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Jason Bay Rumors: Wednesday

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8:37pm: Bay doesn’t seem to be on the Cardinals’ radar.  However, talks continue with Tampa Bay according to John Perrotto.  Bay could also end up in Boston in a three-team deal.

5:59pm: Jayson Stark reports that the Rays and Pirates haven’t had much dialogue today, and that talks have slowed.  The Pirates have backed off just a bit, but may want to see what happens with Manny Ramirez in case they can get the Red Sox interested.

3:16pm: Kovacevic has more.  Brignac and Jeff Niemann’s names are coming up in the Tampa Bay talks.  ESPN’s Jayson Stark heard the same, and adds that Hellickson, David Price, and Wade Davis are off-limits.

The Cardinals are in on Bay but not John Grabow.  Kovacevic says Colby Rasmus is untouchable, making the Pirates lean toward the Rays.  He adds that the Mets seem out of the running.

1:23pm: The Pirates and Rays are still talking, with the Cardinals lingering.  Dejan Kovacevic says Reid Brignac and Jeremy Hellickson are on the Bucs’ radar.

12:30pm: Heyman talked to one NL source who puts the chances of a Bay trade at 50-50.  The Pirates are looking around to see if they can beat the Rays’ offer.

11:13am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman checks in on Bay.  He says the Rays are flirting, while the Mets, D’Backs, and Cardinals are also in the mix.  ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Rays and Pirates are "talking constructively to bridge the gap."  Rays manager Joe Maddon admits some "very interesting stuff" is on the table.

8:43am: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are deep into talks with the Rays and other teams about left fielder Jason Bay.  However, no "truly elite prospect" has been offered yet, and the chances are better than 50-50 that Bay stays.  And who would move to right field for the Rays – Bay or Carl Crawford?  The Braves are considered out of the mix.

Shortstop Jack Wilson seems likely to stay, while reliever John Grabow will probably be dealt.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday

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9:55pm: Jayson Stark attempts to douse the Manny flames, getting denials (again) from the Dodgers and Phillies.

8:39pm: Ken Davidoff says the Teixeira deal makes a Manny trade more difficult, since that’s one less option for Boston to replace Ramirez’s bat.  The Red Sox will keep trying nonetheless.

6:52pm: Jon Heyman says the Phillies might be the frontrunner for Manny.  Ramirez will want his $20MM options eliminated upon a trade.

The Dodgers are also involved, with the Marlins surfacing as a longshot.

3:07pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Dodgers are not pursuing Ramirez or Teixeira.  So, conflicting reports again.  The Dodgers are also not interested in Adam Everett and unlikely to acquire Jack Wilson.

Joe Christensen agrees that Everett isn’t happening, and notes that the Dodgers once had Ronny Cedeno on their list.

2:36pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post has the Dodgers in the lead for Manny.  The Red Sox would eat most or all of the $7MM remaining on Ramirez’s deal, and then receive a player like Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier.  Such a deal would enable the Sox to enter the Mark Teixeira bidding.

Sherman also talked to one NL exec who believes the Dodgers might instead acquire Brian Roberts, pushing Jeff Kent into a utility role and leaving the shortstop problem unresolved.

1:05pm: Looks like Manny’s going to need his own post, after all.  Earlier today, Dan Graziano said the Mets are still in on Ramirez despite the denials.  Now SI.com’s Jon Heyman adds that the Dodgers are showing interest.  The talks are still in their infancy, and keep in mind that the Dodgers do not want to add payroll.

Dodgers Inquire On Michael Young

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From Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger:

The Dodgers continue to look everywhere for a shortstop, and tons of names have come up in connection with their search. They don’t seem likely to land the Pirates’ Jack Wilson, but they’re scouring other organizations for options, having touched base with Toronto about John McDonald, the Yankees about Alberto Gonzales, the Twins about Adam Everett and even the Rangers about Michael Young, though it’s unclear whether or why Young would be available.

Young is new to the discussion.  The 31 year-old shortstop is hitting .298/.345/.421 in 469 plate appearances this year.  He’s currently dealing with a fractured ring finger.  His five-year, $80MM extension was signed in March of ’07 but doesn’t kick in until next year.  Even if the Rangers would listen on Young, could the Dodgers take on such a contract?

Pirates Rumors: Grabow, Bay, Wilson

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the latest Pirates buzz.

