Reds Interested In Huston Street?
Up until today, the list of known Huston Street suitors included the Mets, White Sox, Dodgers, and Brewers (though the Dodgers and Brewers may be out). The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser tosses a new club into the mix: the Reds.
It’s an interesting development; the Reds are nine games out of the wild card. Of course, that didn’t stop the Astros from making an acquisition. And unlike Randy Wolf, Street is under team control through 2010. On the other hand, Street could earn more than $5MM next year and the Reds are already paying Francisco Cordero $12MM in ’09.
For discussion’s sake…would a Street-Adam Dunn swap make any sense? We know that the A’s are lingering around on Jason Bay discussions. Dunn isn’t under contract for ’09, but he should be good for two draft picks. Walt Jocketty and Billy Beane matched up once before, on the Mark Mulder–Dan Haren deal.
Dodgers Scouting A’s?
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle notes that the Dodgers have a scout at the current A’s-Rays series in Tampa Bay. Ken Rosenthal recently named the Dodgers as one suitor for A’s closer Huston Street. Slusser also speculates that the Dodgers could consider shortstop Bobby Crosby.
Street is not at peak value right now, with eight hits and four runs allowed in his last three appearances. His average fastball velocity is down to 89.7 mph this year from 90.4 last year. Strikeouts are down, walks and home runs are up. He’s dealt with a groin strain this season and ulnar nerve irritation last year. Street is under team control through 2010.
Other teams eyeing Street: the Mets, White Sox, and Brewers.
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.
Rosenthal’s Latest: K-Rod, Maddux, Wolf, Street
Rumor guru Ken Rosenthal is at it again.
- Angels GM Tony Reagins is doing his due diligence on available hitters. Rosenthal admits his own suggestion of a Mark Teixeira/Will Ohman blockbuster acquisition is unlikely.
- Rosenthal believes Francisco Rodriguez‘s expected asking price to be five years, $75MM. The Angels would not bite on that.
- Greg Maddux only wants to be traded to a West Coast team. He might accept a trade back to the Dodgers, if Ned Colletti and Kevin Towers want to go down that road.
- The Orioles would trade George Sherrill if someone wants to overpay. Tons of teams are looking for lefty relievers, and many are available. Rosenthal notes that the Orioles have plenty of players likely to clear waivers, making August trades quite possible.
- The Dodgers are apparently interested in Toronto shortstop John McDonald. Talks for Cristian Guzman and Jack Wilson have stagnated. An extension is more likely than a trade for Guzman.
- Randy Wolf and Cla Meredith are the most popular Padres in trade talks. Wolf’s no-trade clause doesn’t include the teams that like him, so that won’t be an issue. If the Friars were to move Kevin Kouzmanoff, they’d ask for a young outfielder back.
- Even with their second base surplus, the A’s want to sign Mark Ellis to an extension.
- A Milton Bradley deal is unlikely, but the Rangers are getting calls on Marlon Byrd and Nelson Cruz. In return, they might be looking for young starting pitchers.
- The Royals are said to be "actively shopping" Miguel Olivo and Mark Grudzielanek. However, it’s been suggested that the Royals might not have the catching depth to move Olivo.
- Rosenthal’s list of Huston Street suitors: Mets, White Sox, Dodgers, and Brewers.
Heyman’s Latest: Street, Durham, Holliday
SI.com’s Jon Heyman just posted a new column.
- The Brewers and White Sox inquired on A’s closer Huston Street. However, A’s GM Billy Beane said "there is nothing going on" in regards to Street. The Sox were linked to both Street and Jon Rauch today, so Kenny Williams is clearly monitoring the relief market.
- Heyman says the Rays have not discussed Street with the A’s, and the Dodgers "aren’t believed to be heavily involved."
- Heyman is on board with the recent rumors about Ray Durham and Jack Taschner possibly heading to Milwaukee.
- Heyman also confirms Ken Rosenthal’s report of the Phillies’ interest in Matt Holliday. He agrees that these talks have cooled, but notes a good relationship between GMs Dan O’Dowd and Pat Gillick. Gillick and O’Dowd have matched up for three deals, two occuring while Gillick worked for the Mariners.
- The Dodgers continue to consider shortstop a priority. Heyman wonders if Cristian Guzman would be a fit, especially if extension talks sour. Jack Wilson and David Eckstein are other possibilities.
Brewers Working On Durham Deal?
11:23pm: The San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Schulman comments on the rumor, noting the convenient timing of Durham’s bout with the flu.
As was Haudricourt, Schulman is skeptical about a separate Rickie Weeks-to-San Francisco rumor floating about. But both beat writers acknowledged the rumor, so someone’s putting it out there.
9:31pm: An update from Haudricourt. He believes the Brewers are working on a smaller deal for Jack Taschner or Ray Durham, rather than Street.
