Blue Jays Interested In Jack Wilson
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
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
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.
Slick-Fielding Shortstops Available
If you’re looking for an all-glove type shortstop this summer, you have plenty of options.
- The Giants could move Omar Vizquel, but only if they feel that he can’t help them in ’08. According to Tim Brown, he loves the city and would stay if they made an offer. The Giants talked extension with him in March but his offensive performance this year may have changed their mind. He has $1.8MM in salary left.
- With Ryan Theriot performing OK this year and Ronny Cedeno tearing up Triple A, the Cubs may deem Cesar Izturis expendable. Giving Cedeno the starting shortstop job to begin last year was questionable, but it might make some sense now. Izturis makes another $1.8MM this year, plus probably another $300K to buy out his ’08 option.
- Juan Uribe may no longer deserve the slick-fielding tag, but he’s been an awful hitter so I have to call him something. Even his customary low OBP/decent SLG is slipping. His salary situation is pretty much the same as crosstown counterpart Izturis.
- Jack Wilson makes another $2.3MM this year, $6.5MM in ’08, $7.25MM in ’09, and a $600K buyout for ’10. He has a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block trades to six clubs each year. About a month ago, Tim Brown spoke to a baseball source who thought he’d draw interest. Wilson is back to playing every day currently.
What team would want any of these guys? The Red Sox would probably be the only contender in need of a shortstop, and they’re probably stuck with Julio Lugo.
Rockies Interested In Torres
Pirates’ reliever Salomon Torres has backed off his trade request, saying he wants to remain with the team for the rest of his career. The positive feelings may have been sparked by an earlier-than-expected end to his rehab stint. If healthy and reasonably effective Torres could be the Pirates’ most popular trading chip despite his newfound desire to stay.
According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Rockies have been interested in Torres for a while. Torres has been worked hard in recent years, but he’s signed through ’08 at a reasonable rate.
Braves Want Young Impact Pitcher For Salty
Back on June 24th, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette mentioned that the Pirates inquired as to the availability of catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. At that point the required bounty was thought to be a frontline starting pitcher like Mark Buehrle.
Today, Kovacevic clarifies: the Braves want an impact-caliber young pitcher. That makes sense. The Pirates have a couple of those: Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell. They’d have to give one up to get Salty. Such a trade would be excellent for Atlanta but wouldn’t really seem to move the Pirates forward.
While shaky in terms of confirmation, we do have one report that indicates the Pirates could trade Snell this month. Snell is 25, healthy, and a long ways from free agency. He’s been the eighth best pitcher in the National League this year according to VORP. Better than Roy Oswalt, Brandon Webb, Carlos Zambrano, or Cole Hamels. It’s been quite a breakout season for Snell, and he’s improved his efficiency greatly. He averaged 5.81 innings per start in ’06 and increased that all the way to 6.76 per start this year.
Salomon Torres Requests Trade
Pirates reliever Salomon Torres believes Dave Littlefield tricked him during their contract talks in April of 2006. Torres did not use an agent. To hear him tell it, he had a verbal agreement with Littlefield that the Pirates would pay to rent one of Torres’s baseball academies in the Dominican Republic. That never happened, so Torres filed a grievance.
Now Torres feels that because of the grievance, he is being punished by the Bucs by means of a longer-than-necessary rehab assignment for his elbow. He’s fed up with the team and would like to be traded.
Torres has about $1.3MM left on his contract this year and $3.2MM for ’08. His deal also has a $3.75MM club option for ’09 with a $300K buyout attached. Torres can earn another $900K in incentives.
Torres is now 35, and he logged a whopping 280 relief innings during 2004-06. He’d be a fairly risky acquisition. However, with some of the silly reliever deals handed out this offseason, he’s still got trade value.
Mets Considering Paulino For 2008?
According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets’ front office has never been thrilled with catcher Paul Lo Duca. Rubin recalls their pursuit of Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez a couple of offseasons ago before abruptly trading for Lo Duca. Rubin says the Mets are already laying the groundwork for an offseason trade for Pirates’ catcher Ronny Paulino. Lo Duca would like to remain a Met, but the team doesn’t appear interested.
Paulino, 26, had a fine rookie season for the Bucs in 2006. He hit .310/.360/.394 and threw out 36.2% of baserunners with improving mechanics behind the plate. He’s been effective against the running game again this year with 38.5% caught stealing. However, the bottom dropped out on his offensive line, which is not a shock since it was supported mostly by batting average. Paulino’s statistical profile is actually quite similar to that of Ramon Hernandez, so there is definitely hope for him. I’m not sure why the Pirates would give him up, though a Jarrod Saltalamacchia acquisition would be a good reason.
The Orioles could possibly put Hernandez on the market, should they prefer to escape the $15MM+ he’s owed for 2008-09. Jorge Posada will probably re-sign with the Yankees, and the Tigers are likely to exercise Ivan Rodriguez‘s option. That leaves Michael Barrett, Jason Kendall, and Brad Ausmus as the free agent possibilities. The Mets could also turn to internal option Ramon Castro.
Pirates Inquire On Saltalamacchia
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have inquired regarding the availability of Braves catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Kovacevic says the Braves want frontline pitching for Salty (ie, Mark Buehrle). This makes a deal unlikely for the Bucs. What would John Schuerholz want from the Pirates? I can’t see how it would get done without Ian Snell or Tom Gorzelanny included. A trade of either would be shocking. Kovacevic mentions that multiple teams have an eye on Zach Duke, but he’s not comparable to the aforementioned pair.
Rosenthal’s Latest
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up. A summary appears below.
- Rosenthal thinks the Tigers are unlikely to acquire Eric Gagne or Akinori Otsuka, perhaps preferring to look at internal options. That’s a shame, as I think they really need to add someone.
- The White Sox won’t be granting a 72 hour negotiating window if they trade Mark Buehrle. Strictly a rental. That could limit the market for him, but Kenny Williams will come up with at least one quality prospect.
- The Dodgers don’t seem likely to trade for Adam Dunn or Jermaine Dye, but could go after Mark Teixeira. Dye seems most likely to end up in the NL West somehow, but only if he is healthy and hitting.
- Possible Dontrelle Willis suitors: the Rockies or Diamondbacks. They’ve got the young trading chips, and the need in the present day. The Rox could offer Aaron Cook plus prospects, and the D’Backs could try Livan Hernandez and youngsters. If the D’Backs dare offer up Justin Upton, the Marlins would jump. Of course, D-Train needs to be healthy and the Marlins would need to fall out of contention.
- Barry Bonds‘s agent really doesn’t see a trade happening. Well, no one does, but it’s fun to speculate. Rosenthal thinks only the Yankees could accomodate him.
- Aside from the Pirates and Padres, the Astros, Cardinals, and Rangers could go after Milton Bradley.
- Rosenthal has a GM source who thinks the Reds could wait until this winter, exercise Adam Dunn’s $13MM option for ’08, and then trade him. Dunn, however, would gain no-trade protection until June 15, 2008 and then be able to block 10 teams thereafter.
- Troy Glaus isn’t going anywhere. Even if the Jays wanted to trade him, his contract is prohibitive.
- The Indians or Rockies could trade for Octavio Dotel for bullpen depth. Dotel is developing into a fine trading chip for Dayton Moore, just as planned. The Tribe has had interest in Dotel in past offseasons.