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Red Sox Notes: Bay, Ortiz, Saito

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Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald covers a handful of Red Sox topics in his latest column. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Silverman expects Jason Bay and the Sox to haggle more about the length of a new contract than the dollar amount. Bay will want to guarantee himself a minimum of four or five years, while the Red Sox would rather stick to three years, plus an option.
  • Matt Holliday is an alternative to Bay, but he'll likely be looking for six years and more money per season than Bay. Plus there's no guarantee Holliday can thrive in Boston, while Bay has proven he can.
  • Even if they were to sign Bay or Holliday, the Red Sox would just be maintaining their offense, not upgrading it. Silverman thinks they need to add a big left-handed bat too, though he implies that may have to wait until David Ortiz's contract is up, a year from now.
  • One lefty hitter that Silverman notes is currently on the trading block: Brad Hawpe.
  • Ortiz is committed to improving his conditioning and fitness this winter, hoping to avoid another slow start in 2010.
  • While the Sox likely won't pick up Takashi Saito's $6MM option, there's "mutual interest" for the reliever to re-sign.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Twins, Mets, Rockies, Delgado, Nady, Butler

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On this date six years ago, Aaron Boone ended the ALCS with an 11th inning home run off of Tim Wakefield. Yesterday we learned that Boone is likely to retire, ending his 12-year career. With this season's LCS underway, 26 teams are already in the Hot Stove season. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Rockies Rumors: Betancourt, Marquis, Hawpe

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With the Rockies' 2009 season over, Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post is already discussing 2010.  Here's the latest:

  • Look for GM Dan O'Dowd to receive a new contract soon.  O'Dowd will then attempt to re-sign manager Jim Tracy.
  • Rafael Betancourt has a steep $5.4MM club option for 2010.  The reliever wants to return, and Renck finds it possible.  He says catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who has a $4MM mutual option, is less certain to remain with the team.
  • The Rockies are expected to let free agent starter Jason Marquis leave and replace him with Jeff Francis.  Presumably the Rockies will not offer arbitration to Marquis, a probable Type B free agent.  Jason Giambi, Jose Contreras, and Joe Beimel are possibilities to re-sign.
  • Renck sees Garrett Atkins as a trade or non-tender candidate.  It wouldn't make much sense for a team to acquire Atkins prior to the non-tender deadline in mid-December.
  • Renck considers right fielder Brad Hawpe a trade candidate given the Rockies' outfield depth.  Hawpe will earn $7.5MM in 2010, but he can void his $10MM option for 2011 if traded.  During the last four seasons, Hawpe has posted OBPs of .381 or better and SLGs of .498 or better.  The knock is that he can't hit lefties, but he did a tolerable job against them in 2008-09.  The other knock against Hawpe is his subpar defense.  He still might fit with the Cubs or Mets, in my opinion.

Odds & Ends: Rangers, Hawpe, Griffey, Matsui

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Are you over that back-and-forth, edge of your seat Yankees-Twins game yet? If not, here's some links to calm you down…

  • Jeff Wilson of The Dallas Morning News provides a quick breakdown of each of the three bidders that are considering purchasing the Rangers. He notes that there is still no timetable for a sale to be complete.
  • Jim Armstrong of The Denver Post wonders about Brad Hawpe's future in Colorado after Jim Tracy used three lefthanded pinch hitters during Game Two of the NLDS, none of whom was Hawpe. With several younger, more athletic, and (perhaps most importantly) cheaper outfielders on the roster, Hawpe could be the odd man out.
  • When asked if he wanted to play in 2010, Ken Griffey Jr. replied "Um, yeah," according to Phil Rogers of The Chicago Tribune. Junior also qualified that by saying he'll do what's best for his family and for the Mariners.
  • Could Hideki Matsui stay in New York next year? Newsday's David Lennon thinks it may be possible, with the Mets instead of the Yankees. The one they call Godzilla has insisted he could play the outfield all season, yet the Yankees have only used him at DH because of his surgically repaired knees. Lennon notes that Matsui has also "told people he would consider trying first base," which would fit great for the team from Flushing.

O’Dowd Quells Hawpe Rumors

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Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd is snuffing out rumors that the Rockies would trade Brad Hawpe if the price is right, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. Saunders writes,

"'I don't know where any of that came from,' O'Dowd said. 'I don't foresee us doing anything with him. That's something you would only do strategically, for the big picture. That would be something for the offseason, if at all.' … Before the Rockies sizzled their way back into wild-card contention, there was plenty of speculation around baseball that the Rockies would begin unloading players in July. That's no longer the case."

The Rockies have six weeks to evaluate their competitive chances before the non-waiver trade deadline. Baseball Prospectus gives the Rockies a 27.5% chance of making the playoffs. Hawpe said he would void his $10MM 2011 club option and become a free agent if he's dealt.

