Mariners Rumors

Draft Update: Matzek, Ackley, Marlins

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 3, 2009 at 12:44pm CDT

What happens after the Nationals select Stephen Strasburg? It's becoming a little clearer. Dustin Ackley is considered the best college hitter available, and scouts like the abundance of arms in the first part of round one. Here are some more details:

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports that Bobby Borchering "could be the choice" for the Marlins, who have the 18th pick in the draft.
The Rangers are willing to take a high-ceiling arm with their 14th pick, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Shelby Miller and Matthew Purke are a pair of Texas high schoolers who "are possibilities" for the Rangers.
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo places Dustin Ackley on a list of five players who could make an impact in the majors soon after being drafted.
High school lefty Tyler Matzek will almost certainly be among the first ten selections, according to Baseball America's Dave Perkin. Matzek, who can throw 97 mph, is a "distinct possibility" for the Mariners with the second pick and will be scooped up soon afterwards if the Mariners pass.
Here's a name to keep an eye on: Perkin calls Henry Owens a "future first-round" pick.
The Dodgers, picking 36th, believe they can obtain the same sort of player that would be available with a 20th overall pick, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.

Draft Updates: M’s, Padres, Pirates, O’s

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 1, 2009 at 2:09pm CDT

Here are some updates to prepare you for the top five picks in the 2009 draft, which takes place a week from tomorrow.

The Mariners pick second and they have four of the first 51 picks. That's why the Mariners' scouting director told MLB.com's Jim Street that this is the most important draft in franchise history. That's a bold statement considering the Mariners drafted both Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez. Dustin Ackley, who the Mariners may well choose, told David Laurila of Baseball Prospectus that he doesn't care who drafts him.
The Padres are tight-lipped about what they plan to do with their third overall pick, as MLB.com's Corey Brock reports.
Pirates GM Neal Huntington identified Stephen Strasburg as the best available pitcher and Ackley as the best available hitter in Jenifer Langosch's MLB.com article. The Pirates, who pick fourth, say there's a group of quality arms available after those two players.
Baltimore's director of scouting says the O's will take the best available player in next week's draft. MLB.com's Spencer Fordin says they'll have the chance to take an elite arm with their fifth overall pick.
Lane Meyer of NoMaas.org heard that the Yankees are impressed by the depth of the left-handed pitching class in this year's draft.

Odds And Ends: Red Sox, Oswalt, Angels

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 1, 2009 at 9:43am CDT

Links to start the week off…

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe suggests a few ways of improving the Red Sox. He says acquiring a catcher like Victor Martinez or Jarrod Saltalamacchia would set the team up for this year and beyond.
Think the Tigers are happy they parted with Matt Joyce to acquire Edwin Jackson? Aubrey Huff told the Detroit Free Press that Jackson and Justin Verlander are the best back-to-back starters he's seen in his nine-year career.
ESPN.com's Amy Nelson says (via Twitter) that Roy Oswalt's open to being traded but would like to remain in the NL.
Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times says the Angels are "believed to be exploring" trades to improve their 'pen.
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle argues that Astros GM Ed Wade "cut corners" when assembling his pitching staff.
Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu likes his current lineup, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger.
ESPN.com's Keith Law says the two college pitchers who threw 129 and 169 pitches in a 25 inning game were exposed to injury unfairly.
Brian Joura counts down the worst #1 overall draft choices in baseball history on FantasyPros911.
And I'm thrilled to be stepping in for a bit here on MLBTR as Tim takes care of far more important things.

White Sox Acquire Ramon Castro, DFA Miller

By Tim Dierkes | May 30, 2009 at 9:57am CDT

SATURDAY, 9:57am: According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune the White Sox will designate catcher Corky Miller for assignment today. The 33-year-old career backup batted 42 times this year, hitting .205/.262/.282.

FRIDAY, 10:06pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya just announced that the Mets shipped Castro to the Sox for pitcher Lance Broadway. Sox Machine says this makes Broadway an official first-round bust.

8:59pm: SI's Jon Heyman says the White Sox are talking to the Mets about their catchers, probably Castro, and "it appears there's a decent chance a trade can be reached."

4:41pm: According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets are trying to trade catcher Ramon Castro before Saturday's game (hat tip to MetsBlog). They've spoken to the Mariners, who just lost Kenji Johjima for a couple of months. Rubin says the Mets are not prepared to eat Castro's remaining $1.79MM. Castro is a solid offensive catcher, so he should draw interest.

Odds And Ends: Rangers, Brewers, O’Dowd

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 30, 2009 at 9:26am CDT

A few links for Saturday morning…

Nolan Ryan could buy into the Texas Rangers according to this MLB.com article by T.R. Sullivan.
ESPN.com's Buster Olney points out that the Rangers have the resources to "out-bid others for the likes of Erik Bedard" if they decide to trade for pitching help.
Brewers GM Doug Melvin said once again that he's not looking outside the organization for second base help, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Melvin said he's happy with Craig Counsell at second in the absence of Rickie Weeks.
Now that the Phillies hope to acquire an impact pitcher, Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog.com wonders whether the Mets might decide to get in the Phillies' way and go after an arm, too.
As Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe reports, the Red Sox aren't about to implement a six-man rotation. The Sox will still have arms to spare so we'll continue to hear Brad Penny's name in trade rumors.
Dave Krieger of the Denver Post says the next four months will be a "referendum" on Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd and his front office.
As MLB.com's John Schlegel reports Stephen Strasburg struck out 15 in his most recent start, walking no one and allowing two earned runs on eight hits.
Check out a discussion I had about the Jays and other MLB teams on TorontoSportsMedia.com.
Newsday's Ken Davidoff likes the Lance Broadway–Ramon Castro swap for the Mets.
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle takes a look at Ed Wade's Kaz Matsui signing and doesn't like what he sees.

