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David Wells

Boston Globe Trade Rumors

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Aside from the aforementioned Roger Clemens tidbit, Nick Cafardo’s recent Boston Globe column is packed with interesting info.  A brief summary follows.

Cafardo believes the Red Sox will add one more reliever and then sort out the closer situation in spring.  The Cordero, Lidge, and Gonzalez talks didn’t go anywhere.  The idea of returning to Jon Papelbon, on the other hand, makes a lot of sense and isn’t out of the question.  Failing that, Julian Tavarez could be the favorite.  Shaky alternatives (Brendan Donnelly, Mike Timlin, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen) abound.

A source told Cafardo that Matt Clement wants to prove everyone wrong and could be throwing by springtime.  Maybe he just wants to cash in after his walk year.  Clement had rotator cuff surgery at the end of September.

Rodrigo Lopez has gotten interest from five teams.  A move to St. Louis or somewhere like that could help him quite a bit.

Carl Everett and Sammy Sosa may need to play in the independent leagues to convince some team to give them a shot.  Two of baseball’s finest role models, right there.

Mark Mulder is still looking at the Cards, Rangers, and Indians for his options.  The Tribe has offered two years and $8MM with another $7MM in incentives.  The Rangers offer less than $8MM guaranteed but a possible package of $18.75MM instead of $15MM. 

The Giants would still like to recruit David Wells despite their signing of Barry Zito.  Such a move would push Jonathan Sanchez to the bullpen.  The Phillies, Padres, Diamondbacks, and Mets may also be interested in Wells.

Padres After Marcus Giles, David Wells

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The Padres seem to have a distinct advantage in that players want to come play in San Diego at the exclusion of other less enjoyable areas of the country.  They’re currently pursuing a couple such possibilities in Marcus Giles and David Wells.

A $3-4MM offer was made to Giles yesterday.  Willie Randolph seemed to dismiss the idea of the Mets getting involved, but the San Diego Union-Tribune mentions the Red Sox as possible competition.  Still, the Padres are a huge favorite.

In addition, Kevin Towers will dine with David Wells on Monday to try to convince him to return to the Padres.  Wells would fit in nicely with Jake Peavy, Chris Young, Greg Maddux, and Clay Hensley.

The Padres are also talking to new free agent Jayson Werth to add some outfield depth.

D’Backs Interested In Mulder, David Wells

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Something broken, something old.  According to the Arizona Republic, the D’Backs have made an offer to free agent Mark Mulder.  Additionally, they may try to coax David Wells out of retirement.

At this point, Wells on a one-year deal for less than $10MM sounds reasonable.  This ain’t 2005 anymore.  Boomer turns 44 in May, but he might be able to provide 180 league average innings.  His pinpoint control isn’t going anywhere.

Mulder could actually prefer a one-year deal, as a way of maximizing his earnings.  Whatever the offer was, it did not include incentives.  What would it take – $7MM guaranteed?  I don’t see a Mulder signing as a potential bargain.  He won’t be ready for Opening Day and he may struggle upon his return. 

The Diamondbacks have also spoken to Tomo Ohka’s agent.  Brandon Webb, Doug Davis, and Livan Hernandez are locks for their rotation.  Juan Cruz, Dana Eveland, and Edgar Gonzalez will compete for openings.

Trade To Padres Likely For David Wells

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As you well know, the Padres are the frontrunners to acquire David Wells by midnight tonight.  The name that’s been bandied about is catcher George Kottaras.  Keep an eye on tonight’s 7:05 contest between the Portland Beavers and the Fresno Grizzlies to see whether Kottaras starts for the Beavers.  If not, he’s probably the guy.  He went 0 for 4 last night.  According to the Boston Globe, the Dodgers could have Wells if they would step in with one of Matt Kemp, Andy LaRoche, or James Loney. 

Here’s the tricky part.  Based on info from a Steve Phillips article a year ago, I learned that "all 40-man roster players must go through waivers in order to change teams even if they are in the minor leagues."  All four prospects mentioned above are indeed on the 40-man roster.  So how does this work?  The key, I believe, is slipping the player through as a player to be named later.  The rule for waiver trades is that the PTBNL cannot be an active Major League player.  So, the Red Sox can acquire a top-notch prospect in exchange for Wells if they are willing to wait until spring to see him in a Sox uniform.  I think these rules debunk the notion that the Red Sox could somehow acquire Adam Wainwright in a deal.  It’s a moot point, as Wells won’t play in St. Louis.   

The Padres are three games back of the Dodgers in the NL West.  San Diego currently holds a half-game lead over the Phillies for the wild card.  If the Padres were to sneak into the playoffs once again, their playoff rotation would boast Jake Peavy, Chris Young, David Wells, and Woody Williams.  All have pitched decently or better this month; it would be a fairly deep group.  And fifth starter Clay Hensley has a 1.82 ERA and 1.25 WHIP this month, so maybe he’d be in the mix instead of Williams.

Red Sox Ask For Matt Kemp In David Wells Deal

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According to both the Boston Herald and the Los Angeles Daily News, the Red Sox have asked for 21 year-old outfielder Matt Kemp in exchange for David Wells.

