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Raul Ibanez

Mets Rumors: Manny, Ibanez, Bullpen

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12:06pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney ranks the Mets’ priorities as reliever, corner outfielder, and starter, in that order.  They’re currently discussing Ibanez with the Mariners, but not much has come of it yet.

10:17am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger doesn’t buy the denials – he says Mets GM Omar Minaya remains interested in Manny Ramirez.  The Mets rank Ramirez above alternatives like Raul Ibanez, Adam Dunn, and Randy Winn, and might make certain prospects available just for Manny.  Is Jon Niese among them?  Niese is thought to be untouchable, and was promoted to Triple A today.

Meanwhile Mets manager Jerry Manuel endorsed Fernando Tatis at the everyday left fielder.  David Lennon doesn’t expect a trade unless the price comes down on Ibanez.  Can Tatis continue to channel his glory days, when he posted a .957 OPS with 34 home runs for the ’99 Cardinals?

Graziano also talked to an NL official familiar with the Mets’ plans.  That person said the Mets are considering a bullpen overhaul where they would ship out Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis and bring in different relievers.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Monday

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9:35pm: The D’Backs are considered "highly unlikely" to acquire Ramirez.  So now we have denials from all four teams named this morning.

9:08pm: The Dodgers would only be interested in Ramirez if the Red Sox took Andruw Jones back.

8:42pm: Peter Gammons has some unkind words for Manny.

6:46pm: Cross the Mets off the list too, according to Jayson Stark.

3:06pm: GM Pat Gillick says the Phillies have no interest in Ramirez.  He makes the fairly obvious point that the Phils don’t have an open position for Manny.

9:26am: Click here for a refresher on yesterday’s Manny Ramirez rumors.  He said he would approve a trade, if the Red Sox can find one.  Todd Zolecki noted that the Phillies have discussed Manny internally.

  • Dan Graziano and Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger talked to an official who says the Mets and Phillies are both in "serious pursuit" of Ramirez.  If so, why do both teams have no interest in Adam Dunn?  Graziano and Price think Ramirez would command big-name prospects like Fernando Martinez or Lou Marson.
  • Sean McAdam says the Sox have spoken to four teams about Manny: the Phillies, Mets, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers.  McAdam says Ramirez will waive his no-trade clause for a guarantee that his options will be declined.  Additionally, the Red Sox might consider kicking in money to get better players in return.
  • Ken Davidoff of Newsday says the Mets aren’t interested in Ramirez and continue to eye Raul Ibanez. However, the asking price may be too high.
  • Paul Hagen finds no indication that the Phillies are interested.  And unless Pat Burrell is included in a deal, he or Ramirez would have to play right field.  Umm…no.
  • Jeff Passan thinks that all things considered, Manny still might be worth keeping in Boston for $20MM in ’09.

Mets Unlikely To Acquire Outfielder

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes about the Mets’ unsuccessful search for a corner outfielder. 

The Mets find the prospect price too high on players such as Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay.  They don’t seem to care for Adam Dunn or Brian Giles.  They don’t like Randy Winn’s contract or lack of power.   And Manny Ramirez is unlikely for numerous reasons.

While the Mets are fans of Ibanez, they’ve made all of their interesting prospects untouchable.  The Mets may prefer to use some of those prospects in offseason deals.  For now they will stick with the red-hot Fernando Tatis and other internal options.

Odds and Ends: Happ, Igawa, Hawkins, Lowe

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Rounding up rumors and links from the weekend…

Week In Review: 7/20 – 7/26

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This one will be a bit lengthy, which can be expected as the deadline approaches. Here’s a review of some of the major moves and rumors of the last week:

  • The Yankees acquired Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates for OF Jose Tabata, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Dan McCutchen and RHP Jeff Karstens . I agree with Tim that Ian Kennedy would’ve been a better centerpiece, but Tabata is pretty highly-touted himself. Kennedy would have made a more immediate impact, while Tabata is only 19 years old.
  • The Dodgers acquired Casey Blake for minor league RHP Jon Meloan and C Carlos Santana. The Dodgers get a nice boost to their lineup without giving up too much, although Santana’s putting together a very impressive season in Class-A ball.
  • The Nationals sent Jon Rauch to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league 2B Emilio Bonifacio. Rauch adds to a strong bullpen for Arizona, while Bonaficio could become a very solid leadoff hitter in the future for Washington. They may have been able to get more for Rauch, but I personally like the move, regardless.
  • The Brewers acquired Ray Durham from the Giants for minor leaguers Darren Ford and Steve Hammond. Rickie Weeks has been a disappointment to an otherwise red-hot club. Can Durham provide a bit more stability? The power’s gone, but he can still get on base.
  • The Astros acquired Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke. This one confuses me a little bit; with all due respect, did the Astros forget they were 12.5 games out? I don’t see the logic in buying on a pitcher.
  • The Cardinals traded Anthony Reyes to the Indians for minor league pitcher Luis Perdoma. I don’t get this one either. I feel like the Cardinals could have gotten more, despite Reyes’ struggles in the past. The Indians could make this one look like a steal, in my opinion.
  • The Yankees are in deep discussion with the Mariners about acquiring Jarrod Washburn. Tim cites Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal in saying that the Mariners want a top prospect in addition to the salary dump, but the Yankees are only offering a marginal prospect. Can’t say I blame them. A top prospect for an mediocre pitchers who’s due an additional $14MM? Sounds like Seattle’s getting greedy…
  • A new, and surprising name surfaced in trade talks: Manny Ramirez. Manny has said he would waive his no-trade clause, and based on interviews, has basically said that 2008 will be his last season in Boston. I can’t see Boston trading their (arguably) best hitter in the middle of a pennant race, however. I’d bet on him finishing out the season.
  • Speaking of corner outfielders, the Mets need one, and they know it. Having missed out on Nady and Blake, they will likely zero in on Raul Ibanez. Ibanez makes great sense for them, and the Mariners would obviously like to rebuild. I expect this one to get done.
  • There was a report that Roy Halladay came out and told the Blue Jays that he is unhappy in Toronto, which has provoked the Jays to explore their potential options. Halladay’s price would have to be astronomical, I’d think. He’s signed through 2010 and pitching like it’s 2003 all over again. Personal speculation: I think Halladay to the Cardinals with a Colby Rasums centerpiece would make sense.
  • Crisitan Guzman signed a two-year, $16MM contract extension. Guzman has revived his career after surgery following an awful 2005. I like the signing for the Nats.
  • Jorge Posada could be out for the season. The Yankees are looking for catchers. In addition to the names mentioned there, they could take a shot at signing Johnny Estrada, who was DFA’ed by Washington this week. Estrada was terrible in Washington, but has put up solid offensive numbers for a catcher throughout his career.
  • Brian Fuentes, Huston Street, and George Sherrill are all still potential trade pieces. Fuentes is the most likely to go, I’d say, although the Rockies are asking for quite a bit.
  • Tim updated the left-handed reliever and left field markets.

Perrotto’s Latest: Ross, Jacobs, Kent, Burnett

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Baseball Prospectus’ John Perrotto has a new column.

  • The Mets are looking at relievers Huston Street, Brian Fuentes, Arthur Rhodes, and Eddie Guardado.  On the radar for outfielders: Jason Bay, Raul Ibanez, and Randy Winn.
  • A new suitor for Fuentes has emerged: the Diamondbacks.  Would they really make another move for a reliever?  Other known suitors were named here.
  • The Marlins would consider trading Cody Ross or Mike Jacobs for relief help.
  • New name on the Rays’ radar: Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent.  They’re better off with Akinori Iwamura aren’t they?
  • George Sherrill suitors: Cardinals, Tigers, Dodgers, Marlins, and Phillies.
  • The Blue Jays may offer A.J. Burnett an additional $2MM per year to convince him to stay for 2009-10.
  • The Rangers are "expected to be among the top bidders" for CC Sabathia this winter.

