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Week In Review: 7/20 – 7/26

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This one will be a bit lengthy, which can be expected as the deadline approaches. Here’s a review of some of the major moves and rumors of the last week:

  • The Yankees acquired Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates for OF Jose Tabata, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Dan McCutchen and RHP Jeff Karstens . I agree with Tim that Ian Kennedy would’ve been a better centerpiece, but Tabata is pretty highly-touted himself. Kennedy would have made a more immediate impact, while Tabata is only 19 years old.
  • The Dodgers acquired Casey Blake for minor league RHP Jon Meloan and C Carlos Santana. The Dodgers get a nice boost to their lineup without giving up too much, although Santana’s putting together a very impressive season in Class-A ball.
  • The Nationals sent Jon Rauch to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league 2B Emilio Bonifacio. Rauch adds to a strong bullpen for Arizona, while Bonaficio could become a very solid leadoff hitter in the future for Washington. They may have been able to get more for Rauch, but I personally like the move, regardless.
  • The Brewers acquired Ray Durham from the Giants for minor leaguers Darren Ford and Steve Hammond. Rickie Weeks has been a disappointment to an otherwise red-hot club. Can Durham provide a bit more stability? The power’s gone, but he can still get on base.
  • The Astros acquired Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke. This one confuses me a little bit; with all due respect, did the Astros forget they were 12.5 games out? I don’t see the logic in buying on a pitcher.
  • The Cardinals traded Anthony Reyes to the Indians for minor league pitcher Luis Perdoma. I don’t get this one either. I feel like the Cardinals could have gotten more, despite Reyes’ struggles in the past. The Indians could make this one look like a steal, in my opinion.
  • The Yankees are in deep discussion with the Mariners about acquiring Jarrod Washburn. Tim cites Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal in saying that the Mariners want a top prospect in addition to the salary dump, but the Yankees are only offering a marginal prospect. Can’t say I blame them. A top prospect for an mediocre pitchers who’s due an additional $14MM? Sounds like Seattle’s getting greedy…
  • A new, and surprising name surfaced in trade talks: Manny Ramirez. Manny has said he would waive his no-trade clause, and based on interviews, has basically said that 2008 will be his last season in Boston. I can’t see Boston trading their (arguably) best hitter in the middle of a pennant race, however. I’d bet on him finishing out the season.
  • Speaking of corner outfielders, the Mets need one, and they know it. Having missed out on Nady and Blake, they will likely zero in on Raul Ibanez. Ibanez makes great sense for them, and the Mariners would obviously like to rebuild. I expect this one to get done.
  • There was a report that Roy Halladay came out and told the Blue Jays that he is unhappy in Toronto, which has provoked the Jays to explore their potential options. Halladay’s price would have to be astronomical, I’d think. He’s signed through 2010 and pitching like it’s 2003 all over again. Personal speculation: I think Halladay to the Cardinals with a Colby Rasums centerpiece would make sense.
  • Crisitan Guzman signed a two-year, $16MM contract extension. Guzman has revived his career after surgery following an awful 2005. I like the signing for the Nats.
  • Jorge Posada could be out for the season. The Yankees are looking for catchers. In addition to the names mentioned there, they could take a shot at signing Johnny Estrada, who was DFA’ed by Washington this week. Estrada was terrible in Washington, but has put up solid offensive numbers for a catcher throughout his career.
  • Brian Fuentes, Huston Street, and George Sherrill are all still potential trade pieces. Fuentes is the most likely to go, I’d say, although the Rockies are asking for quite a bit.
  • Tim updated the left-handed reliever and left field markets.

Rauch Ramifications

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Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has an article today about the implications of the Diamondbacks’ acquisition of reliever Jon Rauch.

  • The loss of second baseman Emilio Bonifacio doesn’t exactly change the D’Back’s plans, as they were skeptical on his ability to become a regular anyway.  Still, people are asking whether they’ll try to re-sign Orlando Hudson.  Piecoro says Hudson is expected to test the free agent market, and doesn’t seem likely to offer a discount.  His salary should exceed $10MM.
  • If Hudson leaves, the D’Backs could either look for a new second baseman or shift Mark Reynolds over there and consider a third baseman.  Take a look at the free agent market – options are limited at both positions.  Perhaps a trade could be explored.
  • Closer Brandon Lyon is a free agent after the season as well, and seems likely to leave.  The D’Backs have plenty of in-house replacement options, starting with Rauch.  Lyon will join free agent closers such as Brian Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman, Francisco Rodriguez, and Kerry Wood.  It’s easy to see Hoffman and Wood staying put, leaving three solid options.
  • Piecoro talked to team officials who downplayed the recent Mark Teixeira rumblings.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Laird, Washburn, Nady, Bay

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Ken Rosenthal has more new material.  I’ve updated the post, as Rosenthal updated his.

  • The Yankees are looking for catching – Rosenthal and Jon Heyman do not agree with Peter Abraham. Rosenthal says the Yanks have expressed interest in Gerald Laird and Miguel Olivo.  The Rangers want young pitching for Laird, however.
  • Jarrod Washburn’s limited no-trade protection includes the Yankees.  He might want compensation to waive that, putting him out of the Yanks’ price range.  Washburn, a Boras client, wouldn’t mind pitching in New York though.  The Mariners are looking for young pitching for him.  It sounds like the Yankees aren’t willing to eat the entire contract and send good prospects.
  • The Yankees may explore other trades, and are said to have interest in A.J. Burnett and Bronson Arroyo.
  • The Nationals were apparently locked in on a second baseman for Jon Rauch, perhaps explaining why they traded him for just Emilio Bonifacio.  The jury is still out on the speedy young infielder.
  • The White Sox explored a scenario where they would’ve acquired Brian Roberts from Baltimore, traded Orlando Cabrera to the Dodgers, and moved Alexei Ramirez to shortstop.  That obviously didn’t work out.  The Sox may be currently trying to decide whether to part with third baseman Josh Fields, their best trade chip and third baseman of the future.
  • Suitors for Xavier Nady, such as the Rays, Yankees, and Phillies, are balking at Pittsburgh’s asking price.  The Bucs continue to insist they’re being reasonable.
  • Interestingly, the A’s are still talking to the Pirates about Jason Bay.  Rosenthal says a trade seems unlikely.
  • The Cardinals had scouts in Baltimore yesterday, and their interest in George Sherrill is well-known.  But they might not match up with the Orioles’ needs.

