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A’s Inquired On DeRosa, Didn’t Like Price

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Eric Chavez will have career-jeopardizing back surgery. He could return in time for Spring Training 2010, but Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says the A's are considering other options at third base in the meantime. They inquired on Mark DeRosa, but believe the Indians are asking for too much in return. The A's could  pursue DeRosa after the season and Slusser adds that Chone Figgins is a likelier free agent target. 

Mark Kotsay has recovered from two back surgeries to play center field in the majors, so he's an inspiring story for his former teammate.

Eric Chavez To Retire?

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Athletics manager Bob Geren informed the San Francisco Chronicle's Henry Schulman this afternoon that Eric Chavez is headed for back surgery.  The Oakland third baseman told the Chronicle's Susan Slusser last month that another procedure "would spell the end to his career," leaving his body "too unstable for baseball."

Chavez, 31, has a career batting line of .268/.345/.482 over 11 major league seasons, but has appeared in just 121 games since the start of the '07 season.

Heyman On Strasburg, Rockies, Holliday

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Jon Heyman of SI.com says Stephen Strasburg stands to make about $15-30MM from the Nationals. Here are the details:

  • The Nationals would receive the second pick in next year's draft if they fail to sign Strasburg, but this would not be an acceptable consolation prize for the team. First, Strasburg is a unique talent. Secondly, the Nats can't afford to keep pushing back their future.
  • Strasburg could sit out an entire year as J.D. Drew and Luke Hochevar did, but he'll receive an offer considerably larger than either of those two players, which could be hard to reject.
  • Heyman doesn't think it's likely that Strasburg would go to Japan if he fails to sign.

Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors:

  • Mark Shapiro isn't ready to sell his players, but he has many trade candidates if he decides this isn't the Indians' year. Kerry Wood would be a tough sell given his slow start and the $15MM plus remaining on his contract this year and next.
  • Chad Qualls and Tony Pena could become available, but one NL GM doubts Pena hits the market this year.  
  • Huston Street and Jose Valverde could also become available.  
  • Street, Jason Marquis and Ryan Spilborghs would be the easiest Rockies to deal.
  • Yorvit Torrealba is available. 
  • Some Yankees people love Mark DeRosa, but the team has no room for him.  
  • Executives still expect Billy Beane to deal Matt Holliday.  

Odds And Ends: Hawpe, Royals, Draft

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Some links for Wednesday morning…

Cardinals Chairman “Open” To Deals

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According to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. said the Cardinals are "open" to making trades, but won't deal just for the sake of making a change. Since many teams are still trying to contend, some big names are not yet available.

"I'm not certain a market's developed for any of the players who would help us," DeWitt said.

The Cardinals can afford to take on payroll, something many teams are reluctant to do. This means players like Matt Holliday are options if they become available. Holliday makes $13.5MM this season and any team trading for him would have to give up quality prospects as well. For now, and until the A's stop winning, it's a moot point. The A's aren't talking trades.

Olney On Economy, Penny, Strasburg

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Buster Olney said on ESPN Radio that the struggling economy could limit the number of trades we see this summer as fewer clubs are willing to take on contracts. Here are the details:

  • Since a limited number of teams can add salary, Olney suspects "very cheap players" could be the ones to move.
  • Teams are willing to give up less impressive prospects for expensive players, so the A's could be limited if they decide to deal Matt Holliday. However, they don't have to deal, so they can stand pat and collect picks after the season.
  • Olney says there's a good chance Brad Penny's moved within the next couple weeks. It won't be this week unless Penny gives his permission, since he can't be dealt before June 15th.  
  • The Indians are starting to ask themselves who they'll be dealing with if they decide to shop Mark DeRosa and others.   
  • Olney wonders if the Nats will offer Stephen Strasburg a record deal- say $18-20MM- immediately and stick with that offer until the August 15th signing deadline.  

Olney fleshes his ideas out in today's column, saying that teams like the Mariners and Padres may see less impressive bids for Erik Bedard and Jake Peavy as the perceived value of cheap, young players continues rising. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox want to keep their young talent, so they don't drive up the prices for players who could be moved. The Padres could simply keep Peavy instead of accepting a second-rate return for him.

A’s Don’t Have To Make Trades

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The A's are in last place, 7.5 games behind the Rangers and they've already been involved in their share of trade rumors, but as Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, they don't have to shed payroll. Now riding a six-game win streak, the A's can hold onto players like Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera if they continue to win.

The A's would receive two draft picks if Holliday signs elsewhere after the season, so they wouldn't lose him for nothing. Billy Beane points out that the A's haven't had many top picks over the years and he'd like the chance to bolster his farm system with some early selections. Of course the A's are still five games below .500, so this doesn't mean they won't talk trades eventually, they just don't have to.

Red Sox Inquired On Cabrera, Aren’t Interested

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Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox aren't interested in bringing Orlando Cabrera back to Boston, though they did inquire about the shortstop. McAdam's sources say the Red Sox would have to give up too much "in terms of his remaining salary and prospects." Instead, they're content to play Nick Green and Julio Lugo until Jed Lowrie returns. One team apparently determined that Cabrera, a two-time Gold Glover, is the worst defensive shortstop in the American League.

The Red Sox inquired on "a number of other veteran shortstops," including Jack Wilson, but they decided the asking price was too high. Even if Lowrie struggles once he returns, they'll have time to deal before the July 31st trade deadline.

Red Sox Show Interest In Orlando Cabrera

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According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, the Red Sox have "had conversations" with the A's about shortstop Orlando Cabrera, who was Boston's shortstop on their 2004 World Series club. Cabrera is hitting just .235/.286/.303 after signing a one year, $4MM contract this offseason. He will receive a $250,000 bonus if traded. Boston shortstops have hit .235-.311-.325 this season.

Olney also says the Red Sox have also talked to the Pirates about Jack Wilson, but says the two teams don't match up well because "the Red Sox probably would prefer to keep some financial flexibility in the event that they need to acquire a DH type" in case David Ortiz doesn't turn it around. Wilson is still owed close to $6MM this season.

Olney on Reyes, McLouth, Holliday

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ESPN.com's Buster Olney wonders if the currently injured Jose Reyes has already peaked, quoting a scout who says "I don't see a lot of evolution there … Jimmy Rollins struggled early in his career, but then he just kept getting better and better, and I'm not really seeing that in Reyes." Olney likens the situation to Mark Prior's, who seemingly held the Cubs hostage with his potential. Reyes will turn just 26 next week, but Olney says that going forward "the Mets should not assume that Reyes is going to be an unmovable foundation piece," however he is not advocating a trade just yet.

Here's the rest of Olney's rumors:

  • Olney heard that the Pirates were concerned about Nate McLouth's defensive abilities, so they moved him now before his trade value diminished.
  • Billy Beane will soon have to make a decision about whether or not he should trade Matt Holliday, because other teams will start inquiring soon.
  • Olney speculates that the Cardinals could be interested in Holliday, which would satisfy Tony LaRussa's desire for a big bat. He also says that Cards' prospect Brett Wallace would be a good fit for Oakland, but that seems like a hefty price for just three or four months of Holliday.
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