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Molony On Jennings, Slowey

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Jim Molony’s column today at MLB.com has many good trade rumors that I haven’t seen elsewhere.  Let’s discuss.

  • Molony says at least a dozen scouts watched Jason Jennings toss a quality start last night.  He needed it; I was beginning to think he wasn’t right.  Still, the performance probably isn’t enough to cause some team to offer a package for Jennings superior to two draft picks.
  • The Diamondbacks and Pirates had a scouting presence at the Astros-Dodgers game.  Interesting players appearing in the contest included James Loney, Andre Ethier, Wilson Betemit, Mark Loretta, Morgan Ensberg, Jason Lane, Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, and Brad Lidge. You connect the dots, I have no idea.
  • The Red Sox suggested sending Joel Pineiro to the A’s for Bobby Kielty in a swap of unwanteds; they were rebuffed.
  • The Phillies and Braves watched Matt Morris allow four runs in six innings on Tuesday.  They also may have been monitoring Steve Kline, who also pitched.
  • A Devil Rays scout watched the Twins in Toronto on Tuesday.  Ty Wigginton is thought to be a target for Minnesota.  Perhaps the Rays’ scout fancied Scott Baker, who started for the Twins and went seven innings.  Baker would be a stupendous return for Wiggy, in my opinion.
  • The Phillies had their assistant GM scouting Kevin Slowey’s start on Saturday.  Molony suggests Minnesota might want Pat Burrell.  That would involve a ridiculous amount of salary relief and a lack of Slowey.  Slowey allowed one run in six innings in the game.
  • UPDATE: Just realized that the above pair of bullets seem to have originated from La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.  The scout watching the Twins on Tuesday was Lee Elia.  Not sure why Molony didn’t cite this source, but I suppose he may have come across the info independently.

Unfounded Rumors

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Would you think less of me if I busted out the old Unfounded Rumors category?  I know the #1 request at MLBTR is More Rumors.  So why not toss a few unfounded ones out there?  These are 100% unconfirmed, shaky rumors that have crossed my inbox.  Believe them at your own risk. 

But since 99% of deadline rumors don’t happen anyway, why not put ’em out there for discussion?

Blue Jays Not Interested In Jack Wilson

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It sounded dubious when it first surfaced, and now J.P. Ricciardi has spoken: the Blue Jays are not interested at all in Jack Wilson.  Did the Pittsburgh front office plant that one?

Ricciardi does seem open to trading Josh Towers.  As far as I can tell, Towers doesn’t reach free agency until after 2009.  For an NL team, Towers could help at the back end of a rotation.  Thing is, no one seems to be actively searching for a backend rotation guy. 

Latest From Baseball Prospectus: Jacque, Snell

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Will Carroll and John Perrotto have teamed up at BP to join the rumor mill, and yesterday’s post is free to nonsubscribers.  Some highlights:

  • Carroll reports that the Cubs could swap Jacque Jones and a prospect for Jeff Conine.  Perhaps such a move would be in tandem with Adam Dunn leaving Cincinnati.  The Cubs might want to hold on to Jones though; he’s playing well lately.
  • Carroll heard a far out Alex Rodriguez to the Dodgers rumor, but doesn’t buy it.  Neither do I – the Yankees don’t seem to be selling.  Carroll says Brian Cashman and Co. will wait until the last second to make a buyer/seller decision.  There’s a slight chance Jorge Posada becomes available if they choose the latter.
  • Perrotto confirms a rumor that surfaced a week ago, that Ian Snell could be had for the right bat.  Perrotto would know, as he spent time as a Pirates’ beat writer.  Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Matt Kemp are two possible targets for the Bucs.
  • The Tigers may be looking for relievers, and some possible names on the radar include Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, Brad Lidge, Salomon Torres, Damaso Marte, Shawn Chacon, and Chad Cordero.  That’s most of the market right there, though Lidge seems likely to stay put.  And don’t forget that the Tigers have internal reinforcements on the way.

