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.
Yankees Looking At Helton, Fuentes
Plenty of Todd Helton to the Yankees rumors surfacing lately, the first of which came via Mark Healey of Gotham Baseball. Healey also mentioned the Yanks’ interest in Brian Fuentes last Friday.
Today, Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post confirms those rumors on the Rockies side of things. While the interest in confirmed, Renck says "nothing is brewing." Guess we’ll have to wait a month or so, to see if desperation sets in.
There had been a lot of talk of the "New Yankees," who are building from within and not taking on ridiculous contracts. But with players like Bobby Abreu, Roger Clemens, and Helton, the Yankees are simply using financial clout like the old days. I suppose holding onto Phil Hughes is a step in the right direction though.
Yankees Considering Helton?
For all the talk of how the Yankees have changed, the team went back to its old brute force spending approach to add the one available free agent difference-maker in Roger Clemens. Ten games behind the Red Sox and in third place, it seems they may be considering another expensive acquisition. According to Mark Healey of Gotham Baseball, the Yanks are considering acquiring Todd Helton to play first base. The Rockies might have to accept a contract in return, perhaps Kyle Farnsworth‘s. I would except a Helton deal to resemble the Bobby Abreu trade, where the Yankees mostly provide salary relief rather than players.
The Yankees’ offense has been kind of average in May. However, the .262/.347/.460 line they’ve gotten from Josh Phelps and Doug Mientkiewicz is about league average for the position. It’s far from a major need.
Aside from the Angels, there aren’t many teams that could take on Helton’s contract or even compete for his services. In contrast, one Rockie likely to be coveted by is closer Brian Fuentes. Healey says he’s on the Yanks’ radar as well. Fuentes is a 31 year-old lefty with 75 career saves. He’ll be a free agent after the 2008 season.