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Reggie Sanders Likes Red Sox

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Is the feeling mutual?  39 year-old outfielder Reggie Sanders is finally back from his hamstring tear, pinch-hitting on Monday and playing left field last night against the Red Sox.  Sanders spoke positively of the possibility of playing for the Red Sox when asked.

In the half-month he’s played this year, Sanders has hit well.  He has about $2.1MM left on his contract currently.  The Royals would probably trade him for some salary relief and an A ball long shot prospect.  The motivation for the Red Sox would be replacing Wily Mo Pena as the fourth outfielder, as the 25 year-old has really been scuffling this year outside of May.

Pena is a guy who really got the short end of the stick.  After hitting 45 homers in 647 ABs for the Reds from 2004-05, he was traded to the Red Sox and stopped playing regularly.  Surely that’s hurt his development.  His comparables list is littered with 40-50 HR types, and as a baseball fan I want to see if he can realize that potential.  Hopefully there’s a power-hungry team that values Pena as much as Epstein does and a deal can be made.  The Padres have been mentioned, and that sounds reasonable.

Cubs Interested In Zack Greinke

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Whether he tops out at 96 or 100 mph, there’s no doubt 23 year-old Zack Greinke is an intriguing pitcher.  His name helps us remember or mnemonic devices from elementary school.  The man even has his own website.

Bob Dutton mentioned Greinke as a trade possibility a few days ago, and now Jeff Vorva of the Daily Southtown reports that the Cubs are interested.  Vorva is quoting "broadcast reports" for this rumor; I will try to find more detail.  UPDATE: The rumor is from 670 The Score out of Chicago.

Greinke would be a fine addition for the Cubs whether used as a starter or reliever.  I don’t believe he becomes a free agent until after 2010, though you’d have to check my math.  However, Greinke is a very valuable property for Kansas City and the Cubs would have to give up something good.  Maybe Dayton Moore could add some middle infield depth with Ronny Cedeno or Eric Patterson.  Would that be enough for Greinke?

Dodgers Interested In Dotel

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According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, the Dodgers are currently the top suitor for 33 year-old reliever Octavio Dotel.  Dutton reports that Royals GM Dayton Moore is said to be asking for a position player regular, like James Loney or Matt Kemp.  Lest you think Dutton is off his rocker, consider that Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News says the same thing.  Jackson even mentions Russell Martin.

I have to begin by questioning the Dodgers’ need for Dotel – he would be their third-best reliever.  I don’t know why he would jump ahead of Jonathan Broxton on the depth chart.  Broxton has become one of the game’s best relievers, and he’s posted zeroes in his last eight appearances.

But beyond that, the asking price is silly.  Maybe the White Sox were offered a player like Kemp for Mark Buehrle – maybe.  Dotel isn’t nearly as valuable.  I applaud Moore for trying, but he’s really asking for the moon right now.  Dotel might be worth a Delwyn Young, maybe a Blake DeWitt, not that the Royals need those guys.  A pitcher such as Hong-Chih Kuo seems about the high end of what Moore could reasonably get, in my opinion.

The Indians and Rockies have also been said to have interest in Dotel, who is making $5MM plus incentives this year.  He’s also got a $5.5MM option for ’08, which he probably won’t exercise if he stays healthy and effective in 2007.  Additionally, John Perrotto mentioned in his Sunday column that the Tigers have been scouting Dotel.

Royals Possess Coveted Relievers

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There’s seemingly some sentiment that the Royals don’t want to break up their bullpen by trading anyone.  I think that’s kind of silly, given the volatility of relievers and the Royals’ chances at contending in 2008. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star names four relievers on which Dayton Moore is getting phone calls:

Octavio Dotel – Dotel was a $5MM gamble, and he’s been decent so far.  He can earn another few hundred thousand in incentives and also has a $5.5MM player option for ’08.  If he exercises that, the team can still void it.  After a late start he’s got eight saves, a 3.50 ERA, and an 11.0 K/9.  However, he’s hit a bit of a rough stretch recently. I don’t see him fetching much in the way of compensatory draft picks if he changes teams via free agency this winter, so trading him is a good idea.  The Indians and Rockies have interest, and don’t forget that the Red Sox made him an offer in December. 

