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A.J. Burnett

Odds and Ends: Elias, Izzy, Silva, Colletti

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Linkage for Wednesday…

  • Eddie Bajek over at Detroit Tigers Thoughts has successfully reverse-engineered the Elias Type A/Type B formula.  Today he assigns statuses to the American League catchers.  Jason Varitek clings to Type A, while Ivan Rodriguez has slipped to Type B.  Read more about how free agent compensation works here.
  • Jason Isringhausen’s season, and maybe his career, is over due to a torn flexor tendon in his elbow.
  • J.C. Bradbury puts on his GM hat for the Braves.  Rather than plug in free agent signings, he’d sell off most of the infield.
  • MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone extinguishes a Carlos Silva rumor.
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney grades the deadline deals.  He has Ken Griffey Jr., Kyle Farnsworth, and Damaso Marte bringing up the rear.
  • Tim Brown explains that Ned Colletti’s job is safe.
  • Johnny Damon hopes A.J. Burnett opts out of his deal.  Does he just want Burnett out of the league, or is he hoping the righty joins the Yanks’ rotation next year?
  • Twins reliever Brian Bass may become a free agent, if he refuses a Triple A assignment.

More Odds And Ends: Rays, Rangers, Burnett, Pirates

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A few more random notes from the MLBiverse…

  • Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman says the team’s waiver position makes it "extremely unrealistic to expect that [the Rays] will be able to get something done in August."
  • Tom Hicks says the Rangers will look for free agents this offseason that fit the team, but he doubts they will offer any long-term deals to pitchers over 30.  That doesn’t rule out C.C. Sabathia or Oliver Perez.
  • A.J. Burnett denies he has already decided to opt out of his contract, but Jays manager Cito Gaston thinks the pitcher won’t be back.
  • Dejan Kovacevic says now that the signings are concluded, the Pirates’ draft bonanza was unprecedented for the organization.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Burnett Won’t Be Traded

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Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi told MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian tonight that A.J. Burnett is "not going anywhere."  He also has yet to have serious trade talks regarding other Jays veterans.

Ricciardi was careful when asked about the recent rumor of the team possibly offering Burnett an additional $2MM per year to remain with the team.  He said ownership would have to be on board for something like that, but he’s comfortable with the current situation.

Odds and Ends: Eaton, Dykstra, Lohse, Burnett

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Let’s round up some linkage.

Perrotto’s Latest: Ross, Jacobs, Kent, Burnett

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Baseball Prospectus’ John Perrotto has a new column.

  • The Mets are looking at relievers Huston Street, Brian Fuentes, Arthur Rhodes, and Eddie Guardado.  On the radar for outfielders: Jason Bay, Raul Ibanez, and Randy Winn.
  • A new suitor for Fuentes has emerged: the Diamondbacks.  Would they really make another move for a reliever?  Other known suitors were named here.
  • The Marlins would consider trading Cody Ross or Mike Jacobs for relief help.
  • New name on the Rays’ radar: Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent.  They’re better off with Akinori Iwamura aren’t they?
  • George Sherrill suitors: Cardinals, Tigers, Dodgers, Marlins, and Phillies.
  • The Blue Jays may offer A.J. Burnett an additional $2MM per year to convince him to stay for 2009-10.
  • The Rangers are "expected to be among the top bidders" for CC Sabathia this winter.

George Sherrill Rumors

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4:50pm: The Baltimore Sun lists the Cardinals, Brewers, Dodgers, Cubs, Reds, Phillies, Marlins, and Tigers as teams represented at yesterday’s Orioles-Blue Jays tilt.  The article implies that those clubs were there hoping to scout Sherrill, though a few might have been eyeing A.J. Burnett or both pitchers.

Jeff Zrebiec says the O’s want two or three prospects for Sherrill, who is under team control for a long time.

2:16pm: According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Brewers are not engaged in trade talks for Orioles closer George Sherrill.  The O’s are looking for a shortstop, and the Brewers aren’t willing to part with J.J. Hardy or Alcides Escobar.  Makes more sense to wait until Escobar forces their hand, anyway.

GM Doug Melvin told Haudricourt he doesn’t expect to add a reliever this month.

A.J. Burnett Rumors

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Let’s put all of the A.J. Burnett rumors and links in one place.

  • Joe Strauss says the Cardinals were one of 15 teams scouting Burnett yesterday.  Strauss says that Burnett’s contract allows a trade to the Cardinals, and they "remain intrigued" after Walt Jocketty pursued him as a free agent in ’05.
  • Will Carroll says he’s been heavily scouted but demand is low.  Carroll thinks the Phillies could jump back in if the price comes down.  He also wonders whether Burnett would clear waivers in August.
  • Jayson Stark says Burnett is "eminently available," with the Yankees, Phillies, and Cardinals checking in.  He adds that the Blue Jays won’t trade within the division, the Phillies chose Joe Blanton, and the Cardinals balked at the price of two premium players.
  • Jim Molony expects Burnett to stay put.
  • Dave Cameron thinks Burnett is underrated.
  • Ken Rosenthal finds trade interest in Burnett minimal, noting that teams would prefer a guarantee that the pitcher will opt out after the season.

