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Heyman On Ethier, Lowe, Astros, Twins, Mets

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Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is the main topic of Jon Heyman's latest piece at SI.com. Ethier, a free agent after the 2012 season, is deeply unhappy with the Dodgers on account of their on and off-field troubles, a source tells Heyman.

While no specific trade or signing rumors pertaining to Ethier are cited, the outfielder is apparently a good friend of Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia (both players attended Arizona State University) and is said to have "Boston in his mind."

Here are some other items of note from Heyman's piece:

  • The Braves aren't openly shopping Derek Lowe, but with good pitching depth in the minors, Atlanta would probably listen to offers on the right-hander.
  • The Astros will be hard trade partners, one GM told Heyman, because of the impending change of ownership.
  • The Twins do not yet consider themselves sellers, a rival exec told Heyman.
  • Even if the Mets wanted to negotiate secretly with Jose Reyes, as was recently reported, Heyman thinks it's unlikely Reyes and his agents would entertain those talks at this juncture.
  • The Mets would love to find a trade partner to offload Francisco Rodriguez but, the closer's $17.5MM 2012 option deters logical suitors. One GM called it "scary."
  • The Tigers will consider an offensive upgrade at one of third base, second base or outfield.

2012 Vesting Options Update

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The season is offically more than halfway complete now, so let's update the status of the various vesting options from around the league…

  • Bobby Abreu, Angels: $9MM option vests with 433 plate appearances. Abreu is just 82 plate appearances short of that total, so this one will vest later this month, barring injury.
  • Rafael Furcal, Dodgers: $12MM option vests with 600 plate appearances. Injuries have limited Furcal to just 82 plate appearances this year, so this one won't be vesting.
  • Jon Garland, Dodgers: $8MM option vests with 190 innings pitched. A few days ago we heard that Garland is unlikely to pitch the rest of the season due to a shoulder issue. He's at 54 innings, so the Dodgers won't have to worry about this one vesting either.
  • Francisco Rodriguez, Mets: $17.5MM option vests with 55 games finished and if doctors declare him healthy at the end of the year. K-Rod has finished 32 games already, putting him on pace for 60. A trade to a team that would use him as a setup man would change things, though we recently heard that some GMs beleieve Rodriguez's trade value is reaching a "tipping point" as he racks up the games finished.
  • Koji Uehara, Orioles: $4MM option vests with either 55 appearances or 25 games finished. Uehara has appeared in 35 games and finished 16, putting him on pace for 68 and 29, respectively.
  • Arthur Rhodes, Rangers: $4MM option vests with 62 appearances and if he's not on the disabled list at the end of the season. Rhodes has appeared in 28 games so far, and he's on pace for 52. Texas will need to use him a little more liberally down the stretch for this one to kick in.
  • Joakim Soria, Royals: $6MM option vests with 55 appearances. With 35 appearances already to his credit, Soria is on pace to pitch in 69 games this year.
  • Dan Wheeler, Red Sox: $3MM option vests with 65 games; increases to $3.25MM with 70 games. Wheeler has appeared in 26 games this year with a disabled list stint mixed in. He'd have to appear in 39 of the team's final 77 games for the option to vest, which seems unlikely.

Adam Wainwright's 2012 ($9MM) and 2013 ($12MM) options will not vest because he will finish the season on the disabled list after having Tommy John surgery. Aramis Ramirez's option depends on MVP Award finishes and whether or not he's traded, not plate appearances or another counting milestone.

Davidoff On Twins, Indians, Reyes, Rays

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Since few teams have been completely eliminated from contention, the trade market is developing slowly, according to Newsday’s Ken Davidoff. As of today, the top commodity available is relief pitching and there’s lots of interest in that department. Here are the rest of Davidoff’s notes on the trade market:

  • Heath Bell, Francisco Rodriguez, Chad Qualls and Luke Gregerson are available. 
  • The Mets believe they can keep their fans interested even if they trade Rodriguez.
  • The Diamondbacks, Brewers, Cardinals and Rangers are among the teams that are heavily in the mix for relievers.
  • It appears extremely unlikely that the Mets will trade Jose Reyes, but his top suitors would likely include the Reds, Indians, Giants and Mariners, four teams that have poked around for infield help, according to Davidoff. It’s even possible that the Red Sox would pursue Reyes if he became available.
  • The Orioles aren’t quite ready to shop Koji Uehara and the Twins aren’t quite ready to shop Matt Capps. In fact, the Twins aren’t going to sell until they’re sure they’re out of contention.
  • The Yankees are focused on finding a lefty reliever, a commodity the Red Sox and Tigers would also like to acquire.
  • Though no frontline starters appear to be available, the Yankees are looking to acquire a top starter. Cleveland and Detroit are also looking for rotation help.
  • The Mariners are looking for an outfielder and the Phillies are still looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder.
  • One official says the Rays are “buying and selling.” Johnny Damon could be had in the right deal, according to Davidoff.

Mets Are Shopping K-Rod, Byrdak, Isringhausen

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The Mets are making it clear to other teams that they're looking to move relievers Francisco Rodriguez, Tim Byrdak, and Jason Isringhausen, two sources tell Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.

"They are really trying to move Isringhausen, and also Byrdak and K-Rod (before the trade deadline)," said one of the sources. "Those guys have pitched well, and they could help somebody."