Phillies To Pursue One Impact Pitcher

By Tim Dierkes | May 29, 2009 at 9:44pm CDT

Brett Myers is out for the season with hip surgery. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports spoke to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said the Phillies don't have the money to add multiple starters. Instead they'll aim high, with names like Erik Bedard and Roy Oswalt speculated by Rosenthal. So, not a Brad Penny type. SI's Jon Heyman wrote about Bedard's appeal earlier today.

Rosenthal also wonders if Myers' surgery could restore some lost velocity, making him an intriguing free agent after the season.

Mariners Trade Talk

By Tim Dierkes | May 29, 2009 at 1:01pm CDT

Rounding up links involving possible Mariners trades…

Start with Jon Paul Morosi's article at FOX Sports. Morosi talked to Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, who is in no hurry and has not received any offers yet. Seattle, at six games out in the AL West, is technically still focused on the pennant race.
SI's Jon Heyman writes about Erik Bedard, who may just be the best pitcher available this summer. His contract's not a problem, and I should mention that unlike Jake Peavy, Bedard does not have no-trade protection. Heyman believes that Bedard would probably require a better package than the one the White Sox were going to send to San Diego for Peavy. He likes the Phillies, White Sox, and Brewers as possible suitors.
Heyman rattles off other Mariners trade candidates when the time comes: Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista, Adrian Beltre, Yuniesky Betancourt, and Russell Branyan. In his article, Morosi wondered if now is the time to sell high on reliever David Aardsma.
Larry LaRue of The News Tribune has the local take.

Stark On Peavy, Oswalt, Phillies, DeRosa, Giants

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

Let's take a look at the latest Rumblings and Grumblings column from ESPN's Jayson Stark.

The Padres' recent winning streak has not changed their intention of trading Jake Peavy. The Dodgers and Cubs are in Peavy's first tier of choices, follwed by the Giants, Cardinals, and Astros. The Angels would be the one AL team he'd consider. The East Coast is a long shot. Also, Peavy will want his 2011-13 partial no-trade clause to become a full no-trade. Peavy's friend Roy Oswalt has been unsuccessful in lobbying Astros owner Drayton McLane, as the 'Stros can't take on Peavy's contract. As for the Dodgers, GM Ned Colletti told the L.A. Times he hasn't talked to the Padres about Peavy since the pitcher vetoed the White Sox deal.
Stark talked to scouts who believe Oswalt has "lost his edge" and needs a change of scenery. The Phillies have inquired on him, but they've asked about everyone: Peavy, Brandon Webb, Roy Halladay, Doug Davis, Erik Bedard, Cliff Lee, Aaron Harang, Brad Penny, Chris Young and Jason Marquis. Popular Phillies trade targets include Lou Marson, Jason Donald, Carlos Carrasco, Travis D'Arnaud, Freddy Galvis, Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown, and Antonio Bastardo.
The Braves are interested in bringing Mark DeRosa back to Atlanta. He came up with them and was non-tendered in '04 after tearing his ACL. But to deal young arms, the Braves would want an impact bat. Stark says they're "mostly listening" rather than shopping Jeff Francoeur. His trade value is difficult to gauge.
The Mets seem content to wait out the first base trade market.
The Giants seek a middle-of-the-order bat, and Jonathan Sanchez is being dangled. Three targets they haven't had success on are Dan Uggla, Jorge Cantu, and possibly Carlos Lee. Lee, according to one Stark source, doesn't intend to waive his no-trade for anyone.

Rosenthal On Astros, Marquis, DeRosa, Francoeur

By Tim Dierkes | May 26, 2009 at 8:21am CDT

Let's take a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Rosenthal recommends the Astros trade veterans to improve their bottom-ranked farm system. He'd especially like to see Houston make Roy Oswalt available. They'd have take Oswalt's no-trade clause into consideration.
The Phillies continue to seek a starter, and they made an inquiry on Colorado's Jason Marquis. Rosenthal finds Erik Bedard "perhaps the most intriguing fit" and notes that the Phils probably have flexibility to add payroll. This question came up in a recent chat…I do think the Phillies have the pieces to pull off a Bedard trade.
The Brewers are not going after Cleveland's Mark DeRosa, as they cannot spare Major League pitching for him. Rosenthal also finds Jake Peavy unlikely, as the Brewers probably couldn't pull off a deal without creating a new need. Of Peavy, Rosenthal says, "He will not leave easily."
The Mets are interested in Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson, who is off to a .338/.445/.471 start.
The Royals might be the top suitor for Jeff Francoeur if the Braves shop him, but not everyone in Kansas City's front office is keen on him. The Red Sox are known to have an eye on Francoeur.
Rosenthal's heard speculation that the Sox could trade Daniel Bard, whose value may be at a high point.
Rather than acquire someone like Yuniesky Betancourt, the Padres will stick with in-house options at shortstop (mainly Luis Rodriguez and Everth Cabrera, once they're healthy).

Discussion: Erik Bedard

By | May 23, 2009 at 3:37pm CDT

We've covered Erik Bedard's situation with Seattle at length here on MLBTR, but there's nothing wrong with a little refresher.

He'll earn $7.75MM this season and is a free agent in 2010.
At 30 years of age, he boasts a career ERA of 3.74, a career WHIP of 1.32 and a 48-40 win-loss total.
If they decide to move him, the Mariners are likely to price him like an ace.

I thought it'd be interesting to poll the readers. Do you believe he'll be on the move before July 31? What clubs are you expecting to take a run at him, and who has the kind of resources to land him?

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