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Astros Don’t Expect To Trade More Players

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The Astros traded Ivan Rodriguez to the Rangers yesterday, but don't expect more deals soon. GM Ed Wade told Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle that he expects to hold onto the rest of his players this month.

"This is absolutely a stand-alone, isolated move," Wade said.

If Roy Oswalt were in charge, this would just be the beginning. He wants the team to focus on winning next year so he sees the Pudge trade as "a good way to start" preparing for 2010. LaTroy Hawkins, Miguel Tejada and Jose Valverde all become free agents after the season, but, based on Wade's statement, it doesn't sound like they'll be traded.

Stark On Royals, Phillies, Holliday

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ESPN.com's Jayson Stark asks some thoughtful baseball people why we're not greeting Manny Ramirez like the "team-wrecking, alibi-distorting, female-fertility-drug-popping scoundrel he is." And, of course, Stark has piles of rumors. Here they are:

  • The Mets were never willing to move Bobby Parnell or other top young arms for Mark DeRosa, so they weren't as close to acquiring him as the Reds and Cubs were. The Phillies, Marlins and Giants were also in the mix.
  • The Indians are more interested in dealing Rafael Bentancourt than Kerry Wood, whose contract ($15MM remaining) would be hard to move.  
  • The Royals will listen on anyone but Zack Greinke, but that doesn't mean they're looking to deal starters. They're "reluctant" to deal Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies or Gil Meche, who has a no-trade clause.
  • The Phillies were looking at Juan Cruz, who the Royals say they'd only deal for an upper-tier prospect ready to make a big-league impact.  
  • The Reds will wait it out and ramp up their pursuit of a bat if they're in the race later in the month.  
  • One executive says Pedro Martinez didn't look bad in last month's workout; Pedro's just demanding too much money. 
  • The Phillies haven't given up on pursuing Cliff Lee, Erik Bedard or Roy Oswalt.  
  • The Braves are trying to deal Jeff Francoeur everywhere, but no one's interested. One front-office guy says his team would be interested if Francoeur's non-tendered.  
  • Officials are divided on whether Yunel Escobar could be dealt, but a trade is unlikely at best.  
  • Rangers GM Jon Daniels says he is now looking to bolster his rotation.  
  • As expected, Daniels confirmed that the Rangers will have "limited" ability to take on salary at the deadline. 
  • The A's will want "two prospects with tremendous upside" for Matt Holliday if they deal him. It's unclear how much of the $6.75MM remaining on his contract the A's would pick up.
  • Could Josh Willingham be the next-best bat on the market? One exec says he might be if Russell Branyan and Miguel Tejada don't become available.  
  • Another official says Willingham's unappealing because of his back issues.  

Heyman On Valentine, Strasburg, Atkins

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Jon Heyman of SI.com reports that the Nationals have already begun searching for a long-term manager, even though Manny Acta remains in charge. Here's what Heyman's hearing about a Nationals team that's been the center of attention recently:

  • The Nationals are considering Bobby Valentine, who has a history of transforming losing teams into winners. Valentine's managing the Chiba Lotte Marines now, but they're not expected to bring him back after the season ends in November.
  • Acting GM Mike Rizzo, is expected to become the full-time GM eventually.
  • One small-market GM said he would have been prepared to spend $15-20MM on Stephen Strasburg if the phenom has slipped to his team on draft day.  
  • Heyman says the record-setting bonus Strasburg will receive won't change bonuses as we know them because he's an exceptional player who can demand more than others.  
  • Now that Jake Peavy's hurt and the Padres won't be able to deal him soon, no-trade clauses seem less appealing to GMs. Braves GM Frank Wren doesn't hand them out, and he says it's never prevented him from signing a player.
  • It still doesn't look like Roy Oswalt will be dealt.  
  • The market for Brad Penny hasn't been great so far, but he could be more appealing to teams, without Peavy and Oswalt as options.
  • Garrett Atkins makes $7MM, so it's not likely he'll be traded, but the Rockies may decide they're buyers, rather than sellers, if they continue to win.
  • Jonathan Sanchez is on the market, but some scouts aren't impressed with his stuff.
  • The A's plan to build around their young pitching.  