Their actions, Martino writes, do not yet indicate that they're giving up on this season.  The club could trade a reliever or two and still claim to be serious about this year.  However, it does seem that they will look to sell and build towards the future.

Rodriguez's situation is complicated by his 2012 contract option, which vests if he finishes 55 games.  At present, K-Rod is on pace to finish 61 games this year.  The right-hander will earn $17.5MM in '12 if his option kicks in but can be bought out for just $3.5MM if he falls short of the mark.

Quick Hits: Mets, Indians, Cameron, Gregerson

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Tuesday night linkage..

  • Mets GM Sandy Alderson says that he isn't counseling manager Terry Collins on how to use Francisco Rodriguez, writes Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal.  K-Rod is on pace to finish more than 55 games this year.
  • Indians owners Larry and Paul Dolan have encouraged GM Chris Antonetti to find ways to improve the club, but that doesn't mean he's operating with an open checkbook, writes Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer.
  • The Mariners, Phillies, Nationals, Twins, and Rangers didn't inquire on Mike Cameron before he was dealt to the Marlins, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
  • A major league executive told Tom Krasovic of InsideThePadres (via Twitter) that no team wants to take on money in a deal.  The teams that can absorb salary, the exec says, have a big advantage.
  • The Padres activated right-hander Luke Gregerson from the disabled list today and a source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter) that there's already trade interest in him.
  • There's been a lot of interest in pitcher Scott Kazmir and he should have a team soon, tweets Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated.  On Sunday, Buster Olney of ESPN estimated that Kazmir would find a club by early next week.

Mets Notes: Capuano, Rodriguez, Reyes

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The Mets are a game over .500 now, but they were 46-37 on this date last year. Here's the latest on the Mets before they take on the Dodgers in Los Angeles…

  • Chris Capuano has started earning incentives, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. The lefty has earned $175K in incentives on top of his $1.5MM base salary and stands to continue making bonus money as the season progresses and he logs more innings.
  • Francisco Rodriguez appears to be available and some general managers believe his trade value is at a tipping point, according to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (on Twitter). The closer has finished 32 games and needs just 23 more games finished for his $17.5MM option to vest for 2012. Since teams don’t like that price tag for Rodriguez, they’re wary of acquiring him in a trade.
  • Mets GM Sandy Alderson told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo that yesterday's New York Post report about Jose Reyes was "one man's opinion." Joel Sherman reported that the Mets are unlikely to trade Reyes this summer and are leaning strongly toward authorizing a substantial offer for him after the season.
  • Yesterday I compared Reyes to fellow speedster Carl Crawford, who signed for $142MM last offseason.

Mets Open To K-Rod Deal; Yankees “Marginally Interested”

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The "door is wide open" for a team to acquire Francisco Rodriguez as the Mets are shopping the reliever, a Yankees source tells Bob Klapisch of FOX Sports (Twitter link).  The Yankees themselves "are only marginally interested" in Rodriguez, however, since Rafael Soriano is tentatively scheduled to return from the DL after the All-Star Break.

Rodriguez specifically cited the Yankees and Rays as two of the "good teams" he would consider waiving his no-trade clause to join, but the right-hander has been adamant that he would prefer to remain a Met. 

Rodriguez's $17.5MM option for 2012 will vest if he finishes 55 games this year and gets a clean bill of health from doctors once the season is over.  He is on pace to pass that 55-game plateau (Rodriguez has finished 31 games thus far) but obviously wouldn't get a chance to close with the Yankees unless Mariano Rivera suffered an injury.  While the Yankees probably wouldn't have to worry about the vesting option, Rodriguez is still owed roughly $5.7MM in salary this year and even the Yankees don't want to spend that much more on late-game relief when they're already paying Rivera and Soriano a combined $25MM.

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). 

New York Notes: Crosstown Trades, Osuna, Reyes

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The Yankees own the best record in the American League and a half-game lead in the AL East over the Red Sox.  The Mets are at .500 and sit 4.5 games out in the wild card race.  The latest on New York's teams…

Olney’s Latest: Cashman, K-Rod, Rays, Managers

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In today's Insider-only blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney spoke to executives that believe this will be Brian Cashman's last season as Yankees GM. His contract expires after the season, and it could just be a simple case of burnout. "I think maybe he's finally had it," said one GM. "That's a job that will take a lot out of you." Olney cites Cashman's recent stretch of brutal and uncharacteristic honestly as evidence, but also notes that there have been three other instances in which he's looked ready to leave, only to end up staying on three-year deals.

Here are the rest of Buster's rumors…

  • A rival team official believes the Mets need to trade Francisco Rodriguez soon to keep his vesting option from becoming a problem. He's at 28 games finished now (needs 55 to vest a $17.5MM salary for next year), and the longer they keep him the less flexibility a team will have after acquiring him.
  • The Rays have "sent signals that they're open for business" and are prepared to take offers according to rival executives. Olney notes that their tradeable pieces include Kyle Farnsworth and B.J. Upton.
  • One GM told Olney that one position within the game without many young up-and-coming prospects is manager (Twitter link). That's why 80-year-old Jack McKeon and 68-year-old Davey Johnson landed jobs in the last week.
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