Holliday Derby Begins
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have made it known to rival executives that left fielder Matt Holliday is available. Renck names the Red Sox, Phillies, Angels, Mets, Royals, and Nationals as potential suitors. I still find the oft-mentioned Red Sox idea to be far-fetched.
The Rockies would prefer to move corner infielder Garrett Atkins, however. The Angels, Twins, and Red Sox are cited as potential fits. However, other teams are surely aware of Atkins’ defensive struggles at third base and questionable hitting away from Coors Field. Renck says the Angels’ interest will depend on their ability to re-sign Mark Teixeira.
Starting pitching seems to be the Rockies’ target return for either player. They’d be giving up one year of Holliday and two of Atkins, plus the likely draft pick compensation.
Ringolsby’s Latest: Fuentes, Atkins, Holliday
Let’s take a look at the latest column from Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News.
- Rockies "closer of the future" Casey Weathers will miss the ’09 season due to elbow surgery. However, the Rox are still not likely to re-sign Brian Fuentes. Joel Sherman expects Fuentes to sign for three years, $36-39MM. Brad Lidge signed for three years, $37.5MM in July, but that was not on the open market. The Mets will be in on Fuentes.
- The Rockies are expected to trade one of Garrett Atkins or Matt Holliday this winter. The Phillies will inquire on both (they tried to acquire Holliday this summer). Ringolsby says the Red Sox have discussed Holliday internally and considers the Angels a match for Atkins. The Red Sox, however, are set at the corners with Jason Bay and J.D. Drew.
- Brothers Jayson and Laynce Nix are both free agents. Jayson, 26, hit .303/.373/.591 in Triple A. Laynce, 28, hit .284/.348/.539. Jayson plays second base, Laynce plays outfield.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Peavy Suitors, Lowe, Cardinals, Marlins
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up, focusing largely on suitors for Jake Peavy, but also touching on some other news at the end… so let’s take a look!
- Rosenthal states that the following teams have been speculated to be suitors for the Padres’ ace: Braves, Angels, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Cubs, Astros, Dodgers, Cardinals, Brewers, Rays, Rangers. While all of these are not serious possibilities, he elaborates on each team. He mentions Yunel Escobar as a likely centerpiece from Atlanta, and states that the Angels would love to acquire a frontline starter to allow them to send Ervin Santana and/or Joe Saunders to Colorado in a deal for Matt Holliday and/or Garrett Atkins. Rosenthal states that Howie Kendrick could be a big part of any trade, but his health seems like too serious of a concern to me. Rosenthal speculates on the possibility of a dominant rotation for the Yankees if they traded for Peavy and signed C.C. Sabathia. One rival executive’s speculative package for Boston included Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson. The Padres will likely charge the Dodgers considerably more for Peavy’s service, as they are division rivals. He lists Rickie Weeks and J.J. Hardy as a possible centerpiece for a Milwaukee blockbuster, but also points out that Ben Sheets has made the Brewers wary of injury concerns. The other teams don’t seem to match up well, in Rosenthal’s opinion.
- Rosenthal says that he was wrong in stating that Derek Lowe would prefer to remain on the West Coast. Lowe has now told him that he’d prefer to go East, with Boston being his top choice. He reiterated this desire to the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo.
- The Cardinals prefer a short-term solution for their closer situation, and will likely give Chris Perez the ninth inning job, or seek a lower-budget option through the trade market. They may also trade a young outfielder for an established bat at a corner OF position.
- Kevin Gregg is still likely to be traded (perhaps an option for St. Louis), and four teams have asked Florida about Jeremy Hermida. Rosenthal speculates that the Marlins will begin 2009 with Cameron Maybin in center field and Cody Ross in right.
Rockies Rumors: Atkins, Holliday, Barmes
Let’s see what we can find in three new columns from Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post today.
- I wrote last week that the Rockies would come in a bit under $80MM after arbitration raises. Renck pegs it around $75MM.
- The team’s plan is to shop Garrett Atkins for a frontline starter. If the interest is not there (why would it be?), they could switch to Matt Holliday. Renck ponders Matt Cain and a prospect to Colorado, but that is a lot to give up for one year of Holliday. Plus the Giants are not looking to add an outfielder.
- Dave Krieger of the Rocky Mountain News analyzes whether the Rockies could afford to re-sign Holliday. He believes they could, but doesn’t expect them to go past five years.
- Renck sees Clint Barmes as the starting second baseman heading into ’09. Barmes could earn around $1.7MM as a first-time arbitration player.
- Manager Clint Hurdle admitted his starters are more like #2-5s, so it’d be perfect to add a #1 and push them all back. #1 starters are hard to come by, of course.
- Yorvit Torrealba isn’t happy as a backup but the Rockies aren’t looking to trade him. Meanwhile Willy Taveras is a non-tender candidate.
- The Rockies hope to re-sign free agent Glendon Rusch.
Odds and Ends: Hawkins, Pettitte, Strasburg
Rounding up the day’s links…
- Jack Etkin of the Rocky Mountain News talks about the future of Garrett Atkins. We discussed the possibility of an Atkins trade in this post.
- MLB.com’s Jim Molony says the Astros would like to re-sign reliever LaTroy Hawkins. Amazingly, Hawkins has thrown 17 scoreless innings as an Astro.