  • Lefty John Grabow is drawing interest from the Rays, Cardinals, Phillies, Red Sox, and Angels.  Grabow gave up a couple of homers in his last outing; he missed time earlier this month with arm fatigue.  The 29 year-old southpaw is under team control through ’09.
  • Calls are still coming in on Jason Bay and Jack Wilson, though the Rays are backing off on Bay.  Kovacevic says the Red Sox might provide competition for the Dodgers in the Wilson sweepstakes.  The Bucs interestingly called up shortstop Brian Bixler when Adam LaRoche hit the DL, but that simply may be to cover for an ailing Freddy Sanchez at second base.
  • Nothing to yesterday’s MLB.com report of Pirates’ ownership nixing a Bay-to-Atlanta deal.

Tigers Not Discussing Jack Wilson

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According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Tigers haven’t asked the Pirates about Jack Wilson since last winter.  So while they may be looking for a long-term shortstop, he’s not the answer.  Wilson was very nearly traded to Detroit for Jair Jurrjens a year ago.

Kovacevic says the Dodgers remain the top suitor for Wilson.

Kovacevic’s Latest: Pirates, Bay, Grabow

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Dejan Kovacevic brings us the state of the Pirates in a nice piece in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:

  • As we know, the Pirates don’t want to trade Jason Bay. Kovacevic writes, "’We’ll need to be blown away," one team source said, referring to Bay."  The Braves, Mets, Phillies, and A’s are the latest to inquire.
  • If the Pirates don’t make any more deals, they will of course revisit the possibility in the offseason. Still, any of Bay, Jack Wilson, or John Grabow could remain long-term if the Pirates aren’t offered enough any time between now and next season, or if the Pirates don’t appear to be "legitimately competitive" in the first half next year.
  • The Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte deal was initially reported to revolve around Phil Coke and George Kontos; however, one of those was diagnosed with a damaged labrum, seemingly Coke.
  • Ross Ohlendorf is expected to join the Bucs rotation after three or four starts in Triple-A.
  • A fun fact from Kovacevic: "If the Pirates could have traded Nady and Marte straight up for Jose Tabata last winter, Huntington said, ’We would have done it in a heartbeat.’"

Heyman’s Latest: Dodgers, Braves, Fuentes, Downs

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Today we have a new column from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

  • Heyman writes of turmoil within the Dodgers’ front office. Owner Frank McCourt is meddling, and assistant GM Logan White has "unusual say-so."  Shortstop targets for the Dodgers include Jack Wilson, Orlando Cabrera, and Edgar Renteria.  However, it is unclear which young Dodgers are available.
  • Braves decision-makers remain split on whether to buy or sell, with manager Bobby Cox leading the buy side.
  • Asking prices for relievers remain high, though Heyman seems to think Brian Fuentes wouldn’t cost the Mets much more than Aaron Heilman.
  • Heyman relays a report from Joe DeMayo of NY Baseball Digest: the Mets may have interest in Toronto’s Scott Downs.

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.

Pirates Rumors: Wilson, Bay, Nady, Marte, Grabow

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the latest Pirates hot stove chatter.

  • The Pirates are not opposed to creating a hole at shortstop for the rest of the year by trading Jack Wilson.  They would just need the right return.  Teams are still calling on Wilson, with the Dodgers confirmed and the Tigers possible.
  • A Jason Bay deal seems less likely – the Pirates’ price is high for their star.
  • Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte continue to draw interest, with John Grabow in the mix as well.  Nady or Marte would require two prospects each.  Nady’s suitors are the Rays, Mets, Yankees, and Braves.  Marte has roughly a dozen suitors.
  • Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger says the injury to Hideki Matsui led to heightened interest from the Yankees in Nady and Bay.  They’re also in on Marte and Grabow.  The Bucs aren’t interested in Melky Cabrera.
  • Interesting stuff in this John Perrotto article found via DRays Bay.  He names the Red Sox, Tigers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies, Cardinals, and Rays as teams interested in Marte.  The Tigers, Phillies, and Cardinals also have an eye on Grabow.
  • Perrotto runs through all kinds of names of interest to the Pirates: Anthony Reyes, Chris Duncan, Jeff Larish, Matt Joyce, Ross Ohlendorf, Brent Lillibridge, Brandon Jones, Jeff Niemann, Jon Niese, Eddie Kunz, and Bobby Parnell. 

Rosenthal’s Latest: K-Rod, Maddux, Wolf, Street

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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.
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