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Matt Garza For Carlos Quentin?

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Shooter!  It’s time for some new rumors courtesy of Charley Walters.  You like rumors don’t you?

  • Walters tosses out the idea of a Matt Garza for Carlos Quentin swap.  He’s the guy who was saying previously that Garza for Delmon Young wouldn’t die.  I think if Quentin demonstrated good health this could be a fair swap.  Meanwhile, Buster Olney suggests Quentin could end up an Athletic if the D’Backs look to acquire Dan Haren or Joe Blanton.  However, Nick Piecoro doesn’t see it happening.
  • No extension talks going on with Justin Morneau, and it’s arbitration time.  Hey, maybe those trade rumors had substance after all.  Nah, probably not.
  • Walters echoes Ken Rosenthal in suggesting that Joe Nathan will be traded.  He believes talks with the Brewers could be forthcoming.

Heyman’s Latest: Piazza, Matthews, Milledge

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman checks in with a new Daily Scoop column full of rumors.

  • A lot of the standard trade talk we’ve seen regarding Miguel Cabrera, Johan Santana, Miguel Tejada, and Dan Haren.  All these guys require two good young players or more in a trade.
  • Mike Piazza is considering DHing in Japan if he doesn’t find anything he likes in the U.S. 
  • Heyman talked to an AL exec who speculated that the Angels may try to unload Gary Matthews Jr.  GMJ makes $9MM in ’08, $10MM in ’09, $11MM in ’10, and $12MM in ’11.  He currently has a full no-trade clause.
  • Juan Uribe and Vicente Padilla are two salary-dump types whose names have surfaced in recent trade talks (unrelated to each other).  Padilla is owed $24.75MM over the next two seasons.
  • Heyman believes the Mets are very willing to trade Lastings Milledge and have discussed him often.
  • We knew the Mets had discussed Ramon Hernandez and Gerald Laird.  Heyman adds the Nats’ Brian Schneider to the mix.  He makes $4.9MM in ’08 and another $4.9MM in ’09.

Olney On Blanton And Haren

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Buster Olney has been digging up all sorts of good trade rumors, and I’m happy to pass along his info.  Let’s start with the A’s.

We recently discussed Eric Chavez, who as far as we know is staying put but wouldn’t get in Billy Beane’s way if he decides to move him.  However, with apologies to Chavez, the hot stove buzz around the A’s will be focused on their young pitching.

We know Dan Haren would draw a huge bounty of three to five very good young players.  We can assume that Joe Blanton would command a similar price, maybe slightly less.  Olney revealed today that Billy Beane isn’t likely to rebuild and try to contend simulataneously.  Instead, he would have a massive fire sale.  If Haren goes, Blanton and Huston Street probably would too.  Olney says Beane’s plan would be similar to the Marlins with Miguel Cabrera – target specific blue-chip prospects and approach those teams.

The Dodgers, Mets, Diamondbacks, and Yankees are named as teams that would figure to be in on an Oakland fire sale.  Those are the clubs with top shelf prospects that are going hard after starting pitching this winter.  This is shaping up to be one hell of a hot stove league.  Matthew Cerrone adds that if the Angels strengthen themselves by adding Cabrera (which Olney expects), that would further encourage the A’s to punt on ’08.

Chavez Would Waive No-Trade Rights

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My apologies for the misleading title – there are no indications Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez is a trade candidate currently.  But he did tell Billy Beane that he’d waive his no-trade rights if the A’s needed to trade him to improve the team.

Chavez, who turns 30 soon, currently has a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block deals to the Blue Jays, Nationals, Rays, Mets, Twins, Brewers, Marlins, and Indians.  After he finishes the 2008 season, he’ll get full no-trade protection as a 10 and 5 player.  Under his current contract Chavez will make $11MM in ’08, $11MM in ’09, and $12MM in ’10.  For 2011 he has a $12.5MM club option with a $3MM buyout attached.

Chavez is a tough guy, playing through a lot of pain over the years.  He slumped to a career-worst .240/.306/.446 line last year.  He’s already had three surgeries this offseason – both shoulders and his lower back.  He had been playing with torn labrums in both shoulders.  He hopes to be ready and finally healthy for the start of next season.

