Possible Milton Bradley Suitors
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle mentions several potential suitors for Milton Bradley in today’s column. She names the Padres and Pirates as possibilities, citing connections to Paul DePodesta and Jim Tracy. Additionally, Slusser quotes Billy Beane in saying that he worked on a Bradley trade within the past three weeks but it fell through.
The Pirates, as a noncontender, really don’t need to be picking up impending free agents. There’s just no reason for it. They need to give as much playing time to young players as possible.
The Padres, though, make a fine fit. Bradley could help them in all three outfield spots, when healthy. John Perrotto confirms interest from both teams.
Meanwhile, the Mets will apparently pass because of Bradley’s baggage. Bradley, though, had a relatively peaceful stay in Oakland.
Healey’s Latest
Mark Healey at Gotham Baseball has long been a solid, underappreciated source of inside information. He’s got another Rumor Mill up at his site. My summary follows.
- The Yankees have an eye on big-name 1Bs like Mark Teixeira and Todd Helton. But more realistically, they’re looking at Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena. He’s got the defense, so even if he regresses to a 20 HR bat it’s a nice pickup. Healey’s source believes Tyler Clippard is too much but the Rays like Sean Henn. The Yanks have also inquired about the versatile Ty Wigginton.
- The Reds, Rockies, and others have been scouting the Yankees’ Double A Trenton affiliate. Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, and Brett Gardner are probably the most desirable players on that roster. Gotham Baseball has previously connected the Yankees to Brian Fuentes and David Weathers. Another reliever the Yankees like is Chad Bradford, though the O’s price may be too high.
- Gotham quotes an NL scout who doesn’t believe the Mets will acquire a starter by trading Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, or Fernando Martinez. That scout believes the return of Pedro will supply the needed boost. Personally, I can see Milledge going.
- Some former Mets on the radar: Brady Clark, Jay Payton, and David Weathers.
- Healey says the Mets sent scouts to look at Randy Winn this weekend. They must not be pleased with Moises Alou‘s progress. As I mentioned earlier, Winn is signed through 2009. He has a full no-trade clause this year. For 2008-09 he can block deals to ten teams.
- The Pirates have some vets to trade, and have contacted the Mets regarding Shawn Chacon and Damaso Marte. Marte is quietly having a fine season with a 1.21 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. Marte earns $2.45MM this year, and $2MM in ’08 with an odd $6MM club option for 2009. He can also earn incentives based on games finished.
Could Bucs Trade Jack Wilson?
The Pirates have benched shortstop Jack Wilson in favor of Jose Castillo for the time being, and Pirate fans are quite pleased with the decision. Wilson, 29, is signed through 2009. Here’s his contract situation:
2007: $5.25MM
2008: $6.5MM
2009: $7.25MM
2010: $8.4MM club option with $0.6MM buyout
Limited no-trade clause: Wilson can block trades to six teams each season
Is Wilson a $7MM player? He is if you really like his defense. Yahoo’s Tim Brown spoke to a baseball man who seemed to think there would be interest in Wilson. I don’t know. His defense had better be really, really good to put up with a sub-.700 OPS. Cesar Izturis could do that, and the Cubs probably won’t exercise his $5.45MM option for ’08.
I was going to list some possible suitors here but I can’t really think of any teams in need of an overpriced, all-glove/no-hit starting shortstop.
Craig Wilson Clears Waivers
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1B/LF Craig Wilson has cleared waivers and become a free agent. The 30 year-old can be had for the Major League minimum. Some have speculated he might return to Pittsburgh, but so far the team hasn’t contacted Wilson’s agent.
The Orioles had interest in Wilson last winter, though the Aubrey Huff signing probably quashed that. I could see the Padres getting involved, as they have expressed interest in the past.
Baseball Prospectus projected a mildly useful .256/.339/.476 from Wilson for 2007, but he was awful for the Braves at .172/.304/.259 in 58 ABs. Based on his BP comparables, Wilson can go in one of two directions to finish out his career: Pete Incaviglia or Glenallen Hill. Hill at least built a nice post-30 career as a 250-350 AB guy with good pop. I’ll never forget some of the home runs Hill hit at Wrigley…click here to read some amusing trivia on him.
Mets Don’t Want Castillo
Though he and others have suggested a good fit, today Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that the Mets are not interested in Pirate utility man Jose Castillo. Castillo recently requested a trade.
When you think about it, why would they be interested? Castillo hasn’t done anything in the Majors outside of May 2006, and he may have a bit of an attitude problem. Damion Easley, on the other hand, has five homers in 56 ABs. True, he won’t slug .571 all year, but he’s every bit as good as Castillo and he’s already on the team. The Mets don’t need a second baseman. They have the best offense in the National League. I’m not sure the Mets need much of anything.
Jose Castillo Requests Trade
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 26 year-old second baseman Jose Castillo had his agent ask the Pirates for a trade. Devan Kovacevic says Castillo was widely available this winter but generated little interest. He names the Mets as a possible suitor given Jose Valentin‘s injury.
