Freddy Garcia Rumors: Thursday
Here’s a fresh thread for Freddy Garcia rumors. The 32 year-old was scouted by about half the teams in baseball this week.
- Sean McAdam characterizes Boston’s interest as minimal.
- The Phillies will pass, but might consider him for ’09.
- The Yankees have more interest than the Mets. Ken Davidoff’s sources are divided on whether Garcia can help this year.
- Danny Knobler quotes Garcia’s agent as saying that the pitcher could keep working with an eye on ’09 if interest is not sufficient now.
At Least 15 Teams Watched Freddy Garcia
9:13pm: Additional teams confirmed in attendance: the Red Sox, Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers, Marlins, and White Sox. Garcia’s agent says he’d like to sign by this weekend, and plans to sign only for ’08. Troy Renck says the Rockies are a long shot now that they’ve added Livan Hernandez.
WEDNESDAY, 9:28am: Surprisingly, the Phillies were in attendance at Garcia’s audition yesterday. David Murphy finds the idea intriguing, but says the Phils don’t have major interest. The Phillies traded Gavin Floyd to the White Sox for Garcia in December of ’06, but he only gave them 11 starts while earning $10MM.
Also confirmed at the audition: the Tigers, Yankees, Mets, Rays, Rockies, Astros, and Rangers. MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez thinks the Rangers might be the most interested party.
TUESDAY: Today’s the big day…free agent Freddy Garcia will audition for teams in Miami. He’s recovering from labrum surgery.
We’ve compiled reports over the past few months. Teams interested in Garcia at one point: the Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, Tigers, Rays, Astros, Cubs, Cardinals, Dodgers, Twins, Indians, Mariners, and Royals. That’s 16 of 30 teams, though the non-contenders may have dropped out.
Garcia’s friend and former manager Ozzie Guillen doubted the pitcher’s ability to contribute at the big league level this year. Garcia was upset by the comments.
Scott Eyre Designated; Red Sox Interested
WEDNESDAY: According to Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal, the Red Sox still have interest in Eyre. Scott Lauber figures the Phillies are likely to inquire as well.
TUESDAY: To make room for closer Kerry Wood, the Cubs designated lefty reliever Scott Eyre for assignment today. Eyre, 36, posted a 7.15 ERA in 11.1 innings with the Cubs this year. He spent time on the DL with elbow and groin problems. Eyre actually had a nice run in the second half last year as well as May this year.
Eyre still has about $1.15MM left on his contract. Perhaps teams like the Red Sox and Phillies will inquire and the Cubs won’t have to assume all of his salary.
Phillies Come Up Empty At Deadline
Phillies GM Pat Gillick wanted to pick up one more starting pitcher, a lefthanded reliever, and maybe a hitter (Manny Ramirez) before yesterday’s deadline, but he did not make a deal.
Gillick told Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer that he was close on a three-team deal that would’ve brought a #4-type starter to the Phillies. He had an agreement with one of the other two teams. Gillick believes this mystery starter will not clear waivers this month. It’s unclear who the starter would’ve replaced, since Gillick already picked up Joe Blanton. Maybe Brett Myers was in the failed deal.
Tossing out a few #4-type starters who may have been available: Tim Redding, Odalis Perez, Jason Marquis, Jarrod Washburn, Paul Byrd, Josh Fogg, and Livan Hernandez. Which is these pitchers wouldn’t make it through waivers? Perhaps Redding, Perez, and Fogg on account of their low salaries. Doesn’t seem like Gillick would’ve needed to involve a third team to get any of them though. Anyone have any guesses?
Rockies Rumors: Fuentes, Redding, Fogg, Byrd
1:38pm: Jayson Stark says Fuentes is staying put. A little more than an hour left til the deadline.
9:33am: Mark Zuckerman of the Washington Times says the Nationals are leaning toward keeping Redding, and have even had preliminary extension talks with him. Trades of Paul Lo Duca, Odalis Perez, and Felipe Lopez are also unlikely.
THURSDAY, 8:31am: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post indicates the Rockies want to keep Fuentes. He says they’re looking at starters such as Tim Redding, Josh Fogg, and Paul Byrd. Redding’s stock dropped last night with an ugly start.
WEDNESDAY, 9:12pm: On Sunday, Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd termed a Brian Fuentes trade "highly unlikely." However, ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the Rockies will decide late tonight whether to put Fuentes on the market. The Mets, Phillies, and Rays are out given the high asking price.
Ken Rosenthal wrote earlier that the Rockies were "poking around" with interested parties, still asking for a young MLB starting pitcher or two good prospects.
Stark’s Latest: Ibanez, Washburn, Redding, Rhodes
Some additional notes from ESPN’s Jayson Stark:
- The Mariners still want Jon Niese and another prospect for Raul Ibanez; the Mets are not biting. Similar situation with the Ms asking the Cubs for Felix Pie and another player.
- The Mets aren’t in on Jarrod Washburn or Tim Redding.
- The Marlins are making it clear that there is no done deal for Arthur Rhodes. Clark Spencer had written the Fish "could be closer" to a deal for Rhodes than a catcher. Stark says the Mariners are driving a hard bargain for Rhodes, with the Red Sox, Marlins, Phillies, Brewers, Tigers, Mets, Cardinals, and Rays checking in.
Stark’s Latest: Aurilia, Fuentes, Orlando Cabrera
New collection of rumors from ESPN’s Jayson Stark…
- The Twins have asked the Giants about Rich Aurilia. They’ve been dangling Boof Bonser for a position player; would they trade him back to San Francisco for Aurilia?
- On the Phillies’ radar: John Grabow, Will Ohman, Arthur Rhodes, and Jack Taschner.
- A Brian Fuentes trade remains doubtful.
- The White Sox will trade Orlando Cabrera for the right pitcher. The Sox aren’t generating much interest in their prospects.
Rays Scouting Jayson Werth
Mike Tingle of ESPN 840 in Charlottesville spoke to Rays scout Mike Cubbage yesterday. Cubbage said that he plans to scout Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, and that Werth may be available in the right deal. Werth, 29, is hitting .272/.358/.485 in 268 plate appearances (most of the damage done against lefties).
Additionally, the Rays offered a package of players for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte but the Bucs chose the Yankees’ offer. The Rays also looked at Jon Rauch previously, though he was not at the top of their list. And of course, the Rays would like to acquire Brian Fuentes.
Maddux Won’t Go To Philly
According to Scott Miller of CBSSports.com, the Phillies had the Padres ask Greg Maddux if he would accept a trade there. Maddux told Padres GM Kevin Towers he would not. Towers continues to be limited to the West Coast as he tries to move Maddux’s remaining $3.3MM salary.
Tom Krasovic says the Dodgers are the one plausible option, and they’re not interested at this time. They should probably look into it though. The Giants could be buyers, but only with an eye on ’09.
Phillies Interested In Mahay
2:40pm: Todd Zolecki spoke to a source who says there’s no proposal on the table from the Phillies for Mahay.
12:56pm: Stark is now saying the Phillies are not close on Mahay.
12:47pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Phils are not the frontrunner for Mahay. Other teams may be willing to give up more. The Red Sox are known to have Mahay in their sights.
12:01pm: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Phillies have been having extensive conversations with the Royals about lefty Ron Mahay. The Royals would receive 23 year-old Double A shortstop prospect Jason Donald in return.
Mahay has been quite popular on the trade market. The Phillies are able to fill a need for the Royals with Donald.