Susan Slusser’s above-linked article also has a quote from Chavez about how he’d welcome Barry Bonds but it would be hard to sign him now.  A’s owner Lew Wolff seems to echo that sentiment.

A’s Trade Scutaro To Jays

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Billy Beane made a deal with one of his former employees today, shipping utility infielder Marco Scutaro to the Blue Jays for a pair of minor league arms. We know that Billy often values certain players more than others, so let’s see what he got in return.

Kristian Bell, an 11th round pick in 2004, struggled in Advanced A ball this year, posting a 5.33 ERA in 77.2 innings. He struck out just 5.33 per nine, and didn’t even own a 2:1 K/BB ratio. This was the first year that his HR/9 rate climbed above 0.50 — all the way to 1.04. It would appear that he’s a sinkerballer, having a 1.85 groundout to flyout ratio.

The other player, Graham Godfrey, is another groundball guy, with a 1.97 groundout to flyout ratio. He strikes out guys at a slightly better clip than Bell, and kept his BB/9 under 3.00 (2.93) in 2007, his first year of professional ball.

I don’t have much further information on these two guys. Anyone who does, feel free to email me or leave it in the comments.

A final thought occurred to me: Could Scutaro and John McDonald be used in some kind of platoon setting? Scutaro was actually a lot better than Johnny at the plate last year, and isn’t lacking with the glove. Plus, they should make comparable salaries this year. McDonald will make $1.9 million in 2008 (and 2009), while Scutaro is due a raise over his $1.55 million 2007 salary.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues.

Padres Look To Extend Peavy

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Jake Peavy will soon add a Cy Young to his resume, and the Padres would like to explore a contract extension with him.  Under his current contract, Peavy will earn $6.5MM in ’08 and $11MM in ’09 once he wins the award.  The Padres would like to extend him for the 2010 and 2011 seasons and possibly more.

Peavy realizes the Padres won’t give him the $18MM+ per year he could earn on the free market.  But an extension for 2010-11 in the range of $32-35MM could work.

It’s been assumed that any team trading for Peavy this winter would have him for two seasons.  However, that isn’t the case – Tom Krasovic says he could opt for free agency after ’08 as a player traded during a multiyear deal.  I assume Dan Haren has the same right, but Erik Bedard does not.  That certainly bumps up Bedard’s value.

Krasovic also adds that the Padres have their eye on Jim Edmonds and Ryan Church as center field options.  The Padres would expect Edmonds to be a salary dump and the Cards to throw in some cash.  Meanwhile Jim Bowden has a high asking price for Church.

Cafardo’s Latest: Crawford, Haren

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo has a new colum up this morning; let’s check it out.

  • The Carl Crawford/Cubs thing won’t die.  Cafardo says the Cubs are after him, possibly offering a package starting with Rich Hill and Carlos Marmol.  This rumor originated with Bruce Levine a few days ago, though Roger Mooney dismissed it yesterday.
  • While the Red Sox have discussed Miguel Cabrera with the Marlins, Cafardo believes they might instead be eyeing a blockbuster for Johan Santana or Dan Haren.  As if the Red Sox need more pitching.

Odds and Ends: Kendrick, Uggla, Haren

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Another random collection of rumorage…

  • The Braves have "many millions more" to spend on players this winter.  One emailer suggested that maybe the Braves will offer arbitration to Andruw Jones and he’ll accept. 
  • Corey Patterson and the Nationals have mutual interest.  Baseball Prospectus’ Joe Sheehan considers him a possible bargain, noting that he is only 28.
  • We figured the Padres and Matt Clement had mutual interest.  Now it’s official.  Clement wants a one-year deal with incentives.
  • Tracy Ringolsby confirms that Yorvit Torrealba wants a three-year deal.  He says the Rockies are at two years, $7MM, the Marlins are in the same range, and the Mets are at two years, $9MM.  UPDATE: The Denver Post says Torrealba will have a decision Thursday.
  • Interesting Miguel Cabrera stuff from the L.A. Times.  Howie Kendrick is not considered untouchable, but the Marlins might have to include Dan Uggla.  Basically if the Marlins are to get four players back, they’ll have to add Uggla or Dontrelle Willis to the deal.   
  • Our friends at Gotham Baseball say if the Mets were to acquire Dan Haren, the package would start with Billy Beane favorite John Maine.  Mark Healey figures Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman would have to go also.
  • Ken Rosenthal thinks a one-year, $8MM offer from Atlanta would be enough to secure Tom Glavine.
  • The D’Backs’ main trading chip is outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.  It appears that the team explored what they could get for Conor Jackson and decided to keep him.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Cabrera, Haren, Barrett

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Rumor guru Ken Rosenthal checks in with a new column this afternoon.

