Mariners Rumors

Odds & Ends: Red Sox, Lee, Rays

By Eddie Schmid | July 29, 2009 at 11:28pm CDT

Some links to (maybe) cap an already wild day in rumor-land:

Joe McDonald at the Providence Journal thinks the Red Sox need to make a major deal.
Dan Novick at the Hardball Times wonders if the Lee trade was a win-win.
John Campanelli at the Cleveland Plain-Dealer gets reactions from Indians fans on the Lee deal. Suffice to say, they ain't happy.
Nationals acting manager Jim Riggleman wants to see the team's core remain intact, says Chico Harlan at the Washington Post.
Marc Topkin at the St. Petersburg Times says the Rays "seem unlikely" to make a big deal.
Geoff Baker at the Seattle Times thinks the Mariners' deals today for Ian Snell and Jack Wilson probably spell some more trades on the horizon–potentially involving Jarrod Washburn.
The Nationals released Julian Tavarez today, who had cleared waivers. Corey Patterson also cleared waivers and has been released from the Triple A club, reports Bill Ladson at MLB.com.
David Laurila at Baseball Prospectus has a profile and some quotes from new Pirate Tim Alderson.

Odds & Ends: Bradley, O’s, Mariners

By Eddie Schmid | July 29, 2009 at 5:23pm CDT

Some more interesting nuggets we've mined as we reel from the madness today:

Paul Sullivan at the Chicago Tribune got comments from Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who called rumors that Milton Bradley could head to the Tigers "unfair to the player."
Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun hears that Danys Baez, Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora, who are all about to become free agents, have attracted minimal interest on the trade market.
The Mariners signed second round pick Rick Poythress, who'll be immediately shipped to the AA affiliate, reports Geoff Baker at the Seattle Times.
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick takes a look at some of the all-time hyped prospects who have turned out to be busts.
In a similar piece to Crasnick's, Yahoo's Jeff Passan looks at how once-hot prospect Brandon Wood has seen his value as a trade chip diminish.

Reds Acquire Wladimir Balentien

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 29, 2009 at 1:56pm CDT

Ed Price of AOL FanHouse reports that the Reds acquired Wladimir Balentien from the Mariners for righty Robert Manuel, who was MiLB.com's right-handed reliever of the year in Double A last year, as Jonathan Mayo points out. The Mariners designated Balentien for assignment over the weekend.

Pirates And Mariners Make Seven Player Deal

By Tim Dierkes | July 29, 2009 at 1:24pm CDT

1:24pm: Kovacevic reports that the Pirates will pay nearly all of the money owed to Wilson and Snell this year. The Mariners will pay each player $400k. Kovacevic breaks out the calculator and finds that the Pirates will send a total of $3,308,702.19 to Seattle along with Snell and Wilson.

12:28pm: Kovacevic hears that the Pirates are contributing a "significant amount" of cash in the deal.

12:16pm: ESPN's Buster Olney believes the Mariners might be inclined to exercise Wilson's 2010 option, which wasn't likely for the Pirates. Jack Zduriencik's comments support this: "As we move forward over the next few years it is nice to know that we have solidified the shortstop position."

11:58am: Kovacevic says Cedeno's the only player who will report to the Pirates. Clement will head to Triple A, the others to A ball.

MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo calls it a "pretty good haul" for the Pirates and Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus says it's the best deal the Pirates have made yet.

11:45am: Kovacevic says the Mariners acquire Wilson and Ian Snell for Clement, Ronny Cedeno, Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock.

11:41am: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Mariners acquire Jack Wilson in the deal.

11:40am: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse hears that the Pirates are getting Jeff Clement from the Mariners along with other minor leaguers.

WEDNESDAY, 10:14am: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that the Indians and Rays say they're not involved in talks for Clement, who was told last night that he's about to be dealt.

TUESDAY, 11:36pm: DH/catcher Jeff Clement was pulled from the Tacoma Rainiers' lineup in the third inning tonight, according to Ryan Divish of The News Tribune. His analysis:

I have it on pretty reliable source that it is not injury related. Clement has been rumored to be part of possible trades already this season and maybe he is part of a package deal. Or perhaps, he is being called up in place of another player for the Mariners, who might be getting dealt.

Meanwhile trade target Jarrod Washburn just wrapped up what could be his last start with the Mariners. He tossed seven strong innings to lower his ERA to a sparkling 2.64 in front of scouts from the Yankees, Phillies, Brewers, and Rangers. Washburn, a Boras client and impending free agent, sure knows how to time his best seasons.

Quiet Deadline For Yankees?

By Tim Dierkes | July 29, 2009 at 12:12pm CDT

Joel Sherman of the New York Post has the latest on the Yankees, and it sounds like they could have a quiet trade deadline. Sherman says the team is showing no inclination to pursue Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee, and has not engaged in extensive talks for Jarrod Washburn. They're not in on Bronson Arroyo, Doug Davis, or Jon Garland either. Sherman believes the Yanks might be content to let the Red Sox get Halladay:

A person close to the Steinbrenner family said that Cashman has not even asked permission to expand the 2009 payroll nor is there anticipation that ownership would allow a significant financial increase now. This is pertinent because the Yankees do believe that the Red Sox have put Clay Buchholz into a trade offer for Halladay and that Boston just might get the ace righty.

So the first-place Yankees are tightening the purse strings, despite Chien-Ming Wang's season-ending shoulder surgery.

