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Relief Rumors: Grabow, Marlins, Yankees

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Contenders are always in the hunt for relief help this time of year. Let's scope out the latest on that front:

  • After refusing to deal Eric Young Jr. for John Grabow or Joe Beimel, the Rockies have lowered their aim, notably toward the Orioles' Mark Hendrickson, says Joel Sherman at the New York Post.
  • The Marlins are in the mix for Grabow's services, says Joe Frisaro at MLB.com.
  • CBS Sports' Danny Knobler says the Yankees have steered their focus toward middle relief help, but too many of their desired names reside in the AL East.
  • The Cardinals are indeed still interested in bringing back righty Russ Springer, says Mychael Urban at MLB.com.

Twins Targeting Relievers & Infielders

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The Twins are targeting teams with both infielders and relievers available in the hopes of addressing their two biggest needs in one trade, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. John Grabow and Freddy Sanchez could be packaged together, as could Michael Wuertz and Orlando Cabrera. The Twins are still interested in Marco Scutaro and the Blue Jays have appealing relievers in Jason Frasor, Scott Downs and Brandon League.

The Twins would like to add a starter now that Kevin Slowey is out indefinitely, but they don't expect to acquire one. 

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.

A’s Rumors: Wuertz, Duchscherer

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Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports have the latest on some of the Athletics' trade candidates:

  • The Angels are one of many teams interested in reliever Michael Wuertz. He's under team control through 2011 and strikes out 11.8 batters per nine innings, so the A's would have to be wowed to move him.
  • The A's would likely accept a "modest prospect" for Justin Duchscherer, who's currently rehabbing. There's about $1.3MM remaining on the righty's contract before he hits free agency after the season. 

Olney On Nats, Blue Jays, Braves

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One GM told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that the Nats are in a tougher position than it seems. They can obtain value in return for players like Nick Johnson this week, but without veteran contributors, the team could win something like 45 games. That kind of season, says the GM, is "hard to live down." Here are the rest of Olney's rumors:

  • The Braves would like to add a reliever, but they're not likely to trade for any big-name players.
  • Justin Duchscherer looked good in his rehab start yesterday. 
  • Olney hears that the Blue Jays want to re-sign Marco Scutaro after the season even if they trade him this week.  

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.

Odds & Ends: Garko, Kotsay, Holliday, Tigers

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Congratulations to Rickey Henderson, Jim Rice, and the late Joe Gordon on their inductions into baseball's Hall of Fame today. The Red Sox were rumored to be looking for a righthanded bat that can play the outfield earlier today, maybe Rickey's still got something left in the tank. Anyway, here's some links…

Cafardo’s Latest: Martinez, Boston, Pitching

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In his latest piece for The Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo reports that the Indians turned down an offer of Clay Buchholz for Victor Martinez according to an NL scout. The Red Sox then countered with a package of Michael Bowden, Justin Masterson, and an outfield prospect, but the Indians turned that down as well.

Let's round up the rest of Cafardo's rumors…

  • In addition to Boston, the Indians are also fielding offers from the Rays and Giants for Martinez, but aren't inclined to make a deal unless a team's best prospects are involved.
  • Cafardo runs through the list of other pitchers that "could be pried away," including Scott Kazmir, Cliff Lee, Erik Bedard, Jarrod Washburn, and George Sherrill. He says it'll take "a blockbuster package" to land Lee.
  • Aubrey Huff and Kevin Millar are also available.
  • The Red Sox will "dip in the (Roy) Halladay sweepstakes" if the price comes down, but otherwise will look for a righthanded bat that can play the outfield.
  • Cafardo says it will be interesting to see if the Yankees, Phillies and Dodgers are aggressive at the deadline or take a pass, considering all three clubs are playing well right now.
  • The White Sox could pull off something big because GM Kenny Williams "has a bit of gambler in him."
  • It'll be interesting to see if the Giants' plans to add a bat are put on hold after the sudden death of principal owner Sue Burns.
  • Twins GM Bill Smith may add a middle infielder and/or a reliever before the deadline. Last night we learned that they were "deep into talks and talking composition of a deal" with the A's about Orlando Cabrera. The team might be able to stretch it's normal payroll with Target Field opening next year.
  • Cafardo proposes a "swap of underachieving Scott Boras clients," J.D. Drew and Magglio Ordonez.
  • While there is some uneasiness about there not being any substantive talks between the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg, those kind of deals can come together quickly. The signing deadline is August 17th.
  • The Rangers are unable to add payroll, which will hamstring their efforts that the trade deadline.

Red Sox Looking At Shortstops

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Despite welcoming Jed Lowrie back to lineup after a prolonged injury hiatus, the Red Sox are still looking for an upgrade at shortstop. SI.com's Jon Heyman reports that Boston has been checking out Jack Wilson and Orlando Cabrera, who are no strangers to this year's rumor circuit. 

Earlier today we learned that the Twins were also interested in the molten hot Cabrera, who is hitting .373-.395-.530 in July.

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.

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