Odds & Ends: Indians, Pirates, Zambrano
Some links to wrap up a relatively busy weekend, with more on the way:
- ESPN's Jorge Arangure says the Yankees, Red Sox, Reds and Padres in on 16-year-old Dominican RHP Cristopher Cabrera.
- John Perrotto at Pirates Report says if he were Neal Huntington, he'd go ahead with the rumored swap of Nyjer Morgan for Lastings Milledge with the Nationals.
- Phil Rogers at the Chicago Tribune is fed up with Carlos Zambrano and thinks the Cubs should waive him and take anything another club is willing to give. Not a great week for Cubs fans, eh?
- Bud Shaw at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer notes that the Indians have had more success making deals than with their draft picks.
- Paul Hoynes at the Plain-Dealer gets some more player reactions to the Mark DeRosa deal.
- Andrew Baggarly at the San Jose Mercury News wonders if Jermaine Dye and Mark Teahen could be on Giants GM Brian Sabean's radar screen.
Cardinals Acquire Mark DeRosa
SUNDAY, 11:15am: Jon Paul Morosi has written about a couple possible PTBNLs for the Indians:
"One official with knowledge of the transaction said minor league right-handers Jess Todd and Francisco Samuel are on the list of possibilities. It's not known if other players are on the list agreed upon by the clubs. But Todd and Samuel are hard throwers who could fit into Cleveland's bullpen next year. And anyone who has watched the Indians play recently is aware that they have an immediate need for power arms at the end of the game."
Morosi notes Todd has a 2.73 ERA in 28 Triple-A appearances with one big league game this season. The PTBNL will be received on or before September 1.
SATURDAY, 9:58pm: According to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, the Cardinals have acquired Mark DeRosa from the Indians for reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named later.
DeRosa, 34, wasn't in tonight's lineup though this was supposedly a "standard day off," according to Castrovince. DeRosa posted a .270/.342/.457 line in 314 plate appearances for the Indians and is making $5.5MM in the final year of his contract (about $2.9MM remains). He's been the subject of rumors for weeks, and it looks like the Indians are officially sellers.
Perez turns 24 soon. He posted a 4.18 ERA and 30/15 K/BB ratio for the Cardinals in 23.2 innings this year. He was one of the Cardinals' top relief prospects and profiles as a future closer.
It's a little early to make a final judgment on this deal until we find out who the PTNBL is–Castrovince notes that "the PTBN component is an important one," according to Indians GM Mark Shapiro–but for now it looks like a solid deal for both teams, as they each fill in their respective needs.
Odds & Ends: White Sox, Bay, Lee
On this day in MLBTR history: Last year, the spotlight was on the potential landing spot for CC Sabathia, and the Astros were one of 12 teams interested in Freddy Garcia. My how times have changed. Some links to sate you in between games, with more to come:
- Ian Browne at MLBlogs talked to Jason Bay, who isn't overly concerned with discussing a contract extension with the Red Sox at the moment.
- According to Scott Merkin at MLB.com, the White Sox inked catcher Josh Phegley, their 38th selection in this month's draft, as well as five others.
- Eric Seidman at Fangraphs has a solid piece outlining the starting pitching market, and is confused as to why Cliff Lee's name hasn't been floated more in talks.
- Larry LaRue at the Tacoma News Tribune reports that Adrian Beltre will opt for shoulder surgery, which LaRue says makes him "virtually untradeable" before the deadline.
Cubs, Indians Discussed DeRosa
According to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs had conversations with the Indians earlier this month about reacquiring jack-of-all-trades guy Mark DeRosa. Wittenmyer says any potential move to bring DeRosa back to the north side depends "on the asking price and ownership's willingness to take on about $2 million in salary." Aramis Ramirez could come off the disabled list before the All-Star break, and his performance would also be a factor in any potential move.
Jayson Stark reported that the Cubbies were considering making a move for DeRosa earlier this week.
Shapiro Discusses Wedge Speculation
MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says Indians general manager Mark Shapiro is taking the heat off Eric Wedge, and spreading the blame evenly for the Indians underwhelming 30-44 record, 12 games back in the AL Central. Castrovince quotes Shapiro:
Jon Heyman adds via Twitter that "Shapiro sounded committed to Wedge" on the phone earlier today.
Odds & Ends: Contreras, Wedge, Izzy
This day in MLBTR history: On June 25, 2007, there was speculation that the Yankees might have interest in either Mark Buehrle or Jermaine Dye, and the sports world first got word that Ken Griffey Jr. wanted to retire as a Mariner. Oh, and we were still rocking the white-on-black layout. On to some links…
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that right-hander Jose Contreras is drawing interest among some scouts. The White Sox are not in selling mode just yet, but things could change between now and the July 31 trade deadline.
