Blue Jays Rumors

Jays Will Watch John Halama Tomorrow

By Mike Axisa | November 4, 2009 at 4:45pm CDT

MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweets that the Blue Jays will watch lefty John Halama pitch in the Dominican Republic tomorrow. Halama hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2006, so Bastian isn't sure what level of interest the team really has.

The Braves picked Halama up out of an independent league back in June, though he didn't make it out of Triple-A. He is currently pitching in the Dominican Winter League, allowing just four runs and 16 baserunners in 18 IP covering three starts.

Blue Jays Claim Hoffpauir From Cardinals

By Howard Megdal | November 3, 2009 at 5:36pm CDT

The Toronto Blue Jays claimed infielder Jarrett Hoffpauir off of waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. Left-handed pitcher Bill Murphy was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Hoffpauir.

Hoffpauir, 26, is an intriguing pickup. He posted a .291/.357/.486 batting line in 402 plate appearances for Triple-A Memphis, and also held his own in 16 plate appearances with St. Louis. In other words, he's right around the same part of his career Marco Scutaro was when Oakland gave him a chance to play every day.

One wonders if this is a sign that Toronto doesn't plan to bring Scutaro back. For what it's worth, Hoffpauir has played 10 games at shortstop in the minor leagues, while Aaron Hill, Toronto's second baseman, came through the minor leagues as a shortstop.

Murphy, 28, had posted a 7.59 ERA in Triple-A, so this move can't be considered much of a surprise.

Odds & Ends: Schueler, Dunn, Yankees, Strasburg

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 3, 2009 at 12:28pm CDT

Some links for Tuesday…

The Nationals hired former White Sox GM Ron Schueler as a special assistant to Mike Rizzo, according to a team press release.
Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos must decide in the coming days whether to proceed with a payroll of about $80MM or ask ownership for more money, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.
Phil Wood of MASN.com doesn't think it makes sense for the Nats to trade Adam Dunn away.
ESPN.com's Rob Neyer says the Yankees will probably want to become younger this offseason, even if it's just a marginal change.
Former Rockies assistant GM Chris Rice tells Irv Moss of the Denver Post how "exciting and tense" the expansion draft was before the team's inaugural season.
As Danny Knobler of CBSSports points out, the Phillies' decision to go after Cliff Lee instead of Roy Halladay looks smart right now.
Harry Pavlidis of The Hardball Times looks at Stephen Strasburg's performance in the Arizona Fall League and says the top pick "is proving to be everything he was hyped to be."
MLB.com's Matthew Leach guesses that Matt Holliday will not return to the Cardinals in 2010.
Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports that the Rangers could decide today whether Thad Bosley, Rusty Greer, Clint Hurdle or Gerald Perry will become the team's next hitting coach.
Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Twins outrighted Brian Buscher to Triple A. He can become a minor league free agent 16 days after the World Series. Aaron Gleeman doesn't expect Buscher to remain in the organization.

Can The Blue Jays Re-Sign Scutaro & Barajas?

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | November 3, 2009 at 8:39am CDT

The Blue Jays would like to re-sign Marco Scutaro, Rod Barajas and John McDonald, but retaining the free agents may not be realistic. GM Alex Anthopoulos told Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press that he's not necessarily bringing them back.

"As much as I like John McDonald, Rod Barajas and Marco Scutaro, there might be alternatives that make this organization better and are the right alternatives for this team," Anthopoulos said.

Scutaro is one of the offseason's most appealing free agent shortstops. He hit .282/.379/.409 and was a solid defender, according to UZR/150, so he's in line for a raise from his 2009 salary of $1.1MM.

"We'd like to bring them back," Anthopoulos said, "(but) everything has to fit with respect to what the alternatives are and with respect to what their financial requirements are. I'm starting to get a pretty good handle on where their expectations are with respect to the market and what they feel their value might be."

Scutaro will be a Type A free agent, so the Blue Jays will obtain two top draft picks if he turns down an arbitration offer to sign elsewhere. Barajas will be a Type B free agent; the Jays won't necessarily offer him arbitration.

Davidi also reports that the Blue Jays won't bring Kevin Millar back for another season. The 38-year-old hit .223/.311/.363 in his lone season with the Jays.

Odds & Ends: Chapman, Bradley, Rays, Twins

By Tim Dierkes | November 2, 2009 at 8:32am CDT

Links for Monday…

Offers have begun rolling in for Aroldis Chapman, says ESPN's Keith Law. Also, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat says the Cubs talked to Chapman's agent but he "doesn't fit in their budget."
ESPN's Peter Gammons tweets that Red Sox Director of Player Development Mike Hazen declined Jed Hoyer's offer to become the Padres' assistant GM.
MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers "refused to rule out the possibility of Milton Bradley coming back to Texas." Sullivan wasn't willing to allow the possibility a month ago, when he wrote, "The Rangers are not interested in Bradley. Sources have made that clear. He is not coming back. So stop it." Back in September, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said Bradley "pushed himself way down the wish list with his comments, and probably pushed himself off it completely."
R.J. Anderson of DRays Bay reflects on the Matt Garza–Delmon Young trade.
Aaron Gleeman runs through free agent second baseman options for the Twins. Also check out our free agent and trade candidates posts for second base.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times talked to former Rays GM Chuck LaMar about the trade that sent Chad Gaudin to the Blue Jays for Kevin Cash.

