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Odds & Ends: Reds, Braves, Cards, Cubs, Red Sox

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A few links to start your evening off right…

  • Reds CEO Bob Castellini says he believes "we’re not at that point" of selling players yet, according to John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer. The Reds were rumored to be making a move earlier.
  • The Braves are "confident that they could stand pat through Friday's Trade Deadline and still have the pieces to continue their run toward the postseason," according to MLB.com's Mark Bowman.
  • MLB.com's Matthew Leach writes that "John Mozeliak sounded like it's all but certain that the Cardinals will not trade any more prospects before the deadline." He does mention that if they can move Troy Glaus, they will look into it.
  • Alfonso Soriano said he doesn't think the Cubs need any big trades, according to Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune. The Cubbies were reportedly looking for a lefty reliever over the weekend.
  • Ben Collins of The Boston Globe has an interesting quote from Red Sox manager Terry Francona: “I listen to the talks. I don’t listen to the radio, but I talk to Theo. Some of the people I hear talked about on the radio — you guys have no idea.”
  • Joe Christensen of The Star Tribune mentions that Twins starter Kevin Slowey is going to have season ending surgery on his right wrist. The club has been looking for infield help, but this could have them searching a little harder for pitching help.
  • SI.com's Cliff Corcoran wrote about the five contenders with the biggest pitching needs and the biggest offensive holes.
  • ESPN's David Schoenfield listed the 15 players with the least trade value. Barry Zito and the $89.1MM owed to him through 2013 tops the list.
  • ESPN's Howard Bryant penned a long but very interesting piece about Billy Beane and his legacy since Moneyball.

Blue Jays Rumors: Scutaro, Rolen

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12:23pm: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse reports that the Jays are scouting the Reds. Could the Rolen-Reds rumors have legs or are the Jays just doing their homework?

10:37am: The Blue Jays aren't expected to move anyone until they determine whether to trade Roy Halladay. But, as Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports, some other Jays are drawing interest:

  • The Twins, who are interested in Orlando Cabrera, inquired about Marco Scutaro. Both shortstops are likely to be Type A free agents after the season.
  • It doesn't look like the Reds will acquire Scott Rolen, now that they're nine games below .500 and in fifth place. A few weeks ago the Reds wanted to trade for Rolen, but asked the Jays to pay half of his $11MM salary next year. 

Twins Hope GM Deals For Help

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They're a game under .500, but the AL Central title remains well within reach for the Minnesota Twins. Historically the team has been quiet at the deadline, but the Twins' biggest stars hope this year's different. Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer and Joe Nathan all say they hope GM BIll Smith can add to the team by Friday, according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Mauer feels "frustration" every time the team stands pat at the deadline, so Morneau wonders if the star catcher will want to return after 2010, when he becomes a free agent.

"If we don't do anything this year, I can't see how he's going to want to come back and go through this every year," Morneau said.

The Twins, now 4.0 games back of the division lead, are interested in middle infielders and relief pitching. 

Twins Eyeing A’s Orlando Cabrera

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SUNDAY, 10:31pm: As the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser notes, a few key members of the Twins are also pining for Cabrera.  

According to Cabrera," Slusser writes, "when the A's played Minnesota last week, every time Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau got on base, they'd say, " 'We're trying to get you! We want to get you here!'"

But, Slusser also adds this: "An A's source told The Chronicle last week that the Twins' offer wasn't what Oakland was looking for. Minnesota sounds motivated enough to have improved the offer, but it's also possible that it would take a multi-team deal to make it happen."

SATURDAY, 11:36pm: I just swapped emails with ESPN's Buster Olney, who recently discussed Cabrera and the Twins in a radio appearance.  Olney says the Twins are "deep into talks and talking composition of a deal" with the A's for O-Cab.

4:31pm: According to Kelsie Smith with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Twins, and especially manager Ron Gardenhire, are interested in A's shortstop Orlando Cabrera. 

