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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Pedro, Sabathia, Peavy

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A look at what is being written about the hot stove in the Blogosphere…

  • Fire Brand of the American League looks at the ramifications of the Coco Crisp trade and what could happen if the Red Sox acquire Mark Teixeira and are unable to move Mike Lowell.
  • Baseball Opinion says the Crisp deal leaves the Royals with a crowded outfield and a depleted bullpen and wonders if Mark Teahen or David DeJesus will be the next to go.
  • Nationals Pride sees the Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham trade as a good start towards building a team with a core of young veterans that will be in place when the prospects are ready to contribute.
  • The ’Burgh Blues would like to see the Pirates go after Pedro Martinez, noting his close relationship with Joe Kerrigan and Denny Bautista.
  • Sox and Pinstripes is worried about a potential signing of A.J. Burnett by the Red Sox and would prefer Derek Lowe.
  • BaseBlog has a "tale of the tape" comparing C.C. Sabathia’s 2008 season to Johan Santana’s 2007 season.
  • Goat Riders of the Apocalypse wonders if the Cubs are better off with Jake Peavy and Kosuke Fukudome versus Jason Marquis and a high-priced free agent right fielder.
  • DC Sports Plus takes a closer look at 79 minor league free agents, focusing on former major leaguers, former top prospects and left-handed relief pitchers.
  • Padres Revolution offers up a list of the 10 best trades brokered by Kevin Towers.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Hampton Seeks One-Year Deal

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ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick spoke to Mike Hampton’s agent Mark Rodgers, who said, "We’re looking for a straight one-year deal – no option, no nothing."  Hampton obviously just wants to re-establish himself as a healthy, useful starting pitcher after so many lost seasons.  It’s unclear whether Rodgers’ statement means Hampton will avoid incentive-based offers.

Crasnick says Hampton wants to pitch near his Arizona home, but the Braves, Astros, Padres, Giants, and Cardinals could be fits.  Astros GM Ed Wade said recently he’s had dialogue with Rodgers and Hampton is open to returning to Houston.  The Braves have also had dialogue.

Hampton, 36, posted a 4.17 ERA in 11 starts over the season’s final two months.  Still, his peripheral stats were not impressive during that period.

Orioles Targeting Izturis

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According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles have contacted shortstop Cesar Izturis’ agent to express interest.  Zrebiec believes the 28 year-old defensive whiz tops their list.  Izturis earned $3.05MM this year.

The Orioles have also had trade discussions for Khalil Greene and Bobby Crosby.  The Padres requested Garrett Olson for Greene, and the Orioles passed.

Zrebiec says the Orioles are not interested in Rafael Furcal, Orlando Cabrera, or Edgar Renteria.  If they spend big on a free agent, it’ll be A.J. Burnett or Mark Teixeira.  However, Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer said yesterday that the O’s are one of six teams to have shown interest in his client.

Jake Peavy Rumors: Thursday

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2:00pm: David O’Brien says the Padres and Braves need each other and still believes Peavy winds up in Atlanta.  I agree.  O’Brien also says the Braves’ talks for Ryan Ludwick aren’t dead.

10:29am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Peavy’s agent, Barry Axelrod.  Peavy hasn’t revised his original list of five teams, but Axelrod says the NL West would interest Peavy (aside from the Rockies).  So, maybe Giants fans have something new to speculate about.  Axelrod says the list was only guidance for Towers.

8:52am: Let’s round up today’s Jake Peavy linkage.

  • MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat said yesterday the Cubs’ talks for Peavy had ended due to budget restraints. Those limitations still exist, so the Cubs would have to get creative.
  • Padres GM Kevin Towers told MLB.com’s Corey Brock Wednesday night that he talked to Jim Hendry and the Cubs are still interested in Peavy.  Yahoo’s Tim Brown heard the same from a source.  It’d require a third or fourth team and the aforementioned financial creativity.
  • Towers told Tom Krasovic that talks with the Braves have not resumed and he hasn’t heard from the Angels.  Krasovic also said, "Among some of his ballplayer friends, Peavy has created the impression that if he is traded, he would like to pitch for the Cubs."

Stark’s Latest: Putz, Manny, Lackey, Ibanez

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Let’s take a look at the latest column from ESPN’s Jayson Stark.

