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Gammons’ Latest: Murton, Nady, Wilder

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Rumory goodness from Peter Gammons’ latest blog post, aside from the Sabathia and Cubs stuff.

  • The Rays are focused on a right-handed hitter.  Matt Murton and Xavier Nady are on the radar.
  • As you know, the White Sox fired scouting director Dave Wilder and two scouts for violations of the team’s scouting and signing procedures in Latin America.  At the time, the Chicago Tribune said the investigation involved skimming and was limited to the Sox.  However, Gammons says Wilder is telling investigators about other teams.
  • Gammons agrees with Scott Merkin of MLB.com – the White Sox will not be active in the trade market.

Draft Roundup: Wallace, Alvarez, Scheppers

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Here’s the latest draft pick signing info.

  • The Cardinals are close to signing their top pick, Brett Wallace.  The bonus is expected to be around $1.85-2MM.  What position is he going to play long-term?  Does left field make the most sense?
  • The Pirates are negotiating with Pedro Alvarez, but both sides are staying mum on the details.
  • The Bucs are also talking with Tanner Scheppers.  They’re still trying to gauge his health.

Odds and Ends: Chacon, Minaya, Inoa

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Nothing major cracking on the hot stove this morning, so we’ll kick it off with odds and ends.

Stark’s Latest: K-Rod, Burnett, Oliver Perez, Bedard

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It’s Thursday, and that means it’s time to dig in and feast on Jayson Stark’s latest rumor-packed column.

  • The Braves have shifted their focus from starting pitching to an impact bat in left field.  Stark suggests Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, and Xavier Nady would make sense.  Matt Holliday would be too costly; Adam Dunn is not mentioned.
  • We have seen the surprising rumor that the Angels could pursue C.C. Sabathia.  However, Stark’s sources are in agreement with Bill Plunkett – the Angels are likely to stand pat.
  • Francisco Rodriguez wants four years and more than $60MM, a dangerous record-breaking commitment.  The Halos aren’t even sure if they’d do three years and a vesting option.
  • There have been no recent extension talks between the Angels and Vladimir Guerrero, but his $15MM option for ’09 is an easy call.
  • As we’ve written before, A.J. Burnett is like a rental, but worse.  He either pitches well and opts out or pitches poorly and you’re stuck with him.  Stark adds that despite Burnett’s willingness to pitch for the Cubs, he’s not on their list.  The Cubs are still planning a run at Sabathia.  The Brewers are also serious about the Cleveland ace.
  • The Mets might shop Oliver Perez, but I’d be surprised if he draws much interest.
  • The Blue Jays were already one of Adam Dunn’s ten no-trade teams.  His no-trade rights switched from full to ten teams on June 15th.
  • Bill Bavasi talked to the Reds about bringing Ken Griffey Jr. back to Seattle, but Lee Pelekoudas isn’t interested.
  • Interesting Indians players who might be available: Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Perez, and Franklin Gutierrez.
  • The Yankees aren’t interested in Erik Bedard, but the Phillies are.  The teams have differing opinions on whether Bedard’s surly demeanor would present a problem.

Odds and Ends: Lieber, Tavarez, Oswalt

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We’ve got mostly smaller stuff today, so let’s kick it off with an odds and ends.

Cafardo’s Latest: Buyers & Sellers

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Nick Cafardo kicks the tires in a full page spread in today’s Boston Globe, listing a handful of teams who are winding up to buy and sell. To paraphrase Cafardo’s recap:

Phillies: Smelling World Series, they see C.C. Sabathia, Erik Bedard, A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo, and Derek Lowe as potential targets.

Braves:  Still deciding whether to shop or re-sign Mark Teixeira, or neither, and in turn whether to trade for a starter to win a division, as Cafardo says, "nobody is running away with."

Mariners:  The decision of whether or not to release Richie Sexson is imminent, and the M’s are expected to start shopping Raul Ibanez, Jose Vidro, Carlos Silva, and Bedard.

