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MetsBlog Talk Radio

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Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog has started up a web/podcast called MetsBlog Talk Radio.  Matthew’s already got some quality guests lined up, including Buster Olney.  Check out the show tonight at 6:00 eastern/5:00 central.  And if you miss it, you can download it from Itunes.

Also, some reading material: Kevin Alderman chats with John Lopez of the Houston Chronicle.  Lopez seems Morgan Ensberg and Luke Scott as some trade candidates later this year.

And you have to check out Cole Hamels Facts (CHF).  Sample fact: "Cole Hamels refers to himself in the fourth person." 

Linebrink Long Shot For Phillies

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What’s the deal with Scott Linebrink?  Is he in line for a contract extension, or is he a top trading chip for the Padres?  MLBTradeRumors helps you sort it out.  A history of rumormongering:

  • 7/31/06: Gordon Edes writes of a three team deal where the Red Sox would’ve gotten Linebrink and Julio Lugo while giving up Mike Lowell and prospects.  This was a wild day though…even Alfonso Soriano to Boston surfaced at one point.
  • 1/26/07:  Buster Olney first brings up the possible Aaron Rowand for Linebrink deal.
  • 2/24/07: Tom Krasovic mentions past and present interested parties in the Phillies, Red Sox, and Mets.  He quotes Kevin Towers, who indicated that since a trade hadn’t happened yet it probably wouldn’t.
  • 4/21/07: Ken Rosenthal says the contract extension talks are on hold, as the Padres may consider Liney their best trading chip.
  • 4/23/07: Rosenthal says the Phils and Padres may revisit the Rowand/Linebrink idea, and that Linebrink is probably available.
  • 4/25/07: Todd Zolecki calls a Linebrink trade "remote at best," as he expects a contract extension.

The Padres are currently 6th of 16 in OBP (.335) and 6th in slugging (.420).  Their left field platoon has resulted in a .257/.402/.471 line so far in 70 ABs, with Jose Cruz Jr. providing the power.  San Diego’s pen has been nasty (1.98 ERA) while their starting rotation has fallen short of expectations early on (4.85 ERA).  Clay Hensley and David Wells have been knocked around.

Padres, Phillies Could Revisit Linebrink Talks

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Ken Rosenthal was a guest on 610 WIP’s morning show and reiterated that Scott Linebrink was now probably available for a trade.  While Rosenthal said a few days ago that Kevin Towers would like to find the Padres center fielder of the future, this morning he said that the Pods are interested in a left fielder that can hit a bit.  In addition, he mentioned that the Phillies and Padres may revisit the Aaron Rowand/Linebrink talks of the early spring.

The Phillies outfield corps has several redundancies at this point.  Pat Burrell provides power in left, but Michael Bourn, Shane Victorino and Aaron Rowand are all light-hitting center fielders.  If the Padres are interested in a centerfielder for the future and would prefer to do it on the cheap, perhaps the Phillies are should be willing to part with Bourn or Victorino instead of Rowand.

At this point, with Matt Smith floundering, a big need for the Phillies is a left-handed reliever.  But still, Linebrink would look awfully nice in red pinstripes.

Tom Goyne is the author of Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, a Phillies-centric site, and maintains the Phloggers’ Pheeds page, a source for the latest commentary from around the "phlogosphere".

A-Rod Options

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A couple of high-profile options for Alex Rodriguez were discussed in the papers today.  A-Rod’s hitting like a madman, which brings his opt-out clause to the forefront even though it’s April 20th.

Gerry Callahan of the Boston Herald has "no doubt" that the Red Sox will make a run at Rodriguez after this season.  It does make plenty of sense – the Sox proved they’d pay a ridiculous amount for star power with the Daisuke Matsuzaka bidding.  They’ve got the open slot at third base with Mike Lowell leaving.  And they almost acquired Rodriguez in 2003.  Basically, all the talking points you’re going to hear between now and when he signs somewhere. 

Some salary should come off the books for Boston after this season: Curt Schilling at $13MM, Matt Clement at $9.5MM, Mike Lowell at $9MM, Eric Hinske at $2.8MM, Joel Pineiro at $4MM, Julian Tavarez at $3.1MM.  Of course, the Sox need to replace some of these guys, but they could be subtracting $40MM.  There is room for a marquee addition, and it could be on offense.  I could see a big push to sign A-Rod and John Smoltz, if he’ll leave Atlanta.

