Athletics Rumors

Odds and Ends: Dan Johnson, Baldelli, Soria

By Tim Dierkes | March 17, 2008 at 10:46am CDT

Let’s round up some linkage.

Last Thursday I appeared on WVOX 1460 out of New York with Russell Mafes. You can download the file here (it’s about 12 mb and 16 minutes long).
Jim Hendry is very candid about the Cubs’ desire to add a right-handed hitting outfielder who can handle center.
Mike Sweeney’s success and good health could mean Dan Johnson is on his way out of Oakland.
Jim Salisbury says the Phillies might have taken Rocco Baldelli 15th in the 2000 draft instead of Chase Utley, if they’d had the chance. Would the Mets or Dodgers have taken Utley, then?
Rany Jazayerli takes an in-depth look at Joakim Soria. Should the Royals give him a shot in the rotation later this year?
On my fantasy baseball blog RotoAuthority I talk about the dropoff after the first five catchers.

Gammons’ Latest: Bailey, Crisp, Giants

By Tim Dierkes | March 17, 2008 at 9:20am CDT

ESPN’s Peter Gammons posted to his blog yesterday; let’s take a look.

More negative vibes around the Reds’ Homer Bailey. His apparent availability seems odd given his talent. Bailey was described by an evaluator friend of Buster Olney as "someone who thinks he’s got it all figured out."
Gammons likes the fit of Barry Bonds in Seattle, but sees Jeff Clement as the team’s DH in the event that Richie Sexson starts to repeat his ’07.
The A’s still like Coco Crisp, but the Red Sox want young catching and/or pitching that the A’s would prefer to keep. Susan Slusser wrote on Saturday that talks between the two clubs had revived.
Giants scouts are apparently handing out a list to other teams with almost a dozen available players (basically all the veterans). The Giants currently have nine pitchers vying for three bullpen spots.

A’s Revive Talks For Crisp

By Tim Dierkes | March 15, 2008 at 8:50am CDT

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s and Red Sox are "believed to be discussing Coco Crisp again." Slusser wonders whether the Sox could target Chris Denorfia.

Crisp is guaranteed $11MM over the next two seasons, assuming his 2010 option is bought out. Oakland seems like a nice fit for Crisp as they seem likely to fully appreciate the value of his tough-to-quantify defense.

There seems only a slim chance Crisp makes the Japan trip with the Sox. He’s making progress on his groin injury, but any acquiring team is probably going to want to see him in games first.

Odds and Ends: Inge, Salcedo, Corey, Nathan

By Tim Dierkes | March 14, 2008 at 3:20pm CDT

I write this odds and ends post with two less wisdom teeth than I had yesterday. Looks like applesauce for dinner.

Jon Heyman says the Dodgers and Tigers haven’t talked lately, and doesn’t see L.A. taking on Brandon Inge’s $19.1MM. Aside from the standard Giants suggestion, Heyman puts on his speculation cap and wonders whether Inge could catch for Houston. What is J.R. Towles, chopped liver?
This is questionable, but hey, it’s a Friday. Hi5 is a popular social networking site in Central America. A reader sent me a link to this page, which may belong to future superstar kid shortstop/Boras client Edward Salcedo. The owner of the page slapped up a big ol’ Indians logo over a month ago with the caption "my team." I have to reiterate that I don’t know if this is really Salcedo’s page. The Tribe said on Tuesday that Salcedo remained unsigned.
The Orioles are observing 34 year-old journeyman reliever Bryan Corey.
Joe Nathan, still chatting contract with the Twins. Kelly Thesier noted that it was the Twins reaching out recently. Nathan’s agent will meet with them Tuesday.
Jacob Jackson goes out on a limb and wonders if Justin Upton could be Oakland’s first $100MM player.
The new Phils-ville blog is up.

A’s Talking Extension With Street

By Tim Dierkes | March 13, 2008 at 11:42am CDT

According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s are discussing a long-term extension with closer Huston Street. Slusser says a deal would likely cover Street’s last two arb years and possibly his first of free agency.

I have no idea if Street wants to break the bank. But if he compares himself to K-Rod, he could ask for something close to $17MM for 2009-10. The low end for Street’s last two arb years would have to be around $12MM. The A’s could point to J.J. Putz’s deal signed a year ago; he exchanged quite a bit of money for security. Ditto Manny Corpas, who was kind enough to give his team two club options.

Yankees Not Scouting Joe Blanton?

By Tim Dierkes | March 11, 2008 at 5:06pm CDT

5:05pm: Joel Sherman of the New York post says the Yankees were not watching Blanton specifically. The scouts were just doing normal coverage.

