A’s Rumors: Kennedy, Wuertz, Cabrera
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle passes along the latest on three Athletics not named Matt Holliday:
- Mid-season acquisition Adam Kennedy says he loves it in Oakland and wants to remain with the A's.
- The Twins are looking at Michael Wuertz and Orlando Cabrera as they attempt to improve their bullpen and middle infield.
- Wuertz makes $1.1MM and Cabrera makes $4MM, so both are relatively affordable options for the Twins, who are 2.5 games back of the AL Central lead.
Twins Seek Infielders; No Holliday For Tigers
The Twins continue their search for infielders and the Tigers don't seem likely to acquire Matt Holliday. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports has the details:
- The Twins, who could use infield help, have discussed an Orlando Cabrera trade with the A's.
- The Twins could also pursue Jack Wilson, Freddy Sanchez or Marco Scutaro.
- Mark Teahen could be an option, but it's unclear whether the Royals would deal within the division.
- Ken Rosenthal hears that the Giants and Tigers will not be serious players for Matt Holliday.
- The A's gave the Tigers a list of prospects to discuss for Holliday, but talks didn't develop.
- The Tigers didn't want to discuss lefty Casey Crosby.
Holliday Drawing Interest
A variety of scouts are watching the A's even though GM Billy Beane told Joe Stiglich of the San Jose Mercury News that the leadup to the deadline has been unusually quiet this year. The Giants and Tigers have "at least a degree of interest" in Matt Holliday and the Yankees have been scouting the A's, according to Stiglich.
Rosenthal On Lee, Reds, D’Backs, Buchholz
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggests the Phillies may find Cliff Lee nearly as appealing as Roy Halladay because the Indians lefty makes just $11.5MM through 2010 and Halladay makes over $20MM before the end of next year. Rosenthal says the Phils could package rookie standout J.A. Happ with Carlos Carrasco and Dominic Brown to get the Indians' attention. Here are the rest of his rumors:
- Though some say the Jays need to acquire Brown or Kyle Drabek in any deal for Halladay, Rosenthal points out that some scouts like Jason Knapp and Michael Taylor just as much.
- The Reds would like to move some of their expensive starters and relievers to make room for younger pitchers, Rosenthal says.
- Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang and Francisco Cordero make enough to scare some suitors away, and while a salary swap is possible, Rosenthal says the Reds are more likely to make offseason deals.
- Jon Garland, Doug Davis and Carl Pavano are drawing little attention. Teams' unwillingness to take on salary limits interest in the two D'Backs starters.
- Michael Wuertz and Rafael Betancourt are drawing "heavy attention," but the A's seem likely to keep Wuertz.
- It would be tough for the Angels to give Brandon Wood up for George Sherrill, especially since Wood could start at third next year if the team doesn't re-sign Chone Figgins.
- It seems unlikely that the Red Sox would trade Clay Buchholz for Victor Martinez. If he's moved at all, Buchholz would likely be dealt for a premium young hitter.
- Orlando Cabrera's hitting better and he could interest the Mariners, Cardinals, Twins, Reds and Mets.
- The Mariners are one of many teams interested in Josh Willingham.
- The Rockies are reluctant to deal Ryan Spilborghs, and refused a Phillies offer that included two quality prospects.
Braves Rumors: Escobar, Soriano, Payroll
David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest on the Braves. Here are the details:
- They're taking calls from teams interested in Yunel Escobar.
- There's nothing to the suggestion that the Braves could send Escobar and prospects to Oakland for Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera, especially since Escobar's much cheaper than Holliday and hitting about as well.
- The Cardinals are interested in Escobar, but they wouldn't trade Ryan Ludwick.
- O'Brien hears that the Braves offered Rafael Soriano to the Cards for Joe Mather last winter but the Cards wouldn't make the move.
- Braves GM Frank Wren repeated that he doesn't want to move prospects and can't afford to add much payroll.
Odds And Ends: Holliday, Yabu, Bay, Latos
Some links to look through on the morning of the Midsummer Classic…
- This week's chat will take place today at 2pm CST.
- MLB.com's Mychael Urban keeps hearing about a possible deal that would send Matt Holliday, Orlando Cabrera and salary relief to the Braves for Yunel Escobar and prospects.
- The Giants released Keiichi Yabu yesterday, according to the Kyodo News. He had been pitching in Triple A.
- Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post says Albert Pujols belongs with the elite players in baseball history.
- John Tomase of the Boston Herald says the Red Sox still aren't talking with Jason Bay about an extension, but there are indications they may revisit his contract before the end of the season.
- It looks like the Padres will promote their top pitching prospect, Mat Latos, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock.
- In the second part of my Q&A with NESN.com, I discuss Pedro Martinez, Clay Buchholz and the Mets.
Olney’s Latest: Atlanta’s Potential Trade Partners
ESPN.com's Buster Olney chimes in with some players and teams that could matchup in a trade with the Braves, who could dangle Javier Vazquez and/or Yunel Escobar as bait. Most of the rumors are just Olney's own speculation, but let's round 'em up anyway.
