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Mets Unlikely To Acquire Outfielder

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Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes about the Mets’ unsuccessful search for a corner outfielder. 

The Mets find the prospect price too high on players such as Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay.  They don’t seem to care for Adam Dunn or Brian Giles.  They don’t like Randy Winn’s contract or lack of power.   And Manny Ramirez is unlikely for numerous reasons.

While the Mets are fans of Ibanez, they’ve made all of their interesting prospects untouchable.  The Mets may prefer to use some of those prospects in offseason deals.  For now they will stick with the red-hot Fernando Tatis and other internal options.

Odds and Ends: Happ, Igawa, Hawkins, Lowe

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Rounding up rumors and links from the weekend…

Jarrod Washburn Rumors

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10:05pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman seems to be saying the Mariners are still asking for Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner, though many think one of them would be plenty.

9:27pm: Talks seem to have stalled; Jerry Crasnick got the impression that GM Brian Cashman is not optimistic about a deal happening.

5:59pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Yankees are holding firm, offering a marginal prospect and salary relief.

1:25pm: The Jarrod Washburn talks seem to be plodding along; I am going to start a fresh thread here and update it throughout the day.

Ken Rosenthal says the Yankees made an offer of an average prospect and absorption of most of his contract.  So far no agreement has been reached.  Washburn started today and shut down the Jays in Toronto.

Week In Review: 7/20 – 7/26

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This one will be a bit lengthy, which can be expected as the deadline approaches. Here’s a review of some of the major moves and rumors of the last week:

  • The Yankees acquired Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates for OF Jose Tabata, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Dan McCutchen and RHP Jeff Karstens . I agree with Tim that Ian Kennedy would’ve been a better centerpiece, but Tabata is pretty highly-touted himself. Kennedy would have made a more immediate impact, while Tabata is only 19 years old.
  • The Dodgers acquired Casey Blake for minor league RHP Jon Meloan and C Carlos Santana. The Dodgers get a nice boost to their lineup without giving up too much, although Santana’s putting together a very impressive season in Class-A ball.
  • The Nationals sent Jon Rauch to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league 2B Emilio Bonifacio. Rauch adds to a strong bullpen for Arizona, while Bonaficio could become a very solid leadoff hitter in the future for Washington. They may have been able to get more for Rauch, but I personally like the move, regardless.
  • The Brewers acquired Ray Durham from the Giants for minor leaguers Darren Ford and Steve Hammond. Rickie Weeks has been a disappointment to an otherwise red-hot club. Can Durham provide a bit more stability? The power’s gone, but he can still get on base.
  • The Astros acquired Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke. This one confuses me a little bit; with all due respect, did the Astros forget they were 12.5 games out? I don’t see the logic in buying on a pitcher.
  • The Cardinals traded Anthony Reyes to the Indians for minor league pitcher Luis Perdoma. I don’t get this one either. I feel like the Cardinals could have gotten more, despite Reyes’ struggles in the past. The Indians could make this one look like a steal, in my opinion.
  • The Yankees are in deep discussion with the Mariners about acquiring Jarrod Washburn. Tim cites Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal in saying that the Mariners want a top prospect in addition to the salary dump, but the Yankees are only offering a marginal prospect. Can’t say I blame them. A top prospect for an mediocre pitchers who’s due an additional $14MM? Sounds like Seattle’s getting greedy…
  • A new, and surprising name surfaced in trade talks: Manny Ramirez. Manny has said he would waive his no-trade clause, and based on interviews, has basically said that 2008 will be his last season in Boston. I can’t see Boston trading their (arguably) best hitter in the middle of a pennant race, however. I’d bet on him finishing out the season.
  • Speaking of corner outfielders, the Mets need one, and they know it. Having missed out on Nady and Blake, they will likely zero in on Raul Ibanez. Ibanez makes great sense for them, and the Mariners would obviously like to rebuild. I expect this one to get done.
  • There was a report that Roy Halladay came out and told the Blue Jays that he is unhappy in Toronto, which has provoked the Jays to explore their potential options. Halladay’s price would have to be astronomical, I’d think. He’s signed through 2010 and pitching like it’s 2003 all over again. Personal speculation: I think Halladay to the Cardinals with a Colby Rasums centerpiece would make sense.
  • Crisitan Guzman signed a two-year, $16MM contract extension. Guzman has revived his career after surgery following an awful 2005. I like the signing for the Nats.
  • Jorge Posada could be out for the season. The Yankees are looking for catchers. In addition to the names mentioned there, they could take a shot at signing Johnny Estrada, who was DFA’ed by Washington this week. Estrada was terrible in Washington, but has put up solid offensive numbers for a catcher throughout his career.
  • Brian Fuentes, Huston Street, and George Sherrill are all still potential trade pieces. Fuentes is the most likely to go, I’d say, although the Rockies are asking for quite a bit.
  • Tim updated the left-handed reliever and left field markets.

Perrotto’s Latest: Ross, Jacobs, Kent, Burnett

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Baseball Prospectus’ John Perrotto has a new column.