"I like Cabrera, yes," Gardenhire said Saturday.  "I'm not allowed to talk about players, but yes I like Cabrera.  It's a direct question.  I can answer a direct question.  I think he's a great player."


The Twins have been searching for a reliable shortstop since the offseason. Cabrera is piecing together an excellent July at the plate, and is now batting .274/.312/.362 overall with four home runs, 39 RBI and nine stolen bases.  He has about $1.5MM remaining on his contract and is a free agent after this season.
 
Tim Dierkes also contributed to this post.

Teams Scouting George Sherrill

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Ed Price at AOL Fanhouse tweets that the Twins, Angels and Dodgers are all scouting Orioles lefty George Sherrill.

The Orioles have frequently stated they're not interested in becoming a farm system for other teams, but it's believed Sherrill will still be moved. Sherrill has also been recently linked to the Rangers, as well as the Brewers and White Sox, and recently the Marlins and Cubs. The Orioles are said to potentially want young pitching in return.

A’s Rumors: Wuertz, Cabrera, Angels

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Susan Slusser at the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Angels are "prepared to make a strong bid" for RHP Michael Wuertz's services. That strong bid could begin with infielder Sean Rodriguez.

However, it's unclear if the A's would be willing to trade Wuertz within the division–Wuertz is under team control for two more years.

Slusser also notes that the Twins have expressed interest in SS Orlando Cabrera, who has a .925 OPS in July, but they might not have a prospect package good enough to entice the A's.

A’s Rumors: Kennedy, Wuertz, Cabrera

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Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle passes along the latest on three Athletics not named Matt Holliday:

  • Mid-season acquisition Adam Kennedy says he loves it in Oakland and wants to remain with the A's.
  • The Twins are looking at Michael Wuertz and Orlando Cabrera as they attempt to improve their bullpen and middle infield.
  • Wuertz makes $1.1MM and Cabrera makes $4MM, so both are relatively affordable options for the Twins, who are 2.5 games back of the AL Central lead.

Twins To Sign Mark Grudzielanek

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The Twins agreed to terms with Mark Grudzielanek on a minor league deal, according to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Grudzielanek, who just turned 39, will provide the Twins with middle infield depth. The 14-year veteran hit .299 last year in 86 games with the Royals, while playing above-average defense at second. He'll report to the Twins' Gulf Coast League affiliate.

The signing was first reported by SethSpeaks.net.

Odds & Ends: Pirates, Sano, White Sox, Blue Jays

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Here's some links to check out as you celebrate the return of a full slate of baseball games…

  • Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says something doesn't add up about the Pirates reported interest in signing Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez to contract extensions. He wonders if the team will make low-ball offers that the players have no choice but to reject just so they can say "The players refused our offers and left us with no choice but to trade them away and improve our organization's future."
  • Twins vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff is in the Dominican Republic to take a look at Miguel Angel Sano, according to Charley Walters of The Pioneer Press.
  • Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune notes that when asked about the team's interest in acquiring Roy Halladay, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said ""I don't think were going to give up half the organization for one player."
  • Dave Cameron at FanGraphs has reached the top ten in his series of post about the 50 MLB players with the most trade value.
  • The Blue Jays have signed their fourth round pick according to Bob Elliott of The Toronto Sun.

Odds And Ends: Twins, Iglesias, Rockies

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More links to read through as the second half gets underway…

  • Which AL teams have the easiest route to the playoffs? ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Twins have a favorable schedule from here on.
  • Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus has the details on the Jose Iglesias deal. The Red Sox awarded the slick-fielding shortstop a $3MM bonus and will pay the remainder of his $8.25MM deal over the next four years.
  • ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick says the Rockies need to fortify their bullpen before the end of the month. 
  • Tune in to The Big 1070 at 3:25 CST and Team 1380 in St. Louis at 6:20 CST, as I'll be talking trades on both stations.
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