Morgan Ensberg Designated For Assignment
UPDATE: Jim Molony of MLB.com says the Dodgers and Padres have scouted Ensberg recently. Will Carroll adds that the Twins and Phillies kicked the tires, with the Phils possibly offering up Chris Coste.
To make room for Ty Wigginton, the Astros designated 32 year-old third baseman Morgan Ensberg for assignment today. They have ten days to trade, release, or send him to the minors. Tim Purpura is hoping to work out a trade.
2005 was Ensberg’s career year; he hit .283/.388/.557 with 36 home runs. His bat kind of died after the first two months of 2006, and he may never return to full-time status. But I do think he deserves one more shot with a new organization. The Twins, Phillies, Dodgers, or Giants could try him at third base.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Dye, Lamb, Jennings
Ken Rosenthal has a new article up. Let’s see what’s in there beyond the Teixeira stuff.
- The Angels have a few alternatives to Mark Teixeira in Jermaine Dye and Mike Piazza. However, the team isn’t exactly bursting with open outfield/DH spots, especially once Juan Rivera returns. Troy Glaus still makes a ton of sense, but the Blue Jays would want a lot. Probably 2/3 of the Teixeira package.
- Aside from Mark Loretta, the Padres would also like to acquire Mike Lamb from the Astros. Even tossing aside his awful April, Kevin Kouzmanoff has been about average for his position offensively (.271/.328/.476 since May 1). If the Padres instead used Lamb against southpaws and Kouzmanoff against lefties, they’d have a nifty platoon.
- The Mets have inquired on Joe Blanton and Jon Garland but have found the price prohibitive. It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that both are just innings eaters. They’re just elevated by a terrible market for starters.
- The Phillies also asked about Blanton, but are more likely to settle for Kyle Lohse or Jason Jennings. Phil Garner decided to offer Jennings’ ERA up for sacrifice today, leaving him in to allow 11 earned runs in two-thirds of an inning. That was a several million-dollar decision, as Jennings is a free agent after the season.
- The Mets seem to have only mild interest in Luis Castillo and Mark Grudzielanek due to salary and injury concerns.
Padres Acquire Hillenbrand
Even a rumormonger has to step away from the computer for a few hours, right? As you may have heard, the Padres signed beloved 32 year-old DH Shea Hillenbrand to a minor league contract. He’ll go to Portland and try to prove that his ship has not fully sunk.
I’ve been praising Kevin Towers a lot here but this move probably won’t amount to much. In the best case, Hillenbrand can fill in a little bit at first and third base, and as a pinch-hitter. Aside from this year, he’s hit lefties well. That’s also Kevin Kouzmanoff‘s best trait, though, and Adrian Gonzalez doesn’t bear an massive split. This didn’t cost the Padres anything, but the effect should be next to nothing.
Padres Trade For Scott Hairston
In a nice little move, the Padres sent 26 year-old Triple A reliever Leo Rosales to the Diamondbacks for 27 year-old outfielder Scott Hairston.
I’ve always wanted to see what Hairston could do with a healthy 500 ABs, but he’s run into bad luck at the worst times. He was once very highly regarded; you can read a post I wrote on his history here. Hairston’s only played outfield this year, but he broke in as a second baseman so he might be able to fill in for Marcus Giles if the Padres can put up with subpar defense. Otherwise he can help out at either outfield corner, especially against lefties. Hairston has proven himself time and again in Triple A; I think he can succeed at the big league level. He’s also under control for quite some time in the event that he does hit for the Padres.
This looks like another smooth move by Kevin Towers – he bought low on Hairston and didn’t give up much.
Padres Interested In Loretta, Iguchi
The Padres have gotten a woeful .244/.315/.328 line out of their second baseman, most of it from Marcus Giles. They’re starting to work Geoff Blum in more often, but it’s a clear area for an upgrade.
The two names on the radar, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, are Mark Loretta and Tadahito Iguchi.
Iguchi’s slugging percentage is down this year, mostly from an awful May. But he still represents an upgrade on Giles.
The more versatile Loretta is hitting .297/.373/.390 this year; he’s done a nice job drawing walks. Loretta pushed to sign with the Padres, but Kevin Towers stood him up. Now the Friars have come crawling back. The problem is that the Phillies and Mets have sustained injuries to their second basemen and could get in on him.
