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Renck’s Latest Rockie Rumors

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Rockies beat reporter Troy E. Renck had the scoop on all kinds of Rockie rumors yesterday; I’m just now getting to it.  Let’s look at some highlights from his column.

  • Renck suggests the Rox take a look at Bob Wickman.  Meanwhile, the Phillies actually inquired but aren’t expected to work out a deal.  The Indians will take a pass.
  • Renck mentions that the Rockies have "long coveted" catcher Paul Lo Duca.  Lo Duca should be there for the signing this winter.
  • The Rockies will have around $45MM tied up in Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Brian Fuentes, and Aaron Cook for 2008.  Even if the team raises its $55MM payroll, someone has to go.  By the way, locking up Holliday long-term will cost a king’s ransom.  He’s a Scott Boras client.
  • Given the burden of Todd Helton’s contract and his no-trade clause, he may be immovable.  But a .400 OBP is still valuable any way you slice it, so perhaps the Red Sox or Angels will get re-engaged.  Renck believes Atkins and Fuentes are the main trading chips to clear payroll though.  The Angels and Twins could still use Atkins while the Phils, Red Sox, and Yankees have inquired on Fuentes in the past.  Atkins for a Kevin Slowey or Scott Baker just makes too much sense.

Phillies Interested In Carlos Silva

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Carlos Silva came up through the Phillies’ farm system, switching to relief for his big league debut.  He remained an innings-eating reliever throughout his Phillies tenure, though his hittable, low strikeout style was not suited to the pen.

In December of ’03 the Phils sent Silva and Nick Punto over to the Twins for Eric Milton.  The following season he racked up 14 wins as a starter.  His pinpoint control has made him a very credible back-rotation guy, aside from a rough ’06.

Joining Silva in the under-30 starting pitcher free agent class will be Jason Jennings, Joe Kennedy, Byung-Hyun Kim, Kyle Lohse, and Joel Pineiro.  Silva’s the most reliable choice, and he might be able to snag a four-year pact given the weak market.  He’s having a well-timed fine year with a 4.10 ERA in 164.2 innings.

The Phillies have been looking to reacquire Silva for some time now; I believe they had interest last winter after the Twins exercised his $4MM option.  Now La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes of Philadelphia’s continued interest.  The Phils inquired before the July 31 deadline, and would still like to acquire Silva.  Neal believes he has not yet been placed on waivers and would not clear them.  It seems that Terry Ryan missed his chance to extract strong trade value for Silva, though he may have fielded offers and found two draft picks preferable.

I can’t see Silva getting to the Phillies without the Braves, Dodgers, Rockies, Tigers, and Mariners first putting in a claim.   

Rowand Linked To Nationals?

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This is a tenuous connection, but I’ll take what I can get.  MLB.com’s Bill Ladson notes that Aaron Rowand seems intrigued by the Nationals’ bright future and center field opening.  It’s possible the Nats could be in the mix for Rowand this winter.  It could just be a respectability type signing, which I think is what they were trying to accomplish with Dmitri Young and Ron Belliard.

When the White Sox were last in Philadelphia, speculation ran rampant that Rowand could come back to Chicago.  He admitted to having a soft spot for the team he came up with.  If the Sox are serious about improving center field in ’08, the main candidates seem to be Rowand, Torii Hunter, and Mike Cameron.

Keep in mind that the Phillies could definitely re-sign Rowand.  He’s a fan favorite and would be a solid sign at the Eric Byrnes price (three years, $30MM).  However, there have been no extension talks yet. 

Rosenthal’s Latest Video: Pudge, Bedard, Burrell

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Ken Rosenthal has a new video up; check it out.  Some highlights:

  • Back in April, I made predictions of whether various club options will be exercised for 2008.  My opinion on many of the option decisions has changed since then.  One example is Ivan Rodriguez.  At the time I said his defense and power would justify the $10MM difference between his $13MM option and $3MM buyout.  Currently, Pudge is hitting for his usual decent average but has drawn just five walks in 379 plate appearances.  Rosenthal believes the Tigers might opt for the buyout, especially if Rodriguez tails off as the season wears on.  Maybe so, but at effectively one year, $10MM, they might still go for it.  The other options are limited. 
  • The Orioles’ #1 priority for the offseason is to sign ace Erik Bedard to a long-term contract extension.  But if the two parties aren’t in the same ballpark, they could exact a king’s ransom in a trade.  As I said before, Bedard could be a $20MM+ pitcher if he stays on course through the 2009 season.
  • Pat Burrell cleared waivers, but the Phillies have no intention of trading him given the way he’s been hitting.  Burrell has an absurd .392/.519/.725 line since July 1.  No one has been better in OBP over that time period, and only Hanley Ramirez has a better SLG.  Anyway, I’ve updated the list of players who have cleared waivers.

Phillies Obtain Julio Mateo

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The Phillies are attempting to corner the market on scumbags.  Today, they acquired 28 year-old reliever and wife beater/biter Julio Mateo from the Mariners.  Performance always wins out, and Mateo had allowed just four runs in 32.2 Triple A innings this year.