Manny Ramirez Speculation: Phils, D’Backs, Mets

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Theo Epstein told Tim McCarver he’d try to trade Manny Ramirez if he’d waive his 10-and-5 no-trade rights.  If Ramirez were to be dealt, I’m guessing he’d either require an extension or reassurance that his $20MM option would not be picked up so he could reach free agency. Here’s some reverb from Epstein’s remarks:

  • Ken Rosenthal doesn’t see a good match anywhere.  He notes that Manny got himself into this odd contractual situation in the first place.
  • Jon Heyman says the Mets have no interest in Manny.  His string of bad behavior this year has been undoubtedly a turnoff.  They’d rather pursue Raul Ibanez.
  • The Boston Herald’s Tony Masarotti doesn’t think the team needs "to find a Hall of Fame-caliber player to replace him anymore because Ramirez no longer is a Hall of Fame-caliber player."  He even cites David Murphy as a more productive outfielder since April.
  • Joel Sherman and Mike Puma speculate on Manny to the Phillies, noting how Charlie Manuel and Ramirez have remained close since Manuel was his hitting coach in Cleveland.  They go on to list Arizona as having interest as well.

Mets Focus On Raul Ibanez

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Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News brings us insight on the Mets’ interest in acquiring an outfielder, namely Raul Ibanez, before the deadline:

"The Mets scratched a second name off their list of four primary trade targets when Cleveland dealt Casey Blake to the Dodgers yesterday, one day after Xavier Nady landed with the Yankees. Seattle’s Raul Ibanez appears the most logical remaining target, since Pittsburgh seems less inclined to trade Jason Bay after having dealt Nady."

The price tag for Ibanez may be too high for the Mets, but with the Nady and Blake deals being within reason the cost of Ibanez should come down to earth.

More From Stark: Mets, Dodgers, Indians

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Jayson Stark brings us a few more tidbits from the Hot Stove…

  • The price for Raul Ibanez may be too high for the Mets as Stark reiterates what we heard previously, that Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese are not available…Ken Rosenthal added Robert Parnell to that list of untouchables.
  • The Mets may no longer be in the running for Brian Fuentes as they are not willing to part with Aaron Heilman.
  • Stark says other relief pitchers the Mets have shown some interest in include Cla Meredith, Chad Bradford and Jeremy Affeldt.
  • The Dodgers are said to be interested in several relief pitchers, including Fuentes, George Sherrill, David Weathers and Alan Embree, but they are not interested in Huston Street. The other possibility is Greg Maddux, who would allow the Dodgers to move another starter to the bullpen.
  • The Indians’ primary goal now is to deal Paul Byrd.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Mets Actively Looking For Corner Outfielder

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Update 1:39 p.m.: Now that the Dodgers have acquired Blake, the Mets have turned their attention to Brian Giles.

Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Mets are one of three teams that have inquired on the availability of Giles. He also notes that the Mets are often asked about Fernando Martinez, to whom the Padres offered $1MM as an amateur.

The Cardinals and Brewers are the other two teams.

—

Adam Rubin of the NY Daily News reports the Mets have narrowed their focus on obtaining a corner outfielder. A team insider told Rubin the team could trade for Casey Blake, Jason Bay, or Raul Ibañez next week.

The approach would be to wait until after the non-waiver trade deadline in hopes that the currently exorbitant asking price for said outfielders would relax.

Reading between the lines:

Now that the Pirates traded Xavier Nady to the Yankees, Rubin believes it might change their plans on Bay.

Bay has expressed his desire to remain with the Pirates, as the possibility that they give him an extension and rebuild around him exists.

The Mets have been mentioned in Ibañez rumors for a few weeks now, but the surfacing of Blake’s name as an option could mean they didn’t match up well with the Mariners on a deal.

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Comments? Rumors? alexo05 [at] umpbump [daught] com.   

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