Reds Back Off Rolen Deal

4:13pm: ESPN's Peter Gammons says the Reds "backed off a potential deal" for Rolen.  The Reds are actually hoping to move some contracts, and will listen on Bronson Arroyo, David Weathers, Aaron Harang, and Arthur RhodesPlus there's the issue of the Jays not wanting to trade Rolen if they keep Halladay.

2:00pm: CBSSports' Danny Knobler says the Jays would get Edwin Encarnacion and others, if this does get done.  The sticking point appears to be how much of Rolen's remaining $15MM the Jays would assume.

Meanwhile, Bastian (via Twitter) has a source saying all is quiet here.

1:39pm: A Ken Rosenthal/Jon Paul Morosi source says the Reds-Rolen talks are "going nowhere."  The writers suggest a Halladay trade could help move things along.

1:19pm: Via Twitter, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says his source would not deny the Rolen-Reds talks (hat tip Drunk Jays Fans).

12:34pm: No mention of Alonso from him, but Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun tweets, "Looks like Rolen to Reds has a 'good chance' of getting done."

12:20pm: Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal says the Reds and Jays are talking about a Rolen-Yonder Alonso swap.  Say what?  Alonso, who signed on August 15th of last year, would have to be a player to be named later in the unlikely event he's dealt.

9:07am: The Blue Jays have many trade targets aside from Roy Halladay, so let's collect that information in one post.

Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says the Twins are still chasing shortstop Marco Scutaro, after Freddy Sanchez landed with the Giants.  Elliott adds that the Reds "met last night to decide to come up with a package to land third baseman Scott Rolen."

Heyman Talks Giants

In a new blog post, SI's Jon Heyman discusses the Giants' plans.

  • The Giants "haven't ruled out trading for more offense" after getting Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Garko.  Heyman says that at some point the Giants scouted Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee, Josh Willingham, Nick Johnson, Mark Teahen and Marco Scutaro.  We can probably cross Johnson off the list.  And we've seen no sign the Astros would sell.
  • The Giants would like to add a fifth starter, given the loss of Randy Johnson for at least August.  Heyman speculates on a few names such as Bronson Arroyo, Doug Davis, and Jon Garland.

Roy Halladay Rumors: Tuesday

11:02pm: It appears we've passed J.P. Ricciardi's self-imposed deadline to deal Halladay. We probably should just pack it in, huh? Nah. MLB.com's Jordan Bastian has the word from Ricciardi, who dismisses the "soft" deadline he laid out. Still, Bastian reports that they're no closer to making a decision, and that it appears more and more likely Doc remains a Blue Jay. And so it goes.

9:11pm: Gordon Edes at Yahoo has a pretty big update on the discussions. It appears the Red Sox have amped up their efforts to obtain the Doc, and they're willing to include Buchholz, one of Lars Anderson, Justin Masterson or Michael Bowden, and lesser prospects to fill out the rest of the offer.

Edes also reneges on his earlier report that Westmoreland had been part of a Red Sox proposal, and thinks that any reports about the Red Sox involving a third team to get a shortstop to Toronto are untrue.

7:07pm: Jon Heyman tweets an AL executive's comment that Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden and Ryan Westmoreland "won't get it done" to obtain Halladay.

6:44pm: T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com says that the Rangers are reluctant to part with their top prospects for Halladay. The Blue Jays reportedly asked for a king's ransom of Derek Holland, Justin Smoak and Julio Borbon.

5:00pm: ESPN.com's Keith Law hears that the Red Sox have no intention of including Westmoreland in any deal. 

4:40pm: Jayson Stark reports that the same Blue Jays scout who watched Kyle Drabek pitch last night will be in Lehigh Valley to watch as shortstop Jason Donald comes off the DL for his first start since June. Both minor leaguers could be part of a Phils-Jays trade.

3:59pm: Dan Roche, an anchor for WBZTV, hears that the Red Sox did not offer Buchholz, Bowden and Westmoreland for Halladay.

1:57pm: Yahoo's Gordon Edes reports that the Red Sox offered "at least" Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden and Ryan Westmoreland to the Blue Jays for Halladay.  In my opinion, that is a very strong offer.  Edes says the Jays would like to acquire a shortstop since they are "vigorously shopping" Marco Scutaro.  That means the Sox might need to get creative.

Edes says Daniel Bard and Casey Kelly "have been declared off-limits by the Red Sox."  And while the Dodgers deem Clayton Kershaw untouchable, they've at least discussed internally the possibility of moving Chad Billingsley.  Billingsley might be the best name we've heard yet in connection with Halladay, though remember that Edes labeled that an internal discussion.

1:29pm: The Associated Press (via ESPN) reports that Rogers Communications, the company that owns the Blue Jays, wants to bring its costs under control. The Blue Jays have said they don't have to deal Halladay, who has over $20MM left on his contract, for financial reasons.

1:12pm: ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says the Blue Jays and Phillies both need to complete a Roy Halladay trade. Ruben Amaro Jr. will be criticized if he can't get Halladay and J.P. Ricciardi's chance to get more than one impact player for his ace disappears at 4:01 EST on Friday.