Pirates Ask For Glaus In Jack Wilson Deal

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The Pirates are shopping shortstop Jack Wilson, and the Blue Jays are known to be interested.  One would expect the Bucs to be happy with the salary relief and maybe ask for a token prospect.  Instead, Dave Littlefield asked about Troy Glaus.

Now, it was just an inquiry, and the Jays quickly shot it down.  Obviously we don’t know how the phone call went, so Littlefield might’ve devised a reasonable trade scenario involving additional players.  The Pirates could definitely use a big bat like Glaus, but he does not seem likely to approve a trade to Pittsburgh even if the two sides did agree on the players.

It’s hard to tell just how available Glaus is, but a recent report indicates that he can be had.  A return to the Angels still seems most likely.    

Graziano’s Latest: Livan, Wily Mo

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Dan Graziano at the Newark Star-Ledger has really stepped up in recent days with a lot of insider trade talk.  Let’s see what he has in store for us this morning.

  • Apparently Josh Byrnes is calling around, actively shopping Livan Hernandez.  According to Graziano, the Mets, Braves, and Mariners have expressed interest.  To the contrary, Ken Rosenthal wrote last night that the Mets and Braves are not interested.  Who to believe?  Hopefully the Mariners do better than Livan if they make a move for a starter.  To hear Nick Piecoro tell it, the Diamondbacks are more likely to just opt for the draft picks they’ll get if they let Hernandez leave via free agency.
  • The Yankees are in a quandary when it comes to dealing Scott Proctor or Kyle Farnsworth.  For Proctor, they want more than just a role player like Ty Wigginton.  They want a reliever back, which begs the question – why not just keep Proctor?  With Farnsy, the Yanks are reluctant to pay a big chunk of his $5.5 salary for ’08.  They should toss in $2MM and see if that’s enough to get Wiggy.
  • If the Red Sox can snag Bobby Kielty, they might turn around and trade Wily Mo Pena to the White Sox.  Wily Mo in that ballpark with 600 plate appearances?  40 home runs.  Might make Theo look bad.  Dejan Kovacevic mentions that Epstein is "actively shopping" Pena, and seems to like the idea of the Bucs sending Salomon Torres to Boston for him. 
  • The Brewers, Phillies, and Dodgers are looking at Oakland lefty and impending free agent Joe Kennedy.  Kennedy is only 28 and he has had National League success as a starter.

Mets Mulling Options At Second Base

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Jose Valentin’s fractured tibia on Friday should knock him out about six weeks.  Unfortunately for Valentin, this injury and a previous one will stop him from reaching 400 plate appearances this year.  That means his $4.3MM option for 2008 will not vest. 

The Mets have a number of internal options: Anderson Hernandez, Marlon Anderson, Ruben Gotay, and Damion Easley can all handle second base and offer different skills.  Willie Randolph didn’t seem thrilled with the idea of Gotay as the everyday guy, though Omar Minaya expects him to play the most. 

Minaya’s not actively looking to trade for a second baseman, but he will listen.  Jose de Jesus Ortiz believes Minaya covets Mark Loretta, even speculating on expanded deals involving Chad Qualls or Wandy Rodriguez.  I had not previously known that Wandy was on Omar’s radar last winter.  Still, it doesn’t make much sense for the Astros to give him up in the midst of a possible breakout season.

Dejan Kovacevic mentions Jose Castillo as another option, though there’s no indication the Mets are after him.  Two other options for the Mets are impending free agents Luis Castillo and Tadahito Iguchi.  There’s been speculation that the Mets will sign Castillo this winter.

Blue Jays Interested In Jack Wilson

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Previously on this site we have questioned why any team would want to acquire Pirates’ shortstop Jack Wilson (no offense to him).  Now comes word that at least one team is in on him – the Blue Jays.  But Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes a deal couldn’t be reached by the July deadline because the money issues could get tricky.

