Odds & Ends: Wood, Cards, Uggla, Guillen, Lilly
Links for Friday, after an impressive start from trade candidate Ted Lilly…
- Peter Gammons said on WEEI that he hears the Red Sox don't have interest in Kerry Wood.
- Five Cardinals writers confront the following question at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Has Cards GM John Mozeliak emerged from the shadow of his predecessor, Walt Jocketty?
- Joey Votto and Ryan Zimmerman are among the ten MLB players with the most trade value, if you ask Dave Cameron of FanGraphs.
- Cardinals GM John Mozeliak did not deny interest in Kelly Johnson and Dan Uggla while chatting to Jim Bowden of Sirius XM Radio (Twitter link).
- The Rockies are not discussing Dan Uggla with the Marlins, according to Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
- 2005 first rounders Justin Upton and Ryan Braun are 11th and 12th, respectively, on Dave Cameron's list of the MLB players with the most trade value.
- The Giants have a better chance of obtaining Jose Guillen than David DeJesus, according to MLB.com's Chris Haft. The Giants have said they'd prefer to avoid rental players, but Guillen could presumably be had.
- Cubs GM Jim Hendry met with Ted Lilly yesterday to discuss the left-hander's future, according to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Lilly, a (projected Type A) free agent after the season, makes $12MM this year and has no-trade protection.
- Bobby Jenks told the Chicago Sun-Times that he is relieved not to spot his name in trade rumors – at least for now.
- Former MLB manager Don Baylor tells Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun that he would like the chance to interview for the upcoming managerial opening in Toronto.
Odds & Ends: Marlins, Wigginton, Rockies, Wood
It was on this day in 1905 that Shirley Povich, one of the great sportswriters of all time, was born in Bar Harbor, Maine. Povich, who passed away in 1998, would've been 105 today and no doubt still would've been keeping an eye on Stephen Strasburg for the Washington Post.
Some news items….
- The Palm Beach Post's Joe Capozzi wonders if Edwin Rodriguez's planned lineup changes in Florida are a hint towards a possible trade of Cody Ross or Jorge Cantu.
- Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun adds the Padres and Rangers to the list of "potential fits" for Ty Wigginton.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post tweeted a few follow-up points to his story about Colorado's interest in Dan Uggla. Renck mentions right-hander Esmil Rogers and outfielder Matt Miller as possibilities for a trade package with Florida, but "there's no way" that Jhoulys Chacin would be dealt. Renck also thinks the Rockies "will listen" to offers for Franklin Morales, though those offers might not be related to any Uggla deal.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince shares some Cleveland hot stove talk in a reader mailbag. Castrovince says that Kerry Wood has drawn "minimal, at best" trade interest, but he notes that Wood could be dealt in late August to a team that didn't want to pay an extra month of Wood's contract.
- In another MLB.com mailbag, Bill Ladson "would be shocked" by a Matt Capps trade. The Nationals still have Capps under control for 2011, and with Drew Storen still a rookie and Tyler Clippard not pitching well lately, Ladson doesn't think Washington will want to risk dealing their closer.
- It's "all quiet on [the] Ben Sheets trade front," tweets FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal, though Sheets' recent success "should change" that.
- Aroldis Chapman's inconsistent control means that Chapman probably won't be promoted to the majors until September, writes John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
- We already know that the Giants have shown some interest in acquiring David DeJesus, and now Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that a "top Royals talent evaluator" was on hand for the Mets/Giants game at AT & T Park tonight.
- Steve Kornacki of Mlive.com looks at what the Tigers need to do in the second half and weighs in on some trade options. Kornacki says that trading for Jack Wilson wouldn't cost much for Detroit, whereas acquiring Dan Haren isn't worth the cost since he doesn't think "the Tigers are good enough to get past the first round of the playoffs. And that’s the only reason to gamble that much for somebody like Haren."
- Rice's Anthony Rendon, thought to be a potential first overall pick in the 2011 Amateur Draft, is undergoing ankle surgery on Friday, reports MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo.
- Fangraphs' Dave Cameron has the latest installment of his ranking of the players with the most trade value. As he goes from #20 to #16, Cameron cites a defending Cy Young Award winner and two potential Cy winners for this season.
Marlins Release Armando Benitez
Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald tweets that veteran reliever Armando Benitez was released by Florida's Triple-A affiliate in New Orleans. Benitez was signed by the Marlins last month for his third go-around with the club and managed a 2.70 ERA in 6 2/3 relief innings for New Orleans, but his peripheral numbers (a 6.8 BB/9 ratio and a 1.65 WHIP) weren't impressive.
