Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Octavio Dotel

Yankees In On Dotel

By | at

You can add the Yankees to the growing list of teams interested in Royals’ closer Octavio Dotel.  According to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, the Yankees are interested despite Dotel’s inability to contribute last year.  As you might expect, Kepner says Dayton Moore is still asking for too much.  Prices should get reasonable in about a week.

The list of teams interested in Dotel, as far as I know: Cubs, Dodgers, Brewers, Red Sox, Rockies, Indians, Yankees.  Today the Kansas City Star also mentioned the Tigers and Braves.  I haven’t seen the Phillies or Mariners mentioned in print yet but we’ll see.

One other Royals note: according to Dayton Moore, the Cubs never called about Zack Greinke.

Graziano On Greinke, Pettitte

By | at

Good stuff today from Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger.  Here’s my summary:

  • Beyond the Cubs, Graziano lists the Braves, Dodgers, and Diamondbacks as teams interested in pitcher Zack Greinke.  If the initial asking price for Octavio Dotel was as high as reported, I can’t imagine what Dayton Moore would want for Greinke.
  • Graziano’s Dotel suitors: Cubs, Dodgers, and Brewers.  The Red Sox, Rockies, and Indians have been mentioned by other sources.  Quite a market for this guy.
  • David Weathers is seen as the poor man’s Dotel/Gagne.  Let’s see if Wayne Krivsky can get something useful for him.  Stormy makes another $2.75MM in ’08 before his contract is up.
  • The Mets are mostly focused on a power relief arm, as Roy Oswalt and Dontrelle Willis are said to be unavailable.  I have no idea why Willis keeps getting lumped in with Oswalt; they are nowhere near equal.  Graziano says the Mets still like Javier Vazquez but the White Sox keep trying to pawn off Jose Contreras instead.
  • The Braves are trying to deal for southpaw reliever C.J. Wilson of the Rangers.  The 26 year-old has an undeserved 2.81 ERA right now.  His control has been worse this year, so he’d have to remain unhittable to be effective.
  • The Mariners inquired on Andy Pettitte, but the Yankees aren’t giving up yet.

McAdam On Red Sox Trade Possibilities

By | at

Yesterday, Sean McAdam of The Providence Journal posted an article discussing trade possibilities for the Red Sox.  Let’s discuss.

  • It seems that the Red Sox will add a bullpen arm despite the fine work of Manny Delcarmen.  Apparently they want someone with experience.  Eric Gagne doesn’t seem likely, nor does Brad Lidge.  Instead, Chad Qualls, Dan Wheeler, and maybe Salomon Torres or Scott Linebrink could be acquired.  The focus is said to be on the Houston relievers.  Wheeler seems like a solid buy-low option.  You can add Octavio Dotel to the radar as well.  And let’s throw Brian Fuentes into the mix.  UPDATE: Today, McAdam added Damaso Marte as a reliever the Red Sox like.  He says the price for Torres is "way too high" at present.  And according to the Boston Globe, Drayton McLane will not even consider moving Lidge.
  • The Sox would get involved on a top-flight starter like Roy Oswalt or Dontrelle Willis.  Calling Willis "top-flight" is a stretch, but that’s what McAdam said.  They also like Jon Garland, if they can pry him loose for a reasonable price.  Other available starters don’t seem markedly better than internal options.
  • The Royals would love to pawn Reggie Sanders off, but the Red Sox don’t have interest.  Instead, they could reacquire Kevin Millar or even go after Jermaine Dye.  Is Dye really a perfect fit, though?  Wouldn’t his acquisition make he and J.D. Drew part-time players?  That wouldn’t be good for the clubhouse.  UPDATE: McAdam says today that this playing time issue will indeed thwart a trade.  On the Millar front, the Boston Globe debunks that rumor on the basis that the Sox want someone who can play center field.
  • Speaking of people who can play center field, the Boston Herald mentions Randy Winn and Dave Roberts as possibilities.  The fans would love a Roberts acquisition, I imagine. 
  • The trade Mike Lowell/acquire Mark Teixeira scenario is highly unlikely.
  • The Boston Globe is saying that the Red Sox are "actively shopping" Wily Mo Pena.  I discussed Wily Mo in a post yesterday.  The Boston Herald today said that he might be the trading chip for a deal with Houston.

