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Odds & Ends: Betancourt, Francoeur, Halladay, Angels

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We managed to find some rumors in between all of the Jonathan Sanchez no-hitter coverage this morning. Congrats to Jonathan, hopefully Juan Uribe will be buying him a very big and expensive steak dinner. Or ten. On to the links…

  • ESPN's Keith Law doesn't like the Yuniesky Betancourt trade for the Royals, saying he might be the worst everyday player in the big leagues.
  • David Lennon of Newsday says that Mets GM Omar Minaya wanted to send a message by acquiring Jeff Francoeur, but it's "more like a gentle poke than a full-blown shake-up."
  • SI's Jon Heyman tweets that he'd include the struggling Joba Chamberlain in a package for Roy Halladay "no problem."
  • ESPN's Jorge Arangure writes that the Angels efforts on the international market stalled this year after the firing of international scouting supervisor Clay Daniels, who is under investigation by Major League Baseball for his part in the bonus-skimming scandal. Arangure also has notes on several other big name international signees, including Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias, who received $8.2MM from the Red Sox.
  • MLBTR's own Ben Nicholson-Smith will be on 940 ESPN Radio at 10am CST this morning talking rumors. Click the link to give a listen.

Odds & Ends: Halladay, Rays, Indians, Rockies, Draft

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With another round of deals today, we're reminded that the trade deadline is just three weeks away. Here's some evening linkage…

  • Joe Haggerty rounds up Peter Gammons' weekly appearance on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike this morning. Among many other topics, Gammons touched on Roy Halladay, saying that he believes "there’s about a 20 percent chance that Halladay gets traded."
  • MLB.com's Zach Schonbrun writes that Rays owner Stuart Sternberg says the team is unlikely to cut payroll during the season, assuming they stay in the hunt of course.
  • The Indians aren't so lucky. Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer says that when "it comes to setting next year's payroll, the Indians are going to be looking to cut corners because of the economy." He mentions Rafael Betancourt and Kelly Shoppach as candidates to be moved because of their salaries.
  • The Denver Post's Troy Renck says the Rockies are unlikely to move Ryan Spilborghs and "aren't in a hurry" to trade Garrett Atkins.
  • Team president Frank Coonelly refuted a report saying that the Pirates had "essentially completed a deal" with fourth round pick Zack Dodson, according to Dejan Kovacevic.
  • Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports that the Orioles have signed four more draft picks.

Olney On Nats, Rockies, Halladay

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ESPN.com's Buster Olney likes the looks of the Mariners, especially with a top three of Felix Hernandez, Erik Bedard and Jarrod Washburn. Here are Olney's latest rumors:

  • Nats GM Mike Rizzo says he doesn't have to dump payroll, which gives the team flexibility when considering deals for Nick Johnson, Austin Kearns and others. If they find a worthwhile deal, the Nationals could likely contribute money to make it work.
  • As much as the Rockies would like to add a reliever, there are few desirable options out there now, so they may have to wait until closer to the deadline.
  • No team has come forth with an aggressive offer for Roy Halladay so far.  
  • Olney hears that the Phillies would like to add two starters. Halladay and Pedro Martinez are the names they've been connected to recently.  

Halladay And The AL East

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The Red Sox phoned the Blue Jays about Roy Halladay, according to Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal. Jon Heyman hears that the Jays are reluctant to deal within the AL East, but they'll have the option to. McDonald reports that the Red Sox and Yankees are on a list of teams Halladay has told the Jays he would accept trades to. The Blue Jays are scouting "all minor league levels" of the Yankees and Red Sox, according to McDonald.

McDonald says the Rays also phoned the Blue Jays. It's unlikely the Rays would make a play for Halladay, as they have little money to spend. However, as Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune reports, they likely won't have to make in-season payroll cuts.

The Yankees are talking to the Jays about a potential deal, but Heyman says not even the Yanks think they'll actually make it happen.

Blue Jays fans, who haven't cheered on a playoff team since Joe Carter touched 'em all in 1993, would generally be infuriated by an intra-divisional trade.