As I mentioned in my Castillo Let’s Make A Deal post, outside of a single month (May ’06), Castillo hasn’t really done anything to justify a starting job. He skipped Triple A, and might benefit from playing every day at that level.
Let’s Make A Deal: Jose Castillo
26 year-old Pirates infielder Jose Castillo hasn’t exactly asked for a trade, but you get the impression he would welcome one. He doesn’t have a position with the Bucs after Freddy Sanchez returned from the DL Sunday.
Castillo has played mostly second base in his Major League career. While he’s played outfield in winter ball, his bat doesn’t play there unless he’s an above-average center field glove. That seems very doubtful. He was raised a shortstop in the minors, but started playing second base in Double A in ’03 when Pokey Reese got injured. His work at short had been lousy, and soon he was to be the Bucs’ Second Baseman of the Future.
I asked Jake at Bucco Blog about Castillo’s defense. His description: "He’s a natural shortstop without the range anymore. Soft hands, better than average arm, lightning quick pivots, and better than average 2B range." Jake mentioned that Castillo plays hard and could win a Gold Glove one day. This is not a starry-eyed Bucs fan speaking, as Jake has been plenty critical of the Pirates.
In 2004 Castillo was able to make the jump from Double A to the bigs and break camp with the team, albeit in a second-base timeshare with Bobby Hill. Soon enough, he was playing every day. Castillo didn’t hit much in his rookie season but finished strong. Skipping Triple A may have stunted his development, however.
He was the starting 2B to begin 2005, but a strained oblique cut into his season initially. As a sophomore, he improved his SLG to .416 but a torn knee ligament in August ended his season.
The knee was fine to start 2006. After a weak April, Castillo had the best month of his life in May, hitting .366/.413/.634 with 7 home runs. He never managed to slug .400 in any other month last year. Castillo was benched in August, apparently because he threw his arms up in disgust when a runner failed to score from second on his single.
This winter, shortstop Jack Wilson called Castillo out, saying he’d rather partner with Freddy Sanchez at second. Castillo lost some weight before the season but also lost the third base job to Jose Bautista.
At this point, Castillo’s stock might be even lower than Jorge Cantu‘s. At least Cantu has translated his potential into results for one season. I named the Braves, Mets, and Rockies as reasonable fits for Cantu earlier. Castillo is probably in the same boat, and the Braves did express interest in him when working out the Mike Gonzalez deal.
Castillo is still young enough to step it up to his 75th percentile PECOTA projection – .275/.329/.440. But that’s still not much better than Ron Belliard, who was freely available this winter. Either Littlefield will send him off for a pittance just to get him off the team, or he’ll continue to warm the bench for the Bucs. Outside of a single month, he hasn’t really justified a starting role.
Pirates Rumors
Our good friend Jake at Bucco Blog has all sorts of good Pirate info tonight. The Bucs have plenty of trade options right now. My Cliff Notes version:
- Freddy Sanchez could miss most of April with his knee injury. Perhaps the newly released Todd Walker would be a good fit? I can see it. In due time he’ll make his way around the entire NL Central.
- Teams are scouting Ryan Doumit and Humberto Cota as possible backup catcher options. One club with a new opening: the White Sox, who unfortunately may have lost Toby Hall for the season with a labrum tear. D’oh. KW has dealt with Littlefield a couple of times before, on the Todd Ritchie and Rob Mackowiak deals. Littlefield is one of few GMs who has gotten the best of Williams in a deal.
- Jose Castillo and Nate McLouth are also drawing looks from other teams. The Cubs may have peeked at Castillo in their quest to add a backup middle infielder. As for McLouth…maybe the Marlins? Aren’t they supposed to announce their center fielder this week?
- Pirate relievers have also drawn interest but the team doesn’t feel it has a surplus and will likely stand pat for at least a month or two. Jake says Shawn Chacon may be the exception to that.
Latest On Jorge Julio
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up. Well, actually it went up 12 hours ago. If it’s whispered, (or just written on FOXSports.com), we hear it (once we wake up, eat some Arby’s, and get situated).
Ken’s main rumor:
The current suitors for the relief ace known as Jorge Julio are the Cardinals and Marlins, with the Bucs and D-Rays on the fringes. For the sake of my Al Reyes sleeper pick let’s keep him out of Tampa Bay. I think the Cardinals could really use a guy like Julio. The acquiring team will be on the hook for all $3.6MM, unless they pony up a top-notch prospect. The Marlins get special treatment I guess.
Byung-Hyun Kim On The Block
According to the Rocky Mountain News, the Pirates, Marlins, Dodgers, and A’s have interest in pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim. The Denver Post only mentions the A’s, however.
The source I talked to said the Marlins actually have no interest in Kim, and the Dodgers only do if they can move Mark Hendrickson in the trade. It really seems to be the A’s leading the pack because of reservations with Joe Kennedy. Kennedy wasn’t going to pitch 200 innings anyway, so they’ve known for a while that they need a strong sixth man.
If the Pirates were to acquire Kim, they’d quietly have some solid starting pitching depth in the organization.