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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Millar, Sheffield, Dunn, Rangers, Salty

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A few random notes from around the baseball Blogosphere…

  • Beerleaguer feels that Kevin Millar would make a nice addition to the Phillies’ bench.
  • MetsBlog says Gary Sheffield is the right-handed outfield bat the Mets need and this is the best time to add a player with something to prove.
  • True Blue LA is angered that the Dodgers did not block the D’Backs’ claim of Adam Dunn.
  • Newberg Report discusses which players the Rangers must be willing to part with if they are to land an "All-Star level, legitimate number one" pitcher or even a pitcher from the next level of starters.
  • Over The Monster wonders if the Red Sox will replace Jason Varitek with Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Sheffield Clears Waivers

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THURSDAY: Unsurprisingly, Sheffield cleared waivers today.

WEDNESDAY: Sheffield’s agent noted that he has not asked for a trade, but might be willing to waive his no-trade clause under the right conditions (perhaps the chance to play the outfield every day).  Sheffield is expected to clear waivers tomorrow afternoon.  It’s often been said that Sheff thrives on controversy, and he bashed two home runs last night.

TUESDAY: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Tigers placed Gary Sheffield on waivers today. Sheffield recently expressed displeasure with his playing time.  The 39 year-old DH is hitting .219/.321/.371 in 278 plate appearances this year while dealing with oblique and shoulder woes.  Peter Gammons recently wrote that the Tigers shopped Sheffield to the Rays but they had no interest.

Sheffield is owed an additional $3.8MM this year plus $14MM in ’09.  He also has a limited no-trade clause.  His last good full month was July of ’07.  A waiver claim on Sheffield seems unlikely.  If a contender needs a DH, why not pursue Aubrey Huff instead?

Waiver Trade Possibilities For Red Sox, Rays

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The Red Sox, three games behind the Rays in the standings, have the advantage when it comes to waiver claims.  Both teams are dealing with injured third basemen for the next few weeks, and may choose to bring in some veteran assistance. 

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe names four players who may be of interest to the Red Sox and Rays: Rich Aurilia, Mark Loretta, Gary Sheffield, and Kevin Millar.

Even after he clears waivers, a deal for Sheffield seems unlikely.  The Rays have already expressed their disinterest.  Sheffield doesn’t expect a deal, noting that he’s been put on waivers many times. Cafardo says the Rays do have interest in Aurilia, while the other names are speculation for both teams.

Gammons’ Latest: Sheffield, Pujols

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ESPN’s Peter Gammons has a new blog post up.

  • The Tigers called the Rays, shopping perpetually unhappy DH Gary Sheffield.  The Rays’ baseball people were not interested.
  • Albert Pujols’ elbow is barking a bit, but he expects to finish the season.  I wonder what a healthy Albert could do.
  • Gammons notes a failed waiver trade back in ’03.  The Cubs acquired Rafael Palmeiro, but Raffy nixed the deal when they wouldn’t add a year to his contract.

Odds And Ends: Guerrero, Sheffield, Wells, Lincecum

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Here are a few tidbits from around the ’Net this morning.

  • Vlad Guerrero wants to spend the rest of his days with the Angels. The question is, will the Halos pony up for a deal for the slugger’s latter years? They hold a $15 million club option ($3 million buyout) for next year, Vlad’s age-33 season. Will they work out an extension this off-season, or will they let Future Vlad and Future Reagins figure it out after ’09?
  • Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe mentions a player who wouldn’t mind being traded: Gary Sheffield. The 39-year-old hasn’t enjoyed his time at DH, saying that he needs to play the field to be a vocal leader. A few obstacles stand in the way, including his limited no-trade clause, his chronically ailing shoulder, and the $19 million owed to him over the next two years. He’d easily clear waivers, though, and might have already. Tampa Bay, anyone?
  • The Rockies have DFA’d Kip Wells to make room for Livan Hernandez. Wells had a 5.27 ERA over 27.1 innings for the Rockies.
  • Looks like Tim Lincecum is content going with year to year contracts, according to his agent. The Giants have a monopoly on his services through the 2013 season.
  • With Carlos Lee likely out for the season, Richard Justice urges the Astros to sign Barry Bonds.
  • With the August 15th draftee signing deadling approaching, the Pirates have a major league deal on the table for first round pick Pedro Alvarez. 

Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Padilla, Sheffield, Beltre

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up.  You may want to grab a glass of water or something, because this is a beast of a column.

