Rockies Plan To Exercise Jason Giambi’s 2012 Option
The Rockies intend to exercise their half of Jason Giambi's $1MM mutual option for 2012, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post. Colorado GM Dan O'Dowd noted the plan earlier this week, with Giambi once again slated to serve as a pinch-hitting option and backup first baseman to Todd Helton.
It seems likely that Giambi will exercise his side of the option, given that he enjoys playing in Colorado so much that he was already talking about re-signing with the Rockies in 2012 if he was traded earlier this season. Giambi has been an unusual fit with the club, given that he and Helton are both left-handed, but Giambi has performed well as a Rockie — he has a .254/.375/.492 line in 405 plate appearances since joining Colorado in August 2009.
Quick Hits: McGowan, Marlins, Giambi
Guillermo Moscoso held the Royals hitless until the eighth inning this afternoon, but Salvador Perez singled, ending Moscoso's bid for a no-hitter. Though the A’s right-hander didn’t make history, Tim Wakefield may do so later tonight if he picks up career win #200. Here are this evening’s links…
- Dustin McGowan, who returned to the Major Leagues after three years of rehab last night, told Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star that the most emotional moment of his comeback came when he jogged in from the bullpen to the mound with many Blue Jays fans on their feet.
- The Marlins aim to develop more homegrown arms, president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest told Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.
- Troy Renck of the Denver Post notes that there's a good chance Jason Giambi will return to the Rockies next season, regardless of the state of Todd Helton's back (Twitter link).
Rockies Notes: Giambi, Cuddyer, Young, Rotation
Troy Renck of the Denver Post took some time to answer questions from his followers on Twitter just now. Renck touches on a lot of offseason topics for the Rox, so let's take a look (all links to Renck's Twitter):
- If traded, Jason Giambi would prefer to go to the Phillies, but he isn't looking to get traded and would likely be claimed before Philadelphia got a chance at him. Giambi would like to return to the Rockies next season, and Renck sees it happening.
- It's been well-documented that the Rockies would like to add a bat at third base or in the outfield, and Renck says that Michael Cuddyer will be the team's top target in free agency.
- Eric Young Jr. has shown value, but doesn't fit the club unless he's playing second base, according to Renck. Young could be traded, while Ian Stewart will likely be non-tendered.
- Renck predicts that the Opening Day rotation will consist of Jhoulys Chacin, Alex White, Esmil Rogers, and two veterans. Jorge de la Rosa, Juan Nicasio and/or Drew Pomeranz could join the mix in May. Renck notes that De La Rosa is ahead of schedule in his rehab from Tommy John surgery.
- Kevin Millwood, who currently has a 4.26 ERA in four starts (25 1/3 innings) for the Rockies, could be one of those veterans, but on a minor league deal.
Quick Hits: Damon, Choate, Braves
August 18th featured significant trades in 2009 (Ivan Rodriguez to the Rangers) and 2010 (Derrek Lee to the Braves). So far, today we've seen the Rangers acquire Tim Wood from the Pirates. Here are today’s links…
- As of today Jason Giambi and Jim Thome had yet to be placed on waivers, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal wonders if Johnny Damon, who has already cleared waivers, could be a fit for the Phillies.
- Marlins left-hander Randy Choate told Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald that he's not likely to pitch again this season. The left-hander, who is under contract for 2012, would have been an August trade candidate if healthy.
- Chipper Jones told David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the Braves have more pitching than they know what to do with. “It’s almost embarrassing how much talent we have at the minor league level that can help this ballclub,” he said (Twitter link).
Phillies Interested In Acquiring Left-Handed Hitter
The Phillies have had internal discussions about acquiring a left-handed bench bat to serve as a pinch-hitter, according to Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Phils discussed trades involving Rockies first baseman Jason Giambi and Twins first baseman/DH Jim Thome prior to the non-waiver trade deadline, and they would still like to acquire either of those sluggers, according to Brookover. However, both would be long shots at this point because it's unlikely Giambi or Thome would fall to the Phillies through waivers.
Ross Gload and Brian Schneider are the only lefty hitters on the bench presently, although the Phils recently signed former Athletics and Mariners slugger Jack Cust to a minor league contract in hopes that he could serve in a Matt Stairs-like role. Cust has declined in recent years, though, and has not had much success in his career as a pinch-hitter, so it doesn't sound like the Phils are expecting much there.
Otherwise, one remaining option would be to recall Domonic Brown, although that is less than ideal because he is slumping with Triple-A Lehigh Valley and needs to play every day to develop. Another option the Phils have discussed, a source tells Brookover, is recalling Brandon Moss from Lehigh Valley. Moss, of course, was involved in the three-team swap that sent Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers and Jason Bay to the Red Sox a couple years back.
The Phils look to be fine-tuning things before the postseason. We also heard yesterday that they are seeking a left-handed reliever.
