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Eric Gagne

Rosenthal’s Latest

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The authority on all trade rumors, Ken Rosenthal has spoken.  Let’s review.

  • As we have heard before, the Dodgers like Adam Dunn.  We’ve also discussed the fact that there’s not a clear place to put him.  Whether you go with first base or left field, a veteran must move.  The Padres like Dunn as well but talks have yet to occur.  The Angels may have liked him in the past but they don’t seem likely at this point.  And the Twins?  They just won’t break the bank for him unfortunately.
  • With Michael Barrett having issues with 40% of the Cubs’ rotation, the Cubs could look to trade him.  Even though he’s a top offensive catcher, his impending free agency might prevent any strong return.  Plus, the Cubs would have to go with a Henry Blanco/Koyie Hill tandem.  A more likely scenario is that the Cubs will let Barrett walk after the season.
  • Finally some clarity on Eric Gagne’s limited no-trade protection.  Rosenthal reveals that he can veto trades to 12 teams.  The Phillies and Indians are again mentioned as suitors.  Rosenthal thinks Mark Teixeira could generate a lot of talk but no action at the trading deadline.  Kind of like Alfonso Soriano or A.J. Burnett before him.
  • The asking price for Brad Lidge, supposedly: a premium young catcher and promising young pitcher.  Lidge will probably earn $8MM next year before hitting free agency.  The Astros should be happy with a young catcher or a young pitcher, not both.  I’d mention Salty here but I think he is worth much more than Lidge.  Rosenthal says the Astros could move another bullpen arm like Wheeler or Qualls to get the bat they need. 
  • Could the Devil Rays simply retain Al Reyes and Carlos Pena?  Both players could be valuable contributors to the 2008 club.  I like the idea of keeping Reyes around for next year, but I think Pena has peaked.
  • Noah Lowry would get the attention of the Braves or Cardinals, but the Giants are unlikely to move him.
  • The Phils are likely to pass on Tomo Ohka despite their need for pitching.

Padres, Dodgers Remain Interested In Dye

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Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times has a couple of trade rumors for us this morning.

  • Shaikin reiterates Ken Rosenthal’s scoop that the Padres and Dodgers have interest in White Sox slugger Jermaine Dye.  Shaikin believes the "we won’t trade for prospects" edict from Kenny Williams could be stretched if Jonathan Broxton or Chad Billingsley were made available.    Those guys may have graduated from prospectdom anyway.  Ned Colletti is definitely working the phones for a slugger. 
  • Scott Linebrink is named as an available Padre, but I would not expect Kenny Williams to go for that.  Throw in Clay Hensley or Chase Headley and maybe we have something.
  • Shaikin also mentions that the Tigers have interest in Rangers closer Eric Gagne.  Yes, I understand that most contending teams with bullpen issues will at least show a passing interest in him.  Shaikin seems to indicate that Gagne’s "no-trade protection" is full and would give him leverage to change his current incentive-based contract.

Indians Interested In Eric Gagne

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According to Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal, Mark Shapiro and the Indians are likely to make a move to acquire a reliever sometime this summer.  Patience with guys like Roberto Hernandez (5.87 ERA) and Fernando Cabrera (5.40 ERA) is wearing thin.

Ocker says the Indians are interested in Rangers closer Eric Gagne.  Gagne has been dominant in his 15 innings, allowing just a single run.  His control has been a little off, but it’s a small sample yet.  Gagne has been handled carefully, spending some time on the DL and only pitching back-to-back days twice.  If the Rangers can keep him healthy for another month or so, some team is going to ignore the health risk and give them a decent player for him.  Gagne does have "no-trade protection," whatever that means.

Other candidates named for the Tribe include David Riske, Tom Martin, Shawn Chacon, Jason Isringhausen, Al Reyes, and Akinori Otsuka.  The latter three are the potential difference-makers.  Ocker says Adam Miller isn’t going anywhere, but few other prospects will be deemed untouchable.  I still doubt any team could pry Jeremy Sowers loose for a reliever.  I’m no prospect guru, but I imagine guys like Brian Barton and Chuck Lofgren (both at Double A) could be attractive trading chips.  Outfielders Franklin Gutierrez and Shin-Soo Choo could be available also.   

