Odds & Ends: Dodgers, Dunn, Duke, Pujols
Ten years ago today, the Giants signed Francisco Liriano as an amateur free agent. In 2003, the Giants famously (and regrettably) traded Joe Nathan, Boof Bonser and Liriano to the Twins for A.J. Pierzynski. Now 27, Liriano is in the midst of a fine season atop the Twins' rotation. Here are today's links…
- Brewers owner Mark Attanasio has interest in buying the Dodgers, according to Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse. However, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel hears that Attanasio does not have interest in the Dodgers (Twitter link).
- Krasovic also reports that the Padres have talked to former D’Backs manager A.J. Hinch about hiring him as their director of pro scouting.
- Adam Dunn is not likely to re-sign with the Nationals if you ask Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post. Boswell suggests the Nationals should sign Dunn, since power like his is hard to find.
- Zach Duke was a non-tender candidate before his start yesterday and, as Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explains, the lefty didn't do himself any favors by pitching just one-plus inning and allowing four runs. Kovacevic says "indications are powerful" that management will not tender Duke a contract offer through arbitration (though that wouldn't necessarily prevent a return to Pittsburgh).
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan argues that Cardinals fans are more concerned about Albert Pujols than either Colby Rasmus or Tony La Russa.
- D'Backs Interim manager Kirk Gibson has not had any discussions with ownership about managing after this year, but would like to return, according to Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic.
Stark On Rasmus, Jeter, Gonzalez, Morgan
If the Cardinals put Colby Rasmus on the trade market, they would “only get 60 or 70 cents on the dollar,” according to one MLB executive who spoke to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. Here’s a detailed look at potential suitors for Rasmus, and here are the rest of Stark’s rumors:
- Derek Jeter and agent Casey Close understand that the Yankees aren’t going to offer an embarrassingly low contract this winter. As Stark points out, the Yankees offered Jorge Posada a four-year deal heading into the season in which he turned 37. Posada was coming off of an MVP-caliber season, so the comparison only works to a point, but as many reporters have pointed out this week, Jeter is going nowhere and the Yankees aren’t going to low-ball him.
- Adrian Gonzalez probably won’t be on the trade market this winter, according to clubs that have spoken to the Padres. They’ll try to contend in 2011 and consider trading Gonzalez if they aren’t in contention next summer.
- Two scouts who cover the Nationals say they expect the team to shop Nyjer Morgan this winter. One of the scouts said there’s a “non-existent” chance that Washington keeps him.
Odds & Ends: Garrison, Red Sox, Werth, Cubs, Burnett
Labor Day linkage..
- Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter) thinks that the Padres would like to keep Steve Garrison, who they DFA'd earlier today. The lefty was protected by the club last winter.
- Having Lars Anderson and Anthony Rizzo waiting in the wings won't necessarily preclude Boston from retaining Adrian Beltre and/or Victor Martinez, says Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com (via Twitter).
- Jerry Crasnick of ESPN tweets that he's hearing a lot of speculation about Jayson Werth taking Scott Boras on as his agent. However, he also tweets that players tend to follow their teammates and he may be drawn to Arn Tellem as the agent secured Chase Utley's seven-year, $85MM deal with the Phillies.
- It may be time for the Cardinals and manager Tony La Russa to part ways, writes Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.
- A recent move by Cubs manager Mike Quade may have scored points with GM Jim Hendry, opines Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.
- Jayson Stark of ESPN (via Twitter) wonders aloud when A.J. Burnett will rank as a "full-fledged crisis" for the Yankees. Burnett is set to earn $16.5MM each season until 2013.
- It will be an active offseason for Boston, tweets Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com.
Padres Designate Steve Garrison For Assignment
The Padres have designated Steve Garrison for assignment, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com. The move was made in order to create space for outfielder Mike Baxter.
The lefty, who will turn 24 on Sunday, was acquired by the Padres from Milwaukee in a package for Scott Linebrink back in July of 2007. Garrison got knocked around in five Triple-A starts this season but has a career 4.05 ERA with 7.4 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 at the Double-A level.
Odds & Ends: Konerko, Kuroda, Astros, Morgan
A few links to check out while we wait to see if Jon Garland can halt the Padres' eight-game losing streak and get his team's season back on track…
- The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo wonders out loud (via Twitter) if Paul Konerko could be a fit for the Red Sox in 2011. That speculation, of course, likely depends on Adrian Beltre's future in Boston.
- In a piece for MLB.com, Sarah D. Morris opines that the Dodgers should re-sign Hiroki Kuroda, even though the team's financial situation makes it unlikely.
- ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider req'd) draws the parallels between this year's Astros and last year's Padres, pointing out that both clubs traded long-time stars at the deadline for young players and payroll savings, then went on to have strong second halves.
- Olney also notes that given his disappointing season (.255/.314/.315) and recent suspension troubles, Nyjer Morgan is hurting his chances for future employment. FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi also chimed in on the subject.
- The Nationals plan to call up Cuban defector Yunesky Maya following Monday's game according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Washington signed the 28-year-old righthander early last month.
