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Rosenthal’s Latest: Hardy, Flowers, Wolf

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Another day, another column from Ken Rosenthal.

  • With multiple vacancies in the rotation and bullpen, the Brewers may need to see what kind of pitching Mike Cameron and/or J.J. Hardy can bring in return.  GM Doug Melvin is not ready to shop Hardy.  He’s received interest, but most teams have not given names (one team suggested swapping him for a pitcher Melvin termed, "a fifth starter.")
  • The Padres have asked the Braves to substitute catcher Tyler Flowers for center fielder Gorkys Hernandez in their Jake Peavy offer.  Dave O’Brien sees this as unlikely.
  • If they can’t sign Mark Teixeira, the Angels are ready to shift gears to C.C. Sabathia, Francisco Rodriguez, or other players.  The idea of a Manny Ramirez pursuit was "tabled rather quickly."
  • The Cardinals plan to add one or two lefthanded relievers, probably free agents.
  • In his quest for righthanded power, Reds GM Walt Jocketty inquired on Matt Holliday and Josh Willingham before they were traded.  Purely speculative – Jermaine Dye could be a nice fit.
  • At least half a dozen teams have expressed interest in free agent starter Randy Wolf.

Odds and Ends: Pettitte, Zaun, Blanco

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Links for Tuesday…

Matt Holliday Trade Roundup

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It seems that the Rockies will send left fielder Matt Holliday to the A’s for Carlos Gonzalez, Greg Smith, and Huston Street soon (assuming Smith’s elbow checks out).  While the A’s were rumored to be in the mix for Holliday, the trade still comes as a surprise to most.  Let’s round up today’s links on the topic.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Johnson, Peavy, Dempster

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Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • It doesn’t seem likely that Randy Johnson re-signs with the Diamondbacks, though Johnson is holding out filing for free agency until the possibility is exhausted.  The D’Backs hope he will take a significant hometown discount; they have roughly $10MM to spend for Johnson and a second baseman.  If a Mark Loretta type takes $2MM, will Johnson take $8MM after earning $15.1MM for a fine ’08 season?
  • The Braves are frustrated with the progress on the Jake Peavy talks, and will explore other options (especially once the free agent market opens Friday).  Rosenthal says the Padres sent revised proposals to the Cubs and Braves yesterday, but those teams intend to stick with their offers.  Will the Padres crack and make a deal before Friday?
  • Rosenthal criticizes the Padres for the classless farewell to Trevor Hoffman.  They pulled their reduced offer, and didn’t agree to the meeting with ownership he requested.
  • Suddenly there may be more solid free agent closers than teams seeking one.  The Mets have their pick.  To me this is a sign that K-Rod will fall short of five years, $75MM.
  • Rosenthal believes Kevin Gregg is next up on the trading block for the Marlins, with Jeremy Hermida another possibility.
  • Casey Blake doesn’t have any geographic leanings regarding his next destination.  His agent feels a three-year deal is reasonable.  The Twins and Indians are among seven teams eyeing Blake.
  • The Cubs offered Ryan Dempster something in the range of Kyle Lohse’s four years, $41MM.  Teams don’t like to use the Carlos Silva deal as a benchmark, because it was such a clear mistake.

Cardinals Rumors: Hudson, Lopez, Kennedy

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The Cardinals have moved on from Matt Holliday for the time being; let’s see what else is cooking.  Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest.  Middle infield seems to be the primary concern now. 

One option is to pursue a trade for Kelly Johnson or Yunel Escobar of the Braves, but that will probably require Ryan Ludwick.  However, those talks must wait until the Braves resolve their chase of Jake Peavy.

On the free agent front, the Cardinals are interested in Orlando Hudson but not Felipe Lopez. Scott Boras seems to be aiming for a multiyear deal for Lopez. 

Adam Kennedy wants out of St. Louis, and the D’Backs may be interested.  GM John Mozeliak is said to be reluctant to eat a "significant piece" of Kennedy’s $4MM.  The D’Backs barely seem willing to spend that amount on Randy Johnson.

The bullpen is the other concern, but Trevor Hoffman is apparently not on the radar.

Holliday To Cards Dead

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MONDAY: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch also checked in with Mozeliak, who said, "That one’s not happening – at all" in reference to a Cards-Holliday trade.  The Cardinals balked at the required player package.  Mozeliak was irritated that (inaccurate) details of the talks leaked to the press.  The Cards are looking at other things now, though Strauss’s source believes Holliday talks could be resurrected.

SUNDAY: Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News talked to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who admitted the idea of a Matt Holliday trade is dead.  The Rockies sought Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker, and Mitchell Boggs from the Cards, and talks hit a wall.

The A’s may still be in play, while Ringolsby says the Phillies did not discuss Holliday with the Rox during the GM meetings.  The Phils are unwilling to part with Shane Victorino.  Ringolsby adds that the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees have expressed interest in Holliday.  Joe Strauss recently said the Mets are in pursuit, and Bill Ladson had him as a Nationals target.

Odds And Ends: Saltalamacchia, White Sox, Ludwick

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Links for Sunday…

Matt Holliday Rumors: Saturday

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According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cardinals’ offer for Matt Holliday includes Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker and Mitchell Boggs. Rosenthal thinks the Cardinals would try to sign Holliday to an extension if traded to St. Louis.

Rosenthal also weighs in on the gap between Holliday’s .997 home OPS and his .891 road OPS this year.

The Phillies and A’s remain in the mix for Holliday, and the Nationals are involved as well. Rosenthal says that if the Rockies are likely to get quantity rather than quality if they deal Holliday to Washington.

MLB.com’s Matthew Leach asked Ludwick about the possibility of being traded. Ludwick said that even though "St. Louis feels like home," he knows trade talks are part of the business.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Holliday, Manny, Swisher, Johnson

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • Cardinals Diaspora would love to see the Cardinals land Matt Holliday but does not think the front office will have the guts to make the move.
  • Oriole Post is not sure the Orioles are truly interested in Manny Ramirez. If there is indeed interest, Oriole Post thinks the O’s should pass.
  • MetsBlog does not see the Mets going after Manny Ramirez even if the Yankees and Angels drop out of consideration.
  • River Ave. Blues makes a case for the Yankees trading for Nick Swisher over signing Mark Teixeira to play first base.
  • Talking Chop argues for keeping Yunel Escobar and moving Kelly Johnson for a power bat.

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

Phils, Cards Battle For Holliday

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According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Phillies and Cardinals are the top suitors for Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday.

The Phillies discussed Holliday and Brian Fuentes with the Rockies during the season.  The Rockies have an eye on Carlos Carrasco, J.A. Happ, and Shane Victorino.  Todd Zolecki believes Jayson Werth could be in the mix.

The Cardinals have been aggressive, and Ryan Ludwick is their bargaining chip.  Joe Strauss says the Cardinals would like to try to sign Holliday to an extension, but may not have the leverage to require a window.  The Cards would like to get something done soon.  Ludwick alone seems a pretty solid return for Holliday, since the Rockies would have him for three years.  Strauss adds that the Mets are also in the running for Holliday.

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