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Carlos Beltran

Rangers Not Interested In Beltran, K-Rod

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TUESDAY, 7:50am: "I can't believe that we have an interest in either," remarked Rangers president Nolan Ryan on Galloway and Company yesterday. Ryan doesn't see K-Rod as an upgrade to his bullpen, and he's worried about Beltran's health and salary.

MONDAY, 12:37pm: The Rangers are interested in Mets veterans Carlos Beltran and Francisco Rodriguez, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.

Beltran and the Rangers are not an obvious match, since Texas is set at the outfield corners with Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz.  Of course, there are ways to make it work, as Hamilton and Beltran are capable of playing center field.  Plus, Hamilton and Cruz are not locks to avoid the DL from here on out.  The 34-year-old Beltran is hitting .278/.372/.480 with 10 home runs in 317 plate appearances on the season, in what is likely to become his healthiest season since '08.  Beltran's $18.5MM salary and full no-trade clause, as well as the Mets' status as wild card contenders, could be obstacles in a trade.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, has an 8.18 ERA in 11 games this month.  He's 26 games finished away from having his $17.5MM option for 2012 vest.  That target could be down to 15 or so by the trade deadline, so it's safer to trade K-Rod now.  Though a trade would be a clear manipulation of his vesting option, the closer appears open to waiving his no-trade protection.  Even teams with established closers would take on risk in acquiring Rodriguez, since he could be thrust back into the ninth inning if the incumbent stopper is injured.  A trade agreement might have to address such a scenario.  And don't forget, Rodriguez earns a hefty $11.5MM this year. 

The Rangers and other teams seeking relief help have plenty of options beyond K-Rod and all his baggage.  The Rangers have more trade chips than anybody, in the opinion of one scout who spoke to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter link). 

NL East Notes: Mets, Fish, Phillies, Johnson

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A roundup of NL East-centric links for those who are so inclined…

  • Steve Popper of NorthJersey.com writes that it's time for the Mets to begin dealing, as pieces like Jose Reyes, and especially Carlos Beltran, can only lose value from here.
  • Bobby Valentine and Ozzie Guillen top Marlins' owner Jeffery Loria's list of preferred managerial candidates, according to Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post.
  • As the Phillies and Red Sox get set to square off this week, the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo takes a look at some of the high points (rotation, bullpen) and low points (right-handed hitting, plate discipline) for the Phillies. He names Josh Willingham and Beltran as logical targets for the Phils this July, though notes that their payroll constraints may not allow it.
  • Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post says (via Twitter) that he believes Davey Johnson will be managing the Nationals in 2012.
  • MLB.com's Bill Ladson tweets that former bench coach and current interim manager John McLaren will be a scout for the Nationals after Johnson takes over. Today is McLaren's last game in uniform.

Davidoff On Padres, Bell, Yankees, Reyes

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In his Baseball Insider piece this week, Newsday's Ken Davidoff points out that the July 31st trade deadline often seems to "run through" a particular team that has the most pieces to sell. It seemed as if the Mets could be that team this year, but they may hang on to Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes if they have even a slim chance of making the playoffs. Instead, San Diego may be this year's biggest seller, with Heath Bell, Ryan Ludwick, Chad Qualls, and Aaron Harang among its potentially available players. Here are Davidoff's other notes:

  • The Yankees have called the Padres about Bell, but haven't been as aggressive as other clubs who would use Bell to close games.
  • The Yanks are more inclined to wait on the trade market anyway. By July 31st, the team will have a better idea of what injured players like Bartolo Colon, Phil Hughes, and Rafael Soriano will contribute in the second half.
  • According to Reyes' agent, Peter Greenberg, the shortstop seriously considered listening to the Mets' contract offer before deciding not to negotiate during the season.

