Padres Rumors: GM, Cameron, Correia
FRIDAY, 5:53pm: Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes that the Padres and Diamondbacks could work out a compensation package for Arizona VP of player personnel Jerry DiPoto. San Diego CEO Jeff Moorad has what he characterized as a "gentleman's agreement" not to raid his former club for candidates, but Morosi says that the stipulation could be waived for the right price. Moorad is said to have a "very high opinion" of DiPoto.
In addition to labeling Red Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer as a "strong candidate" (per industry sources), Morosi writes that some in the industry expect Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng to be considered. Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine has drawn the interest of the Padres, but the team has yet to seek permission to interview him.
WEDNESDAY, 2:02pm: MLB.com's Corey Brock, via Twitter, says Forst has not been interviewed and the Gillick rumor below is untrue. Furthermore, the A's emailed the AP to say the Padres have not asked permission to interview Forst. SI's Jon Heyman's sources believe Hoyer is the favorite.
WEDNESDAY, 8:37am: Center says the Padres have two more GM interviews in addition to the three they've already conducted. He says Hoyer, David Forst, and Pat Gillick "have surfaced in connection with the Padres vacancy." Meanwhile, Newsday's Ken Davidoff says via Twitter that the Padres have not contacted the Yankees for permission to speak with Eppler.
TUESDAY: Let's discuss the latest buzz around the Padres.
- MLB.com's Corey Brock says the team's baseball operations department will be run by manager Bud Black, executive VP Paul DePodesta and assistant GM Fred Uhlman Jr. until CEO Jeff Moorad finds Kevin Towers' replacement at GM.
- Moorad has interviewed three candidates for GM, with more to come. He hopes to make the hire within a few weeks. Red Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer and Yankees director of pro scouting Billy Eppler have been rumored.
- Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes about the Padres' offseason needs (they have roughly $10MM to spend). Center says the team needs a right-handed hitting center fielder, and Mike Cameron's name surfaced.
- Center suggests that to save money the Padres might have to shop Kevin Kouzmanoff, Heath Bell, or both. He even wonders if they'd non-tender Kevin Correia and attempt to sign him more cheaply (presumably using his desire to play near home as leverage).
- On his blog, DePodesta writes about the difficult realities of working within baseball.
- Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues suggests the Yankees should add Towers to their front office.
Correia: The Forgotten Padre?
While nearly all of the national attention on the Padres this year has focused on either A) Adrian Gonzalez or B) the astonishing lack of talent around Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Correia has quietly been one of the best pickups of last offseason, as Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune points out.
Correia signed a one-year, $750K minor-league deal with the Padres last winter. All he's done in 2009 is manage a 3.89 ERA, 138 strikeouts and 63 walks in 192 innings.
For a little contrast: Derek Lowe has pitched to a 4.55 ERA this season- in the first year of a four-year, $60MM contract.
Correia will be trying to reach 200 innings for the first time in his career Friday night. He's got a streak of 20 1/3 scoreless innings going, and in his last ten starts, has a 2.31 ERA.
All of which means he'll be much more expensive this winter. The Padres can offer arbitration and expect a significant raise will be forthcoming.
So what should San Diego do? Let a consistent pitcher who has finished particularly strong reach free agency as a non-tender? Or pay big bucks for a pitcher just a year removed from a 6.05 ERA?
GM: Brewers Don’t Expect To Trade For An Arm
Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he doesn't expect to add a starter before tomorrow's trade deadline. The Brewers were looking for starters before Jeff Suppan hit the DL and now their need for arms has grown. Here are the details from Melvin's conversations around the league:
- The Brewers talked to rival teams about 10 or 12 starters.
- Melvin says it looks like the Mariners will keep Jarrod Washburn.
- The D'Backs appear likely to keep Jon Garland and Doug Davis.
- Kevin Correia was on the Brewers' list, "but there's nothing to it at this time," Melvin said.
- "We're just not a match for anybody right now," Melvin said.