Carroll’s Latest: Duchscherer, Burnett, Ibanez, Cabrera

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Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus has some rumors to consider this afternoon.

  • The Tigers are 5.5 games out, but are still on the fence about buying or selling.
  • Carroll says there’s "much more substance to rumors of the White Sox going after Justin Duchscherer" as compared to the one about the A’s pursuing Jason Bay.
  • The Phillies could jump back in on A.J. Burnett if the price comes down.  Also – could Burnett clear waivers in August?
  • The Rockies’ demands for Brian Fuentes might be holding up the relief market.
  • Regarding Raul Ibanez, the Mariners either want to tack Jose Vidro on in a deal or get back premium prospects.
  • The White Sox have become aggressive, and apparently had failed talks about Orlando Cabrera with the Red Sox.  Josh Fields is not considered untouchable.

Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Padilla, Sheffield, Beltre

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up.  You may want to grab a glass of water or something, because this is a beast of a column.

  • If the Braves have a bad weekend and decide to trade Mark Teixeira, a deal could come together quickly.  Stark says the Braves have already touched base with the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees.  Where Tex fits on the Rays, I’m not sure.  Additionally, interest in Will Ohman is said to be "massive."
  • A Jorge Posada move to first base could affect the Yankees’ interest in Teixeira this winter.
  • Though Brian Fuentes has many suitors, the Rockies have actually exchanged names with only the Marlins and Yankees.  GM Dan O’Dowd has not dropped his price.  By the way, Todd Helton’s injury takes Garrett Atkins off the market.  As for Matt Holliday, many execs believe the Rockies will never trade him.
  • The Phillies are focused on a left-handed reliever, with Fuentes, Damaso Marte, George Sherrill, and Jack Taschner in the mix.
  • The Phillies were scared off by the asking prices on Holliday and Xavier Nady, and never even made an offer.  They still could acquire a lesser hitter.
  • The Pirates are inspiring much grumbling with high asking prices for Jason Bay, Nady, Marte, John Grabow, and Jack Wilson.
  • The Rangers are looking for young, controllable starting pitching.  Vicente Padilla is available, with the Tigers and Yankees showing mild interest.  Eddie Guardado and Jamey Wright are not available.
  • In pursuing Jarrod Washburn, Bronson Arroyo, and Padilla, the Yankees are demonstrating their plan to reduce the prospect price for pitching by taking on a decent-sized contract.
  • While A.J. Burnett is "eminently available," no trade talks are cooking.  The Jays apparently won’t deal him within the division.  Other Jays veterans might be available, though Roy Halladay isn’t among them.
  • The Tigers are looking for pitching and a long-term shortstop.  They’d be willing to move Gary Sheffield, though they’d have to eat salary.
  • Top Rays prospects such as Wade Davis, David Price, and Jeremy Hellickson are off-limits. Rays Index recently ran through the more likely trade candidates.
  • The Braves asked the Royals about Jose Guillen, but Dayton Moore is asking for a ton.
  • Stark says the Twins’ talks for Adrian Beltre are "far from dead."  The Twins are zeroed in on a third base upgrade.  Beltre, by the way, has the Dodgers on his no-trade list.  Joe Christensen says the Twins have found the asking price prohibitive for various third basemen.
  • The Rangers are looking for a young pitcher for Hank Blalock, who is drawing interest from the Twins, Giants, and Dodgers.  The Dodgers also like Casey Blake, who is likely to be traded somewhere.

Molony’s Latest: Francoeur, Bay, Blalock

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MLB.com’s Jim Molony has a new column up.

  • The Braves will listen to offers for Jeff Francoeur and Will Ohman, and maybe Mark Teixeira if the Braves struggle in the next week.  The Royals are said to be interested in Francoeur.  Mike Gonzalez is unavailable.
  • The Braves have scouted Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, in case they decide to become buyers.
  • The Phillies had an exec scouting the Pirates recently.  The Phils are looking for a lefty reliever.  The Phillies also may be looking at relievers on the Jays and Orioles.
  • Molony rattles off Freddy Garcia suitors: Astros, Cardinals, Phillies, Rangers, Red Sox, Royals, Tigers, Mets, White Sox and Yankees.  The Royals might be a new one.
  • At least five teams are in on Casey Blake, including the Twins.  However the Twins seem to prefer Hank Blalock.  I like the Blalock idae for the Twins.
  • Molony sees A.J. Burnett staying put.
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