Another possibility is the Phillies.  Would Phils fans really show the love to A-Rod, as Nick Fierro suggests?  I feel like they could turn on him pretty quickly.  Then again, there’s no reason Rodriguez wouldn’t tear up the National League and give them nothing to boo about.  The Phils could lose Freddy Garcia at $10MM, Jon Lieber at $7.5MM, and Aaron Rowand at $4.35MM.  They are also paying $7MM towards Jim Thome’s salary this year.  I just don’t see the Phillies winning the bidding for a free agent superstar, however.  They wouldn’t pony up for Alfonso Soriano or Carlos Lee this winter.   

The Red Sox and Phillies are just two of many teams thought to be interested in Rodriguez.  Despite the money, the list is huge and may also include the Angels, Dodgers, White Sox, Cubs, Giants, Diamondbacks, and Indians.

Latest On Lidge

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Today brings four new articles mentioning ousted Houston closer Brad Lidge.  MLBTradeRumors reads them so you don’t have to.

Ken Davidoff of Newsday simply drops one sentence on the topic, writing that Lidge is not available for the moment.  Well, that’s a start.

Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger names Lidge one of his "Five Closers Who Had A Tough Week."  I really think Ugueth Urbina belongs at #6.  Graziano mentions that the Devil Rays have been one of the most aggressive teams calling on Tim Purpura for Lidge, but that the Astros have shown no eagerness to trade him.

Speaking of those Devil Rays, Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times is well-connected to the club as the beat writer.  He says Lidge trade chatter is ongoing, but that if the Astros do decide to trade him they might avoid the Rays.  Why’s that?  Former Astros pitching coach Jim Hickey might be able to fix him, and the Astros don’t want to be shown up in a trade.  In essence, they want Lidge to continue to fail if they trade him. 

Side note: I couldn’t figure out a good destination for Jorge Cantu, ultimately leaning toward the Mets.  But Topkin says the Blue Jays and Twins have come up in rumors in the media.  I didn’t catch those articles, but maybe he is referring to reporter chatter.

Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal again connects the Phillies to Lidge.  I’m starting to think he’s got more than speculation there.  Lauber feels that Lidge needs a change of scenery, but obviously the Astros are reluctant to sell low.

Wagner on Lidge

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Jon Heyman has been talking to Mets’ closer Billy Wagner, who is apparently close friends with the down-and-out former Astros’ closer Brad Lidge.  Who knew that Wagner was an expert insider in major league baseball– he refutes the Astros’ claim that they are not planning on moving the shell-shocked reliver.

According to Wagner, Philadelphia wouldn’t be a good fit, because, well, it wasn’t a good fit for him.  From Heyman’s article:  "He needs to be in a place where he can [exhale],” Wagner said. "Houston’s so laid back. Maybe I’m biased against [Philadelphia] … [But] all it takes is one bad game, and fans would kill him."  Obviously the Phillies are part of the discussion because they need to improve their bullpen in order to compete in the NL East, but Heyman also mentions the Mets and Devil Rays.  Of the Mets, Wagner says: "He’d be a good fit here. In this clubhouse, it isn’t ’Who hit the home run?’ or "Who had the hit?’ It’s "Did we win?”’  Yea, when I think of a place to exhale, I think Shea Stadium, with its kind, gentle, forgiving Mets fans. Right.

Lidge is on a one-year, $5.35M contract, so despite all the Astros "connections" to the D-Rays, I don’t see it happening.  Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times named some candidates yesterday nonetheless.  In my opinion, any of those guys are too much to give up, especially for a team with no prayer of making the playoffs.  Why are they in the market for a closer? 

With so many teams in need of relief pitching, it is likely that Houston will be able to dump all of Lidge’s salary and still get some good value in return.  But who, what, and when?  It’s only speculation for now.

John Peterson is a Mets fan and writes for the blog Blastings Thrilledge.

The Relief Market

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The complaining in Philadelphia is going to reach a fever pitch if GM Pat Gillick doesn’t shore up the bullpen soon.  Charlie Manuel put it bluntly: "We’ve got to fix our ’pen."

So which relievers might be available, aside from the aforementioned Brad Lidge?

