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Rays Preparing Offer For Fuentes?

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In this piece by Troy E. Renck, the Rays have had scouts at Coors Field over the weekend and are preparing to make an offer for Brian Fuentes.

"Tampa Bay is preparing to make the most aggressive play for the Rockies’ closer, according to a major-league source… Opposing executives who have spoken with Tampa Bay say the Rays are determined to bolster their bullpen in an attempt to create separation between them and the Red Sox."

The Rockies have been seeking "one quality player", says Renck, in return for Fuentes.  The Rays could offer either Double-A RHP starters Wade Davis or Jeremy Hellickson, both of whom the Rockies have expressed interest in.

Davis, 23, has made 18 starts for Double-A Montgomery with a 3.98 ERA  over 101.2 IP with a 6.64 K/9. Hellickson, 21, has been having an outstanding season in Montgomery Double-A and Vero Beach Single-A ball, going 7-2 with a 2.85 ERA with 87 K in 85 IP.  He has struggled some since being promoted to Double-A.

Acquiring Fuentes would take an option away from Boston as well as provide the Rays with another lefty reliever and increased depth at closer should Troy Percival remain incapable.

Latest Sabathia Rumors

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ESPN’s Buster Olney and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Haudricourt have the latest C.C. Sabathia trade rumors this evening.

  • Olney says the Brewers restructured their offer today.  That offer is believed to include Matt LaPorta plus lesser prospects.  Haudricourt suspects those prospects might be Taylor Green and Lorenzo Cain.  Haudricourt says the Indians have the Brewers’ offer in hand and Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin is waiting to hear back.  Olney says the Brewers are looking at some Plan B starters in case they don’t win the Sabathia sweepstakes.
  • Olney also has the Rays, Dodgers, and Phillies in the Sabathia talks.  Those teams all have their issues.  The Rays may not have the motivation, the Dodgers are being vague about who’s available, and the Phillies’ best talent is at the lower levels. 

Stark’s Latest: Harang, Bedard, Hardy, Weeks, McLouth

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Brand new column from ESPN’s Jayson Stark.

  • Stark explains why he feels the trade deadline is overrated.  I guess it all depends on what you expect from it.
  • You may recall Walt Jocketty’s Reds untouchables list from a few weeks ago.  It did not include Aaron Harang.  While the Reds might listen on Harang, there wouldn’t be any kind of discount.
  • The Mariners have pushed Erik Bedard to the backburner, focusing on shopping other veterans.  They’re also not dying to move Raul Ibanez at the moment.
  • The Brewers might be willing to include J.J. Hardy or Rickie Weeks in a trade.  In our chat today, a commenter wondered whether some kind of Hardy-A.J. Burnett swap could work.
  • The Tigers are looking ahead, inquiring about various shortstops they might be able to use in ’09 and beyond.  Perhaps if they find one they’ll decline Edgar Renteria’s option.
  • Add the Marlins to the list of Brian Fuentes suitors.  One source from another team said the cost for Fuentes is "one good piece." 
  • Stark agrees with recent indications that the Royals aren’t dying to move Ron Mahay.  Nonetheless, the Yankees, Marlins, Phillies, and Tigers are named as interested parties.
  • Pirate outfield chatter: some teams are calling on Nate McLouth, though the Bucs prefer to move Jason Bay or Xavier Nady.  Despite earlier reports, Stark says the Bucs could consider trading both.  The Rays are "especially interested" in Bay.
  • Stark talked to one club official who hasn’t heard any indications that the Phillies are willing to trade Shane Victorino.  Also possibly off-limits: Double A catcher Lou Marson.
  • To acquire Rich Harden, a package "would have to at least approach last year’s Dan Haren extravaganza."  So, look for him to stay put.  Harden’s velocity was down yesterday, by the way.
  • Brett Myers’ future with the Phillies could hinge on whether they re-sign closer Brad Lidge.
  • Still no buzz around Adam Dunn.
  • C.C. chatter: don’t write off the Indians’ attempt to sign him to an extension.  "One friend" sees Sabathia as more likely to land on the West Coast than the east if he doesn’t re-sign.

Latest On C.C. Sabathia

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The latest on the C.C. Sabathia Sweepstakes…

Rays In On Fuentes

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On Monday, Tim talked about the Brian Fuentes situation, naming a few known suitors: the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Phillies, and A’s. Today, Tracy Ringolsby adds another to the list, the Tampa Bay Rays. The team’s current closer, Troy Percival, has missed some time with injury this year, and the Rays would like to add some insurance for late inning situations.

This would give them a viable eighth inning option to pair with Percival when healthy, especially with Al Reyes missing time with elbow tendinitis. If Percival continues to suffer from his hamstring injury, Fuentes could easily slide into the closer role. Though Grant Balfour didn’t do a shabby job with that last night and Dan Wheeler is solid.

If they’re so inclined, though, they certainly have the prospects to do it.

Gammons’ Latest: Murton, Nady, Wilder

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Rumory goodness from Peter Gammons’ latest blog post, aside from the Sabathia and Cubs stuff.

  • The Rays are focused on a right-handed hitter.  Matt Murton and Xavier Nady are on the radar.
  • As you know, the White Sox fired scouting director Dave Wilder and two scouts for violations of the team’s scouting and signing procedures in Latin America.  At the time, the Chicago Tribune said the investigation involved skimming and was limited to the Sox.  However, Gammons says Wilder is telling investigators about other teams.
  • Gammons agrees with Scott Merkin of MLB.com – the White Sox will not be active in the trade market.

Latest C.C. Sabathia Rumors

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We’ve entered trade deadline month, with Indians ace C.C. Sabathia front row and center.  Let’s discuss.

  • Ken Davidoff has a nice summary of the situation, agreeing with Buster Olney’s suggestion that the Brewers have the best mix of means and motivation to acquire Sabathia.  Olney’s handicap yesterday ranked the Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Cubs behind the Brewers (in that order).
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin calls the speculation "just the same old rumors."  Still, Melvin would consider moving prospects for a rental and notes that his stacked Double A club has been popular with other clubs.
  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman does not sound like someone who plans to go all-in to get Sabathia.  Gammons says they’ve "lurked."
  • On the topic of the Cubs, ESPN’s Peter Gammons writes, "They doubt they have enough to get Sabathia, although Hendry constantly touches base with Indians GM Mark Shapiro."  Regardless, Gammons expects the Indians to move quickly on Sabathia.
  • Gammons says the Rangers are out but the Phillies "shouldn’t be overlooked."  The Rays?  They’ve lurked.

Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Fuentes, Torrealba

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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.

Odds and Ends: White Sox, Mackowiak, Garcia, Rays

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A gathering of Sunday afternoon links…

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

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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.

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