Athletics Rumors

Odds And Ends: Hunter, Hissey, Westmoreland, Minaya

By Alejandro Leal | August 16, 2008 at 9:49am CDT

Some links on a post-signing-draft-picks-deadline Saturday:

The A’s were able to sign Brett T. Hunter before the deadline.
The Red Sox signed fourth-rounder Peter Hissey, and fifth-rounder Ryan Westmoreland.
David Lennon of Newsday believes Omar Minaya’s job is secure, and he’ll be with the Mets for a while.

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Rumors? Comments? alexo05 (at) umpbump (dot) com.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Angels, D’Backs, Giambi, Ellis

By Tim Dierkes | August 15, 2008 at 9:06am CDT

Here is the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Many important Angels will reach free agency this winter: Mark Teixeira, Francisco Rodriguez, Jon Garland, and Juan Rivera. Rosenthal doesn’t expect any of these four back. Garret Anderson’s $14MM option will not be exercised, but he could be re-signed. John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero both have reasonable club options for ’09, but the Halos need to plan beyond that.
Several journalists have noted the D’Backs may restock the farm system if they let Adam Dunn, Orlando Hudson, Brandon Lyon, and Juan Cruz depart as free agents after the season. They’re not worried about Dunn accepting an offer of arbitration. Why would he want a one-year deal?
Rosenthal guesses the Indians, Mariners, Blue Jays, and A’s might have interest in Jason Giambi this winter. Giambi’s .398 OBP ranks 7th in the AL. The leader: fellow free agent Milton Bradley at a staggering .446.
Mark Ellis surprisingly postponed negotiations with the A’s on an extension. It had been said Ellis wanted to figure out a contract before season’s end. He’s the affordable free agent alternative to Hudson.
The Twins are trying to get creative to find bullpen help. GM Bill Smith says he’s made many waiver claims and won some.
Rosenthal says "speculation persists" that J.P. Ricciardi will be canned after the season.
The Tigers aren’t considering trading Magglio Ordonez, but Nate Robertson could be moved this winter. Robertson seems due for a move back to the NL. He earns $7MM in ’09 and $10MM in ’10.
The Reds are being questioned for holding on to relievers David Weathers and Jeremy Affeldt.

Embree Claimed By Twins, Pulled Back

By Tim Dierkes | August 13, 2008 at 10:49am CDT

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Twins claimed Oakland lefty Alan Embree off waivers, but the A’s pulled him back. He can no longer be traded this season.

Embree is having a poor season with a 5.40 ERA, but the Twins were still willing to take on the $815K still owed to him this year. Apparently the A’s wanted more than salary relief for Embree.

Odds and Ends: Ibanez, Dunn, Blake, Stewart

By Tim Dierkes | August 12, 2008 at 9:53am CDT

Let’s kick off the morning with some random links.

Live chat here today at 2pm CST.
Brian Matusz is hopeful about striking a deal with the Orioles by Friday’s deadline. Roch Kubatko has a source saying it’s likely.
Baseball America’s Jim Callis warns us not to listen to the posturing – he still expects all the first-round draft picks to sign with the possible exception of Allan Dykstra.
Should the Mariners offer Raul Ibanez a three-year deal at $10-11MM per?
No word yet on possible Rays acquisitions in wake of the Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria injuries. Marc Lancaster wonders if Kenny Lofton or…don’t say it…Barry Bonds would make sense.
The Mets had no interest in Adam Dunn. They wonder about his passion, according to Joel Sherman. Did you know he doesn’t like baseball?
The Phillies were more interested in Casey Blake than Manny Ramirez.
Athletics Nation looks at some free agent options for ’09.
Shannon Stewart didn’t understand his latest Blue Jay Experience.
The Yankees, Mets, Angels, and Padres have scouts at the Olympics to watch Hitoki Iwase, Koji Uehara, Kenshin Kawakami, Yu Darvish, and Kyuji Fujikawa.

Odds and Ends: Kielty, Ellis, Bonds, Poreda

By Tim Dierkes | August 11, 2008 at 11:40am CDT

Time to for today’s link collection.

The Twins signed Bobby Kielty to a minor league deal. The former Twin was released by the Red Sox in July. When he’s going good, he can hit lefties pretty well.
Peter Magowan is glad the Giants didn’t successfully pull off an attempted trade for Manny Ramirez before the ’07 season. However, as Henry Schulman notes, that might’ve prevented the Barry Zito contract.
The Reds haven’t talked to the agents for any of their potential free agents, and no decision has been made on Adam Dunn.
Susan Slusser wonders if the D’Backs will try to acquire second baseman Mark Ellis in the wake of Orlando Hudson’s season-ending injury, though manager Bob Melvin does not expect an acquisition.
It’s a moot point since they’re not interested, but Astros manager Cecil Cooper would quit if the team signed Barry Bonds.
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune notes that the Rockies asked for ’07 first-rounder Aaron Poreda for Brian Fuentes. Instead, Rogers believes he could get a big-league look.
Ken Davidoff talks to agent Joe Bick about how Brian Giles went about choosing the teams on his no-trade list.
The Rangers made their first Korean amateur signing, inking a high school righty named Tae-kyeong Ahn. They also signed Dominican outfielder Esdras Abreu, among others.