Mets Rumors: Trades, Reyes, Beltran, Nimmo, Kazmir

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After an off day yesterday, the Mets remain five games out in the wild card at 35-37 as Dillon Gee prepares to face the Athletics.  The latest rumors around the club:

  • Mets COO Jeff Wilpon told Dan Martin of the New York Post that GM Sandy Alderson will "have all the opportunity in the world to bring anybody he wants in."  Alderson is restriction-free, but must bring ideas to his bosses on a case-by-case basis.  Regarding the Mets' status as buyers or sellers, Alderson remarked, "The next three to four weeks will tell a lot."
  • Asked by Martin if he had lost hope on keeping Jose Reyes, Wilpon replied, "Why would we? There's a long time between now and next year [and there are] a lot of things that can happen in a lot of different directions."  Though he's been mum on the subject of his next contract publicly, the shortstop talks about the situation privately all the time, one friend told Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.  Said the friend, "If the Mets think they're getting him for, like, $95 million, they're wrong. He's going to get paid. He is clear about that."  Martino feels that even if Reyes gives the Mets a discount, he'll still require "well north of $100 million."  Alderson said recently that the Mets will reach out to Reyes at some point.
  • SI's Tom Verducci thinks the Mets will approach Reyes in July.  A team source told him, "I'm sure there will come a point where we sit down and see what Jose wants. But there's nothing that says we won't try to keep the guy."  The Mets would need to be overwhelmed with an offer of three top prospects to trade Reyes, in the opinion of Verducci.
  • Martin talked to Mets right fielder Carlos Beltran, who said he is not worrying about trade possibilities.
  • Mets first-round draft pick Brandon Nimmo "was asking for $2.5 million," tweets Baseball America's Jim Callis.  Nimmo, drafted 13th overall, is committed to Arkansas.  If Callis' rumor is correct, he's looking for $844K over slot.
  • The Mets' front office wanted to annul the 2004 trade that sent Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay for Victor Zambrano on medical grounds, reports ESPN's Adam Rubin.  Mets employees believed the Rays did not supply the full trainers' log on Zambrano, who had elbow issues at the time of the deal.  However, the Wilpons elected not to try to revise or undo the trade.  Still, GM Jim Duquette isn't off the hook, because trading Kazmir for a healthy Zambrano wouldn't have been a good deal either.

Heyman On Reyes, Beltran

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The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…

  • One NL exec believes the Mets will have to be "overwhelmed" or get a "clear win" to trade shortstop Jose Reyes, which is in line with previous reports.  The Mets are 4.5 games back in the wild card, but have the luxury of seeing how the next 30 days or so unfold.  For our look at the shortstop market, click here.
  • I assume the same logic applies to Carlos Beltran, that the Mets wouldn't deal him for prospects if they're still in contention.  Heyman says the Mets would eat most or all of Beltran's remaining money if they can get a decent young piece or two, and that the right fielder would probably waive his no-trade clause to go to a contender.  At the trade deadline he'll have about $6MM left on his contract.
  • Josh Willingham, Michael Bourn, and Ivan Rodriguez fill out the top five on Heyman's list of the best potentially available position players.  The Nationals' Roger Bernadina sneaks onto the list at #23.

Quick Hits: Beltran, Santana, Bundy, Hultzen

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On this date three years ago, Ken Griffey Jr. hit home run number 600 off of Marlins lefty Mark Hendrickson. Slugger Jim Thome will resume his quest for 600 homers once the Twins activate him from the disabled list (Thome has 593 career homers). Here are today's links…

  • The Mets are willing to eat some of Beltran's $18.5MM salary in order to get quality prospects in return, tweets SI.com's Jon Heyman. Approximately $11.4MM is still owed to him this year.
  • Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times reports that the Dodgers have signed second round pick Alex Santana (on Twitter). MLB's slot recommendation for the 73rd overall pick is approximately $500K.
  • Orioles' scouting director Joe Jordan spoke to MLB.com's Britt Ghiroli about this week's draft, saying they "don’t expect" to set any bonus records for first rounder Dylan Bundy. You can see Baltimore's five largest amateur signing bonuses here.
  • Danny Hultzen (Mariners), Taylor Jungmann (Brewers) and Tyler Anderson (Rockies) are among the 2011 draftees who could make an impact in the Major Leagues before long, according to MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo.
  • We’re looking forward to seeing pitchers like Hultzen in the big leagues, but building a rotation through the draft is harder than it seems, as Tom Verducci shows at SI.com. Even first rounders have a high rate of failure, Verducci explains.
  • Former first rounder Scott Kazmir has a 15.15 ERA with a 13K/16BB ratio in Triple-A, so it appears that it's only a matter of time before the Angels release him, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times.
  • Jim Bowden of ESPN.com explains that he would pursue a two-year, $30MM extension with David Ortiz if he were running the Red Sox. Big Papi's consistency, history of health and hot bat all figure in to Bowden's analysis. Ortiz has a .326/.394/.612 line with 15 homers.

