Odds and Ends: Fujikawa, Inge, Haren, Jacque
Today’s collection of links…
- SI.com’s Jon Heyman does not believe Omar Minaya’s job is in jeopardy.
- New blog to check out: NPB Tracker. Patrick’s goal is to provide a reliable source of information on Japanese leagues to an American audience. He’s already got a name for us to watch: reliever Kyuji Fujikawa. He’d like to be posted, but that’s up to the Hanshin Tigers.
- Brandon Inge is up for full-time catching in ’09, even if it’s not his preference.
- The D’Backs discussed an extension with Dan Haren, but talks broke off. They could rekindle. He’s signed cheaply through 2010 already.
- The Tigers would’ve been interested in Barry Bonds if they didn’t have Gary Sheffield, according to Jim Leyland.
- Jacque Jones has cleared waivers but hasn’t decided whether to accept a minor league assignment from the Marlins.
- RotoAuthority looks at Chase Headley from a fantasy perspective.
- Pretty interesting comments from Bill Bavasi on Erik Bedard. Watch video of Bavasi’s press conference here.
Padres Promote Headley
According to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said on Saturday that Chase Headley, regarded as the top prospect in the Padres’ Minor League system, will join the team this weekend in Cleveland. "He’s on his way," Towers said.
Headley, the converted third baseman who is in his first season playing the outfield, was hitting .305 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs in 65 games for Triple-A Portland.
Headley got off to a slow start at Triple-A this season, but has since heated up. Frankly, what does San Diego have to lose? The Padres are 7.5 games back. Their outfield is a major weakness. This promotion was beyond due. If you own Headley in your keeper fantasy league, today is a happy day.
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. He can be reached here.
Pie-Greene Rumor Denied
MAY 7th: Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald discussed the Pie-Greene rumor with Cubs officials, and it was "emphatically shot down."
APRIL 30th: Yesterday Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote of Kevin Towers’ pursuit of a long-term center field option. Jim Edmonds remains a question mark, and his contract is up after ’08 anyway.
Krasovic says the Cubs "have kept tabs" on shortstop Khalil Greene, while the Padres are still eyeing Felix Pie. The Cubs’ win-now approach could lead to that move, as Reed Johnson is doing fine in center field so far. Greene is signed through the ’09 season. Trading Greene would leave a gaping hole at the position for the Padres though. Another point is that the Cubs have gotten fine production at shortstop so far this year.
Krasovic notes past center field considerations for the Padres such as Jeremy Reed and Tony Gwynn Jr. Reed doesn’t seem to have a future in Seattle. As for Coco Crisp, Towers balked at Theo Epstein’s asking price of Chase Headley.
Crumbling Edmonds Makes Pads Think Trade
The Jim Edmonds Implosion Watch is on in San Diego. The centerfielder is on the shelf until the end of the month with a strained calf muscle, suffered in Thursday’s spring game.
Just a little more impetus for the Pads to get a deal done for an outfielder. Kevin Towers, though, says not so fast. He’ll wait a week or so to see how Edmonds is progressing before pulling the trigger on any trades. Edmonds, who’s in the last year of a two-year deal he signed with the Cardinals, will make $8MM this season. He’s missed 97 games over the last two years with a variety of aches and pains.
The strain may be worse than the one Edmonds suffered in 2003, causing him to miss significant playing time. Towers and Theo Epstein chatted yesterday over email, though Coco Crisp is seen as a long shot. Towers says Boston can’t have either Chase Headley or Matt Antonelli.
Padres Deep In Talks For Bay
UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 3:56pm: Krasovic jumps in to say that the Padres definitely won’t be trading Headley to the Bucs (and probably not at all). The Pirates and Padres have been talking a lot, and some kind of deal involving some of the players below could definitely happen.
UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 12:01pm: Buster Olney is reporting that the Padres are "deep into discussions" with the Pirates about a multiplayer trade in which Bay would be the centerpiece.
FROM 12-12-07 at 9:30am:
Tom Krasovic checks in with all sorts of fresh Padres rumors, as he often does. Below are the ones that haven’t come up elsewhere on the site today.
- The Padres and Pirates might have mutual ground for some kind of multiplayer deal. Names like Matt Morris, Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, and/or Nate McLouth are possible future Padres. The Bucs could go for Michael Barrett and/or Padres’ top prospect Chase Headley. My challenge to you: create a reasonable multiplayer trade scenario between these two clubs in the comments.
- Krasovic says the Padres "explored a trade" for the Cardinals’ Anthony Reyes. The Indians and Phillies have also been linked to the youngster before.
- As you might expect, Morgan Ensberg will probably be non-tendered today. He made $4.35MM in ’07, and the Friars don’t want to pay him anything like that.
- Akinori Otsuka is another non-tender candidate, and the Padres could seek to bring him back if so. Otsuka has been throwing pain-free since late October, though, so the Rangers will probably retain him.
