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Trade Candidates: Middle Infielders

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The Mets, Reds, Cardinals, Twins, Cubs, Brewers and Giants could all potentially look for middle infield help. Here are some trade candidates, listed from largest 2009 salary to smallest:

  • Miguel Tejada – His $13MM salary would be too much for some teams if the Astros made him available, but his 32 extra base hits and low strikeout numbers sure look good.
  • Julio Lugo – He makes $9MM this year and the same amount next year, so the Red Sox would presumably take on salary in any deal. The 33-year-old is hitting .370 since the beginning of June.
  • Cristian Guzman – At $8MM this year and next he's not cheap, but he's consistently hit for a high average in recent years.
  • Jack Wilson – He makes $7.25MM this year and his team will have to buy him out for $600k to avoid paying him even more in 2010. However, he's a good defender who puts the ball in play and has doubles power.
  • Freddy Sanchez – He'll make over $6MM this year and his 2010 option for $8MM will likely vest. It's a lot of money, but the former batting titlist is a better hitter than most middle infield trade candidates.
  • Dan Uggla -  The most powerful option available may not be available, after all. The Marlins are in it, so they may keep Uggla and his $3.5MM salary.
  • Orlando Cabrera – He's posted a .610 OPS this year and he'll make $4MM- not an enticing combination, but the A's are falling far out of the race.
  • Felipe Lopez – At just $3.5MM, his .771 OPS looks good, in spite of the big strikeout total.  
  • Jamey Carroll - As a free agent-to-be on the Indians, he's a candidate to be moved. The 35-year-old has a .735 OPS to go along with his $2.5MM salary.  
  • Cesar Izturis – He'll earn $2.4MM this year and $2.6MM in 2010. He's on the DL, recovering from an apendectomy, and his slow recovery is making it less likely that he'll be traded.
  • Yuniesky Betancourt – His $2MM salary is deceptive, as he's still guaranteed about $10MM before his deal expires. That figure, plus his .609 OPS mean he'll likely be staying put, but he could be had. 
  • John McDonald – He's barely played at all for the Jays, but McDonald, who makes $1.9MM,  could work for a team looking for a defensive specialist. 
  • Yunel Escobar – He makes just $425k this year and Buster Olney says the Braves would consider dealing him for a bat.
  • Blake DeWitt – The Dodgers have Orlando Hudson playing second base, so DeWitt could be expendable. He's making just $405k, but his Triple A numbers are uninspired.
  • Adam Kennedy – The A's are just paying Kennedy the major league minimum and he's produced an OPS approaching .800 for them. 

Mariners Trade Talk

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Rounding up links involving possible Mariners trades…

  • Start with Jon Paul Morosi's article at FOX Sports.  Morosi talked to Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, who is in no hurry and has not received any offers yet.  Seattle, at six games out in the AL West, is technically still focused on the pennant race.
  • SI's Jon Heyman writes about Erik Bedard, who may just be the best pitcher available this summer.  His contract's not a problem, and I should mention that unlike Jake Peavy, Bedard does not have no-trade protection.  Heyman believes that Bedard would probably require a better package than the one the White Sox were going to send to San Diego for Peavy.  He likes the Phillies, White Sox, and Brewers as possible suitors.
  • Heyman rattles off other Mariners trade candidates when the time comes:  Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista, Adrian Beltre, Yuniesky Betancourt, and Russell Branyan.  In his article, Morosi wondered if now is the time to sell high on reliever David Aardsma.
  • Larry LaRue of The News Tribune has the local take. 

Rosenthal On Astros, Marquis, DeRosa, Francoeur

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Let's take a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • Rosenthal recommends the Astros trade veterans to improve their bottom-ranked farm system.  He'd especially like to see Houston make Roy Oswalt available.  They'd have take Oswalt's no-trade clause into consideration.
  • The Phillies continue to seek a starter, and they made an inquiry on Colorado's Jason Marquis.  Rosenthal finds Erik Bedard "perhaps the most intriguing fit" and notes that the Phils probably have flexibility to add payroll.  This question came up in a recent chat…I do think the Phillies have the pieces to pull off a Bedard trade.
  • The Brewers are not going after Cleveland's Mark DeRosa, as they cannot spare Major League pitching for him.  Rosenthal also finds Jake Peavy unlikely, as the Brewers probably couldn't pull off a deal without creating a new need.  Of Peavy, Rosenthal says, "He will not leave easily."
  • The Mets are interested in Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson, who is off to a .338/.445/.471 start.
  • The Royals might be the top suitor for Jeff Francoeur if the Braves shop him, but not everyone in Kansas City's front office is keen on him.  The Red Sox are known to have an eye on Francoeur.
  • Rosenthal's heard speculation that the Sox could trade Daniel Bard, whose value may be at a high point.
  • Rather than acquire someone like Yuniesky Betancourt, the Padres will stick with in-house options at shortstop (mainly Luis Rodriguez and Everth Cabrera, once they're healthy).