Dodgers Interested In Dotel

By | at

According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, the Dodgers are currently the top suitor for 33 year-old reliever Octavio Dotel.  Dutton reports that Royals GM Dayton Moore is said to be asking for a position player regular, like James Loney or Matt Kemp.  Lest you think Dutton is off his rocker, consider that Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News says the same thing.  Jackson even mentions Russell Martin.

I have to begin by questioning the Dodgers’ need for Dotel – he would be their third-best reliever.  I don’t know why he would jump ahead of Jonathan Broxton on the depth chart.  Broxton has become one of the game’s best relievers, and he’s posted zeroes in his last eight appearances.

But beyond that, the asking price is silly.  Maybe the White Sox were offered a player like Kemp for Mark Buehrle – maybe.  Dotel isn’t nearly as valuable.  I applaud Moore for trying, but he’s really asking for the moon right now.  Dotel might be worth a Delwyn Young, maybe a Blake DeWitt, not that the Royals need those guys.  A pitcher such as Hong-Chih Kuo seems about the high end of what Moore could reasonably get, in my opinion.

The Indians and Rockies have also been said to have interest in Dotel, who is making $5MM plus incentives this year.  He’s also got a $5.5MM option for ’08, which he probably won’t exercise if he stays healthy and effective in 2007.  Additionally, John Perrotto mentioned in his Sunday column that the Tigers have been scouting Dotel.

Royals Possess Coveted Relievers

By | at

There’s seemingly some sentiment that the Royals don’t want to break up their bullpen by trading anyone.  I think that’s kind of silly, given the volatility of relievers and the Royals’ chances at contending in 2008. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star names four relievers on which Dayton Moore is getting phone calls:

Octavio Dotel – Dotel was a $5MM gamble, and he’s been decent so far.  He can earn another few hundred thousand in incentives and also has a $5.5MM player option for ’08.  If he exercises that, the team can still void it.  After a late start he’s got eight saves, a 3.50 ERA, and an 11.0 K/9.  However, he’s hit a bit of a rough stretch recently. I don’t see him fetching much in the way of compensatory draft picks if he changes teams via free agency this winter, so trading him is a good idea.  The Indians and Rockies have interest, and don’t forget that the Red Sox made him an offer in December. 

David Riske – The Royals also tossed $2.25MM at Riske for ’07 and added a $2.85MM club option for ’08.  Riske has his strikeout rate up somewhat but his 2.21 ERA doesn’t match up with the amount of baserunners allowed.  If I was running the team I’d trade both he and Dotel and pat myself on the back for signing them in the first place.  However I’m guessing the Royals will want to keep one of these guys.

Jimmy Gobble – Gobble is more than just a hilarious name; he owns a nifty 2.70 ERA.  He’s walking a tightrope though, allowing 1.67 baserunners per inning.  He’d make a decent lefty specialist and there’s no reason the Royals need to be paying him a million bucks next year.  Gobble is quite far from free agency but will get a raise in arbitration. 

Zack Greinke – Despite a 3.57 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in relief, you get the feeling Greinke will end up a successful starter one day.  He’s easily the most coveted of the four mentioned here, as he’s 23 and quite talented.  The Royals may try him as their closer this year if they hang on to him; he’s got the stuff for it.  Greinke seems past last year’s anxiety issues thankfully.  I’m not sure what the Royals could get in return for him that would be better than just keeping and developing him.

The Royals just added to their pen actually, picking up righty Roman Colon from Detroit for a player to be named later.  Despite a clubhouse scuffle that earned him a felonious assault charge, Moore said today that he’d trust Colon in his house with his family.  He goes way back with Colon as both worked for the Braves.

Rockies Inquire About Octavio Dotel

By | at

Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post mentioned today that the Rockies have inquired about Royals’ closer Octavio Dotel.  This confirms Ken Rosenthal’s report from Friday.  Rosenthal had also mentioned that the Indians were looking into Dotel.