12:53pm: Sherman says the Rangers are very much involved in the Halladay talks. The Jays want three of the Rangers' best prospects. Not only is GM Jon Daniels reluctant to give up that much talent, he has limited financial flexibility and the Blue Jays are refusing to take on salary.

The Jays want high-ceiling, MLB-ready players instead of many players who are further from contributing in the majors.

10:55am: Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail says many top Blue Jays people are deciding whether to trade Halladay. It's not just Ricciardi's decision.

Meanwhile, SI's Tom Verducci weighs in.  He talked to a scout who spoke of an organizational "tug of war" in Philly, with Pat Gillick and Charlie Manuel pushing the win-now move for Doc while Ruben Amaro Jr. and other player development guys are reluctant to move top prospects.

Verducci says Carlos Carrasco doesn't do anything for the Jays, and they'll require either Drabek or Jason Knapp.  The Angels and Dodgers are the other top suitors for Halladay, in Verducci's opinion.

10:07am: Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears that the Blue Jays insist on receiving Drabek because they consider Happ a middle-to-back-of-the-rotation starter. They want Happ, but may relent if the Phillies give up Drabek.

The Phillies remain favorites to add Doc, but the Red Sox and Rangers could still acquire him.

9:04am: Here's a quick summary of yesterday's Roy Halladay rumors, 15 updates and nearly 400 comments later. The Phillies and Jays reached an "impasse" in their negotiations since neither side wanted to change its offer. The Red Sox are planning a big move, but the Jays would ask the Red Sox or Yankees to give up more than other teams. And what about those other teams? Don't expect the Twins to trade for Halladay, and the Dodgers don't seem likely either. Here are today's rumors:

Tim Dierkes also contributed to this post.

Twins Targeting Relievers & Infielders

The Twins are targeting teams with both infielders and relievers available in the hopes of addressing their two biggest needs in one trade, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. John Grabow and Freddy Sanchez could be packaged together, as could Michael Wuertz and Orlando Cabrera. The Twins are still interested in Marco Scutaro and the Blue Jays have appealing relievers in Jason Frasor, Scott Downs and Brandon League.

The Twins would like to add a starter now that Kevin Slowey is out indefinitely, but they don't expect to acquire one. 

Giants Considering Many Bats

Giants fans have heard all about Freddy Sanchez and Nick Johnson in recent weeks, but those are far from the only players the team would consider adding, according to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. GM Brian Sabean says the team is considering "six to eight scenarios or names," some of which involve players on teams in the fringes of the playoff race.

Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Indians have scouted the Giants' system. The Indians have Victor Martinez and Ryan Garko, who could both appeal to the Giants. Aubrey Huff and Marco Scutaro are also options for the Giants, who could add a bat at a number of positions.

Olney On Nats, Blue Jays, Braves

One GM told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that the Nats are in a tougher position than it seems. They can obtain value in return for players like Nick Johnson this week, but without veteran contributors, the team could win something like 45 games. That kind of season, says the GM, is "hard to live down." Here are the rest of Olney's rumors:

  • The Braves would like to add a reliever, but they're not likely to trade for any big-name players.
  • Justin Duchscherer looked good in his rehab start yesterday. 
  • Olney hears that the Blue Jays want to re-sign Marco Scutaro after the season even if they trade him this week.  

Blue Jays Rumors: Scutaro, Rolen

12:23pm: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse reports that the Jays are scouting the Reds. Could the Rolen-Reds rumors have legs or are the Jays just doing their homework?

10:37am: The Blue Jays aren't expected to move anyone until they determine whether to trade Roy Halladay. But, as Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports, some other Jays are drawing interest:

  • The Twins, who are interested in Orlando Cabrera, inquired about Marco Scutaro. Both shortstops are likely to be Type A free agents after the season.
  • It doesn't look like the Reds will acquire Scott Rolen, now that they're nine games below .500 and in fifth place. A few weeks ago the Reds wanted to trade for Rolen, but asked the Jays to pay half of his $11MM salary next year. 

Talkin’ Giants Baseball

As we cruise closer to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the Giants still boast one of baseball's most intriguing situations.  The club is 52-46 — 10 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West, but just two games back in the Wild Card.  Most experts agree they need a bat to continue contending, and they've been linked recently to sluggers like Victor Martinez, Ryan Garko and Nick Johnson.

Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle recently heard "word from [Giants] general manager Brian Sabean that chances for a deal are 50-50."

"We're talking," manager Bruce Bochy said Sunday as his club prepared to head home after a long road trip. "I'll talk to Brian. I'll discuss it with the staff on the plane on the way back and see what we can do to get this thing going again."

Schulman believes the Giants might also have interest in Toronto's Marco Scutaro or Baltimore's Aubrey Huff.  Either way, it's pretty clear what San Francisco is seeking as Friday's deadline nears: offense.

Odds And Ends: Wang, Maine, Scutaro

Some links to read through as the trading heats up…

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