D’Backs Notes: Towers, Marquis, Giants
Paul Goldschmidt's first MLB home run came at the perfect time for the Diamondbacks, who defeated Tim Lincecum and the Giants behind the bat of their 23-year-old first base prospect last night. Here's the latest on the D'Backs, who are tied for the NL West lead with the Giants…
- Giants manager Bruce Bochy told Jon Star of MLB.com that the biggest difference with the Diamondbacks is the back end of their bullpen. "They've got two new guys down there [J.J. Putz and David Hernandez] that made a huge difference, but also some other good arms. The pitching is much better."
- GM Kevin Towers, who acquired Putz and Hernandez over the winter, told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he acquired Jason Marquis for the stretch run because he was reluctant to call minor leaguers like Jarrod Parker, Pat Corbin, Wade Miley and Tyler Skaggs up into the heat of a pennant race.
- Towers says he initially hoped to add a couple relievers at the trade deadline, but changed course when other teams decided to keep their relievers. Instead, Towers acquired Marquis and Brad Ziegler.
- Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News explains that the current series between San Francisco and Arizona has the makings of a pennant race precursor, though it's still early to be thinking in those terms.
Diamondbacks Acquire Jason Marquis
The Diamondbacks added an innings eater for the stretch drive today, acquiring righty Jason Marquis from the Nationals for shortstop prospect Zach Walters, the teams announced. Marquis returns to the NL West, where he won 15 games in '09 for the Rockies.
Marquis, 32, has a 3.95 ERA, 5.3 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, and 54.0% groundball rate in 120 2/3 innings this year. Our projected Elias rankings have him well short of Type B status. Aside from last year, the veteran righty is known for taking the ball every fifth day, and he'll slot in nicely at the back end of Arizona's rotation. The D'Backs take on all of the $2.47MM remaining on Marquis' contract.
The Diamondbacks selected Walters in the ninth round of last year's draft. The 21-year-old has a .302/.377/.485 line with 42 extra base hits in 412 plate appearances at Class A South Bend this season. He has mostly played short, but has also appeared in ten-plus games at second and third.
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi broke the story and Jim Bowden added detail. Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post. Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.
Diamondbacks Acquire Jason Marquis
4:06pm: The D'Backs take on all of the $2.47MM remaining on Marquis' contract, according to Bowden (on Twitter).
3:58pm: The Nationals will receive shortstop prospect Zach Walters from the D'Backs, tweets ESPN's Jim Bowden.
3:42pm: The trade is agreed upon, tweets Morosi – Marquis will join the Diamondbacks.
3:33pm: The D'Backs are close to acquiring Marquis, tweets Jon Paul Morosi. Marquis is scheduled to take on the Mets less than three hours from now at Nationals Park.
3:27pm: The Diamondbacks are working to acquire righty Jason Marquis from the Nationals, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Marquis, 32, has a 3.95 ERA, 5.3 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, and 54.0% groundball rate in 120 2/3 innings this year. Our projected Elias rankings have him well short of Type B status, and he's owed $2.5MM on the season.
Nationals Hearing From Multiple Teams On Marquis
The Nationals are still hearing from multiple teams on righty Jason Marquis, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Marquis, 32, has a 3.95 ERA, 5.3 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, and 54.0% groundball rate in 120 2/3 innings this year. Our projected Elias rankings have him well short of Type B status, and he's owed $2.5MM on the season. The latest:
- Despite acquiring Doug Fister earlier today, the Tigers are still talking to the Nationals about Marquis, tweets MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The two teams nearly had a deal Thursday, reports Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Kilgore says the Nationals have Yunesky Maya on call in case they trade a starter.
Tigers, Indians Pursuing Jason Marquis
4:34pm: The Indians have joined the Tigers in the pursuit of Marquis, tweets ESPN's Jim Bowden. The two division rivals appear to be chasing many of the same starting pitchers. The Nationals are asking a lot, as they reportedly want teams to take on Marquis' remaining $2.5MM and surrender a prospect.
12:21am: The Tigers are discussing a trade for Jason Marquis, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Detroit GM Dave Dombrowski has been looking for starting pitching this month and has had interest in Marquis.
Though the Tigers have pursued others, including Hiroki Kuroda and Jeremy Guthrie, they're not sure that Kuroda would accept a deal to Detroit and appear to have struggled to reach a deal with the Orioles for Guthrie. Tigers checked in on Doug Fister, but they were turned off by the Mariners' asking price. They contacted the Rockies about Ubaldo Jimenez as well.
