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Dodgers Looking For Shortstop Help

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TUESDAY, 3:49pm: MLB.com’s Jim Molony chimes in on the Dodgers’ hunt for a shortstop.  He says they’ll give Nomar Garciaparra a chance, but they are also considering Toronto’s David Eckstein.  Back on July 3rd, the Baltimore Sun suggested the Orioles were looking at Eckstein.

TUESDAY, 8:53am: Dejan Kovacevic puts the brakes on the Jack Wilson-to-L.A. rumor.  He says that while Wilson is not untouchable, the Pirates are not likely to trade him.  They consider him affordable and do not have a capable replacement.

Kovacevic says talks with the Dodgers "seem dormant," and the Dodgers never offered a player from their Major League roster.  Additional unknown teams have also called about Wilson.

MONDAY: John Perrotto of the Beaver County Times wrote an article Sunday concerning the Dodgers’ pursuit of Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson.  Wilson, 30, is hitting .306/.348/.361 in 160 plate appearances this year.  He’s under contract next year for $7.25MM with an $8.4MM club option for ’10.  Wilson can block trades to six teams.

Perrotto wrote that Wilson is the Dodgers’ primary trade target.  He says "a Dodgers source indicated that Los Angeles might be willing to deal center fielder Matt Kemp."  A Kemp acquisition would create a logjam until the Pirates are able to move Jason Bay or Xavier Nady.  Failing that, Perrotto’s sources indicate the Bucs have interest in pitcher James McDonald and shortstop Chin-lung Hu. 

Ken Rosenthal wrote this morning that the Dodgers’ bid for Wilson is on hold as they restructure their offer.  If the Dodgers get him, that should eliminate any chance of re-signing Rafael Furcal.

CC Sabathia Links

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The CC Sabathia trade is complete, but there’s still some good info floating about.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Kemp, Bradley, Fuentes, Street

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New Rosenthal.  Seems like he just put a column out a few days ago.

  • Rosenthal believes the Dodgers would consider trading a young player (especially Matt Kemp) for a slugger.  He discusses what it would take to get Jason Bay, Magglio Ordonez, Adam Dunn, or Matt Holliday.  This all seems like a bad idea for the Dodgers.
  • There are certainly arguments for the Rangers to keep or even extend Milton Bradley.  But Rosenthal thinks he could net "multiple high-end prospects" if Jon Daniels goes the trade route.  He says the Rangers could shop some of their veterans while also trying to acquire a controllable reliever.
  • Rosenthal’s best guess is that the Pirates will trade Xavier Nady or Jason Bay but not both.  He says Neal Huntington is not under pressure to clear salary.
  • The Cubs are interested in Brian Fuentes, which is a new one.  Rosenthal adds that Jim Hendry plans to pursue the best available starter.
  • The Brewers have many quality minor league trade chips, and they may be looking for a starter.
  • Minimal trade interest in Huston Street, and the A’s have backed off the extension idea.
  • The Yankees are "aggressively" trying to move LaTroy Hawkins.
  • The Dodgers wanted to do an Esteban Loaiza–Juan Uribe swap, but the Sox just waited them out and signed Loaiza.
  • Rosenthal says the Phillies "lack the prospect inventory" to get an impact starting pitcher, which I don’t agree with.  He says they may look for another lefty reliever or bench bat.

Juan Pierre Not Happy Being A Bench Player

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Juan Pierre, who has been the odd man out in the crowded Dodgers outfield this year, said following the team’s 5-3 victory over the Florida Marlins on Thursday that he still has not accepted his current role with the club as a bench player:

"I don’t see myself as a bench player.  I haven’t accepted that. I know if they don’t want me to play out there, that’s their decision. But I don’t see myself as a bench player."

One reporter asked Pierre if he wanted to remain with the Dodgers to which the 30-year old responded:

"I’m not going to answer that one.  It is what it is. I’m not going to touch that one."

Pierre is currently behind young outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, along with offseason acquisition Andruw Jones, in the Dodgers’ depth chart. His deal is guaranteed for four more years including 2008 (at a combined $36.5MM) with a limited no-trade clause.