- This is a popular link lately…Vegas Watch examines April predictions from various analysts. Meanwhile, Scott Long digs in deeper on PECOTA’s American League predictions. Personally I am more interested in the logic behind projections. Did anyone predict Rays starters to post a 3.88 ERA? Did anyone peg Dioner Navarro and Carl Crawford‘s seasons?
- Viva El Birdos hopes the Cardinals do not sign Jon Garland this winter.
- Sam Mellinger wonders how the Royals would replace David DeJesus if they traded him.
- Andy Pettitte remains undecided on 2009. He’s hinted a desire to come back, but it’s unknown whether the Yankees want him. Houston could make sense.
- The Mariners are currently in line to have first crack at drafting Stephen Strasburg. They could even use Erik Bedard‘s money to sign him.
- Javier Valentin hasn’t heard from the Reds regarding 2009.
Atkins May Be Shopped For Pitching
Let’s take a look at Rockies first/third baseman Garrett Atkins. Atkins turns 29 in December and is disappointed by his .287/.331/.451 line in 632 plate appearances this year. His hitting away from Coors has been worrisome – .245/.305/.417 in 600 ABs the past two seasons.
The Rockies haven’t signed Atkins to a long-term deal, so he faces a possible $6.5-7MM arbitration reward for ’09. He’s under team control through 2010. Troy E. Renck writes of the "growing possibility" of a trade, with the Rockies aiming for frontline starting pitching.
Plenty of teams will be looking for corner infield help this winter – possibilities include the Giants, Yankees, White Sox, Twins, Indians, A’s, and Dodgers. But what if that road line holds up, and Atkins is basically a more expensive Kevin Millar?
Rockies Want To Add A Starter This Winter
Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd says the young kids didn’t come through in 2008, so this winter he may go shopping for an ace.
"One of the bigger holes we still have is a pure No. 1," O’Dowd says. "Whether that can ever be accomplished without developing it ourselves, I still have doubts about. But in light of not having that, I think we obviously need to have another quality pitcher in our rotation, and not somebody that’s a bottom-of-the-rotation guy.
O’Dowd doesn’t make any promises, and speculates that a pitcher could come "through trade, free agents or somebody internally stepping up." There will be a couple of top-of-the-rotation guys available via free agency in CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, but both may be too expensive for the Rockies. There is lots of speculation that Matt Holliday could be dealt, and he could potentially bring a starting pitcher in a trade. Or the Rockies could dangle Garrett Atkins and hope that Todd Helton is able to return to play first base next season. But leaning too hard on Helton, who has seen his power numbers drop precipitously and who has been out since July 2 with back problems, is a real gamble.
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. He can be reached here.
Rockies May Consider Trading Holliday, Atkins
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News thinks the Rockies are primed for a major shakeup this winter. Specifically, GM Dan O’Dowd could move two star players in Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins.
Ringolsby figures the Phillies, Angels, Rays, Yankees, and Red Sox will be the main suitors for Holliday. The 28 year-old is hitting .311/.403/.492 on the road this year, suggesting he could be a .900 OPS masher in any park. I’m not seeing the fit for the Red Sox, while the Yanks could work Holliday in if they let Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu leave. The other three teams also make sense in certain scenarios. But do the Phillies have the top-level pitching needed to acquire Holliday? It’s been suggested in the past that dark horses such as the Royals or Nationals could enter the mix for the slugger.
Atkins, 28, is hitting .235/.281/.386 away from Coors. His road OPS was under .800 last year as well, so suitors will be wary. Ringolsby suggests the Angels, Twins, Red Sox, and Yankees here. Again I don’t see the fit for Boston. The Twins would need faith in Atkins’ ability to play third base. Unlike Holliday, Atkins is under team control through 2010.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Hendry, Burnett, Laird
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has a new column up.
- Rosenthal fills us in on Jim Hendry’s contract status: Hendry controls his own fate with an option for ’09. If the new Cubs ownership doesn’t want to extend him beyond that, he could elect free agency this winter. Click here to download a spreadsheet of Hendry’s trade history.
- Teams with third basemen to trade this winter are at an advantage due to the weak free agent market. Names like Garrett Atkins, Melvin Mora, and Hank Blalock could generate interest. Blalock is a huge question mark though, and the Rangers still have to decide on his $6.2MM option. Jorge Cantu, Adrian Beltre, and Kevin Kouzmanoff are other names to watch in my opinion.
- Rosenthal talked to a rival executive who sees the Red Sox making a "major push" for A.J. Burnett if he opts out. He can hindle the rigors of pitching in the AL East, and will also draw interest from the Yankees.
- The Rangers may shop Gerald Laird this winter. Laird, 29 in November, is under team control through 2010. The Reds could be a nice match.
- Marlins infielder Chris Coghlan can play second or third base, giving the Fish flexibility on whether they want to trade Cantu, Mike Jacobs, or Dan Uggla this winter.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Burrell, Rockies
Ken Rosenthal over at FOX Sports has up a new Full Count video up:
- The Phillies want Pat Burrell back, and they feel they have a better than 50-50 chance of re-signing him because Burrell has mutual interest. Rosenthal thinks Burrell should command somewhere between $14MM and $17MM per season.
- Rosenthal discusses the Rockies’ offseason, throwing out the usual suspects (Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, and Todd Helton) as possible trade pieces. Rosenthal points out Helton’s salary makes him difficult, and also proposes a scenario in which the Rockies trade both Atkins and Holliday, sign Burrell to play left field, and move Ian Stewart to third base full-time.