Olney On Deadline Plans For AL Teams
ESPN's Buster Olney outlined plans for National League teams heading into the trade deadline yesterday, and today he follows up with the American League in an Insider-only column that comes highly recommended. Here's a brief recap…
- The Mark Ellis trade could just be the first domino that falls for the Athletics. Other veterans like Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp, and Grant Balfour could follow him out the door.
- The Twins aren't as willing to trade now as they were a few weeks ago, and the big question they have to ask themselves is if eating a chunk of the $5.5MM left on Michael Cuddyer's contract is worth it to trade him.
- We've heard this before, but B.J. Upton and Kyle Farnsworth of the Rays figure to draw interest.
- The Red Sox and Angels don't have a lot of financial flexiblity and are more likely to target smaller pieces.
- Jeff Francoeur, Melky Cabrera, and Wilson Betemit are all affordable and reasonably productive, but Olney notes that the Royals might want to keep some veterans around so the youngsters don't get pounded.
- The Indians and Mariners will not blow up their rebuild processes despite their surprising runs at contention. Erik Bedard's injury took away Seattle's best chip.
- Poor seasons from Alex Rios and Adam Dunn make it difficult for the White Sox to do anything. They need those two to get back on track more than anything.
- The Yankees are convinced their internal pitching options are better than what's available on the market right now. A Rafael Soriano setback would put them in the reliever market.
- It's all about right-handed relief pitching for the Rangers, who will have plenty of options to choose from. The Blue Jays have lots of bullpen help to deal.
- The Tigers are asking around about pitching, specifically left-handers.
- The Orioles are having an internal debate about whether or not to trade Jeremy Guthrie, but they are expected to at least listen to offers.
Chicago Links: Williams, Viciedo, Hendry
Chicago's teams have combined for 70 wins and 90 losses, yet the White Sox say they could still turn their season around and the Cubs tell us not to expect a fire sale. Here are the details…
- White Sox GM Kenny Williams told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times that his team can turn it around and start winning, but is licking its wounds too much at the moment. “We're going to have to start to turn this around quickly,” Williams said.
- Jim Margalus of South Side Sox explains that Dayan Viciedo may be in Triple-A because of service time considerations. The prospect is hitting minor league pitching as well as the White Sox could hope (.330/.369/.528 line), but if the White Sox wait another week, Viciedo won't have a full year of service time at the end of the year even if he doesn’t return to Triple-A. Margalus’ analysis is spot-on here.
- Cubs GM Jim Hendry told Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald that the Cubs won't have a fire sale this summer. They intend told keep the players who will help down the road, Hendry said. "If we make moves, it will be designed to make us better for the future."
White Sox Close To Signing Keenyn Walker
The White Sox are close to signing supplemental round draft pick Keenyn Walker. The outfielder tweeted earlier today, "Ya buddy! Finally becoming a part of the Chicago White Sox family!!" The amount of Walker's apparent agreement is unknown, but slot would be about $740K.
Walker was drafted 47th overall out of Central Arizona Junior College as compensation for the loss of reliever J.J. Putz. The switch-hitter was Chicago's first pick in the draft, as they had to give the #23 pick to Washington to sign Adam Dunn.
Baseball America describes Walker as "mostly a gap hitter with above-average speed," who "profiles as a good defensive center fielder."
Kenny Williams Talks Dunn, Viciedo, Deadline
The Chicago Tribune's Dave van Dyck talked to White Sox GM Kenny Williams on Sunday; here are a few highlights.
- "I would make the same move tomorrow again," says Williams in reference to Adam Dunn's four-year, $56MM contract that also cost the Sox the #23 overall draft pick this year. Dunn is hitting .173/.308/.316 with seven home runs in 279 plate appearances as he attempts to adjust to the American League and full-time DH work. Williams considers Dunn's 2011 struggles "a little blip."
- Williams says he respects manager Ozzie Guillen too much to force him to promote prospect Dayan Viciedo. The 22-year-old outfielder is hitting .330/.369/.528 this year, but Williams says Viciedo is "not a finished product."
- Williams does not believe he can acquire a player who has the ability of those already on the team. He's hoping for certain members of his current squad to start playing to their normal abilities.
Extension Candidate: Carlos Quentin
After two inconsistent seasons and hearing his name whispered in trade talks, Carlos Quentin is again looking like the slugger who finished fifth in AL MVP voting in 2008. Quentin has a .256/.358/.535 line and 17 homers through Thursday and (along with Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez) is carrying a White Sox lineup that is still waiting for Adam Dunn, Alex Rios and Gordon Beckham to come to life.
Quentin is under team control through 2012 and avoided arbitration last winter by agreeing to a $5.05MM contract for this season. The outfielder can expect a healthy raise (at least in the $8MM range) if he keeps hitting and looks for another one-year pact. However, Chicago will have some money coming off the books this winter and Kenny Williams could look for some cost-certainty by locking up one of his team's young stars.
Perhaps even moreso than his bat, what may help Quentin's long-term prospects with the White Sox is his vastly improved play in the field this season. Quentin has posted an above-average 3.2 UZR/150 in right field this year — a massive step up from his -35 UZR/150 last year or the -25.2 UZR/150 he put up in left field in 2009. Nobody is suddenly confusing Quentin with Roberto Clemente in right, but if he can show that he can handle a corner outfield position, it gives him a place in a lineup that has first base and DH locked up by Konerko and Dunn. It's possible Quentin may be shifted back to left when the White Sox eventually call up right fielder Dayan Viciedo and relegate Juan Pierre to the bench.
