Marlins Considering Bullpen Options
The Miami Herald reports that the Marlins are considering George Sherrill and Luis Ayala as they look to improve an injury-depleted bullpen. There's also confirmation of Jon Heyman's weekend report that the Marlins discussed Joakim Soria and Heath Bell.
Olney On Pirates, Marlins, Escobar
ESPN.com's Buster Olney says yesterday's Pirates-Yankees trade proves we're looking at a buyer's market this year. The Pirates had to include $400k to shed part of Eric Hinske's salary, and they won't be the only ones including salary relief in trades. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors:
- The suitors for players like Nick Johnson and Josh Willingham may start disappearing if the few teams who can take on salary decide to look elsewhere for help.
- Olney says the Pirates acquired potential success in Lastings Milledge.
- The Marlins are still looking aggressively for relievers.
- Now that Mike Lowell's out, the Red Sox and Rockies seem to match up well for a possible deal that would send Garrett Atkins to Boston for a reliever.
- The Braves are willing to trade Yunel Escobar for a good hitter.
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.
Marlins Looking For Relievers
According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, Matt Lindstrom's injury has prompted the Marlins to start shopping for relievers. Lindstrom will miss at least six weeks and the Marlins, who are a mere 2.0 games behind the division-leading Phillies, don't want to go that long without another arm.
Spencer mentions LaTroy Hawkins and George Sherrill as possible solutions, but says the Marlins wouldn't likely want to give up the players required to land Sherrill. I'll add Luis Ayala and Jon Switzer to the list, as both were just designated for assignment and could be acquired more easily.
Sherman On Phillies, Rockies, Marlins
Joel Sherman of the New York Post explains how Jason Marquis and Ryan Spilborghs almost became Phillies and names a dangerous NL East team:
- A few weeks ago the Phillies and Rockies seriously discussed a deal that would have sent Marquis and Spilborghs to the Phillies for J.A. Happ and prospects.
- The Phillies would have acquired an innings eater and a righty bat, while the Rockies would have shed payroll and acquired young talent.
- The Rockies began an extended hot streak after the trade talks began, so they decided not to make the deal.
- Colorado is now quietly in search of a veteran reliever.
- Some believe the Marlins are a threat to win the NL East because of their talented young rotation.
- Sherman reminds us that the Marlins have "one of the most aggressive, successful front offices in the majors."
Josh Johnson Will Seek Big Payday
Josh Johnson won't be a free agent until after the 2011 season, but his agent's already anticipating a big contract, according to Manny Navarro and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. Matt Sosnick, who represents the Marlins righty, says his client deserves a hefty contract along the lines of A.J. Burnett's ($82.5MM) or C.C. Sabathia's ($161MM):
"The way that I think Josh needs to be valued is somewhere between Burnett's contract and Sabathia's contract, and probably closer to Sabathia's," Sosnick said. "Josh is that guy in two years."
If Johnson wants his deal to be closer to $161MM than $82.5MM, he's looking at a contract worth upwards of $122MM. In recent years, the Marlins have been willing to trade players other than Hanley Ramirez once they become expensive during their arbitration years or let them depart as free agents.
Johnson's agent can throw lofty numbers around, since Johnson's pitching so well this year. He's 7-1, and has allowed only 110 baserunners in 105 innings, striking out 88. Just yesterday, ESPN.com's Buster Olney called him the NL version of Roy Halladay. Johnson will be just 27 when he hits the open market, so expect a long list of bidders.
Odds & Ends: Pedro, Ordonez, Holliday
On this day in MLBTR history: Last year, the Blue Jays fired manager John Gibbons and Matt Holliday talks were still swirling. In '07, we actually cared who was on Eric Gagne's team veto list and saw Michael Barrett get traded to the Padres.
- Bill Ladson at MLBlogs got word that reports that a Nationals rep saw Pedro Martinez pitch Friday are untrue.
- Joe Pawlikowski at River Ave. Blues takes issue with CERA, the stat that tries to determine "catchers' ERA."
- Jason Beck at MLB.com has more clarification on Jim Leyland's comments on Magglio Ordonez and Scott Boras. Says Leyland: "It was total nonsense on the agent's part that I blindsided Magglio Ordonez."
- John Shea at the San Francisco Chronicle outlines a scenario where 16-year-old super-prospect Bryce Harper might fall to the A's in next year's draft.
- Bill Shaikin at the L.A. Times wonders if Holliday could end up with the Angels.
- Clark Spencer at the Miami Herald wonders where Josh Johnson will end up after 2012.
- Joel Sherman at the New York Post proposes an idea where the Commissoner's Office swallows one bad contract on each MLB team, and which he believes should go.
Rosenthal On Buyers And Sellers
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports predicts whether six of the teams on the fringes of the playoff race will become buyers or sellers between now and July 31st, providing some rumors along the way:
- The Cardinals, who are not interested in Miguel Tejada, are tracking Mark DeRosa.
- Carl Pavano, Jamey Carroll and Rafael Betancourt could all become trade candidates.
- The Indians will only move Victor Martinez or Cliff Lee if they're overwhelmed.
- Rosenthal predicts the White Sox will be buyers. After all, their offense has lots of room for improvement and they're just 3.0 games behind Detroit.
- If the Rockies sell, they could have two impressive trade chips in Jason Marquis and Huston Street.
- One GM predicts that demand for Street will be so intense that he'll command more in return than Matt Holliday will for the A's.
- The Yankees, Rangers and Dodgers could have interest if Street hits the market.
- The Astros won't likely add payroll, but Rosenthal doesn't expect them to sell.
- Along with Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn, the Mariners have Adrian Beltre. We don't know if any of them will hit the market, but Beltre's been hitting better for the last six weeks.
- The Marlins are looking for a reliever who can set up for Matt Lindstrom.
- Rosenthal predicts the Marlins will try to compete for as long as possible before considering deals for Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla and Jeremy Hermida.
Marlins Rumors: Ross, Hermida, Uggla
MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports that the Marlins aren't about to pull the trigger and deal away arbitration-eligible players in an effort to trim payroll. Instead, they feel ready to make a run at a postseason berth. Here are the specifics from Frisaro's blog post:
- The Marlins aren't actively shopping Dan Uggla, Cody Ross or Jeremy Hermida.
- Frisaro suggests the Braves offered Charlie Morton and Jeff Francoeur for Hermida before the Nate McLouth trade.
- The Marlins always look to obtain pitching in return for their players.
- The Braves are still looking to add a bat.
The Marlins are 32-34 now, third in the NL East and just 3.5 games behind the Cardinals in the Wild Card race. Don't look for them to deal anyone away unless they fall out of contention.
Morosi On Penny, Hermida, Padres
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports shows that Derek Jeter's much-criticized defense has been above average this year. He also provides some rumors, so let's take a look:
- One official said he doubts the Red Sox move Brad Penny. They can do so without his permission, now that we're two and a half months into the season.
- Morosi says Chris Young and Heath Bell are sure to attract interest, but says Kevin Towers doesn't have to trade either player.
- It's possible that the Padres will "flip relievers for prospects."
- The Braves like Jeremy Hermida, but it makes sense for them to pass the Marlins in the standings before inquiring on him.