Blue Jays Rumors

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Millar, Sheffield, Dunn, Rangers, Salty

By Cork Gaines | August 15, 2008 at 12:09pm CDT

A few random notes from around the baseball Blogosphere…

Beerleaguer feels that Kevin Millar would make a nice addition to the Phillies’ bench.
MetsBlog says Gary Sheffield is the right-handed outfield bat the Mets need and this is the best time to add a player with something to prove.
True Blue LA is angered that the Dodgers did not block the D’Backs’ claim of Adam Dunn.
Newberg Report discusses which players the Rangers must be willing to part with if they are to land an "All-Star level, legitimate number one" pitcher or even a pitcher from the next level of starters.
Over The Monster wonders if the Red Sox will replace Jason Varitek with Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Angels, D’Backs, Giambi, Ellis

By Tim Dierkes | August 15, 2008 at 9:06am CDT

Here is the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Many important Angels will reach free agency this winter: Mark Teixeira, Francisco Rodriguez, Jon Garland, and Juan Rivera. Rosenthal doesn’t expect any of these four back. Garret Anderson’s $14MM option will not be exercised, but he could be re-signed. John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero both have reasonable club options for ’09, but the Halos need to plan beyond that.
Several journalists have noted the D’Backs may restock the farm system if they let Adam Dunn, Orlando Hudson, Brandon Lyon, and Juan Cruz depart as free agents after the season. They’re not worried about Dunn accepting an offer of arbitration. Why would he want a one-year deal?
Rosenthal guesses the Indians, Mariners, Blue Jays, and A’s might have interest in Jason Giambi this winter. Giambi’s .398 OBP ranks 7th in the AL. The leader: fellow free agent Milton Bradley at a staggering .446.
Mark Ellis surprisingly postponed negotiations with the A’s on an extension. It had been said Ellis wanted to figure out a contract before season’s end. He’s the affordable free agent alternative to Hudson.
The Twins are trying to get creative to find bullpen help. GM Bill Smith says he’s made many waiver claims and won some.
Rosenthal says "speculation persists" that J.P. Ricciardi will be canned after the season.
The Tigers aren’t considering trading Magglio Ordonez, but Nate Robertson could be moved this winter. Robertson seems due for a move back to the NL. He earns $7MM in ’09 and $10MM in ’10.
The Reds are being questioned for holding on to relievers David Weathers and Jeremy Affeldt.

Vernon Wells, John McDonald Placed On Waivers

By Tim Dierkes | August 14, 2008 at 12:48pm CDT

According to Sportsnet.ca, the Blue Jays have placed Vernon Wells and John McDonald on waivers. Keep in mind that many players on placed on waivers every year even when the team has no intent of making a trade.

Wells stands a good chance of clearing waivers, though a trade is unlikely. He has a complicated, massive backloaded contract. From 2009-14 he will earn $100MM in salary, plus another $17MM as part of his signing bonus. He has a full no-trade clause and opt-out clause after ’11.

McDonald, a defensive whiz at shortstop, is signed for ’09 at $1.9MM. He probably will be claimed.

Odds and Ends: Lowell, Carroll, Saltalamacchia

By Tim Dierkes | August 13, 2008 at 2:26pm CDT

Time to gather up today’s links.

With Mike Lowell headed to the DL, Jeff Horrigan wonders if a waiver trade for an infielder could be in order.
ESPN’s Buster Olney mentioned the Indians’ Jamey Carroll as a possibility for the D’Backs on Monday, though he noted the two teams have not talked.
Evan Grant suggests the Rangers trade Engel Beltre or Elvis Andrus for pitching this winter. Additionally, he thinks the Rangers might end up trading Jarrod Saltalamacchia rather than Gerald Laird.
Aaron Gleeman revisits the ’03 trade of Bobby Kielty for Shannon Stewart.
Patrick Newman runs down some lesser-known Japanese free agents.
Rany Jazayerli has an interesting post about Royals first base prospect Kila Kaaihue.
Jeff Passan’s list of this year’s 25 most improbable success stories is a good read.
MLB.com’s Justice B. Hill has a story about a kid who had Tommy John surgery at age 14.
ESPN did a bunch of mini-features about this year’s hired guns for their magazine.

Odds and Ends: Ibanez, Dunn, Blake, Stewart

By Tim Dierkes | August 12, 2008 at 9:53am CDT

Let’s kick off the morning with some random links.

Live chat here today at 2pm CST.
Brian Matusz is hopeful about striking a deal with the Orioles by Friday’s deadline. Roch Kubatko has a source saying it’s likely.
Baseball America’s Jim Callis warns us not to listen to the posturing – he still expects all the first-round draft picks to sign with the possible exception of Allan Dykstra.
Should the Mariners offer Raul Ibanez a three-year deal at $10-11MM per?
No word yet on possible Rays acquisitions in wake of the Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria injuries. Marc Lancaster wonders if Kenny Lofton or…don’t say it…Barry Bonds would make sense.
The Mets had no interest in Adam Dunn. They wonder about his passion, according to Joel Sherman. Did you know he doesn’t like baseball?
The Phillies were more interested in Casey Blake than Manny Ramirez.
Athletics Nation looks at some free agent options for ’09.
Shannon Stewart didn’t understand his latest Blue Jay Experience.
The Yankees, Mets, Angels, and Padres have scouts at the Olympics to watch Hitoki Iwase, Koji Uehara, Kenshin Kawakami, Yu Darvish, and Kyuji Fujikawa.

Blue Jays Release Shannon Stewart

By Tim Dierkes | August 11, 2008 at 1:10pm CDT

According to the Globe and Mail, the Blue Jays released outfielder Shannon Stewart today. He’d signed a minor league deal in February.

