Rosenthal’s & Morosi’s Latest: Halladay, Cabrera, Glaus
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com say that the Phillies and Blue Jays are getting closer on a potential Roy Halladay deal, but nothing is imminent. The Rangers and Dodgers have both expressed interest in Halladay, but did not talk with Toronto on Friday. The Angels have reportedly improved their offer for the former Cy Young Award winner, but it's unlikely they'll match Philadelphia's package. The Yankees have also expressed interest, but Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi has yet to engage them in discussions.
In a separate column, Rosenthal and Morosi fork over a slew of rumory goodness…
- Don't be surprised if the Red Sox "show renewed interest" in shortstop Orlando Cabrera before the deadline. O-Cab was hitting .365-.377-.500 in his last 30 games coming into tonight.
- The addition of Matt Holliday ensures that the Cardinals will look to move Troy Glaus. The Giants, Braves, Rangers and Tigers are expected to show interest in the former AL homerun champ.
- One GM had this to say about the Holliday deal "In light of the current climate, good return on a 70-game guy. All based on what (Wallace) turns out to be. We are not high on the other two guys."
- Meanwhile, a scout offered this about Brett Wallace: "He can hit but he throws like a girl. They acquired a DH — I think he might be Jack Cust Jr. with fewer Ks. (Outfielder Shane) Peterson is the hidden gem!"
- The Jays are pushing Scott Rolen and Kevin Millar in trade talks, while a number of their bullpen arms are drawing interest.
- The Marlins expressed interest in Holliday at one point, but wanted the A's to pick up most of the money owed to him this year. The Reds also inquired.
- A bid to get Holliday ended for the Tigers when the A's asked for prospects Casey Crosby and Scott Sizemore.
- Anaheim is indeed interested in Scott Kazmir, spurred on by input from pitching coach Mike Butcher, who once held the same position with Tampa.
- The Cubs don't appear to be in any serious talks to acquire another catcher.
- One scout familiar with the Reds said they "are listening on about everyone."
- The Rangers have interest in lefty relievers George Sherrill and Scott Downs.
- Sherrill is also on the White Sox's radar.
- Oakland is reluctant to move reliever Michael Wuertz, but there is so much interest in him that the team might get the return it desires.
- A number of clubs are expected to watch Justin Duchscherer on his rehab assignment as he comes back from elbow surgery.
- The article closes with an amusing text message exchange between Skip Schumaker and Mark DeRosa.
Edes On Holliday, Willingham, Sherrill
Yahoo's Gordon Edes hears the Cardinals aren't the only team interested in Matt Holliday. Here are the details:
- The White Sox have some interest in Holliday, according to Edes' colleague, Tim Brown.
- The Tigers have considered Holliday, but probably won't meet Billy Beane's asking price.
- The Phillies have interest in Josh Willingham.
- The Giants may be the favorites to acquire Nick Johnson, now that the Red Sox have Adam LaRoche.
- George Sherrill has many suitors, including the Brewers and White Sox.
- The Cubs and Red Sox would like to add left-handed relievers.
Brian Anderson Asks White Sox For Trade
3:47pm: Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times says Anderson "isn't going anywhere." The club has tried to trade him recently with no success.
1:21pm: Brian Anderson wants the White Sox to trade him, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. The 27-year-old outfielder explained to GM Kenny Williams why he believes he'd do better with another organization.
Odds and Ends: White Sox, Correia, Ordonez, DNA Tests
A final batch of links for the night owls:
- Ozzie Guillen does not expect any trades before the deadline, according to the Chicago Tribune's Mark Gonzales. But Scott Merkin of MLB.com talks to GM Ken Williams, who doesn't rule out the possibility.
- MLB.com's Corey Brock reports that starter Kevin Correia could be the next Padre to be traded, though no significant interest has bubbled up yet.
- On the same day that Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com asks if it's time for the Tigers to cut Magglio Ordonez, the former All-Star seems to answer by hitting a grand slam.
- And The New York Times reports that Major League Baseball is using DNA tests to determine the age of some Latin American prospects.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Sunday
9:01pm: Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com has a view of the Brewers' credentials. "Rival teams say the Brewers have enough prospects to make a Halladay deal," writes Knobler, "even though they've suggested they won't trade Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel."
8:21pm: It's probably worth noting that Halladay collected his 11th win of the season this afternoon, tossing a one-run complete game against the AL East-leading Red Sox. The picture of consistency, he's done nothing but help his trade value these past few weeks.
8:07pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman believes the Phillies are still the front-runners to land Toronto's ace, but notes the Giants are now "kicking the tires." The Angels, on the other hand, "appear to be characteristically reluctant to trade their prospects, hurting their chances."
If the Phillies want to make this deal happen, it sounds like they'll need to include top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek in the package to Toronto. Some experts have deemed him "untouchable."
11:49am: There's a great pitching matchup in Toronto today; Roy Halladay and Jon Lester match up in about 20 minutes. A number of top officials are at Rogers Centre to watch and it's safe to say they're not there because of Lester. Here are today's Halladay rumors:
- Top officials from the Phillies, Brewers, Rangers and White Sox were in attendance at yesterday's Jays-Red Sox game and figure to watch this afternoon, according to Ken Fidlin of the Toronto Sun.
