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Holliday, Fuentes Trades Unlikely

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman spoke to Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd, who now says a trade of Matt Holliday or Brian Fuentes is "highly unlikely."  He talked to multiple teams about both players, but hasn’t found a match.  Holliday could instead be shopped in the offseason.

The Rockies are in buying mode, hoping to land a back-end starter.  Heyman mentions Josh Fogg and Paul Byrd.  We’ve also seen Justin Duchscherer and Bronson Arroyo named in reports.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Trade Deadline

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Some random links as we head toward the trade deadline, from the Blogosphere…

  • One writer at Bugs and Cranks thinks that the Rockies should not lower their demand for Brian Fuentes and feels that the Cardinals are the most likely team to land the closer.
  • UmpBump wants the Rockies to keep Matt Holliday and would prefer moving Garrett Atkins, allowing Ian Stewart to play third.
  • Meanwhile, another writer at Bugs and Cranks wants the Cardinals to pass on Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, but think St. Louis should go after George Sherrill and/or Fuentes.
  • Outs Per Swing does not feel that the Rays need to add a player like Xavier Nady, but they are also skeptical that Rocco Baldelli can be the right-handed bat the team needs.
  • MetsBlog does not see the Mets landing George Sherrill or Huston Street, noting the O’s are asking for too much and the Mets will not meet the A’s demands. MetsBlog also feels the Mets have more obvious holes than relief pitcher.
  • River Ave. Blues says the recent success of Ian Kennedy in Triple A has given the Yankees a very big chip in the trade market.
  • Drunk Jays Fans says Roy Halladay will not be traded, despite recent reports that the Jays were secretly shopping him.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex and can be reached here.

Stark’s Latest: Teixeira, Padilla, Sheffield, Beltre

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up.  You may want to grab a glass of water or something, because this is a beast of a column.

  • If the Braves have a bad weekend and decide to trade Mark Teixeira, a deal could come together quickly.  Stark says the Braves have already touched base with the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees.  Where Tex fits on the Rays, I’m not sure.  Additionally, interest in Will Ohman is said to be "massive."
  • A Jorge Posada move to first base could affect the Yankees’ interest in Teixeira this winter.
  • Though Brian Fuentes has many suitors, the Rockies have actually exchanged names with only the Marlins and Yankees.  GM Dan O’Dowd has not dropped his price.  By the way, Todd Helton’s injury takes Garrett Atkins off the market.  As for Matt Holliday, many execs believe the Rockies will never trade him.
  • The Phillies are focused on a left-handed reliever, with Fuentes, Damaso Marte, George Sherrill, and Jack Taschner in the mix.
  • The Phillies were scared off by the asking prices on Holliday and Xavier Nady, and never even made an offer.  They still could acquire a lesser hitter.
  • The Pirates are inspiring much grumbling with high asking prices for Jason Bay, Nady, Marte, John Grabow, and Jack Wilson.
  • The Rangers are looking for young, controllable starting pitching.  Vicente Padilla is available, with the Tigers and Yankees showing mild interest.  Eddie Guardado and Jamey Wright are not available.
  • In pursuing Jarrod Washburn, Bronson Arroyo, and Padilla, the Yankees are demonstrating their plan to reduce the prospect price for pitching by taking on a decent-sized contract.
  • While A.J. Burnett is "eminently available," no trade talks are cooking.  The Jays apparently won’t deal him within the division.  Other Jays veterans might be available, though Roy Halladay isn’t among them.
  • The Tigers are looking for pitching and a long-term shortstop.  They’d be willing to move Gary Sheffield, though they’d have to eat salary.
  • Top Rays prospects such as Wade Davis, David Price, and Jeremy Hellickson are off-limits. Rays Index recently ran through the more likely trade candidates.
  • The Braves asked the Royals about Jose Guillen, but Dayton Moore is asking for a ton.
  • Stark says the Twins’ talks for Adrian Beltre are "far from dead."  The Twins are zeroed in on a third base upgrade.  Beltre, by the way, has the Dodgers on his no-trade list.  Joe Christensen says the Twins have found the asking price prohibitive for various third basemen.
  • The Rangers are looking for a young pitcher for Hank Blalock, who is drawing interest from the Twins, Giants, and Dodgers.  The Dodgers also like Casey Blake, who is likely to be traded somewhere.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Burnett, Sherrill

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Here’s the latest from Ken Rosenthal, who should probably take a vacation in August.

  • The D’Backs inquired on Mark Teixeira, but a trade is unlikely.  Tex might be the best available hitter, as Matt Holliday seems likely to stay put.
  • The Rockies scouted Nick Adenhart’s last start.  The Angels have more interest in Brian Fuentes than Holliday.
  • Tons of scouts converged on Camden Yards last night to watch A.J. Burnett and George Sherrill pitch (those hoping to see Sherrill were disappointed).  The Cardinals, Phillies, Yankees, Brewers, Marlins, Dodgers, and Tigers all had scouts there to watch at least one of the pitchers. 
  • Rosenthal says trade interest in Burnett "remains minimal," as teams fear the pitcher’s contract.
  • The Orioles are taking a look at the Brewers’ Triple A team, but it is believed that they are reluctant to part with more prospects.
  • The A’s chose first baseman Chris Carter over Emilio Bonifacio in the Dan Haren trade.

Phillies Scouting Burnett?

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Let’s check in with the Phillies.