Brewers Aren’t Pursuing Washburn

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 29, 2009 at 9:43am CDT

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that the Brewers aren't seriously discussing a trade for Jarrod Washburn. They've lost 16 of their last 23 games and are reluctant to give up the prospects the Mariners would require in return, especially when Washburn profiles only as a Type B free agent.

The Mariners are looking to make a bigger deal involving Washburn, possibly one involving recent trade candidate Jeff Clement. Rosenthal says the Yankees inquired about the Mariners' lefty recently.

Mariners Ready To Sell

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 28, 2009 at 10:45pm CDT

10:45pm: Adam McCalvy at MLB.com talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who confirmed his discussions with Zduriencik. According to Melvin, Zduriencik "hasn't decided yet" if he'll deal a starter. The Brewers were hit hard today, as fill-in Carlos Villanueva allowed five runs in four innings, and the team also discovered that Jeff Suppan has a strained oblique and will be out indefinitely.

8:30pm: There's more from Morosi and Rosenthal, who say scouts from the Phillies, Rangers, Yankees and Brewers are all checking out Washburn's start tonight.

6:57pm: Morosi and Rosenthal updated their previous post, and they say that the Brewers and Mariners have talked about Washburn. They remind us that Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik was a former exec for the Brewers and say that "many in the industry believe the Brewers have an edge." Zduriencik is said to be a fan of the injured Rickie Weeks, who could be included as a PTBNL.

6:06pm: Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal are now reporting that Washburn is "officially available" and that the Mariners have informed the Yankees, who plan to make an offer soon. The Brewers also could be interested in Washburn.

12:27pm: The Mariners are shifting into "sell mode," according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Jarrod Washburn is available and contending teams may be able to pry pitchers Mark Lowe, Sean White and Brandon Morrow away as well.

One rival official says the Mariners are "about ready to do some things" now that they're 7.5 games out of a playoff spot and on a four game losing streak.

Heyman On Washburn, Halladay, Red Sox, Rangers

By Tim Dierkes | July 28, 2009 at 2:35pm CDT

Let's dig into the latest from SI's Jon Heyman.

The Yankees called the Mariners Saturday to inquire on Jarrod Washburn, and were told at the time that the Ms weren't ready to sell. Perhaps that has since changed, based on today's report from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi. Here's my question: was Seattle's decision to hold on to Washburn last summer prudent, or did they just get lucky? Heyman says Bronson Arroyo is a "fallback option" for the Yanks should the Reds change course and offer to eat significant salary.
Heyman gives his take on the Roy Halladay situation, explaining where suitors such as the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Rangers, and Dodgers sit. Heyman still sees the Phils as the favorite. He says the Dodgers "are more focused on Cliff Lee than Halladay" but don't want to break up their Major League roster. Good luck with that. One Heyman source suggested the Red Sox would need to give up Clay Buchholz, Daniel Bard, and Jed Lowrie (Gordon Edes says Bard is off-limits).
Heyman also talks a bit about Boston's interest in major bats Victor Martinez and Adrian Gonzalez.
Heyman finds the Rangers unlikely to acquire Halladay or Cliff Lee, though they have expressed interest. The Rangers won't be restricted, at least by MLB, because of Tom Hicks' financial woes. I don't see why the money owed to Halladay would be an issue for any club. He's a massive bargain.
The Angles have yet to cop to interest in Rays starter Scott Kazmir. Heyman guesses Tampa Bay would love to be free of Kazmir's contract ($24.8MM through 2011 doesn't seem too burdensome though). Earlier today the lefty was connected to the Rangers and Mets by Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Heyman speculates that one reason the Cards would like to extend Matt Holliday is to impress Albert Pujols.

Odds & Ends: White, White Sox, Bard, Willingham

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 28, 2009 at 2:20pm CDT

More links as the rumors keep flowing in…

La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune "heard the Twins might be sniffing around Seattle reliever Sean White." White's best skill is a decent groundball rate; his strikeout and walk rates do not impress.
The White Sox inked second-round pick Trayce Thompson, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. The high school outfielder, chosen 61st overall, gets $625K.
Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe is fairly sure the Red Sox won't trade Daniel Bard this week.
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post believes the Nats should keep Josh Willingham because he's relatively affordable, powerful and plays well enough defensively.
ESPN.com's Keith Law says Ryan Garko is a small upgrade for the Giants at first base.
The Rangers believed they were frontrunners to acquire Garko yesterday, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. They'd still like a right-handed hitting first baseman.
The Mets signed former big leaguer Adam Pettyjohn to a minor league deal, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.

Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.

Odds & Ends: Felix, DiPoto, Red Sox, Marlins

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | July 28, 2009 at 11:46am CDT

More links as we count down the hours to the deadline…

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times asks if the Mariners should listen to offers for Felix Hernandez, in the event they cannot sign him long-term.
SI's Tom Verducci sees Arizona exec Jerry DiPoto as "the frontrunner for the Nationals GM job."
Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald says the Red Sox are looking for a right-handed hitting fourth outfielder who plays good defense. He mentions Willie Bloomquist and Cody Ross as possible fits.
The Marlins are looking to make moves, but it's unclear where they'd want to upgrade, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. They could add a starter, a reliever or a position player, but don't expect them to trade prospects Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Fish "are split on whether to acquire a hitter or starting pitcher."
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that Cubs GM Jim Hendry wants to make a deal, but doesn't expect to make a "splashy" one.
The Rockies could use an experienced lefty reliever, according to MLB.com.

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