By Tim Dierkes | at
Ah, finally a legitimate Royals rumor. I know there are some Royals fans out there. Jeffrey Flanagan of the Kansas City Star reports that the Royals may have an interest in bringing back catcher Gregg Zaun.
The Royals acquired Zaun from the Tigers via trade in March of 2000. He hit quite well for them in limited duty but wasn’t retained when he hit free agency. Zaun will be representing himself this winter and may seek a three-year, $9MM deal.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Tom Keegan would. I can only hope Dayton Moore disagrees. Sure, the contracts of Mike Sweeney and Angel Berroa are painful…but a team looking to win in 2008 or 2009 shouldn’t be giving their best prospect to the Yankees.
Perhaps the Royals win an extra game or two over the next few seasons with Rodriguez instead of Gordon at third. Even that is an open question. But I don’t think A-Rod would put butts in the seats any more than Gordon will.
If Moore wants to make a splash and spend some money, he should put in the top bid for Daisuke Matsuzaka and keep the cheaper Alex.
By Tim Dierkes | at
An unlikely eighth team has expressed interest in Daisuke Matsuzaka: the Royals. KC joins the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Rangers, Orioles, Dodgers, and Mariners as a suitor.
While it’s unlikely that the Royals would pony up more than $10MM annually for one player, it would bring some excitement to the ’07 team. It would also be better than the way they spent free agent money in 2006: $5MM for Reggie Sanders, $4MM for Scott Elarton, $4MM for Mark Grudzielanek, $1.85MM for Doug Mientkiewicz, $1.7MM for Elmer Dessens, and $1.5MM for Tony Graffanino. Granted that was a different GM, but the Royals spent $18MM on six players that A)wouldn’t help them win when the team becomes competitive and B)won’t put butts in the seats.
By Tim Dierkes | at
The Cubs unloaded Neifi Perez on the Tigers today, and it was no surprise Neifi got through waivers. What team would want to be on the hook for $2.5MM for him next year? Ditching Neifi at this point at least partially rights the wrong of signing him to an extension in the first place for Jim Hendry. The Cubs’ "everything man" will be making outs atop of Detroit’s lineup now. Even more impressive is that Hendry snagged a 22 year-old catching prospect, Chris Robinson, in the deal.
The Mets added righty reliever Guillermo Mota today. Along with Oliver Perez, this is another project with plenty of upside. Mota was one of the game’s top setup men a few years ago.
Tom Glavine’s got a possible blood clot, which could mean season or career-ending surgery. At least his life is not in danger. The news first appeared on an ESPN message board from a man said to be Glavine’s brother-in-law. Back when Glavine appeared healthy, the same source indicated that the southpaw would finish his career with the Braves, at any salary.
Reggie Sanders may have cleared waivers. Who wants a 38 year-old right fielder with a .248/.304/.424 line? Don’t forget the $5MM he’s owed next year.
From Yankees announcer Jim Kaat: the Rangers may be talking to the Orioles about Mark Teixeira. Tex is from Maryland, for what it’s worth.
Plenty of buzz going around in various forms of media that the Red Sox may acquire reliever LaTroy Hawkins. We’ll know soon enough. The 33 year-old has, at least, kept the ball in the yard and exhibited good control with the Orioles this year.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Reportedly, a Royals TV affiliate in Kansas City is saying that Jeremy Affeldt has gone through the clubhouse to say goodbyes. Word from MLB Radio is that Affeldt was sent to Colorado along with Denny Bautista for Ryan Shealy and Scott Dohmann.
This one’s been in the works for a while now, dating back to July 19th.
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to ESPN, the Rangers have acquired DH type Matt Stairs from the Royals. MLB Radio adds that the Royals received 26 year-old righty reliever Joselo Diaz in return.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Busy day for Dayton Moore, as he acquired all sorts of pitchers for his veterans.
Let’s start with his first trade: Elmer Dessens to the Dodgers for Blake Johnson, Julio Pimentel, Odalis Perez, and cash. If you’re like me, you’ve never heard of Johnson or Pimentel, so let’s start there.
Pimentel and Johnson were ranked 16th and 17th among Dodgers prospects entering the 2006 season by Baseball America. Pimentel is a 20 year-old converted outfielder currently struggling in High Class A. Pimentel’s teammate Blake Johnson is a 21 year-old righty who was drafted in the second round in ’04. Just a couple of live arms to help the Royals’ system; collect enough and someone’s bound to pan out.