Tigers Trade Rumors

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Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press has the trade chatter surrounding the Tigers.

The first issue is the bullpen, which is having all sorts of problems. Joel Zumaya is out for three months after finger surgery, Fernando Rodney has been on the DL with biceps tendinitis, Jose Mesa predictably bombed, and Todd Jones has struggled recently.  Logically, the Tigers are scouring the trade market for relief pitching.  They still might sign Troy Percival.  The main competition there seems to be the Phillies.  Morosi also indicates that a trade could be worked out with the Rangers for Eric Gagne or Akinori Otsuka.  Peter Gammons confirms Gagne’s availability, and also mentions Al Reyes as a trade candidate.

Last December, Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski showed interest in Renyel Pinto of the Marlins and C.J. Wilson and Ron Mahay of the Rangers.  That was back when the need was though to be a lefty specialist rather than just relievers in general.

One expendable player for the Tigers might be 29 year-old southpaw Mike Maroth.  The Tigers were offering him up in December but couldn’t find a deal.  Maroth had surgery a year ago to remove bone chips from his elbow, and was never right in ’06.  While he’s made all his starts this year, Maroth isn’t pitching like he did from 2003-05.  This year, his K rate is down even further, his control is off, and he’s allowed an unacceptable number of home runs (15 in 61 innings).  Morosi confirms Maroth’s availability via an NL exec.  The return of Kenny Rogers later this month may push him out of the rotation. 

Maroth makes $2.95MM this year and then will be eligible for arbitration afterwards.  He’ll become a free agent after the 2008 season.  He alone probably won’t bring a useful reliever, but could be part of a larger deal.   

Will Gagne Become Trade Bait?

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Rangers closer Eric Gagne has quietly tossed 7.1 scoreless innings this season.  He hasn’t pitched back-to-back days since returning from a hip injury, but the Rangers haven’t been winning much either.  At 17-27, the Rangers are battling with the Royals for the worst record in the American League.

T.R. Sullivan writes in today’s mailbag that beyond Mark Teixeira, Gagne is the obvious candidate to be traded this July.  Gagne is on a low-risk one year deal for $6MM, plus many tiers of incentives based on games finished and awards.  According to Cot’s Baseball Contracts, Gagne also has "no-trade protection."  I’ll have to do some digging to try to determine exactly what that means.

Rangers Sign Eric Gagne

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UPDATE AT BOTTOM.

Don’t hold me to it (my French is rusty) but appears that Eric Gagne may have signed with the Rangers for one year and $8MM, pending a physical.  Any expert translators out there?

This may have been in the works for a while, given that Jon Daniels has already begun shopping Akinori Otsuka.

Thanks to Joe Siegler of Rangerfans.com for the tip.

UPDATE: Ken Rosenthal confirms that the Rangers are close with Gagne.

It’s official: one year, $6MM.  $5MM possible in performance bonuses.

Eric Gagne To Sign Today?

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Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe reports that Eric Gagne should decide whether to become a Red Sox, Indian, or Ranger today.

Edes says the odds favor the Indians and Rangers, who seem more willing to guarantee Gagne $5MM.  Balking at such a request is understandable given how little Gagne pitched during the 2005-06 seasons.  The Dodgers paid him $18MM for 15.1 Major League innings over that period.

Gammons On The Boston Closer

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Peter Gammons, in his blog yesterday morning, mentioned a few options for the Red Sox’s closer vacancy:

"Would Seattle deal J.J. Putz for Manny? Dubious. Scott Boras would like to get Eric Gagne to Boston; problem is, are the medicals real or off the set of General Hospital? Joe Borowski has been calling now that his medicals were declined in Philly."

With Manny and Matsuzaka at the forefront, it’s easy to forget that Boston is also in the market for a closer.  No sleep for Theo.  Perhaps he’ll be speaking to Dave Littlefield in hopes of acquiring Matt Capps or Mike Gonzalez?

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