Heyman’s Latest: Nady, Teixeira, Sherrill

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Jon Heyman is cranking out a lot of rumorage.  Here’s his latest.

  • The price has dropped a tad on Xavier Nady, as the Pirates have become more interested in moving him.
  • The Braves still might trade Mark Teixeira right before the deadline, and Heyman thinks they can easily beat two draft choices.
  • Many teams scouted George Sherrill recently: the Marlins, Dodgers, Cardinals, Phillies, and Brewers.
  • Some execs "expressed annoyance" at the D’Backs underpaying for Jon Rauch.
  • Heyman says the Yankees are looking for catching, though Peter Abraham doesn’t agree.
  • The Twins, Giants, and Dodgers have interest in Hank Blalock, who has a $6.2MM option for ’09.

Tim Brown’s Latest: Peralta, McPherson, Putz

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Yahoo’s Tim Brown posted a new column this evening.

  • The Nationals got an OK return for Jon Rauch, acquiring second baseman Emilio Bonifacio.  That could set the pace for reasonable reliever prices.
  • The Indians are listening on Casey Blake, Paul Byrd, and Jamey Carroll, as you know.  Jhonny Peralta isn’t off-limits either.
  • Here’s a new name of interest for the Dodgers: Marlins minor league third baseman Dallas McPherson.  He’ll be 28 soon, and carries a .287/.400/.650 line with 32 home runs in 314 Triple A at-bats.  This could be the second time McPherson blasts 40 home runs in a minor league season.
  • The Red Sox inquired on J.J. Putz, but the Mariners say he’s not available.

Jon Rauch Traded To Diamondbacks

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According to Baseball Digest Daily, the Diamondbacks acquired reliever Jon Rauch from the Nationals for second baseman Emilio Bonifacio.

Bonifacio was ranked sixth among D’Backs prospects heading into the season.  He’s hitting .302/.348/.387 in Triple A currently.  He’s incredibly fast and plays above-average defense.

The D’Backs get a fine late-inning reliever in Rauch; I thought Jim Bowden would ask for more.  Rauch is signed cheaply through 2010 and has been an above average reliever for several years now.

White Sox Looking For Pitching

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According to CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler, the White Sox are hunting for pitching of both the starting and relieving variety.

Based on previous reports, GM Kenny Williams is eyeing Oakland’s Huston Street and Washington’s Jon Rauch.  With the success of southpaws Matt Thornton and Boone Logan, it appears that Williams is focused on right-handers.  Most of the top available names aside from Street and Rauch are lefties, unless you’re a David Weathers fan.

With Jose Contreras on the DL with elbow tendinitis, the Sox also may explore the starting pitching market.  So far they’ve only been linked in published reports to Freddy Garcia, and that was before the Contreras injury.  Plus, Ozzie Guillen doesn’t seem terribly optimistic on Garcia.  The best available starters are probably Justin Duchscherer and A.J. Burnett.  Knobler says more than a dozen scouts watched Burnett’s last start.

Nationals Rumors: Guzman, Rauch, Holliday

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MLB.com’s Bill Ladson has the goods on the Nationals.

  • The Nationals are currently negotiating with Cristian Guzman’s agent on a possible extension.  Last month, the Nats proposed a two-year extension.  It’s thought that Guzman might make some concessions given how little he gave the Nats in the first three years of his current contract.  But if the two sides can’t reach an agreement soon, the Nats may choose to trade Guzman.
  • Ladson also reports that the White Sox and Rays are scouting closer Jon Rauch.  Rauch, you may recall, came up as a starter with the Sox and was traded to the Expos in ’04.  Kenny Williams made that deal with Omar Minaya.
  • Ladson’s source confirmed mild interest in Colorado’s Matt Holliday.  Ladson notes Jim Bowden’s fondness for Adam Dunn as well.  However, the source considers the infield a greater need for the Nats.

Odds and Ends: Vizquel, Saito, Burnett, K-Rod

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So many links, so little time.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Holliday, Burnett, Rauch, Ibanez

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Ken Rosenthal has a new Full Count video up.

  • The Angels are not interest in Matt Holliday, while the Dodgers and Red Sox "could play" on him.  Rosenthal names the Nationals as an "intriguing dark horse," saying they’ve been checking up on Holliday.  They like the idea of having him for ’09, and could even entertain signing him long-term.
  • The Phillies have minimal interest in A.J. Burnett, plus they’re on his 15 team no-trade list.  Rosenthal notes that Burnett nearly signed with the Cardinals a few years back, but their interest is not mutual.
  • Jon Rauch is a hot commodity, drawing interest from the Rays, Red Sox, and Diamondbacks.  His price will exceed that of Brian Fuentes, since he’s under team control through 2010.
  • The D’Backs would like to add a left-handed hitting outfielder, and Raul Ibanez is under consideration.  Rosenthal suggests Matt Stairs or Tony Clark as possible bench additions.
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