- The last two Toronto GMs are expected to watch: Pat Gillick on behalf of the Phils and Gord Ash, who drafted Halladay, for the Brewers.
- As Tyler Kepner of the New York Times notes, Brian Cashman is glad he didn't give up the farm to acquire Johan Santana a couple winters ago. He doesn't sound willing to deal top prospects away for Halladay, though he doesn't discuss specific players.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney says the Jays should learn from the Twins, who waited too long and didn't obtain any sure things from the Mets for Santana. Olney argues that if the Jays deal now, instead of after the season, they can acquire top talent while it's still available to them.
Freddy Garcia Will Throw Bullpen Monday
According to Scot Gregor, Freddy Garcia was at U.S. Cellular Field today and will throw a bullpen session for the White Sox tomorrow. If all goes well, he'll attempt to pitch his way back to the Major Leagues.
Garcia, 33, pitched some of the better years of his career with the White Sox, including 2005 when they won the World Series. He was traded to Philadelphia for Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez, though he he only won one game for Philadelphia before shoulder surgery derailed his career.
Garcia was released by the Mets after struggling this season, and cited the cold weather in New York as part of that reason. He claims to be better now, after a month of rest, however:
Odds & Ends: Lilly, White Sox, Reds, Sheets
Back to back Odds & Ends posts? Madness!
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday writes about what the Yankees missed out on when they passed on Ted Lilly as a free agent in 2007.
- Rick Morrissey of The Chicago Tribune says that the White Sox need Roy Halladay, no matter the cost. He suggests a package built around Alexei Ramirez and John Danks.
- Hal McCoy of The Dayton Daily News says that he could see Aaron Harang and/or Bronson Arroyo moved for prospects if "the Reds nose dive before the July 31 trade deadline."
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that Ben Sheets continues to make progress as he returns from elbow surgery, but it's unclear if he'll be able to pitch at all in 2009. Earlier this month we heard that Sheets may not pitch at all this year.
Odds & Ends: Pirates, Sano, White Sox, Blue Jays
Here's some links to check out as you celebrate the return of a full slate of baseball games…
- Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com says something doesn't add up about the Pirates reported interest in signing Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez to contract extensions. He wonders if the team will make low-ball offers that the players have no choice but to reject just so they can say "The players refused our offers and left us with no choice but to trade them away and improve our organization's future."
- Twins vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff is in the Dominican Republic to take a look at Miguel Angel Sano, according to Charley Walters of The Pioneer Press.
- Mark Gonzales of The Chicago Tribune notes that when asked about the team's interest in acquiring Roy Halladay, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said ""I don't think were going to give up half the organization for one player."
- Dave Cameron at FanGraphs has reached the top ten in his series of post about the 50 MLB players with the most trade value.
- The Blue Jays have signed their fourth round pick according to Bob Elliott of The Toronto Sun.
Roy Halladay Rumors: Friday
12:30pm: Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com hears from an AL executive who would be "very surprised" if White Sox GM Kenny Williams isn't pursuing Halladay.
The White Sox have seen attendance drop and Gordon Beckham appears to be untouchable. This means the White Sox could have trouble paying Halladay or enticing the Blue Jays with a package centered around Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dayan Viciedo and Tyler Flowers.
Tom Verducci of SI.com hears that Clayton Kershaw is off-limits, but the Dodgers want to make a run at Halladay with other prospects. The Jays like minor league third baseman Josh Bell.
10:10am: Here are the latest Roy Halladay rumors and a bit of trivia to explain why he's in such high demand: Halladay pitched less than seven innings for the first time this season on June 12th.
- Don't expect the Cardinals to trade Colby Rasmus for Halladay. GM John Mozeliak told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he won't move the young outfielder in a deal for a player the Cards only control for a year and a half.
- The Dodgers are looking for relievers now, but they'll try to acquire Halladay or Cliff Lee to improve their rotation, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
- Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News says Halladay's availability has created such a frenzy that people "who wouldn't know Michael Taylor from Elizabeth Taylor speak authoritatively about a hole in the … outfielder's swing."
- Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News says the Yankees should have enough talent not to have to bring in another Cy Young Award winner less than 100 games after adding C.C. Sabathia.
Rosenthal On Halladay, Frasor, Rios, Bay
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that the Angels and Cardinals will have a hard time assembling a package enticing enough for the Blue Jays to part with Roy Halladay. One GM said the Angels have "zero chance" at acquiring the Jays ace. Players like Brandon Wood and Howie Kendrick have lost some of their appeal and prospect Jordan Walden finds himself on the DL for the second time this season.
- The Dodgers are interested in Halladay, Jason Frasor and George Sherrill.
- The White Sox would probably have to part with Gordon Beckham to acquire Doc.
- The Jays and White Sox haven't discussed an Alex Rios deal recently, but the White Sox have long been interested in the Jays outfielder.
- Jason Bay is close to setting a cutoff date for negotiations on an extension with the Red Sox.