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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Cards, Sheets, Twins, Pirates, K-Rod, Sabean

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A few random notes from around the baseball Blogosphere…

  • Rockin’ The Red says one of the priorities for the Cardinals this offseason should be signing a left-handed reliever. They examine the upcoming free agent market and feel Will Ohman and Jeremy Affeldt are the most attractive options.
  • Was Watching explores the Yankees "lust" for Ben Sheets and notes that he may be a better option than A.J. Burnett and CC Sabathia.
  • Twinkie Town projects the Twins ’09 payroll.
  • Where have you gone, Andy Van Slyke? says it is better for the Pirates to wait and add payroll noting that a small increase now will not make the Buccos a contender. They believe it makes more sense to wait until ’10 or ’11.
  • One writer at Fanhouse feels Chris Perez could keep the Cardinals from signing Francisco Rodriguez, giving the Cards money to spend on the rest of the bullpen.
  • Another writer at Fanhouse wonders why Brian Sabean is going to be back in ’09.
  • El Lefty Malo says Brian Sabean’s plan has "more or less worked". The suggestion is that it has only been one year since the rebuilding process began.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Hank Steinbrenner Forming Advisory Group

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SATURDAY: Cashman responds to the advisory group comments.  He wouldn’t say whether he wants to return.

THURSDAY: Peter Abraham relays comments Hank Steinbrenner made to the AP today.  Hank will review the entire organization and put together an advisory group for decision-making.  Brian Cashman would still be in charge, but it sounds like too many cooks in the kitchen.  Cashman probably will not want to stay if he loses autonomy.  Speculation is that Cashman could consider the vacancies in Philadelphia or Seattle.

One thing’s for sure – the Yankees are prepared to throw around some cash this winter.  Steinbrenner seemingly has regrets about not acquiring Johan Santana.  As far as the ’09 staff goes, Brian Cashman would have interest if Mike Mussina wants to come back.  Presumably the Yankees would add one or two more free agent starters after Mussina.

Rockies May Consider Trading Holliday, Atkins

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Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News thinks the Rockies are primed for a major shakeup this winter.  Specifically, GM Dan O’Dowd could move two star players in Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins.

Ringolsby figures the Phillies, Angels, Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox will be the main suitors for Holliday.  The 28 year-old is hitting .311/.403/.492 on the road this year, suggesting he could be a .900 OPS masher in any park. I’m not seeing the fit for the Red Sox, while the Yanks could work Holliday in if they let Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu leave.  The other three teams also make sense in certain scenarios.  But do the Phillies have the top-level pitching needed to acquire Holliday?  It’s been suggested in the past that dark horses such as the Royals or Nationals could enter the mix for the slugger.

Atkins, 28, is hitting .235/.281/.386 away from Coors.  His road OPS was under .800 last year as well, so suitors will be wary.  Ringolsby suggests the Angels, Twins, Red Sox, and Yankees here.  Again I don’t see the fit for Boston.  The Twins would need faith in Atkins’ ability to play third base.  Unlike Holliday, Atkins is under team control through 2010.

Odds and Ends: Bass, Astros, Beltre, Marlins

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A roundup of links for your afternoon reading:

Week In Review: 8/24 – 8/30

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Sunday afternoon is here again… let’s have a look back at some of the moves and rumors since last time:

  • The injury-plagued Red Sox acquired Mark Kotsay to help compensate for their injuries. In exchange, the Braves received minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza. Nice acquisition by the Red Sox; Kotsay has been swinging a solid bat this season.
  • The Twins acquired Eddie Guardado from Texas in exchange for minor league pitcher Mark Hamburger. Guardado has spent the majority of his career with Minnesota and provides a solid arm to the bullpen. To make room for him, they DFA’d Mike Lamb. Nice move by the Twins, with the added benefit of being able to see "Rangers trade Guardado for Hamburger" in the news. Now that’s a headline!
  • The Phillies added a veteran player as well, when they acquired Matt Stairs from Toronto in exchange for minor league lefty Fabio Castro. Stairs should be a decent option off the bench, and he’s still perfectly capable of hitting the ball out of the park.
  • Scott Boras continues to find ways to create controversy. He’s now claiming that Pittsburgh’s top pick Pedro Alvarez verbally agreed to his $6MM signing bonus after the midnight deadline, and is trying to demand that the contract be renegotiated for a higher number. The Players Association has filed a grievance on his behalf. Alvarez could wind up back in the 2009 draft pool. Here’s a look at some baseball blogs’ opinions on the matter.
  • Minor moves: The Diamondbacks claimed Wil Ledezma off waivers from San Diego, the Braves signed Elmer Dessens to a minor-league contract, and the Astros gave one-year extensions to both Brian Moehler and Darin Erstad.

Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Lamb, Ibanez, Blake

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Hot stove highlights from Jayson Stark’s latest…

  • Stark sees the Mets picking up Carlos Delgado’s $12MM option for ’09, taking them out of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes.  He sees the Yankees in the mix for Tex.  Will Teixeira top the $140MM the Rangers offered him?
  • The Yanks will also pursue a top flight starting pitcher, with C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets as Plans A and B.
  • Stark does not see the Braves diving into megadeals for Sabathia, Sheets, or A.J. Burnett.  They’ll have payroll room, but could pursue trades or mid-tier free agents.
  • Stark says friends of Tom Glavine and John Smoltz indicate they both want another go at it in ’09.  They’re hoping the Braves will offer low-base incentivized deals.  If the Braves spurn Glavine, I wonder if he’ll sign with the Nationals.
  • Mike Lamb and the Phillies have mutual interest.  A trade might make more sense than awaiting his release, so that he’d be eligible for the postseason roster.
  • A friend of Raul Ibanez says the Mariners are unlikely to convince him to re-sign.  They’ll snag a couple of draft picks if they offer arbitration and he signs elsewhere.  The prospect of losing a draft pick makes Ibanez less attractive to other teams though.
  • The Dodgers are considering re-signing Casey Blake and moving Blake DeWitt to second base.

Mike Lamb Designated

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TUESDAY: MLB.com’s Jim Molony suggests Lamb could be a fit for the Phillies, Cubs, Mets, or Brewers.

MONDAY: According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, third baseman Mike Lamb was designated for assignment today to make room for Eddie Guardado.   Manager Ron Gardenhire questioned Lamb’s energy level.

Lamb is owed another $690K this year plus $3MM in ’09 and a $100K buyout for ’10.  Several moves and near-moves made by the Twins in recent months have shown a willingness to spend some dough midseason.

Lamb’s move back to the AL didn’t work out; he hit just .233/.276/.322 in 261 plate appearances.  Maybe he can help out in a utility role for a team like the Phillies.

Odds and Ends: Ricciardi, Guardado, Alvarez

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Let’s round ’em up…

Twins Acquire Eddie Guardado

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3:30pm: The Rangers will receive minor league reliever Mark Hamburger.  La Velle E. Neal III expects the Twins to pick up the rest of Guardado’s salary.

2:13pm: According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the Twins have acquired Eddie Guardado from the Rangers.  Joe Christensen wrote on Friday that the Twins would make a claim but didn’t expect a deal.

Guardado has been useful for the Rangers, posting a 3.65 ERA in 49.1 innings.  The ERA is a bit deceiving, but it’s still a helpful addition for the Twins.  Guardado is a familiar face, having spent a decade in the organization.  He’s still owed roughly $620K this year.

Rockies To Shop Atkins?

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Everyone expects the Rockies to move Matt Holliday for pitching this winter, but Troy E. Renck suggests it might be Garrett Atkins instead.  Atkins is expected to make around $8MM in arbitration next year, and with Ian Stewart developing at third and Todd Helton returning to first, Atkins becomes readily expendable.

Renck points out that the third basement free agent market is sorely lacking, boosting Atkins value in a trade.  Atkins can also play first base, making him a valuable player for ball clubs like the Twins and Angels.  From those teams, Renck lists Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey, Nick Adenhart, and Ervin Santana as young pitchers with huge upsides that could be a good fit.  Santana, however, has realized that upside so I wouldn’t consider him on the list.

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