Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Peavy, Giants, Rays, M’s, Lidge, Beltre
On this date seven years ago, the A's traded Jeremy Giambi to the Phillies for John Mabry. At the time of the deal, Giambi was hitting .274/.390/.471 with 8 home runs and Mabry was essentially a pinch-hitter. Giambi would go on to hit 12 more home runs for the Phils but would play only one more season in the big leagues. As rumors start to fly in the '09 season, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Fire Ned Colletti Now would be happy to see a team other than the Dodgers trade for Jake Peavy.
- Jorge Says No! says the Brewers should look into trading for Jake Peavy.
- McCovey Chronicles takes a look at some deadline deal possibilities for the Giants, including Matt Holliday, Carl Crawford and Ichiro.
- The Rays Party notes that Jason Isringhausen makes for a crowded bullpen which may indicate that the Devil Rays ($29) are about to make a deal.
- Phlavio's Corner takes a look at some options to replace Carlos Delgado.
- Around the Majors takes a look back at the Brad Lidge extension and wonders if it was a mistake.
- Bleeding Blue and Teal would like to see the Mariners make a deal for Ben Zobrist.
- The Detroit Tigers Weblog now admits that the Edwin Jackson-Matt Joyce trade may have been good for the Tigers.
- MLB Notebook sees a few possible trade destinations for Adrian Beltre including both Chicago franchises.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and on Twitter here.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Tigers, Braves, Red Sox, Pirates
Today is free agent Orlando Hudson’s 31st birthday and the 29th birthday of Garrett Atkins, the subject of many recent trade rumors.
Also, on this date 10 years ago, Kevin Brown became the first player to sign a contract worth at least $100MM, when he signed a seven-year/$105MM contract with the Dodgers. The deal came when Brown was 34, one season after going 18-7 with a 2.38 ERA. Brown’s first two seasons with the Dodgers (18-9, 3.00 and 13-6, 2.58) were solid, but he would only make 29 starts in years three and four combined. Since then, two pitchers have signed deals for at least six years. Mike Hampton and Barry Zito. That doesn’t bode well for C.C. Sabathia, but it’s a small sample size…With the winter meetings now wrapped up, let’s take a look at what is being said in the Blogosphere…
- Take 75 North feels the Tigers are going to regret acquiring Edwin Jackson and lament the loss of Matt Joyce.
- The Detroit Tigers Weblog does not get the Edwin Jackson/Matt Joyce deal noting that at least Joyce has shown signs of being a very good player.
- When Sid Slid weighs the merits of acquiring Jake Peavy or A.J. Burnett and sees Burnett as the better option.
- Infield Chatter warns the Red Sox about signing Mark Teixeira, feeling Theo Epstein should be more concerned with acquiring a pitcher and noting the Red Sox have Lars Anderson waiting in the minors.
- Pirate Revolution feels the Pirates need to move Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson and John Grabow to unblock the paths of younger players.
- DraftInfo has a Q&A with Max Stassi, a high school catcher that is projected to be selected in the first round.
- Fire Brand of the American League takes a look at the impact C.C. Sabathia will have on the AL East.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.
Details On Tigers’ Failed Putz Bid
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press has the details on the Tigers’ failed bid for J.J. Putz:
One proposal involved the Tigers sending Matt Joyce to Tampa Bay and outfielders Wilkin Ramirez and Casper Wells to Seattle. Putz was the only player the Tigers would have received.
According to Joe Strauss, the Cardinals also pursued Putz (as well as Aaron Heilman).
After the proposal failed, the Tigers shipped Joyce to Tampa Bay for Edwin Jackson. Brian Fuentes may be the Tigers’ best remaining option from a baseball standpoint, but Morosi believes they’d have to move other contracts off the books to afford him. I’m surprised – they’ll spend less than $10MM in ’09 on their new catcher, shortstop, and starter.
Odds and Ends: Giambi, Saberhagen, Chacon
Today’s stray Winter Meetings links as everyone heads home…
- Jason Giambi maintains hopes of returning to the Yankees; he may be willing to take a discount.
- Dave Cameron believes the Rays won the Edwin Jackson–Matt Joyce swap, handily.
- Brett Saberhagen was hired as an agent for Dan Evans’ firm. He’ll focus on pitchers.
- Shawn Chacon‘s agent is trying to find his client a job. Troy Renck also notes that the Rockies’ offer to Glendon Rusch is a $750K minor league deal.
- Kevin Kaduk relays his first Winter Meetings experience.
Edwin Jackson Traded For Matt Joyce
11:06pm: Jon Paul Morosi says the swap has been finalized. The Tigers get Jackson for his three arb years, while the Rays get six years of Joyce. Joyce is a strong defensive right fielder who posted a fine rookie half-season.
9:55pm: Marc Topkin says the final details are being worked out in this trade. Bill Chastain’s Rays source says they don’t have a completed trade. The Rays would add an outfielder and save a few million with the deal.
8:43pm: According to Ed Price, the Tigers are set to acquire Edwin Jackson from the Rays for outfielder Matt Joyce.
J.J. Putz Rumors: Wednesday
2:04pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cardinals offered Rick Ankiel and a prospect for Putz. The Tigers remain interested as well.
9:23am: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "the Tigers’ interest in acquiring closer J.J. Putz from Seattle appears stronger than ever." Morosi says the Mariners insist the Tigers include Jeff Larish and Matt Joyce in a deal. If the Ms acquire Larish and are convinced he can play third base, they may be motivated to shop Adrian Beltre. Morosi adds that Brewers and Cardinals have also inquired on Putz.
Brian Fuentes still seems too pricey for Detroit, and Kerry Wood is apparently off the board. Morosi says the Tigers have "mild interest" in Baltimore’s George Sherrill. Joe Beimel remains their top choice among lefty relievers, but the Tigers have yet to offer a contract.
Odds and Ends: Michaels, Greene, Prior
Links for Saturday…
- Jason Michaels is confused by the lack of interest from the Pirates, who have said they want him back.
- Khalil Greene says he’s frustrated to have let the Padres down and Tim Sullivan writes that it wasn’t for lack of intensity. The Padres still won’t be dropping their grievance against Greene.
- Buster Olney expects Mark Prior to sign a minor-league deal with the Padres.
- Jason Beck writes that the Tigers could afford to trade either Jeff Larish or Matt Joyce in a deal for Jack Wilson. Detroit has other weaknesses to address though, so Beck thinks they could hold onto their trade chips and sign a player like Adam Everett.
- Arbitration could work for both Jason Varitek and the Red Sox, suggests Sean McAdam.
- Tony Massarotti has five reasons to keep Justin Masterson in the bullpen.
- The Angels signed South Korean righty Pil Joon Jang to a minor league contract.
- Jay Jaffe plays Yankees GM at Baseball Prospectus.
- MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo ranks the best Rule 5 Draft selections since 1990.
- Tom Verducci looks back at the career Greg Maddux had.
Pirates Eyeing Joyce, Larish For Wilson
According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are eyeing Tigers players Jeff Larish and Matt Joyce as part of a potential Jack Wilson deal. They could get one of the two as well as a pitching prospect. The $7.85MM owed to Wilson remains an issue; it’s not known how much the Bucs are willing to pick up.
The Tigers have other options, as they plan to meet with Adam Everett‘s agent next week.
Kovacevic adds that the Pirates removed Jason Davis and Raul Chavez from the 40-man roster today, creating two spots for future moves.