Jon Daniels, Talking Rangers Baseball
T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com gathered a few hot stove-related nuggets from Rangers general manager Jon Daniels on Tuesday afternoon. Let's dig in…
- Daniels thinks there won't be enough "sellers" by the time the July 31 trade deadline rolls around. "There are just not that many teams decidedly looking to move players," he said. "There are very few teams that are not within striking distance."
- The Texas GM acknowledged that a scout was present for Pedro Martinez's workout in the Dominican Republic last week, but the 37-year-old right-hander's contract demands are currently too high.
- In the end, grabbing a starting pitcher is probably going to be too costly, both in salary and prospects. (Or just salary, if we're talking about free agent Ben Sheets).
- "Relief is more realistic," Daniels concluded.
Rangers Want Pitching, Unlikely To Add Salary
Rangers president Nolan Ryan told Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he'd like to add a starter or a durable reliever, though it will be difficult for Texas to take on salary in a deadline deal.
There are free agent pitchers available, but Ryan isn't sure if the team will pursue any of them. The Rangers have been linked to the now-rehabbing Ben Sheets for months, but he's not ready to return to action. In theory Pedro Martinez could be an option, but Ryan said the Rangers wouldn't be able to meet his salary demands.
Rays Rumors: Pedro, Sheffield
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times provided a pair of quick but interesting Rays rumors on the weekend:
- The Rays have no interest in Pedro Martinez as a starter. Here's a rundown of some other teams rumored to be interested in Pedro.
- Gary Sheffield wants to play two more seasons and retire with the Rays. Sheffield's 40 and the market for aging DH types has really slowed, but he does have an OPS of .876. The Rays already have Pat Burrell next year- would they have any interest in Sheffield?
Angels, Dodgers Will Pass On Pedro Martinez
According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, the Angels scouted Pedro Martinez last week. There was some question as to which teams actually saw the Friday audition. However, Shaikin learned from Angels GM Tony Reagins that the Halos will pass on Martinez for baseball (not financial) reasons. Shaikin's source says Pedro was working around 85 mph.
Shaikin adds:
The Dodgers did not scout the workout, and Manager Joe Torre said today that the team has not discussed Martinez since spring training.
Summing up previous reports: the Nationals weren't in attendance Friday, the Brewers didn't get a chance to see him, and the Yankees will pass. We don't have definitive word on the Rays, Rangers, Cardinals, D'Backs, Indians, and Cubs. Rays exec Andrew Friedman downplayed his team's interest though.
Odds & Ends: Pedro, Ordonez, Holliday
On this day in MLBTR history: Last year, the Blue Jays fired manager John Gibbons and Matt Holliday talks were still swirling. In '07, we actually cared who was on Eric Gagne's team veto list and saw Michael Barrett get traded to the Padres.
- Bill Ladson at MLBlogs got word that reports that a Nationals rep saw Pedro Martinez pitch Friday are untrue.
- Joe Pawlikowski at River Ave. Blues takes issue with CERA, the stat that tries to determine "catchers' ERA."
- Jason Beck at MLB.com has more clarification on Jim Leyland's comments on Magglio Ordonez and Scott Boras. Says Leyland: "It was total nonsense on the agent's part that I blindsided Magglio Ordonez."
- John Shea at the San Francisco Chronicle outlines a scenario where 16-year-old super-prospect Bryce Harper might fall to the A's in next year's draft.
- Bill Shaikin at the L.A. Times wonders if Holliday could end up with the Angels.
- Clark Spencer at the Miami Herald wonders where Josh Johnson will end up after 2012.
- Joel Sherman at the New York Post proposes an idea where the Commissoner's Office swallows one bad contract on each MLB team, and which he believes should go.
Did Anyone See Pedro Pitch?
As MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports, the Brewers sent two scouts to the Dominican Republic Friday to watch Pedro Martinez, but never saw him throw a pitch.
Olney’s Latest: Dodgers, Yankees, Pedro, Strasburg
ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes that it "is said by others" that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti is searching for pitching. Olney outlines the heavy workload endured by the Dodgers' bullpen early on, and wonders how it will hold up down the stretch.
Here's some other bits that Olney's heard:
- The Yankees are unlikely to trade Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady when the latter returns from an elbow injury because of the club's needs. Olney also mentions that they wouldn't be able to get full market value for Nady because of his injury.