One difficult aspect of this situation is that Pierre is essentially still the same player he always was offensively. He has never hit for power and his OBP has always been fairly reliant on maintaining a high batting average (a dicey proposition year in and year out). The Dodgers knew what they were getting when they signed him in November 2006. Now Pierre is left to wonder what changed.

Paul Moro is a writer for UmpBump.com and can be reached via e-mail at Paul@UmpBump.com.

Pierre’s Days With Dodgers May Be Numbered

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The Orange County Register speculates this morning that Juan Pierre may be on the verge of losing his job after only one season with the Dodgers, which may force a trade. If true, the Dodgers will have received only one year of service for their $44MM investment.

Tony Jackson notes that with center field belonging to Andruw Jones, that leaves two spots for Pierre, Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Ethier and Kemp have shown this spring that they may be ready for everyday jobs. Jackson also suggests that Pierre is not an ideal candidate for the bench even if the remaining 4 years and $36.5MM on his contract are discounted.

It was previously mentioned that Pierre may be willing to waive his no-trade clause, which limits the Dodgers to five teams. However the A’s, one rumored destination, are not interested. If Pierre is traded, the Dodgers will most likely have to swallow a good portion of the remaining contract. Would the Mets get involved if talks with the Tigers and Jay fall through? Pierre might only cost them $24MM for the next four years and middling prospect.

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

Colletti Wants To Hang Onto Kemp

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We’ve heard his name linked to potential trades for Miguel Cabrera, Erik Bedard, and Johan Santana, but if we’re to believe Ned Colletti’s current stated position, Matt Kemp won’t be going anywhere.

"I don’t have any interest in trading Matt Kemp," general manager Ned Colletti said after new center fielder Andruw Jones was introduced to the media on Wednesday.

Kemp has the potential to be a middle of the order force, and seeing as he’s only 23 years old, he could fulfill that role for many years to come. Dishing him as the centerpiece of a Cabrera, Bedard, or Santana deal would have made a degree of sense, but he was oftentimes mentioned alongside names like Clayton Kershaw and Jonathan Broxton.

This means the Dodgers plan to go into the season with Andruw Jones, Andre Ethier, and Juan Pierre as outfielders in addition to Kemp. Clearly, taking Pierre out of the starting lineup is the smart and logical move — Kemp and Ethier project better at the corners, with Jones in center. But the $36.5 million left in his contract probably keeps him in the starting eight.

–Joe

Brewers, Dodgers Didn’t Talk Sheets

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Tom Haudricourt debunks a USA Today report (see sidebar) that the Brewers and Dodgers have discussed swapping Ben Sheets and Bill Hall for Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.  Dylan Hernandez reported the Hall inquiry yesterday.  (Thanks to Jason L. for the USA Today link).

Haudricourt was able to verify that the two clubs did not discuss Sheets, but he does think there might something to the Crew’s interest in Kemp and Ethier.  You may also recall that the Brewers have talked about Andy LaRoche at least internally.

Dodgers Sign Andruw Jones

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 7:42am: Make that $36.2MM, plus a no-trade clause.  I wonder why it was done with the huge $12.2MM bonus.  Meanwhile, Tom Krasovic said the Padres never got around to bidding on Jones despite the talk of a one-year, $17MM offer.

UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 1:14am: The salary structure to Jones’ deal is interesting: $9MM in ’08, $15MM in ’09, and a $12MM signing bonus.  That setup could make Jones much more tradeable if the need arises.

UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:23am: Tony Jackson has a hunch that the Dodgers will now trade Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier in a package for a frontline starter.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 11:50pm: The Dodgers have reached an agreement with Jones – two years, $36MM. Despite all the posturing from Scott Boras, the Dodgers got Andruw for a reasonable rate and term.  Nice move by Ned Colletti.

FROM 12-5-07 at 11:12pm:

Ned Colletti and Andruw Jones haven’t reached common ground, but they did make progress today.  It sounds like Colletti may be warming to the idea of three years.  No deal is expected before the end of the Meetings, though.

While the Royals have well-documented interest in Jones, former teammates indicate he prefers the NL.  In regards to his poor 2007, the article suggests a secret elbow injury may have contributed.

