Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Jon Garland

Stark On Lackey, Rays, Jeter

By | at

More from Jayson Stark's Rumblings and Grumblings column at ESPN.com…

  • One of Stark's sources says the Angels' acquisition of Scott Kazmir is not linked to John Lackey's future.  Lackey is said to have dropped his price from the C.C. Sabathia range ($161MM over seven years) to A.J. Burnett money ($82.5MM over five years) due to his recent injury history.  The Angels will attempt to re-sign Lackey, but they have their limit.  Stark's suggestion that Lackey had a "Sabathia-esque" price tag in Spring Training runs counter to Mike DiGiovanna's report that the pitcher wanted Burnett money at that time.
  • Stark feels that the Rays' trade of Kazmir will help them allocate money toward retaining Carl Crawford and/or Carlos Pena.  Crawford's 2010 club option is worth between $10-11.5MM.  Pena is signed at $10.125MM for '10 and is represented by Scott Boras.  One positive: the slugging first baseman inked a below-market deal in January of '08.
  • Derek Jeter is not talking about his next contract, but Stark feels the Yankees will take care of him.  They may wait until after next season, when Jeter finishes his current deal.
  • Rockies manager Jim Tracy is familiar with Brad Penny, and his opinion might have caused the team to back off.  And the Yankees cooled Jon Garland because they didn't see him as a difference-maker in the AL East.
  • The Marlins were in on Mike Cameron, but the Brewers decided to keep their players and win as many games as possible.
  • The White Sox "wanted something good" for Jermaine Dye, according to one Stark source.  He would not have been as easy to pry away as Jim Thome and Jose Contreras were.
  • A couple of sources are skeptical that the Red Sox will shop closer Jonathan Papelbon this winter.
  • Stark notes that only two players – Ryan Franklin and David Eckstein – signed extensions in-season.  These days it makes more sense to talk during the exclusive negotiation period after the season.  Plus, there were many bargains to be had on the free agent market last offseason.

D’Backs Rumors: Snyder, Garland, Abreu

By | at

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has the latest on the D'Backs catchers and their return for Jon Garland:

  • Chris Snyder's back problems may not be serious, but they could become a problem for both the club and the catcher. The D'Backs hope to trade Snyder in the offseason to address other weaknesses and Snyder would presumably like to play every day. If Snyder returns in time to re-establish some of his value, he would help himself and the D'Backs.
  • Piecoro hears that the Dodgers won't necessarily send Tony Abreu to the D'Backs to complete the Jon Garland trade. It remains likely that Abreu will join the D'Backs, however.

Rosenthal On Abreu, Royals, Garland

By | at

The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • Bobby Abreu and the Angels have mutual interest in continuing their relationship, according to his agent Peter Greenberg.  Greenberg says there have been discussions but they'll probably wait until after the season.  Abreu, 36 in March, is hitting .297/.391/.428 in 547 plate appearances while playing subpar defense.  He should end up earning $6MM given his plate appearance incentives.  He'll easily achieve Type A status again.
  • Rosenthal praises the Royals for extending GM Dayton Moore, and suggests the team should commit to a full-bore rebuild.  Rosenthal believes it would've been wise to trade Mark Teahen and Gil Meche.
  • Rosenthal says to expect another overloaded 1B/DH market this winter.  Survey the free agent market here.  I think we might find a .400 OBP on the cheap in Nick Johnson, while Jason Giambi is in for a minor league deal.  Carlos Delgado, Russell Branyan, Hank Blalock, Ken Griffey Jr., Hideki Matsui, Aubrey Huff, Gary Sheffield, and Jim Thome are some of the other names.
  • The Phillies decided to stick with Miguel Cairo as their right-handed bench bat, rather than pursue Nomar Garciaparra.
  • A rival exec Rosenthal spoke to feels that Tony Abreu is not enough for Jon Garland, since the D'Backs are picking up all of Garland's contract.

Odds & Ends: Penny, Hardy, Hoffmann

By | at

Some links to check out while you try to figure out what's for dinner…

  • ESPN's Keith Law says that both Jim Thome and Jon Garland have value to Dodgers in the roles they were acquired to fill, pinch hitter and innings eater. KLaw also notes that Jose Contreras is better option than anyone currently in the Rockies' organization, and that he might benefit from a move to the NL.
  • R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs says that people should be focusing more on the draft picks the White Sox gave away (Thome projects to be a Type-A free agent) than the fact that they're throwing in the towel on the season.
  • Brad Penny said he'd be willing to return to the AL East in the future, according to CBSSports.com's Danny Knobler. "I think if I make my pitches against anyone, I'll do fine…Sometimes you don't get breaks. I was making some bad pitches, and leaving some balls up. In the AL East, you can't really do that," said Penny.
  • MLB.com's Adam McCalvy spoke to Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy about whether he'll be traded this offseason or not, and got this response: "It makes sense, not that I want to be traded."
  • Diamond Leung reports that the Dodgers have designated outfielder Jamie Hoffmann for assignment. The 25-yr old hit just .182/.167/.409 in his brief stint with LA earlier this year. It's always fun when a guy has a higher batting average than on-base percentage.
  • Matt Eddy of Baseball America posted last week's minor league transactions. The Brewers signed two former big leaguers – outfielders Jon Knott and Tike Redman – out of the independent Atlantic League.
  • Make sure you follow MLBTR on Twitter for the fastest rumor updates on the web.

Garland, Contreras Trade Reactions

By | at

A couple of heroes of the 2005 postseason, Jon Garland and Jose Contreras, were acquired by NL West teams yesterday.  Let's round up reaction links.

