Does This Paper Have Editors?
Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News continues to run wild with misinformation regarding the Phillies’ offer of Aaron Rowand for Scott Linebrink. I’ve been watching this one from the start; it’s just strange. Hagen insists on belittling this particular Buster Olney rumor and Internet reporting in general; he already took a shot on February 1st.
Today, he leads with these unflattering remarks:
"Rumors are cheap and plentiful during the offseason. Anybody with a vivid imagination and access to a computer can launch a blind item that will circle the globe in seconds and circulate for weeks. At first glance, then, the Internet whisper that the Phillies had offered centerfielder Aaron Rowand to the Padres for righthanded setup reliever Scott Linebrink seemed far-fetched."
To which Olney responded today:
"To clarify, it was not an Internet rumor, ever. It was written, originally, as something that was discussed between the two teams."
When is Hagen going to print a correction? I think he owes Olney an apology, though Buster is handling it with class.
More On Rowand/Linebrink
Internet rumor, eh? If there’s one term I’d like to retire, it’s "Internet rumor." It discredits the many legitimate Internet-based sources and generalizes the entire medium. Many rumors broke via the Internet this year (blogs included). In fact, most of them came via the Internet, courtsey of Ken Rosenthal. I’ve seen a lot of garbage in print, but don’t refer to them all as "newspaper rumors."
In this case, Paul Hagen doubts the legitimacy of a Buster Olney rumor that first appeared in Olney’s blog on January 26th. Olney reported that the Padres and Phillies were kicking around an Aaron Rowand for a reliever trade.
Anyway, Hagen creates a newspaper rumor, speculating that the Phils might entertain trading Rowand because they think they can acquire an outfielder for Jon Lieber. He also speculates that the Phils would send both Lieber and Rowand to San Diego for Mike Cameron or Terrmel Sledge. Now that’s one that "appears to make little sense."
More On Rowand/Linebrink
Internet rumor, eh? If there’s one term I’d like to retire, it’s "Internet rumor." It discredits the many legitimate Internet-based sources and generalizes the entire medium. Many rumors broke via the Internet this year (blogs included). In fact, most of them came via the Internet, courtsey of Ken Rosenthal. I’ve seen a lot of garbage in print, but don’t refer to them all as "newspaper rumors."
In this case, Paul Hagen doubts the legitimacy of a Buster Olney rumor that first appeared in Olney’s blog on January 26th. Olney reported that the Padres and Phillies were kicking around an Aaron Rowand for a reliever trade.
Anyway, Hagen creates a newspaper rumor, speculating that the Phils might entertain trading Rowand because they think they can acquire an outfielder for Jon Lieber. He also speculates that the Phils would send both Lieber and Rowand to San Diego for Mike Cameron or Terrmel Sledge. Now that’s one that "appears to make little sense."
Linebrink/Rowand Trade On Hold
Buster Olney mentioned a possible trade of Aaron Rowand to the Padres for a reliever back on January 26th. Turns out the targeted reliever for the Phils was indeed Scott Linebrink. However, any such deal is on hold until springtime. Kevin Towers would like to see how Terrmel Sledge looks in left and how the loss of Linebrink would affect San Diego’s bullpen.
I say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I think a Sledge/Cruz platoon could outhit Rowand for a lesser cost. And is the difference in defense in left field that crucial? David Wells and Chris Young typically don’t go six innings; I’d rather retain one of the league’s better eighth-inning guys.
Wells Agrees To Contract With Padres
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, David Wells has agreed to a one-year deal. He gets $3MM guaranteed and can earn an additional $4MM in incentives. Kevin Towers thinks Jake Peavy, Greg Maddux, Chris Young, Clay Hensley, and Wells make up the team’s best rotation since ’98.
The ’98 NL Champs used Kevin Brown, Joey Hamilton, Andy Ashby, Sterling Hitchcock, and Mark Langston.
Brian Lawrence Update
According to Kevin Towers on XX Sports Radio in San Diego, Brian Lawrence is waiting to see what happens with David Wells. Towers expects an answer from Wells today. If Boomer doesn’t sign with the Padres, Lawrence probably will.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Times reports that the Mariners, Rockies, and Pirates are all still competing for Lawrence.
Latest On Unit Trade
Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that the Randy Johnson trade is "all but finalized." He says Johnson has agreed to the one-year extension and only minor differences remain.
The deal still might take another two or three days to complete. Arizona still needs to review Johnson’s physical. Reliever Luis Vizcaino will definitely be included, but the teams have not agreed on a young pitcher.
The North County Times reported on Tuesday that the Padres were trying to slip in with an offer including Scott Linebrink. Today the Newark Star-Ledger found a source that indicated San Diego could still be in the mix.
Unit Trade Not Done Yet
There have been a handful of reports that the Randy Johnson trade is complete. However, the New York Daily News reports that the deal has hit a snag over money.
The Diamondbacks want the Yanks to kick in some cash, and they also want some of the deferred money they already owe Johnson to be factored into the extension. So there’s still some financial ground to cover. Jon Heyman of SI.com indicates that Johnson wants a one-year, $12MM extension.
The general structure of the deal seems in place – two or three of Dustin Nippert, Micah Owings, Ross Ohlendorf, and Brandon Medders. However, it appears the the Padres could still sneak in.
The New York Post believes that Brian Cashman may be stockpiling prospects with a future trade for Johan Santana or Dontrelle Willis in mind. That paper also mentions that the Diamondbacks are only offering minor leaguers for Johnson.
Mariners In On Randy Johnson?
I scoured what seemed like a dozen Randy Johnson articles, most of which had the same themes we were hearing yesterday: the Yanks don’t have to trade Johnson, the vacancy could go to Zito or Clemens, the Diamondbacks are in the thick of things, the Padres are the frontrunners, the Dodgers are just driving up the price, and the Giants and Angels are the dark horses.
Joseph A. Reaves of the Arizona Republic has a slightly different take, though: he says the Mariners have surfaced as a potential trade partner. It’s just a one-line mention, but I haven’t seen it confirmed elsewhere yet. I will try. Additionally, Reaves writes that the Dodgers are not interested.
Newday’s Ken Davidoff weighs in on the side of reason: he doesn’t want to trade a decent 200 inning starter. I also agree with him in that Kei Igawa can easily be pushed to the pen for two-thirds of a season if Roger Clemens is brought aboard. The Yanks aren’t so stacked with good starting pitching as to make Johnson expendable.
L.A. Teams In Mix For Big Unit?
According to the New York Daily News, you can add the Angels and Dodgers to the list of teams interested in the suddenly-available Randy Johnson. Furthermore, Roger Rubin and Bill Madden name the Padres as Johnson’s most likely suitor right now. This thing has expanded beyond his hometown Diamondbacks.
The paper writes that the Yanks already have some offers on the table. From the Dodgers’ point of view, their interest in Johnson may only be in keeping him away from division rivals. Perhaps a starter would go back to New York in such a deal.
Johnson’s agent hasn’t been looped in yet, but Brian Cashman will need the pitcher’s consent in any deal.