  • Stark does the math and finds 15 potentially available closers versus six clubs in the market for one.  Should result in a few bargains or teams holding on to their surpluses.
  • The Mets don’t seem willing to extend to four years for Francisco Rodriguez.  Stark says J.J. Putz would become the Mets’ top closer target if he’s made available.  MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone wrote a few days ago that the Mets are likely to trade for a reliever with closing experience before attempting to sign one.
  • J.P. Ricciardi quote: "We won’t be involved with Manny."  Ricciardi last month: "He’s on our radar, but maybe not on our radar like some people will report."
  • Despite reports to the contrary, Stark talked to a rival executive who says Jake Peavy made it "onto [the Angels’] radar pretty hard."  Stark speculates that Peavy could fit if the Halos sign Mark Teixeira.
  • It seems likely that the Angels will put out an offer to Teixeira with a deadline, and then either sign him or move on.
  • John Lackey’s been telling friends he expects to have an extension with the Angels by Opening Day.  Lackey indicated last month he’d wait to see the Halos’ offensive plans before re-signing.
  • Stark suspects the Players Union might be OK with C.C. Sabathia turning down a larger offer from the Yankees if he still signed for more than Johan Santana’s $23MM per year.  I don’t really see why Sabathia would worry about the union in any regard.
  • The Dodgers inquired on the asking price of Jason Varitek, with the idea of moving Russell Martin to third base in mind.  They balked at Scott Boras’ demand for Tek, however.
  • Curt Schilling is "more likely than ever" to attempt a late June or early July comeback.
  • Tons of teams have expressed some degree of interest in Raul Ibanez: the Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals, Nationals, Braves, Royals, Rays, Blue Jays, Rangers, Angels, and Mariners.  Some interesting new ones in there.
  • The Phillies never made a two-year, $21MM offer to Pat Burrell.  Will the Phils at least offer him arbitration?  The rumored offer was questionable from Day 1, as Paul Hagen said Burrell "reportedly turned down a two-year, $22MM offer" but didn’t reference a specific report.
  • Stark believes that the Brewers were not thrilled with the Yankees’ "overbid" for C.C. Sabathia, and therefore would prefer not to trade Mike Cameron to them.  Dan Graziano wrote yesterday about the Yanks’ conversations for Cameron.
  • Roy Oswalt wants the Astros to sign Ben Sheets, but the price tag may be too high.  Stark has the following names on their radar: Randy Wolf, Mike Hampton, Freddy Garcia, Paul Byrd, and maybe Pedro Martinez.  Is Drayton McLane willing to bring Andy Pettitte back?  GM Ed Wade seemed interested in his chat yesterday, saying, "We’ll have to see what develops down the road."

Odds and Ends: Teixeira, Giles, Beimel

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Links for Wednesday…

Jake Peavy Rumors: Wednesday

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Dan Hayes of the North County Times talked to Jake Peavy’s agent Barry Axelrod, who said there are "probably six or eight more teams we’d be willing to look at" beyond Peavy’s initial preferred five. 

Some suggest the Cubs are still in play; MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat says talks have ended.  No other team is generating buzz.  The Braves certainly have the goods, if they’re willing to up their offer (and give Peavy a full no-trade clause).

Cubs Rumors: Marquis, Furcal, Peavy

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The Cubs re-signed Ryan Dempster yesterday; what’s next?  They’ve got one of the game’s most expensive rotations, yet could add another starter.  They’re also projecting to exceed a $130MM payroll, so GM Jim Hendry will need to be creative.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Burnett, Lowe, Peavy

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Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.

  • Rosenthal says reports of the Blue Jays’ four-year, $54MM offer to A.J. Burnett are inaccurate – they’ve yet to make a proposal.  He’s on board with Kat O’Brien’s info from yesterday, noting Boston’s interest.
  • Scott Boras is apparently telling teams he wants "a Zito-type contract" for righty Derek Lowe.  Lowe is 35, while Zito was 28.  Is Boras implying that he wants $18MM a year?  Obviously Lowe will not find a seven-year offer.  ESPN’s Buster Olney says Boras wants five years for Lowe.
  • The Padres told the Yankees a Jake Peavy deal is possible even without Phil Hughes.  They’ve scouted Hughes anyway, but he’s off-limits.
  • The Rockies will sit back and listen on Garrett Atkins and Huston Street.  They don’t plan on signing a free agent to replace Matt Holliday.
  • The Mets want to add a righthanded bat, though they’re not high on Pat Burrell.

Towers: Peavy To Braves Could Still Happen

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Now that the Cubs have essentially taken themselves out of the Jake Peavy sweepstakes by signing free agent pitcher Ryan Dempster, Padres GM Kevin Towers is looking for a new trade partner.

MLB.com’s Corey Brock reminds us that "Towers indicated Monday that the Cubs were essentially his sole focus as far as discussions to trade Peavy, the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner."

Now the Padres may try to rekindle talks with the Braves:

Towers wouldn’t rule out the possibility of circling back around to the Braves, who last week said they were moving on after a deal couldn’t be reached.

"You never know … we certainly made more progress with them," Towers said. "We were able to ID and agree upon a large part of the package."

The Braves have always been the logical landing place for Peavy. Atlanta GM Frank Wren said recently that he had given up on trading for the Padres ace.

Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com and can be reached here.

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