Tony Jackson of the L.A. paper actually suggests that the Red Sox requested a package of prospects including Kemp.  As in, more than just Kemp.  Jackson states that the request "probably makes the deal impossible unless Boston general manager Theo Epstein reduces his asking price."

That’s an understatement.  Six years of Matt Kemp for a month or two of David Wells?  That’d be even worse than two or three months of an infielder you don’t really need in exchange for Joel Guzman.  The Dodgers are also talking about adding John Mabry, for some reason.

Kemp turns 22 in September.  Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein named him as the fourth-best center field prospect in the game, behind Cameron Maybin, Chris Young, and Justin Upton.  Most of those will be household names in two or three years.  Goldstein mentions that Kemp’s size could force a move to a corner outfield position eventually.  Much has been made of Kemp’s power outage at Triple A, where he has three home runs in 43 games.  However, he’s still slugging .554 due to 14 doubles and six triples.  The power is fine. His plate discipline may need a little fine-tuning though.

Another reason Kemp and other top-flight prospects are probably staying put: anyone on the 40-man roster has to pass through waivers.  Why would the 29 other teams allow a stud outfield prospect to pass by unclaimed?  That would be one hell of a gentleman’s agreement. 

 

Red Sox May Trade David Wells

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Buster Olney has the word: the Red Sox are shopping southpaw David Wells.  The 43 year-old has a deserved reputation as a big game pitcher, and any contender would love to have him.

Olney speculates that the Mets, Twins, D’Backs, Padres, Dodgers, Phillies, Cardinals, A’s, and Reds could get involved.  I suppose the White Sox, Giants, or even the Marlins could be interested as well.  Did you know Florida is just two games out of the wild card? 

UPDATE: Padres, Dodgers, and Cards are frontrunners according to Nick Cafardo.

Olney: Waiver Trade Candidates

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In case you missed it, Buster Olney posted a list of players who have passed through waivers and can be traded to any team before Thursday’s deadline.  Here’s the list:

David Wells
Shawn Chacon
Jae Seo
Sidney Ponson
Bruce Chen
Jeromy Burnitz
Jeff Conine
Jay Payton
Bobby Kielty
Reggie Sanders
Luis Matos
Jay Gibbons
Geoff Jenkins
Gabe Kapler

WEEI’s Tejada Rumor Making Rounds

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The Dennis and Callahan Show on WEEI 850 in Boston broke out an improbable-sounding trade rumor this morning.  Here’s the idea:

Dodgers send: Derek Lowe, Hee Seop Choi
Red Sox send:  David Wells, Alex Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis, Jon Lester, Tony Graffanino
Orioles send:  Miguel Tejada, Luis Matos

Dodgers receive: Wells, Graffanino, Matos
Red Sox receive:  Tejada, Choi
Orioles receive:  Lowe, Gonzalez, Youkilis, Lester

In my humble opinion, there’s about zero chance of a deal like this going down.  Then why am I posting about it?  For one thing, I’ve received a host of emails about the possibility.  So it seems that the people want to discuss it.  Secondly, plenty of these players are likely to be dealt, just not in this combination.

Is Derek Lowe on the block?  Certainly.  I know for a fact that the Cubs and Phillies have expressed interest in him.  I’m fairly certain he wouldn’t represent a big gain for the Orioles, however.  The Phils could still try to hammer something out to obtain Lowe.

Hee Seop Choi has nowhere to play on the Dodgers, and I mentioned before that I think the Devil Rays should make a play for him.  However, they’ve added Russell Branyan as a corner guy so it seems less likely at this point.  There isn’t much of a market for a first baseman, but Choi still deserves a chance.

Wells is certainly likely to be dealt, and the Dodgers are a viable candidate.  I mentioned yesterday that the Mets could consider Boomer as well.

Without doing any research, I have a feeling that a team can’t sign a free agent and trade him immediately.  That’s why the Alex Gonzalez thing seems way off to me.  Plus, Boston seemed to be trying to strengthen their defense.  That is supposedly where Gonzalez’s value lies.

The Red Sox won’t be trading Youkilis and Lester.  They’re far too valuable as building blocks.  Graffanino should be on the move, but that’s a minor deal.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see Tejada dealt before the deadline, and a guy like Lester would have to be involved.  There’s a fair chance Ronny Cedeno bombs and the Cubs try to re-engage the Orioles this summer.  They’d be relying on the further development of minor leaguers to form an attractive package.

Matos, sure, he’ll end up somewhere.  But the Dodgers don’t need him.   

Mets Interested In Wells?

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Spoke with my Mets guy this morning.  He had plenty of info to pass along.

First, he said that any recent rumors going around are "bogus."  Plenty of other websites have added to that sentiment.

He also mentioned that Minaya wants to add a starter.  That’s fairly well known, but he also said that the Mets may try to make a move on David Wells if nothing better comes along before spring training.  It’s the first I’d heard of that.

He said the Mets are convinced that Anderson Hernandez is the answer at second base for 2006, and that Jeff Keppinger could be moved for pitching if he has a good spring.  No doubt the Mets would love to dump Kaz Matsui if someone would take even half his salary.

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