Week In Review: 8/24 – 8/30
Sunday afternoon is here again… let’s have a look back at some of the moves and rumors since last time:
- The injury-plagued Red Sox acquired Mark Kotsay to help compensate for their injuries. In exchange, the Braves received minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza. Nice acquisition by the Red Sox; Kotsay has been swinging a solid bat this season.
- The Twins acquired Eddie Guardado from Texas in exchange for minor league pitcher Mark Hamburger. Guardado has spent the majority of his career with Minnesota and provides a solid arm to the bullpen. To make room for him, they DFA’d Mike Lamb. Nice move by the Twins, with the added benefit of being able to see "Rangers trade Guardado for Hamburger" in the news. Now that’s a headline!
- The Phillies added a veteran player as well, when they acquired Matt Stairs from Toronto in exchange for minor league lefty Fabio Castro. Stairs should be a decent option off the bench, and he’s still perfectly capable of hitting the ball out of the park.
- Scott Boras continues to find ways to create controversy. He’s now claiming that Pittsburgh’s top pick Pedro Alvarez verbally agreed to his $6MM signing bonus after the midnight deadline, and is trying to demand that the contract be renegotiated for a higher number. The Players Association has filed a grievance on his behalf. Alvarez could wind up back in the 2009 draft pool. Here’s a look at some baseball blogs’ opinions on the matter.
- Minor moves: The Diamondbacks claimed Wil Ledezma off waivers from San Diego, the Braves signed Elmer Dessens to a minor-league contract, and the Astros gave one-year extensions to both Brian Moehler and Darin Erstad.
Kris Benson Released
The Delaware News-Journal reported that Kris Benson was released by the Phillies following last night’s game. Benson had indicated earlier that his preference was to be a starter and the Phillies do not have any openings in their rotation.
Benson was 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in 11 starts in triple-A. He was making $75K per month without any clauses.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Phillies Acquire Matt Stairs
5:56pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Jays will receive pitcher Fabio Castro, who warmed up during today’s game against the Cubs. The 23 year-old lefty has struggled with his control, but still makes for a solid acquisition by J.P. Ricciardi.
12:19am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies acquired outfielder/first baseman Matt Stairs from the Blue Jays. The prospect in the deal has yet to be determined. Stairs was designated for assignment recently. He fills the Phillies’ need for a left-handed bench bat (likely taking them out of the market for Mike Lamb).
Stairs, 40, hit .250/.342/.394 in 368 plate appearances with the Jays this year. He was mostly shielded from left-handed pitching. Stairs is owed $400K this year and $1MM in ’09.
Interestingly, the Jays will now give 20 year-old top prospect Travis Snider a look.
Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Lamb, Ibanez, Blake
Hot stove highlights from Jayson Stark’s latest…
- Stark sees the Mets picking up Carlos Delgado‘s $12MM option for ’09, taking them out of the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes. He sees the Yankees in the mix for Tex. Will Teixeira top the $140MM the Rangers offered him?
- The Yanks will also pursue a top flight starting pitcher, with C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets as Plans A and B.
- Stark does not see the Braves diving into megadeals for Sabathia, Sheets, or A.J. Burnett. They’ll have payroll room, but could pursue trades or mid-tier free agents.
- Stark says friends of Tom Glavine and John Smoltz indicate they both want another go at it in ’09. They’re hoping the Braves will offer low-base incentivized deals. If the Braves spurn Glavine, I wonder if he’ll sign with the Nationals.
- Mike Lamb and the Phillies have mutual interest. A trade might make more sense than awaiting his release, so that he’d be eligible for the postseason roster.
- A friend of Raul Ibanez says the Mariners are unlikely to convince him to re-sign. They’ll snag a couple of draft picks if they offer arbitration and he signs elsewhere. The prospect of losing a draft pick makes Ibanez less attractive to other teams though.
- The Dodgers are considering re-signing Casey Blake and moving Blake DeWitt to second base.
Red Sox Acquire Kotsay
12:01pm: According to ESPN’s Keith Law, the Braves will receive minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza.
10:23am: Rosenthal says it’s done, though the prospect remains unknown. He is now saying Kotsay did waive no-trade rights, and received $325K to do so.
9:14am: Rosenthal says it’s close, but the teams have not yet agreed on the mid-level prospect. He says Kotsay does not have no-trade protection this year.
WEDNESDAY, 8:41am: The latest – The Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin wrote late last night that a deal had not been agreed upon. Meanwhile, John Tomase of the Boston Herald notes Kotsay’s strong relationship with Red Sox owner John Henry. Yahoo’s Gordon Edes says the deal is done pending a physical, and the Braves will receive a minor league pitcher.
TUESDAY, 10:38pm: ESPN’s Peter Gammons and Buster Olney are reporting that the Red Sox are on the verge of acquiring Kotsay. The two sides are discussing Kotsay’s no-trade clause. He was held out of tonight’s lineup due to the impending trade.
11:00am: On Sunday, Ken Rosenthal reported the Red Sox were interested in Braves outfielder Mark Kotsay, with the Brewers on the fringes. Rosenthal now says the Brewers’ interest has diminished, since Ryan Braun seems fine. Instead, the Phillies are now in the mix for Kotsay given the Geoff Jenkins injury.
