardless, I think we should start referring to rumors from the Philadelphia Daily News as simply "newspaper rumors." Why try to identify the source? Too much work.
According to Conlin, "officials from both teams deny any such talks." OK. But I promise that the White Sox have interest in Abreu. Whether they have the goods for it, I’m not sure. While Conlin indicates the White Sox would be settling by adding Gavin Floyd to the deal, my sources and most Phillies fans feel that Floyd as a throw-in is overpayment by the Phils.
If this newspaper rumor about Manny Ramirez is to be believed, the Red Sox have no concept of trading players for equal value. They might as well have asked for John Lackey and Vlad while they were at it.
White Sox Interested In Abreu
Remember that Abreu/Contreras/Dye rumor that was bouncing around last night that couldn’t quite graduate from the Unfounded category? We’re a little closer to a foundation about this one tonight.
A very solid source close to the Phillies tells me that Kenny Williams and the White Sox “love” Bobby Abreu. It’s the first I’ve heard that the club is truly interested in the right fielder. He also mentioned that the Phils would like a pitcher like Jose Contreras. There is some question as to whether the Phils would need to include Gavin Floyd to make an equitable deal.
He said that with the White Sox payroll rising to over $90MM, they can’t take on much more. However, I’ve heard in the past from my White Sox guy that the Sox would actually take the payroll to $105MM. What’s more, the 2006 salaries of Dye, Contreras, and Abreu are a wash. The Phils would take on $13MM and the White Sox would do the same.
The Sox would have to squeeze a marginal $11MM into their payroll in 2007. Abreu is owed $17MM for that season (including a $2MM buyout of his ’08 option). But given that the club likely would have exercised Jermaine Dye‘s affordable $6MM option, it’s a marginal $11 mil for ’07.
This would clearly be a win now move for the Phils, as it would strengthen their team for 2006. The combination of Contreras and Dye was worth 10.5 wins above replacement players in 2005. Abreu was worth 6.8 wins. While he still has potential at age 23, Gavin Floyd can’t be counted on for much after posting a 6.16 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 137 Triple A innings in 2005.
Another interesting nugget is the close friendship between Abreu and Ozzie Guillen. Guillen certainly had some influence on the acquisition and retention of Freddy Garcia.
Trade Candidates Part 1
With the hot stove not all that hot at the moment, I thought I’d run down some guys who could be traded between now and July 31st in an attempt to peer into the future. Part 1 of the series will focus on some of the players in their contract year.
Barry Bonds is unlikely to be dealt, given that the Giants have pinned most of their offensive hopes on him. But if, for some reason, the team is out of contention in July and Bonds is looking more awful than usual in the field, a deal to the AL could be in the cards. Adding Bonds at DH could mean 4-5 extra wins in the second half alone, so I’d expect a big bounty even with his $18MM salary and impending free agency.
We’re all pretty much assuming Jose Contreras will be dealt. Some say it’d be most prudent for the Sox to wait til spring training and take stock before sending him off to the Mets, Phillies, or wherever else. On the other hand, if there was ever a time to sell high, it’s right now.
One name I haven’t seen thrown about in trade rumors at all is Greg Maddux. I assume it’s because he’s over 40 and makes $9MM in 2006, but Mad Dog could be a big help to a contender at the deadline. I’ve projected a 3.84 ERA and 1.21 WHIP; he’s got plenty left. Even if the Cubs had to eat a few mil, it’d make more sense to trade Maddux than Jerome Williams. If the health of Wood, Prior, and Miller works out in their favor the Cubs could have a surplus.
Jason Marquis is projected to post a 4.43 ERA in 200 innings. He’d be serviceable as rental for the season, and he’s still on the right side of 30. I’m not sure which teams will be chomping at the bit to give him the three year, $21MM extension he’ll require, but someone will.
Mark Mulder is also under 30, though he’s shown some ugly trends over the past three seasons. It’ll be interesting to see how Walt Jocketty views Mulder – perhaps Mulder will take the St. Louis discount to keep that top-notch defense behind him?
It seems that Andy Pettitte wouldn’t be dealt by the Astros midseason pretty much no matter what. Even when the Astros have been counted out they’ve made the playoffs, so it’d be impossible to justify trading Pettitte to the fanbase.
I’m fairly certain the Cubs will sign Juan Pierre to a long-term deal. Especially if he hits .309 as projected and impresses the old hands with his bunting skills and work ethic. Politically, Jim Hendry almost has to keep Pierre around in case one of the three pitchers sent to Florida pans out.
Jason Schmidt could be a hot commodity, but, like Bonds, is a long shot to be dealt. I think the Giants would look for a young bat in return.
More impending free agents and trade candidates to come…
Help Kenny Williams Trade Contreras
White Sox GM Kenny Williams made a funny comment yesterday in his interview with Daily Herald writer Scot Gregor. Below is Gregor’s question followed by KW’s answer.
Gregor: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in three weeks, and you still have six starters (Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, Vazquez and Brandon McCarthy) and only five spots in the rotation. Is it safe to assume one of the starters will be traded before Opening Day?
KW: I’m at the golf course right now, so I’m trying not to think about trades. But I go online sometimes and get plenty of ideas about what I should be doing with the extra starter.
Let me say this: In my mind, there is no such thing as having too much starting pitching. I can remember more than one season when we struggled to find a fifth starter, and that really hurt us.