Stewart, 34, hit .240/.325/.303 in 200 plate appearances. He dealt with a sore groin and ankle sprain during the season. Stewart was paid $1.5MM. Adam Lind had an excellent July and seems entrenched in left at least for the rest of the year.

Odds and Ends: Manny, McDonald, Bradford, Bowden

By Tim Dierkes | August 8, 2008 at 9:31am CDT

Collection o’ links…

Craig Monroe has cleared waivers and become a free agent.
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick talks to Pirates GM Neal Huntington about his deadline deals.
Pirates players Chris Duffy and Franquelis Osoria cleared waivers and will head to Triple A.
Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi says manager Cito Gaston will be back next year.
Yesterday Dan Shaughnessy wrote a few sentences about the commissioner’s office investigating Manny Ramirez’s final hours with the Red Sox. It’s become a national story. More on the situation from the L.A. Times.
Sean McAdam wonders if the Red Sox could acquire Toronto shortstop John McDonald. He’d have to get past ten other AL teams first.
In regards to the Chad Bradford deal, Andy MacPhail said, "I can use the dough." MacPhail said the Orioles will receive a prospect, to be determined in the offseason.
Jack Etkin of the Rocky Mountain News believes Rockies reliever Kip Wells is expendable.
Tracy Ringolsby heard speculation that Nationals VP of baseball operations Mike Rizzo could replace GM Jim Bowden.

Odds and Ends: Bay, Clement, Fuentes, Cabrera

By Tim Dierkes | August 4, 2008 at 12:01pm CDT

We’ve got plenty of links today.

There is speculation that Andruw Jones could be sent back to the minors.
Joel Sherman wonders if MLB should’ve gotten involved when Manny Ramirez decided to orchestrate his own exit. Kind of reminds me of Gary Sheffield intentionally botching plays to force a trade out of Milwaukee in ’92.
Gordon Edes stands by his report that Manny pledged to give full effort if the Red Sox dropped his options. That phone call between Scott Boras and Theo Epstein occurred within an hour of his trade to the Dodgers.
Jon Heyman takes us inside the Manny trade. He says Ramirez signed an agreement in advance that he’d accept a trade to any team if his options were dropped. Heyman believes Omar Minaya fibbed in saying he had failed trade discussions with Boston.
The Red Sox are still waiting to hear whether Joe Borowski will accept their offer of a minor league deal.
Dejan Kovacevic gives as inside look at the Jason Bay trade talks here and here. Did the Rays offer Reid Brignac and Jeff Niemann? Reports are conflicting.
The Cardinals released Matt Clement on Saturday. Let this serve as another reminder of how hard it is to come back from shoulder surgery.
The Cardinals weren’t willing to trade catching prospect Bryan Anderson plus a pitching prospect for Brian Fuentes. Also, GM John Mozeliak confirmed failed talks for Bay.
RotoAuthority takes a look at young pitchers who may face innings caps this year.
Another failed deal: Orlando Cabrera to the Orioles in a Brian Roberts deal.
Geoff Baker believes that when inside information related to the Blue Jays leaks out, GM J.P. Ricciardi is likely responsible.
Please continue to email me if you see a pop-up or full-page ad on MLB Trade Rumors.

Ibanez Trade Unlikely

By Tim Dierkes | July 31, 2008 at 5:36pm CDT

6:10pm: Just to wrap up Toronto’s brief venture into the Bay sweepstakes (since it was first reported in this post)…the Jays backed out when the Pirates asked for Shaun Marcum and top prospect Travis Snider.

5:36pm: Geoff Baker has some more details on the failed deal with Toronto although he still is not sure who was offered for Ibanez. Baker has quotes from JP Ricciardi that says it was the Mariners that backed out of the deal. Baker then goes on to speculate that the aquisition of Ibanez was a marketing tool to convince the fans in Toronto that the team was still gunning for the playoffs to keep TV ratings up.

2:48pm: Jayson Stark says the Mariners had second thoughts and will likely keep Ibanez. It could’ve been a 2-for-1 with Major Leaguers going to Seattle.

2:34pm: Jeff Blair says talks for Ibanez are ongoing. It’s even possible (though unlikely) an Ibanez trade could allow the Jays to include Adam Lind in a deal.

Blair adds that the Marlins called the Jays about Matt Stairs.

2:20pm: The Jays are left as the sole Ibanez suitor as we draw to within 40 minutes of the deadline.

1:14pm: Stark says the Jays are also eyeing Raul Ibanez. Eh? Also, Dejan Kovacevic says the Bay talks ended quickly based on the Pirates’ asking price. Think Shaun Marcum and Travis Snider.

11:48am: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Blue Jays have entered the mix for Jason Bay. Of course, the asking price will be high. But Bay is Canadian!

The Jays are 6.5 games out of the wild card, that dangerous area where a team thinks it’s a contender. Bay is under contract for ’09 too though.

Marlins Interested In Bard, Zaun?

By Tim Dierkes | July 30, 2008 at 5:25pm CDT

5:33pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick talked to a baseball source who finds Zaun to Florida unlikely, on account of the money owed to the catcher.

12:18pm: Dan Hayes of the North County Times reports that the Marlins inquired on Padres catcher Josh Bard yesterday. However, Bard is under team control through 2010 and the Marlins weren’t offering nearly enough.

11:48am: An unconfirmed report is floating about that the Marlins might have interest in bringing back catcher Gregg Zaun. It couldn’t take too much to pry him loose.

Also, I can’t pass up an opportunity to link to Zaun’s website. Make sure to bring your Z-game and also turn the sound on for some G&R.

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