Padres Rumors: Maddux, Hoffman, Kouzmanoff, Greene, Bard
4:32pm: More from Towers – he’s had inquiries on Jake Peavy, Trevor Hoffman, Heath Bell, Kouzmanoff, and Greene. Potential deals will be assessed after the season, though Towers wants Hoffman to stay until the end of his career.
2:43pm: MLB.com’s Corey Brock has the latest on the Padres and Greg Maddux.
Maddux apparently will only accept a trade to a West Coast team, preferably the Dodgers. Padres GM Kevin Towers doesn’t mind trading within the division. The only piece missing is interest from L.A. They’ve got good pitching depth, but if Maddux could be added at a reasonable price, why not? The Professor has a 4.18 ERA this year.
Don’t expect to see younger Padres like Kevin Kouzmanoff, Khalil Greene, or Josh Bard on the move. Towers said a trade of any of those three is "very doubtful."
Season-Ending Surgery For Prior
MLB.com’s Corey Brock reports that San Diego Padres pitcher Mark Prior will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn muscle in his shoulder. The Padres signed the injury-plagued starter to a $1MM contract this offseason.
While the news of Prior having to miss a season due to surgery doesn’t come as much of a surprise, a healthy rebound would have been a bright spot in what has otherwise been a tough season for the Padres. The team saw Jake Peavy, Chris Young, and Josh Bard all hit the DL in May.
It’s unfortunate, but it seems like this will make teams even more hesitant to look at Prior this offseason. The right-hander undoubtedly has great talent, but has pitched just 43.2 innings since the beginning of the 2006 season.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Crede, Lofton, Millwood, Dunn
Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up; let’s discuss.
- Despite his .268/.330/.537 start, the White Sox would still entertain trading Joe Crede if it’d help the big league team. This is a change from their apparent springtime willingness to deal him for prospects. The most likely desire would be pitching, if the Sox can find a suitor.
- Jake Peavy put on his GM hat, suggesting the Padres sign Kenny Lofton. Rosenthal likes the idea, but notes that Kevin Towers will first turn to his farm system. I discussed some future trade candidates for San Diego in my latest video mailbag.
- Rosenthal suggests Kevin Millwood‘s contract will be an obstacle in trading him. He earns $8.5MM this year, $11MM in ’09, and a fairly achievable $12MM vesting option for ’10. Plus there’s a limited no-trade clause.
- Walt Jocketty’s biggest test this year might be deciding whether to trade Ken Griffey Jr. and/or Adam Dunn. They both have no-trade clauses to deal with; even after June 15th Dunn’s includes most high-revenue teams.
Odds and Ends: Peavy, Ellsbury, Montero, Fukumori
More random rumors to devour…
- The Braves are looking at adding Damian Miller as their backup catcher. The Nats are known to have interest and more playing time for Miller. The Padres are considering him as well; Miller will definitely play in ’08.
- Jake Peavy will get a three-year, $52MM extension with a $22MM option for 2013. Who knows how the Padres will feel about that option when they get there. Peavy will earn $15MM in 2010, $16MM in ’11, and $17MM in ’12. The ’13 option has a $4MM buyout attached.
- Jacoby Ellsbury signed on with the Scott Boras Corporation. I made an error earlier saying Jon Lester had as well.
- Pirates inked utility man Chris Gomez for a million bucks.
- The Nationals have their eye on Arizona’s Miguel Montero. They’re also one of the ten teams in on Kazuo Fukumori. Barry Svrluga tosses a new Japanese reliever into the mix: Katsuhiko Maekawa. Don’t know a thing about him yet.
- Larry LaRue tries to explain why the Mariners didn’t offer arbitration to Jose Guillen.
Padres Rumors: Loretta, Iguchi, Peavy, Barrett
Tom Krasovic fills us in on the latest with the Padres.
- Kevin Towers is considering Mark Loretta and Tadahito Iguchi as second base options. Loretta has expressed interest. I wonder how this will make the Padres feel; his strong flirtations may turn them off.
- Jake Peavy will get full no-trade protection for 2008-10, limited for 2011-12.
