Roberts Deal Trailing Bedard Trade?
SI.com’s Jon Heyman believes completion of an Erik Bedard trade to Seattle could be followed with a trade of Brian Roberts to the Cubs. He says that would be "possibly for Felix Pie and Sean Gallagher."
Two seasons of Roberts for twelve of Pie and Gallagher doesn’t seem wise for the Cubs. To me, Pie and Gallagher seem likely to at least become solid Major Leaguers.
Marlon Byrd/Matt Murton Rumors
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News has the latest on the Marlon Byrd/Cubs rumors.
Byrd has been informed that the Cubs have interest in him. Grant says the Rangers reportedly turned down an offer of Matt Murton for Byrd, requiring one or two pitching prospects be added by the Cubs. So for those who think Murton is worth more than Byrd – the Rangers apparently do not agree.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick runs down three possible destinations for Murton: Texas, Baltimore, and San Diego. It seems that the Cubs would prefer to resolve the Baltimore trade talks before they’d ship Murton to one of the other two clubs. Talks for Erik Bedard and/or Brian Roberts are ongoing, according to Crasnick.
Erik Bedard Rumors
The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec was able to get in touch with Erik Bedard this evening. Bedard’s quotes paint a story of his team not attempting to sign him to an extension. He says how there are a lot more talks about trading him than signing him. He accuses the Orioles of "playing it both ways." Bedard is certain about one thing – he has no desire to be part of a rebuilding effort.
Andy MacPhail says Bedard’s agent suggested a one-year deal and denied the Orioles’ multiyear overtures. MacPhail’s version sounds more accurate, given that Bedard’s agent acknowledged the Orioles’ "conceptual" talks about signing him through 2010.
Zrebiec thinks a deal could happen with the Mariners next week, of course centered around Adam Jones. The Orioles covet Chris Tillman and Carlos Triunfel as well, though Triunfel may be untouchable.
Erik Bedard Rumors
Here’s the latest on the Erik Bedard front.
- The Mariners are still hot on the trail of Bedard, based on comments made by GM Bill Bavasi (unless some other elite pitcher is in play suddenly). Apparently the Orioles are holding up the deal.
- Meanwhile Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider (righthand sidebar) says the two sides are at an impasse. He expects an announcement by the middle of next week, or else for Bedard to stay put. Andy MacPhail seems to want things settled by February 13th, when pitchers and catchers report.
- The Reds are out of the running for Bedard.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Boras, Murton, Marquis, Clark
Ken Rosenthal is here to hopefully rescue what’s been a slow day for rumors.
- Rosenthal points out that it seems Scott Boras has been more flexible with his clients’ contracts this year, perhaps even as the result of his "failures" with Alex Rodriguez and Kenny Rogers. A new, gentler Boras? Wait til Mark Teixeira, Matt Holliday, and Prince Fielder reach free agency.
- The Padres are targeting Matt Murton for left field, a notion that gels with Kevin Towers’ stated quest to acquire a corner outfielder via trade. Plus, Towers gets along well with Cubs GM Jim Hendry. Not sure how the teams would match up, unless things expand to include Khalil Greene. The Cubs would have to be sure they don’t need Murton for other deals or because of other deals.
- Rosenthal agrees with the recent rumor that the Orioles will decide whether to trade Erik Bedard and Brian Roberts by month’s end. He notes that Cubs starter Jason Marquis actually does have trade value, and could be part of a package for Roberts. Other teams are interested in him too – go figure. Innings are innings I guess. Marquis, 29, is owed $16.25MM over the 2008-09 seasons.
- An MLBTR commenter questioned the other day why Troy Tulowitzki‘s deal was said to top Grady Sizemore‘s as the record holder for a player with less than two years service time. The commenter wondered why Brian McCann wasn’t part of the discussion – he signed for more than Sizemore ($26.8MM) in March of ’07 with about a season and a half under his belt. Anyone know why McCann’s name doesn’t come up in this discussion?
- One of Rosenthal’s sources believes progress has been made on a long-term pact with Holliday, and the recent two-year deal is a positive sign.
- Teams inquiring on Tony Clark: Mariners, Giants, and Red Sox. Clark has been mentioned as a Giants target before.
Cubs Bedard/Roberts Talks Revived?