The Tigers recently bumped Phil Coke from a rotation that includes Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Brad Penny.
Tigers Notes: Oliver, Marquis, Fister
The Tigers are looking for starters and relievers. Here's the latest on their trade talks:
- Scouts tell Yahoo's Jeff Passan that the Tigers are dangling lefty Andy Oliver on a number of trade fronts including Hiroki Kuroda, Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Marquis (Twitter link).
- The Tigers and Mariners are engaged in active trade talks, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Detroit is interested in Doug Fister and a reliever.
- The Tigers are more interested in right-handed relief than left-handed relief, according to Morosi (on Twitter).
NL East Notes: Nationals, Marlins, Reyes
The Braves and Phillies are both interested in Hunter Pence (latest rumors) and have interest in the same collection of right-handed hitting outfielders as alternatives. Here's the latest on a division led by two of the NL's three 60-win teams…
- The Nationals want interested teams to take on the $2.2MM remaining on Jason Marquis' contract and surrender a prospect, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter links). Marquis' suitors don't love the idea. The Tigers discussed a deal for the righty last night.
- Rival executives tell ESPN.com’s Buster Olney that Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is intent on finding a center fielder. "It's his Holy Grail," a rival GM said. "He's bound and determined to get an established guy.” Denard Span of the Twins is Rizzo’s current target.
- It looks like the Marlins won't make a deal before the trade deadline, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro (on Twitter).
- Mets GM Sandy Alderson has seen firsthand that Jose Reyes makes an immense difference on the field, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. Can the Mets afford the free agent to be after 2011? A surprising number of Mets executives expect to keep Reyes long-term, according to Sherman.
AL Central Notes: Indians, Marquis, Soria
The Indians acquired Kosuke Fukudome from the Cubs today and they might not be done yet. GM Chris Antonetti told Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he’s open to adding another pitcher or a hitter – even another outfielder. Here are some other notes and rumors from around the AL Central…
- The Indians should see a "marginal improvement" after adding Fukudome, according to ESPN.com's Keith Law. The Indians, who gave up two "fringy" prospects for the outfielder, are getting a player with enough on-base skills to help out.
- Antonetti, by the way, called the improvement “incremental.”
- MLB.com’s Bill Ladson confirms that the Tigers are interested in Jason Marquis (Twitter link). A scout suggested to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that Marquis is out there now and could clear waivers next month to enable an August trade (Twitter link).
- There are indications that Joakim Soria will stay in Kansas City, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
Nationals Notes: Desmond, Johnson, Marquis
The Nationals acquired Jonny Gomes today and Washington is also eyeing center field help. The Nationals are scouting Peter Bourjos, Michael Bourn, Denard Span, Colby Rasmus and B.J. Upton as they look to upgrade. Here are some other notes from D.C., where the Nationals host the Marlins tonight…
- As Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post explains, trading Ian Desmond now "would be the epitome of selling low." The shortstop would be available in the right deal, but there's still a chance he can become a long-term contributor in Washington.
- Bill Ladson of MLB.com hears that the Nationals consider Desmond part of their future and aren't planning to move him (Twitter link).
- Before the Gomes deal, Nationals manager Davey Johnson told Kilgore that he was "not really anticipating a big trade" (Twitter link).
- Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears mixed opinions on whether the Nationals will trade Jason Marquis (Twitter link).
AL Central Rumors: Tigers, Indians, Twins
The AL Central has only one clear seller at this point in the Royals, and they don't have much to offer. The White Sox and Twins will add a lot to the trade market if they decide to wave the white flag. The latest on the division:
- The Tigers' list of starting pitching targets includes Ubaldo Jimenez, Hiroki Kuroda, Aaron Harang, Jeremy Guthrie, and Jason Marquis, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. However, the Padres are more inclined to keep Harang and try to re-sign him, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark. Harang picked up his ninth win today in Philadelphia.
- The White Sox are scouting the farm systems of the Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies in case they decide to sell, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- In a series of three tweets, Joel Sherman of the New York Post explains why the Indians are setting their sights low as they seek a right-handed hitting outfielder. I think the biggest point is that they expect Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo back in August.
- Indians corner infielder Jared Goedert cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A, tweets Morosi. Another procedural note: Tigers lefty Brad Thomas is now on the 60-day DL rather than being outrighted, tweets MLB.com's Jason Beck.
- The Twins reached an agreement with Vanderbilt lefty Corey Williams for just under $600K, tweets ESPN's Keith Law. Williams, the team's third-round pick, signed above slot.