Headlines

  • Braves Select Craig Kimbrel
  • Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox
  • White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel
  • Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!
  • Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain
  • MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2025
    • Free Agent Contest Leaderboard
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Scott Downs

Quiet Deadline For Blue Jays

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 31, 2010 at 8:49pm CDT

Many of the best trade chips in baseball play for the Toronto Blue Jays, but the team held onto all of them when their rivals didn’t meet the club’s asking price. Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, Kevin Gregg, Jose Bautista and John Buck remain in Toronto for one simple reason: in the end, no team presented GM Alex Anthopoulos with an overwhelming offer.

“I don’t think we were that close today,” Anthopoulos said. “There were things we had on the table that were available to us, but not enough to make us make a trade.”

A year ago today, the Jays held onto the biggest trade chip in baseball: Roy Halladay. This season Anthopoulos targeted the same kinds of players that his predecessor, J.P. Ricciardi did.

“The greatest challenge we have is getting those elite players,” Anthopoulos said. “We’re always going to continue to shoot high and try to get those impact players.”

Multiple teams considered Scott Downs an impact reliever. The 34-year-old may have been the best left-handed reliever available, but he remains a Blue Jay. After a few months, the rumors and speculation became a bigger part of everyday life for Blue Jays relievers.

“It started to,” Downs said. “I can’t lie, it started to a little bit, but it’s a business.”

Downs, Frasor, Gregg and Buck could potentially bring the Blue Jays draft picks in the 2011 draft. If the four players maintain their current standings in the Elias rankings and all turn down offers of arbitration from the Blue Jays, the team could be working with as many as six extra picks in next year’s draft. It’s a big ‘if,’ but one the Blue Jays were keenly aware of.

“It’s absolutely part of the criteria,” Anthopoulos said. “You look at players that are free agents that could have compensation attached to them and you have a lot of options.”

Many teams liked Jose Bautista, but the MLB home run leader is still in Toronto. As far as he’s concerned, that’s a good thing.

“There were a lot of rumors out there,” Bautista said. “But the end result is I’m still here and this is where I wanted to be.”

The July 31st deadline means the end of non-waiver trades, but there’s still the potential for deals. Anthopoulos expects to explore trade possibilities next month, but most of his trade chips wouldn’t clear waivers. August will likely be quieter than July, but the Blue Jays are open to making deals.

“I’d say we’d be active in terms of exploring the waiver wire, talking to clubs, but in terms of actually getting a deal done, impossible to say,” Anthopoulos said. 

Share 0 Retweet 7 Send via email0

Toronto Blue Jays Jason Frasor John Buck Jose Bautista Kevin Gregg Scott Downs

0 comments

Multiple Teams Eyeing Brandon League

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 31, 2010 at 2:06pm CDT

2:06pm: Aside from the Dodgers and Rays, add the Marlins to the mix for League according to Stark.  Not a big surprise.

1:51pm: The Rays are unlikely to make a deal today, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark.

1:41pm: The Dodgers are also in on League, tweets Ken Rosenthal.

1:13pm: The Rays are interested in Scott Downs and Brandon League, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter links). Tampa Bay added Chad Qualls this morning, but lost Grant Balfour to the DL for 4-6 weeks with an intercostal strain (Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reporting on Twitter). 

Downs and his former teammate, League, will not come cheap, according to Sherman, but the Rays continue looking for relief help despite a thin, highly-priced market. The Giants may be in serious talks with the Blue Jays regarding Downs and reportedly have interest in League, too.

Share 0 Retweet 7 Send via email0

Brandon League Los Angeles Dodgers Miami Marlins Seattle Mariners Tampa Bay Rays Toronto Blue Jays Scott Downs

0 comments

Giants, Blue Jays In Serious Talks For Downs Or Frasor?

By Tim Dierkes | July 31, 2010 at 11:36am CDT

The Giants and Blue Jays are in serious talks for either Scott Downs or Jason Frasor, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports disagees, saying the Giants have no interest in Frasor and can't find common ground on Downs.

ESPN's Jayson Stark tweets that the Blue Jays have lowered the price on Frasor, but not on Downs or Jose Bautista.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

San Francisco Giants Toronto Blue Jays Jason Frasor Scott Downs

0 comments

Blue Jays May Keep Downs; Asking Price Still High

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 30, 2010 at 6:51pm CDT

6:51pm: The Blue Jays aren't lowering the asking price for any of their relievers, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter). Toronto's front office has told teams around the league that they'll keep their relievers, offer arbitration and receive draft picks if they don't see offers they like, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale (via Twitter).

