Rhodes To The Marlins?
2:44pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick also heard the Marlins were eyeing Jeremy Affeldt and David Weathers of the Reds.
12:47pm: Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald is reporting that the Marlins could be close to landing Arthur Rhodes from the Mariners.
The Marlins could be closer to a deal to acquire left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes from the Seattle Mariners, who are looking only for a midlevel minor-league prospect in return. Rhodes, 37, is 2-0 with a 3.83 ERA in 35 relief appearances this season.
Yesterday we heard that the Marlins were targeting several left-handed relievers and it looks like they have narrowed their focus to Rhodes.
With many teams balking at the asking price for relievers such as Brian Fuentes and George Sherrill, we have heard of several teams showing more interest in Rhodes (ie. the Brewers).
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Stark’s Latest: Aurilia, Fuentes, Orlando Cabrera
New collection of rumors from ESPN’s Jayson Stark…
- The Twins have asked the Giants about Rich Aurilia. They’ve been dangling Boof Bonser for a position player; would they trade him back to San Francisco for Aurilia?
- On the Phillies’ radar: John Grabow, Will Ohman, Arthur Rhodes, and Jack Taschner.
- A Brian Fuentes trade remains doubtful.
- The White Sox will trade Orlando Cabrera for the right pitcher. The Sox aren’t generating much interest in their prospects.
Giants Like Adrian Beltre
According to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle:
The Giants like Adrian Beltre, believing he would thrive in the more fastball-oriented National League, but a source said they have not exchanged names with the Mariners.
Schulman explains that Giants GM Brian Sabean is open to acquiring players who can help in 2009. Hank Blalock was also on the radar, but now he’s back on the DL. The Rangers told a white lie to the public regarding Blalock’s injury earlier this week. The Rangers had their eye on Jonathan Sanchez, but I doubt the Giants would’ve entertained a one-for-one swap even for a healthy Blalock.
The Giants could also try the free agent market this winter. Available third basemen include Casey Blake, Joe Crede, and Dallas McPherson.
The Marlins seemingly would swap first baseman Mike Jacobs for catcher Bengie Molina, but the Giants aren’t interested. They’re also reluctant to trade lefty Jack Taschner, who is under team control through 2011.
Graziano’s Latest: Dunn, Putz, Laird
Time to check in with Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger.
- Graziano calls Adam Dunn "the man without a rumor." Even with his flaws this one is hard to figure out. [UPDATE: SI.com’s Jon Heyman is finally hearing a couple of teams are in on Dunn.]
- John Maine‘s rotator cuff strain has the Mets looking at pitching. Graziano suggests names like Livan Hernandez, Paul Byrd, and Jarrod Washburn.
- The Mets have talked to the Tigers about Scott Schoeneweis. They’d have to replace him, maybe with Arthur Rhodes or Eddie Guardado.
- The Mariners will listen on J.J. Putz, but he won’t come cheap. The Cardinals and Red Sox have interest. Putz is signed through ’09 with an option for ’10.
- The Yankees and Marlins have asked about catcher Gerald Laird, while many teams like Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
- The Braves are willing to trade Will Ohman and Mark Kotsay.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Ibanez, Ohman, Fuentes
The latest from rumor guru Ken Rosenthal:
- The Mariners are not having much luck stirring interest in Jarrod Washburn and Raul Ibanez. Only the Mets are seriously looking at Ibanez, and they don’t like the price. The D’Backs aren’t interested. Exacerbating the situation is that interim GM Lee Pelekoudas may feel compelled to make a good impression on the higher-ups.
- The Braves chose Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek over an offer of Chad Tracy and Micah Owings from the D’Backs. I’m surprised the Diamondbacks didn’t go a little further. The Braves tried to expand the deal and send Will Ohman to the Angels, but a match could not be found. Ohman remains likely to go, with the Rays, Cardinals, and Red Sox named as suitors.
- Rosenthal notes that the Angels have a ton of offseason decisions to make, with club options and free agents all over the place.
- The Rockies might be slightly more willing to trade Brian Fuentes following recent losses. However, they still want a young starting pitcher for him.
Odds and Ends: Rhodes, Happ, Manny
Let’s round up some links and rumors.
- The Brewers scouted Arthur Rhodes last night, according to Jon Heyman.
- About a "half-dozen" Braves are subject of trade talks, according to GM Frank Wren.
- Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein notes that Brandon Wood‘s stock is rising in case the Angels want to use him as a trade chip.
- Phillies prospect J.A. Happ wasn’t necessarily pulled from his start last weekend because of a big league promotion. Phillies assistant GM Mike Arbuckle admitted that a trade is another option. [UPDATE: Happ has indeed been recalled to the Majors, though.]
