Reds, Twins Discussing Denard Span
2:19pm: Span to the Reds isn't happening, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
1:29pm: A Reds source downplayed the Span talk, tweets John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
12:52pm: The Reds and Twins are discussing center fielder Denard Span, writes Scott Miller of CBS Sports. One Miller source sees a 50-50 chance of a deal. Span, 28, is hitting .290/.356/.396 in 420 plate appearances for the Twins. He's guaranteed just $12.8MM through 2014, unless his '15 option is picked up.
Reds Pursuing Jonathan Broxton
The Reds and other teams are pursuing Royals closer Jonathan Broxton, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Rangers are out. The Giants are still in on Broxton, tweets Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio. The Orioles are in, tweets Rosenthal.
Matt Garza Rumors: Tuesday
The trade deadline is roughly eight hours away, and we learned yesterday that the Cubs are talking Matt Garza with multiple clubs despite a fluid buildup in the righty's triceps that will keep him from pitching until after the deadline passes. The 28-year-old is under team control for 2013, a season for which he will earn approximately $12.1MM, according to MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz. The Cubs moved Paul Maholm, Reed Johnson, and Geovany Soto on Monday; here's the latest on Garza.
- The Blue Jays and Rangers had scouts watching Garza's side session on Monday, tweets Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com.
- Cubs officials were not overly optimistic about trading Garza today, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- The Rangers appear unlikely for Garza, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Blue Jays and Reds appear to be more realistic matches. The Blue Jays are believed to have already asked the Cubs permission to conduct a physical exam of Garza, wrote Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star.
Dodgers Close To Acquiring Victorino
Roughly 10% of you feel that Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino will be the biggest name dealt today. The latest:
- A Dodgers-Victorino trade is looking very likely, tweets Heyman. ESPN's Jayson Stark tweets that the Dodgers are close to acquiring Victorino for Lindblom and a second player. Another sign a deal is imminent: outfielder Domonic Brown was scratched from today's Triple-A game and will be joining the Phillies in Washington, D.C., tweets Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- The Dodgers are in serious talks for Victorino, reports Heyman. The Phillies have been asking for relievers.
- The Reds and Phillies have ceased talks on Victorino and Juan Pierre, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, putting the Dodgers in a good position for Victorino.
- Potential Phillies target Josh Lindblom became more expendable for the Dodgers after the team acquired Brandon League from the Mariners, wrote Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports early this morning. Lindblom, 25, has a 3.02 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 1.70 HR/9, and 38% groundball rate in 47 2/3 relief innings this year, so he's had some issues with the longball.
D’Backs Designate Lyle Overbay For Assignment
TUESDAY, 12:47am: The Orioles have some interest in Overbay, reports Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com (on Twitter).
MONDAY, 11:12pm: The Reds and Diamondbacks are discussing a trade that would send Overbay to Cincinnati, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).
5:54pm: The Diamondbacks announced that they designated first baseman Lyle Overbay for assignment. The move creates roster space for newly-acquired infielder Chris Johnson.
Overbay, 35, posted a .292/.367/.448 batting line in 110 plate appearances this year. Manager Kirk Gibson made sure to limit Overbay's exposure to left-handed pitching (95 plate appearances vs. RHP, 15 plate appearances vs. LHP), using him as a part-time complement to Paul Goldschmidt. Overbay, who's signed to a one-year, $1MM contract, has a .271/.354/.439 batting line in 12 MLB seasons.
Latest On Victorino, Pence, Pierre
Earlier today, Yahoo's Jeff Passan wrote that the Phillies haven't shopped center fielder Shane Victorino nearly as aggressively as right fielder Hunter Pence, even though Victorino will be eligible for free agency after the season and Pence is under team control for 2013. The latest on the Phillies' outfielders:
- The Dodgers and Reds seem to be the last two Victorino suitors remaining, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweets.
- The Giants are discussing Pence, but not Victorino, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
- The Reds still want a leadoff hitter and Victorino has been their top target, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports. The Reds don't like the Phillies' asking price for Victorino, and their interest in Pierre seems to have been exaggerated, Knobler writes.
- The Dodgers are more likely to acquire Victorino, but they're also in on Pence, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
- The Reds appear to be zeroing in on Pierre, writes ESPN's Jayson Stark. He says the Dodgers look like the frontrunner on Victorino, while teams that have checked in on Pence believe the Phillies will wait until the offseason.
- The Phillies' asking price on Victorino is outrageous, an executive of one team tells Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
- The Orioles have interest in Victorino, Pence, and Juan Pierre, tweets Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, who notes Pierre is the best fit cost-wise. The Reds have quietly evaluated Pierre as a possible target since June, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney, and USA Today's Bob Nightengale says the Reds' coaching staff loves him.
- The Pirates did not seem alive on Victorino as of late last night, tweeted Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Giants, Reds, and Dodgers have been named as other potential suitors for the 31-year-old. Victorino is hitting .261/.324/.401 in 431 plate appearances this year.
