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Sherman’s Latest: Gonzalez, Guillen, Castillo, Martin

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Let’s take a little break from Peavy-mania and look at some other situations around the big leagues, courtesy of Joel Sherman.

  • Padres GM Kevin Towers can’t see any circumstances under which he’d trade first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.  He’s signed cheaply, and the Padres already have offensive problems.
  • Sherman knows that it will be extremely difficult for the Mets to move Luis Castillo this offseason, but offers one scenario that has been discussed before: Trade Castillo to the Royals for perennial hothead Jose Guillen. Guillen would bring the Mets a power bat and arm to put in left field, while Castillo would bring the Royals some much-needed OBP and a replacement for free agent Mark Grudzielanek. The difference would be the Royals saving $6MM over Castillo’s remaining three seasons, with the Mets taking on $6MM more, but only having two years of a bad contract. Personally, I think this move could make a lot of sense for both teams, although I’d prefer to have Guillen over Castillo. Also, the Mets apparently have no interest in an Eric Byrnes/Castillo swap.
  • The Phillies may be looking for a way to replace Pat Burrell cheaply in order to pursue a free agent starter. One proposed method would be to move Greg Dobbs to left field. Sherman notes that there wouldn’t be much difference in range between Burrell and Dobbs. Dobbs posted an .824 OPS this season in 226 ABs, but the alarming thing is that 217 of those ABs came against right-handed pitching. Dobbs was just 1 for 9 against lefties in 2008, and has just 52 career ABs against LHP, in which he’s posted a .579 OPS. A plattoon with Eric Brutnlett could work, but if I were a Philadelphia fan, I’d be hoping for an alternative solution. Sherman reminds us that the Phils were players for Manny Ramirez in July…
  • This one surprised me, but Sherman throws a new name as a possibility on the trade market: Russell Martin. Sherman cites rival executives in saying that the Dodgers aren’t "enamored with his makeup" and that with frontline catchers being hot commodities, the Dodgers could explore the market to see what Martin could bring in return. Personally, I think moving Martin would be a mistake, but I have to admit, Martin would indeed fetch a very nice return.

Latest Peavy Rumors

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9:03pm: Lots of good stuff from yesterday’s San Diego Union-Tribune that we haven’t covered.  First, Kevin Towers says he’s looking for young controllable pitching and then middle infielders in a package for Peavy.  No mention of a center field focus, which had been mentioned previously.

Additionally, Towers explained that the Astros do not match up well given his stated desire for multiple young pitchers.  So far the Braves look like the best fit.

On the Cardinals front, Joe Strauss says the team’s scouts met this week and are enthusiastic about pursuing Peavy.  Strauss’s sources say Peavy’s availability "loosened the organization’s grip on younger talent."  Viva El Birdos believes Peavy would cost top prospect Colby Rasmus and then some.  Despite Towers’ stated focus on starting pitching, an offer including Rasmus would have to give him pause.

3:26pm: The latest from the Jake Peavy universe:

While the Astros were high on the list of contenders yesterday, MLB.com Astros beat writer Alyson Footer isn’t so sure. According to Footer, sources named the Dodgers and the Braves as the two teams drawing the most interest, and said a deal could be in place within a week.

12:00pm: We had a good running mill of Jake Peavy rumors yesterday, but the stove is still hot. According to MLB.com beat writer Mark Bowman, the Braves are preparing a pitch for the Padres ace.

Citing a team official knowledgeable on the situation, Bowman reports the Braves have already had preliminary discussions with the Padres to gauge what kind of package would have to be put together to land the former Cy Young winner.

At this point, writes Bowman, the Braves are essentially in a holding pattern, waiting for the Padres to consider other deals from other teams. And it might be a long wait.

According to the report, the package the Braves are preparing would include top prospects, but it could also be improved if either second baseman Kelly Johnson or shortstop Yunel Escobar are included. Bowman thinks the Padres would have to include Khalil Greene for the Braves to consider dealing Escobar.

