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Melky Cabrera For Mike Gonzalez?

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John Perrotto of the Beaver County Times reports that the Yankees is the most likely destination for southpaw reliever Mike Gonzalez.  Apparently Brian Cashman is willing to part with 22 year-old outfielder Melky Cabrera straight up.

Cabrera held his own as a rookie, batting .280/.360/.391 in 460 ABs and playing the fourth best defensive LF in baseball, according to Bill James’s panel of experts.  What’s more, Baseball Between The Numbers indicates that a typical player can be expected to improve his offensive output by about 15% from his age 22 to age 23 season.  Even in dealing Cabrera, the Yanks would retain the real prize among their position-player prospects: Jose Tabata.  Tabata could be patrolling right field in New York by the second half of ’08.

Gonzalez could be groomed as a possible successor to Mariano Rivera; he has three years of service time left before free agency.  However, Perrotto indicates that the Pirates want more than just Cabrera for Gonzalez. 

Meanwhile, Bucco Blog thinks the entire rumor is bunk.  Jake makes a fine point – that Dave Littlefield is in no rush to trade Gonzalez and will simply sit back and wait until the unbeatable offer comes along.

Brewers To Make Suppan An Offer

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According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers will be putting together a proposal for free agent starter Jeff Suppan.  I have heard from a source that the offer could be $33MM for three years plus a fourth year option.  The Crew currently has Sheets, Capuano, Bush, and Vargas in the rotation.  I think that’s quite solid if healthy.

The article also mentions the Giants, Mets, Rockies, Pirates, and Royals as suitors.  And don’t forget the Cards, who could still re-sign him.  I’ve heard that the Bucs only want to go two years on Suppan, offering a higher annual average value.

Jon Lieber Action

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You know it’s a rough year for pitching when Jon Lieber is a hot commodity.  I kid – he’s not that bad.  Liebs turns 37 next April, and figures to be the most expendable of Philly’s six starters.  He’ll make $7.5MM in 2007.

Home runs and hits got the best of Lieber last year, though his command remained elite.  He had a 4.93 ERA overall, but can probably pitch at his second half level (4.53).

The Pirates wanted to bring him back, perhaps hoping they could right the wrong of trading him to the Cubs for Brant Brown.  However, John Perrotto tells us that interest has cooled because the Phillies asked for Salomon Torres.  Seems like a fair deal to me.

Joe Strauss wrote last week that the Cards could pursue Lieber, just as they did at the trading deadline.  For all of Walt Jocketty’s posturing, the team needs one starter.  Not sure if any talks are going on here.

A week ago, the Phils had a deal in place to send Lieber to Milwaukee for Kevin Mench and Derrick Turnbow.  However, talks dried up two days later.  Jim Salisbury threw Texas’s hat into the ring in the same article.  The Rangers were another team trying to trade for him in July.

Speaking of last July, the Mets wanted in at that point too.

Pirates To Sign Kuwata; LaRoche Deal Not Dead

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John Perrotto of the Beaver County Allegheny Times reports that the Pirates are close to signing Japanese pitcher Masumi Kuwata.  Kuwata could join the starting rotation.  It was previously thought that the Red Sox would snag him on a minor league deal.

He also reports that potential for a multi-player deal between the Bucs and Braves still exists, with Mike Gonzalez, Humberto Cota, Jose Castillo, Nate McLouth, Kyle Davies, and Adam LaRoche involved.

The Nats are getting demanding for Ryan Church, causing the Pirates to back off.

Mariners Trade Rafael Soriano for Horacio Ramirez

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Bill Shanks of Scout.com is reporting that the Mariners have traded reliever Rafael Soriano to the Braves for Horacio Ramirez.  He also mentions that Atlanta is close to an Adam LaRoche for Mike Gonzalez swap.

The first rumor, if true, seems a steal for the Braves.  Soriano would automatically become Atlanta’s best reliever, Wickman included.

The second trade has been tossed around for some time but it was said that Dave Littlefield wouldn’t surrender Gonzalez.

UPDATE: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Bucs will make this deal, but the Braves are waiting to verify Gonzalez’s health.  Particularly, his left elbow.

Rockies/Cubs/Pirates Three-Way?

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Calm down, this is a family trade rumor site.  I am referring to Steve Phillip’s latest, found via RotoWorld.

The idea: Jason Jennings to the Cubs; Jacque Jones, Carlos Marmol, Paul Maholm to the Rockies; Brad Hawpe to the Pirates.