- The Phillies have pushed Pence but want a big return, tweets Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Salisbury says most interest is on Victorino and starter Joe Blanton.
Reds, Blue Jays, Rangers Eyeing Matt Garza
The Cubs agreed to two significant deals today, and they might not be done yet. They sent Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson to Atlanta in one trade and dealt Geovany Soto to Texas in another. Meanwhile, Matt Garza continues drawing interest despite a fluid buildup in his triceps that will keep him from pitching until after the trade deadline passes. Here are the latest rumors surrounding the right-hander…
- The Reds are talking to the Cubs about Garza, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. A team such as the Reds could complete a deal if it determines the injury is relatively minor.
- The Cubs have tried to trade Garza to the Reds, but it's doubtful the sides will complete a deal, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).
- The Blue Jays remain interested in Garza despite his current condition, Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star reports.
- There's a "very high chance" Garza gets traded, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports (Twitter links). The Blue Jays have been bearing down on him. The Cubs are still trying to move Garza, Stark writes.
- The Rangers and Blue Jays are interested, Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com reports.
- The Cubs are fielding calls on Garza and working on a Ryan Dempster deal, David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com reports (on Twitter).
NL West Notes: Miley, Overbay, Dodgers
The Rockies sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland on this date last year, acquiring prospects Alex White, Drew Pomeranz, Joe Gardner and Matt McBride. Jimenez has pitched to a 5.08 ERA with disappointing peripheral numbers since leaving the Rockies, who are probably pleased they traded him when they did. Here's the latest on the NL West…
- Diamondbacks rookie Wade Miley is not in play as the trade deadline nears, Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com writes (on Twitter). Ken Rosenthal suggested yesterday that the Diamondbacks might listen on Miley.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney guesses the Reds might be a fit for Lyle Overbay, who was recently designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks (Twitter link). The Reds are expected to pursue Overbay, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter).
- Arizona GM Kevin Towers says he's focused on adding pitching leading up to the deadline, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports (on Twitter). Towers will consider trading a position player for an arm.
- Dodgers pitching prospects Jose Dominguez and Yimi Garcia are drawing the attention of scouts at Class A, Ben Badler of Baseball America writes (on Twitter).
- Former Dodgers general manager Dan Evans explains how the trade deadline works from the perspective of a GM in an article at Baseball Prospectus.
Red Sox Notes: Saltalamacchia, Masterson, Ellsbury
The Red Sox have a 51-51 record after taking two of three from the Yankees in New York over the weekend. Here are the latest rumors surrounding the Red Sox as they host the Tigers at Fenway Park…
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Mike Aviles have drawn interest from rival teams, Alex Speier of WEEI.com reports. The Red Sox are looking to add at the trade deadline, but a modest deal is more likely than a blockbuster.
- The Red Sox remain interested in Justin Masterson, even though they saw him struggle in his most recent start, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter). The Indians have told teams they will consider trading Masterson, who pitched for the Red Sox in 2008-09.
- A few teams inquired on Jacoby Ellsbury, but the Red Sox will likely wait until the offseason to seriously consider trading him, Cafardo reports (on Twitter). The Reds asked about Ellsbury, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com (on Twitter).
- The Rangers have pursued Red Sox players more aggressively than other teams, Cafardo reports (Twitterlinks). Texas has scouted both Aaron Cook and Kelly Shoppach and while Rangers officials have backed off on Cook, they maintain interest in Shoppach.
- Here’s the latest on Josh Beckett.
Reds, Pirates Interested In Choo; Rangers Out
8:36pm: Rosenthal hears that the asking price for Choo is a good Major League player with less than three years of service time (Twitter link).
8:23pm: The Reds are also interested in Choo, according to Rosenthal (on Twitter). Choo would fit Cincinnati's desire for a left-handed bat and a leadoff hitter, but Rosenthal hears that the Indians are reluctant to move Choo.
5:29pm: A deal between the Rangers and Indians for Choo isn't happening, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (on Twitter).
4:17pm: The Rangers also have interest in Choo, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report. Texas would prefer to add a left-handed hitter such as Choo to their lineup, but the Indians are reluctant to trade the right fielder. Cleveland would likely look for pitching in a trade, according to the FOX reporters.
11:04am: The Pirates are checking in on Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports (on Twitter). The Pirates would likely have to part with 23-year-old outfielder Starling Marte to complete a trade for Choo, Biertempfel writes.
The Indians are likely to keep Choo, but they'll listen to trade offers for him, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported three days ago. The 30-year-old earns $4.9MM this year and will get a raise this offseason when he goes to arbitration for the third and final time. Choo has a .295/.382/.489 batting line with 12 home runs in 422 plate appearances this year.
The Pirates acquired Wandy Rodriguez this week, but they continue seeking offensive upgrades. Marte, Drew Sutton and Alex Presley are among their current left field options.