- As reported yesterday Towers is in talks for Mark Prior and Josh Towers. Towers said that himself? Tampering!
- The Padres still expect Michael Barrett to accept arby. Krasovic mentions the Cubs actually considered having Barrett switch positions last year. Yes! Barrett should market himself as a third baseman and play the field.
- The Padres recently talked about a multiyear (probably two year) deal with Mike Cameron.
Odds and Ends: Cabrera, Blanton, Haren, Sabathia
Let’s round ’em up.
- Indians GM Mark Shapiro will soon get a contract extension offer for C.C. Sabathia approved by ownership. Then he’ll put that in front of Sabathia’s agent, with an eye on resolving the situation one way or another before Spring Training. Shapiro’s model will not be Johan Santana‘s upcoming deal but rather Jake Peavy‘s three-year, $50MMish extension.
- White Sox outfielders Ryan Sweeney and Brian Anderson might be on the fringe. The Marlins, if I recall correctly, once had interest in Anderson as a center field option.
- Miguel Cabrera is out to prove he’s a good athlete and can stay at third base – he’s beginning a rigorous workout program like nothing he’s ever done before.
- The D’Backs could pursue Joe Blanton or Dan Haren, while the Yankees may turn to Haren if they fail to acquire Johan.
- The Yankees are receiving a lot of interest in The Farnz, according to Brian Cashman.
Padres Rumors: Peavy, Fukudome, Clement
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune has a new column up with some good Padres info.
- The Padres are still hammering out Jake Peavy‘s deal. It’ll include no-trade protection and a player option for 2013. Brandon Webb and his agent will be watching closely.
- The Friars have stepped up their interest in Kosuke Fukudome, who they’d use as a center fielder. The Cubs are also in hard on him. I recently broke down Fukudome’s suitors here.
- Randy Wolf will get $4MM guaranteed, with another possible $5MM in incentives.
- Matt Clement‘s top choice is the Padres, but they’re not treating the situation with any urgency given the Wolf signing. The Ms and Jays are pushing hardest for Clement. The Rockies, Pirates, Diamondbacks, Phillies, and Royals are known to have interest as well. The Bucs, in fact, recently contacted Clement’s agent.
- Eight clubs are after Brett Tomko. From yesterday we know the Padres, Nationals, Rockies, Astros, and Marlins are among them.
Peavy Extension Could Be Model For Webb
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks may use Jake Peavy’s new three-year extension with the Padres as a guideline for their ace, Brandon Webb. Webb recently rejected a three-year proposal from Arizona.
Peavy is to receive roughly $50MM for the three-year extension. Webb will earn only $20.5MM over the 2008-10 seasons.
Padres Near Extension With Peavy
This comes as a surprise – the Padres and Jake Peavy are making progress on a three-year contract extension. Peavy is already set to earn $6.5MM in ’08 and $11MM in ’09. Peavy’s extension would cover the 2010-12 seasons and be worth $17-17.5MM annually. You have to commend Peavy for taking a discount.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Peavy, Guillen, Barrett
Ken Rosenthal checks in with another fine rumor-filled column.
- Johan Santana doesn’t seem a great fit for the Angels, partly because he’ll be very expensive and the Halos actually do have a payroll limit.
- Jake Peavy knows he’d have to take a discount to stay in San Diego…but even a $15MM per year type deal would be unprecedented for them. He’s under the Padres’ control through ’09.
- Rosenthal’s sources are divided on whether the Mets will go after Jose Guillen. Such a scenario is possible if Lastings Milledge and/or Carlos Gomez are dealt. It’s said that the Mets are still very interested in Livan Hernandez.
- Chase Headley is very popular. Rosenthal confirms Scott Miller’s rumored offer of Xavier Nady and Nate McLouth for him, not that the Padres would consider it. Otherwise the Red Sox are asking for him for Coco Crisp.
- The Padres will probably offer arbitration to both Mike Cameron and Michael Barrett. That brings the risk that Barrett accepts, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
- We already knew the Padres and Rays were in on Geoff Jenkins; add the Phils to the mix. The Cubs, Giants, Rangers, and Royals have also been linked to him.