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Raul Ibanez

Bonser Not Discussed In Washburn Talks

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8:42pm: Hold the phone – John Hickey says Bonser’s name never came up in the Washburn talks.  Jim Street and Larry Stone agree.  The criticism of the Mariners may be somewhat unjustified.  Hickey says Nick Blackburn was on the table for a very brief period of time.  Lee Pelekoudas was tight-lipped on the topic.

4:52pm: Even Washburn can’t believe the Mariners wouldn’t trade him for Bonser.  He’s disappointed the trade didn’t go through.  Perhaps a new GM will deal him this winter.

FRIDAY, 12:19pm: Joe Christensen has details on the Twins’ uncharacteristic claim of Washburn.  He heard they offered the Mariners Boof Bonser (plus apparently the salary relief), but the Ms wanted someone like Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey.  It is hard to see this as anything but a blunder for the Mariners’ front office. 

On a related note, Scott Miller says Lee Pelekoudas will not become the Mariners’ permanent GM, while Jon Heyman says Kevin Towers is unlikely.  Pat Gillick is still rumored as a possibility for the next team president.

THURSDAY

11:48pm: Baker says the Twins put in claims on both Washburn and Ibanez, but only won the Washburn one.  With Washburn, the Twins would’ve put him in the rotation and moved a starter to the setup man role.  Baker notes that a deal still could happen.

4:58pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Twins won the Washburn claim and the Tigers won the Ibanez claim.  The Red Sox and Mets also put in claims on Ibanez.  Interesting on both fronts, but no deals were struck so both players will remain with the Mariners. 

Heyman says that while the Twins’ Washburn claim had the flavor of a blocking move, the two teams did have trade discussions.  There wasn’t really anyone to block, unless the White Sox were lying about their lack of interest.

4:56pm: The Cardinals did not put in a claim on Washburn, according to Derrick Goold.

3:00pm: Geoff Baker expects that the Mariners will hold onto Ibanez, given the compensatory picks they’ll receive this winter. He further speculates that Washburn’s next start will not be for Seattle.

10:54am: The Twins didn’t win the claim on Ibanez, according to Joe Christensen.  Ibanez doesn’t expect a trade, though the Mariners have not discussed an extension with him.

9:57am: Geoff Baker confirms both players have been informed they’ve been placed on waivers.  He sees the Jays, Red Sox, and Rays as possible AL claimants for Ibanez.  Buster Olney considers the Twins a possibility as well.  There seems little chance Ibanez would slip to the NL.  Baker and Olney also heard an unconfirmed rumor that the Cardinals claimed Washburn.

WEDNESDAY

According to Ken Rosenthal, Mariners players Jarrod Washburn and Raul Ibanez were claimed on waivers yesterday.  The Ms have until tomorrow afternoon to work out a deal with the claiming teams.  Rosenthal says the Yankees did not claim Washburn.

At the least, the Mariners have a chance to unload Washburn’s contract.  Ibanez is inexpensive, so they’ll want quality prospects in return.  The Mariners can also elect to keep both players if they don’t like the offers.

The American League received first crack at the two Mariners, in the following order (omitting non-contenders):

  1. Tigers
  2. Rangers
  3. Blue Jays
  4. Yankees
  5. Twins
  6. White Sox
  7. Red Sox
  8. Rays
  9. Angels

Odds and Ends: Ibanez, Dunn, Blake, Stewart

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Let’s kick off the morning with some random links.

Heyman’s Latest: Lucchino, Manny, Rangers

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I wanted to let the Dunn trade cool off a bit before diving into Jon Heyman’s latest.

  • Heyman "people in high places in baseball" who believe Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino might leave after the season, possibly for the Dodgers.  He’s still butting heads with Theo Epstein apparently.
  • Heyman doesn’t buy the idea that Scott Boras orchestrated Manny Ramirez’s departure from Boston.  He also doesn’t buy the idea of Ramirez playing in New York.
  • Nolan Ryan would like Tom Hicks to sell the Rangers to him, but Hicks has shown no willingness to do so.
  • Players such as George Sherrill, Brian Fuentes, and Raul Ibanez are not expected to clear waivers.  No surprise there.

Odds and Ends: Sabathia, Teixeira, Ibanez, Giles, Lee

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CC Sabathia is 6-0 since getting traded to the Brewers, and naturally his teammates are thrilled to have him. Especially Prince Fielder, who said of his new ace, "I’m like his mini-me."

Angels owner Arte Moreno said it was "emotional" for him to trade home-grown first baseman Casey Kotchman, but that he won’t regret the move even if new Angel Mark Teixeira leaves as a free agent after the season. He mentioned budding AAA star Kendry Morales as a possible replacement.

The News Tribune’s Larry LaRue worries that the Mariners won’t be able to keep Raul Ibanez after the season. Ibanez has said he’d like a 4-year deal, but LaRue sees the M’s offering three at most. Plus, he notes that it’s a little late for them to start talking about a contract extension.

Brian Giles is annoyed that details of his vetoed trade to Boston became public. "I didn’t know everybody was supposed to know, especially when it wasn’t a done deal and it wouldn’t go down," Giles said. "It’s kind of between myself and my agent and Boston and the Padres." He also expressed a desire to stay with the Pads—a preference that was greeted with suspicion by the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo.