If this one is legit, Dan O’Dowd lied to Brad Hawpe’s agent.

Bucco Blog Winter Meetings Update

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Some highlights from the latest podcast at Bucco Blog.

As you know, the Pirates’ interest in Braves first baseman Adam LaRoche surfaced today from the winter meetings.  But keep in mind that this rumor first originated November 20th at Bucco Blog.  The situation remains the same: the Braves want Mike Gonzalez, and Dave Littlefield won’t do it.

Jake also considered today’s rumor that the Bucs would shop Jose Castillo to be nuts.  Castillo is needed at second base.

And here’s the wildest one: Andrew McCutchen to the Marlins for Dontrelle Willis?  Forget it.

Back to reality…sort of…the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says Littlefield is targeting Trot Nixon and Jeff Suppan.  Don’t take those too seriously either.

Bucco Blog Winter Meetings Update

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Bucco Blog has a new podcast with a Winter Meetings update.  Interesting points within:

The White Sox and the Pirates are the teams that "have the arms."  GMs looking for pitching will go to the Sox for experienced guys and the Pirates for solid 0-3 guys.

Many are speculating that a Devil Rays/Pirates deal would fit well.  The D-Rays are desperate for pitching, the Pirates would like a young slugger.  How about Duke for Dukes?

GMs are targeted the following Pirates: Zach Duke, Tom Gorzelanny, and Mike Gonzalez.  Will Dave Littlefield part with them?

Two first basemen who have been connected to the Bucs are Daric Barton and Casey Kotchman.  Jake questions the Kotchman possibility – if he was over his mono, how come he didn’t play winter ball to prove it?

UPDATE: Reader Tom points out that Kotchman is indeed playing winter ball in Puerto Rico.

Drew, Roberts, Aurilla, and Dunn

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SI reported yesterday that the Red Sox are close to signing JD Drew.

Are sign’s of desperation starting to appear? Gregg Zaun’s agent has been in ’consistent’ contact with Cashman and Julio Lugo has already talked to the Cubs and agreed to play CF.

Speaking of Zaun, Mercury News is reporting that Zaun’s agent is having ’consistent’ contact with the Giants, that the Giants are close to signing Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia, and that they haven’t closed the door on re-signing Pedro Feliz or second baseman Ray Durham.

I hope Zaun’s agent gets paid by the hour. 

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that all the market value craziness might benefit the Pirates. When pigs fly, you say?

Anyway, the article mentions that the Pirates front office had considered acquiring Adam Dunn. That tidbit sent Pirate bloggers into overdrive —

Honest Wagner said that if the Pirates got Dunn he ’would become the team’s best or second-best hitter’, I suppose forgetting that Sanchez and Bay were on the same roster. At Where Have You Gone Andy Van Slyke Pirate blog, Pat said Dunn ’would look awfully nice protecting Jason Bay’, but possibly forgetting Dunn NEEDS protection – he doesn’t offer much, especially playing at PNC Park.

My take? I said the same thing I said back at the July trade deadline in 2006 – we don’t need a $10m Adam Dunn to whiff all year for us. What did you expect me to say?  hehe

Dan Perry at Fox Sports talks about how the Cardinals have a great deal of work to do now to compete in 2007.

Humbly I report that a list has finally come out that does not include anyone from Pittsburgh – The Goggle Gang by Bill Madden at the New York Daily News.

And yes Jeff, the Brewers getting rid of Davis for Estrada was a great move – I agree.

By Jake at Bucco Blog

Turkey Day Tidbits

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Happy Thanksgiving from MLB Trade Rumors!

Grab your shopping list — Bucco Blog has posted the Pirates top 10 prospect list.

I initially thought one of the collateral consequences of the increased market value of players this year would be that arbitration values would go up over the next few years, but Jim Callis at Baseball America said he doesn’t think that will happen since arbitration contracts are compared to people with similar service time. Interesting.

Did anyone else see ProTrade’s reaction to the 2006 MVP awards? Talk about blowing out the industry – whew!

USA Today has a couple of nice articles — on the Royals rebuilding plans and the other on the Brewers potential to return to respectability.

Will Steinbrenner’s potential desire to name son-in-law Steve Swindal as the next CEO be sidetracked with Swindal becoming the next operator of the New York’s three major thoroughbred racetracks — Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga?

By Jake

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