Padres Deep In Talks For Bay
UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 3:56pm: Krasovic jumps in to say that the Padres definitely won’t be trading Headley to the Bucs (and probably not at all). The Pirates and Padres have been talking a lot, and some kind of deal involving some of the players below could definitely happen.
UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 12:01pm: Buster Olney is reporting that the Padres are "deep into discussions" with the Pirates about a multiplayer trade in which Bay would be the centerpiece.
FROM 12-12-07 at 9:30am:
Tom Krasovic checks in with all sorts of fresh Padres rumors, as he often does. Below are the ones that haven’t come up elsewhere on the site today.
- The Padres and Pirates might have mutual ground for some kind of multiplayer deal. Names like Matt Morris, Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, and/or Nate McLouth are possible future Padres. The Bucs could go for Michael Barrett and/or Padres’ top prospect Chase Headley. My challenge to you: create a reasonable multiplayer trade scenario between these two clubs in the comments.
- Krasovic says the Padres "explored a trade" for the Cardinals’ Anthony Reyes. The Indians and Phillies have also been linked to the youngster before.
- As you might expect, Morgan Ensberg will probably be non-tendered today. He made $4.35MM in ’07, and the Friars don’t want to pay him anything like that.
- Akinori Otsuka is another non-tender candidate, and the Padres could seek to bring him back if so. Otsuka has been throwing pain-free since late October, though, so the Rangers will probably retain him.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Santana, Cabrera, Kuroda, Edmonds, Rolen
Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest hot stove buzz around baseball.
- Johan Santana is Boston’s only target – they’re not after Dan Haren or any other starter. The talks keep slugging along. For what it’s worth, Curt Schilling expects the Red Sox to get him.
- 36 year-old first baseman Alex Cabrera is a sleeper power threat among free agents. The former Rockie, Cub, and Diamondback has been mashing in Japan since 2001. The Nationals don’t have any room for him but want him anyway. Rosenthal says A.L. clubs are looking at him as a DH candidate, also. Cabrera hit .295/.377/.512 with 27 HR in 441 ABs in Japan in 2007.
- Hiroki Kuroda has not reached an agreement with any team, according to Rosenthal.
- The Padres are still considering Jim Edmonds as a center field candidate.
- Here’s a new one: the Indians expressed interest in Scott Rolen. The talks have cooled however.
- Rosenthal says the Astros don’t think they will get Miguel Tejada. Instead they’ve moved on to…Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt.
Cardinals Could Make Rasmus Available
Of course, they wouldn’t ship off the 21-year-old center fielder for just anyone. Erik Bedard is the target, according to Joe Strauss. In the weak NL Central (how many times have we all said that this winter?), Bedard is a potential difference-maker. He’d solidify a spotty starting rotation in St. Louis, though I suppose that’s true of any team he’d end up joining.
Rasmus alone won’t fetch Bedard, meaning other top prospects — Strauss mentions Bryan Anderson and Chris Perez — would have to be included. You can add 21-year-old lefty Jaime Garcia to the potential Orioles targers.
Strauss does note that two of the Cardinals’ young sluggers, Chris Duncan and Rick Akiel, likely won’t be dealt, since St. Louis is going to need their bats to go along with Albert Pujols.
Personally, I’m not sure St. Louis has enough to get it done. Their system isn’t all that great — though they could use that as a reason to empty it for Bedard and start over.
–Joe
Astros, Orioles, Were Never Close To Tejada Deal
The Houston Chronicle’s Richard Justice says that while the Astros and Orioles had intense discussions about Miguel Tejada, the two sides were "never, never, never" close to a deal. It’s clear that Chris Burke, Adam Everett, and a prospect wouldn’t get it done.
Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun said today that the Orioles believe the Astros have the young talent needed to make a Tejada deal. Zrebiec notes that a package based on Everett and Luke Scott wouldn’t cut it, either. Andy MacPhail also discussed Tejada with the Cardinals, Giants, and Angels this week. The Angels haven’t aggressively pursued him, and Andrew Baggarly said today the Giants are no longer interested.
A’s May Consider Bonds
It was suggested yesterday that the Cardinals had a little bit of interest in free agent Barry Bonds. Not so, according to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Miklasz was told a while back by team owner Bill DeWitt that it wasn’t happening.
However, Susan Slusser’s article this morning indicates the A’s will consider signing Bonds. Billy Beane recently indicated he was leaning toward playing to win in ’08, so Bonds makes sense. Slusser talked to a Major League exec who said he’d be shocked if it didn’t happen.
Slusser’s industry source says two other teams have expressed interest, and Bonds’ agent said he’s talking to teams from both leagues. Any guesses? It’s known that the Rangers, Twins, Mariners, and Tigers aren’t interested.
Odds and Ends: Bonds, Rusch, Iguchi, Nathan
The Winter Meetings are over and I have a nice case of carpal tunnel. Let’s round up some odds and ends anyway, I can always type with my toes.
- In a chat today, Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus said the only team besides the A’s with a modicum of interest in Barry Bonds is the Cardinals (a week ago).
- Couple of Phils notes per Scott Lauber. Glendon Rusch asked for a big league deal and a rotation spot, neither of which the Phils are keen on. Also that Tadahito Iguchi waiver? No chance.
- Joel Sherman noted today that the Twins and Yankees briefly discussed expanding the Johan Santana talks to include Joe Nathan. I heard this one at the beginning of the Meetings but I was skeptical. I wonder if including Nathan ever came up with the Red Sox? Maybe that would compel them to put both Ellsbury and Lester in the deal.
Does Bowa Mean No Rolen For Dodgers?
In an article today, MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick suggests that the Dodgers may be reluctant to trade for Scott Rolen due to his history with former Phillies manager Larry Bowa. Bowa is the Dodgers’ new third base coach. Perhaps not news to many of you, but it’s an angle that hadn’t occurred to me. Those two probably can’t work together.
Gurnick says that with Andruw Jones in tow, the Dodgers are inclined to use internal options at third base anyway.
Odds and Ends: Castillo, Marte
Some random rumorage as the mill slows down a bit…
- RotoWorld reports that the Pirates have released infielder Jose Castillo. Castillo has had flashes of brilliance, for example his 7 HR month in ’06. But he’s been a disappointment overall and doesn’t figure to be anyone’s starting second baseman.
- The Yankees and Bucs are discussing a Damaso Marte deal. At the same link a failed Jack Wilson for Chris Duncan rumor is mentioned.
Rule 5 Action: Cards Take Barton, Cut Taguchi
The Rule 5 draft isn’t my cup of tea, but I’d like to direct you to Baseball America for coverage. By the way the Cardinals took Brian Barton. To open up a spot for him, they released So Taguchi.
Cardinals Turn To Free Agent Market
The Cardinals want to add at least one starting pitcher. Once thought to be interested in Carlos Silva and Kyle Lohse – the "premium" options – John Mozeliak is already digging through the bargain bin. Matthew Leach and Joe Strauss have the latest.
- Mozeliak has talked to Bartolo Colon‘s agent and the Cards will take a look at his medical records. It’s been suggested that Colon will not take a one-year deal.
- Livan Hernandez is under consideration, but Mozeliak says he’s "not yet" a fit.
- Josh Fogg is on the radar too.
- The Cardinals have marginal interest in Kris Benson, and they’ll attend his workout on the 17th.
- Interesting non-pitcher note from Mozeliak: the Cards have expressed interest in Aaron Rowand.