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Willy Taveras

Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Taveras, Atkins

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4:54pm: More Rockies chatter from Troy Renck.  The Rockies intend to sort out the Holliday/Atkins trade situations before moving on to other concerns such as the bullpen.  They do like the idea of bringing Jeremy Affeldt back, though.  Renck has the Twins and Indians kicking the tires on Atkins, while Tracy Ringolsby believes Michael Cuddyer could be a fit for Colorado.

11:18am: The latest Rockies buzz…

  • Buster Olney says the Rockies are very motivated to move Matt Holliday.  Olney wonders if the Rox might end up taking a bit less than expected for him.  Troy Renck says various execs see the A’s and Phillies as the most likely matches for Holliday.  The Rays are another possibility.  GM Dan O’Dowd will be open-minded about the return.
  • Renck also says the White Sox have contacted the Rockies about Willy Taveras.
  • Renck talked to the agent for Doug Brocail, Brandon Lyon, and Kyle Farnsworth.  All three are open to pitching in Colorado.
  • Tracy Ringolsby says the Rockies have had "initial talks" with the Twins regarding Garrett Atkins.  He wonders if the Angels could jump in later.
  • Ringolsby suggests Brad Penny would be an interesting candidate for the Rockies.

White Sox Shopping Vazquez, Swisher?

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8:43pm: Ken Davidoff says the Yankees had "extremely preliminary" talks with the Sox regarding Swisher.  Something to keep an eye on if the Yanks don’t sign Mark Teixeira.  Additionally, Davidoff says the White Sox are not anxious to unload Vazquez.

9:42am: According to Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune, the White Sox are aggressively shopping Javier Vazquez and Nick Swisher.  Additionally, the Sox reportedly have interest in Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras.

GM Ken Williams didn’t offer much info regarding possible trade talks.  Van Dyck speculates on names like Luis Castillo or Julio Lugo for Vazquez, seemingly suggesting Vazquez has a terrible contract too.  Hard to figure out, as he remains a useful mid-rotation starter. Sox Machine wants the abuse of logic to stop. 

Van Dyck wonders whether the A’s or Red Sox would have interest in Swisher, based on some tenuous Moneyball connection.  Joel Sherman believes Swisher could be a fit for the Yankees due to his versatility.  Williams replied in the negative when asked whether Swisher would play center field for the ’09 White Sox, which could be interpreted multiple ways.

Van Dyck says the Rockies wouldn’t have interest in Vazquez or Swisher, but rather a young pitcher like Lance Broadway for Taveras.

Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Atkins, Podsednik

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Let’s check in on the Rockies next.

  • Matt Holliday may be selling his Denver-area home, not that it means anything.  Tracy Ringolsby has the Nationals, Rays, Cardinals, and Mets as teams interested in Holliday.  Meanwhile, Troy E. Renck explores a Yankees scenario.
  • Renck can’t see the Rox trading both Holliday and Garrett Atkins.  Ringolsby says the Angels are more interested in Atkins than Holliday.  Renck has the Indians and Twins as suitors for Atkins.
  • Scott Podsednik is open to returning to the Rockies, and they could have a place for him if Willy Taveras is dealt.
  • Renck expects the Rockies to be in on Carl Pavano if the Yankees don’t re-sign him.

Rockies Shopping Holliday, Atkins, Taveras

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9:11pm: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves are not interested in Taveras after all.

10:47am: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post and Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, the Rockies are shopping Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, and Willy Taveras.

Holliday, a Scott Boras client, is set to earn $13.5MM in 2009 before reaching free agency.  Ringolsby says the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Mets, and Phillies have shown interest. Renck has the Cardinals as a lurker.  The Nats may also be interested.  The Rockies will target young pitching in return.

Atkins is under team control for 2009 and 2010.  Ringolsby has the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Mets, Phillies, White Sox, and Twins as interested parties.  Renck sees the Indians as another possibility.

Taveras is also under team control through 2010.  Ringolsby says the Royals, Yankees, White Sox, and Braves are in on him, while Renck adds the Nationals.

Will Rockies Trade Taveras?

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Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras hit .251/.308/.296 in 538 plate appearances this year, a major drain on the team’s offense.  Defensively, Taveras had a big year in 2006 but has been below average since.  Quad and knee injuries may be the culprit, though Taveras has been able to steal bases.

Taveras wants to play every day, but it probably won’t be for the Rockies.  Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post fully expects him to be traded this winter.  Taveras was claimed off waivers in August, possibly by the Nationals, Phillies, or Mets (obviously no trade agreement was reached).  Taveras is arbitration-eligible, and there’s been no indication the Rockies are considering non-tendering him.

