Cardinals Rumors

Molony’s Latest: Mahay, Loretta, Erstad, Guzman

By Tim Dierkes | July 10, 2008 at 11:01am CDT

Let’s check in with MLB.com’s Jim Molony.

The Rays are scouting lefty relievers Brian Fuentes and Ron Mahay. The issue? The price for Fuentes seems exorbitant, and Mahay may not be available. Troy E. Renck names the Yankees, Mets, Cardinals, and Marlins as the main suitors for Fuentes aside from the Rays.
A few contenders have inquired with the Astros as to the availability of Mark Loretta and Darin Erstad.
As you might imagine, the Rangers are open to trading Frank Catalanotto. We mentioned yesterday that his contract is a bit of a burden.
It seems that Jim Bowden is listening to offers for Cristian Guzman while also trying to sign him to an extension. From Guzman’s point of view, it might make sense to enter a weak shortstop market this winter.
The Matt Capps injury apparently affects Damaso Marte’s availability.
The Marlins may make Mark Hendrickson available. The big lefty was replaced in the rotation by top prospect Chris Volstad.

La Russa Pushing For Additions

By Tim Dierkes | July 10, 2008 at 9:26am CDT

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak does not want to make a reactionary move to counter the recent CC Sabathia and Rich Harden trades. He’s suggested that the returns of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright would match those deals.

Manager Tony La Russa doesn’t agree, and he suggested publicly that Mozeliak needs to improve the club. The needs: a bat to protect Albert Pujols, a lefty reliever, and starting pitching (apparently in that order). Mozeliak responded to La Russa’s comments, saying that he doesn’t want to make a move that could hurt the team two to four years in the future.

As always, Viva El Birdos does a fine job dissecting the possibilities. Larry Borowsky suggests several names he’d like to see: Milton Bradley, Ryan Spilborghs, Rich Aurilia, Randy Wolf, and A.J. Burnett. Aurilia, Wolf, and Burnett are the most likely to be traded, in my opinion. On the lefty reliever front, the Cards are one of nine teams linked to Brian Fuentes.

Rockies Trade Talk: Torrealba, Taveras, Podsednik, Herges

By Alejandro Leal | July 5, 2008 at 10:28am CDT

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News reports the Marlins have inquired on the availability of Rockies’ catcher Yorvit Torrealba, and outfielders Willy Taveras and Scott Podsednik.

Torrealba has been on Marlins radar and there’s continuing speculation that they will be buyers come July 31st.

Meanwhile, St. Louis inquired on pitcher Matt Herges to provide a veteran pressence in their bullpen.

Freddy Garcia Suitors

By Tim Dierkes | July 4, 2008 at 9:15am CDT

MLB.com’s Jim Molony posted an article yesterday, much of it concerning rehabbing free agent starter Freddy Garcia. Garcia’s showcase is still expected to take place later this month.

We compiled reports and came up with these suitors: the Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, Tigers, Rays, Astros, and Cubs. Molony adds the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Twins – giving us at least 13 suitors.

Odds and Ends: Phillips, Chacon, Hewitt, Griffey

By Tim Dierkes | July 1, 2008 at 5:22pm CDT

Random links for Tuesday.

Interesting news out of Philly…Brett Myers accepted a minor league assignment. The Phils seem likely to acquire a starter this month.
That was quick – the Mets designated Andy Phillips for assignment.
Shawn Chacon cleared waivers and was released without pay, but the players’ association plans to file a grievance. It’s a matter of a million bucks.
The Phillies signed first-round pick Anthony Hewitt, a high school infielder. He’ll get about $1.4MM.
The Cards officially inked top pick Brett Wallace, a college third baseman.
Three scouts watched Reds reliever David Weathers last night. Just throwing it out there, the Marlins are looking for a righthanded reliever.
NPB Tracker discusses Yu Darvish.
The Reds offered Ken Griffey Jr. to the Mariners, and they declined.
Tom Verducci’s article about Tim Lincecum and pitching biomechanics is a must-read.

Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Fuentes, Torrealba

By Tim Dierkes | July 1, 2008 at 9:02am CDT

The Rockies have been even worse than the Padres – 19 games under .500, 10 games out in a lousy division. According to Tracy Ringolsby, they’ll decide at the All-Star break whether to officially become sellers.

Let’s start with closer Brian Fuentes, whose ERA jumped from 2.56 to 3.94 last night. Reports had the suitors at the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, and A’s. Ringolsby says to cross the A’s off the list and add the Rays, Cubs, and Cardinals. Ken Rosenthal tossed the Cubs into the mix on June 12th, but then changed that report. Troy E. Renck adds the Cardinals to the list.

Ringolsby rattles off teams interested in Matt Holliday: Cardinals, Rays, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals. Definitely some new names in there. Holliday is hitting .332/.415/.538 in 299 plate appearances (.309/.401/.472 on the road). Ringolsby says the A’s will "kick the tires" on Holliday but are more likely to pursue Willy Taveras.

We also have RotoWire, which reports that catcher Yorvit Torrealba told the Tigers’ radio network that he wants to be traded. After nearly signing with the Mets, Torrealba inked a two-year, $7.25MM deal with the Rockies. He is hitting as badly as expected: .252/.291/.387 in 180 PAs. He’s thrown out only 24% of runners, up slightly from last year. Torrealba has been splitting time with Chris Iannetta since May.