Haudricourt says the Brewers scouted Street but the scouts were not impressed. He’s not coming to Milwaukee.
7:21pm: Brewers beat writer Tom Haudricourt thinks Oakland closer Huston Street is Milwaukee-bound. He says the word on the street is outfielder Darren Ford, 22, is the price. Ford was pulled from Brevard County’s lineup before its game against Clearwater. Says Haudricourt:
The fact that Ford was pulled from the lineup makes me believe something could be up. He has no injury that I know of.
Baseball America did not list Ford among the Brewers’ top 10 prospects before this season, but he was named the organization’s fastest baserunner and best defensive outfielder. So far this year in the Florida State League, Ford is hitting .232 with a .321 OBP and a .307 SLG. He’s got 44 steals in 87 games.
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. You can reach him here.
Brewers Eyeing Huston Street?
11:34pm: Haudricourt says the Brewers dispatched their top special assistant to watch the A’s play the Yankees. Haudricourt speculates that the Brewers might have an eye on Huston Street, who is under team control through 2010. Street’s had an off-year, mainly due to a rising home run rate.
4:38pm: As usual, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has the latest Brewers hot stove chatter.
- GM Doug Melvin is calling around about relief help, but as you might imagine prices are high.
- Melvin would not confirm Ken Rosenthal’s rumor that the Brewers are interested in the Giants’ Jack Taschner and Ray Durham. Melvin is always honest with Haudricourt, so it’s worth noting that he didn’t deny it either.
- Melvin seemingly has a little room in the payroll to make a reasonable addition.
Olney’s Latest: Sexson, Ibanez, Ortiz
Buster Olney’s blog post is overloaded with rumors today. Here’s a rundown:
- Olney’s Speculation: Will the Red Sox will express interest in Khalil Greene with Julio Lugo on the DL for 4-6 weeks? Olney also wonders if the Dodgers will seek Huston Street if Takashi Saito is seriously hurt.
- Scout Speculation: Huston Street and Matt Murton to the Rays for prospects?
- Bobby Kielty was granted release by the Red Sox.
- Richie Sexson could decide where to go based on greatest offered playing time. I’d say that’s expected for a veteran starter.
- Olney says that requests for Max Scherzer are keeping the Dbacks from making any moves, such as for Raul Ibanez.
- David Ortiz is slated to return to the lineup on July 25th, which leaves the Red Sox less than a week to evaluate him and make a move if necessary. Olney details some options:
- Acquire a hitter during the waiver period after the deadline. This would rule out comparable replacements such as Matt Holliday or Mark Teixeira.
- Make a "preemptive strike" for Holliday or Teixeira costing them "at least one of their best prospects".
- Target a "second or third tier bat" such as Ibanez or Xavier Nady.
- Continue on with or without an effective Ortiz, hoping their offense is good enough.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Kemp, Bradley, Fuentes, Street
New Rosenthal. Seems like he just put a column out a few days ago.
- Rosenthal believes the Dodgers would consider trading a young player (especially Matt Kemp) for a slugger. He discusses what it would take to get Jason Bay, Magglio Ordonez, Adam Dunn, or Matt Holliday. This all seems like a bad idea for the Dodgers.
- There are certainly arguments for the Rangers to keep or even extend Milton Bradley. But Rosenthal thinks he could net "multiple high-end prospects" if Jon Daniels goes the trade route. He says the Rangers could shop some of their veterans while also trying to acquire a controllable reliever.
- Rosenthal’s best guess is that the Pirates will trade Xavier Nady or Jason Bay but not both. He says Neal Huntington is not under pressure to clear salary.
- The Cubs are interested in Brian Fuentes, which is a new one. Rosenthal adds that Jim Hendry plans to pursue the best available starter.
- The Brewers have many quality minor league trade chips, and they may be looking for a starter.
- Minimal trade interest in Huston Street, and the A’s have backed off the extension idea.
- The Yankees are "aggressively" trying to move LaTroy Hawkins.
- The Dodgers wanted to do an Esteban Loaiza–Juan Uribe swap, but the Sox just waited them out and signed Loaiza.
- Rosenthal says the Phillies "lack the prospect inventory" to get an impact starting pitcher, which I don’t agree with. He says they may look for another lefty reliever or bench bat.
Odds and Ends: Ivan Rodriguez, Hall, Street
Time for today’s link roundup.
- MLBTR live chat here at 2pm CST, don’t miss it!
- Ivan Rodriguez expects to play ball beyond this season.
- Bill Hall isn’t happy with the Brewers’ callup of Russell Branyan. Hall is hitting .220/.292/.418 in 196 plate appearances. He’s signed through 2010.
- Susan Slusser ponders the future of A’s relievers Huston Street, Alan Embree, Santiago Casilla, and Joey Devine. Might be tough to deal anyone unless the team drops out of contention.
- Part 2 of AN’s Billy Beane interview.