Kotsay cleared waivers because of the $1.5MM still owed to him this year. The Braves weren’t planning on offering him arbitration this winter, as they don’t want to be stuck paying him $8MM in ’09. He doesn’t project as a Type B anyway. Rosenthal says a mid-level prospect would get a deal done with the Braves, though the teams covered in Kotsay’s limited no-trade clause are unknown.
Odds and Ends: Burnett, Inoa, Minaya, Glavine
Today’s links…
- Pablo Ozuna…designated for assignment again. Additionally, the Phillies cut Andy Tracy. The 34 year-old hit .288/.377/.516 in Triple A this year.
- Eddie Bajek added AL infielders to his Elias rankings. Orlando Cabrera and Edgar Renteria are Type As, while Mark Ellis and Mark Grudzielanek are Type Bs. Cabrera could net the Sox some picks.
- The Phillies would like to bring Jamie Moyer back next year, but so far they’ve only had informal talks. Earlier this month Moyer spoke of an obligation with the Phillies, but he is not under contract for ’09. The Phillies have also had informal talks with Pat Burrell, who’s said he wants to stay.
- Richard Griffin discusses A.J. Burnett quite a bit in his mailbag, suggesting this is the pitcher’s best season because of his career-high win total.
- Athletics Nation talks to A’s owner Lewis Wolff about the Michael Inoa signing.
- Omar Minaya’s job is secure.
- Aaron Harang has suggestions for the Reds to make their ballpark more pitcher-friendly.
- Tom Glavine is feeling good after somewhat minor elbow surgery, but isn’t sure about playing in ’09. Ken Rosenthal wrote recently that Glavine wants to pitch next year.
- Grant at McCovey Chronicles gives his take on pitch counts.
Mike Lamb Designated
TUESDAY: MLB.com’s Jim Molony suggests Lamb could be a fit for the Phillies, Cubs, Mets, or Brewers.
MONDAY: According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, third baseman Mike Lamb was designated for assignment today to make room for Eddie Guardado. Manager Ron Gardenhire questioned Lamb’s energy level.
Lamb is owed another $690K this year plus $3MM in ’09 and a $100K buyout for ’10. Several moves and near-moves made by the Twins in recent months have shown a willingness to spend some dough midseason.
Lamb’s move back to the AL didn’t work out; he hit just .233/.276/.322 in 261 plate appearances. Maybe he can help out in a utility role for a team like the Phillies.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Rangers, Yankees, Phillies
Let’s take a look at Ken Rosenthal’s most recent Full Count video.
- Rangers president Nolan Ryan may be considering sweeping changes. He might replace the team’s manager, GM, or both. If he chooses to install his own people, Gerry Hunsicker and Tim Purpura would be the top GM candidates.
- The Yankees are willing to trade off a few veteran impending free agents, but pretty much all of them have no-trade clauses. Those are not always an obstacle though. Danny Knobler recently heard the Yankees have yet to ask for waivers on their significant players.
- The Phillies have been frustrated trying to add a bench bat. A few who have cleared waivers: Frank Catalanotto, Kevin Millar, and Jay Payton.
- Having picked up Luis Ayala and Al Reyes, the Mets are done adding relievers. Though he surprisingly cleared waivers, David Weathers is not on the radar.
Odds and Ends: Manny, Pavano, Gonzalez
Some Saturday mid-day linkage:
- Hitoki Iwase was lit up in the Olympics, possibly dropping his stock as a prospect. Iwase was one of several Japanese players being scouted by Major League clubs in Beijing.
- Luis Gonzalez reminisces about his trade to the Diamondbacks ten years ago.
- Manny Ramirez is not interested in talking about those old Philadelphia rumors. I’m shocked, shocked.
- J.D. Drew‘s back spasms are actually a herniated disk. According to Nick Cafardo, the Red Sox would love to add another outfielder, but can’t seem to lay their hands on one. No offense to Jason Lane.
- He’s baaaa-aaaack: Free-agent-to-be Carl Pavano is starting tonight for the New York Yankees. Strike up the band and break out the rum punch.
- Recently traded infielder Jose Bautista was at odds with Pirates manager John Russell.
- Thomas Boswell talks about the possibility of Stephen Strasburg becoming a National next year.
Sarah Green writes for UmpBump and the Boston Metro and can be reached here.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Howard, Burrell, Burnett
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up today.
- With Ryan Howard looking at maybe a $14MM salary in his second year of arbitration, the Phillies could shop him this winter. Rosenthal lays out a scenario where they trade Howard and use some of those young players to acquire Matt Holliday. In this scenario Pat Burrell could be re-signed to play first base. I was surprised to see that a club official sees the chances of retaining Burrell as better than 50-50.
- If A.J. Burnett opts out, he will again favor teams such as the Nationals, Orioles, and Cardinals. Rosenthal thinks the Yankees and Mets are possible as well. And it’s still possible the Jays convince Burnett to stay by adding to his ’09 and ’10 salaries.
- Rosenthal frowns upon the Mariners’ double-failure to unload Jarrod Washburn‘s contract.