Draft Roundup: Wallace, Alvarez, Scheppers

By Tim Dierkes | June 30, 2008 at 9:01am CDT

Here’s the latest draft pick signing info.

The Cardinals are close to signing their top pick, Brett Wallace. The bonus is expected to be around $1.85-2MM. What position is he going to play long-term? Does left field make the most sense?
The Pirates are negotiating with Pedro Alvarez, but both sides are staying mum on the details.
The Bucs are also talking with Tanner Scheppers. They’re still trying to gauge his health.

Olney’s Latest: Wolf, Lohse, Sabathia, Fuentes, Oswalt, Bailey

By Sarah Green | June 28, 2008 at 2:27pm CDT

Buster Olney has a new column up. Let’s take a look:

He suggests Randy Wolf as a "possible trade chip" with the Padres looking increasingly out of it this year. One problem: Wolf has veto power over trades to 14 teams. He’s been decent this year, with a 4.13 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 98 innings, but nothing to get too excited over.
Gossip item: the Mets could have had Kyle Lohse for what the Cardinals are paying ($4.25MM), only Omar Minaya passed.
Olney doesn’t see much in the speculation about the Angels wanting C.C. Sabathia. With Kelvim Escobar’s rehab going well, great first-half performances from Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana, and John Lackey likely to improve going forward, why should they make a push for C.C.? Olney sees the Brewers and the Cubs as more interested parties. (Ken Rosenthal mentioned the Brewers and the Rays as C.C. suitors yesterday.) Later in the post, Olney notes that Sabathia has a 1.96 ERA in his last fourteen starts. Yowza.
How the Rockies fare over the next two weeks could determine what becomes of Brian Fuentes.
Olney can’t decide whether the Orioles should buy or sell. What do you think?
Roy Oswalt won’t get traded, with Olney linking to the Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice for his evidence. (Oswalt has, of course, been talking like he’d prefer to be somewhere else.) Also working against a deal for Oswalt: his continued experiments with pitching to contact (to keep the ol’ pitch count down) haven’t been going very well this year, either. His K/9 has been declining for years, of course, but it may have reached a point of no return this season. Whatever happens, I’m sure the ’stros would prefer to move him at peak value, not right now when he has a 4.77 ERA.
Homer Bailey, back in Triple A Louisville, isn’t getting any love from the scout quoted here, who says he threw "batting practice fastballs." Bailey was 0-3 with a 8.73 ERA in the majors this year after a hotly anticipated call-up. Given the bounty of young arms they already have, the Reds would probably prefer to trade him…but alas, his value has dropped the way his curveball used to.

Sarah Green writes for UmpBump and the Boston Metro and can be reached here.

Odds and Ends: Bonds, Davis, Chulk, Ichiro

By Tim Dierkes | June 26, 2008 at 2:28pm CDT

Time for some random linkage.

I’ll be on XM Radio today at about 5pm CST – channels 176-189 with Mike Ferrin.
The Dodgers signed Jerome Williams – remember him?
Viva El Birdos runs through starting pitchers who might be on the Cardinals’ radar.
Sam Mellinger of the KC Star takes a look at Dayton Moore’s trade record. Meanwhile, Joe Posnanski explains why the Royals should sign Barry Bonds.
Ken Rosenthal doesn’t want to let Ed Wade off the hook in the Shawn Chacon dustup.
Red Reporter thinks the Reds are winning the Edinson Volquez–Josh Hamilton swap.
Rangers first base prospect Chris Davis is getting the call.
Russell Branyan has been training his eyes.
"Unsubstantiated report" – the Phillies might have interest in recently-designated reliever Vinnie Chulk.
Mariners beat writer Geoff Baker expects the team to shop Ichiro.
Buster Olney sees the Rays as a sleeper in the C.C. Sabathia derby.
Omar Minaya defends the Luis Castillo signing.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Liriano, Garcia, Willingham

By Tim Dierkes | June 19, 2008 at 9:59am CDT

Ken Rosenthal has a new hot stove article up.

Rosenthal leads with some Mark Teixeira-Angels speculation, but admits the Braves aren’t considering trading him and the Angels are content with their team. The Halos’ .706 team OPS ranks 12th in the AL; something should be done.
All kinds of Mariners turmoil. They could look to acquire a center fielder given the move back to right for Ichiro. Releases of Richie Sexson and Jose Vidro could be on the agenda. And chemistry problems abound, with Ichiro and Kenji Johjima at the center.
The Ms might consider Chris Antonetti and David Forst for the GM job, but both could choose to wait for the position to open up on their current teams. Antonetti seems likely to stay put, based on his comments and actions.
Adam Dunn likes the Reds’ future and wants to stay.
If the Twins keep Francisco Liriano in the minors a bit longer, he will lose his shot at becoming a Super Two player.
Past reports have named the Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, Indians, Mariners, and Tigers as clubs interested in Freddy Garcia. Rosenthal adds the Rays to the mix.
On Sunday, Peter Gammons said the Red Sox "might look at a count worker like the Marlins’ Josh Willingham" if David Ortiz needs surgery. Rosenthal agrees that the Sox "indeed might be interested" but believes the Marlins want to hang on to him (even though he reaches arbitration after this season).
The Cardinals "made a quick inquiry" on Michael Barrett but backed off when Yadier Molina’s injury turned out to be day-to-day.

« Previous Page

Load More Posts

Show all

Headlines

Cardinals Rumors

Navigation

MLBTR INFO

Connect