- USA Today's Bob Nightengale recently sat down for a chat with Dan Hudson. Among other things, the righty said it's nice to be with a team that wants him. Hudson was traded from the White Sox to the Diamondbacks for Edwin Jackson before this year's deadline.
Padres Designate Cesar Carrillo For Assignment
The Padres designated right-hander Cesar Carrillo for assignment to create 40-man roster space, according to the team. The Padres called up pitching prospect Cory Luebke, reinstated Oscar Salazar from the DL and called up Triple A catcher Chris Stewart in corresponding moves.
Carrillo appeared in three games for the Padres last year, but has not played in the majors so far in 2010. The Padres selected the 26-year-old right-hander in the first round of the 2005 draft. In 27 Triple A starts this year, Carrillo has a 5.60 ERA with 5.7 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9.
Odds & Ends: Glaus, Torre, Padres, Strasburg
On this date in 1998, the Mariners traded Joey Cora to the Indians for David Bell. More than a decade later, Cora is still making headlines in Cleveland – sort of. The White Sox coach translated for Manny Ramirez at this afternoon’s Progressive Field press conference. Here are some more links as we await another round of trades…
- The Braves are listening to offers for Troy Glaus, according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter). On Sunday we heard that multiple AL teams have some interest in Glaus.
- The A's re-signed Tommy Everidge, who played for Oakland last year, but hasn't appeared in the majors since, according to the Pacific Coast League's transactions page.
- Dodgers manager Joe Torre told Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times that he expects to be able to work out a deal with the Dodgers this offseason if he decides to manage in 2011 (Twitter link).
- The Padres are still interested in adding a starting pitcher, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). MLBTR's Tim Dierkes provided a list of potentially available starters earlier today. Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Padres claimed a number of pitchers, but weren't able to work out any deals (Twitter link).
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that Stephen Strasburg will undergo Tommy John surgery this Friday.
- MLBPA leader Michael Weiner told Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork that the hearing between Francisco Rodriguez and the Mets will take place in mid-October (Twitter link).
Quiet Deadline Day Expected?
Eleven hours remain until tonight's waiver trade deadline. A year ago today, Jim Thome, Jose Contreras, Ronnie Belliard, and Jon Garland were dealt. But two years ago it was pretty much just David Eckstein, and three years ago we only had deals for Steve Trachsel and Russell Branyan. So SI's Jon Heyman may be right in passing along the prediction from baseball executives that only "a couple of bullpen and bench pieces" will be moved today. More from Heyman:
- Almost all productive players have been blocked by claims already, even well-paid ones. Kevin Gregg, Scott Downs, and Fausto Carmona are among those claimed and pulled back.
- The Padres and Yankees would be in the market for a starter if someone decent comes available. The Padres made a claim on Hiroki Kuroda, but the Dodgers pulled him back.
- The Dodgers are not looking to trade Ted Lilly or gut the team, so consider my post on the potential to save $5.775MM just for fun.
- One active club is the Rays, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
- Click here for our list of those who have cleared waivers.
Hiroki Kuroda Will Not Be Traded
The Padres were negotiating a waiver trade with the Dodgers for pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, reported Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, but the Dodgers pulled him back over the weekend. That the Padres made the claim on Kuroda shows they were willing to take on his $2.33MM remaining salary.
Kuroda, 35, sports a 3.39 ERA, 7.3 K/9, and 2.2 BB/9 in 162 innings after last night's one-hit effort. He'll be eligible for free agency after the season. He projects as a Type B, though it's not clear whether his contract allows for an arbitration offer or if the Dodgers would consider it.
Padres Looking At Starters, Interested In Millwood?
As improbable as many may have believed it to be prior to the season, it's August 29 and the Padres hold a six-game lead on the NL West. According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, Kevin Millwood is just "one of many" possibilities for the Padres as they look to upgrade their rotation.
Millwood's overall numbers certainly don't inspire confidence at first glance — a 5.34 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, and 1.5 HR/9 (his highest mark since 2001) through 160 innings don't mix well with his league-leading 194 hits allowed.
Over his last five starts however, Millwood's posted a 2.83 ERA through 35 innings, and while he's faced some very poor offenses in there, he also has two very good starts against the White Sox and Angels to his name. Some of his peripherals, such as his .329 BABIP and 4.60 xFIP, suggest that he's been the victim of some bad luck as well.
Rosenthal states that the Pads aren't necessarily optimistic about acquiring a starter; they only want one who would be an upgrade, and Millwood obviously isn't a clear-cut improvement. The Padres also could turn to Tim Stauffer, who's having a fine season of his own (1.40 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 through 45 innings), or Cory Luebke, who holds a 10-1 record and a 2.68 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A if they decide against making a trade.
The Padres may not feel they need a veteran upgrade so much as they simply would like someone to take some of the workload off their young rotation arms. It goes without saying that moving to a more spacious park like Petco would do any starter a favor, especially someone like Millwood who's been plagued by the long ball. Pitching the NL West as opposed to the AL East wouldn't hurt either.
Millwood is making $12MM in 2010, though the Rangers picked up $3MM of that when he was shipped to the Orioles last winter. Baltimore is on the hook for the remaining $1.76MM of Millwood's salary, which would also be an obstacle in any trade.