Kudos to the Mariners for leaving Mateo in Triple A and getting him out of the organization.  He should move directly into a late-inning role for the Phillies.

White Sox Discuss Vazquez, Garland

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There hasn’t been much buzz on Javier Vazquez, but as suspected, Kenny Williams is at least willing to discuss him.  According to Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times, Williams was discussing Vazquez with the Phillies before the Phils got Kyle Lohse.  Pat Gillick and Kenny Williams really get along it seems.  It would be interesting to see Vazquez in play over the next 6.5 hours.

SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports some talks surrounding Jon Garland.  Heyman says Garland is "by far the best available starting pitcher right now."  The Dodgers, Mets, and Diamondbacks have all inquired and found the price unreasonable, however.  And don’t forget the Mariners and Yankees, who liked Garland earlier this month.

Phillies Acquire Kyle Lohse

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Ken Rosenthal again.  The Phillies just traded for Reds starter Kyle Lohse.  They gave up 23 year-old Double A southpaw Matt Maloney.  With both Kyle Kendrick and J.D. Durbin in the rotation, the Phils had to try something.

Wayne Krivsky did well here, as Maloney was the Phillies’ ninth best prospect entering the seasona according to Baseball America.  He’s more about deception and pitch selection that velocity or electric stuff.  His upside is pegged as a #4 starter.

Lohse has been an enigma – quite good in April and July, awful in May and June.  Tom Koch-Weser of the STATS, Inc. blog may have unraveled the mystery somewhat.

Phillies Scout Anthony Reyes

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The News Journal, a Wilmington, Delaware newspaper, reports that the Phillies recently sent their scouting director to watch Anthony Reyes pitch.  Writer Scott Lauber speculates that the Cardinals might have interest in Michael Bourn as the return. (Hat tip to Cardinals Diaspora for the link.  And they were already hat-tipping our good friend and occasional contributor Tom Goyne from Balls, Sticks, and Stuff.)

Do the Phillies need a flyball pitcher?  Do the Cards need Bourn with Colby Rasmus on the way perhaps next year?  Maybe not, but this could still be a move that could work for both sides.  The Cardinals and Reyes just aren’t on the same page; he needs a change of scenery.  However, it’s possible that the Phillies could fetch a more proven starter if they shop Bourn.  But proven usually means expensive and closer to free agency. 

Red Sox Continue Discussions For Dye

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UPDATE: The Chicago Tribune cites two factors for the non-trade – a disagreement over the players involved and Dye’s lack of desire to go to Boston.  The Hartford Courant adds that Kenny Williams demanded either Clay Buchholz or Jacoby Ellsbury.

UPDATE 2: Could the Phillies be the third team, working Michael Bourn into the mix somehow?

Ken Rosenthal has updated this post with some information regarding Boston’s ongoing pursuit of Jermaine Dye.

Apparently Dye was willing to waive his no-trade clause for some performance bonuses and a guarantee of playing five days a week.  A third club would’ve been needed to somehow facilitate the deal Kenny Williams wanted.  Rosenthal says talks are ongoing.

Tough to figure out how the Red Sox would pull off the five days a week thing.  Dye has rarely played any positions other than the outfield corners.  (Though he did play a game each at first base and shortstop in ’05 when the Sox were in a pinch).

If you consider Dye eligible to play first base, left field, right field, and DH, you can envision him starting five times a week.  Kevin Youkilis’s homer tonight notwithstanding, he and J.D. Drew haven’t done a whole lot lately.  Their playing time could be squeezed a bit, while Manny and Papi could use the extra rest.  The problem?  Dye is no picture of health himself and using him at multiple positions each week would probably increase the likelihood of injury.

Dye almost seems like a luxury for the Red Sox; why would they expend any serious effort to get him?  Perhaps they aim more to keep him away from the Yankees or Angels.  Dye could certainly be squeezed onto the Yankees’ roster as easily as Boston’s. Another motivation for Theo Epstein could be that he thinks he can give up players worth less than the draft picks he’d get for Dye.  Kenny Williams is no fool though, so maybe that’s how the third team got roped in.

Phillies Acquire Tadahito Iguchi

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According to WSCR 670 out of Chicago, the Phillies have acquired second baseman Tadahito Iguchi from the White Sox for 21 year-old Low A ball reliever Mike Dubee.  Dubee, son of Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee, was originally drafted by the White Sox in 2004 but did not sign.  Here’s the press release for the trade, if you’re interested.

You really can’t fault the Phils for making the move; they had to bring someone in to man second base.  They didn’t give up much in Dubee, and they could snag some draft picks for Iguchi after the season.  [Correction: Sounds like the Phils won’t get draft picks for him.  I suppose if that was possible the Sox would’ve just kept him.]

The move leaves Mark Loretta, Mark Grudzielanek, Jose Castillo, Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham, Ty Wigginton, and maybe Luis Castillo as the available second baseman if the Padres or Mets are interested.  Plenty of options, really.

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