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Pirates, Indians Talking Bay

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We’ve known for a while now that the Pirates have outfielder Jason Bay on the block.  A big deal for Bay could put new Pirates GM Neal Huntington on the map.  According to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, the Indians are engaged in talks for Bay.  This isn’t a big surprise, since Huntington came from the Cleveland organization.

Trading Bay now seems like a sell-low move, unless the Bucs feel Bay won’t bounce back in 2008.  Andy Marte, Cliff Lee, and Jeremy Sowers could be available from the Tribe.  Silverman notes that Indians’ backup catcher Kelly Shoppach has been mentioned in the talks with Pittsburgh.  Shoppach would be a capable starter for most teams.  The Indians could also part with an outfielder, perhaps Shin-Soo Choo or Ben Francisco. 

While the White Sox have also been linked to Bay, Dejan Kovacevic says there’s nothing cooking right now.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Peavy, Guillen, Barrett

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Ken Rosenthal checks in with another fine rumor-filled column.

  • Johan Santana doesn’t seem a great fit for the Angels, partly because he’ll be very expensive and the Halos actually do have a payroll limit.
  • Jake Peavy knows he’d have to take a discount to stay in San Diego…but even a $15MM per year type deal would be unprecedented for them.  He’s under the Padres’ control through ’09.
  • Rosenthal’s sources are divided on whether the Mets will go after Jose Guillen.  Such a scenario is possible if Lastings Milledge and/or Carlos Gomez are dealt.  It’s said that the Mets are still very interested in Livan Hernandez.
  • Chase Headley is very popular.  Rosenthal confirms Scott Miller’s rumored offer of Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth for him, not that the Padres would consider it.  Otherwise the Red Sox are asking for him for Coco Crisp.
  • The Padres will probably offer arbitration to both Mike Cameron and Michael Barrett.  That brings the risk that Barrett accepts, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
  • We already knew the Padres and Rays were in on Geoff Jenkins; add the Phils to the mix.  The Cubs, Giants, Rangers, and Royals have also been linked to him.

White Sox Looking At Fukudome, Bay

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According to Ken Rosenthal, the White Sox have cooled on Aaron Rowand as they do not want to give him a five-year contract.  Instead, they’ve set their sights on Kosuke Fukudome and Jason Bay.

This isn’t the first time they’ve been linked to Fukudome; Dan Graziano noted back in August that the Sox had scouted him.  The White Sox could entertain using Fukudome in any of the three outfield positions.  He could easily handle left field if Joe Crede is traded and Josh Fields plays third.  He could probably get by in center.  And he’s probably better than Jermaine Dye in right, so maybe it would be Dye switching to left.

New Pirates GM Neal Huntington perhaps hasn’t made an impression on the team’s fans yet.  A Bay trade this winter will be big for him in terms of PR.  It’d be a sell-low move, however.  I do think the White Sox could throw something together to make it work.

Meanwhile Mark Gonzales says the Sox still like Coco Crisp as a center field possibility.  The only problem is that Crisp could be headed to Minnesota in a Johan Santana deal.  That will have to unfold before Crisp becomes available to other teams – unless the other team makes a ridiculous offer.

Cards Could Get Morris, Wilson From Pirates

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Yesterday Joe Strauss wrote how the Cardinals’ #1 reasonable target for shortstop appears to be the Pirates’ Jack Wilson.  Today, Dejan Kovacevic confirms it and adds Matt Morris as another possibility to head to St. Louis.

Kovacevic notes that the Cardinals tried to acquire Morris last summer, though that wasn’t John Mozeliak.  The Pirates would have to be willing to eat some of Morris’ salary, though they would take on all of Wilson’s.  So far Anthony Reyes, Tyler Johnson, and Brad Thompson are named as the pitchers the Cardinals will trade.  I still have some hope for Reyes.

Kovacevic adds that the Bucs are in on Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori.  The Padres, Rockies, and Red Sox may also have Fukumori in their sights.