Padres Rumors: Kouzmanoff, Durango, Correia
A few Padres rumors from Tom Krasovic:
- The Marlins, who are eyeing Heath Bell, are a bit more open to trading Rick VandenHurk than guys like Sean West and Andrew Miller.
- All quiet on the Kevin Kouzmanoff front, not that the Pads haven't tried to gauge his value the last few years. The 28 year-old third baseman is hitting .248/.282/.417 in 401 plate appearances this year and is under team control through 2012.
- Krasovic says speedy minor league outfielder Luis Durango is drawing interest, and he could potentially be packaged with starter Kevin Correia. Yesterday we saw the Brewers linked loosely to Correia by Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
Brewers Rumors: Buyers Or Sellers?
Earlier today, Brewers manager Ken Macha told Tom Haudricourt at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the team is trying to get someone that can help "this season and beyond." Haudricourt thinks this could rule out a deal for a rental like Jarrod Washburn from the Mariners, and earlier today it seemed that the Brewers' recent slump had them out of the running just as well.
We've now learned from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi at FOX Sports that the Padres are dangling starter Kevin Correia and that the Brewers are in the mix for him. He's only due $250k the rest of the season and could come cheaply, though his 4.75 ERA this season doesn't look like it'd be a huge upgrade this year for the scuffling Brewers.
Just yesterday Doug Melvin was saying he's a buyer. Are the Brewers still in it, or should they give in? Can they make a useful upgrade without sacrificing their top pieces?
Gammons’ Latest: Duke, Halladay, Reds, Rays
ESPN's Peter Gammons has a new blog post up, writing about how teams are reluctant to part with their top young players, even if they are overvaluing them. He also mixes in a little rumory goodness, so let's take a peek…
- The Pirates have indicated that it'll take "a gaggle of prospects" to move Zach Duke.
- When inquiring about Roy Halladay, the Yankees were told the price was Phil Hughes plus prospects Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero.
- One GM says "Cincinnati wants to move a few contracts, like either Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang, but we're not interested in giving players or taking on their money. Harang hasn't been the same guy since last May." Harang has a 4.99 ERA since a 63-pitch relief appearance on May 25th of last season.
- Another GM said "We've looked at Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Kevin Correia, Ian Snell and the long list of available starting pitchers and do not see anyone we would give A- or B-list prospects to get."
- Teams like the Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, and Dodgers are at an advantage because they can afford to restock their farm systems quickly by spending big in the draft or on the international market.
- The Rays are likely "to see what they can get" for Carl Crawford after the season, and will hold onto prospects they consider keepers.
Odds and Ends: White Sox, Correia, Ordonez, DNA Tests
A final batch of links for the night owls:
- Ozzie Guillen does not expect any trades before the deadline, according to the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales. But Scott Merkin of MLB.com talks to GM Ken Williams, who doesn't rule out the possibility.
- MLB.com's Corey Brock reports that starter Kevin Correia could be the next Padre to be traded, though no significant interest has bubbled up yet.
- On the same day that Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com asks if it's time for the Tigers to cut Magglio Ordonez, the former All-Star seems to answer by hitting a grand slam.
- And The New York Times reports that Major League Baseball is using DNA tests to determine the age of some Latin American prospects.
Towers Speaks About Possible Moves
Padres GM Kevin Towers spoke with Darren Smith of 1090 XX Sports Radio earlier today, touching on a variety of Padre related topics. You can download and listen to the interview by clicking here, but here's a roundup of the rumors…
- Towers said he expects to get calls from contending teams about his "experienced players," mentioning David Eckstein, Brian Giles, Henry Blanco, Kevin Correia, Chad Gaudin, Cla Meredith and Mike Adams by name.
- He also said it's doubtful that the team would take on salary in a deadline deal, but they might be able to during the offseason.
- Depending on how he comes back from injury, there may be interest in Giles. Towers said it's doubtful anything happens before the deadline, but a waiver trade could be made in August. Giles, of course, has a full no-trade clause.
- When asked why he wouldn't trade Adrian Gonzalez or Heath Bell before the deadline to bring back as much talent as possible, Towers said "it's not to say we won't." He then mentions that they first need to determine what young players they're committed to keeping here and what they need to bring in from outside the organization, but if someone approaches them about one of those guys "they need to listen."