3:12pm: Rival teams believe the Blue Jays may end up keeping Scott Downs, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos continues to drive a hard bargain, so the Blue Jays may keep the lefty and offer him arbitration after the season. 

At least one team might meet Toronto’s demands. The Twins, who traded top catching prospect Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps, haven’t stopped pursuing Downs, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). However, the Twins are “not likely” to acquire Downs as it stands now. The Red Sox are not at the forefront of the Downs discussions, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com (Twitter link).

Downs may be pitching in Toronto after the deadline passes, but the Blue Jays are likely to lower their asking price for relievers Kevin Gregg and Jason Frasor.

Share 0 Retweet 10 Send via email0

Boston Red Sox Minnesota Twins Toronto Blue Jays Jason Frasor Kevin Gregg Scott Downs

61 comments

Morosi On Giants, Downs, Myers, Tigers

By Luke Adams 2 | July 30, 2010 at 12:10am CDT

Let's check out the latest updates from Jon Paul Morosi at FOX Sports….

  • The Giants continue to search for a left-handed reliever, with Jeremy Affeldt and Dan Runzler injured. While we've heard the club had been eyeing lefties such as Will Ohman and Scott Downs, Morosi indicates that, like every other team that has inquired on Downs, the Giants weren't enthused by Toronto's asking price. CSNBayArea.com's Mychael Urban (via Twitter) reports that the Giants are "working hard" to complete a trade tonight, though there's no indication of whether it would be for bullpen help or another piece.
  • Starters like Ted Lilly and Brett Myers appear unlikely to be traded to Minnesota. The Twins would need to overpay to pry Myers away from the Astros.
  • The Tigers aren't looking to make a blockbuster deal, but could still make minor moves to upgrade their roster. The club doesn't want to "overexpose" their young players, which played a part in their acquisition of Jhonny Peralta. A bullpen addition is still a possibility for the Tigers, who were scouting the Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
Share 0 Retweet 4 Send via email0

Detroit Tigers Minnesota Twins San Francisco Giants Toronto Blue Jays Brett Myers Scott Downs Ted Lilly

39 comments

Asking Price For Scott Downs

By Tim Dierkes | July 28, 2010 at 8:02pm CDT

8:02pm: The Blue Jays are asking the Mets for a top prospect in exchange for Downs according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (via Twitter). The Twins have assigned a scout to watch the Blue Jays' relievers, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

7:48am: Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has the best reliever available in Scott Downs, and he knows it.  Check out these asking prices for two months of Downs' services, courtesy of George A. King III of the New York Post: Joba Chamberlain or Jesus Montero from the Yankees, Casey Kelly or Jose Iglesias from the Red Sox (Montero link from SI's Jon Heyman via Twitter).  With almost 80 hours remaining until the trade deadline, it doesn't hurt to ask.

Other teams are also trying to buy low on Chamberlain, who sports a 5.95 ERA, 10.0 K/9, and 3.6 BB/9 in 42.3 relief innings this year.  The Diamondbacks also tried to get Chamberlain as part of a Dan Haren deal.  Joba is under team control through 2013 and arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season.

Regarding the Yankees' search for a bench bat, King says they've spoken to the Orioles about Ty Wigginton.  The O's are dangling Miguel Tejada, who's generated only lukewarm interest from the Yanks.  Tejada is said to be the Phillies' primary infield target.  As for a Yankees-Orioles deal, SI's Jon Heyman tweeted two days ago that O's owner Peter Angelos doesn't want to trade with his division rival.

Share 0 Retweet 8 Send via email0

Arizona Diamondbacks Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Toronto Blue Jays Casey Kelly Dan Haren Jesus Montero Joba Chamberlain Jose Iglesias Miguel Tejada Scott Downs Ty Wigginton

249 comments

Sherman on Phillies, A’s, Blue Jays

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 28, 2010 at 3:23pm CDT

Some of the biggest trade chips have already been moved, some contenders are dropping out of the race and few teams seem willing to take on salary. All of these factors give MLB executives the sense that this trade deadline could be a quiet one, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Lots can happen in the coming three days, so here are Sherman’s latest rumors:

  • One NL scout says the Phillies are “the most active team out there.”
  • The A’s think their young pitching will keep them in contention next year. The club expects to be able to afford a major power hitter like Adam Dunn this offseason.
  • The Blue Jays tell rival teams that they are content to keep Scott Downs, Kevin Gregg, Jason Frasor and John Buck. The Jays claim they’d offer arbitration to all four, but some teams believe they’re just posturing. Frasor (barely) and Downs project as Type A free agents, while Buck and Gregg project as Type Bs. Click here for the details, but essentially the Jays could obtain six top picks in 2011 if all four players turn down arbitration to sign elsewhere.
  • Toronto officials say Downs would earn a contract comparable to Darren Oliver ($3.5MM) or Jeremy Affeldt ($4.5MM) if he accepts arbitration.
  • Twelve teams have called on Downs and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports notes on Twitter that the Dodgers are a “longshot” to acquire the lefty. Ned Colletti & Co. have interest in the Jays’ relievers, according to Rosenthal.

Share 0 Retweet 9 Send via email0

Los Angeles Dodgers Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Phillies Toronto Blue Jays Jason Frasor John Buck Kevin Gregg Scott Downs

55 comments

Giants Eyeing Scott Downs, Brandon League

By Tim Dierkes | July 28, 2010 at 1:10pm CDT

Add the Giants to the teams pursuing Blue Jays lefty Scott Downs, based on this tweet from SI's Jon Heyman.  From the right side, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote last night that they are "investigating" Seattle's Brandon League.

Downs has drawn attention from the Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Reds, Twins, Dodgers, Rockies, and Phillies this month, but the asking price is huge at the moment.  It's been quieter on the League front, though the Tigers are known to be keeping tabs on him.  League holds the added appeal of being under team control through 2012.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Brandon League San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners Toronto Blue Jays Scott Downs

68 comments

Competition For Scott Downs Heating Up

By Luke Adams 2 | July 26, 2010 at 11:13pm CDT

MONDAY, 11:13pm: Talks between Blue Jays and Red Sox about a potential Downs deal aren’t currently progressing, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. However, things can change quickly in the week leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline, so the Blue Jays are still scouting Red Sox single A pitcher Roman Mendez, according to Alex Speier.

SUNDAY, 12:28pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Blue Jays' discussions involving Downs are drawing "fascination" from rival executives who are curious to see what Toronto can acquire. The Jays have been asking for a significant return in part because of Downs' Type A status, but some execs don't believe that should be a factor, and feel the Jays are demanding too much for a non-closer (all Twitter links).

9:14am: The competition in the Scott Downs sweepstakes is "fierce," tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi suggests that the Yankees and the Red Sox are the current front-runners, but that the Mets, Reds, and Twins are also involved.

In a year where the bullpen options are scarce, Downs stands out as not only the top left-handed arm available among an underwhelming group of southpaws, but also as one of the best overall relievers on the market. As MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith pointed out when he examined Downs' trade value, the lefty seems headed for Type A designation, meaning he could potentially be worth a pair of draft picks for whichever team he finishes the year with.

Besides the clubs Morosi names, the Dodgers, Rockies, and Phillies are among others that have been linked to Downs this month.

Share 1 Retweet 17 Send via email0

Boston Red Sox Cincinnati Reds Minnesota Twins New York Mets New York Yankees Toronto Blue Jays Scott Downs

144 comments

Odds & Ends: Sweeney, Downs, Martin

By Tim Dierkes | July 26, 2010 at 11:14am CDT

Links for Monday, as we celebrate the anniversary of the Mark DeRosa (2009), Casey Blake (2008), Xavier Nady (2008), and Ben Broussard (2006) trades.  More importantly, Chris Perez, Carlos Santana, Jose Tabata, and Shin-Soo Choo were surrendered for those veteran acquisitions.  The trade deadline is five days away; who will mortgage the future this year?

