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Odds And Ends: Hamilton, Lowry, Brewers, Tejada

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I’m not so happy about kicking off the day with an odds and ends post, but what can I say? I can’t go around making up rumors.

  • Evan Grant talks about how well the Josh Hamilton acquisition has worked out. I say acquisition, because the trade worked out smashingly for the Reds, too.
  • Looks like there won’t be a six-man rotation in San Fran anytime soon. Noah Lowry isn’t throwing anymore, as the pins and needles in his arm have returned. He could miss the entire first half of the season. So much for being a trade candidate.
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin has said that the team will look for pitching, but not to expect anything. It’s a seller’s market right now. In the meantime, David Bush takes a spot in the rotation, and Jeff Weaver remains an option.
  • Miguel Tejada promised a sick kid he’d hit a homer, and came through. I could never make such a promise. How could you live with yourself if you failed?

Posted by Joe Pawlikowski, who writes for River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog (though you already knew that, right?). Today is slooooow. Hit me with rumors.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Rule 5 Draftees

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Last year the Reds selected Josh Hamilton in the Rule 5 draft despite only 23 games above Single-A and only 15 games anywhere since 2002 (actually the Cubs picked Hamilton and traded him to the Reds the same day). Hamilton went on to hit .292-19-47 in 90 games. This year, 18 players were chosen in the Rule 5 draft (14 pitchers). These players must remain on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to their original club for $25K. By my count, three players (Sergio Valenzuela, Lincoln Holdzkom, Jose Capellan) have already been offered back to their original clubs (Capellan was picked up on waivers by a third team during the process). Hamilton is the rare case of a position player sticking with his new club as it is far easier to hide a developing pitcher and still get him playing time in the bullpen than it is on the bench.While it is rare for position players to stick, we have already learned that the Cardinals may keep Brian Barton as a fifth outfielder. As opening day rosters begin to take shape, let’s take a look at what is being said in the Blogosphere about the chances for the Rule draftees.

  • Tim Lahey (RHP, CHC/MIN): Bleed Cubbie Blue sees the Cubs working out a trade with the Twins that would allow them to send Lahey to AAA. In fact, they speculate that Lahey will be the PTBNL in the Craig Monroe deal.
  • Evan Meek (RHP, PIT/TB): Bucs Dugout predicts that Meek will at least start the season with the Pirates before being offered back to the Rays.
  • Randor Bierd (RHP, BAL/DET): Bird Brain projects Bierd to make the roster and hopes the O’s give him every chance to stick.
  • Jose Capellan (LHP, CIN/BOS): Capellan was originally selected by the Giants but was just placed on waivers. The Reds picked him up (Rule 5 rules still apply) and Obsessive Giants Compulsive is surprised the Giants let him go.
  • Sergio Valenzuela (RHP, CIN/ATL): Valenzuela was sold back to the Braves after not making a single appearance in a spring game. The Braves then traded Valenzuela to a team in the Mexican League. Which begs the question…Are "future considerations" from the Mexican League worth the $25K the Braves dropped to bring him back? Talking Chop finds the entire situation funny and is not surprised that Valenzuela did not stick with the Reds.
  • Brian Barton (OF, STL/CLE): Cardinals GM is predicting Barton to be on the opening day roster with Juan Gonzalez starting the season in AAA.
  • R.A. Dickey (RHP, SEA/MIN): Detect-O-Vision is infatuated with the knuckleballer but notes that Dickey "has a looooooooooong way to go".
  • Steven Register (RHP, NYM/COL): Mets Fever thinks Register might actually stick by earning the final spot in the bullpen.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Rangers Trade Volquez For Hamilton

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Today we had another bold swap of young players.  The Rangers sent young pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Ray Herrera to the Reds for outfielder Josh Hamilton.

You all know the story with Hamilton.  Former first overall pick by the Rays in ’99, immensely talented.  Derailed by drug problems for many years, then posted an incredible half season in the Majors for the Reds despite little experience above A ball.  He put up a .922 OPS for the Reds, and seems like a great gamble by Jon Daniels despite health concerns.  He’ll turn 27 in May; hopefully the Rangers let him stay in center.  Hamilton leaves a park that inflates left-handed home runs by about 28% to a park that inflates them by 24%.  His departure clears a path for top prospect Jay Bruce.