Heyman On Halladay, Pedro, Ackley, Andruw

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SI.com's Jon Heyman hears that the Blue Jays could keep Roy Halladay, especially since Toronto fans would not be receptive to a deal that sends their ace elsewhere. If the Jays do deal Halladay, they say they're looking for two premium prospects who will be ready for the majors next year and two other prospects who are further away from making big league contributions. Here are the details and the rest of Heyman's rumors:

  • One executive says the Phillies, Giants and Angels have the best shots at acquiring Halladay.
  • The Yankees and Mets have both spoken with the Blue Jays.  
  • It seems odd for teams to set some prospects off limits when the Jays are making Halladay available, but teams like the Rangers and Giants could conceivably deal for Doc and hold onto one or two of their top prospects.  
  • Executives haven't heard that the Blue Jays are trying to unload Vernon Wells' salary in a combined deal with Halladay.  
  • No executives believe teams would take Wells under any circumstances. They have "no shot" at moving him, according to one executive.
  • Heyman credits Pedro Martinez's agent, Fern Cuza, for some impressive deals but doubts the report that suggested the Phillies will pay Pedro $4MM, unless it's prorated.  
  • Scott Boras met Mariners people to discuss second-overall pick Dustin Ackley, but the two sides made little progress. 
  • Heyman praises Andruw Jones for turning down offers from the Braves and Yankees to sign in Texas with coach Rudy Jaramillo.  

Roy Halladay Rumors: Friday

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For all of the Pedro Martinez rumors, Roy Halladay remains the best pitcher available. Here's the latest buzz surrounding the ace ace of a Jays team that's now fallen below .500:

  • The Rangers have enough money coming off the books in 2010 to afford Halladay then, so his 2009 salary could be the team's biggest obstacle, according to Jamey Newberg. If the Rangers can afford Halladay this year, Newberg says the Rangers could give up Neftali Feliz or Justin Smoak- not both- along with Taylor Teagarden and others. But Derek Holland and Martin Perez are untouchable for Newberg.
  • MLB.com's Todd Zolecki suspects that the Phillies would part with Jason Knapp, Dominic Brown or Kyle Drabek in the right deal if it meant adding Halladay.
  • He only spoke in general terms, but Cards GM John Mozeliak told Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch "there is always a chance to do a deal."
  • Jim Donaldson of the Providence Journal doesn't think Halladay's worth the price for the Red Sox.

Jays And Reds Talked; No Rolen Deal Likely

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10:18am: Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News says the Reds are not trading for Rolen. The Blue Jays and Reds talked, but the Jays are not interested in Encarnacion and the Reds would have trouble taking on Rolen's contract.

McCoy spoke with a Reds official who says the team has no room for Garrett Atkins.

9:42am: The Reds are interested in hot-hitting third baseman Scott Rolen, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. They've discussed him internally, scouted him and dangled Edwin Encarnacion to the Blue Jays. Elliott says J.P. Ricciardi would like prospects in return for Rolen, whose contract the Jays wouldn't mind shedding. Rolen's on a 25-game hit streak, with a .330 average and an .876 OPS, so the $16.5MM remaining on his deal before the end of next year is palatable, especially when you consider his strong defense.

Encarnacion is much cheaper than Rolen, but he's hit poorly in the few games he hasn't missed due to wrist problems this year.

Odds And Ends: Glaus, Magglio, Halladay

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More links for the afternoon… for those on Roy Halladay alert, he pitched well today, though he wasn't exactly lights-out.

Roy Halladay Rumors: Prospect Update

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The Blue Jays want top talent in exchange for Roy Halladay, but we heard yesterday that the Phillies have some untouchable players, perhaps Kyle Drabek. Here's what the Cards and Mets are saying about their top prospects:

  • Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post Dispatch confirms that John Mozeliak will call the Blue Jays, but suggests some in the organization would not consider dealing Brett Wallace, who the Jays wanted in last year's draft. Baseball America ranks Wallace as the 21st best prospect in baseball and the Cards' only prospect in the top 50.
  • Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Mets want to keep Jennry Mejia, Brad Holt and Ike Davis. Along with Fernando Martinez, Mejia and Holt are considered their best prospects, so it's hard to envision a Halladay deal without them.
  • Three Phillies prospects join Drabek in BA's top 50: Dominic Brown (17), Michael Taylor (23), and Jason Knapp.
  • The Rangers and Giants each have three prospects in the top 50; the Red Sox and Yankees each have a pair.

Odds And Ends: Delcarmen, Jays, Perez

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Links for Thursday morning…

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