And President George W. Bush thinks Carlos Lee’s contract is just fine.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Price, John Hart, Ibanez

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A look at Ken Rosenthal’s latest column…

  • Rosenthal notes that the Rays have an ace in the hole with David Price available to boost their pitching staff when they deem him ready.  I imagine the Rays won’t end up signing Freddy Garcia.  The reports on Garcia are lukewarm, by the way.
  • Teams are beginning to value free agent compensation draft picks more than ever.  As a result, we’re seeing fewer salary dump trades.  Rosenthal notes that it is possible for a team to receive a supplemental pick even without offering arbitration.  That is true, but only if the free agent signs elsewhere before December 1st.
  • John Hart might want to get back into the general managing game.
  • The Rangers discussed acquiring Raul Ibanez, it seems.

Ibanez Trade Unlikely

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6:10pm: Just to wrap up Toronto’s brief venture into the Bay sweepstakes (since it was first reported in this post)…the Jays backed out when the Pirates asked for Shaun Marcum and top prospect Travis Snider.

5:36pm: Geoff Baker has some more details on the failed deal with Toronto although he still is not sure who was offered for Ibanez. Baker has quotes from JP Ricciardi that says it was the Mariners that backed out of the deal. Baker then goes on to speculate that the aquisition of Ibanez was a marketing tool to convince the fans in Toronto that the team was still gunning for the playoffs to keep TV ratings up.

2:48pm: Jayson Stark says the Mariners had second thoughts and will likely keep Ibanez.  It could’ve been a 2-for-1 with Major Leaguers going to Seattle.

2:34pm: Jeff Blair says talks for Ibanez are ongoing.  It’s even possible (though unlikely) an Ibanez trade could allow the Jays to include Adam Lind in a deal.

Blair adds that the Marlins called the Jays about Matt Stairs.

2:20pm: The Jays are left as the sole Ibanez suitor as we draw to within 40 minutes of the deadline.

1:14pm: Stark says the Jays are also eyeing Raul Ibanez.  Eh?  Also, Dejan Kovacevic says the Bay talks ended quickly based on the Pirates’ asking price.  Think Shaun Marcum and Travis Snider.

11:48am: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Blue Jays have entered the mix for Jason Bay.  Of course, the asking price will be high.  But Bay is Canadian!

The Jays are 6.5 games out of the wild card, that dangerous area where a team thinks it’s a contender.  Bay is under contract for ’09 too though.

Mets In Holding Pattern

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8:39am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets have "kicked around" the idea of acquiring Ian Snell from the Pirates and using him in relief for the rest of the year.  Snell is signed through 2010 with club options for ’11 and ’12.  It’s tough to see the Bucs moving him, even in an off year.

8:13am: According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets are not finding a deal to their liking for a reliever or outfielder.  They’ve put pretty much all of their good prospects off-limits – Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Eddie Kunz or Bobby Parnell.

Players such as Raul Ibanez, Brian Fuentes, George Sherrill, and J.J. Putz have all been on the radar.  But the Mets just don’t like the prices.  Lennon says they still might move Scott Schoeneweis though.

Cubs Eyeing Ibanez, Giles, DeJesus

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THURSDAY, 12:12am: CBSSports.com’s Scott Miller says the Cubs also inquired on David DeJesus and Brian Giles.

WEDNESDAY, 10:31am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cubs are discussing trades for a left-handed hitter, including Raul Ibanez.  He is a curious fit and would leave the Cubs with questionable outfield corner defense.  But, the Mariners have to be happy that a suitor has emerged aside from the Mets.  The price remains two quality prospects.

Rosenthal says the Cubs could also turn to bench players or just stand pat.  The Cubs already have a decent lefty-hitting bench player in Mike Fontenot.

One left-handed hitter out there generating zero trade talk is Baltimore’s Aubrey Huff (.916 OPS).  Can’t explain that one.

Stark’s Latest: Ibanez, Washburn, Redding, Rhodes

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Some additional notes from ESPN’s Jayson Stark:

  • The Mariners still want Jon Niese and another prospect for Raul Ibanez; the Mets are not biting.  Similar situation with the Ms asking the Cubs for Felix Pie and another player.
  • The Mets aren’t in on Jarrod Washburn or Tim Redding.
  • The Marlins are making it clear that there is no done deal for Arthur Rhodes.  Clark Spencer had written the Fish "could be closer" to a deal for Rhodes than a catcher.  Stark says the Mariners are driving a hard bargain for Rhodes, with the Red Sox, Marlins, Phillies, Brewers, Tigers, Mets, Cardinals, and Rays checking in.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Ibanez, Ohman, Fuentes

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The latest from rumor guru Ken Rosenthal:

  • The Mariners are not having much luck stirring interest in Jarrod Washburn and Raul Ibanez.  Only the Mets are seriously looking at Ibanez, and they don’t like the price.  The D’Backs aren’t interested.  Exacerbating the situation is that interim GM Lee Pelekoudas may feel compelled to make a good impression on the higher-ups.
  • The Braves chose Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek over an offer of Chad Tracy and Micah Owings from the D’Backs.  I’m surprised the Diamondbacks didn’t go a little further.  The Braves tried to expand the deal and send Will Ohman to the Angels, but a match could not be found.  Ohman remains likely to go, with the Rays, Cardinals, and Red Sox named as suitors.
  • Rosenthal notes that the Angels have a ton of offseason decisions to make, with club options and free agents all over the place.
  • The Rockies might be slightly more willing to trade Brian Fuentes following recent losses.  However, they still want a young starting pitcher for him.
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