  • Robert MacLeod notes the presence of the Phillies’ director of Major League scouting at A.J. Burnett’s start tonight in Baltimore.  Would the Phillies add another starter?
  • Jim Salisbury talked to Phils GM Pat Gillick about the rumored Matt Holliday blockbuster.  Gillick rolled his eyes at the rumor. 
  • In general, Gillick seems higher on catching prospect Lou Marson than pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco.
  • Gillick’s top target is a left-handed reliever, with a bat on the radar as well.  Some kind of acquisition is a "good possibility."

Heyman’s Latest: Holliday, Teixeira, Burnett, Blake

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10:19pm: Angels GM Tony Reagins laughed at Charley Walters’ Teixeira rumor, blaming it on…"those bloggers."

11:16am: The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman.

  • The Rockies and Braves will wait until right before the July 31st deadline to decide whether to trade Matt Holliday and Mark Teixeira.  The Rox have been more active calling around about Holliday, though.  Heyman notes that Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd has spoken to the Mets, Angels, Phillies, and other teams about him.  The Rockies are seven games out, while the Braves are six back.
  • The Braves are reportedly making a list of trading partners for Tex, including the Red Sox, Angels, Rays, and D’Backs.
  • Charley Walters has a rumor: Teixeira to the Angels for Robb Quinlan and Brandon Wood.
  • The Yankees haven’t even considered signing Barry Bonds, despite the Hideki Matsui injury.
  • Heyman spoke to a "Yankees person" who is fearful of A.J. Burnett’s contract.  I could see an acquiring team pushing for more certainty by buying out or guaranteeing the contract.
  • Heyman considers Manny Ramirez’s $20MM option for ’09 a bargain.  For me, it’s not nearly as clear-cut.
  • Omar Minaya is "especially" a fan of Cleveland’s Casey Blake.  He would be a great fit for the Mets.
  • Heyman is still hearing the rumor about the Mariners trying to lure Pat Gillick for an upper management position next year.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Fuentes, Sherrill, Nady, Kemp, Guthrie

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New Rosenthal.  Let’s take a look.

  • Rosenthal says the Marlins are in on Brian Fuentes and other top relievers, and they’re more focused on bullpen help than a catcher.  The Marlins’ interest in Fuentes was first reported by the Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck on July 9th.
  • Sources tell Rosenthal that the Brewers aren’t likely to pay up for a top reliever like George Sherrill.  Rosenthal considers the Angels the best fit for Sherrill, but doesn’t say whether they’re actually interested.
  • The Braves probably won’t discuss Tim Hudson; they’ll need him for next year.
  • Rosenthal wonders whether the Phillies will entertain trades for Brett Myers in the offseason.
  • The Phillies inquired on some interesting hitters: Matt Holliday, Xavier Nady, and Matt Kemp.
  • The Rockies asked the Orioles about Jeremy Guthrie, but he’s not available.
  • The Mets may not consider Casey Blake even of a difference-maker, though Blake is popular on the trade market.  The Rays are one team looking at him.

Odds and Ends: Mets, Cardinals, Phillies, Tigers

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Today’s links.

  • Mets manager Jerry Manuel expects a move, most likely for a left fielder.
  • Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein wrote Saturday about the remaining unsigned draft picks.  BP is free for all this week, by the way.
  • Cardinals GM John Mozeliak faces a tough situation – he doesn’t have much time before the trade deadline to determine what Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright will contribute.
  • Don McKee believes the Phillies should sell the farm for Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes.
  • Jon Paul Morosi notes that the Tigers might be able to trade Ivan Rodriguez in August.  He also says that Edgar Renteria’s ’09 option is for $12MM, not $11MM as was previously reported.
  • Jacob Jackson thinks the Athletics should trade most of their remaining chips for one player: Colby Rasmus.

Heyman’s Latest: Street, Durham, Holliday

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman just posted a new column.

  • The Brewers and White Sox inquired on A’s closer Huston Street.  However, A’s GM Billy Beane said "there is nothing going on" in regards to Street.  The Sox were linked to both Street and Jon Rauch today, so Kenny Williams is clearly monitoring the relief market.
  • Heyman says the Rays have not discussed Street with the A’s, and the Dodgers "aren’t believed to be heavily involved."
  • Heyman is on board with the recent rumors about Ray Durham and Jack Taschner possibly heading to Milwaukee.
  • Heyman also confirms Ken Rosenthal’s report of the Phillies’ interest in Matt Holliday.  He agrees that these talks have cooled, but notes a good relationship between GMs Dan O’Dowd and Pat Gillick.  Gillick and O’Dowd have matched up for three deals, two occuring while Gillick worked for the Mariners.
  • The Dodgers continue to consider shortstop a priority.  Heyman wonders if Cristian Guzman would be a fit, especially if extension talks sour.  Jack Wilson and David Eckstein are other possibilities.

Angels Balk At Price For Holliday

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Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times does not expect the Angels to swing a deal for Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday.  Trading young pitching is generally against the Angels’ philosophy.

Shaikin says the Rockies would demand prospect Nick Adenhart for starters, and the Angels might consider that.  However, the Rockies also want Howie Kendrick and one of Ervin Santana or Joe Saunders.  The Angels wouldn’t give up that type of package for Miguel Cabrera last winter, and they won’t give in for Holliday.

I’ve defended Holliday in many MLBTR chats; I think he is capable of a .900 OPS away from Coors Field.  But based on the rumors, the Rockies are asking for too much for a year and two months of him.

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