Brewers Trade For Scott Linebrink
According to MLB.com, the Brewers have acquired setup man Scott Linebrink for prospects Will Inman, Joe Thatcher, and Steve Garrison. Let’s take a look at this deal.
Linebrink turns 31 in early August. Trade rumors swirled around him this offseason, especially involving the Phillies. His strikeout and walk numbers over the past three seasons have been consistent. However, in 2006 his less controllable numbers like hits allowed and home runs spiked somewhat. He was still worth a good 3-4 wins last year according to Baseball Prospectus.
However, Linebrink fell off a cliff this year. From Day 1 his strikeout rate has been way down; he’s allowed a ton of home runs. You almost have to wonder whether he’s healthy. He got by for the first two months with the reduced strikeout rate, but it caught up to him in June and especially July. Even as a seventh inning guy his value is very questionable. The Crew should recoup a draft pick or two when he leaves after the season, so that’s something.
My trusty Baseball America Handbook tells me that 20 year-old righty Inman is clearly the jewel of the trade. He’s a tough competitor; his 1.71 ERA in Low A ball last year was ridiculous. He does not offer dazzling stuff or projectability, however. He succeeds on the strength of his command and breaking stuff rather than velocity. He breezed through High A this year, posting a 1.72 ERA in 13 starts.
However, Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein questioned how his "below-average stuff and elite-level command" would play at Double A. The results in his first eight starts at that level have been mixed at best. He’s taken a couple of shellackings, but has looked solid in his last three efforts. Goldstein wonders whether he may be a Yusmeiro Petit type, a guy who used deception to post some great minor league numbers despite mediocre stuff. Petit fooled the Marlins enough for the Mets to snag Carlos Delgado, at least.
Inman is very young for Double A; put him in PETCO in 2009 and I don’t see why he can’t keep his ERA under 5. Doesn’t blow you away but innings eaters are fetching $8MM annually these days. Great move by Kevin Towers, because he won’t miss Linebrink. He can’t lose.
Didn’t know much about the other two prospects. Thatcher is a 25 year-old southpaw reliever, another guy with average stuff. The results have been excellent through Triple A though. He’s got a cut fastball, sweeping slider, and fine control. He was ranked 23rd among Brewers prospects by Baseball America.
Garrison is a 21 year-old southpaw starter, ranked 27th on the Brewers’ list. He’s working in High A currently. He too has average stuff without great velocity, another command guy. See a theme here? The pitchers plucked by Kevin Towers don’t light up radar guns or make scouts drool, but still look like big league contributors.
You have to give this one to Towers, who traded from a position of strength to snag three pitchers known less for projection than probability.
Tim Brown’s Latest: Willis, Hillenbrand
Yahoo’s Tim Brown has some new material up:
- So is Dontrelle Willis available or isn’t he? Brown says Marlins GM Larry Beinfest is privately talking about him with other clubs. Brown rattles off the Yankees, Dodgers, Mariners, Diamondbacks, and Indians as interested parties. Nonetheless, I think the time has passed for the Marlins to get a truly impressive bounty for their ace.
- Shea Hillenbrand will sign with either the Padres or one other unknown NL team. Maybe to the Nationals as Dmitri Young‘s replacement?
- Yes, Bobby Kielty has been DFA’d and the Red Sox are considering him. Typically, the 31 year-old switch-hitter is able to draw a few walks and hit lefties. He can handle the corner outfield positions but hasn’t played center with any regularity since 2002.
Latest On Jermaine Dye
Jermaine Dye stands to be one of the bigger names dealt within the next seven days. He’s been hitting well since the All-Star break, but it’s only been 48 ABs. Here’s the latest on the 33 year-old right fielder.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times names the Mets, Padres, Dodgers, and Mariners as the top suitors for Dye. In case you were wondering, Dye has not played more than one game in left field in a seasons since 1996. A position switch could be necessary, depending on where he ends up.
- Bill Madden of the New York Daily News thinks Dye could be had in August. I don’t agree – Dye has only $2.6MM left on his contract this year and Kenny Williams would be better served trading him in July. Plan B would be to just let him leave via free agency and take some good draft picks.
- MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone believes that Dye would cost a leadoff hitting center fielder or a zero-to-three reliever. The Mets might be able to offer up the CF, but is Dye worth it?
- Plenty of speculation around Chicago that the Cubs could pursue Dye. However, I haven’t seen any reason to think this is more than just speculation. He does seem like a fine fit on the North Side. Paul Sullivan believes Cliff Floyd‘s fragility may force the Cubs to acquire an outfielder. Will Carroll thinks the Cubs are the best fit for Dye as they can offer the White Sox a prospect and a reliever.
- Something that could heighten the Cubs’ interest: the Brewers are said to be kicking the tires on Dye.
- I don’t see why the Mariners would pursue Dye; there is good reason to believe top prospect Adam Jones would outproduce him.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Nats After Dunn
Ken Rosenthal’s got a new column up; let’s dive in.
- Fun new rumor: the Nationals are pursuing Adam Dunn. Huh? Makes no sense on the surface. Jim Bowden’s possible motivation would be to sign Dunn long-term and make him the cornerstone of the franchise. If he fails at that, all would not be lost given the draft pick compensation. Rosenthal says the market for Dunn beyond Washington is a bit foggy – the Twins, Angels, Yankees, Red Sox, and Padres could all get involved but none stand out.
- Rosenthal adds some color to my recent Nationals post. He mentions that Ron Belliard is a name that might interest the Mets, an idea that has come up before. Rosenthal says the Mets will not do a Lastings Milledge for Chad Cordero trade.
- The Dodgers have jumped to the forefront on Octavio Dotel, with Takashi Saito ailing. According to Rosenthal, the Royals aren’t demanding the very specific bounty Joel Sherman claimed. Instead, they just want a near MLB-ready player. Rosenthal says Tony Abreu is out of reach but Chin-Lung Hu might not be. He suggests moving Hu to second base to accomodate Tony Pena Jr., which should probably be reversed. It appears the Indians wouldn’t surrender Franklin Gutierrez or Ben Francisco for Dotel. I’d give one up, personally.
- I didn’t know this: Jermaine Dye can veto a deal to four clubs. With his solid play, interest is picking up. As are Kenny Williams’ demands; he wants an elite prospect. The Indians and Red Sox have inquired; the Cubs might make sense too. I thought we had ruled out the Red Sox earlier though.
- The Padres are looking for bench help, perhaps in the name of Ryan Klesko, Mike Piazza, Mark Loretta, or Mike Lamb. Couple of prodigal sons there. Would Piazza be happy as a pricey bench player? Rosenthal says Matt Stairs isn’t available. Why not?
Joel Sherman’s Ten Trade Candidates
Joel Sherman of the New York Post has an article today regarding ten veterans who may be traded this month. He’s packed the column full of insider info beyond the ten players highlighted; check it out.
- Mark Teixeira is now more likely to be dealt than Eric Gagne. Sherman sees the Angels as perhaps the best possibility here; they’d have to include Casey Kotchman. I imagine Ervin Santana‘s stock is down far enough that the Rangers would not settle for the two.
- The Indians appear to be out on Gagne but the Tigers still make sense for all parties. Would Todd Jones graciously step down from his closer post? Detroit’s bullpen has actually been doing well lately.
- The Royals want a righthanded-hitting center fielder in return for Octavio Dotel. Now that’s a tall order. Sherman names Lastings Milledge and Carlos Gomez as two who fit the bill, but such a trade would require young talent like Zack Greinke coming back to the Mets. Just speculating, but Melky Cabrera and Reggie Willits also fit the Royals’ need.
- Apparently the Mariners and Braves are "very interested’ in Dmitri Young. That’s the first I’ve heard of a team besides Atlanta inquiring.
- Oddly, the Devil Rays appear to have some interest in Kyle Farnsworth if the money can be worked out. They like Scott Proctor as well, so keep an eye on that Ty Wigginton rumor. Sherman mentions that the market is heavy with available role players, so look for a lot of boring deals with that type of player. Just kidding, trade rumors are never boring. Sherman tosses out Tadahito Iguchi to the Padres; that’s a fresh one.
- Sherman runs down all of the available relievers we already know about. Throw Kiko Calero in there as a new name.