- The Red Sox have liked Escobar for a while, but don't match up very well for a trade.
- Olney mentions that Jacoby Ellsbury might be the only fit since JD Drew is owed a ton of money and Jason Bay will be a free agent after the year, but that wouldn't work for Boston since they would then need to find another centerfielder.
- Olney speculates that the Red Sox could use their young pitching to engage a third team in a trade, mentioning that Matt LaPorta, Shin-Soo Choo and Corey Hart could be a good fit.
- Boston could eat some of the money left on Julio Lugo's deal to give Atlanta a stop-gap shortstop should they deal Escobar.
- The Red Sox are not interested in Jeff Francoeur.
- If Milwaukee and Atlanta discussed a Vazquez-Hart swap, the Brewers would likely have to kick in another piece.
- The Twins could offer one of their many outfielders in exchange for Escobar. Delmon Young might not be enough to entice the Braves, but Michael Cuddyer or Denard Span could be.
- The Dodgers would love to add Vazquez to their rotation, but Juan Pierre probably wouldn't be enough given his lack of power.
- The A's could package Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera, both free agents after the season, for Escobar, who would step in as Oakland's shortstop of the future.
Trade Candidates: Middle Infielders
The Mets, Reds, Cardinals, Twins, Cubs, Brewers and Giants could all potentially look for middle infield help. Here are some trade candidates, listed from largest 2009 salary to smallest:
- Miguel Tejada – His $13MM salary would be too much for some teams if the Astros made him available, but his 32 extra base hits and low strikeout numbers sure look good.
- Julio Lugo – He makes $9MM this year and the same amount next year, so the Red Sox would presumably take on salary in any deal. The 33-year-old is hitting .370 since the beginning of June.
- Cristian Guzman – At $8MM this year and next he's not cheap, but he's consistently hit for a high average in recent years.
- Jack Wilson – He makes $7.25MM this year and his team will have to buy him out for $600k to avoid paying him even more in 2010. However, he's a good defender who puts the ball in play and has doubles power.
- Freddy Sanchez – He'll make over $6MM this year and his 2010 option for $8MM will likely vest. It's a lot of money, but the former batting titlist is a better hitter than most middle infield trade candidates.
- Dan Uggla - The most powerful option available may not be available, after all. The Marlins are in it, so they may keep Uggla and his $3.5MM salary.
- Orlando Cabrera – He's posted a .610 OPS this year and he'll make $4MM- not an enticing combination, but the A's are falling far out of the race.
- Felipe Lopez – At just $3.5MM, his .771 OPS looks good, in spite of the big strikeout total.
- Jamey Carroll - As a free agent-to-be on the Indians, he's a candidate to be moved. The 35-year-old has a .735 OPS to go along with his $2.5MM salary.
- Cesar Izturis – He'll earn $2.4MM this year and $2.6MM in 2010. He's on the DL, recovering from an apendectomy, and his slow recovery is making it less likely that he'll be traded.
- Yuniesky Betancourt – His $2MM salary is deceptive, as he's still guaranteed about $10MM before his deal expires. That figure, plus his .609 OPS mean he'll likely be staying put, but he could be had.
- John McDonald – He's barely played at all for the Jays, but McDonald, who makes $1.9MM, could work for a team looking for a defensive specialist.
- Yunel Escobar – He makes just $425k this year and Buster Olney says the Braves would consider dealing him for a bat.
- Blake DeWitt – The Dodgers have Orlando Hudson playing second base, so DeWitt could be expendable. He's making just $405k, but his Triple A numbers are uninspired.
- Adam Kennedy – The A's are just paying Kennedy the major league minimum and he's produced an OPS approaching .800 for them.
Red Sox Discussing Shortstop Options
According to Nick Cafardo at the Boston Globe, the Red Sox have "left no stone unturned" in their search for a shortstop. Rounding out the list of names are Omar Vizquel, Jack Wilson, J.J. Hardy, the aforementioned Orlando Cabrera, Bobby Crosby, Jason Donald, Miguel Tejada and a mystery shortstop with the Braves. Ideally, Jed Lowrie would make a speedy return from the DL before they begin making any decisions.
As noted earlier, the Sox inquired on Cabrera but apparently aren't interested.
What should the Sox do? Just speculation–could the Braves' shortstop be Yunel Escobar or is it someone else?
Red Sox Inquired On Cabrera, Aren’t Interested
Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox aren't interested in bringing Orlando Cabrera back to Boston, though they did inquire about the shortstop. McAdam's sources say the Red Sox would have to give up too much "in terms of his remaining salary and prospects." Instead, they're content to play Nick Green and Julio Lugo until Jed Lowrie returns. One team apparently determined that Cabrera, a two-time Gold Glover, is the worst defensive shortstop in the American League.