Quick Hits: Spangenberg, A’s, Beltran, Cubs, Twins

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First Eric Hosmer, now Mike Moustakas. The Royals are calling up their other super-prospect according to Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star (on Twitter), optioning Mike Aviles to Triple-A to make room on the roster. Moustakas hit .287/.347/.498 for Triple-A Omaha in 250 plate appearances, and congrats to him for reaching the show.

Here's the latest from around the league…

  • Padres assistant GM Jason McLeod told Dan Hayes of The North County Times that first round pick Cory Spangenberg will be in San Diego tomorrow to take his physical, indicating that a deal is all but done (Twitter link).
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says that the Padres and Athletics are unlikely to start selling pieces anytime soon (Twitter link). The call-up of Anthony Rizzo and firing of Bob Geren gives both clubs a new look that they'll first take a chance with.
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says that Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran is willing to waive his no-trade clause to join a team with a chance at a championship.
  • Although calls are being made for a fire sale, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Chicago Sun-Times says it won't be easy for the Cubs to move some of their bloated contracts.
  • MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince explains why there is no quick fix for what ails the Twins.
  • Big money contracts for relievers like Rafael Soriano, Pedro Feliciano, and Hisanori Takahashi haven't worked so far, and MLB.com's Tom Singer says that could change the way teams build bullpens in the future.
  • The Diamondbacks have come to terms with 23 draft picks according to a team press release. The highest pick of the group is fourth rounder Evan Marshall.
  • Derrick Goold of The St. Louis-Post Dispatch reports that the Cardinals have inked tenth round pick Lance Jeffries (Twitter link).

Cafardo’s Latest: Beltran, Guerrero, Marquis, Soria

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In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe discusses Buster Posey and Scott Cousins, examines what went wrong with Daisuke Matsuzaka, and lists 25 of baseball's most passionate people. Here are the other highlights from Cafardo's piece:

  • A National League talent evaluator on Carlos Beltran: "A contending team is going to get Beltran at the trading deadline, and they’re going to be very happy with him. He can still hit. He can be an emotional guy, but put him in a place where it counts, and he’ll produce for you."
  • At least a couple National League teams are eyeing Vladimir Guerrero as a potential trade deadline pickup. As Cafardo notes, the primary concern for NL clubs is how significant a defensive liability Guerrero would be.
  • Jason Marquis could be had in a trade if the Nationals received young talent in return. Cafardo speculates that Josh Reddick would be enough to acquire Marquis, but the Red Sox appear to be content with Tim Wakefield at the back of their rotation for now.
  • Joakim Soria's demotion from the closer's role doesn't make him any more available via trade. Cafardo spoke to Royals people who said the team still wasn't considering dealing Soria.

Quick Hits: Orioles, Danks, Athletics, Yankees, Mets

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Tampa Bay selected Jose Bautista off of waivers from the Orioles on this date in 2004.  That was, of course, before the Rays dropped the "Devil" portion of their nickname and before Jose Bautista was Jose Bautista..

New York Notes: Colon, Reyes, Beltran, Wright

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Six Yankees lead All-Star balloting at their respective positions in the early going: Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Russell Martin and Curtis Granderson (who's second among outfielders to Jose Bautista). Here's the latest on the Yankees and their cross-town rivals:

  • Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record points out that the Yankees have no incentive to dig for answers from Bartolo Colon, who had stem cells injected into his shouder and elbow before signing with them last offseason. The commissioner's office seems to know that Colon is beyond their reach, but MLB officials believe Colon should have disclosed what had happened when he signed with the Yankees. 
  • One GM suggested to Joel Sherman of the New York Post that Mets fans shouldn't expect too much in possible trades for Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran. The return for players on the brink of free agency hasn't historically been overwhelming, the GM said, pointing to the 2008 deal that sent Teixeira from Atlanta to the Angels for Casey Kotchman. On the other hand, Matt Holliday was traded for Brett Wallace the next summer.
  • Maybe Fred Wilpon was on point when he said David Wright is not a superstar. Rival executives tell Sherman that the third baseman would work best as the third or fourth-best player in a lineup.
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