Ohka Could Sign Soon
The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo reports that Tomo Ohka could decide this weekend whether to pitch for the Nationals, Pirates, or Blue Jays. The Bucs are also working on Brian Lawrence, so they’d probably only sign one of the two.
I wonder what happened to the Mets, and whether Ohka is still holding out for a three-year deal. You can read my full profile of the 30 year-old righty here.
Brian Lawrence Update
According to Kevin Towers on XX Sports Radio in San Diego, Brian Lawrence is waiting to see what happens with David Wells. Towers expects an answer from Wells today. If Boomer doesn’t sign with the Padres, Lawrence probably will.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Times reports that the Mariners, Rockies, and Pirates are all still competing for Lawrence.
Pirates Acquire LaRoche For Gonzalez
UPDATE: A source tells me the Pirates included shortstop Brent Lillibridge in the trade, and it’s a four-player deal. That’s quite a price – Baseball Prospectus’s PECOTA system indicates that the college product would be baseball’s ninth best shortstop in 2007 (based on projected WARP).
The above info is now confirmed by John Perrotto of the Beaver County Allegheny Times. The Braves are sending outfielder Jamie Romak to the Bucs to complete the deal.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates have agreed to send Mike Gonzalez and another unknown player to the Braves for first baseman Adam LaRoche. Nice to finally put the daily LaRoche rumors to rest. Given the inclusion of Lillibridge, I’d say the Braves won another deal here.
Check out RotoAuthority to read the fantasy implications of this deal.
Pirates Still Chasing LaRoche, Tracy
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tells us that Pirate GM Dave Littlefield is under pressure to acquire a power bat before the season begins. The two main targets are still Adam LaRoche and Chad Tracy, but will Littlefield include a second Major Leaguer along with Mike Gonzalez? And if Kovacevic’s report of Littlefield’s mandate is true, isn’t that leak detrimental to the GM’s efforts?
The Bucs still refuse to include Chris Duffy or Paul Maholm in a two-for-one deal. Kovacevic speculates that another reliever might represent a compromise; if the Pirates need to include Salomon Torres they should do it. While it would decimate the bullpen it still makes sense to trade relievers for sluggers.
The article also mentions that trading for Ryan Church or signing Trot Nixon wouldn’t fulfill the team’s goal and seems unlikely. Options such as Geoff Jenkins or Jacque Jones could be pursued, however.
Bucs Still Looking For Hitter
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates are mulling options other than Adam LaRoche, as talks have stalled somewhat. Trot Nixon appears to be off the radar as a free agent signing. No more Melky Cabrera talk either.
Existing possibilities include Chad Tracy for Mike Gonzalez and another player, or a deal for Ryan Church, Casey Kotchman, or Geoff Jenkins.
Meanwhile, Bucco Blog weighed in on the team’s need to keep Chris Duffy and also suggested Kotchman as a realistic possibility. Jake "heard through the grapevine" that Kotchman could one day entertain a long-term deal with the Bucs. I haven’t spoken to Jake on this topic recently, but just connect the dots a bit here.
Pirates Targeting Elijah Dukes?
Bucco Blog reports that the Pirates and Devil Rays are talking, and the Bucs may be targeting 22 year-old first baseman/outfielder Elijah Dukes. Jake’s informal poll of writers and scouts seemed to indicate that such an acquisition would require either Tom Gorzelanny or Mike Gonzalez. To me, Gorzelanny would make the most sense. As you probably know, Dukes has a world of talent but some makeup issues.
Gorzelanny had a scare last year with August elbow stiffness, though he came back to make three starts after that. For 2007, the 24 year-old southpaw is projected at a 4.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 153 innings by ZiPS and a 4.27 ERA and 1.39 WHIP in 168 innings by RotoAuthority.
Pirates Still In On Ohka
According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "The Pirates are among the two or three teams that have offered a two-year deal to free-agent pitcher Tomo Ohka. However, Ohka’s agent is holding out for a three-year deal."
Three years for Ohka sounds like a bad idea. But hey, can’t blame a guy for trying. As far as the two or three teams, it seems possible that they might be the Mets, Nationals, and Mariners.
Pirates, Braves Still Talking Swap
The Mike Gonzalez for Adam LaRoche trade rumor lives on. However, as we’ve read at Bucco Blog numerous times, John Schuerholz has always wanted to add Paul Maholm or Jose Castillo to the deal.
Bucco Blog recently sat down with an NL East scout to discuss LaRoche and whether he’d be a good fit in Pittsburgh. Take a look.
Pirates/Yankees/Braves Deal About Complete
Bucco Blog is reporting tonight that the oft rumored three-team trade between the Yankees, Braves, and Pirates is all but complete.
Mike Gonzalez is taking a requested physical for the Yankees today and, if he passes, it looks like he will be a Yankee for Christmas. The Pirates will be getting Adam LaRoche and the Braves will get Melky Cabrera and at least one unidentified Pirate who is thought to be either Nate McLouth or Jose Castillo. There are a couple versions of this trade running according to Bucco Blog so more as we hear it.
Latest On Adam LaRoche
This thing just won’t die. John Perrotto reports that the Pirates’ talks with Atlanta about Adam LaRoche are "picking up steam again."
The Braves originally wanted Paul Maholm, but are backing off and could go for Mike Gonzalez and Jose Castillo/Chris Duffy. Bucco Blog has been on this one for a long time. Perrotto writes that the Bucs want Kyle Davies in there if it’s going to be a four-player trade.
Meanwhile, the Yankees wouldn’t include a second player for Gonzalez and the Red Sox aren’t offering anything interesting.