If anybody out there thinks we’re going to move one of our starting pitchers for less than equal value — for anything less than a guy that can get up on the mound and give us the same results — they’re barking up the wrong tree.
Well, you heard the man. He goes online (hopefully to MLBTradeRumors.com) for suggestions on what to do with his extra starting pitcher. (Yes, I realize he was kidding).
Have at it! Propose a legitimate trade involving Jose Contreras in the comments. Try your best to make it fair for both teams, all factors considered. I’m interested to see what y’all can come up with. Maybe we’ll send the best one to KW, since he kind of almost acknowledged us.
Williams seemed to indicate that he wanted a starter of equal value in return. Certainly take that into consideration, but I wouldn’t limit the possibilites to starting pitchers. For example, my proposal would be Contreras for Pat Burrell. I think the Sox need offense more than starting pitching.
White Sox Never Pursued Prior
I spoke to my White Sox source today, and he was able to offer up a little bit of information.
Remember this tantalizing tidbit from Gordon Edes’s January 15th article for the Boston Globe?
"Would you believe that the White Sox were hovering on the fringes of the Tejada trade talks, not because of any interest in Tejada but in the hopes that if the Orioles peddled him to the Chicago Cubs for ace Mark Prior, they would have been willing to flip Prior to the crosstown White Sox in a package?"
Not so, according to my source. The White Sox never had designs to acquire Prior, but they truly did make various offers for Miguel Tejada.
He also told me that there hasn’t been any hot stove buzz lately involving a Jose Contreras trade, contrary to published reports.
Carlos Zambrano Fires Boras
According to ESPN 1000 out of Chicago, Carlos Zambrano has fired agent Scott Boras. His new agent is unknown. Zambrano has pitched 3.5 excellent seasons and made $3.76MM in 2005 according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. He’ll be part of the free agent class after the 2007 season. That group also includes Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Roy Halladay, Josh Beckett, and Roy Oswalt.
Also, WSCR 670 and ESPN 1000 are reporting that the White Sox have signed Joe Crede to a one-year contract for $2.675MM. Crede has a career line of .255/.303/.439 and plays top-notch defense. He earned $400,000 in 2005. Third basemen in his free agent class will include Brandon Inge, Eric Hinske, and Bill Mueller.
Details On Tejada Negotiations
Just got a little bit of info from my White Sox source concerning the now deceased White Sox trade for Miguel Tejada.
Word is that the White Sox bowed out late Friday when the Orioles insisted on Brandon McCarthy or Lance Broadway in addition to the other players. It seems Broadway’s status pick in the 2005 June draft would’ve necessitated his inclusion as a PTBNL. The White Sox wouldn’t budge, and the deal died.
One other new tidbit is that the Orioles changed gears and attempted to engage the White Sox in an Erik Bedard trade. It is speculated that Jose Contreras would’ve been involved in such a deal, but that is not confirmed.
White Sox Miguel Tejada Update
Alright, I’ve got the goods on the current state of the White Sox’s attempt to acquire Miguel Tejada.
Remember the unknown prospect I referred to in the Orioles’ proposal? Turns out the pitching prospect the Orioles wanted was either Lance Broadway or Brandon McCarthy. Neither player was on the list agreed upon earlier, and the Sox scoffed at the idea of including Broadway or McCarthy.
Despite reports in both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times today, the deal is very much alive at this point. Unfortunately, my source is more involved with the financial approval aspect of the deal (hence the statement that the Sox will take the payroll up to $105MM if necessary). He’s been cut off from personnel discussions, so this is probably the end of the line as far as the info goes.
Craig Wilson, Cubs Bullpen, and More
Today seems to be a bit of a slow day on the trade rumors front. I’m still working on gathering some Tejada info. For now I’ll just say that you shouldn’t discount the White Sox even after both major Chicago newspapers quoted Kenny Williams saying no deal will happen. As commenters in this thread pointed out, Williams has been known to keep a low profile and be less than forthright when talking to the media.
Somehow, a rumor came about yesterday that San Francisco’s KNBR 1050 was reporting that the Pirates had dealt Craig Wilson to the Athletics for Kirk Saarloos. This rumor appears to have been fabricated; it doesn’t seem that the radio station ever proposed it. KNBR didn’t return my emails, but I’m still pretty sure there’s nothing to the rumor. It’s not implausible, as Billy Beane is the type of GM to acquire an undervalued player and worry about his outfielder surplus later. I don’t believe Dave Littlefield’s statements about not wanting to trade Wilson. He’d be valuable to many teams, and the Pirates’ recent acquisitions indicate that they’ll deal him.
RotoAuthority’s latest:
2006 Fantasy Guide On Sale For $9.99 For A Limited Time
Good readin’: 1060west has updated its post about the Cubs’ revamped bullpen. This quote resonated with me:
"Seen in the light of statistical evidence, it becomes clear that nothing has been done to improve the Cub bullpen from April 2005 to this stage; in fact, if anything, the Cubs have actually gotten weaker in going from Hawkins to Howry and Remlinger to Eyre."
The main point is that Hendry tends to purchase free agent relievers for big bucks following the reliever’s best season. Not a smart strategy.
The Phillies and Ryan Franklin? This won’t end well. I’m just happy to see than Ryan Madson will finally get a shot in the rotation; he’s got a 3.25 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 7.27 K/9 in 166 Major League innings. High strikeout totals and good control are always a great combo.