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Brian Giles

Odds & Ends: Figgins, Holliday, Padres

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Some links to read through on Ryan Howard's 30th birthday…

  • The White Sox would like to add a true leadoff man and are open to bringing back Jim Thome, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.
  • MLB.com's Todd Zolecki says the Phillies aren't considered serious contenders for free agent Chone Figgins.
  • MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports that the Marlins may spend on a corner outfielder, a second baseman or a third baseman if they free up some payroll by trading Dan Uggla. Jamey Carroll is one of the many free agents the Marlins would consider.
  • The Brewers are open to bringing Craig Counsell back, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says tension is rising between players and owners.
  • MLB.com's Corey Brock wonders if the Padres could bring Mike Cameron back.
  • Padres fixture Brian Giles won't return in 2010, though he hopes to keep playing.  
  • MLB.com's Matthew Leach reports that the Cardinals will likely add a veteran bat if they don't re-sign Matt Holliday. However, the Cards say they're still hoping to sign Holliday, according to FOX Sports.
  • Leach expects the Cards to sign a pitcher to a one or two year deal to be the club's fourth starter.
  • As MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo points out, some of the best free agent signings are the ones that get the least attention.
  • Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun says there's a good chance the O's sign Pedro Feliz.

Brian Giles Wants To Keep Playing

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Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune points out that this could be the final weekend of Brian Giles' professional career. Giles says his body still feels good enough to play, but he realizes he'll have a limited role if he stays with the Padres, so he's open to other clubs.

"I still think I could be a good, productive major league player," Giles said. "If it's not in San Diego, then I have a feeling it's going to be somewhere else. I've got to believe there are teams willing to take a chance as long as you're healthy."

The 38-year-old raves about his time in San Diego, his hometown, but understands the Padres may move on. Giles posted a .191/.277/.271 line in 254 plate appearances this year and played suspect right field defense, posting a -14.5 UZR/150 in 500 innings. If Giles wants to play again he'll probably have to sign a minor league deal.

Rosenthal’s Full Count Video: Pitching, Rays, Padres, DeRosa

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Let's see what Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com has for us in his latest Full Count video…

  • The free agent market for starting pitching doesn't look very enticing, but the trade market could be intriguing. Toronto will almost certainly field offers for Roy Halladay again, the Cubs could trade Carlos Zambrano, and the Braves could deal Javier Vazquez if they decide to keep Tim Hudson.
  • The Astros might finally be ready to move ace Roy Oswalt. While he does have a full no-trade clause, Oswalt has told the club in the past that he'd be willing to consider moves to St. Louis, both Chicago teams, Texas, and Atlanta.
  • Tampa Bay moved Scott Kazmir when his value was high, so perhaps it's unlikely they'd move B.J. Upton when his value is low. Regardless, many teams covet the elder Upton brother because at his best he's a righty slugger with superior defense in center field. In his place, the Rays could go in-house with Fernando Perez or Desmond Jennings.
  • Keep in mind that if Tampa were to trade an outfielder, they might prefer to deal Carl Crawford. Upton is three years away from free agency; Crawford just one.
  • The Padres' recent surge has GM Kevin Towers thinking the team could be a surprise contender next year. The question is this: how low will the team's payroll go? The subtraction of Brian Giles would leave the payroll in the mid-$30MM range, but there are some that believe the team will move either Adrian Gonzalez or Heath Bell and get down into the mid-$20MM range. Ownership has yet to give the front office a firm payroll number for 2010.
  • The Cardinals want to re-sign Mark DeRosa, but his offseason wrist surgery changes the equation. DeRosa is fully expected to be ready by the start of Spring Training, but he'll come with some risk. If he was fully healthy, he would be nearly as coveted as Chone Figgins, but supply and demand will work in DeRosa's favor because there are very few quality third baseman available. Plus, he can also play a ton of other positions.

Towers Speaks About Possible Moves

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Padres GM Kevin Towers spoke with Darren Smith of 1090 XX Sports Radio earlier today, touching on a variety of Padre related topics. You can download and listen to the interview by clicking here, but here's a roundup of the rumors…

  • Towers said he expects to get calls from contending teams about his "experienced players," mentioning David Eckstein, Brian Giles, Henry Blanco, Kevin Correia, Chad Gaudin, Cla Meredith and Mike Adams by name.
  • He also said it's doubtful that the team would take on salary in a deadline deal, but they might be able to during the offseason.
  • Depending on how he comes back from injury, there may be interest in Giles. Towers said it's doubtful anything happens before the deadline, but a waiver trade could be made in August. Giles, of course, has a full no-trade clause.
  • When asked why he wouldn't trade Adrian Gonzalez or Heath Bell before the deadline to bring back as much talent as possible, Towers said "it's not to say we won't." He then mentions that they first need to determine what young players they're committed to keeping here and what they need to bring in from outside the organization, but if someone approaches them about one of those guys "they need to listen."