UPDATE, 1-21-08 at 6:39pm: According to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald, "informed insiders say no renewed talks are underway" for a Cubs/Orioles blockbuster. Miles does believe Hendry is shopping Murton and interested in Byrd.
UPDATE, 1-21-08 at 4:37pm: John Hickey of the Seattle PI notes that the Mariners seem to "very much want Bedard" still. He sees the Mets as their main competition.
FROM 1-21-08 at 3:09pm:
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune insists that Orioles owner Peter Angelos did shoot down some kind of Erik Bedard/Brian Roberts to the Cubs blockbuster last week. Furthermore, Rogers’ source says the talks are now back on.
Rogers speculates that "frustration and gamesmanship" might be why Lou Piniella and Jim Hendry recently denied the blockbuster rumor. Hendry was quoted as saying "that certainly hasn’t been a path we’ve been on."
Rogers also has sources saying the Cubs may have to give up Matt Murton and one or two other players to get Marlon Byrd from Texas (perhaps Sean Gallagher). He speculates that a three-team deal with the Rangers and Orioles to net the Cubs Bedard, Roberts, and Byrd is a possibility. Felix Pie would have to be in that mix, and note that Roch Kubatko said yesterday that the Cubs "would be willing to part with Rich Hill" to get Bedard and Roberts.
Through all of this Rogers says it’s a "very highly placed source" and that he trusts the source. It’s hard for me to really evaluate this stuff until we get more clarity. But feel free to discuss.
Wittenmyer On Byrd, Roberts, Bedard
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times gives his take on the odds of various rumored Cubs acquisitions:
For now, the Marlon Byrd move looks possible, if not probable, while snagging Brian Roberts — a speedy switch-hitter whose presence could mean a three- or four-level ripple effect of improvement through the lineup — looks at least doubtful. And forget about that would-be deal that would include Orioles ace Erik Bedard. Those discussions didn’t reach the level first believed, and the Cubs don’t have the players to land both.
This is pretty much what we figured. Byrd – sure, Hendry could figure out a way to get him. Roberts would take a lot and doesn’t seem likely, while Bedard is a huge long shot. Seems the 7-for-2 rumor from Saturday is officially dead, now that both GMs have dismissed it.
Roberts to me is a 1-2 win gain for the 2008 Cubs, with an accompanying loss of most of the team’s young MLB-ready pitching (plus a decent outfielder). The Cubs might be better off keeping the pitching depth.
Angelos Killed 7-For-2 Bedard/Roberts Deal With Cubs?
UPDATE, 1-20-08 at 9:25am: Jim Hendry called the 7-for-2 report "not accurate." So three sources have weighed in on this Angelos-killed deal and two indicate that it is not to be believed. Meanwhile Roch Kubatko says that "it now appears the Cubs would be willing to part with Rich Hill" if they could get Roberts and Bedard. But the Orioles still don’t want to package the two.
FROM 1-19-08 at 11:42am:
Eye-opening rumor from Gordon Wittenmyer of the Sun-Times today. His Cubs source says Orioles owner Peter Angelos nixed a 7-for-2 blockbuster that would’ve netted the Cubs Brian Roberts and Erik Bedard (presumably for the Cubs’ entire farm system). However, Wittenmyer also talked to an Orioles source who said there was no such deal on the table.
Seems a Roberts acquisition for the Cubs is becoming less likely. The focus may have shifted to Marlon Byrd. I wonder if the best thing for Felix Pie’s development would be to just let him play every day and bat eighth, without bringing in veteran competition.
Wittenmyer says the Orioles plan to shop Roberts and Bedard through month’s end and would prefer not to package them together.
Mariners Hesitant To Part With Jones For Bedard?
Jason Churchill has an update on his right-hand sidebar. He now believes that the holdup in the Mariners-Orioles Erik Bedard discussions is Adam Jones. Churchill’s source thinks the Mariners aren’t sure about giving him up. Waffling on Jones would seem to jive with the Mariners’ recent move of pulling him from winter ball for just a few days.
Maybe the Mariners have been reading blogs again.
Angelos Did Not Kill Roberts Trade
Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun checks in with a few Andy MacPhail quotes. Basically, MacPhail has only brought one trade to Orioles’ owner Peter Angelos, the Miguel Tejada deal. That was obviously approved; nothing else was presented. So the Brian Roberts and Erik Bedard talks remain just talks. No deal has been reached in either case.