The Rockies’ interest in a rental reliever like Dotel indicates to me that they won’t be trading Brian Fuentes this year.  Renck spoke of that possibility today in his mailbag, noting that the Phillies, Red Sox, and Yankees have interest in Fuentes if the Rox make him available.  The Rockies are 5.5 games out of the divison lead and 4.5 games out of the Wild Card.  It would be exciting to see them as buyers at the deadline.

Rosenthal’s Latest

By | at

Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.  A summary appears below.

  • Rosenthal thinks the Tigers are unlikely to acquire Eric Gagne or Akinori Otsuka, perhaps preferring to look at internal options.  That’s a shame, as I think they really need to add someone.
  • The White Sox won’t be granting a 72 hour negotiating window if they trade Mark Buehrle.  Strictly a rental.  That could limit the market for him, but Kenny Williams will come up with at least one quality prospect.
  • The Dodgers don’t seem likely to trade for Adam Dunn or Jermaine Dye, but could go after Mark Teixeira.  Dye seems most likely to end up in the NL West somehow, but only if he is healthy and hitting.
  • Possible Dontrelle Willis suitors: the Rockies or Diamondbacks.  They’ve got the young trading chips, and the need in the present day.  The Rox could offer Aaron Cook plus prospects, and the D’Backs could try Livan Hernandez and youngsters.  If the D’Backs dare offer up Justin Upton, the Marlins would jump.  Of course, D-Train needs to be healthy and the Marlins would need to fall out of contention.
  • Barry Bonds’s agent really doesn’t see a trade happening.  Well, no one does, but it’s fun to speculate.  Rosenthal thinks only the Yankees could accomodate him.
  • Aside from the Pirates and Padres, the Astros, Cardinals, and Rangers could go after Milton Bradley. 
  • Rosenthal has a GM source who thinks the Reds could wait until this winter, exercise Adam Dunn’s $13MM option for ’08, and then trade him.  Dunn, however, would gain no-trade protection until June 15, 2008 and then be able to block 10 teams thereafter.
  • Troy Glaus isn’t going anywhere.  Even if the Jays wanted to trade him, his contract is prohibitive.
  • The Indians or Rockies could trade for Octavio Dotel for bullpen depth.  Dotel is developing into a fine trading chip for Dayton Moore, just as planned.  The Tribe has had interest in Dotel in past offseasons. 

Royal Treatment For Dotel

By | at

Octavio Dotels has turned down an offer from the Boston Red Sox, according to the Kansas City Star, and is about to officially sign with the Kansas City Royals for a 1-year/$5MM contract that may be bumped up to $7MM after incentives. Dotel will likely replace Ambiorix Burgos as the front runner for the Royals’ closer position in 2007.

This will probably push the Sox to go after Eric Gagne a bit more in the coming days. The Boston Herald is reporting that Gagne is still looking for an annual salary of over $5MM.

By Adam Howe

Offers Made To Dotel

By | at

The Boston Herald reports that two or three offers have been made to Octavio Dotel, including one from the Red Sox.  You can add the Yanks, Royals, and Indians as other possibilities.  The Mets, Cards, and Indians were interested in him last year before he signed with New York.

Dotel’s agent says he will decide tonight.  No word on Dotel’s merengue album.

Oakland A’s Buzz

By | at

I’ve got a source out of Oakland who filled me in on the latest buzz from the club recently.

Frank Thomas has told his agent, Arn Tellem, that he wants to join the A’s.  Billy Beane holds all the cards here, as Thomas’s confusing medical reports have scared off all other suitors.  Gambling on Thomas’s health is another example of Beane snagging a player undervalued in the market.

Word is that the A’s really don’t want to go to arbitration with Milton Bradley.  Bradley’s due for a sizeable raise from the $2.5MM he made in 2005, and he’s using his leverage to milk the team for some extra bucks.

He’s no longer an Athletic, but the word is that Octavio Dotel’s medical records indicate that he only has one or two years left in baseball due to some possible shoulder problems.  Dotel also had Tommy John surgery in June 2005.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top