Cards Considering Jack Wilson, Izturis, Tejada

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The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Joe Strauss has an excellent update on the Cardinals’ pursuit of a new starting shortstop. 

  • Sounds like the end of the David Eckstein Era in St. Louis – Strauss says it’s a widespread belief that Eckstein will not be offered arbitration and probably will not stay around.
  • While the Cards are drawn to Miguel Tejada, a deal seems highly unlikely.  John Mozeliak wants to move quickly to fill the shortstop position and the Orioles are taking their time with Tejada.
  • Sounds like there’s a very good chance the Cards get Jack Wilson from the Bucs.  They’re OK with paying all of the $13.75MM owed to him through 2009.
  • If Wilson doesn’t work out, Cesar Izturis is the one free agent the Cardinals are considering.  They could have some competition from the Rays.
  • There isn’t much interest in acquiring Juan Uribe or going with internal option Brendan Ryan.
  • A few speculative options not mentioned by Strauss: Cristian Guzman, Alexei Ramirez, Jason Bartlett, Adam Everett, Joaquin Arias, Clint Barmes, and Russ Adams.

Crasnick’s Latest: Kuroda, Marquis, Morris

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ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has an in-depth look at the pitching market.  I’ll highlight a few new tidbits.

  • Hiroki Kuroda might require four years, as some teams are viewing him as the best available free agent starter.
  • Scott Boras might wait out the market a bit and then push for five years for Kyle Lohse.  That’s right, five years for Kyle Lohse.
  • Matt Clement to the Reds is a possibility I hadn’t considered.  Clement did pitch for Dusty Baker with the Cubs.
  • Crasnick reports there would be huge interest in Mark Prior if the Cubs non-tender him.  As in, pretty much every team in baseball.  Crasnick’s source indicates that Prior and the Cubs don’t have the best relationship.
  • Crasnick spoke to Doug Melvin and confirmed that Claudio Vargas and Chris Capuano will not be non-tendered.  But they could definitely be traded.
  • The Cubs are listening to offers for Jason Marquis, who is owed $16.25MM over 2008-09.  So maybe they are still in on Kuroda.
  • New Pirates GM Neal Huntington is shopping Dave Littlefield’s mistake, Matt Morris.  Morris makes $9.5MM in ’08 and would be owed a $1MM buyout in ’09.

Nady and McLouth For Headley?

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CBS Sportsline’s Scott Miller reports that the Pirates are discussing sending Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth to the Padres for third baseman Chase Headley.  Nady came up through the Padres’ system before being sent to the Mets for Mike Cameron in November of ’05.

If the Bucs and Neal Huntington actually have this opportunity, I think they should take it.  By Kevin Goldstein’s count, Headley is the third-best third base prospect in the game (behind Evan Longoria and Andy LaRoche).  The 23 year-old hit very well at Double A and should be big-league ready sometime in ’08.

Jake at Bucco Blog leans against such a trade, partially because the Pirates want to try Neil Walker at third base.  Walker ranks fifth on Goldstein’s list.  I say bring in the possible star-caliber talent and sort out the positions later.  If the Pirates trade Jason Bay they’ll have an opening in left field anyway. 

Nady is definitely someone the Bucs should be shopping.  With four years of service time, his salary will be rising rapidly.  He’s a solid if not spectacular player and should generate interest.  McLouth had an intriguing last two months of ’07, and he deserves a full-time shot at center in 2008.  But I’d rather have Headley than Nady and McLouth if I’m the Pirates.

Pirates Rumors From Bucco Blog

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Jake at Bucco Blog has some hot stove material, in addition to his roundup of Pirates prospects.

The Rays are looking for a shortstop, and Jake hears that they might be interested in Jack Wilson. Jake said he debunked this rumor earlier this month, but there "might be renewed interest." I don’t see it. Wilson has had a few decent years, but with over $14 million left on his contract, I see the Rays taking a cheaper route.