Morosi’s Latest: Blue Jays, Sanchez, Correia, Holliday
Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com suggests the Blue Jays might want to set their sights on 2010, after which they stand to lose Lyle Overbay, Scott Downs, Scott Rolen, and Roy Halladay to free agency. Not to mention Cito Gaston and J.P. Ricciardi, whose contracts will both expire barring an extension. Morosi writes,
Morosi adds the following:
- Halladay is not going anywhere.
- Ricky Romero and Scott Richmond are most likely staying put, says Morosi, and I doubt anyone here disagrees.
- Pitching is not a need for 2010 with the anticipated return of Jesse Litsch, Shaun Marcum, and Dustin McGowan.
- The Jays are almost certain to keep Downs, who has become a premier reliever in the American League.
Morosi suggests, the Jays trade a pitcher or two to boost their team OPS which lags in the AL East behind the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays. Given the above, Morosi suggests Brian Tallet as a trade chip. "Tallet could be looked upon as a viable option for teams looking for a mid-rotation left-handed starter, particularly if the Mariners stay in the race and elect not to move Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn."
They may also look at dealing from their collection of right-handed setup men, such as Casey Janssen, Jeremy Accardo, Brandon League, or Jason Frasor. Just speculating here but Janssen may be the most attractive since he can start. As a reliever in 2007, Janssen had a 2.35 ERA in 72.2 IP with 6 saves before missing 2008 with a torn labrum.
Morosi has a few more bullet points to discuss:
- Freddy Sanchez's contract contains an $8MM option for 2010 that automatically vests after 635 PAs, or only 600 if he makes the All Star team. So, it stands to reason that Sanchez will either make the All Star Team or see his trade value increase. This may be moot given Sanchez is on pace for 660 plate appearances. Morosi says one Mariners official doesn't think Pittsburgh is considering trading Sanchez. The M's have need for a pure hitter as well as a second baseman given concerns about Jose Lopez ability to stay at 2B long term.
- The M's asked about Jeremy Hermida, but there wasn't a lot of movement. Morosi notes Hermida's trade value has fallen significantly.
- Kevin Correia is pitching fantastically but the Padres haven't put him on the open market. Morosi doesn't report much excitement among other clubs.
- Morosi says "one person in the industry who knows Oakland general manager Billy Beane well," guessed Matt Holliday will stay with the team so Beane could collect the compensatory draft picks. Morosi quotes the source: "Billy loves the draft."
Odds and Ends: Pirates, Royals, Gagne
Links for Wednesday…
- Joe Torre plans to retire as a manager after the 2010 season, learned MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick.
- Braves blog Talking Chop talked to ESPN’s Keith Law about the farm system.
- Baseball America’s Jim Callis spoke to one assistant GM who believes teams will cut back in the international market, partially because they can do so without a major backlash from fans. Callis also has the ’09 draft order at that link.
- Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball looks at the $69MM+ teams spent on first-round draft picks last year.
- Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Pirates have anywhere from $41.75-$75.15MM tied up in Nate McLouth, Paul Maholm, and Ryan Doumit, all of whom were signed this winter. In a blog post, Kovacevic notes how the McLouth talks did a 180 when Frank Coonelly stepped in.
- Alex Speier of WEEI talked to Red Sox execs John Henry and Larry Lucchino about the salary cap idea as well as the team’s offseason.
- Aubrey Huff, a free agent after the season, isn’t worried about the future according to Roch Kubatko of MASN.
- Chris Forsberg of the Boston Globe relays quotes from Jonathan Papelbon about the long-term deal that did not materialize this winter.
- Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star discusses the idea of releasing Mark Teahen and John Buck to sign Orlando Hudson, which some Royals fans are pushing for.
- Pitcher Kevin Correia turned down better deals to sign with his hometown Padres, according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock.
- Newly signed Brewers reliever Eric Gagne hopes to atone for his 2008 season, says Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.