How big would a Quentin extension be? Given that it would probably cover at least three free agent years, it would have to carry an average annual value of at least $10MM. Williams and the White Sox could point to Quentin's history of weak defense, his shaky 2009-10 seasons and his age (Quentin turns 29 in August) as signs to not make too huge a commitment. Quentin and agent Brodie Van Wagenen could counter with Quentin's good performance in 2011 as a sign that the proverbial light bulb has come on for the outfielder, and an argument could be made that with Konerko's advanced age (35), Viciedo an unproven quantity and so many other Sox hitters struggling, the club needs a proven power bat like Quentin going forward.
I can see Van Wagenen asking for a deal in the realm of five years and $60MM, but it's more likely that a Quentin extension would look more like a four-year pact worth $40-$41MM. Quentin reportedly turned down a four-year offer from the White Sox after the 2009 season and while the value of that offer wasn't made public, it's possible Quentin has an eye towards seeing what he can get on the free agent market.
Photo courtesy of Icon SMI
White Sox Rumors: Ozzie, Trade Deadline
Ten years ago today, the White Sox purchased Jose Canseco's contract from the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League. Canseco went on to hit .258/.366/.477 with 16 homers in 306 plate appearances the rest of the season, his last in the majors. Let's round up the latest news from Chicago's south side…
- Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Ozzie Guillen approached White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf about his long-term status with the club and didn't like what he was told. "I'm maybe going to ask about my situation [after the season], but I'm not going to ask for money or tell them I need a contract, anything like that," said Guillen, whose name has again popped up with regards to the Marlins' long-term managerial position.
- The White Sox increased payroll by $20MM this year, so it's possible that the team's only big additions this summer will be improved play from Adam Dunn and Alexis Rios according to Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune. "You're certainly not going to go out at the deadline and get somebody that could do the things that some of these guys can do when they're on their game," said GM Kenny Williams.
White Sox Notes: McMillen, Guillen, Marlins
The White Sox are hosting their crosstown rivals this evening and both teams are looking to move past disappointing starts. The Cubs have a 29-42 record, while the White Sox have improved to 35-38 after a dismal April. Here's the latest on the South Siders:
- The White Sox announced that they have agreed to terms with 23 of their 50 draft picks, including fourth rounder Kyle McMillen, a 21-year-old right-hander from Kent State University. McMillen is represented by Jonathan Maurer.
- Manager Ozzie Guillen told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune that he wants to remain in Chicago after this year (Twitter links). Guillen, who is under contract for 2012, acknowledged that chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and GM Kenny Williams have the final say on his future.
- The Marlins, who named 80-year-old Jack McKeon their new manager today, don’t have a long-term skipper in place and have had interest in Guillen for years. Guillen acknowledged the rumors of Florida’s interest in him by pointing out that powerful right fielder Mike Stanton would help the Marlins more than he could.
Cafardo On Kazmir, Upton, Broxton, Ramirez
In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wonders if roster manipulation is rampant in baseball. Cafardo points to the pulled quad muscle injury of Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald as a possible example. McDonald wasn't showing any signs of injury and when asked about it, he gave a "no comment". It's possible that Boston simply wanted to get McDonald more playing time with Mike Cameron eating up the lion's share of the reps. Things such as this, Cafardo writes, are happening all around baseball. Let's see what else is happening around the majors:
- As poorly as left-hander Scott Kazmir has pitched in the last two seasons, there are at least five teams looking at him in the Rockies, Marlins, Padres, Rangers, and Diamondbacks. It also wouldn't be a surprise if the Yankees jump into the mix considering their pitching needs.
- There always seems to be a should-we-or-shouldn’t-we-trade B.J. Upton dilemma for the Rays. The Nationals could be a fit as they'd like a young center fielder they can grow with. The question is: is he available? All signs point to yes.
- Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton has been on the shelf since May with an elbow injury, but the club could move him if they're lagging in the standings.
- The Marlins' recent slide has skipper Edwin Rodriguez on the hot seat and it's no secret that the club has been keeping an eye on Ozzie Guillen for quite some time. Guillen has one year remaining on his deal with the White Sox.
- The Dodgers owe Manny Ramirez more than $8MM in deferred payments but the charismatic twelve-time All-Star is collecting a lot more than that. The BoSox owe him quite a bit of money too, roughly $32MM over 16 years. Boston will pay Ramirez through 2026, when he’ll be 54-years-old.
Diamondbacks Acquire Gaby Hernandez
The D'Backs have acquired right-hander Gaby Hernandez from the White Sox, reports the official Twitter feed of the Reno Aces, Arizona's Triple-A affiliate. Hernandez had a 7.69 ERA in 11 starts at Triple-A Charlotte this season and he has a career ERA of 5.76 in 81 Triple-A games.
Arizona is Hernandez's fifth organization in 17 months. He was a Mariner, a Red Sock, and a Royal within a little over a month's time in early 2010, and then he was dealt to the White Sox last March. Hernandez was originally taken in the third round of the 2004 amateur draft by the Mets.
White Sox Claim Leyson Septimo
The White Sox claimed lefty Leyson Septimo off waivers from the Diamondbacks and optioned him to Double-A, tweets the team. As the team with the fewest players on their 40-man roster (36) the Sox had plenty of room to make the addition. Meanwhile, Arizona's 40-man count drops to 38.
Septimo, 25, has a 6.37 ERA, 6.7 K/9, 7.6 BB/9, and 0.3 HR/9 in 29 2/3 relief innings at Double-A this year. Prior to the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked Septimo 26th among Diamondbacks prospects. The former outfielder was converted to the mound after the '07 season and can touch triple digits with his fastball, according to BA. The White Sox currently have a position player conversion success story in their own bullpen, closer Sergio Santos.