Stark On Deadline Deals

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ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that, with only five teams more than six games under .500, it's a tough time to be a buyer. Here are the details from his latest Rumblings and Grumblings:

  • There are many trade candidates in Washingon, but free agent-to-be Nick Johnson is the likeliest to move of them all.
  • Adam Dunn's price would be "astronomical" according to one executive.
  • One of Danys Baez and George Sherrill will likely be dealt, and it seems more likely that Baez will move. As one official says, "he's throwing great, but he's still Danys Baez."
  • The D'Backs would prefer to move prospective free agents, like Doug Davis and Chad Tracy. Stark writes that Davis could fit on the Mets.
  • One executive believes Brian Giles "should get released."
  • Cla Meredith could bring a decent return for the Padres, who could also move Chris Young and Kevin Kouzmanoff.
  • The Royals could move reliever Ron Mahay.
  • At this point the Astros still aren't likely to sell. No one expects them to move Roy Oswalt, but Ivan Rodriguez, LaTroy Hawkins and Jose Valverde could be dealt if the Astros decide to sell.
  • One official says the Pirates would "love to move Jack Wilson."
  • Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee aren't going anywhere, but Mark DeRosa is becoming "more marketable by the minute."
  • Matt Holliday will hit the market if the A's don't play very well for the next few weeks. The A's will want the equivalent of a first rounder and a sandwich pick and, because few elite bats are available, at least one exec thinks they'll get a good return.
  • The A's are worried he'll accept arbitration if they offer it, but Stark hears that Scott Boras would likely direct Holliday towards a better hitter's park, even if it was for less money.
  • The Red Sox aren't in a hurry to deal Brad Penny. If they go for a shortstop, they'd want a short-term fix only.
  • The Rockies- definitely not sellers right now- could eventually look to add a setup man.
  • Delmon Young is "exceptionally available."
  • The Brewers won't discuss dealing Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar.
  • The Rays would like to add a reliever, but they're one of many teams that can't add much payroll.

Odds & Ends: Giles, Vlad, Bay

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Links for your Memorial Day weekend…

Gammons On Matthews, Teahen, Harang, Peavy

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12:07pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer asked Reds GM Walt Jocketty about Gammons' Harang note.  Jocketty said, "I'm not going to comment on something when he doesn't know what he's talking about."

9:19am: ESPN's Peter Gammons had a new blog post yesterday discussing available players.

  • Gammons names Geoff Jenkins ($8MM remaining, limited no-trade), Brian Giles ($9MM remaining, full no-trade), Gary Matthews Jr. ($33.5MM remaining, full no-trade), Marcus Thames ($2.275MM salary), Nick Johnson ($5.5MM salary), Jason Repko, and Jeff Baker as players being dangled.  Gammons links Matthews to the Yankees but admits his contract will be an issue.
  • Mark Teahen has drawn interest from the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees.
  • Gammons says the Reds "have let teams know that they will wait and see whether they need to move Aaron Harang during the season."  It'd be a shame to see the Reds break up that rotation.  Harang has about $36MM coming to him over the next three seasons if his 2011 option is exercised.
  • Brewers third baseman Bill Hall expects his team to pursue Padres ace Jake Peavy if available this summer.  Unlike C.C. Sabathia, Peavy is more than a rental.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Braves, Lohse, Pedro, Bay

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On this date 72 years ago, Lou Gehrig signed a one-year deal for $38K and a $750 signing bonus. This contract came on the heels of a season in which Gehrig hit .354-49-152 with a strikeout to walk ratio of 130-to-46 and a 190 OPS+. The following season, Gehrig would hit .351-37-159 (177 OPS+) in what would turn out to be his last full healthy season. With only a few weeks left until the ’09 regular season begins, 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.

Brian Giles Likes Red Sox, Yankees, Angels

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Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune talked to Padres outfielder Brian Giles today.  At $9MM, Giles is the Padres’ second highest-paid player behind Jake Peavy.  He’s a trade candidate this season, though he has full no-trade rights.  He carries the baggage of a lawsuit with his former girlfriend as well as an additional $2MM in salary if traded.  The Padres exercised his ’09 option on November 7th last year, and I’m guessing they’re already regretting it.

Krasovic learned that Giles’ favored trade destinations would be the Red Sox, Yankees, and Angels.  The Yankees and Angels have surpluses in the outfield currently, though Giles would love to stay in California.  Giles vetoed a trade to Boston last year due to playing time issues and an expectation that Theo Epstein would’ve traded him after the season.

Padres Projecting Over Budget

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According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres have a meager $40MM budget for players this year.  They’re projecting to be about $4-5MM over, and they’ll probably have to trade Jake Peavy and/or Brian Giles at some point to meet the target.  Both players have full no-trade rights. 

It could be risky to wait on a Peavy trade, since an injury can happen anytime and he might pitch in the WBC.  If the new Cubs ownership group will approve Peavy’s addition to the 2010 budget, trade talks could reignite (hasn’t happened yet).  I don’t see why Opening Day has to be the arbitrary deadline to trade Peavy – maybe we’ll see a rare April blockbuster if the Padres and Cubs’ ownership situations necessitate it.  Regarding the Felix Pie–Garrett Olson trade as a precursor, Padres CEO Sandy Alderson says too much is being made of it.

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