Peavy has said he’d waive his no-trade clause to pitch for Atlanta.

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com and can be reached here: alexo05 -at- umpbump -dot- com.  Tim Dierkes also contributed to this post.

Padres Waiting To Hear From Hoffman

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SATURDAY: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Padres offered Hoffman a $4MM salary for ’09, plus an option for ’10 that includes a buyout.  Tough call for Hoffman.

THURSDAY: Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune talked to Padres GM Kevin Towers about the Hoffman situation.  Towers says he made an offer to Hoffman on Friday and has yet to receive a response.

TUESDAY: Trevor Hoffman wants to continue pitching. The Padres would like to retain his services. It sounds like a perfect match. According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, the two sides could get something done soon. The Padres will offer their long-time closer a deal this week, in hopes to sign him before the beginning of free agency.

Hoffman made $7.5 million in his age-40 season, posting a 3.77 ERA and recording 30 saves for the last-place Friars. Despite his highest ERA since 1995 and the fewest innings since his injury-shortened 2003 campaign, he thinks he’s got plenty of innings left in his arm:

"Well, I think I have more than one [season left].  My body feels good. My arm feels a heck of a lot better than it has the last few years. The competitive juices are still there."

Brock speculates that Hoffman could be in line for a one-year deal with incentives, possibly with a team option for 2010. That sounds reasonable enough. Will it be enough for Hoffman, though?

Jake Peavy Rumors

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4:27pm: Peavy would need "a lot of convincing" to approve a trade to any AL team, according to his agent.

3:25pm: The Astros haven’t inquired on Peavy recently, but Peavy would definitely waive his no-trade clause to play for Houston.  In fact, it might be his top choice.  Astros GM Ed Wade did ask about Peavy in July.

3:06pm: Buster Olney has more.  Peavy has indicated interest only in the five previously mentioned NL teams.  Olney says Peavy has not given any indication that he’d accept a deal to the Yankees or any other AL team.  Still, the Padres will gauge interest from American League teams because talks with NL clubs aren’t close.  Olney says the Yanks have discussed Peavy internally but doesn’t say whether Brian Cashman has discussed it with Kevin Towers.

10:03am: According to Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger, the Yankees have had preliminary discussions with the Padres about Jake Peavy (hat tip to River Ave. Blues).  Peavy was apparently a hot topic at the Yankees’ organizational meetings.  Peavy’s agent hinted he might accept a trade to the Yankees, but he does prefer the NL.

Peavy’s preferred cities are Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and St. Louis.  Despite that, Graziano says the Mets have interest.  The Padres are aggressively shopping Peavy, seeking two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready center fielder.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Bradley, Peavy, Young

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • Goat Riders of the Apocalypse looks at Milton Bradley and sees a clubhouse cancer, but can’t ignore his .999 OPS and wonders if he is the answer in right field for the Cubs.
  • Pinstripes Published takes a look at the crop of free agent starting pitchers and speculates on who will sign with the Yankees, with the most likely being C.C. Sabathia, Jon Garland and Ryan Dempster.
  • Chop-n-Change takes a look at which prospects it might take to land Jake Peavy, and wonders if a package built around RHP Tommy Hanson and OF Jordan Schafer could get it done.
  • Talking Chop does not want to the Braves giving up prospects for Peavy and would rather see the Braves acquire pitching through free agency.
  • First And Goal From Second Base warns that it will be a mistake for the Twins to trade Delmon Young.
  • Twinkie Town takes a look at which Twins free agents could return (Nick Punto, Dennys Reyes) and the rest of the Twins offseason.

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

Odds and Ends: Pitt, Manny, White Sox

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Links for Friday…

Player-Coach Role For Maddux?

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Interesting note from Mel Antonen and Bob Nightengale at USA Today, found via Shysterball:

The San Diego Padres have talked to Greg Maddux about of becoming a player-coach in the organization, general manager Kevin Towers said Thursday.  Yet Towers anticipates that Maddux might retire instead.