Huston Street Claimed On Waivers

By Tim Dierkes | August 8, 2008 at 8:42pm CDT

8:42pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney says a non-contender won the claim on Street and brief trade talks didn’t go anywhere. No big surprise; he’ll stay put for now.

9:03am: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes of "rumblings that several teams had put in waiver claims on A’s closer Huston Street." A’s assistant GM David Forst wouldn’t comment specifically, but it is believed the team is unlikely to move Street this month. The A’s would have to receive prospects not on a team’s 40-man roster, or else somehow convince the Royals, Indians, and Mariners not to claim their return package.

Street, 25, has a 4.20 ERA in 49.1 innings this year. His strikeout rate is down, while walks and home runs are up. Plus, his average fastball velocity has slipped below 90 mph. Street dealt with a groin strain in June.

The A’s talked about an extension with Street in March, which would’ve covered his last two arbitration years and perhaps his first of free agency. Street will earn a raise from his current $3.3MM for his ’09 salary.

Renck’s Mailbag: Snell, Helton, Holliday

By Tim Dierkes | August 4, 2008 at 6:20pm CDT

Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post published a mailbag today with some good rumors.

The Pirates wanted Franklin Morales, Esmil Rogers, and Chris Nelson for Ian Snell. Can’t blame ’em for asking.
Last winter, the A’s asked for Ubaldo Jimenez in a deal for Dan Haren. As good as Haren’s been, the Rockies still have to be happy they passed.
Renck doesn’t see the Rox picking up Shawn Chacon – reportedly he has not been working out over the past month.
Renck reveals that Todd Helton asked the Rockies upon signing his megadeal that money not be deferred. Nonetheless it’d be an intriguing way to free up cash to use on Matt Holliday. Renck feels the Rockies might offer Holliday five years, while he’ll seek seven.

Ellis Still Talking Extension With A’s

By Tim Dierkes | August 4, 2008 at 3:51pm CDT

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle:

Mark Ellis said that his agent, Jamie Murphy, has had more talks with the A’s recently about a possible multiyear contract.

We last heard about these talks on June 25th. Ellis would like to reach an agreement before the season ends. The A’s already have a wealth of second base prospects – Jemile Weeks, Adrian Cardenas, and Eric Patterson.

Lefty Relievers: Ohman, Grabow, Eyre, Mahay

By Tim Dierkes | July 31, 2008 at 2:50pm CDT

2:50pm: Stark says Ohman’s probably staying put despite interest from ten teams.

2:39pm: Buster Olney says the Phillies will probably come up empty on a lefty reliever.

2:02pm: Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald says the Braves asked for a pitching prospect for Ohman, and the Red Sox passed. Mahay remains a possibility.

1:07pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says the Braves could keep Ohman. So far they’re not finding offers superior to the supplemental draft pick they could get after the season.

THURSDAY, 12:24pm: Jayson Stark has the Yanks and Red Sox battling for Eyre.

WEDNESDAY, 11:50pm: Let’s talk lefty relievers.

David O’Brien names the Red Sox, Cardinals, Rays, Tigers, and White Sox parties interested in Will Ohman. But the Sox might end up with John Grabow, and the Tigers may be content with Kyle Farnsworth as their relief addition. Grabow may also be on the Rays’ radar.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman has the Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox after Ohman, with the Cardinals out of the bidding.
Sean McAdam sees Boston’s interest in Ohman as minimal. Instead, they’re eyeing Scott Eyre and Ron Mahay. They’ve even offered Brandon Moss for Mahay, which seems solid. Nick Cafardo believes righties Huston Street and J.J. Putz are still in the mix.
15 scouts watched Arthur Rhodes struggle tonight.

D’Backs, Angels, Mets, Rays, A’s Unlikely To Make Trades

By Tim Dierkes | July 31, 2008 at 2:06pm CDT

2:05pm: Count the D’Backs out, per Buster Olney.

1:35pm: Toss the Angels into the "not making a deal today" barrel.

12:38pm: The Rays and Mets also seem quiet today.

11:00am: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the A’s are not likely to make a trade today. Olney’s source puts it at 1%. So, looks like Justin Duchscherer and Huston Street can rest easy.

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