Odalis Perez is an intriguing pickup for a team like the Royals. He immediately becomes their most talented pitcher despite his awful 2006. Looking at his peripherals, his strikeout rate dropped this season and his hits allowed skyrocketed. Perez’s control remains excellent. The southpaw had mixed results in the World Baseball Classic this March. He claimed to be in the best shape of his life in February following an ’05 season marred by an oblique strain, shoulder inflammation, and biceps tendinitis.
Financials: Perez is due around $2.75MM for the rest of this season, $7.75MM next season, and a $1.5MM buyout for ’08 if the Royals don’t want him for $9MM. Of that $12MM, the Dodgers are paying $8MM. That leaves KC with just a $4MM obligation to Perez for the rest of this year and his age 29 season. He’s projected to be worth that much in ’07 alone, and the Royals don’t have much to lose.
As for Dessens, he’s your run-of-the-mill 34 year-old reliever. He’ll earn roughly $640,000 for the rest of ’06 and $1.7MM next year.
The Royals also shipped Tony Graffanino to the Brewers for Jorge De La Rosa. De La Rosa, a 25 year-old southpaw, has fared poorly in the Majors with a 5.12 ERA in 65 innings. He was traded to the Diamondbacks in the Curt Schilling deal in ’03 and then bounced to the Brewers in the Richie Sexson trade a few days later. De La Rosa has dealt with elbow and control issues (they go hand in hand), but he’s still got a bit of promise.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Breaking news from ESPN is that the White Sox are "extremely close" to acquiring Alfonso Soriano. It seems that Brandon McCarthy is the main piece of the deal.
The result would be a Murderer’s Row with five players currently slugging .539 or better: Thome (.632), Dye (.620), Soriano (.594), Konerko (.555), and Crede (.539). The Sox already lead baseball in home runs with 146.
What’s more, ESPN also reports that Kenny Williams is looking to strengthen his bullpen by sending 23 year-old southpaw Double A starter Tyler Lumsden to the Royals for Mike MacDougal. Lumsden isn’t striking anyone out, but still has a 2.69 ERA for Birmingham. He had elbow surgery in January of last year.
MacDougal has thrown four scoreless innings for the Royals since returning from a shoulder strain. He was able to cut his walks to a reasonable level last year and had his best season.
UPDATE: MacDougal is a done deal. Another pitcher was added to complete the trade.
By Tim Dierkes | at
To begin with, this just isn’t true. With the Kearns deal and probably Soriano trade, the 2006 deadline just can’t be classified as a dud. That honor belongs to 2005 for sure. The trading action never matches the buildup, but this year’s still a good one.
Read Ken Rosenthal’s latest. The White Sox are in the Soriano game, the Rangers have interest in Luis Gonzalez, the Braves could add another reliever, Julio Lugo still might become a Blue Jay, and the Brewers look like sellers. In my opinion, some Brewers besides Carlos Lee that could be unloaded: Geoff Jenkins, Corey Koskie, Brady Clark, and Dan Kolb. Koskie will need to recover quickly from his concussion, however.
Still hearing that the Cubs like Willy Taveras, which would definitely fit their m.o. of players who don’t get on base. Phil Rogers also mentions that Seattle’s Rafael Soriano is being asked about. It would be surprising to see the Mariners deal that kind of young talent.
Tons of great rumors coming from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. He’s got a rundown of the Red Sox, all sorts of teams scouting Humberto Sanchez, and more.
Buster Olney mentioned in his blog today that the Astros are among various teams scouting Elmer Dessens. The Astros are also looking at Damaso Marte.
Unfounded rumor department: Could the Dodgers be after Aramis Ramirez? Ramirez has picked a fantastic time to heat up, and L.A. has some top shelf young talent…is there anywhere Julio Lugo could go besides Toronto? How about the Rockies?
By Tim Dierkes | at
According to my Royals source, Dayton Moore has finished evaluating his roster and the team is about to become quite active in the trade market.
You saw the Mark Redman rumor yesterday. Today MLBTradeRumors has learned of a possible deal in the works between the Rockies and Royals. The Rox are looking for relievers, and the Royals have Elmer Dessens and Jeremy Affeldt available. Mike MacDougal also has a chance to be dealt. The Royals would prefer to unload shortstop Angel Berroa and just one reliever to get first baseman Ryan Shealy. That way other relievers could snag more value in separate deals.
Shealy has had all kinds of suitors over the last few months, and he is likely to be dealt for relief help this month.
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