Blue Jays:  Can their pitching carry them back into contention when Alex Rios and Vernon Wells aren’t producing as expected?  The Jays can sell Burnett, Matt Stairs, David Eckstein, and maybe Scott Rolen.

Reds:  On their way to last place, Arroyo can be dealt and replaced, perhaps, by Homer Bailey next year. Ken Griffey Jr. is still wearing red.

Indians:  Will find it very difficult to deal Sabathia for a package comparable to what the Mets got for Johan Santana.  Paul Byrd could also go.

Dodgers:  Could perhaps deal Matt Kemp or Chad Billingsley for Sabathia.  They’re also looking at Bedard.  They need to get back to .500 to really compete and will need pitching to get them there.

Yankees:  Giving up Melky Cabrera may be the only way the Yankees can land a front line starter to replace Chien Ming Wang, but Brian Cashman is not keen to do so.

Pirates:  Looking for righthanded power, the Pirates still have Jason Bay (among others).

Be sure to check out Tim’s thorough Trade Market Summary for more insight.

By Nat Boyle

Pirates To Keep Marte?

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As MLBTR posted this week, the Pirates could elect to keep Jason Bay in Pittsburgh, a once-sure-fire bet to be dealt before the deadline.  Finding themselves with an above average offense to date (6th in the bigs with 365 runs scored), the Pirates may see the future with rosier colored glasses and Bay integral to those hopes.

Another change of tack, Dejan Kovacevic says the Pirates may now keep reliever Damaso Marte as well, opting to offer him arbitration – which he’d surely forego – to acquire two draft picks.  Marte is making $2.5MM this season and has a club option of $6MM for 2009 that will not be exercised by the Pirates and could be considered too much for other ballclubs.  So what teams are willing to give up for Marte (and his contract) may appear less appealing to the Bucs than a couple first rounders.  Explains Kovacevic, for those unfamiliar with this process:

"Free agents of the highest pedigree fall into what is called the Type A classification… If he is signed by one of what are labeled "first-division" teams… the Pirates would get that team’s first-round draft pick in 2009, plus a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds. If it is not a first-division team, the picks would be slightly lower."

By Nat Boyle

Odds and Ends: Kouzmanoff, Ricciardi, Wilson

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Today’s linkage…

Odds And Ends: Beckham, Rangers, Peterson, Drew

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A few more minor notes from the MLBiverse…

  • Marc Lancaster is reporting that Tim Beckham, the top pick of the Rule 4 draft, will be visiting Tropicana Field at the end of the week and his father believes that a deal will be in place by the end of the weekend.  The rest of the first rounders could sign quickly once Beckham and the Rays set the benchmark.
  • Jamey Newberg wonders if the Rangers will have a hard time making trades because their farm system is so deep.  The Rays might have the same problem.
  • Jeff Passan names his All-Overpaid and All-Underpaid teams.
  • Could Rick Peterson reunite with Barry Zito in San Francisco?
  • Dave Cameron says J.D. Drew was worth the money.
  • A reader emailed in saying he saw Mets scout Jerry Krause at the White Sox-Pirates game.  Krause might be the game’s most publicly recognizable scout.

Odds And Ends: Lo Duca, Cabrera, Nady, Bay

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A few more minor notes from the MLBiverse…

  • Jay Gibbons joins the Long Island Ducks.
  • The Giants may have to trade for a long-reliever. Bruce Bochy admits that his team is without a long-reliever and will work to find extra innings from his middle relievers.
  • With Paul Lo Duca coming off the DL, the Nationals will now have three catchers. Chico Harlan feels the Nats will hope that Lo Duca plays well in his return to increase his trade value.
  • Nick Cafardo believes that the White Sox will let Orlando Cabrera walk at the end of the season as a free agent, feeling that their double-play combination of the future is in the system and not far away.
  • Bob Smizik doesn’t see the Pirates landing any top prospects for Xavier Nady or Jason Bay, should they be dealt.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

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