  • If the Braves have a bad weekend and decide to trade Mark Teixeira, a deal could come together quickly.  Stark says the Braves have already touched base with the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees.  Where Tex fits on the Rays, I’m not sure.  Additionally, interest in Will Ohman is said to be "massive."
  • A Jorge Posada move to first base could affect the Yankees’ interest in Teixeira this winter.
  • Though Brian Fuentes has many suitors, the Rockies have actually exchanged names with only the Marlins and Yankees.  GM Dan O’Dowd has not dropped his price.  By the way, Todd Helton’s injury takes Garrett Atkins off the market.  As for Matt Holliday, many execs believe the Rockies will never trade him.
  • The Phillies are focused on a left-handed reliever, with Fuentes, Damaso Marte, George Sherrill, and Jack Taschner in the mix.
  • The Phillies were scared off by the asking prices on Holliday and Xavier Nady, and never even made an offer.  They still could acquire a lesser hitter.
  • The Pirates are inspiring much grumbling with high asking prices for Jason Bay, Nady, Marte, John Grabow, and Jack Wilson.
  • The Rangers are looking for young, controllable starting pitching.  Vicente Padilla is available, with the Tigers and Yankees showing mild interest.  Eddie Guardado and Jamey Wright are not available.
  • In pursuing Jarrod Washburn, Bronson Arroyo, and Padilla, the Yankees are demonstrating their plan to reduce the prospect price for pitching by taking on a decent-sized contract.
  • While A.J. Burnett is "eminently available," no trade talks are cooking.  The Jays apparently won’t deal him within the division.  Other Jays veterans might be available, though Roy Halladay isn’t among them.
  • The Tigers are looking for pitching and a long-term shortstop.  They’d be willing to move Gary Sheffield, though they’d have to eat salary.
  • Top Rays prospects such as Wade Davis, David Price, and Jeremy Hellickson are off-limits. Rays Index recently ran through the more likely trade candidates.
  • The Braves asked the Royals about Jose Guillen, but Dayton Moore is asking for a ton.
  • Stark says the Twins’ talks for Adrian Beltre are "far from dead."  The Twins are zeroed in on a third base upgrade.  Beltre, by the way, has the Dodgers on his no-trade list.  Joe Christensen says the Twins have found the asking price prohibitive for various third basemen.
  • The Rangers are looking for a young pitcher for Hank Blalock, who is drawing interest from the Twins, Giants, and Dodgers.  The Dodgers also like Casey Blake, who is likely to be traded somewhere.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Lidge, Daniel Cabrera, Bonds, Edmonds

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.  I put the Griffey info in a separate post; let’s discuss the rest.

  • Rosenthal suggests that Brad Lidge would be harder to replace than Pat Burrell, and for that reason the Phillies will make a bigger effort to re-sign him.  I imagine Phillies fans would prefer that course of action.  The problem?  The Phillies have little chance of offering four years, according to Jayson Stark.
  • The Rangers will face a delicate situation in coming years: moving Michael Young to a different position.  The chain reaction could make Hank Blalock available.  Blalock has a club option for ’09 at $6.2MM.
  • Aside from Rick Porcello replacing Kenny Rogers at some point, the questionable Detroit rotation is set and signed through 2010.
  • One scout seems to think Daniel Cabrera has turned the corner and shouldn’t be traded.  He’ll become a free agent after the 2010 season and earns $2.875MM this year.
  • Though it might be seen as a desperation move, the Tigers don’t have much to lose by signing Barry Bonds.  Gary Sheffield endorsed it.
  • Rosenthal says the Rays and Jays are teams with "possible interest" in Jim Edmonds but are likely to pass.  That leaves the Cubs.
  • Will Jason Giambi find a job next year after the Yankees decline his option?  He plans to try.
  • The Red Sox asked about Mark Loretta during Spring Training as "infield insurance."  Rosenthal suggests the Sox consider Omar Vizquel, a defensive upgrade over Julio Lugo.

Retirement A Possibility For Sheffield

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Because of shoulder woes, 39 year-old DH Gary Sheffield hasn’t hit well since July of last year.  He’s an elite slugger when he’s on but terrible when he’s off.  In the midst of a third cortisone shot, Sheffield suggested that retirement is not out of the question.   He’s dealing with all kinds of pain and won’t undergo another surgery.  Retirement sounds like a worst-case scenario though.  After all, he is set to earn $14MM in ’09.

If Sheff retires or hits the 60-day DL, talk of Barry Bonds or Mike Piazza could heighten.  The Tigers, however, have consistently denied interest in Bonds.  They could simply shift Carlos Guillen to DH and Brandon Inge to third if Sheffield is out of the picture. 

Odds and Ends: Roberts, Garcia, Crede

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Today’s assortment of links.

Tigers Acquire Gary Sheffield

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Jon Heyman reports that the Tigers have acquired Gary Sheffield for Humberto Sanchez and two Class A pitchers, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett.

It’s a superb deal for New York at first glance, as Sanchez has great stuff and profiles as at least a middle-rotation starter for years to come.  Baseball Prospectus’s Kevin Goldstein ranked Sanchez as the 11th best right-handed starting prospect in the game, holding him back only because of elbow concerns.  The Yankees should have young guys comprising 60% of their rotation by the end of ’07.

And Whelan, if things break right, could be setting up Mariano Rivera by 2008.  The 23 year-old throws four different fastballs.

That’s a lot to give up for Sheff, but credit the Tigers for making a win-now move for the patient slugger they needed.  According to Heyman, "the Tigers will extend Sheffield’s contract for two years beyond the one year and $13 million remaining."

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