  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports likes the stability Garland provides the Dodgers, and wonders if they should exercise his $10MM option for 2010.  The Rockies and Rangers both had interest in Garland, who turns 30 this month.  His contract states that he cannot be offered arbitration if he's a Type A free agent, but that's irrelevant since Garland is currently battling just for Type B status.  ESPN's Buster Olney says the D'Backs are paying the entire freight for Garland, so the Dodgers will give up a decent player (we don't know who yet).
  • Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies acquired Contreras as a reaction to Aaron Cook's injury.  Contreras was the consolation prize after the Rox were unable to meet the D'Backs' demands for Garland.  The Sox will pay most of Contreras' remaining $2.7MM, compelling the Rockies to send pitching prospect Brandon Hynick to Chicago.  Hynick talked to Jack Etkin of Inside The Rockies about the trade.  Baseball America says he profiles as a back of the rotation innings eater, in their latest Handbook.
  • How do you rank the recent NL West rotation additions, weighing these two moves and the Giants' signing of Brad Penny?  Most folks would probably be inclined to say Garland, Penny, Contreras, but in one month's time anything can happen.  All three pitchers have free agency as extra motivation.

Dodgers Acquire Jon Garland

By | at

8:18am: Via Twitter late last night, Gilbert mentioned a rumor that the D'Backs may receive infielder Tony Abreu in the Garland deal.  He notes that Abreu would have to clear waivers; after the season as a player to be named later would also work.  The 24 year-old crushed the ball in Triple A this year.

TUESDAY, 12:10am: Gilbert says Arizona is paying the rest of Garland's salary for this year, as well as the buyout of his 2010 option. Sweet deal for the Dodgers.

MONDAY, 11:18pm: The Dodgers have acquired righthander Jon Garland, according to SI.com's Jon Heyman. MLB.com's Steve Gilbert says the Diamondbacks will receive a player to be named later in return.

GM Ned Colletti has been looking to add a starter to his club for what seems like an eternity, and Garland gives them someone they can count on to take the ball every five days. He's started at least 32 games every season since 2002, and is on his way to completing that feat again this year. He had a 4.29 ERA in 167.2 IP for the Diamondbacks this year, his first foray into the National League.

There is a $10MM mutual option for Garland's services in 2010, with the buyout amount depending on who declines the option. Assuming the deal was completed before midnight ET on August 31st, Garland is eligible for the Dodgers' postseason roster.

Two Teams Interested In Garland

By | at

11:00pm: Heyman says a deal between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers "looks pretty likely to happen."

10:22pm: Heyman tweets that talks between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers about Garland are "heating up." He also mentions that the Rockies and Yankees look less likely at the moment.

9:02pm: ESPN's Buster Olney says the Yanks "are not involved in any on-going trade talks for Jon Garland."

8:03pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Rockies and Yankees have inquired about Garland.

7:26pm: Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports that two unknown teams have been "actively discussing" pitcher Jon Garland with the Diamondbacks. He mentions that a "potential trade likely would require the Diamondbacks to include cash to offset what remains on Garland’s contract, particularly the buyout for his 2010 option, which will be either $2.5 million or $1 million depending on which side declines."

The supremely durable Garland has started at least 32 games in the last seven years, and he's five starts away from making it eight consecutive years. The soon-to-be 30-yr has a 4.29 ERA and cleared waivers earlier this month. A team would need to acquire him before midnight tonight for him to be eligible for the postseason roster.

Odds and Ends: Garland, Ordonez, Pettite, Peavy

By | at

Links from around the league on a slow Monday night…

Garland Clears Waivers

By | at

D'Backs starter Jon Garland has cleared waivers, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Now the team can trade him to any one of the clubs seeking rotation help without restriction. Morosi hears that Garland is one of the more appealing starting pitchers available, in spite of his considerable contract. The righty makes $6.25MM this year and will receive $2.5MM if his team doesn't want to pick up the $10MM mutual option for next year.

The D'Backs decided not to trade Doug Davis when the Brewers claimed him earlier in the month, but it's unclear if they're looking for more than salary relief in a deal for Garland, who turns 30 next month. He has allowed 173 hits and 50 walks in his 25 starts and he only has 74 strikeouts, but he's averaging over 6.0 innings per outing.

More August Trade Candidates

By | at

Nobody's been traded so far in August, but deals are sure to go through. ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick considers some trade candidates:

  • Doug Davis and Jon Garland 
  • Heath Bell – An unlikely trade candidate, since he's sure to be claimed, but he could be dealt even if he's claimed (to the NL team with the worst record among all claiming teams).
  • Lyle Overbay – He makes $7MM next year, a deterrent for possible suitors.
  • Justin Duchscherer – Some health concerns remain, as he hasn't pitched in the majors this year.  
  • Kevin Millar, Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Giambi – Veteran bats for the playoffs.
  • Jamey Carroll – Mark Teahen's another utility type, but he's less likely to be dealt than Carroll.  
  • Carl Pavano – Just don't expect the Yankees to come calling. 
  • Arthur Rhodes and David Weathers  
  • Miguel Batista 

  Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times looks into Mariners trade candidates:

  • Russell Branyan won't clear waivers, but the Mariners could consider dealing six weeks of Branyan to the claiming team for a decent prospect.
  • Like Duchscherer, Erik Bedard has to prove he's healthy before anyone will commit to him.
  • Baker expects the Mariners to try to move Adrian Beltre. They won't want to offer him arbitration after the season and risk paying him $14MM or so next year, so now's their chance to get a return for Beltre. They would almost certainly have to pick up salary in the process.
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top