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Stark On Deadline Deals

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ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that, with only five teams more than six games under .500, it's a tough time to be a buyer. Here are the details from his latest Rumblings and Grumblings:

  • There are many trade candidates in Washingon, but free agent-to-be Nick Johnson is the likeliest to move of them all.
  • Adam Dunn's price would be "astronomical" according to one executive.
  • One of Danys Baez and George Sherrill will likely be dealt, and it seems more likely that Baez will move. As one official says, "he's throwing great, but he's still Danys Baez."
  • The D'Backs would prefer to move prospective free agents, like Doug Davis and Chad Tracy. Stark writes that Davis could fit on the Mets.
  • One executive believes Brian Giles "should get released."
  • Cla Meredith could bring a decent return for the Padres, who could also move Chris Young and Kevin Kouzmanoff.
  • The Royals could move reliever Ron Mahay.
  • At this point the Astros still aren't likely to sell. No one expects them to move Roy Oswalt, but Ivan Rodriguez, LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde could be dealt if the Astros decide to sell.
  • One official says the Pirates would "love to move Jack Wilson."
  • Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee aren't going anywhere, but Mark DeRosa is becoming "more marketable by the minute."
  • Matt Holliday will hit the market if the A's don't play very well for the next few weeks. The A's will want the equivalent of a first rounder and a sandwich pick and, because few elite bats are available, at least one exec thinks they'll get a good return.
  • The A's are worried he'll accept arbitration if they offer it, but Stark hears that Scott Boras would likely direct Holliday towards a better hitter's park, even if it was for less money.
  • The Red Sox aren't in a hurry to deal Brad Penny. If they go for a shortstop, they'd want a short-term fix only.
  • The Rockies- definitely not sellers right now- could eventually look to add a setup man.
  • Delmon Young is "exceptionally available."
  • The Brewers won't discuss dealing Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar.
  • The Rays would like to add a reliever, but they're one of many teams that can't add much payroll.

Odds And Ends: Scheppers, Tate, Matsui

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Links for Thursday morning…

  • MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that two teams passed on Tanner Scheppers because they believe he has a partially torn labrum. The Rangers, who picked him, don't believe the problem is as severe.
  • In a Q&A for The Baseball Analysts, Padres exec Paul DePodesta says he's "ecstatic" about his team's draft. He compares Donavan Tate, the Padres' first rounder, to Adam Jones and Mike Cameron. 
  • The Padres are encountering trouble at the major league level, where Chris Young will likely join Jake Peavy on the DL, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock. Not only do the Padres lose their best starters, it's now harder for them to field offers for them.
  • Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates are set to sign a handful of their picks, including their second selection, Brooks Pounders.
  • Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker passes on comments Hideki Matsui made about returning to Japan. Matsui sounds happy that the Hanshin Tigers could be interested, but says he'd probably prefer to stay in the States.
  • The Mariners are scouting top international prospect Guillermo Pimentel, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America.

Edes On Tejada, Nationals, Shapiro

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Yahoo's Gordon Edes updates us on the Cardinals' search for a bat and more in his most recent column. Here are the details:

  • The Cardinals aren't interested in Miguel Tejada, but they are looking to add offensive help at third or in the outfield.
  • Some have criticized the Pirates for taking Tony Sanchez fourth overall, but Edes hears they chose him because they like his tools and believe he's polished enough to reach the majors before most players in the draft.  
  • The Nationals would move Elijah Dukes or Lastings Milledge. Ryan Zimmerman is their only untouchable player.
  • The Rangers have interest in Nick Johnson.  
  • There is speculation that Indians GM Mark Shaprio could be promoted to club president, with Chris Antonetti becoming GM. Edes hears that we won't see an in-season shake-up.
  • Bill Lajoie, one of the decision-makers behind the deal that sent Hanley Ramirez to Florida, doesn't second guess the move. 
  • Edes heard from one scouting director who believes Bryce Harper is stronger than Chipper Jones, Alex Rodriguez or Manny Ramirez when they were in high school. However, some scouts wonder whether Harper would be better if he didn't rush to the majors.

Rangers Inquired On Snell

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Rangers inquired about Pirates starter Ian Snell. The Pirates haven't had serious talks about dealing Snell to the Rangers or anyone else, since other teams value him as a reliever and the Pirates value him as a starter.