Today Renck suggested Taveras for Ian Kennedy is "not a longshot."  River Ave. Blues hates the idea, noting that the Yankees already have two superior center fielders on the roster.

White Sox Offseason Possibilities

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I did a White Sox Offseason Outlook earlier this month, rattling off available speedy players and also suggesting a Bobby Jenks trade be explored.  Today, Chicago Tribune beat writer Mark Gonzales offers his take on the Sox.

Gonzales sees Juan Uribe and Toby Hall as two players the White Sox hope to re-sign, with Hall at a lower salary than his $2.25MM option.  Orlando Cabrera, Ken Griffey Jr., and Joe Crede will be gone.  Cabrera is good for two draft picks if the Sox offer arbitration and he signs elsewhere.

Gonzales wonders if a Paul Konerko for Chone Figgins trade could take shape, but only if the White Sox add players.  Konerko is owed $24MM for 2009-10, with full no-trade rights. Figgins should earn $5MM+ in ’09 before he hits free agency for the first time.  It may be hard to get the Angels interested – Figgins fits their club, and they’ll try to re-sign Mark Teixeira.  Kendry Morales may be the backup plan at first.

Gonzales sees the Rockies as another potential trade partner for Sox GM Ken Williams, naming Garrett Atkins and Willy Taveras as potential matches. Taveras may be had for a song, but Atkins should require young pitching.

A few free agents to consider: Orlando Hudson, Dennys Reyes, and Alex Cora.

Rockies Rumors: Atkins, Holliday, Barmes

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Let’s see what we can find in three new columns from Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post today.

  • I wrote last week that the Rockies would come in a bit under $80MM after arbitration raises.  Renck pegs it around $75MM.
  • The team’s plan is to shop Garrett Atkins for a frontline starter.  If the interest is not there (why would it be?), they could switch to Matt Holliday.  Renck ponders Matt Cain and a prospect to Colorado, but that is a lot to give up for one year of Holliday.  Plus the Giants are not looking to add an outfielder.
  • Dave Krieger of the Rocky Mountain News analyzes whether the Rockies could afford to re-sign Holliday.  He believes they could, but doesn’t expect them to go past five years.
  • Renck sees Clint Barmes as the starting second baseman heading into ’09.  Barmes could earn around $1.7MM as a first-time arbitration player.
  • Manager Clint Hurdle admitted his starters are more like #2-5s, so it’d be perfect to add a #1 and push them all back.  #1 starters are hard to come by, of course.
  • Yorvit Torrealba isn’t happy as a backup but the Rockies aren’t looking to trade him.  Meanwhile Willy Taveras is a non-tender candidate.
  • The Rockies hope to re-sign free agent Glendon Rusch.

Odds And Ends: Taveras, Brewers, Kent

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A few notes from around the MLBiverse…

  • Troy E. Renck says Willy Taveras prefers to stay with the Rockies, despite being claimed off waivers. Taveras speculates that he was claimed by either the Yankees or the Nationals. Renck says it is unlikely that Taveras will be traded during the season.
  • Tom Haudricourt is reporting that the Brewers don’t expect to make any deals prior to tonight’s deadline to acquire players that would be eligible for the post-season.
  • Tony Jackson of the LA Daily News is reporting that Jeff Kent’s knee injury could be career-ending. Kent is contemplating retirement following the season. He is not signed for ’09.

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

Fuentes, Taveras Placed On Waivers

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3:25pm: Rosenthal says Fuentes’ trip to the bereavement list pretty much kills the chances of a trade.

WEDNESDAY, 10:55am: Troy E. Renck weighs in, suggesting that Taveras might clear waivers.  The Nationals like him, but don’t want to add payroll.  He expects the Dodgers, Rays, and Cardinals to put in claims on Fuentes (the Dodgers would win).  The price remains a premium young starter, even though now the receiving team would get one less month of Fuentes.

TUESDAY: As expected, the Rockies have placed closer Brian Fuentes and center fielder Willy Taveras on waivers.  Ken Rosenthal does not expect either player to clear.

As Rosenthal says, the Rockies will still require a return superior to two draft picks for Fuentes.  He is certain to sign a multiyear deal elsewhere in the offseason.  The Dodgers have first crack among contenders, though a non-contender could put in a claim just for sport.

Taveras is under team control through 2010, unless he is non-tendered before then.  The speedy 26 year-old is hitting just .264/.316/.312 in 465 plate appearances.

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