Rosenthal’s Latest: Price, John Hart, Ibanez
A look at Ken Rosenthal’s latest column…
- Rosenthal notes that the Rays have an ace in the hole with David Price available to boost their pitching staff when they deem him ready. I imagine the Rays won’t end up signing Freddy Garcia. The reports on Garcia are lukewarm, by the way.
- Teams are beginning to value free agent compensation draft picks more than ever. As a result, we’re seeing fewer salary dump trades. Rosenthal notes that it is possible for a team to receive a supplemental pick even without offering arbitration. That is true, but only if the free agent signs elsewhere before December 1st.
- John Hart might want to get back into the general managing game.
- The Rangers discussed acquiring Raul Ibanez, it seems.
Odds & Ends: Astros, Tigers, Rays
Some Odds & Ends to reinforce the adage that you can never have enough pitching:
- Astros will be scouting Freddy Garcia when he throws in Miami on August 5th. Garcia could become one of the bigger names after the deadline.
- The Rays continue to look at Brian Fuentes, and feel that pitching may be more of a need than hitting, according to Marc Topkin. However David Price, Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson, and Reid Brignac remain untouchable. Price could just be the answer.
- In Detroit, Joel Zumaya has not been the answer to Todd Jones‘ struggles of late. As John Paul Morosi puts it, "Fernando Rodney has been the Tigers’ most consistent reliever lately. But that could be good news or bad news, depending on your perspective." The Tigers have been busy at the deadline for the past two years, trading Craig Monroe to the Cubs last year and acquiring Sean Casey the year before.
Molony’s Latest: Francoeur, Bay, Blalock
MLB.com’s Jim Molony has a new column up.
- The Braves will listen to offers for Jeff Francoeur and Will Ohman, and maybe Mark Teixeira if the Braves struggle in the next week. The Royals are said to be interested in Francoeur. Mike Gonzalez is unavailable.
- The Braves have scouted Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, in case they decide to become buyers.
- The Phillies had an exec scouting the Pirates recently. The Phils are looking for a lefty reliever. The Phillies also may be looking at relievers on the Jays and Orioles.
- Molony rattles off Freddy Garcia suitors: Astros, Cardinals, Phillies, Rangers, Red Sox, Royals, Tigers, Mets, White Sox and Yankees. The Royals might be a new one.
- At least five teams are in on Casey Blake, including the Twins. However the Twins seem to prefer Hank Blalock. I like the Blalock idae for the Twins.
- Molony sees A.J. Burnett staying put.
Tigers’ Deadline Plans Unknown
According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers’ approach to this year’s trade deadline remains unclear. It might make sense for GM Dave Dombrowski to wait a while longer, since the Tigers have a series against the White Sox this weekend. The Tigers are currently in third place, 5.5 games behind the Sox.
One need might be starting pitching; Tigers starters rank 10th of 14 teams in ERA. Padres starters Randy Wolf and Greg Maddux are not on the radar. The Tigers will probably attend Freddy Garcia‘s August 5th audition. No other possibilities have surfaced, but A.J. Burnett would be intriguing.
On the relief side, the Tigers are said to be interested in Pirates lefties Damaso Marte and John Grabow. They were also linked to Jon Rauch in April. Shortstop is considered a longer-term need for the Tigers, who seem unlikely to exercise Edgar Renteria‘s $12MM option for ’09.
Recently Morosi took a look at Tigers prospects who may be used as possible trade chips. Reliever Fernando Rodney is considered expendable, as well.
Ozzie Doesn’t Think Garcia Will Be Ready
TUESDAY: Garcia was "very, very upset" by Guillen’s comments. His audition is tentatively scheduled for August 5th, and he believes he can help a contender this year.
SATURDAY: Freddy Garcia is hard at work trying to rebound from labrum surgery. Roughly a dozen teams are interested; they hope the veteran right-hander will able to contribute in September and perhaps October.
His close friend and former manager Ozzie Guillen, however, isn’t too optimistic about Garcia’s chances. Guillen told MLB.com writer Scott Merkin:
"I doubt it. I hope he is. He’s my friend…But when I see him and where he’s at right now, I don’t see that happening. I don’t think by August, maybe September. Freddy hasn’t even thrown off the mound yet.
"He’s throwing flat and he’s throwing good and he said his velocity is coming around. Everything is fine, but people think because you play catch, you are pitching. That’s not the same. You don’t have people on the mound or hitting. I hope he do it, but it’s going to be a little bit difficult for him to do it."
White Sox Looking For Pitching
According to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler, the White Sox are hunting for pitching of both the starting and relieving variety.
Based on previous reports, GM Kenny Williams is eyeing Oakland’s Huston Street and Washington’s Jon Rauch. With the success of southpaws Matt Thornton and Boone Logan, it appears that Williams is focused on right-handers. Most of the top available names aside from Street and Rauch are lefties, unless you’re a David Weathers fan.