Wilson makes $6.5MM in ’08, $7.25MM in ’09, and a $0.6MM buyout for ’10.  He can block trades to six teams each season.  Kovacevic thinks a deal would most likely occur in the offseason, as Wilson might not pass through waivers in August.  Still, no harm in trying it if you’re Dave Littlefield.  Personally I’d be surprised if any team would risk having that contract dumped on them in its entirety.  Bucco Blog thinks Wilson is a lock to be traded.

Wilson has hit .252/.305/.347, pretty much in line with his career numbers.  Blue Jays’ shortstops have hit .233/.272/.314 this year (mostly Royce Clayton and John McDonald).  So Wilson is an upgrade, but that’s only because shortstop has been such a ridiculous black hole for Toronto.  You do have to credit Wilson’s defense, among the best in the game at the position by one metric. 

J.P. Ricciardi’s options this winter: Omar Vizquel, David Eckstein, and probably Juan Uribe and Cesar Izturis.  Technically you could include Kaz Matsui and Alex Rodriguez as other free agents who can play short.

Pirates Acquire Cesar Izturis

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The Cubs have traded shortstop Cesar Izturis and cash to the Pirates for a player to be named later.  I suppose the move is meant to push Jack Wilson, but I don’t really see the point as they’re similar players. 

Addition by subtraction for the Cubs, who might want to call up Ronny Cedeno soon.  Instead they brought up Jake Fox, who was moved off the catcher position earlier this year.  He’s hitting .284/.327/.504 in 91 games at Double A.  Fox has been playing first base and outfield for the Smokies lately, so he can help fill in for Derrek Lee.  Fox could become a Ryan Doumit type one day, catching on occasion.  He was college guy, and has been old for his levels.  This could possibly be a trade showcase, though Fox doesn’t have a ton of value.

A fellow had emailed me about the Bucs’ interest in Izturis a few days ago, but I couldn’t confirm it and didn’t print it.  The reason I mention it is that he also said the Cubs have interest in Xavier Nady.

McAdam On Red Sox Trade Possibilities

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Yesterday, Sean McAdam of The Providence Journal posted an article discussing trade possibilities for the Red Sox.  Let’s discuss.

  • It seems that the Red Sox will add a bullpen arm despite the fine work of Manny Delcarmen.  Apparently they want someone with experience.  Eric Gagne doesn’t seem likely, nor does Brad Lidge.  Instead, Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, and maybe Salomon Torres or Scott Linebrink could be acquired.  The focus is said to be on the Houston relievers.  Wheeler seems like a solid buy-low option.  You can add Octavio Dotel to the radar as well.  And let’s throw Brian Fuentes into the mix.  UPDATE: Today, McAdam added Damaso Marte as a reliever the Red Sox like.  He says the price for Torres is "way too high" at present.  And according to the Boston Globe, Drayton McLane will not even consider moving Lidge.
  • The Sox would get involved on a top-flight starter like Roy Oswalt or Dontrelle Willis.  Calling Willis "top-flight" is a stretch, but that’s what McAdam said.  They also like Jon Garland, if they can pry him loose for a reasonable price.  Other available starters don’t seem markedly better than internal options.
  • The Royals would love to pawn Reggie Sanders off, but the Red Sox don’t have interest.  Instead, they could reacquire Kevin Millar or even go after Jermaine Dye.  Is Dye really a perfect fit, though?  Wouldn’t his acquisition make he and J.D. Drew part-time players?  That wouldn’t be good for the clubhouse.  UPDATE: McAdam says today that this playing time issue will indeed thwart a trade.  On the Millar front, the Boston Globe debunks that rumor on the basis that the Sox want someone who can play center field.
  • Speaking of people who can play center field, the Boston Herald mentions Randy Winn and Dave Roberts as possibilities.  The fans would love a Roberts acquisition, I imagine. 
  • The trade Mike Lowell/acquire Mark Teixeira scenario is highly unlikely.
  • The Boston Globe is saying that the Red Sox are "actively shopping" Wily Mo Pena.  I discussed Wily Mo in a post yesterday.  The Boston Herald today said that he might be the trading chip for a deal with Houston.
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