Odds And Ends: Hawpe, Royals, Draft

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Some links for Wednesday morning…

Players To Watch Between Now And The Deadline

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Once the draft ends tomorrow, we'll turn our attention to the trade market and many GMs will be doing the same. We'll monitor dozens of names throughout the next couple months, but here are seven to watch especially closely as the July 31st trading deadline inches closer. First, three players whose teams have to falter before they become trade bait:

  • Matt Holliday has been on a tear since May 5th, walking more than he's striking out with an OPS of .989. The A's have heated up, too. Their seven game win streak ended last night, but they're only 6.5 games out, so they'll have to fall off if Holliday's going to hit the market.
  • Mark DeRosa's Indians are seven games out of first place, and they aren't selling now, but the versatile 34-year-old could be appealing to teams like the Cardinals and Mets if the Indians struggle.
  • Erik Bedard is pitching well, but the Mariners, now five games back, aren't out of it yet. 

These three players aren't on contenders, so they could be moved earlier:

  • Holliday's former teammate, Brad Hawpe, is hitting .335 with power. His OPS is just shy of 1.000 and he's striking out less than ever. The Rockies aren't going anywhere, but they're on a six game win streak of their own, and Dan O'Dowd is not in a hurry to deal.
  • Aubrey Huff will be a free agent after the season and though he's not matching last year's numbers, he's a solid bat.
  • Another lefthanded hitter, Nick Johnson, could be a nice addition, though teams might be wary of his past injuries.  

And finally, a player who's seemingly been on the trading block forever:

  • Jake Peavy's already vetoed one trade and would likely use his no-trade clause to keep himself in the National League. Not many teams can afford to take on his salary, but the Padres would like to move him and he's the best pitcher available.
  

 

Rosenthal On Spilborghs, Peavy, Aybar

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that teams began calling the Rockies about Ryan Spilborghs last week when Carlos Gonzalez was called up. Here are the details from Rosenthal's column:

  • The Phillies, Red Sox and Tigers were among the teams inquiring about Spilborghs. 
  • The Rockies will likely take their time fielding offers for Spilborghs and their other trade candidates. Jason Marquis, Huston Street and Brad Hawpe could all be dealt, but the Rockies aren't in a hurry to part with them.
  • Rosenthal finds it hard to imagine the Padres trading Jake Peavy before the offseason unless the Cubs get permission to take on his contract or a surprise bidder emerges.
  • The Angels could trade Erick Aybar for a bat or a reliever and make Brandon Wood their everyday shortstop. The Red Sox, Mets, Royals and Cardinals could use help at short.
  • The A's, riding a seven game win streak, are not involved in any trade talks right now.  
  • The Angels would love to deal Gary Matthews Jr. for another overpaid player, but it's tough to match up bad contracts.  
  • The Mets made a "blunder" when they paid $36MM for Oliver Perez when they could have gone after, Randy Wolf, who's only guaranteed $5MM.

Rosenthal On Rockies, Cain, Pirates

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Another column from Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports?  Sure, why not.

  • The Rockies, 12 games out in the NL West, "appear headed for a selloff."  Garrett Atkins isn't popular (although deep in today's chat, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggested there could be a match with the Cardinals), and Todd Helton is too pricey.  But Brad Hawpe, who has $12MM coming to him from now through 2010, could be an appealing trade chip.  Hawpe has a 2011 club option for $10MM, but he can void it if traded.  Rosenthal likes the Rays; the Braves would also be a nice fit for Hawpe in my opinion.
  • Rosenthal believes it would be hard for the Giants to find a young slugger who would be equal value for Matt Cain, who can be controlled cheaply through 2011.  We learned earlier this week that Cain is not being dangled.
  • The Pirates have no financial need to dump veteran contracts, an idea we've read in the past.  They're getting calls on Jack Wilson, but teams are reluctant to take on all the $5.8MM he still has coming.  They have the same problem for Adam LaRoche.  And Rosenthal says the Bucs are "philosophically opposed to the idea of a low-revenue team sending money to a high-revenue team to secure better prospects in a trade, the way the Indians did last season when they moved third baseman Casey Blake to the Dodgers."

Heyman’s Latest: Hawpe, Pavano, Fuentes, Lowe

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Let’s dig into the latest columns from SI.com’s Jon Heyman, found here and here.

  • Brad Hawpe had choice words in response to team criticism from Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd.
  • Heyman says Carl Pavano tried to "weasel out of" paying his former agent $2MM in commission from his current contract, signed in December of ’04.  You get the impression Pavano is not well-liked among members of the media.
  • Heyman wonders if Rickie Weeks could be the odd man out in the Milwaukee infield next year.
  • The Mets are more likely to pursue Brian Fuentes than Francisco Rodriguez this winter.  K-Rod’s agent hinted that his client would be a good fit in L.A. or New York, but the Mets will have to make the rotation their priority.
  • Heyman says Derek Lowe prefers the East Coast.
  • Heyman figures A.J. Burnett will consider the $24MM remaining on his contract "pocket change," and will surely opt out.
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