- The Yanks did discuss Nady with other clubs during the offseason after signing Mark Teixeira.
- Several teams walked away from Pedro Martinez's workout yesterday unimpressed and uninterested in signing him.
- Olney says that several teams would be interested in the future Hall of Famer if he decides to pitch for something close to the pro-rated minimum with incentives, and is willing to work his way back up through the minors.
- Early talks between the Nationals and first overall pick Stephen Strasburg "are off to a sluggish start."
Pedro Martinez Rumors: Friday
7:12pm: George A. King III reports that the Yankees have informed Pedro that they will pass on signing him.
6:17pm: Jon Heyman tweets that the Rangers Brewers and Cardinals also watched Pedro work out today. He also mentions that the Cubs' uncertain ownership situation hurts their chances to sign the veteran righthander.
8:42am: Pedro Martinez says he's in great shape, but the Yankees are only interested in signing him to a minor league deal. Here are some specifics on today's Pedro rumors:
- Pedro told Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald that his arm feels good enough to "throw and throw and throw and throw," he just needs to polish his breaking pitches.
- Pedro said he's in "tippy-top shape," and joked about starting another career soon: "I'm thinking of becoming a swimsuit model," he said.
- Pedro will play winter ball in hopes of playing in 2010 if he doesn't sign this year.
- He said money doesn't motivate him.
- Ken Davidoff and Steve Zipay of Newsday report that the Yankees are only interested in signing Pedro to a minor league deal.
- The Yankees will watch him pitch today, along with the Cubs, Rays and Angels.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com presents a revised list of Pedro's suitors. In order: the Cubs, Angels, Dodgers, Rays and the two New York teams.
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Sano, Pedro, Sabathia, Lopez
On this date 14 years ago, Darryl Strawberry signed a one-year deal with the Yankees for $675K, four months after being released by the Giants and five years after leaving New York to sign with the Dodgers as a free agent. Interestingly, this would be the most lucrative season of his career as it marked the final year of his Dodgers contract that would pay him $5.3MM in '95. Straw was never traded, but we are a little over one month from this year's trade deadline. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- Around the Majors spoke with Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus about Miguel Sano and the international signing period.
- River Ave. Blues doesn't feel the Yankees will be able to find a spot for Pedro Martinez and doubts he could still be effective in the AL East.
- Bleacher Nation finds the Cubs' interest in Pedro Martinez "strange," noting that they have no money to spend and that the Cubs need bats, not arms.
- Jorge Says No! puts together a list of the teams that could be sellers over the next six weeks.
- MLB Notebook looks at when it may be best for teams to deal specific players, including Erik Bedard, Juan Pierre and Matt Holliday.
- Capitol Avenue Club goes back and reevaluates the C.C. Sabathia trade now that the Brewers have used the draft picks acquired for losing Sabathia as a free agent.
- Goat Riders of the Apocalypse feels that Felipe Lopez would be a "cheap and quick upgrade" for the Cubs offense.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.
Heyman On Pedro, Nats, Mets, Rangers
Jon Heyman of SI.com says those closest to the Pedro Martinez situation expect him to sign soon. Heyman has many more rumors; here they are:
- One GM thinks the Nationals are demanding too much in return for their players. He says they want "a dollar and a quarter for a dollar."
- As Heyman points out, interim GM Mike Rizzo has an especially tough role, since his job isn't secure.
- Heyman says the Nats will make an announcement on a full-time GM this season. Rizzo has a good shot at the position.
- Rival GMs say Omar Minaya is now looking to boost the Mets' offense.
- Adding a player who can handle first base and the outfield would allow the Mets to make room for Carlos Delgado when he returns later in the season. Mark DeRosa fits the bill, but the Indians are apparently asking for a lot in a potential deal.
- The Rangers aren't likely to trade for Brad Penny, though they have considered him.
- Huston Street's one of the relievers who appeals to the Rangers.
- Texas can't add payroll, but can trade prospects.
- Chad Qualls and Heath Bell would both command big returns in a trade.
- Most contenders believe they need to add relievers, but the Red Sox are willing to trade one away.
- Heyman says releasing Dontrelle Willis would be a drastic move.
- The Reds, Braves and possibly the Cardinals are looking for right-handed hitting corner outfielders.