- Tom Verducci of SI.com believes the proper business decision for the Red Sox will be to keep Manny Ramirez and exercise his $20MM option for ’09.
- Richard Durrett of the Dallas Morning News says the D’Backs, Rays, and Tigers had scouts at last night’s Rangers-Mariners contest.
Jarrod Washburn Rumors: Tuesday
2:00pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Yankees are now scouring the market for another pitcher.
10:24am: George King of the New York Post talked to a source who thinks this trade is dead, but King thinks it could be resurrected.
9:16am: According to Anthony Rieber of Newsday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman characterizes the trade market as "frigid" for his team. It seems no one is budging on the Jarrod Washburn standstill.
Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal says the Mariners are discussing Washburn with other teams.
Mets Rumors: Manny, Ibanez, Bullpen
12:06pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney ranks the Mets’ priorities as reliever, corner outfielder, and starter, in that order. They’re currently discussing Ibanez with the Mariners, but not much has come of it yet.
10:17am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger doesn’t buy the denials – he says Mets GM Omar Minaya remains interested in Manny Ramirez. The Mets rank Ramirez above alternatives like Raul Ibanez, Adam Dunn, and Randy Winn, and might make certain prospects available just for Manny. Is Jon Niese among them? Niese is thought to be untouchable, and was promoted to Triple A today.
Meanwhile Mets manager Jerry Manuel endorsed Fernando Tatis at the everyday left fielder. David Lennon doesn’t expect a trade unless the price comes down on Ibanez. Can Tatis continue to channel his glory days, when he posted a .957 OPS with 34 home runs for the ’99 Cardinals?
Graziano also talked to an NL official familiar with the Mets’ plans. That person said the Mets are considering a bullpen overhaul where they would ship out Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis and bring in different relievers.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Monday
9:35pm: The D’Backs are considered "highly unlikely" to acquire Ramirez. So now we have denials from all four teams named this morning.
9:08pm: The Dodgers would only be interested in Ramirez if the Red Sox took Andruw Jones back.
8:42pm: Peter Gammons has some unkind words for Manny.
6:46pm: Cross the Mets off the list too, according to Jayson Stark.
3:06pm: GM Pat Gillick says the Phillies have no interest in Ramirez. He makes the fairly obvious point that the Phils don’t have an open position for Manny.
9:26am: Click here for a refresher on yesterday’s Manny Ramirez rumors. He said he would approve a trade, if the Red Sox can find one. Todd Zolecki noted that the Phillies have discussed Manny internally.
- Dan Graziano and Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger talked to an official who says the Mets and Phillies are both in "serious pursuit" of Ramirez. If so, why do both teams have no interest in Adam Dunn? Graziano and Price think Ramirez would command big-name prospects like Fernando Martinez or Lou Marson.
- Sean McAdam says the Sox have spoken to four teams about Manny: the Phillies, Mets, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers. McAdam says Ramirez will waive his no-trade clause for a guarantee that his options will be declined. Additionally, the Red Sox might consider kicking in money to get better players in return.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday says the Mets aren’t interested in Ramirez and continue to eye Raul Ibanez. However, the asking price may be too high.
- Paul Hagen finds no indication that the Phillies are interested. And unless Pat Burrell is included in a deal, he or Ramirez would have to play right field. Umm…no.
- Jeff Passan thinks that all things considered, Manny still might be worth keeping in Boston for $20MM in ’09.
Jarrod Washburn Rumors: Monday
8:44pm: The Mariners aren’t amused with the Yankees, blaming them for the way negotiations have been portrayed publicly.
4:18pm: Media drama? On the Seattle side, Larry LaRue says "arrogant New York writers" and the "near hysteria of the internet and blogs in late July" caused some to believe the Yankees were close to getting Washburn for nothing. LaRue believes GM Lee Pelekoudas "has probably talked to 20 other teams, too."
On the New York side, Peter Abraham says the Yankees are the lone team interested in Washburn, and the idea of Seattle having leverage is "a bit comical."
12:05pm: Geoff Baker believes the Mariners have some leverage in this situation. He believes that if the Yankees are only offering salary relief, the Ms can afford to wait until August or the offseason.
8:31am: Jarrod Washburn remains a Mariner, but Kat O’Brien of Newsday has the latest on trade talks with the Yankees.
The Yankees still don’t want to send more than a middling prospect for Washburn. Meanwhile, the Ms hope Hank Steinbrenner will demand Brian Cashman acquire the pitcher, even if it means trading Melky Cabrera or Brett Gardner. Joel Sherman describes the situation as a game of chicken between the Yankees and Mariners.
On the catching front, the Yanks asked the Rangers about Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia but didn’t get anywhere.