Odds & Ends: Gaston, Cardinals, Rays

By | October 31, 2009 at 3:22pm CDT

Happy Halloween! Remember to drive carefully tonight. Let's check out some links…

As expected, Cito Gaston announced Saturday that he will step down as Blue Jays manager after the 2010 season and begin a four-year tenure as an organizational consultant. "I think maybe I can probably help the organization as far as being an advisor," Gaston said (via MLB.com's Jordan Bastian). "It's something that I want to do in my life — just step back and maybe do something different besides manage."
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune believes the Cardinals are deserving of the title "Franchise of the Decade" for the way they've consistently put together winning teams while working with a middle-of-the-road payroll.
Steve Slowinski of DRaysBay.com breaks down several trades from Tampa Bay's past. "Like middle-school history teachers always say," he writes,"'You can't know where you're going until you know where you've been."

Cubs, Jays Talking Bradley For Wells?

By Mike Axisa | October 31, 2009 at 12:50pm CDT

12:50pm: According to Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune, a Cubs source "quickly responded to the report by saying the rumor has 'no legs at all,' adding the team has not discussed the possibility of bringing Wells to the North Side."

9:45am: We've heard plenty of talk that the Cubs will try to trade disgrunted outfielder Milton Bradley this offseason, and somewhat surprisingly there's been plenty of interest in his services. Most believe the Cubs might have to take on another bad contract in return, maybe someone like Pat Burrell, but Bob Elliott of The Toronto Sun tosses a new name into the rumor ring: Vernon Wells.

"It's early on, but we think this one has some legs," said one Cubs official. "But they aren't the only team we are talking with."

Wells has hit just .276/.324/.439 since signing his big contract, which still has five years and $107MM left on it (including a still-to-be-paid portion of his signing bonus). Bradley is owed just $21MM over the next two years, and Elliott indicates that the "Cubs' idea is to split the difference on monies owed," which works out to each team absorbing $43MM.

Looking it from the Blue Jays' point of view, they would probably love to go through with this deal because they'd be saving a boatload of cash while picking up the player with a shorter commitment. Things don't appear to add up for the Cubbies, who would be taking on a ton of money while added another long-term, untradeable contract to Alfonso Soriano's. Not sure this one passes the sniff test, but crazier things have happened.

Odds & Ends: Nationals, Braves, Blue Jays

By Howard Megdal | October 29, 2009 at 4:45pm CDT

Some late-afternoon snacks for you…

The incomparable Thomas Boswell answers questions on a variety of subjects, including his belief that Jim Riggleman will return as manager of the Nationals next year. As Boswell puts it, "Has any manager in history ever not been retained after he improved a team's winning percentage by .125 and ended the season 7-0? Especially when the team likes him and he's born-raised in that town? I doubt it very much."
Rob Neyer discusses Atlanta's options, now that it appears they will bring Tim Hudson back.
And former Brave Mike Mordecai will be Toronto's roving minor league instructor, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.

Blue Jays Claim Sean Henn From Orioles

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 29, 2009 at 1:56pm CDT

The Blue Jays claimed lefty Sean Henn off waivers from the Orioles, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (via Twitter). The 28-year-old appeared in 20 games for the Twins and Orioles this year. He allowed 15 hits and 12 walks in 14.1 innings, striking out 15. His major league numbers aren't impressive, but Henn struck out 10.5 batters per nine in the Twins' system before the Orioles acquired him in September. GM Alex Anthopoulos on his first move:

"The Yankees gave Damaso Marte a three-year $12MM deal, we can't. If we have to claim 10 arms and click on the 10th, it's a good investment with a huge upside."

The Jays designated Michael Barrett for assignment to clear space for Henn on the 40-man roster.

Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Astros, Smoltz, Hermida

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 29, 2009 at 9:31am CDT

Some links to read for Thursday morning…

The AP reports (via the Miami Herald) that the Seibu Lions won the rights to negotiate with top Japanese amateur Yusei Kikuchi.
Another top young pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, hit 100 mph repeatedly in his third AFL start, according to ESPN.com's Jason Grey.
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says fans and media members need to hold Astros owner Drayton McLane accountable, and says it wasn't GM Ed Wade's fault that managerial candidate Manny Acta signed with the Indians.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears that the Cardinals still have interest in bringing John Smoltz back next year, perhaps as the team's fourth starter. The club seems likely to find a fifth starter within the organization.
The Pirates and Reds will swap A ball affiliates next year, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Padres GM Jed Hoyer offered contracts to all of the organization's scouts and player development personnel, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs expects Tim Hudson to be worth the extension he's expected to sign.
MLB.com's Joe Frisaro lists the Blue Jays, Mariners, Rays and Mets as possible destinations for Jeremy Hermida. The Marlins may trade the outfielder, who should hit free agency after 2011.

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