Morosi’s Latest: Orioles, Cardinals, Rangers

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FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi writes that with the Orioles buried in fifth place in the AL East, look for the team to start moving some of their veterans. Morosi cites an "industry executive" who says that several teams have called about Aubrey Huff and Luke Scott, both lefthanded bats with some thump. He suggests that the Reds, Tigers, Giants and Braves could match up in a deal, noting that the Tigers pursued both Huff and Scott three years ago.

Here's the rest of Morosi's rumors:

  • Triple-A outfielder Wilkin Ramirez is one of Detroit's best trade chips.
  • Morosi echoes reports that the Cardinals are looking for a bat.
  • One scout says that Miguel Tejada's defense has been better than most give him credit for. I can't imagine that will play a big role in determining his trade value, though.
  • Texas is looking for an upgrade for their rotation, and would likely be in on Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt if they are made available.
  • It's increasingly unlikely that the Red Sox will make a move for a shortstop with Nick Green holding his own and Jed Lowrie close to returning from a wrist injury.

Astros Owner McLane On Young Talent

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Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle reports that Astros owner Drayton McLane says it's time to strengthen the franchise by commiting to "young talent." The Astros are a veteran team, in last place with a 23-29 record, so McLane says he wants to focus on building from the bottom up:

"We have to make a stronger investment and smarter picks in the draft. You've got to invest in young talent. To do that, you need patience, and that's hard for me."

McLane has tried to keep the Astros in contention every year and he says he hasn't given up on a 2009 comeback, but he understands reinvesting in youth won't necessarily lead to instant results.

"That doesn't always happen in baseball. We spend $4MM to $6MM in the draft every year, but we haven't always made good decisions."

McLane adds that he wants Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman to retire as Astros. Oswalt is not on the block and McLane says he'd try to talk either player out of requesting a trade if they ever approached him about a deal.

McLane: “Zero Discussion” About Trading Oswalt

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According to Newsday's Ken Davidoff Astros owner Drayton McLane says there has been "absolutely zero discussion" about trading Roy Oswalt. McLane calls Oswalt a "cornerstone" of his team and says he values his "personal relationship" with the pitcher. McLane denies there's any truth to the speculation that Oswalt could be dealt.

"I am not sure where this rumor began, but it was untrue," he says.

Odds And Ends: Oswalt, Pirates, Glavine

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More links for Thursday afternoon as we wait for Randy Johnson to take his first crack at the 300-win plateau …

Odds And Ends: Peavy, Cards, Strasburg

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More links for Tuesday…

White Sox, Astros Not Discussing Oswalt Trade

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According to Dave van Dyck of The Chicago Tribune, White Sox GM Kenny Williams squelched rumors of his team's interest in Roy Oswalt today, saying, "I haven't talked to the Houston Astros about any pitching whatsoever."

Speculation about a deal for Oswalt heated up when The Tribune's Mark Gonzales noted on Friday that White Sox special assistant Bill Scherrer was following the Astros. According to van Dyck, Williams said today that "he didn't even know Scherrer was there."

Yesterday, we heard that Oswalt would invoke his no trade clause if Chicago tried to acquire him. So unless both sides are playing things very close to the vest, it seems that we can put this rumor to rest.

Heyman On Phillies Rotation Options

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SI.com's Jon Heyman spoke with Ruben Amaro Jr. and heard that the Phillies GM is after "depth at the top of the rotation." Here are the specifics of Heyman's analysis:

  • The Phillies want a "more established" player than Antonio Bastardo to replace the injured Brett Myers.
  • Amaro admits that swinging a deal is "tough to do" even with expendable young players like John Mayberry Jr., Lou Marson, Carlos Carrasco and Jason Donald.
  • Jake Peavy remains a logical fit, but there's no indication he'd accept a deal to Philly.  
  • Erik Bedard, at $7.75MM this year, fits within the Phillies' budget.  
  • Heyman agrees with Buster Olney: there's no guarantee Roy Oswalt will be dealt, but he would interest the Phillies.
  • Cliff Lee hasn't hit the market and Blue Jays people maintain that Roy Halladay isn't available, but Amaro isn't shying away from any top pitchers that become available. He says he wants "the best [he] can get." It appears that Brad Penny would not be enough for Philadelphia.
  • Chris Young and Aaron Harang are names to watch out for, as they could become available. 
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