  • The White Sox are legitimately in the mix for Miguel Cabrera, but many stars would have to align for it to get done.  Suitors with better prospects would have to balk, and the Sox would have to part with Josh Fields and Gio Gonzalez.  Kenny Williams might even have to cash Jon Garland in and turn around and flip that prospect in a Cabrera deal.  Regardless, it’s clear that Williams is once again thinking big.
  • Let’s face it: the Twins aren’t retaining free agents Torii Hunter or Carlos Silva.  You gotta know when to fold ’em – maybe it’s best to punt 2008 and trade both Johan Santana and Joe Nathan now.  Rosenthal says that philosophy is gaining some steam in the organization.  Both Santana and Nathan are only under contract for one year, but both are signed well below market prices.  That means that any mildly competitive team could entertain the notion of acquiring one of them for a big boost.  Baseball Prospectus values Santana at $25MM and 8.1 wins next year (he earns $13.25MM).  They put Nathan at $15MM and 6 wins (he earns $6MM).
  • The A’s are another team that could take one step back in order to take two steps forward.  Billy Beane has Joe Blanton and Dan Haren, two solid young pitchers each under team control for three seasons.  That’s a big advantage over the other frontline names who might be available.  Santana and A.J. Burnett have one year.  Jake Peavy and Erik Bedard have two.  Haren for three years is huge.  Blanton is under team control but Haren is actually under contract.
  • The Rays have gotten in touch with Michael Barrett’s people.  Will Barrett’s Type A status become an issue?  Only if the Padres dare offer him arbitration.  If I had to guess I’d say they won’t offer, but it’s a close call.  Troy E. Renck recently mentioned Barrett has drawn interest from six clubs, perhaps including the Rockies and Marlins.  I’m sure the Rockies would not give up their #25 overall pick to the Padres just to sign Barrett.  The Marlins’ sixth overall pick next year is protected. 

Latest Mets Rumors: A-Rod, Silva, Blanton

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Plenty of action around the Mets lately; Omar Minaya has his work cut out for him.  Hat tip to MetsBlog for several of the links.

  • The sensational storyline here is that Minaya will meet with Scott Boras to discuss Alex Rodriguez.  However, Boras and Minaya might spend more time discussing Kyle Lohse and Eric Gagne than A-Rod – the Mets’ focus is pitching.
  • Newsday’s Ken Davidoff reminds us of past trade talks regarding Joe Blanton, Jose Contreras, and Jon Garland.  Those talks may be re-opened, though Davidoff notes that the White Sox aren’t enamored of Lastings Milledge.  Additionally, the Mets will meet with Carlos Silva’s people this week.
  • Buster Olney discusses the Mets’ pursuit for pitching today in his blog.  They need a horse, somebody who can chew up innings.  Aside from the aforementioned Silva and Blanton, Olney names Roy Oswalt, Dan Haren, Scott Kazmir, and Dontrelle Willis as possible targets (though Marc Lancaster considers the declaration of Kazmir’s availability to be "dubious at best."  Meanwhile one exec thinks the Rays would only make him available if "his arm is about to blow.")  Olney’s guess is that the Mets will acquire Blanton.  The Mets have some combination of Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber, Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, and Aaron Heilman to offer.  There are pros and cons to dealing each.
  • There are other concerns besides pitching: second base and catcher.  Besides the forthcoming monster offer to Jorge Posada, the Mets are considering Paul Lo Duca and Yorvit Torrealba as fallbacks.  Ramon Castro is looking for a two-year deal, and hopes it’s with the Mets.  However, the Rockies have their eye on him. 
  • Pedro Martinez expects to pitch beyond 2008.  Whether that will be for the Mets or someone else, who knows.
  • Marlon Anderson’s two-year deal will be announced today, according to Adam Rubin.  The Mets will pass on Jose Valentin and Brian Lawrence’s options.   

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