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J.J. Hardy

Rosenthal’s Latest: Mets, Brewers, Astros

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Ken Rosenthal has a lot to offer in his latest Full Count video:

  • The Mets will prefer to pickup Carlos Delgado’s $12MM option rather than buy him out for $4MM. That’s a guarantee for a guy who should finish the year around 35-100 despite not contributing for the first two months.
  • According to sources, Manny Ramirez is unlikely to go the Mets. They will more likely focus their spending on pitching. John Maine has a bone spur in his right shoulder. Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez are free agents. The Mets will need to go after starting pitching.
  • If the Mets go after Francisco Rodriguez, would they dangle Billy Wagner on the trade market in his contract year?
  • If the Astros sign Ben Sheets and Randy Wolf, they’d become immediate contenders, if not division favorites.
  • To recoup the loss of Ben Sheets and C.C. Sabathia, the Brewers might want to trade J.J. Hardy or even Prince Fielder for a pitcher to join Yovani Gallardo, Manny Parra, and Dave Bush. I can’t see them trading Fielder and a lot will be determined by how they fare in the playoffs.
  • Casey Blake will be in high demand this offseason. As a third baseman, his only real competition is the fragile Joe Crede. Blake can play 1B, 3B, RF and LF. He’s a good fit for the Dodgers to re-sign but, according to Rosenthal, he may want to go closer to his Iowa home.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Giles, Dodgers, Indians, Fielder

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Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up over at FOX Sports. Here’s the highlights:

  • The Red Sox wanted to use Brian Giles in right field against certain right-handers, and shift J.D. Drew over to center field for those games. Giles blocked the trade for family reasons, according to Rosenthal, despite the chance at an increased pay day and an opportunity to play in the postseason.
  • Rosenthal says that while the Dodgers are under pressure to re-sign Manny Ramirez, there may be more pressure to sign Casey Blake after this season. Rosenthal points out that Blake is batting .333 in his first 16 games in Dodger blue, and the Dodgers traded away their best young third baseman in Andy LaRoche in order to get Manny. The Dodgers aren’t sold on Blake DeWitt as a long-term option.
  • Rosenthal feels that the Brewers are now less likely to shop Prince Fielder in the offseason, though he points out they could fetch quite a nice haul of Major-League-ready talent if they shopped Fielder as an alternative to Mark Teixeira. Rosenthal feels that J.J. Hardy is a much better bet to be shopped though, as Alcides Escobar could be used to replace him in 2009.
  • Rosenthal wonders if, given Kelly Shoppach’s emergence, the Indians could try to trade him for a top-end starter. Rosenthal offers two scenarios for Cleveland: Trade Shoppach and sign Jason Giambi, or keep Shoppach, sign Orlando Hudson, move Victor Martinez to first base. Both scenarios have the same goal of adding offense and allowing Matt LaPorta to remain in the outfield.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Fuentes, Holliday, Sherrill

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Ken Rosenthal tops off the day with a column full of rumors.

  • Signing Mark Teixeira as a replacement for Manny Ramirez doesn’t make sense for the Red Sox, who don’t want to take on that kind of mega-contract.
  • The Phillies were recently working on a blockbuster with Colorado that would have netted them Brian Fuentes and Matt Holliday for something like Shane Victorino, J.A. Happ, Carlos Carrasco, and Lou Marson.  Those talks have stalled, and the added payroll might’ve been a problem for the Phillies anyway.
  • Though Frank McCourt denies it, Rosenthal says the Dodgers owned vetoed a CC Sabathia/Casey Blake/Jamey Carroll blockbuster because of a desire to keep trades payroll-neutral.
  • The Rockies, as well as the many suitors for Brian Fuentes, fear he could accept an offer of arbitration and saddle them with an $8MM salary in ’09 instead of two draft picks.  Given Fuentes’ stated desire to close, I find this unlikely.
  • A Pirates scout watched David Price’s last start, though he was likely looking at other members of the Montgomery Biscuits.  The Rays are known to be interested in Xavier Nady.
  • The A’s, stacked with second base candidates, are already getting calls on Adrian Cardenas.  Trading Mark Ellis would make more sense though.
  • Rosenthal believes the Orioles are reluctant to trade George Sherrill because they don’t have a suitable replacement for him in the ninth inning this year.
  • Brewers minor league shortstop Alcides Escobar is untouchable, and his ascent could lead the team to shop J.J. Hardy this winter.