  • The Mets are looking at relievers Huston Street, Brian Fuentes, Arthur Rhodes, and Eddie Guardado.  On the radar for outfielders: Jason Bay, Raul Ibanez, and Randy Winn.
  • A new suitor for Fuentes has emerged: the Diamondbacks.  Would they really make another move for a reliever?  Other known suitors were named here.
  • The Marlins would consider trading Cody Ross or Mike Jacobs for relief help.
  • New name on the Rays’ radar: Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent.  They’re better off with Akinori Iwamura aren’t they?
  • George Sherrill suitors: Cardinals, Tigers, Dodgers, Marlins, and Phillies.
  • The Blue Jays may offer A.J. Burnett an additional $2MM per year to convince him to stay for 2009-10.
  • The Rangers are "expected to be among the top bidders" for CC Sabathia this winter.

Mets Focus On Raul Ibanez

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Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News brings us insight on the Mets’ interest in acquiring an outfielder, namely Raul Ibanez, before the deadline:

"The Mets scratched a second name off their list of four primary trade targets when Cleveland dealt Casey Blake to the Dodgers yesterday, one day after Xavier Nady landed with the Yankees. Seattle’s Raul Ibanez appears the most logical remaining target, since Pittsburgh seems less inclined to trade Jason Bay after having dealt Nady."

The price tag for Ibanez may be too high for the Mets, but with the Nady and Blake deals being within reason the cost of Ibanez should come down to earth.

Odds And Ends: Gammons, Stark, Giles, Royals

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And still more minor notes from around the MLBiverse…

First from Peter Gammons:

  • Gammons says that the Marlins will not part with Anibal Sanchez for Brian Fuentes and will instead go after Arthur Rhodes.
  • The Cardinals now appear to be the favorite for Fuentes.
  • No teams seem willing to pay the asking price for Jason Bay.
  • The Indians will pay the remainder of Casey Blake’s $2MM salary.

Next from Jayson Stark:

  • The Mets are also showing interest in Randy Winn, but one official from another club feels Winn is just a backup plan.

A couple of random notes:

  • Bud Black says Brian Giles does not want to be traded and prefers to stay with the Padres.
  • Kevin Murphy notes that the Royals haven’t fared too well in the trade market the last few years.

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

Odds And Ends: White Sox, Bonds, Mariners, Orioles, Rangers

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A few more minor notes from around the MLBiverse…

  • Ken Williams says "the climate is awful" in regards to the trade market.
  • Despite reports that the Yankees were discussing the possibility of signing Barry Bonds, Brian Cashman hints that Bonds is not in the plans for the Bombers.
  • Several scouts feel that the Mariners’ interim GM is in a very tough situation. The scouts think that Seattle may be better suited to wait until the offseason to make deals, but Lee Pelekoudas may not be the GM after the season, forcing him to make an impression now.
  • Andy MacPhail says he is spending a lot of time on the phone with other teams, but he said the Orioles are not close to making any deals.
  • Ron Washington would like to see the Rangers trade for a leadoff hitter, lefty relievers and starting pitching, but knows that a potential deal is unlikely. GM Jon Daniels said that the Rangers won’t be sellers, but they are also not interested in moving their top prospects for rental players.

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

More From Stark: Mets, Dodgers, Indians

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Jayson Stark brings us a few more tidbits from the Hot Stove…

  • The price for Raul Ibanez may be too high for the Mets as Stark reiterates what we heard previously, that Fernando Martinez and Jon Niese are not available…Ken Rosenthal added Robert Parnell to that list of untouchables.
  • The Mets may no longer be in the running for Brian Fuentes as they are not willing to part with Aaron Heilman.
  • Stark says other relief pitchers the Mets have shown some interest in include Cla Meredith, Chad Bradford and Jeremy Affeldt.
  • The Dodgers are said to be interested in several relief pitchers, including Fuentes, George Sherrill, David Weathers and Alan Embree, but they are not interested in Huston Street. The other possibility is Greg Maddux, who would allow the Dodgers to move another starter to the bullpen.
  • The Indians’ primary goal now is to deal Paul Byrd.

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

Washburn To Yankees Close To Done-Deal

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6:15pm: Ken Rosenthal just reported during the Fox telecast that the deal is now being held up by the Mariners demand for a top prospect in addition to the Yankees taking the remainder of Washburn’s contract.

5:53pm: Gregor Chisholm is now reporting that Washburn is still listed as the Mariners starting pitcher for Sunday.

5:04pm: Jon Heyman is also saying that the deal could be done in the next couple of days. He also notes that any compensation for Washburn would not be in the form of an extension from the Yankees.

4:52pm: Peter Abraham is now reporting that the deal could happen as early as tomorrow and that the Yankees are willing to pay all of the salary remaining on the contract "in return for not sending Seattle any player of significance. No, not Kei Igawa." Abraham also feels that any compensation would come from Seattle.

4:31pm: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times spoke with Washburn following today’s game and Washburn gave no indication that a deal was done, or even imminent. Washburn did make it clear that he will seek some form of compensation in return for waiving his no-trade clause.

Buster Olney is reporting that the oft-talked about deal in which the Mariners would send Jarrod Washburn to the Yankees, will likely be completed in the next 48 hours. Olney suggests that the move is a salary dump with $13-14MM still owed to Washburn ($3-4MM in ’08, $10.35MM in ’09). If the Yankees take on most or all of the remaining contract, do not look for any big names to be going back in the other direction.

I spoke with Peter Abraham of the Journal-News and he reiterated that Brian Cashman is saying that the deal is not done yet.

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

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