  • There’s Byung-Hyun Kim, but he’d probably be a nightmare in Philadelphia. The Rockies can’t seem to pawn him off on anyone.
  • The Phils would love to get Scott Linebrink, but the Padres don’t have any reason to give him up and in fact might yet work out a contract extension.
  • Salomon Torres should be available, but the Pirates appear to fancy themselves contenders and already weakened their pen with the Mike Gonzalez trade.  Still, if they want to sell high, they should deal him before he blows a few more saves.
  • The White Sox, with a deep bullpen, seemingly have a surplus.  And Kenny Williams gets along with Pat Gillick.  But with Bobby Jenks’s status still in question, I don’t see them moving anyone.
  • Chad Cordero, while not a dominant closer, is certainly better than anyone the Phillies have.  Top prospect Carlos Carrasco would get Jim Bowden’s ear, and Michael Bourn would fit nicely at the top of Washington’s lineup.  Those are the two I think Bowden would want for Cordero.  Jon Rauch or Luis Ayala would be nice additions as well.
  • Akinori Otsuka could become available, and I’m sure he’ll be a tad disgruntled from losing his job based on Eric Gagne’s long-ago success.  But I don’t think Jon Daniels will use Gagne without a safety net.
  • If I’m Dan O’Dowd, I’m shopping Brian Fuentes while he’s at his peak and still affordable.  The lefty saved 61 games over the last two seasons but turns 32 this year.
  • Derrick Turnbow is off to a great start with four scoreless innings, six strikeouts, and most importantly, no walks.  He’ll make $5.5MM for 2007-08.  It would be an ideal time for Doug Melvin to trade him, but I’m not sure what the Phillies could offer that the Brewers need.  A smaller deal for Jose Capellan could make sense, if the Phils really think he’s a back of the bullpen guy even though he couldn’t crack Milwaukee’s pen at all.
  • The Cubs don’t seem to think too highly of Mike Wuertz, but the 28 year-old quietly had a very solid season last year.
  • Dustin Hermanson is out there, but he’s not going to solidify this bullpen.  And forget about Ugueth Urbina…he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempted murder.  I’m all out of ideas as far as guys who would make the ’pen better in Philly.  Did I miss anyone?

Devil Rays And Brad Lidge?

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Combining a couple of reports this morning, it appears that the Devil Rays may have some interest in acquiring ousted Houston closer Brad Lidge.

Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle has a friend covering an AL East team reporting that his team is talking to Tim Purpura about Lidge.  Naturally one might think the Red Sox would be interested in Lidge for a setup role, as they’ve talked to the Astros about him in the past.

However, Jose’s friend may be Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times, who covers the Devil Rays.  Topkin reports that the Rays would make a good match with possible trading chips like Rocco Baldelli, Jason Hammel, Andy Sonnanstine, J.P. Howell, and Shawn Riggans.  Topkin thinks the presence of former Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker and the previous Aubrey Huff deal could inhibit a Lidge deal now.  I imagine the Astros would pounce on a Baldelli for Lidge trade, but I don’t see that happening.  The Astros are fairly well set in the outfield.

Drays Bay throws out Joel Guzman as a possibility, and notes that current Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey previously worked for the Astros.  Would the Rays really want to take on Lidge’s $5.35MM and give up a solid player for him?  This club is not expected to win this year, though Lidge will not become a free agent until after the 2008 season.

The Phillies certainly need some bullpen help, though I’m not sure that Lidge would change things.  Scott Lauber of the Wilmington News Journal suggests the possibility, but only as speculation.

It should be noted that de Jesus Ortiz spoke to Purpura, and the GM’s comments do not seem to indicate a trade anytime soon.

Gillick Making Up for Lost Time

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Having neglected the Phillies bullpen all winter long and into the spring, Phillies general manager Pat Gillick has spent the past few days playing catch-up.  On Thursday, the Phillies acquired Francisco Rosario from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations, and on Friday, the team signed recently released Rick Bauer.

In today’s local papers, Gillick stated that the next relief pitcher they will evaluate will be Dustin Hermanson.  The team worked out Hermanson in March but took a pass, and he ended up in the Reds’ camp where he got off to a hot start, faded, and was released.

One has to wonder if Gillick’s renewed interest in Hermanson is due to something he saw from the former White Sox closer that impressed him, or, if it is more because of what he has seen from the Phils’ bullpen depressed him.

Tom Goyne is the author of Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, a Phillies-centric site, and maintains the Phloggers’ Pheeds page, a source for the latest commentary from around the "phlogosphere".

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