David Riske – The Royals also tossed $2.25MM at Riske for ’07 and added a $2.85MM club option for ’08.  Riske has his strikeout rate up somewhat but his 2.21 ERA doesn’t match up with the amount of baserunners allowed.  If I was running the team I’d trade both he and Dotel and pat myself on the back for signing them in the first place.  However I’m guessing the Royals will want to keep one of these guys.

Jimmy Gobble – Gobble is more than just a hilarious name; he owns a nifty 2.70 ERA.  He’s walking a tightrope though, allowing 1.67 baserunners per inning.  He’d make a decent lefty specialist and there’s no reason the Royals need to be paying him a million bucks next year.  Gobble is quite far from free agency but will get a raise in arbitration. 

Zack Greinke – Despite a 3.57 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in relief, you get the feeling Greinke will end up a successful starter one day.  He’s easily the most coveted of the four mentioned here, as he’s 23 and quite talented.  The Royals may try him as their closer this year if they hang on to him; he’s got the stuff for it.  Greinke seems past last year’s anxiety issues thankfully.  I’m not sure what the Royals could get in return for him that would be better than just keeping and developing him.

The Royals just added to their pen actually, picking up righty Roman Colon from Detroit for a player to be named later.  Despite a clubhouse scuffle that earned him a felonious assault charge, Moore said today that he’d trust Colon in his house with his family.  He goes way back with Colon as both worked for the Braves.

Rockies Inquire About Octavio Dotel

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Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post mentioned today that the Rockies have inquired about Royals’ closer Octavio Dotel.  This confirms Ken Rosenthal’s report from Friday.  Rosenthal had also mentioned that the Indians were looking into Dotel.

The Rockies’ interest in a rental reliever like Dotel indicates to me that they won’t be trading Brian Fuentes this year.  Renck spoke of that possibility today in his mailbag, noting that the Phillies, Red Sox, and Yankees have interest in Fuentes if the Rox make him available.  The Rockies are 5.5 games out of the divison lead and 4.5 games out of the Wild Card.  It would be exciting to see them as buyers at the deadline.

Royals’ Bradley Trade Cancelled

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UPDATE: The trade of Bradley to the Royals has already fallen through.  Turns out Bradley had an oblique injury that neither team was aware of.  Maybe the GMs can still work something out, since Bradley could’ve been expected to have an oblique injury within a week or two anyway.

According to ESPN, the Royals have acquired Milton Bradley from the A’s for reliever Leo Nunez.  It’s a surprising move for Kansas City.

Nunez is a 23 year-old righty reliever.  He’s been compared to Julian Tavarez.  He’s got a decent hitter but his secondary pitches need work.  Nunez has been knocked around in 67 big league innings.  He’s pitching well in Double A this year but A) he probably belongs in Triple A and B) his strikeout rate is poor.

Bradley will presumably be the Royals’ regular left fielder, at least until he finds his way back to the DL.  If Dayton Moore doesn’t spin him off for something better than Nunez before the deadline, I don’t get the move.

Rosenthal’s Latest

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.  A summary appears below.

