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Rosenthal’s Latest: Athletics, Phillies

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From his Full Count video update, Ken Rosenthal brings us a couple bullet points:

  • In contention, the A’s suddenly could become a buyer. Rosenthal cites the big names: Matt Holliday, Jason Bay or even C.C. Sabathia, and that the A’s certainly have the prospects to pull it off.
  • The Phillies could enter the mix for Sabathia as well; however, they’d have to give up top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco is the top rated Phillies prospect for the second straight year by Baseball America.

By Nat Boyle

Oakland Designates Calero For Assignment

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To make room for RHP Santiago Casilla, the Oakland A’s have designated reliever Kiko Calero for assignment.

The 33-year old Calero began the season on the disabled list with a torn rotator cuff and finally returned on May 30th. Since then, the righty reliever was used very sparingly, only pitching 4 2/3 innings in five appearances in 2008 and had a 3.86 ERA over this span. Last year, Calero’s season ended in early September due to the rotator cuff injury and he had also missed three weeks in July with a sore shoulder.

Oakland now has ten days to waive, trade, or release him.

Paul Moro is a writer for UmpBump.com and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Kouzmanoff, Ricciardi, Wilson

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Today’s linkage…

Possible Replacements For Bavasi In Seattle

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John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting that the Mariners already have a list of names that they are considering to replace the fired Bill Bavasi.

Yesterday, we saw several sources that speculated on the next GM. Hickey spoke with a former GM who came up with a list of eight names that could possibly fill the post.

  • Kevin Towers, current San Diego Padres GM: Hickey notes that Towers has stuck with San Diego through a recent front office transition and may prefer to stay with the Pads.
  • Brian Cashman, current New York Yankees GM: The M’s wanted to talk to Cashman in ’03 but were rebuked. They may get a better chance this time to land a GM that once said "who wouldn’t want [The Mariners] job."
  • Kim Ng, Los Angeles Dodgers assistant GM: Was previously a candidate for the Dodgers job and is considered ready to be a GM.
  • Jerry DiPoto, Arizona Diamondbacks director of player personnel
  • Tony Bernazard, New York Mets vice president of player development: Previously a candidate for the Pirates job, Hickey wonders if Bernazard might want out with the Mets in flux.
  • Chris Antonetti, Cleveland Indians VP of baseball operations: Hickey notes that Antonetti may prefer to stay in Cleveland, having previously turned down an offer from the Pirates to interview for their GM post.
  • Mike Rizzo, Washington Nationals assistant GM and VP of baseball operations
  • Dave Forst, Oakland Athletics assistant GM

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex and can be reached here.

A’s Targeting Michel Inoa

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Peter Gammons mentioned earlier that signing 16 year-old righty Michel Inoa "would be the equivalent of signing a top 10 draft pick."  A’s GM Billy Beane is back in the Dominican Republic as he continues his pursuit.  It’s been suggested that the A’s might offer a $4MM bonus.  Baseball America’s Ben Badler recently noted that the record for an international amateur signing was Wily Mo Pena’s $2.44MM in ’99, excluding Cuban defectors.

According to ESPN’s Enrique Rojas on June 12th, all 30 teams have evaluated Inoa.  Aside from Beane, Brian Cashman and Kevin Towers have come to the D.R. to see the crown jewel in person.  Signings can begin on July 2nd.

Cubs Eyeing Giants or A’s?

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Cubs Special Assistant to the General Manager Gary Hughes attended an A’s-Giants game recently, according to Henry Schulman.  Could be nothing, since Hughes is based in the Bay Area.  But here at MLBTR I like to put all the info in front of you.

Schulman’s source indicated that the Cubs have not asked about the apparently available Randy Winn.

Gammons’ Latest: Sabathia, Dunn, Harden

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ESPN’s Peter Gammons has a new blog post up.