Benitez, 37, hasn't pitched in the majors since appearing in eight games for Toronto in 2008. His last outstanding season came, coincidentally, with Florida in 2004, when he racked up a league-best 47 saves and a miniscule 1.29 ERA. Since that great campaign, however, Benitez has a 4.61 ERA in 125 major league innings.
Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Marlins, Berry, Carroll, Pujols
Links for Wednesday, on an eerily quiet day for baseball fans…
- Red Sox GM Theo Epstein told Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that there aren't many All-Star caliber players available on the trade market right now.
- It's "very likely" that the Marlins make moves between now and July 31st, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro (Twitter link).
- The Padres claimed 25-year-old outfielder Quintin Berry from the Phillies, according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (via Twitter). Berry has a .606 OPS at AA so far in 2010.
- The Dodgers have fielded multiple calls on Jamey Carroll's availability, as Tim Dierkes noted on Twitter earlier today.
- Like everyone else in the baseball world, Albert Pujols' agent expects the Cardinals to pick up the slugger's $16MM option for 2011. Dan Lozano told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that Pujols is open to talking about an extension in the offseason. Cards GM John Mozeliak confirmed on Twitter that the team won't initiate discussions before then.
- Some of Derrek Lee's friends tell Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that they believe the first baseman would waive his no-trade clause for the right deal. The Angels would prefer to pursue someone who isn't under contract next year, so they could be a fit for Lee.
- Dave Cameron of FanGraphs ranks Justin Verlander 35th among the MLB players with the most trade value.
Braves Interested In Cody Ross
Add Cody Ross to the list of right-handed hitting outfielders the Braves are eyeing. ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that the Braves are interested in Ross as they look to improve upon their NL-best record in the second half of the season (Twitter link).
The Braves also have interest in Corey Hart, Josh Willingham and Jose Bautista, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Like those outfielders, Ross is under team control through 2011, but unlike them he is not having a career year and he can play center field.
Ross, who earns $4.45MM in 2010, is hitting .282/.332/.415 this year with seven homers. That's respectable production, but the 29-year-old usually shows more power. He has split time between right and center field and appears to be an average defender (according to UZR).
The Padres, Giants and Red Sox may look to add outfielders before the trade deadline. San Diego and San Francisco prefer players who aren't about to hit free agency, so the Braves will have competition for Ross's services if they are intent on getting more production than Nate McLouth, Melky Cabrera and Matt Diaz can provide.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported yesterday that Ross and Jorge Cantu are available and Olney adds Nate Robertson's name to the list of players the Marlins would deal.
Rockies Remain Interested In Dan Uggla
There are strong indications the Rockies remain interested in Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla, reports Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. The Rockies-Uggla speculation has been consistent since Troy Tulowitzki's wrist was broken on June 17th.
Colorado's interest predates the Tulo injury, however. Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that the Rockies discussed trading Clint Barmes and a prospect for Uggla last offseason. It was an active discussion, reported ESPN's Jayson Stark in January. Rosenthal reported yesterday that the Marlins have made Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross available but are holding off for now on Uggla and Ricky Nolasco.
Uggla is having another fine year, with a .285/.369/.483 line and 16 home runs in 371 plate appearances. He has $3.52MM remaining on his contract this season, and could earn around $10MM in 2011 in his final arbitration year. Renck feels that Uggla's salary and the Rockies' potential desire to use him at various infield positions could be obstacles. Marlins president Larry Beinfest said on Sunday that the team is open to anything, but they won't make moves to clear salary.
It's surprising we haven't heard other teams connected to Uggla. The Red Sox and Phillies have injury concerns at second base, while the White Sox and Mets are among the contenders who have gotten very little offense out of the position.
Rosenthal On Marlins, Crawford, Dodgers
Good stuff from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports; let's get into it…
- The Marlins have made Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross available, but are currently holding off on Dan Uggla and Ricky Nolasco. Rosenthal finds Cantu to be a fine fit for the Rockies, although it might leave Melvin Mora without much of a role. President Larry Beinfest said yesterday that the Marlins will be active one way or another, but their moves will not be financially motivated. I'll still note that Cantu, a free agent after the season, has $2.74MM left on his contract. He's just below Type B status at the moment. Ross has $2.03MM left on his contract this year and is under team control through 2011.
- Unlike nearby teams such as the Giants and Padres, the Angels prefer a rental player if they are to acquire a first baseman. One reason is that Kendry Morales will be back next year, and the other is that the Halos "intend to pursue Carl Crawford as a free agent." A blockbuster signing of that nature would push Bobby Abreu to the DH spot.