Jake is hearing that the Pirates "we’re not actively shopping any players" line is just a front. According to his source, the Pirates are playing this game in order to generate better trades later on, once the smoke has settled. Teams that missed out on their top targets might be more desperate to trade for, say, Jason Bay or Ian Snell later on.

If the Pirates are willing to gut the roster, would that include fielding offers for Tom Gorzelanny, Matt Capps, and Freddy Sanchez? Jake thinks, and I agree, that Gorz should be as close to untouchable as you can get. He doesn’t think the numbers indicate that Capps can continue his dominance, though his low walk rate certainly helps his case.

Honestly, if Sanchez can fetch anything decent, he needs to be dished. Yeah, he won the batting title in 2006, but he had an average year at the plate in 2007, albeit above average for a second baseman. He’ll be 30 next year, and will start getting expensive. I’d hang on to Gorz, Capps, and Snell, as they’ll all be 25 and under in 2008.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues.

Odds And Ends: Cabrera, Bay, Liriano, Clement, Dotel

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Lots to go over this morning, so this might not be the last bullet point list you see.

  • The Angels and Marlins are progressing in talks for Miguel Cabrera. It’s believed that the Angels are willing to deal players like Reggie Willits, Howie Kendrick, and Jeff Mathis, but the sticking point here is the inclusion of Nick Adenhart. If the Angels want Cabrera, I would have to think Adenhart would be a part of any deal.
  • Pirates GM Neal Huntington says that he is not actively shopping any of his players. However, he acknowledges that if he hears an offer, he’ll have to consider it. Some of his team’s asking prices are "outrageous," he says. This includes players like Jason Bay and Jack Wilson. But the Pirates may choose in the end to dish Bay, since their strength, if any, is the outfield, and Bay is slated to make $13.25 million over the next two years. That might not seem like a lot, but it’s costly when you’re working with a paltry $50 million budget. Surely Huntington would love to deal Wilson, though he denies it. He might have trouble finding a partner on that one.
  • Though the Twins deny it, any Johan Santana deal might be dependent on the status of Francisco Liriano. The 24-year-old "hasn’t had a single setback" in his recovery from ligament replacement surgery last October. He’s completed his rehab program, and might pitch in the Dominican this winter. He’s expected to be ready in February fo Spring Training.
  • Add the Pirates to the list of teams interested in Matt Clement. It now spans the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Royals, Padres, and Blue Jays in addition to the Bucs. However, with their payroll cap, Clement might not be feasible.
  • The Tigers remain interested in closer Octavio Dotel. There is no word on whether the team has offered him a contract.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues.

Stark’s Latest: Santana, Hamilton, Snell

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Ah, a new Rumblings and Grumblings from Jayson Stark.  Let’s dig in.

  • It sounds like the Yankees would discuss Phil Hughes and the Red Sox might part with one of Ellsbury/Lester/Buchholz to acquire Johan Santana.  The acquiring team would need an extension window though.  The Mets are in on Santana big-time and would have to give up Carlos Gomez and then some.  If the Twins do trade Santana, they would probably hang onto Matt Garza.  But otherwise Garza could be traded for a young hitter, as we’ve been hearing.
  • The Fish want four 0-3 players for Miguel Cabrera, pretty much the names we’ve been tossing around here at MLBTR for a while.
  • The Marlins would ask for two 0-3 guys for Dontrelle Willis, but aren’t inclined to trade him unless they’re blown away.  Stark names the Mets, Mariners, and D’Backs as suitors.  So think Gomez, Adam Jones, or Carlos Gonzalez.
  • The Orioles and Cardinals don’t want to eat any money on Miguel Tejada and Scott Rolen, respectively.  The Cards were asking for too much from the Yanks for Rolen – one of their top three young pitchers (you know the trio).
  • The Reds are willing to trade Ryan Freel or Josh Hamilton to clear space for Jay Bruce. 
  • Ian Snell could be available.  It’s not the first time his name has appeared in the rumor mill.  Hell, Snell for Hamilton kind of makes sense.

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