  • The Indians are "thoroughly scouting" eight teams that may be interested in C.C. Sabathia, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and Dodgers (the Mets may be another).  Gammons agrees with Ken Rosenthal that Mark Shapiro may trade Sabathia soon to maximize his value.  Gammons does not see the Yanks jumping in with Phil Hughes or a multi-prospect offer, unless Chien-Ming Wang’s injury forces their hand.  He does not think the Cubs or Phillies have the goods, but suggests the Rangers as a dark horse.
  • If the Cubs don’t have enough for Sabathia, Plan B could be Randy Wolf, Greg Maddux, or even Erik Bedard. The Padres and Mariners have been informed of the Cubs’ interest.
  • Gammons seems to indicate that Mark Teixeira could be available if the Braves fall out of the race (although Tex is not mentioned by name).
  • The Dodgers may have been open to trading Brad Penny, but his shoulder injury puts the kibosh on that.
  • Adam Dunn’s whifftastic ways scare the Red Sox, who might pass even if David Ortiz needs surgery.  Gammons suggests Josh Willingham would be a better fit.
  • Rich Harden could be a huge acquisition, one of the game’s most dominating pitchers.  It’s the same story though – will any team be willing to meet Billy Beane’s asking price given Harden’s injury history?

Odds and Ends: Bradley, Floyd, Threets

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Let’s round up some links.

Odds and Ends: Viciedo, Broussard, Rincon, Threets

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Time to round ’em up.

  • The A’s are leading the charge for international free agent pitcher Michael Inoa; they could offer him $4MM.  All teams have scouted him.
  • MLB.com’s Jim Molony names the Astros, Yankees, Cardinals, Angels, Mets, and Pirates as teams considering Cuban defector Dayan Viciedo (assuming he becomes a free agent).
  • The Orioles would like to sign Ben Broussard, if he’ll accept a minor league assignment.  Broussard if mulling his options and should sign within 24 hours.  He could step in if the Orioles trade Kevin Millar.
  • Jeff Weaver has been released by the Brewers.  Weaver’s lost it; he has a 6.22 ERA in nine Triple A starts.
  • The Twins have asked Juan Rincon to accept a minor league assignment.  If he refuses, the Twins will be on the hook for his salary and he’ll become a free agent.  Rincon’s last decent year was 2006.
  • No team was willing to keep lefty reliever Erick Threets in the Majors.  He cleared waivers and will head to Triple A as a member of the Giants organization.
  • Andy Pettitte wouldn’t commit, but admitted it’d be a "joy and an honor" to pitch at the new Yankee Stadium next year.
  • Tigers backup catcher Vance Wilson may retire after a setback in his elbow recovery.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Kemp, Bradley, Fuentes, Street

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New Rosenthal.  Seems like he just put a column out a few days ago.

  • Rosenthal believes the Dodgers would consider trading a young player (especially Matt Kemp) for a slugger.  He discusses what it would take to get Jason Bay, Magglio Ordonez, Adam Dunn, or Matt Holliday.  This all seems like a bad idea for the Dodgers.
  • There are certainly arguments for the Rangers to keep or even extend Milton Bradley.  But Rosenthal thinks he could net "multiple high-end prospects" if Jon Daniels goes the trade route.  He says the Rangers could shop some of their veterans while also trying to acquire a controllable reliever.
  • Rosenthal’s best guess is that the Pirates will trade Xavier Nady or Jason Bay but not both.  He says Neal Huntington is not under pressure to clear salary.
  • The Cubs are interested in Brian Fuentes, which is a new one.  Rosenthal adds that Jim Hendry plans to pursue the best available starter.
  • The Brewers have many quality minor league trade chips, and they may be looking for a starter.
  • Minimal trade interest in Huston Street, and the A’s have backed off the extension idea.
  • The Yankees are "aggressively" trying to move LaTroy Hawkins.
  • The Dodgers wanted to do an Esteban Loaiza–Juan Uribe swap, but the Sox just waited them out and signed Loaiza.
  • Rosenthal says the Phillies "lack the prospect inventory" to get an impact starting pitcher, which I don’t agree with.  He says they may look for another lefty reliever or bench bat.
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