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Jayson Stark’s Latest: Rays

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Jayson Stark touches on a few rumors circling around the Tampa Bay Rays…

  • The Rays and the Phillies both made multiplayer offers to the Indians for Casey Blake, but neither was willing to offer a top prospect and a second prospect close to the big leagues.
  • With Blake and Xavier Nady both traded, the Rays are leaning towards eventually filling their need for a right-handed outfielder with Rocco Baldelli who played in the outfield this week on a rehab assignment. It was his first outfield action since May of ’07 and will play 5 more innings today.
  • After discussing Mark Teixeira, the Rays have decided to pass, not wanting to move Carlos Pena to DH.
  • While the Rays would still like to acquire a relief pitcher, they feel the price is too high for Brian Fuentes and they have little interest in Huston Street. Stark notes that last year’s top pick, David Price, could be called up to provide insurance for the bullpen.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Yankees-Pirates Deal Reconfigured

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Update 1:05 pm: Several sources are reporting that once Ohlendorf and Tabata cleared physicals, the Pirates had a list of players to choose from.

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The LoHud Yankees Blog reports the Xavier Nady, Damaso Marte deal has been reconfigured:

The Yankees are sending RHP Dan McCutchen, RHP Jeff Karstens, OF Jose Tabata and RHP Ross Ohlendorf to Pittsburgh for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte.

LHP Phil Coke and RHP George Kontos are not in the deal.

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Comments? Rumors? alexo05 [at] umpbump [daught] com.

Mets Actively Looking For Corner Outfielder

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Update 1:39 p.m.: Now that the Dodgers have acquired Blake, the Mets have turned their attention to Brian Giles.

Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Mets are one of three teams that have inquired on the availability of Giles. He also notes that the Mets are often asked about Fernando Martinez, to whom the Padres offered $1MM as an amateur.

The Cardinals and Brewers are the other two teams.

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Adam Rubin of the NY Daily News reports the Mets have narrowed their focus on obtaining a corner outfielder. A team insider told Rubin the team could trade for Casey Blake, Jason Bay, or Raul Ibañez next week.

The approach would be to wait until after the non-waiver trade deadline in hopes that the currently exorbitant asking price for said outfielders would relax.

Reading between the lines:

Now that the Pirates traded Xavier Nady to the Yankees, Rubin believes it might change their plans on Bay.

Bay has expressed his desire to remain with the Pirates, as the possibility that they give him an extension and rebuild around him exists.

The Mets have been mentioned in Ibañez rumors for a few weeks now, but the surfacing of Blake’s name as an option could mean they didn’t match up well with the Mariners on a deal.

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Comments? Rumors? alexo05 [at] umpbump [daught] com.   

Nady, Marte Traded To Yankees

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7:25pm: Ken Rosenthal confirms it: minor leaguers Ohlendorf, Coke, Kontos, and Tabata.  My impression at first glance: the return is not terribly impressive for Nady and Marte.  I don’t like the idea of the Bucs taking Tabata as the centerpiece – there is too much projection involved with him.  If Ohlendorf and Ian Kennedy could’ve been had, I would’ve opted for that.

Rosenthal also says the Yankees’ talks for Jarrod Washburn are still ongoing.

7:17pm: Baseball Digest Daily says the Pirates will receive Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, and two other minor leaguers (perhaps Phil Coke and George Kontos, based on rumors).  SI.com’s Jon Heyman is on board with that.

A separate Pirates rumor was squashed tonight – they are not close to trading Jason Bay to the Braves.

6:57pm: Carroll says the Yankees acquired Nady and Marte.  The Pirates confirmed that both players have been traded pending physicals, but haven’t given details about the recipient or return.

6:46pm: MetsBlog relays an FSN Pittsburgh report that both Nady and Damaso Marte have been traded.   Will Carroll says the same.

6:32pm: Xavier Nady was pulled from the Pirates’ lineup tonight after one inning.  No known injury.