Padres Fail To Acquire Luke Scott
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:07pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Padres and Astros were unable to reach an agreement on Scott.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 9:15pm: Talks are ongoing. Chase Headley and Matt Antonelli won’t be involved, but names like Nick Hundley, Will Venable, Josh Geer, and Wade LeBlanc have been mentioned.
FROM 12-4-07 at 2:39pm:
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Padres are nearing a deal to acquire Luke Scott from the Astros. No word on the return yet. I’m curious – Scott seemed like a solid bargain acquisition and it’s no surprise Kevin Towers got him.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Peavy, Guillen, Barrett
Ken Rosenthal checks in with another fine rumor-filled column.
- Johan Santana doesn’t seem a great fit for the Angels, partly because he’ll be very expensive and the Halos actually do have a payroll limit.
- Jake Peavy knows he’d have to take a discount to stay in San Diego…but even a $15MM per year type deal would be unprecedented for them. He’s under the Padres’ control through ’09.
- Rosenthal’s sources are divided on whether the Mets will go after Jose Guillen. Such a scenario is possible if Lastings Milledge and/or Carlos Gomez are dealt. It’s said that the Mets are still very interested in Livan Hernandez.
- Chase Headley is very popular. Rosenthal confirms Scott Miller’s rumored offer of Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth for him, not that the Padres would consider it. Otherwise the Red Sox are asking for him for Coco Crisp.
- The Padres will probably offer arbitration to both Mike Cameron and Michael Barrett. That brings the risk that Barrett accepts, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
- We already knew the Padres and Rays were in on Geoff Jenkins; add the Phils to the mix. The Cubs, Giants, Rangers, and Royals have also been linked to him.
Nady and McLouth For Headley?
CBS Sportsline’s Scott Miller reports that the Pirates are discussing sending Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth to the Padres for third baseman Chase Headley. Nady came up through the Padres’ system before being sent to the Mets for Mike Cameron in November of ’05.
If the Bucs and Neal Huntington actually have this opportunity, I think they should take it. By Kevin Goldstein’s count, Headley is the third-best third base prospect in the game (behind Evan Longoria and Andy LaRoche). The 23 year-old hit very well at Double A and should be big-league ready sometime in ’08.
Jake at Bucco Blog leans against such a trade, partially because the Pirates want to try Neil Walker at third base. Walker ranks fifth on Goldstein’s list. I say bring in the possible star-caliber talent and sort out the positions later. If the Pirates trade Jason Bay they’ll have an opening in left field anyway.
Nady is definitely someone the Bucs should be shopping. With four years of service time, his salary will be rising rapidly. He’s a solid if not spectacular player and should generate interest. McLouth had an intriguing last two months of ’07, and he deserves a full-time shot at center in 2008. But I’d rather have Headley than Nady and McLouth if I’m the Pirates.
Padres Targeting Matt Kemp?
As always, Tom Krasovic has the scoop on the Padres.
- Free agents Geoff Blum and Milton Bradley are not expected back. Blum wanted to return but the Padres are going to pass. Blum is likely to sign with Houston.
- The Padres may try a combo of Scott Hairston and Chase Headley in left field next year. Wouldn’t it make more sense to push Kevin Kouzmanoff out there? It’ll probably be a moot point, as the Padres are hoping to sign Geoff Jenkins.
- Krasovic tantalizes us by not elaborating on this tidbit: Responding to Colletti’s preference for veterans, the Padres are contemplating three-team trade scenarios that would bring them young Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp. In my opinion, any kind of deal that nets the Padres Kemp would have to involve Headley. This tidbit may be more brainstorming than anything.
- The Padres may offer Andruw Jones a one-year, $17MM deal. However Scott Boras is still acting like Jones’ 2007 didn’t happen.
Twins Willing To Trade Garza
Terry Ryan hung on to his fine corral of young pitchers, and it’s hard to find fault with that. However, new GM Bill Smith is open to dealing one of them for a high impact young hitter.
Specifically, Joe Christensen says the Twins are willing to move 24 year-old Matt Garza, who posted a 3.69 ERA this year. The price would be huge – the names the Twins have in mind are Delmon Young, B.J. Upton, and Carlos Gomez. Upton, a favorite of theirs, seems like the least available of the three. Marc Topkin agrees that a Young-Garza rumor has been floating around.
If the Twins want to make a lesser deal, teams have also been asking about Kevin Slowey and Scott Baker. But those two aren’t chopped liver, and Rocco Baldelli doesn’t seem like enough. The Padres want in on the young pitchers, but aren’t willing to give up third baseman Chase Headley.
There’s also word in Christensen’s article that the Twins haven’t heard back from Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva regarding their weak offers. A more legitimate effort will be made to re-sign Johan Santana.