Rockies Notes: O’Dowd, Pomeranz, Giambi
The Phillies tied the Rockies in the ninth inning of yesterday's game when John Mayberry hit a two-run home run. Shane Victorino led off the tenth inning with another homer and Colorado lost 4-3. Here's the latest on the Rockies, who are 51-57…
- Woody Paige of the Denver Post says the Rockies won't contend next year and argues that GM Dan O'Dowd should take the blame for "his failure at the deal deadline to get rid of the veteran players who have proven they're incompetent."
- Drew Pomeranz, the player to be named in the Ubaldo Jimenez deal, told Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post that he didn't expect to be traded from the Indians, even though he heard some rumors.
- Jason Giambi told O'Dowd that he doesn't mind getting traded this month, as long as it doesn't hurt his chances of re-signing in Colorado after the season, according to Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post. Giambi hopes to re-sign with the Rockies this offseason, instead of pursuing a DH job or joining a different National League team.
Phillies Asked Twins About Jim Thome
The Phillies' next move might be for a home run threat off the bench, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark. He says the Phillies even asked the Twins about Jim Thome, and cited Jason Giambi as another example.
Thome, 40, signed a six-year, $85MM deal with the Phillies prior to the 2003 season but was traded to the White Sox three years later. He's four home runs shy of 600, but the Twins haven't shown any inclination to trade veterans.
As for Giambi, ESPN's Buster Olney hears from an executive who feels he would not make it through waivers to them in August. Giambi "appeared almost certain to go to Philly" before he hurt his quad, tweets Troy Renck.
Giambi Injury Could Prevent July Trade
7:24pm: The Rockies have placed Giambi on the disabled list, reports Renck (Twitter links). He's unlikely to be traded before the deadline (players can be traded while injured, though it's rare), but Renck mentions that Giambi could be a waiver trade candidate in August.
TUESDAY, 10:16am: Giambi injured his left quad last night, and Renck says it's a potential disabled list situation. That could end the chances of a July trade. In another article, Renck explains that the Phillies "called about Giambi before this road trip and are expected to circle back soon," while the Pirates "are considered long shots."
MONDAY, 3:57pm: The Phillies are interested in Rockies first baseman Jason Giambi, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Pirates have interest as well, tweets Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Giambi isn't looking to leave, but if he asks to go to a contender, the Rockies will help that happen, Renck reports (on Twitter).
Giambi, 40, has made the transition to useful bench player since joining the Rockies. This year he's hitting .263/.360/.632 with ten home runs in 111 plate appearances.
Quick Hits: Trade Market, Giambi, Pirates
Some late-night linkage as the Reds walk off on the Braves on a Drew Stubbs blast …
- The trade market is slow taking shape this year, and one GM tells Scott Miller of CBSSports.com that too many teams are intent on making the perfect trade or scared of making a bad one. Miller also suggests that trade talks were slow this weekend because many top executives were in Cooperstown, N.Y., for induction ceremonies at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- The Rockies may trade first baseman Jason Giambi before the deadline, though Troy Renck of the Denver Post wouldn't be surprised if Colorado were to re-sign the slugger in the offseason (via Twitter).
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington says asking prices are high for a bat, and he thinks potential trade partners are using the Bucs' first successful season in nearly two decades as leverage, according to Laura Myers of MLB.com.
NL West Notes: Giambi, D’Backs, Ubaldo, Kuroda
The Padres sent Anthony Rizzo back to Triple-A today after he hit just .143/.282/.265 in a 117 plate appearance cameo. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes reports (on Twitter) that Kyle Blanks will get called up to take Rizzo's place after hitting a stout .351/.421/.716 in Triple-A. Let's recap the rest of the news out of the NL West…
- "I'd be shocked if we didn’t make some trades," said Padres GM Jed Hoyer to Marty Caswell of XX1090 Sports Radio (Twitter link). "It'd be foolish not to get some prospects … we’re not in a position to have untouchables."
- "There's not a lot of starting pitching depth in the trade market that is really appealing to us," said Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert (Twitter links). They are still focused on acquiring bullpen help.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Rockies are drawing interest in Jason Giambi (Twitter link). Giambi's preference is to stay with Colorado, and they will consult him before making a move.
- The Diamondbacks intend to replace Stephen Drew from within with the likes of Willie Bloomquist, Geoff Blum, and Cody Ransom according Rosenthal (Twitter links). Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that Arizona isn't targeting Jack Wilson of the Mariners.
- ESPN's Buster Olney says (on Twitter) that any move the D'Backs make will be geared towards 2012 as well as 2011. They won't trade prime pieces for rental players.
- Teams are convinced that the availability of Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez is just a Justin Upton-esque "trial balloon," according to SI.com's Jon Heyman (on Twitter). That makes Hiroki Kuroda of the Dodgers the best pitcher on the market, but he may invoke his no-trade clause.
- Meanwhile, Rosenthal tweets that Kuroda will decide whether or not to waive his no-trade clause on a case-by-case basis. He won't give the Dodgers a list of teams he'd accept/decline a trade to. MLB.com's Ken Gurnick wrote more on the right-hander's situation.