We heard yesterday that the Rockies don't have interest in Snell.

Olney On Mets, Holliday, Snell

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ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Mets have begun discussing which hitters they want to target. Here's what Olney has heard about the Mets, along with the rest of his rumors:

  • It's fair to assume the Mets would like to acquire a "big-time bat."
  • Omar Minaya could pursue Nick Johnson. He already traded for him once as the GM of the Expos.
  • Other players that could play first and hit: Aubrey Huff, Jorge Cantu, Mark DeRosa and Dan Uggla.
  • Uggla's an outside-the-box solution, but the Mets could use his power.  
  • Don't assume the A's will be able to collect compensation picks for offering arbitration to Matt Holliday if they don't trade him at the deadline. Holliday's numbers have fallen off, making him more likely to accept arbitration if the A's offer it. He could make upwards of $16MM, meaning the surest way for the A's to get something back would be to deal him now.
  • Olney says the Rockies don't have interest in Ian Snell. Yesterday John Perrotto suggested they could trade for him.
  • Colorado will likely wait another month before deciding whether to deal Huston Street.  
  • The Mariners don't have to rush their deal-making either, especially since their division looks winnable.  

Odds And Ends: Harper, Pirates, Hanley

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Some links for Tuesday morning…

Pirates Rumors: Snell, LaRoche, Grabow

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John Perrotto of PiratesReport.com provides more detail on the Ian Snell rumors and adds a couple new ones in his latest article:

  • The Rockies could have interest in Snell and the Pirates would be looking to get a "decent prospect" in return, despite Snell's tendency to blame others and his poor start to the season.
  • Colorado "figures to make a play for him."  
  • The Giants have interest in Adam LaRoche. 
  • The Angels are interested in John Grabow, now that they can't count on Scot Shields or Jose Arredondo.

Colorado A Possible Destination For Snell

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John Perrotto of Inside Pittsburgh Sports reports "indications" that the Pirates are willing to trade Ian Snell and says the Rockies are becoming their most likely trade parter. Multiple people in the team clubhouse appeared convinced that Snell was about to be traded yesterday.

Snell publicly questioned manager John Russell's strategy this weekend. Back in 2006, Colorado manager Jim Tracy gave Snell his first major league rotation spot. Tracy's Rockies are now just 2.5 games out of  the Wild Card race thanks to an 11 game win streak.

Pirates, Red Sox Discussed Jack Wilson

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Going back at least a week, there has been word that the Red Sox inquired on Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson.  Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more on those talks.

The short version: there does not appear to be a match.  Kovacevic says the Sox have done research on Wilson, but the Pirates seem to want more than Boston would give up.  The Pirates' beat writer implies that the unpopular Nate McLouth trade may cause the Pirates to tread lightly with Wilson.  Still, he says the Pirates have also had less intense trade talks with other clubs about their shortstop.

Kovacevic says nothing is cooking in terms of keeping Wilson in a Pirates uniform in 2010, whether in terms of an affordable extension or Wilson's $8.4MM club option.  Wilson still has $5MM coming to him on his current extension - $4.4MM of his '09 salary, plus a $600K buyout on the option.

As for the Red Sox, they're using Nick Green and Julio Lugo at shortstop while Jed Lowrie recovers from wrist surgery.  Lowrie will take live batting practice Monday as he aims for a late June/early July return.

Yankees In On Sano?

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You've heard the name plenty around these parts over the past few weeks.  Miguel Angel Sano, a 16-year-old infield prospect from the Dominican Republic, has been linked to the Pirates, Indians, Orioles and Twins.  

Now it appears the Yankees have jumped into the bidding.  As ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure reported through his Twitter account this afternoon, Brian Cashman and Co. believe they have a "50/50" chance of landing the phenom.  

It all comes down to dollars and cents, however, and the Yanks are actually practicing fiscal responsibility.  That may come as a surprise, but keep in mind that throwing millions of dollars at a kid who just hit the legal driving age is a monstrous gamble. The Pirates are reportedly preparing an offer around $4MM, and it doesn't sound like the Yankees are willing to go that high.  As Arangure continued in his "tweet," if the price was $3MM, "then yes."

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