Dodgers Interested In Jack Wilson, C.C. Sabathia

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According to Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers have jumped into the fray for C.C. Sabathia.  They don’t have a Matt LaPorta-caliber prospect, but they could make a substantial three-player offer.  The Dodgers, being a big market club, could try to sign Sabathia before he hits free agency.

Rosenthal says the Dodgers are simultaneously pursuing Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson.  He might require some of the same prospects, so L.A. probably can’t get both Wilson and Sabathia. Since Wilson is signed for ’09, such an acquisition might allow the Dodgers to let Rafael Furcal walk as a free agent.  Based on Ned Colletti’s comments to MLB.com, he seems willing to let some talent go to get a regular shortstop.

On the Brewers-Sabathia front – LaPorta is in play, but if he’s included Alcides Escobar is out.  The Brewers do not plan on offering up J.J. Hardy (Tom Haudricourt agrees).  Rosenthal talked to some baseball people who believe Sabathia will be traded before his Tuesday start.

Stark’s Latest: Harang, Bedard, Hardy, Weeks, McLouth

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Brand new column from ESPN’s Jayson Stark.

  • Stark explains why he feels the trade deadline is overrated.  I guess it all depends on what you expect from it.
  • You may recall Walt Jocketty’s Reds untouchables list from a few weeks ago.  It did not include Aaron Harang.  While the Reds might listen on Harang, there wouldn’t be any kind of discount.
  • The Mariners have pushed Erik Bedard to the backburner, focusing on shopping other veterans.  They’re also not dying to move Raul Ibanez at the moment.
  • The Brewers might be willing to include J.J. Hardy or Rickie Weeks in a trade.  In our chat today, a commenter wondered whether some kind of Hardy-A.J. Burnett swap could work.
  • The Tigers are looking ahead, inquiring about various shortstops they might be able to use in ’09 and beyond.  Perhaps if they find one they’ll decline Edgar Renteria’s option.
  • Add the Marlins to the list of Brian Fuentes suitors.  One source from another team said the cost for Fuentes is "one good piece." 
  • Stark agrees with recent indications that the Royals aren’t dying to move Ron Mahay.  Nonetheless, the Yankees, Marlins, Phillies, and Tigers are named as interested parties.
  • Pirate outfield chatter: some teams are calling on Nate McLouth, though the Bucs prefer to move Jason Bay or Xavier Nady.  Despite earlier reports, Stark says the Bucs could consider trading both.  The Rays are "especially interested" in Bay.
  • Stark talked to one club official who hasn’t heard any indications that the Phillies are willing to trade Shane Victorino.  Also possibly off-limits: Double A catcher Lou Marson.
  • To acquire Rich Harden, a package "would have to at least approach last year’s Dan Haren extravaganza."  So, look for him to stay put.  Harden’s velocity was down yesterday, by the way.
  • Brett Myers’ future with the Phillies could hinge on whether they re-sign closer Brad Lidge.
  • Still no buzz around Adam Dunn.
  • C.C. chatter: don’t write off the Indians’ attempt to sign him to an extension.  "One friend" sees Sabathia as more likely to land on the West Coast than the east if he doesn’t re-sign.

Brewers Rumors: Rolen, Andruw, Mench

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MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy posted a Brewers article yesterday that’s worthy of discussion.

  • One reliever Doug Melvin has considered that I hadn’t heard before: Eddie Guardado.  Hey, at least he’d come cheap.
  • Players like Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy, and Corey Hart won’t be moved.  No surprise there.
  • McCalvy says Melvin confirmed having internal discussions about Scott Rolen.  Would John Mozeliak trade him within the division?  More importantly, would the Brewers take on the money and injury risk?  The obvious match would be to send a starter over to St. Louis for Rolen.
  • Which starters are available?  Though you can never have too much pitching, Dave Bush, Chris Capuano, or Claudio Vargas might be considered expendable.  Their salaries will all be rising as they are arbitration-eligible.  None will be non-tendered.
  • Aside from Rolen, another unlikely possibility is Andruw Jones.  Melvin did at least speak to Scott Boras about him.  Moves for Rolen or Jones would of course involve moving Ryan Braun and/or Bill Hall to other positions, something Melvin prefers not to do.
  • If Melvin can’t trade Kevin Mench at the Winter Meetings, he’ll probably be non-tendered.
  • By the way, Tom Haudricourt echoes the Rolen and Jones rumors in his blog this afternoon.

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