Washburn To Yankees Close To Done-Deal
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.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Dodgers, Washburn
Ken Rosenthal spoke before today’s Yankees-Red Sox game on Fox and had a few items for the Hot Stove…
- The Braves have yet to decide if they are going to be buyers or sellers at the deadline. If they do decide to sell, they will start taking bids for Mark Teixeira. Earlier this week we heard from Jayson Stark that the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees have contacted the Braves about Teixeira. Today Stark told us that we can scratch the Rays off that list. Rosenthal adds the D-Backs to the list and says they make the most sense, but it is unlikely that they will be willing to offer the right players.
- The acquisition of Casey Blake means the Dodgers will probably not seek a better bat to play shortstop.
- The Yankees and Mariners have yet to discuss who the Yankees would give up for Jarrod Washburn.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Odds And Ends: Sosa, Rhodes, Twins, Rays, Cubs
A few minor notes from around the MLBiverse…
- The Mariners have signed Jorge Sosa to a minor league deal. This is Sosa’s third organization this season.
- Despite reports that the Brewers would not add a relief pitcher, Milwaukee had a scout at Friday’s game and Geoff Baker believes the scout was there to watch Arthur Rhodes.
- Joe Christensen says that the Twins may prefer to promote Francisco Liriano, and move him or another starter to the bullpen, rather than trade for a relief pitcher.
- Joe Maddon says that there is only a "50-50 chance" that the Rays make a move before the deadline.
- Jim Hendry says that the Cubs are not likely to make any trades unless an injury necessitates a move. Carrie Muskat says that a move may depend on how well Kerry Wood recovers from the blister on his throwing hand.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
Mets Actively Looking For Corner Outfielder
Update 1:39 p.m.: Now that the Dodgers have acquired Blake, the Mets have turned their attention to Brian Giles.
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Mets are one of three teams that have inquired on the availability of Giles. He also notes that the Mets are often asked about Fernando Martinez, to whom the Padres offered $1MM as an amateur.
The Cardinals and Brewers are the other two teams.
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Adam Rubin of the NY Daily News reports the Mets have narrowed their focus on obtaining a corner outfielder. A team insider told Rubin the team could trade for Casey Blake, Jason Bay, or Raul Ibañez next week.
The approach would be to wait until after the non-waiver trade deadline in hopes that the currently exorbitant asking price for said outfielders would relax.
Reading between the lines:
Now that the Pirates traded Xavier Nady to the Yankees, Rubin believes it might change their plans on Bay.
Bay has expressed his desire to remain with the Pirates, as the possibility that they give him an extension and rebuild around him exists.
The Mets have been mentioned in Ibañez rumors for a few weeks now, but the surfacing of Blake’s name as an option could mean they didn’t match up well with the Mariners on a deal.
Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Comments? Rumors? alexo05 [at] umpbump [daught] com.
Yankees Still In Talks For Washburn
Updating a rumor that seems to have died down in the last few days, the Yankees and Mariners are still having serious discussions about Jarrod Washburn, reports Dan Graziano.
Up until a few days ago, the Yankees wanted to include Kei Igawa and Melky Cabrera in the deal but the Mariner’s didn’t particularly appear interested in neither player.
The Mariners asked about Austin Jackson, but were turned down, and now two other prospects have been thrown into the hat: Brett Gardner and Justin Christian.
Washburn has a no-trade clause, but Graziano thinks he would waive it for a shot at a pennant race.
Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Comments? Rumors? alexo05 [at] umpbump [daught] com.
Jarrod Washburn Rumors
3:09pm: Jayson Stark says the Yankees view Washburn as a salary dump, and won’t include even low-level prospects unless the Mariners eat money or take Igawa.
1:27pm: Peter Abraham says the Yankees are trying a new way to get Washburn. Neither Abraham nor Geoff Baker believes Washburn’s no-trade clause will be an issue or something the Yankees would compensate for.
9:59am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Seattle’s request of Cabrera and Gardner for Washburn is "a non-starter for the Yankees."
FRIDAY, 9:21am: Joel Sherman says Igawa is not part of the Washburn discussions.
THURSDAY, 5:36pm: According to Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger, talks have progressed on a possible Washburn-Yankees trade. Price says the Ms aren’t sold on Kei Igawa, but the Yankees are willing to discuss Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner.