Heyman’s Latest: Dodgers, Braves, Fuentes, Downs

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Today we have a new column from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

  • Heyman writes of turmoil within the Dodgers’ front office. Owner Frank McCourt is meddling, and assistant GM Logan White has "unusual say-so."  Shortstop targets for the Dodgers include Jack Wilson, Orlando Cabrera, and Edgar Renteria.  However, it is unclear which young Dodgers are available.
  • Braves decision-makers remain split on whether to buy or sell, with manager Bobby Cox leading the buy side.
  • Asking prices for relievers remain high, though Heyman seems to think Brian Fuentes wouldn’t cost the Mets much more than Aaron Heilman.
  • Heyman relays a report from Joe DeMayo of NY Baseball Digest: the Mets may have interest in Toronto’s Scott Downs.

Boras Speaks

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Super agent Scott Boras called Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette recently; here are a few highlights.

  • Boras wouldn’t address Pedro Alvarez specifically, but talked at length about how his elite draft picks have become successful investments for teams.  Boras referenced Mark Teixeira and the Drew brothers, who received deals in the $7-10MM range.
  • Boras client Xavier Nady might want to stay in Pittsburgh beyond the ’09 season, but the team has never broached an extension.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Redding, Laird, Wolf

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Fresh column from Ken Rosenthal.

  • The Rockies, six games out in the NL West, could certainly become buyers.  They offered Clint Barmes for Jeremy Guthrie and were turned down, and continue to monitor Bronson Arroyo and Tim Redding.  Closer Brian Fuentes still seems likely to be traded though (the demand: top of the line prospect and a secondary player).
  • Rosenthal cautions us against judging the Pirates’ new regime too quickly.  The deadline will be a good test for them.
  • The Yankees definitely have interest in Rangers catcher Gerald Laird, but haven’t asked the Royals about Miguel Olivo.
  • The Astros are unlikely to flip Randy Wolf before the deadline, partially due to lack of interest.

Knobler’s Latest: Pirates, Brewers, Beltre, Cabrera

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Here’s the latest from CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler.

  • A rumor made the rounds that Pirates president Frank Coonelly and GM Neal Huntington were at odds over the team’s strategy, with Coonelly pushing .500 as a goal.  Huntington denied that, and has five coveted players to work with in the next week.  Keep in mind that only Damaso Marte is a free agent after the season, so moves can be made in the offseason.
  • Teams with available relievers believes the Brewers are still in the market, despite Doug Melvin’s claims.  Many teams are scouting the Brewers’ Double A club.
  • Adrian Beltre’s contract wouldn’t be a problem for the Twins, but the teams haven’t found a match on players.
  • Knobler heard that the Marlins might consider Baltimore catcher Ramon Hernandez.
  • The rumor about Kevin Towers becoming a candidate for the Seattle GM vacancy won’t die.
  • Some folks expect the White Sox to move shortstop Orlando Cabrera before the deadline.  They’re still looking for pitching.

Mets Cool On Street, Nady?

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According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets are searching for a shutdown reliever.  However, he says Huston Street has apparently dropped off the Mets’ radar.  Billy Wagner was able to pitch today, so maybe the need for relief will remain secondary.

Lennon adds that the Mets’ interest in Xavier Nady has cooled, but they are still in on Casey Blake and Raul Ibanez.

Carroll’s Latest: Duchscherer, Burnett, Ibanez, Cabrera

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Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus has some rumors to consider this afternoon.

  • The Tigers are 5.5 games out, but are still on the fence about buying or selling.
  • Carroll says there’s "much more substance to rumors of the White Sox going after Justin Duchscherer" as compared to the one about the A’s pursuing Jason Bay.
  • The Phillies could jump back in on A.J. Burnett if the price comes down.  Also – could Burnett clear waivers in August?
  • The Rockies’ demands for Brian Fuentes might be holding up the relief market.
  • Regarding Raul Ibanez, the Mariners either want to tack Jose Vidro on in a deal or get back premium prospects.
  • The White Sox have become aggressive, and apparently had failed talks about Orlando Cabrera with the Red Sox.  Josh Fields is not considered untouchable.
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