Volquez, 24, is also immensely talented.  He kept stalling at the big league level but finally seemed to figure it out in September.  Baseball America calls his stuff "electric," describing a mid-90s heater paired with a mid-70s change-up.   One concern here is that Volquez is a flyball pitcher.  Wayne Krivsky took an interesting route to add an intriguing starter; I wonder if the move takes them out of the Erik Bedard sweepstakes.  It’s been speculated that the Reds could go after Mike Cameron to fill their new center field void.

Herrera, 23, is a southpaw relief prospect.  Check out this info from Baseball America.  He barely registers 5-foot-7, 145 pounds.  He tops out at 84mph but throws some kind of screwball to offset the weak heat.  This trick helped him post an 11.0 K/9 in Double A this year.

Baseball America rocks, check them out by the way.  They’ve already got analysis of this deal up here.

Rangers Rumors: Guardado, Cameron, Hamilton

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MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan has all the latest hot stove buzz around the Rangers.

  • The Rangers are nearing a deal with Eddie Guardado.  Everyday Eddie might be a dark horse to close, if he can flash his late season form again.  The Reds decided in October that he was not worth $3.5MM, and declined his option.  Guardado is 37.
  • The Rangers hope to add some kind of veteran starter.  Bartolo Colon and Jason Jennings are still options, but Mark Prior and Freddy Garcia pretty much are not.  Sullivan names Mike Maroth, Mark Hendrickson, and Josh Towers as pitchers of interest.
  • Mike Cameron could be an option for center field if he’ll take a one-year deal.  A multiyear demand would also take the Rangers out of the running for Corey Patterson.
  • Sullivan notes that the Reds want Edinson Volzquez for Josh Hamilton, a possibility he first mentioned three weeks ago.  Jamey Newberg doesn’t think Volquez would cut it.  Other trade options could include Andre Ethier, Coco Crisp, and Juan Pierre.
  • The Rangers will pass on a Kevin Mench reunion.

Dontrelle For Josh Hamilton Was Discussed

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UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 2:47am: More excitement…throw Abraham Nunez into the mix of Marlins third base targets.  This team is going places.

FROM 12-7-07 at 11:27am:

MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro posted a new column last night full of good Marlins hot stove chatter.

  • The most interesting note is that the Marlins talked to the Reds about swapping Dontrelle Willis for Josh Hamilton, prior to the blockbuster with Detroit. 
  • With Miguel Cabrera, the White Sox and Rangers were involved during the Meetings before the Tigers jumped in.  The Rangers backed out when they couldn’t get an extension window for Cabrera.  The Tigers wanted the same but obviously it wasn’t the dealbreaker.  The Angels, Dodgers, and Giants were involved before the Meetings, with the Giants offering Noah Lowry.
  • Frisaro says there are "strong indications the Marlins will sign Jorge Cantu.  He’ll be in the mix at third base.
  • The Fish are offering the Phils Scott Nestor for Wes Helms, who’d also compete at the hot corner.
  • The Mets have some interest in Alfredo Amezaga, though the Marlins are inclined to keep him.
  • Miguel Olivo will be released soon, so throw him into the catcher market with Michael Barrett. 

Reds In On Cameron?

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According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Mike Cameron’s agent tonight said he has a new suitor.  Krasovic makes an educated guess that the Reds are that team.  He cites Cameron’s desire to play for Dusty Baker, the possible defensive improvement, and the availability of Josh Hamilton as factors.  It would be odd for the Reds to spend their remaining money on a position player though.

Cameron enjoyed his time in Cincinnati in 1999, hitting .256/.357/.469 as a 26 year-old before being included in the Griffey trade.  Wouldn’t it be interesting if the Reds brought back Cameron and Brett Tomko?  And Antonio Perez is probably kicking around somewhere too.

Rangers Like Patterson, Ethier, Hamilton, Fukudome

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According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers are targeting various young outfielders.