  • MLB.com's Adam McCalvy has good quotes from Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who said, "Teams talk, but they don't give you legitimate offers.  The toughest part is that teams don't want to take anybody off their Major League club. Teams will offer prospects in A-ball."  In the piece, McCalvy outlines Melvin's options regarding Prince Fielder.
  • Orioles owner Peter Angelos doesn't want to deal with the Yankees, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  That means one less trade partner for the Orioles as they try to move Ty Wigginton.
  • The Blue Jays reached a $600K agreement with second-round pick Kellen Sweeney, reports Baseball America's Jim Callis.  Sweeney, brother of A's outfielder Ryan, will move to third base to begin his pro career.  News of the agreement first surfaced Friday via Jeff Johnson of The Gazette. 
  • WEEI's Rob Bradford looks at Boston's bullpen options, noting that it'd be dangerous to overpay for Scott Downs.  The Jays continue to ask for an elite prospect for Downs, writes Bradford's colleague Alex Speier.  One exec who spoke to ESPN's Jayson Stark expects Toronto to continue "stoking fires" and wait until Friday or Saturday to trade Downs. 
  • Will the Dodgers, possibly reluctant to give Russell Martin another raise through arbitration, trade the catcher in the early offseason?  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports examines.
  • Speaking of the offseason, D'Backs CEO Derrick Hall says the team will be pursuing a closer and another reliever despite a decreasing payroll (Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reporting).
  • Dave Cameron of FanGraphs explains that MLB teams may view Dan Haren as less than an ace due to his tendency to allow home runs.  The Diamondbacks moved Haren at the worst possible time, says Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Share 0 Retweet 7 Send via email0

Arizona Diamondbacks Baltimore Orioles Boston Red Sox Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers New York Yankees Toronto Blue Jays Transactions Dan Haren Prince Fielder Russell Martin Scott Downs

24 comments
AJAX Loader
Load More Posts
Show all

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

  • Top Stories
  • Recent

Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

Jerry Reinsdorf, Justin Ishbia Reach Agreement For Ishbia To Obtain Future Majority Stake In White Sox

White Sox To Promote Kyle Teel

Sign Up For Trade Rumors Front Office Now And Lock In Savings!

Pablo Lopez To Miss Multiple Months With Teres Major Strain

MLB To Propose Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System For 2026

Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith

Reds Sign Wade Miley, Place Hunter Greene On Injured List

Padres Interested In Jarren Duran

Royals Promote Jac Caglianone

Mariners Promote Cole Young, Activate Bryce Miller

2025-26 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: May Edition

Evan Phillips To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

AJ Smith-Shawver Diagnosed With Torn UCL

Reds Trade Alexis Díaz To Dodgers

Rockies Sign Orlando Arcia

Ronel Blanco To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Joc Pederson Suffers Right Hand Fracture

Red Sox Promote Marcelo Mayer; Alex Bregman To IL With “Significant” Quad Strain

Royals Designate Hunter Renfroe For Assignment

Poll: Which Contender Should Be Most Aggressive On The Rotation Market?

Tigers Designate Akil Baddoo For Assignment

Rockies Release Jacob Stallings

Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript

Orioles Acquire Scott Blewett

Shane Bieber Scratched From Rehab Start Due To Elbow Soreness

Braves Select Craig Kimbrel

A’s Agree To Minor League Deals With Nick Martini, Aaron Brooks

Tigers To Select Jahmai Jones

Tyler Alexander Elects Free Agency

ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

Latest Rumors & News

Latest Rumors & News

  • 2024-25 Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions
  • Nolan Arenado Rumors
  • Dylan Cease Rumors
  • Luis Robert Rumors
  • Marcus Stroman Rumors

 

Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

MLBTR Features

MLBTR Features

  • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
  • Front Office Originals
  • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
  • MLBTR Podcast
  • 2024-25 Offseason Outlook Series
  • 2025 Arbitration Projections
  • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
  • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
  • Contract Tracker
  • Transaction Tracker
  • Extension Tracker
  • Agency Database
  • MLBTR On Twitter
  • MLBTR On Facebook
  • Team Facebook Pages
  • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

Rumors By Team

  • Angels Rumors
  • Astros Rumors
  • Athletics Rumors
  • Blue Jays Rumors
  • Braves Rumors
  • Brewers Rumors
  • Cardinals Rumors
  • Cubs Rumors
  • Diamondbacks Rumors
  • Dodgers Rumors
  • Giants Rumors
  • Guardians Rumors
  • Mariners Rumors
  • Marlins Rumors
  • Mets Rumors
  • Nationals Rumors
  • Orioles Rumors
  • Padres Rumors
  • Phillies Rumors
  • Pirates Rumors
  • Rangers Rumors
  • Rays Rumors
  • Red Sox Rumors
  • Reds Rumors
  • Rockies Rumors
  • Royals Rumors
  • Tigers Rumors
  • Twins Rumors
  • White Sox Rumors
  • Yankees Rumors

ad: 160x600_MLB

Navigation

  • Sitemap
  • Archives
  • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

MLBTR INFO

  • Advertise
  • About
  • Commenting Policy
  • Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Contact Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS Feed

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

hide arrows scroll to top

Register

Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version