- According to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, Indians manager Eric Wedge is well aware that his job is on the line. "[General manager] Mark [Shapiro] and I continue to talk daily, as we always have," Wedge told reporters Wednesday. "We've had conversations about everything. I don't think there are ever any guarantees in this game."
- Jason Isringhausen hasn't ruled out a return to baseball, according to MLB.com's Zach Schonbrun. After undergoing Tommy John surgery last week, however, he probably won't be ready to contribute until July of 2010.
Stark On Lee, DeRosa, Phillies, Rays, Beltre
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com calls this one of the slowest-moving trade markets in a while, but provides lots of rumors anyways:
- Teams are making introductory calls now to set the tone for the next five weeks.
- One official looking to add a reliever says no one is available.
- With so few teams willing to part with players, sellers are asking for a lot.
- The Brewers, Dodgers, Phillies and Mets are among the teams to call about Cliff Lee. The Indians would still have to be overwhelmed to part with him.
- The Cubs have considered trying to reacquire Mark DeRosa.
- They've also done some preliminary searching for a bat, but they're not sure where they'd play a new hitter so that gives the versatile DeRosa extra appeal.
- Stark's heard nothing to suggest Bobby Valentine will end up managing the Nationals.
- The Phillies have given indications that they'd part with Michael Taylor and/or Jason Donald in a deal for a top starter.
- However, they won't listen on these players: Dominic Brown, Lou Marson, Kyle Drabek, Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco and Antonio Bastardo.
- Doug Davis and Ian Snell aren't Phillies targets.
- The Rays are looking for long-term upgrades. They'd like to acquire "the next J.P. Howell."
- They're asking about young corner outfielders, rather than Jermaine Dye types.
- Pedro Martinez still wants a $5MM salary (prorated) plus incentives, so don't expect him to sign soon.
- The Reds have the best minor leaguers in the division and some could become trade chips.
- The Mets checked in on Garrett Atkins.
- Tony Reagins believes 2009 free agent Vladimir Guerrero can still hit.
- At least one scout can't imagine Adrian Beltre being traded. Makes sense, given his shoulder injury and contract.
Olney On A-Rod, Marlins, DeRosa
ESPN.com's Buster Olney says Alex Rodriguez will never be as marketable as he once was, but the Yankees would settle for a return to his standard high level of play. A-Rod's not impressing scouts anymore, but all the Yankees can do is keep playing him and hope he returns to form. After all, he has eight years on his contract after this one. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors:
- Olney confirms what we heard earlier today: the Marlins are looking for a proven reliever. Olney says Danys Baez could work, as well as LaTroy Hawkins and Luis Ayala.
- The Marlins have been considering Mark DeRosa, but they could stay internal at third base and play Emilio Bonifacio and Gaby Sanchez.
- Executives expect DeRosa to go to whoever offers the best young pitching, something teams are increasingly unwilling to part with.
- Executives considered the Reds' starting pitching depth possible trade bait, but until Edinson Volquez returns, Cincinnati doesn't have as many pitchers as expected.
Rosenthal On Lee, Holliday
Ol' reliable Ken Rosenthal has a new column up. Let's scope out the highlights:
- The Dodgers have had discussions about Cliff Lee, but the price might be too steep for them to acquire him before the deadline. The Indians are said to want top-shelf talent along the lines of Tommy Hanson or Clay Buchholz.
- The Dodgers have talent like that in Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley, but obviously they're not going anywhere. A package around James McDonald and Blake DeWitt wouldn't suffice.
- The Phillies have also inquired on Lee, but "have balked at the price."
- Reports that the A's would accept less for Matt Holliday because they'd prefer to skip out on the arbitration process this offseason are probably untrue, as a source said the potential high cost for the slugger is a "nonissue."
Heyman On Strasburg, Pedro, DeRosa
Jon Heyman of SI.com lists some of the best and worst starts to the season. Justin Upton and Marco Scutaro are two of the players to make the first list. Heyman's also got some rumors to pass along; here they are:
- It is believed that Stephen Strasburg's people don't want him to pitch in the majors this year.
- Strasburg's agent, Scott Boras, is believed to have mentioned Jose Contreras, who signed for $32MM, and Daisuke Matsuzaka, who signed for $52MM, as comparable players.
- It doesn't sound like former Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker will end up as the Nationals' next GM, though the Nats are said to be considering names other than Mike Rizzo's for the permanent job.
- Heyman says a Doug Davis return to Milwaukee could make sense.
- The Rays would like to add a closer without adding payroll, which will be a challenge.
- Rays GM Andrew Friedman hasn't ruled out Pedro Martinez, but says he's a long shot.
- Heyman hears that the Cardinals and Mets are two of the teams calling the Indians about Mark DeRosa.