12:22am: According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Yankees had a scout watching Oakland starter Joe Blanton on Sunday.

Blanton, 27, saw his salary escalate to $3.7MM this year as he reached his arbitration years. He’ll remain under team control through the 2010 season. The projection would change if Blanton switched to pinstripes, but PECOTA sees a 4.36 ERA in 187 innings from him this year (a performance valued at $8.8MM).

The Yankees are relying on Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte to front their rotation. They’ll round it out with Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina, and Ian Kennedy. Joba Chamberlain is expected to join the rotation mid-summer. I imagine the Yanks are just doing their due diligence with Blanton; a preseason trade doesn’t seem likely.

Odds and Ends: Garland, Linden, A-Rod

By Tim Dierkes | March 10, 2008 at 11:54am CDT

Time to round up various tidbits and rumors.

Jon Garland says that unless his agent kept him in the dark, a long-term deal was never discussed with the White Sox. But in the unlikely event the Sox pursue Garland this winter, he’ll listen. Here’s a look others who will be free agents after this season and under 30 years old for ’09.
We’ve heard the Brandon Inge/Joe Crede rumors regarding the Dodgers. Tony Jackson speculates that Wes Helms or Jeff Cirillo could also be options.
Paul Sullivan says Aaron Rowand was the Cubs’ Plan B to Kosuke Fukudome.
ShysterBall can’t figure out why the Cubs would go after Coco Crisp.
Todd Linden is mashing so far this spring, but he gets the feeling he won’t make the A’s. The 27 year-old switch-hitter has a Major League line of .231/.303/.335 in 502 ABs.
Jon Heyman has an inside look at Alex Rodriguez’s offseason adventure.
In addition to the aforementioned Brandon Medders and Dustin Nippert, Arizona’s Edgar Gonzalez is out of options and has drawn interest.

Odds and Ends: Johnson, Ponson, Nady

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2008 at 10:37pm CDT

Ever lose a contact in the bathroom and scour for it for hours? That was my morning. Good times. On to the links.

Friend of MLBTR Susan Slusser notes that the Giants had two scouts watching the A’s on Wednesday. One guy they might have been eyeing is first baseman Dan Johnson. It seems that Johnson, who is out of options, may be able to linger around on the A’s roster until at least mid-April given the expanded rosters for the Japan series. And since Slusser’s article we’ve learned that Daric Barton’s hand injury is more serious than initially thought. That could buy Johnson even more time if the A’s aren’t ready to trade him.
The Cardinals, Mariners, Royals, and Diamondbacks, Astros, and Rangers were among teams with scouts watching Sidney Ponson touch 94mph today. He’s stopped drinking and lost some weight; who knows, maybe he can help an NL club.
Peter Abraham views Joba Chamberlain’s recent comments with a little skepticism.
MLB.com’s Marty Noble calls a Mets trade for Xavier Nady "quite unlikely," though an anonymous Mets player likes the idea.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Thames, Konerko, Ellis, Atkins

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2008 at 9:06am CDT

Ken Rosenthal has a new column up; let’s take a look.

Rosenthal dissects the outfield options for the Mets, many of the names we’ve been speculating. He notes that the Mets’ talks for Marcus Thames fizzled during the Winter Meetings.
He says Paul Konerko "remains quietly available," and expresses the opinion that the Mets or Yankees could both use him. Rosenthal believes Chicago’s biggest need is starting pitching.
Rosenthal speculates that six years at $18MM per might be the Rockies’ limit for Matt Holliday. Will the Scott Boras client demand full market value? Also, Colorado doesn’t seem to have any plans to lock up Garrett Atkins.
Signing Mark Ellis to an extension rather than trading him is a possibility for the A’s. Three or four years at $5MM per would be the going rate.
Though Dylan Hernandez wrote that the Dodgers "don’t appear to be interested in Brandon Inge," Rosenthal says they’re "indeed intrigued."

Odds and Ends: Thames, Sosa, Inge, Crisp

By Tim Dierkes | March 5, 2008 at 11:40am CDT

Here’s today’s link roundup.

MetsBlog passes along a Jon Heyman WFAN appearance tidbit. The SI.com writer said the Mets and Tigers are discussing a Marcus Thames for Jorge Sosa swap. Thames definitely fits the Mets’ needs, though Sosa seems a little light for him.
I did a fantasy baseball mailbag for Hardball Times.
Brandon Inge tries to explain his comments about catching.
John Smoltz has advice for Cole Hamels.
Nice to see a popular player legitimately spending time to sign fan mail.
Buster Olney says the Red Sox and A’s are still discussing Coco Crisp.
Olney also notes that "talent evaluators say the Reds have demonstrated a clear willingness to deal Homer Bailey."

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