Stark On Rays, Volquez, Butler, Phillies
The chances of Cole Hamels getting traded are diminishing, but they haven't disappeared, Jayson Stark of ESPN.com reports. The Phillies are trying to sign the left-hander to a long-term deal, but will weigh trade offers if they can’t agree on an extension. Here are Stark’s latest rumors…
- The Rays would be looking for a combination of high-end young pitchers, a young catcher and a controllable hitter if they discuss trades involving James Shields and Jeremy Hellickson. Wade Davis is drawing as much interest as Shields, now that he’s pitching well out of the Tampa Bay bullpen, Stark reports.
- The Astros have told rival teams that they’d absorb a substantial percentage of Wandy Rodriguez’s salary in a trade if it allows them to get “the best value back.”
- The Padres aren’t shopping Edinson Volquez, but they haven’t made him untouchable.
- Teams don’t expect the Marlins will trade Josh Johnson, who’s under contract for 2013.
- Brandon McCarthy’s history of shoulder problems diminishes his trade value. “He's not going anywhere," one executive predicted to Stark.
- The Nationals haven’t been focused on finding a center fielder.
- Hunter Pence is attracting as much interest as anyone on the Phillies, including Hamels. However, the Phillies have downplayed their interest in trading the right fielder. Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins, Joe Blanton, Placido Polanco and Kyle Kendrick would be available if the Phillies decide to sell this month, Stark reports. Rollins can veto any trade and would only accept deals to West Coast contenders.
- The Pirates have asked about tons of hitters, including Billy Butler, but they’re still in a “buy-low frame of mind.” The Royals have told clubs they’d have to be overwhelmed to part with Butler, Stark reports.
- The Rockies are trying to move Marco Scutaro and Jason Giambi, but they’d have to be “bowled over” to deal relievers such as Rafael Betancourt, Matt Belisle and Matt Reynolds.
Latest On Mets, Rockies, Hernandez
The Mets are interested in Rockies catcher Ramon Hernandez, but New York officials aren’t willing to offer significant prospects to complete a trade, the New York Post reported yesterday. The Mets have shown a willingness to take on most, but not all, of Hernandez’s annual $3.2MM salary for 2012 and 2013 once the catcher comes off of the disabled list, Joel Sherman of the Post reports today.
“We are not talking about acquiring Gary Carter in 1985 here,” one Mets person told Sherman.
The Rockies really like Mets minor leaguers Matt Den Dekker and Josh Edgin and they also have interest in prospects Wilfredo Tovar, Jacob deGrom and Domingo Tapia, Sherman writes. The Rockies have suggested the Mets might want to expand discussions to include left-handed reliever Matt Reynolds, but the Mets aren’t interested, according to Sherman.
Joel Sherman noted yesterday that the Mets also have interest in Kelly Shoppach of the Red Sox and Miguel Olivo of the Mariners. For an expanded look at potentially available catchers click here.
Mets Interested In Ramon Hernandez
1:35pm: The Mets see the Rockies' desire to trade Hernandez as a salary dump and are unwilling to offer much of a prospect in return, writes Sherman.
1:10pm: Mike Puma of the New York Post tweets the asking price for Hernandez is still high, so it's doubtful anything will happen in the next two weeks.
11:20am: Nothing is imminent between the Mets and Rockies but talks could accelerate when Hernandez comes off of the disabled list this week, tweets Troy Renck of The Denver Post.
10:22am: The Mets are very interested in Rockies catcher Ramon Hernandez, a source tells Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Other backstops that interest GM Sandy Alderson & Co. include Kelly Shoppach of the Red Sox and the Mariners' Miguel Olivo.
One source told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that the discussions are serious enough that he believes that Hernandez will wind up as a Met, though he stopped short of offering a guarantee. The source added that Alderson was trying to expand the deal to include left-handed reliever Matt Reynolds.
Rubin notes that Rockies like Mets infielder Justin Turner and tried to acquire him last offseason before obtaining Marco Scutaro. He suggests that the Mets could get a deal done without losing key minor leaguers and instead draw from the likes of shortstop Wilfredo Tovar, right-hander Domingo Tapia, outfielder Matt Den Dekker, and left-hander Josh Edgin.
Hernandez is nearly ready to return to action after suffering a hand injury, but Wilin Rosario has since taken over as Colorado's starting catcher. The 36-year-old is in the first season of a two-year, $6.4MM pact.