Mariners, Padres Discuss Betancourt

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9:36pm: Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune outlines the difficulties the Mariners face in trying to deal Yuniesky Betancourt. "No one is offering any talent back, and everyone wants Seattle to eat a big part of his salary," LaRue writes.

LaRue also cites Betancourt's reputation for mental lapses and a "slow learning curve" as deterrents for teams looking for infield help.

6:20pm: Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune cites a source close to the Padres who says that Headley is "off the table" in trade talks. He writes, "Yuni may be traded, but it won't be for Chase Headley."

Furthermore, Divish writes that any deal for Betancourt is unlikely, since the Padres are trying to dump payroll.

8:26am: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says Mariners shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt is being showcased for a possible trade.  He mentioned the Jack Wilson idea on Monday, though that seemed lopsided.  Baker says the Padres have also discussed acquiring Betancourt:

Two names I've heard mentioned as trade returns for the Mariners would be either a package of, or choice between switch-hitting left fielder Chase Headley  and Class AAA second baseman Matt Antonelli. I'm trying to pin down whether it is one or the other, or both, being offered up.

Baker says the Padres dangled the names of Headley and Antonelli, though moving Headley to get Betancourt seems highly unlikely.  Plus there is the matter of the $10.5MM coming to Betancourt through 2011.

Jack Wilson-Yuniesky Betancourt Not Happening

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THURSDAY: Baker has an update: the Pirates find Betancourt too pricey.  Baker is surprised by this, but it seems reasonable to me that they would not want to take on an additional $4MM+ for that kind of project.

MONDAY: According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, the Pirates and Mariners have discussed swapping shortstops Jack Wilson and Yuniesky Betancourt.  Let's break down the details.

  • Wilson, 31, is hitting .254/.289/.310 in 77 plate appearances this year; he missed time with a sprained finger.  He's owed another $5.59MM this year plus a $600K buyout for 2010, for a total of about $6.2MM.  He has a limited no-trade clause that applies to six teams.  Wilson approached the Bucs in March about a possible extension.  John Dewan of The Fielding Bible rated him as the third-best defensive shortstop in the game.
  • Betancourt, 27, is hitting .264/.290/.368 in 132 plate appearances this year.  Earlier this month, manager Don Wakamatsu benched Betancourt to send him a message.  In his book, Dewan rated Betancourt the fourth-worst defensive shortstop in baseball.  Under his contract signed in April of 2007, Betancourt will earn $1.53MM more this year, $3MM in 2010, $4MM in 2011, and a $2MM buyout in 2012 for a total of about $10.5MM. 
  • Given the $4.3MM difference in guaranteed money, I can't see why the Pirates would entertain a deal like this.  Betancourt would be more appealing if he was not locked up.  Even then, he's a project.

Royals May Be Done

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Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star talked to Royals GM Dayton Moore, who suggested he might not be able to do much more this winter due to payroll limitations.  After arbitration raises, the Royals should be close to their $60MM budget.  So don’t look for any big free agent signings unless a player is moved to create payroll room.

Dutton says rumors continue to link the Royals to outmakers Jeff Francoeur and Yuniesky Betancourt.  Dutton asked Moore why he seemingly ignored his OBP plan for Mike Jacobs, and Moore said he can only take advantage of the players who are available. Joe Posnanski comments on the recent rumors.

Elsewhere, Ken Rosenthal and Keith Law are saying the Royals hope to sign Greinke to a long-term deal.  If that fails, the 25 year-old hurler could be available.

Royals Rumors: Francoeur, Butler, Ibanez, Greinke

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Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star has several Royals rumors this morning…

  • Dutton says the Braves appear willing to trade Jeff Francoeur.  While no trade talks have taken place, it’s known that Royals GM Dayton Moore is a fan.  Dutton speculates that the Royals would not give up Zack Greinke for Francoeur, but may consider offering Luke Hochevar, Danny Cortes, or Mark Teahen.
  • The Royals and Mariners discussed a Billy Butler for Yuniesky Betancourt trade before the ’07 season, and Dutton wonders if Seattle’s new GM could reignite those talks.
  • Dutton says the Mark Teahen to Cleveland rumor "just won’t die," despite Moore labeling it an "absolute lie" on October 27th.  It may be that Teahen is on the Indians’ list but no talks have occurred.
  • Will the Royals offer arbitration to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek?  He’s a Type B free agent, so it’s under consideration.  The risk is that he accepts.
  • Another Royals rumor from Ken Davidoff of Newsday: they’ve expressed an interest in bringing Raul Ibanez back to Kansas City.  The Mets and Cubs are other known suitors.
  • ESPN’s Keith Law says the Royals would like to sign Zack Greinke to a long-term deal, but if that fails they would make him available. Greinke, 25, is under team control for two more seasons.

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