4:56pm: This is a bit out of order, since Abraham’s info below actually came out after this Seattle PI column from John Hickey.
Hickey says the Yankees, Cardinals, White Sox, and possibly Brewers have talked to the Mariners about Washburn. The pitcher’s no-trade clause allows him to block a deal to the Yankees but not the Cards or Sox. He seems willing to waive the clause, anyway.
11:12am: According to Peter Abraham:
One trade the Yankees could make now if they wanted would be Kei Igawa and a B-level prospect to Seattle for LHP Jarrod Washburn and DH/1B Jose Vidro. The Yankees would take on $16 million (plus a $500,000 buyout for Vidro) while shedding the $9.4 million owed to Igawa.
So for roughly $7.1 million, you get Washburn for this year and next and Vidro for this season. Washburn would likely want something to waive his no-trade clause, which includes the Yankees.
I agree with Abraham – that seems pretty reasonable. As he says, you can just DFA Vidro. Washburn alone is worth it, as long as the prospect isn’t anyone special and he doesn’t demand a ton for the no-trade compensation.
Graziano’s Latest: Sherrill, Arroyo, Rhodes, Zaun
Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger has a new Trade Winds column.
- Graziano notes how incredible the Erik Bedard trade could look for Baltimore if they spin George Sherrill for prospects. He names the Cardinals, Rays, Marlins, and Red Sox as suitors. The Mets fear Sherrill’s price tag, while the Yankees don’t expect a deal within the division.
- The Yankees haven’t spoken to the Reds about Bronson Arroyo (although based on previous reports, they have scouted him). The Yanks aren’t likely to sign Barry Bonds, and aren’t terribly thrilled with the catching market.
- Fernando Martinez‘s possible injury could increase the Mets’ urgency to find a left fielder. For some reason, Adam Dunn is not in the mix. The Mets are in on relievers Brian Tallet, Jack Taschner, and Arthur Rhodes.
- The division rival Marlins are after Rhodes, as well as Gregg Zaun.
- Graziano says no one denied his rumor that the Blue Jays were quietly discussing Roy Halladay with other teams. The offseason might be a better time to shop him, though.
Knobler’s Latest: Pirates, Brewers, Beltre, Cabrera
Here’s the latest from CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler.
- A rumor made the rounds that Pirates president Frank Coonelly and GM Neal Huntington were at odds over the team’s strategy, with Coonelly pushing .500 as a goal. Huntington denied that, and has five coveted players to work with in the next week. Keep in mind that only Damaso Marte is a free agent after the season, so moves can be made in the offseason.
- Teams with available relievers believes the Brewers are still in the market, despite Doug Melvin’s claims. Many teams are scouting the Brewers’ Double A club.
- Adrian Beltre‘s contract wouldn’t be a problem for the Twins, but the teams haven’t found a match on players.
- Knobler heard that the Marlins might consider Baltimore catcher Ramon Hernandez.
- The rumor about Kevin Towers becoming a candidate for the Seattle GM vacancy won’t die.
- Some folks expect the White Sox to move shortstop Orlando Cabrera before the deadline. They’re still looking for pitching.
Mets Cool On Street, Nady?
According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets are searching for a shutdown reliever. However, he says Huston Street has apparently dropped off the Mets’ radar. Billy Wagner was able to pitch today, so maybe the need for relief will remain secondary.
Lennon adds that the Mets’ interest in Xavier Nady has cooled, but they are still in on Casey Blake and Raul Ibanez.
Carroll’s Latest: Duchscherer, Burnett, Ibanez, Cabrera
Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus has some rumors to consider this afternoon.
- The Tigers are 5.5 games out, but are still on the fence about buying or selling.
- Carroll says there’s "much more substance to rumors of the White Sox going after Justin Duchscherer" as compared to the one about the A’s pursuing Jason Bay.
- The Phillies could jump back in on A.J. Burnett if the price comes down. Also – could Burnett clear waivers in August?
- The Rockies’ demands for Brian Fuentes might be holding up the relief market.
- Regarding Raul Ibanez, the Mariners either want to tack Jose Vidro on in a deal or get back premium prospects.
- The White Sox have become aggressive, and apparently had failed talks about Orlando Cabrera with the Red Sox. Josh Fields is not considered untouchable.