Latest Erik Bedard Rumors: Tuesday

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UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:36pm: Geoff Baker says that a Bedard trade with the Mariners would likely involve Wladimir Balentien, Adam Jones, and Brandon Morrow.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:06pm: The Dodgers met with the Orioles to talk Bedard today.  Ned Colletti has pretty much deemed Broxton untouchable, and no deal is close.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:19pm: John Fay says the Reds are seriously pursuing Bedard.  Wayne Krivsky won’t reveal much, but Fay thinks Bailey, Votto, and another prospect might interest the Orioles.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 10:16pm: The Mets again offered Heilman, Gomez, and Humber for Bedard, perhaps thinking that offering it twice would be helpful.  MLB.com’s Marty Noble says the Mets may reconfigure their offer, replacing Humber with Pelfrey or Mulvey.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 4:10pm: Joel Sherman confirms the Cubs’ interest, so that’s officially 11 teams in on Bedard.  Sherman says the Yankees and Mets are unlikely to snag the southpaw ace, and names the Dodgers as the frontrunner.  Peter Angelos is letting Andy MacPhail run the show but doesn’t want Bedard traded within the division.  Sorry Yankees and Blue Jays.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:10pm: Nick Cafardo notes that Cubs GM Jim Hendry and Andy MacPhail had lunch today, which leads him to believe they may have discussed Bedard.  A bit of a stretch since Hendry and MacPhail used to work together.  Then again the Cubs did pursue in a Mark Prior/Miguel Tejada deal a few years back.  The Cubs would represent the 11th team in on Bedard.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:01pm: Buster Olney says the Jays continue to talk with the Orioles about Bedard, noting that the Jays have the young pitching.  Bedard would certainly represent the Canadian draw they’ve been looking for.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 2:16pm: There is growing buzz that the Dodgers may get Bedard.  ESPN’s Amy Nelson has a source saying a deal may be close.  Matt Kemp and Jonathan Broxton would be the main pieces of a trade.  Readers are reporting in that WFAN is saying the same.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 9:32am: The Mets are still hawking Gomez, trying to get Bedard.  Joel Sherman adds the Tigers to the list of teams after Bedard, bringing the total to ten.  He says the Tigers and Phils are getting creative trying to get Bedard.  The Tigers don’t need to get that creative – they can offer Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller.

FROM 12-4-07 at 8:45am:

How many teams are after Erik Bedard?  The tally yesterday included the Phillies, Cardinals, Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, and D’Backs – that’s eight.  The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly check in with the latest on the Orioles’ ace.

  • There’s been a ton of trade interest in Bedard (as you might expect).  Andy MacPhail is still talking about signing him to an extension, but no one really buys it.  The package he’ll get in trade should rival what the Twins get for Johan.
  • The Dodgers, Mariners, and Mets have been pursuing Bedard the most aggressively.  More meetings with the Mets should occur today.  The Mariners could make an intriguing offer built around Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow.
  • A new team is added to bring the tally to nine: the Reds are interested.  However, Jay Bruce is off the table.

Erik Bedard Rumors

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The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec has the latest regarding ace Erik Bedard.  Some rank Bedard as the best available starter, all-in-all – he’s under team control for longer than Johan Santana, doesn’t have no-trade rights, and has better stuff than Dan Haren.

  • The Orioles and Bedard’s agent never actually exchanged salary figures, and now contract extension talks have come to a stop.  Andy MacPhail isn’t concerned but no one seems to expect the O’s to pony up the money needed to retain their ace beyond 2009. Johan Santana should set the bar; Bedard may become a $20MM pitcher.
  • Zrebiec lists the Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, and Dodgers as teams that have inquired on Bedard.  It’s surprising to see the Red Sox omitted from that list.
  • The Mets made an offer: Carlos Gomez, Aaron Heilman, and perhaps Phil Humber.  That’s an OK starting point but the O’s could do better.
  • The Dodgers have also had talks with the O’s, with Matt Kemp, Jonathan Broxton, and Clayton Kershaw coming up.  That’s certainly worth mulling over.

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