  • Corey Patterson, 28, is a free agent and Scott Boras client.  He’s looking for multiple years while the Rangers only want to give one.  His talent might tantalize somebody, though he hit just .269/.304/.386 this year.  He’s shown in the past that he can hit like a league average CF and play plus defense, so he could be a bargain.  Patterson reversed his platoon split this year, hitting lefties pretty well.  He’s an Atlanta native; maybe the Braves would be a match.
  • Andre Ethier, 26 in April, is expendable now that the Dodgers have four outfielders.  His career line of .295/.357/.464 is solid, though that is average for an AL right fielder.  The Dodgers may opt to move Juan Pierre instead, if they can find a taker.  The Dodgers previously had interest in Rangers reliever Joaquin Benoit, according to Sullivan.  The Rangers would have competition from the Rays on Ethier.
  • Josh Hamilton, 27 in May, could be moved by the Reds for a starting pitcher.  Hamilton was incredible in 300 ABs for the Reds this year in his MLB debut, despite several years off and only 89 ABs above A ball.  That’s #1 pick talent.  He dealt with wrist, hamstring, and stomach problems this year however.  Sullivan says the Reds would want Edinson Volquez for him; there was talk of sending him to Florida for Dontrelle Willis previously.
  • Kosuke Fukudome, 31 in April, hasn’t decided yet whether to play in MLB.  Even limited by an elbow issue he hit .294/.443/.520 in Japan.
  • Milton Bradley, 30 in April, needs more time to decide on the Padres’ $4MM offer.  Coming off knee surgery, he might be interested in the Rangers’ open DH job.  Bradley is injury-prone, but he hit .306/.402/.545 in 209 ABs this year.
  • Others who have been mentioned: Coco Crisp, Rocco Baldelli, Jim Edmonds, and Juan Pierre.

Rays Rumors: Pena, Floyd, Scott

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 2:17pm: Molony confirms that the Rays have talked to the Astros about Scott, though the Padres are still the frontrunner.

FROM 12-6-07 at 8:29am:

A few minor Rays nuggets (hat tip Drays Bay)…

  • Marc Lancaster talked to Scott Boras about the possibility of Carlos Pena signing a long-term deal with the Rays.  Pena is eligible for free agency after the 2009 season.  Boras indicated that Pena would go year to year.  If 2008 and 2009 are in the stratosphere of what Pena did in ’08, he’s looking at four years, $60MM easily in my opinion.
  • Adam Rubin reports that the Rays are eyeing Cliff Floyd, a name we’ve seen linked to them before.
  • Marc Topkin considers Luke Scott a realistic possibility for the Rays, Luis Gonzalez and Josh Hamilton not so much.  Topkin suggests Andre Ethier could be a good match, in a separate post.

Willits Not On Braves’ Radar

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UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 6:50pm: O’Brien corrects himself – Willits is not on the Braves’ radar.  Nor is Josh Hamilton, in case you were wondering.  They’ve got some mild interest in Chris Duffy.

FROM 12-4-07 at 8:26pm:

According to David O’Brien of the AJC, the Braves have talked to the Angels about outfielder Reggie Willits.  The Braves could plug Willits into their center field spot for a few years.  But what could they offer the Angels?

Odds and Ends: Guillen, Crede, Hamilton, Boone

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Rounding up some of the day’s random rumors and tidbits…

  • Jose Guillen might get a light suspension for his exploits.
  • There was a report that the Brewers were close to obtaining Joe Crede, but it was published last night.
  • The BBWAA approved a new resolution for 2013.  Any player with a contract provision linked to a major award of theirs will not be considered for that award.  Makes sense – to repeat Curt Schilling’s situation.  Curt Schilling could get a million bucks by netting one Cy Young vote in 2008.  The BBWAA would rather preserve its right to have members make off-the-wall votes on occasion without bribery being accused.
  • The Reds traded Buck Coats to the Jays.  They also released Jorge Cantu.  They now have an open spot on the 40-man roster.
  • Could the Rays re-acquire Josh Hamilton?  There’s speculation on the topic in Nashville.
  • Buster Olney says Aaron Boone interests the Giants, Nationals, and Brewers.

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