  • Rosenthal thinks the Tigers are unlikely to acquire Eric Gagne or Akinori Otsuka, perhaps preferring to look at internal options.  That’s a shame, as I think they really need to add someone.
  • The White Sox won’t be granting a 72 hour negotiating window if they trade Mark Buehrle.  Strictly a rental.  That could limit the market for him, but Kenny Williams will come up with at least one quality prospect.
  • The Dodgers don’t seem likely to trade for Adam Dunn or Jermaine Dye, but could go after Mark Teixeira.  Dye seems most likely to end up in the NL West somehow, but only if he is healthy and hitting.
  • Possible Dontrelle Willis suitors: the Rockies or Diamondbacks.  They’ve got the young trading chips, and the need in the present day.  The Rox could offer Aaron Cook plus prospects, and the D’Backs could try Livan Hernandez and youngsters.  If the D’Backs dare offer up Justin Upton, the Marlins would jump.  Of course, D-Train needs to be healthy and the Marlins would need to fall out of contention.
  • Barry Bonds’s agent really doesn’t see a trade happening.  Well, no one does, but it’s fun to speculate.  Rosenthal thinks only the Yankees could accomodate him.
  • Aside from the Pirates and Padres, the Astros, Cardinals, and Rangers could go after Milton Bradley. 
  • Rosenthal has a GM source who thinks the Reds could wait until this winter, exercise Adam Dunn’s $13MM option for ’08, and then trade him.  Dunn, however, would gain no-trade protection until June 15, 2008 and then be able to block 10 teams thereafter.
  • Troy Glaus isn’t going anywhere.  Even if the Jays wanted to trade him, his contract is prohibitive.
  • The Indians or Rockies could trade for Octavio Dotel for bullpen depth.  Dotel is developing into a fine trading chip for Dayton Moore, just as planned.  The Tribe has had interest in Dotel in past offseasons. 

Cardinal Trade Rumor Roundup

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My apologies for posting some rumors from a few days ago; I’m still catching up.  Today’s let’s look at some recent Cardinals trade rumors.

The first question is whether the team should conduct some form of a fire sale.  Right now, they’re still mired in the NL Central race at 6.5 games out.  But if the team does spiral out of contention by July 31st, it might make sense to trade Jason Isringhausen.  He’s probably their best trading chip.  Cards beat writer Joe Strauss mentions the Braves, Indians, and Cubs as teams that would have interest in the 34 year-old closer.  After Izzy was nearly left for dead/retired in ’06, he’s bounced back with 13 saves in the season’s first two months.  He makes $8.75MM this year with an $8MM club option for ’08.  That includes a $1.25MM buyout. 

The Isringhausen trade option represents the worst case scenario.  Let’s consider what the Cardinals might do to improve in the short term.  Catcher Yadier Molina should be sidelined for at least a month with a broken wrist.  One option is Royals catcher Jason LaRue, who’s owed about $1.65MM on the season by KC.  The one concern is that LaRue is 7 for 57 on the season, and didn’t hit at all last year.  At 33, he may have to permanently join the Brotherhood of Backup Catchers, if he hasn’t already.  Yadier’s brother Jose may be an option as well.

Also on the radar: comeback kid Troy Percival.  The Cards will watch him throw, if they haven’t already.  St. Louis joins roughly a half-dozen teams in the Percival pursuit.  More than that, if you add the Giants and A’s to the mix. 

Greinke to the Bullpen

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As Tim wrote the other day, with Luke Hudson and Scott Elarton coming back from the DL, something had to give.  Apparently that "something" is Zack Greinke, who is going to be a relief pitcher for the time being.  How odd.

Greinke looked great in his April start against Daisuke Matsuzaka; since then he’s been mostly terrible with a couple of strong outings mixed in.  I can’t imagine this is anything remotely permanent, but perhaps the Royals are showcasing all of their marginal guys–Hudson, Brian Bannister, Odalis Perez, etc.–to see what they can get in trade.  Heaven knows they have some needs to fill.

By Jeff Sackmann
Brew Crew Ball

Royals Have Arms To Spare

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Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star discusses the Royals’ surplus of starting pitching with GM Dayton Moore in today’s article.  The Royals have Luke Hudson and Scott Elarton coming back from injuries very soon, so they may have an arm or two to spare.

The one obvious trade candidate right now is southpaw Odalis Perez, who turns 30 in June.  Elarton would come next, but he’s recovering from a torn labrum.  Perez at least has no health issues.  He simply has performance issues, with just 14 strikeouts in 34.2 innings.

Perez began throwing a sinker this year, and it’s at least helped him get his groundball rate up to where it was in L.A.  He deserves to be someone’s fifth starter, probably in the NL.  While he’s earning $7.75MM in the last year of his contract, the Dodgers covered most of that.  From what I can determine, an acquiring team would probably have to pay him around $2MM.

Clark Fosler gives his take on the team’s oddly configured roster over at Royals Authority.   

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