- The Dodgers would like to add a reliever and a starter, though they may look internally at Kenley Jansen for the 'pen.
Beinfest: Marlins “Open To Everything”
Sitting 10.5 games behind the NL East-leading Braves, the Marlins have had a frustrating first half to the season. The Palm Beach Post's Joe Capozzi was one of many reporters on hand today when Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest addressed the media, making it clear that roster changes could be on the horizon:
“We’re just having a tough time and it’s very frustrating,” he said. “Will we be active? Yes, always and it’s already starting. The chatter has picked up in the last week. Teams now have a pretty good idea of who they are and what they’re going to be heading into the break."
MLB.com's Joe Frisaro adds that there are no financial limitations forcing the Marlins to clear salary. Also, the Miami Herald's Clark Spencer notes in this tweet that Beinfest specifically commented on the difficulty of trading starting pitching.
In a separate tweet, Spencer says that he feels some players will be moved prior to the deadline. He speculates that Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu are candidates, but that Ricky Nolasco is unlikely to be dealt. Teams looking for infield additions such as Cantu and Uggla could be the Rockies, Twins, Red Sox, and Padres, to name a few.
Beinfest is hesitant to label Florida "sellers," and clear to note that he's not writing off the 2010 season. He does add, though, that if you're too patient, the season is suddenly over, likely suggesting that he doesn't want to miss any opportunities to improve the club beyond 2010. With Florida's new stadium 18 months away, Beinfest is looking to have a core group of players for that ballpark solidified.
Odds & Ends: Dunn, Dodgers, Lee, Tigers
Links for Saturday night, after Roy Halladay and Travis Wood traded zeros for nine innings….
- Bill Ladson of MLB.com writes that Mike Rizzo isn't looking to deal Adam Dunn. Rizzo repeated what's becoming a favorite phrase lately, telling Washington broadcaster Bob Carpenter that it'd be "very painful" to move Dunn, both for the Nationals and for the team acquiring him.
- The Dodgers were involved in talks with the Mariners for Cliff Lee, but wouldn't part with Chad Billingsley or James Loney, according to MLB.com's Evan Drellich.
- Jamey Newberg provides his detailed take on the Rangers' acquisition at The Newberg Report.
- In light of the Lee trade, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times takes a look at how some past blockbuster deals between division rivals worked out.
- Jim Leyland reiterates to MLB.com's Jason Beck that the Tigers could use some bullpen help.
- Ricky Nolasco knows that he might be on the trade block this month, writes Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post. Joe Frisaro of MLB.com wonders (via Twitter) if the Yankees' scout in Arizona yesterday had an eye on Nolasco, noting that Joe Girardi managed the right-hander in 2006.
- River Ave. Blues passes along a story from El Universal (Spanish link) in which Ernesto Armenteros reports that the Yankees signed 18-year-old Colombian catcher Alfredo Castellon Jr.
Odds & Ends: Jays, Haren, Nolasco, Lee, Hunter
Some links before Cliff Lee makes his Rangers' debut this evening…
- Toronto has plenty of trade chips heading into the deadline, writes Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.
- FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi says that the Phillies, Dodgers, Reds, White Sox, Angels, and Yankees all had scouts in attendance for last night's Dan Haren–Ricky Nolasco matchup, though it's unclear how many (or if any) were there specifically to watch the righthanders.
- Prospect maven Jim Callis of Baseball America said (via Twitter) that he considers the various packages offered to Seattle for Lee to be "a wash."
- A's GM Billy Beane said that he doesn't anticipate "being that active at the trade deadline," according to John Shea of The San Francisco Chronicle. Ben Sheets (4.89 ERA, 6.6 K/9) hasn't built up the trade value Beane hoped he would when they signed him this winter, but there is always a market for starting pitching.
- Joel Sherman and George A. King III of The New York Post heard that club officials from other teams were "irked" by the Mariners' actions during the Lee trade discussions. They also have info on some other prospects Seattle requested from the Yankees.
- Sherman tweets that the Mariners wanted top outfield prospect Desmond Jennings from the Rays in a deal for Lee.
- Torii Hunter told Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times that he wants to be a GM one day, and he thinks that Seattle broke an unwritten rule by trading Lee within the division.
- Derrek Lee told The Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan that he wouldn't ask Cubs' GM Jim Hendry to trade him to a contender.
- Lance Berkman told Bernando Fallas of The Houston Chronicle that it feels different to see the Astros in sell mode.