Maddux seems to already serve that type of role, making his 32 starts while tutoring young pitchers.  Might as well make it official if he sticks around in 2009.  The Padres might have a hard time fitting Maddux in the budget, but the Dodgers or Giants could be alternatives if the Professor wants to make a run at fifth all-time in wins. 

He’ll have to get past Pud Galvin.  The game hasn’t changed much since Pud’s day.  Did you know he pitched 656.3 innings in 75 starts as a 26 year-old in 1883?

Dodgers Rumors: Manny, Nomar, Lowe, Penny, Kent

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Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times discusses the Dodgers’ upcoming busy offseason, while Bill Shaikin focuses on Manny Ramirez.

  • Nomar Garciaparra is undecided about playing next year.  He hit .264/.326/.466 in 181 plate appearances in 2008 while earning $8.5MM.
  • Manager Joe Torre seems to consider pitching the top offseason priority.  Makes sense, with the statuses of Derek Lowe and Brad Penny in question.  Hernandez’s sources say Lowe felt underappreciated during his time in L.A., and he is expected to leave.  It’s unknown whether the Dodgers will choose Penny’s $9.25MM option or the $2MM buyout.
  • Hernandez doesn’t see GM Ned Colletti breaking up his core group of young players to acquire Jake Peavy.
  • The departure of Jeff Kent is near-certain  Blake DeWitt can step in at second or third base.
  • The Manny situation is difficult, because the Dodgers will take a lot of heat if they won’t meet his asking price (perhaps $100MM+).  Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire suggests a more reasonable offer of three years, $60MM.

Latest On Peavy

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9:53pm: More from Olney.  The Padres are aggressively shopping Peavy, with the Braves and Dodgers two possible suitors.  Olney’s sources believe Peavy will be dealt "in the weeks ahead."  The Padres want two young pitchers and a near MLB-ready center fielder in return.  The Braves and Dodgers could both meet that demand.

7:07pm: O’Brien has a new article up; he says the Braves and Padres have discussed Peavy.  Not much is known beyond that.  Paul DePodesta offers his thoughts on the situation, basically explaining that any player should be available for a compelling return.  Thus far, the Padres haven’t received a compelling offer for Peavy.

10:04am: It’s early in the process, but Jake Peavy’s availability has baseball fans all worked up.  As a reminder, Peavy prefers the NL.  He specifically likes Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and St. Louis.  He considers L.A. a particularly good fit and therefore is open to the Angels.  Peavy controls his fate, as he has a full no-trade clause.  On to today’s links:

Latest Peavy Chatter

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10:39am: More from Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune.  Peavy has a strong preference for the NL, and wants to play for a winner.  Axelrod mentioned Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and St. Louis as cities that fit for Peavy and his family.  Because of Peavy’s willingness to pitch in L.A., the Angels were named as a possibility by Axelrod.

8:27am: Let’s catch up on recent Jake Peavy articles.  Dan Hayes of the North County Times wrote about Peavy Monday, quoting Padres GM Kevin Towers saying nothing is imminent.  Hayes talked to several sources who say Peavy prefers to stay in the National League.  The Padres have already approached him with hypothetical trade scenarios (Peavy has to approve any trade).

Regarding that no-trade clause – Peavy’s agent Barry Axelrod is on record saying three AL teams could entice his client.  But at the end of the season, Peavy said he wouldn’t accept a deal to the AL.  David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution spoke to someone claiming to be an old friend of Peavy’s.  The friend agrees that Peavy wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause for an AL team, despite his agent’s statement.

The friend gave O’Brien all kinds of info, making the Braves sound like Peavy’s top choice.  O’Brien adds that the Braves let Towers know they’re interested.  Even if Peavy is picky about his destination, though, there is no reason for Towers to accept a package that does not begin with Jason Heyward or Tommy Hanson.  He has plenty of time to explore possible Peavy trades.

The Cardinals may also be in the mix, according to Buster Olney.  Olney says that one team, "perhaps the Cardinals," is discussing the idea of adding Khalil Greene to a Peavy deal.

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