With Jose Contreras on the DL with elbow tendinitis, the Sox also may explore the starting pitching market. So far they’ve only been linked in published reports to Freddy Garcia, and that was before the Contreras injury. Plus, Ozzie Guillen doesn’t seem terribly optimistic on Garcia. The best available starters are probably Justin Duchscherer and A.J. Burnett. Knobler says more than a dozen scouts watched Burnett’s last start.
Odds and Ends: Nady, LaHair, Garcia, Bonds
Baseball is back today, but rumors are a bit light. We’ll kick it off with odds and ends.
- Susan Slusser reports "rumblings" around Justin Duchscherer. As you know, Duke hopes to sign an extension with the A’s but they’ll wait until after the season.
- The Nationals signed second round pick Destin Hood.
- Matt Holliday has heard rumors about a trade to the A’s. I believe this originated as Ken Rosenthal speculation on June 22nd.
- Xavier Nady doesn’t want to be traded, and has been "visibly bugged" by the recent rumors. Still, he and Damaso Marte are the most likely trade candidates for the Pirates.
- D.J. Carrasco actually does have an option left, so the White Sox can demote Carrasco or Adam Russell to Triple A but keep both.
- Ryan Divish heard a rumor that first baseman Bryan LaHair will get the call to the Majors. What will the corresponding roster move be for the Mariners?
- Jon Paul Morosi takes a look at the Tigers’ most tradeable prospects, noting that several are currently injured.
- A Freddy Garcia update. His agent says they might be receptive to a multiyear deal, but prefer one year. He previously said a club option was not in the cards.
- NPB Tracker looks at the pros and cons of Barry Bonds signing with the Softbank Hawks.
- Jim Moore thinks the Mariners should trade Ichiro.
Sherman’s Latest: Adenhart, Burnett, Niese, Ibanez
Joel Sherman of the New York Post has been digging up rumors left and right – here, here, and here in recent days. Let’s discuss.
- The Angels have "hinted at a willingness to build a deal around pitching prospect Nick Adenhart." This would apparently involve Mark Teixeira or Matt Holliday.
- The Phillies made an initial offer last week for A.J. Burnett, and the Jays were thoroughly unimpressed. The Phillies won’t discuss prospects Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, or Greg Golson in trades.
- The Yankees have zero interest in Burnett.
- The A’s are willing to move Joe Blanton. He’s not perfect, but he can eat innings and is under team control through 2010.
- Six games out of the wild card with a league-best offense, the Rangers don’t look like sellers.
- At least ten teams watched Mets’ Double A starter Jon Niese pitch Saturday. He’s their top trade chip given the unavailability of Fernando Martinez.
- The Pirates have their eye on the Yankees’ Ross Ohlendorf, if the Yanks become buyers for players like Damaso Marte or Xavier Nady.
- Three Raul Ibanez suitors are named: the Diamondbacks, Dodgers, and Red Sox.
- At least nine teams are monitoring Freddy Garcia: the Yankees, Mets, Astros, Rangers, Royals, Red Sox, Phillies, Tigers, and White Sox. We’ve seen the Braves, Rays, and Cubs mentioned too. Garcia’s agent isn’t up for an ’09 option with his client. A-Rod is said to be pushing for the Yankees to sign him.
- Sherman notes a rumor around the game that has Pat Gillick becoming Mariners president next year, and Brian Cashman coming on as his GM.
Odds and Ends: Kemp, Kearns, Carrasco, Garcia
Friday linkage…
- Yesterday I linked to Dave Cameron’s piece, in which he wondered whether Matt Kemp is overrated. Here’s the other side of the debate, a response from Mike Scioscia’s Tragic Illness.
- Joe Sports Fans names the seven worst trades of the decade. I have some arguments here; what do you think? I wrote this post on the Pierzynski/Nathan/Liriano/Bonser deal two years ago, but I still think it holds that Brian Sabean’s trade looked reasonable at the time.
- Joel Sherman wonders if the Mets and Yankees should consider trading for Washington outfielder Austin Kearns.
- Matt Gelb takes a look at Phillies prospect Carlos Carrasco, who does not want to be traded.
- The Yankees rightfully don’t view Freddy Garcia as much of an upgrade, since he won’t be ready until late August at the earliest.
- Tracy Ringolsby runs through various players on the trade market. Interestingly, he does not see A.J. Burnett being traded.
- Cardinals Diaspora suggests the Cards tangle with Billy Beane again, this time for Joe Blanton.
- Dave Dombrowski doesn’t see Ryan Perry in the Tigers’ bullpen this year, after all.
- Armchair GM challenges SI.com’s Jon Heyman to put his money where his mouth is.
Freddy Garcia Suitors
MLB.com’s Jim Molony posted an article yesterday, much of it concerning rehabbing free agent starter Freddy Garcia. Garcia’s showcase is still expected to take place later this month.
We compiled reports and came up with these suitors: the Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, Tigers, Rays, Astros, and Cubs. Molony adds the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Twins – giving us at least 13 suitors.