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Odds and Ends: Lieber, Tavarez, Oswalt

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We’ve got mostly smaller stuff today, so let’s kick it off with an odds and ends.

Salisbury On Phillies’ Trade Chips

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Back on June 19th, ESPN’s Jayson Stark said the Phillies had "at least kicked the tires on C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo, and Jarrod Washburn."  He also expected them to inquire on Erik Bedard.  Scott Lauber says the Phils have scouted Sabathia, Burnett, Ben Sheets, and Greg Maddux recently.

Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer weighs in this morning on the Phillies’ trade chips.  He names Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, Greg Golson, and Adrian Cardenas as Phillies players other teams may covet.  However, Salisbury believes Pat Gillick might opt for a midlevel acquisition and hang on to his top young players.  Check out our starting pitcher trade market post for ideas.

Salisbury speculates on possible targets aside from the aforementioned names: Roy Oswalt and Rich Harden.  Salisbury is speculating with these names, but notes that "the Astros had a high-ranking scout in Philadelphia on Sunday."

Rosenthal’s Latest: Cashman, Fuentes, Braves, Fielder

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Time for a new Ken Rosenthal column.

  • Rosenthal reminds us that, among other things, Adam Dunn played with a broken hand for a couple of months in ’05.  So maybe he does like baseball.  It’s not fair to criticize a player’s passion simply because he doesn’t make the right facial expressions or throw tantrums (not saying J.P. Ricciardi did this, but many fans do).
  • Mark Teixeira might be looking for eight years and $160MM.  Rosenthal says not to count his hometown Orioles out, though they aren’t the most likely suitor.
  • Brian Cashman "seems likely to sign a contract extension" with the Yankees.  Omar Minaya’s job is safe.
  • The Rockies might trade Brian Fuentes even if they’re in contention.  Add the Rays to the list of teams interested in him.  The Rox still like the Mets’ Aaron Heilman, by the way.
  • The Braves are out of the starting pitching market, content with internal options.
  • If the Brewers are to shop Prince Fielder, they’ll likely wait until the offseason.  Could be a fun rumor to follow this winter.
  • Orioles relievers Jamie Walker and Chad Bradford both can be had (both are signed through ’09).

Heyman’s Latest: Garcia, Ricciardi, Sabathia

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Here’s a look at Jon Heyman’s latest column.

  • At last count, our Freddy Garcia list included the Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, Indians, Mariners, Tigers, and Rays.  Heyman adds the Astros, and we also have rumblings about the Cubs.  Although a few may have dropped out, that’s a dozen suitors.
  • Heyman suggests Cito Gaston’s hiring was not J.P. Ricciardi’s decision.  Ricciardi may not last past this season.
  • Heyman’s source says C.C. Sabathia "is believed to be interested in a ’Johan Santana contract.’"  Santana received six years and $137.5MM with a club option, full no-trade clause, and deferred money.
  • Heyman believes the relief market is limited, naming a handful of these pitchers.

Odds and Ends: Lowe, Arroyo, Chacon

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Here’s today’s link roundup.

Cafardo’s Latest: Buyers & Sellers

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Nick Cafardo kicks the tires in a full page spread in today’s Boston Globe, listing a handful of teams who are winding up to buy and sell. To paraphrase Cafardo’s recap:

Phillies: Smelling World Series, they see C.C. Sabathia, Erik Bedard, A.J. Burnett, Bronson Arroyo, and Derek Lowe as potential targets.

Braves:  Still deciding whether to shop or re-sign Mark Teixeira, or neither, and in turn whether to trade for a starter to win a division, as Cafardo says, "nobody is running away with."

Mariners:  The decision of whether or not to release Richie Sexson is imminent, and the M’s are expected to start shopping Raul Ibanez, Jose Vidro, Carlos Silva, and Bedard.

Blue Jays:  Can their pitching carry them back into contention when Alex Rios and Vernon Wells aren’t producing as expected?  The Jays can sell Burnett, Matt Stairs, David Eckstein, and maybe Scott Rolen.

Reds:  On their way to last place, Arroyo can be dealt and replaced, perhaps, by Homer Bailey next year. Ken Griffey Jr. is still wearing red.

Indians:  Will find it very difficult to deal Sabathia for a package comparable to what the Mets got for Johan Santana.  Paul Byrd could also go.

Dodgers:  Could perhaps deal Matt Kemp or Chad Billingsley for Sabathia.  They’re also looking at Bedard.  They need to get back to .500 to really compete and will need pitching to get them there.

Yankees:  Giving up Melky Cabrera may be the only way the Yankees can land a front line starter to replace Chien Ming Wang, but Brian Cashman is not keen to do so.

Pirates:  Looking for righthanded power, the Pirates still have Jason Bay (among others).

Be sure to check out Tim’s thorough Trade Market Summary for more insight.

By Nat Boyle

Wondering About The Future Of J.P. Ricciardi

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With the firing of Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, Richard Griffin of The Toronto Star speculates on the future of J.P. Ricciardi.

The Blue Jays GM has certainly had a bit of a rough week, from having to axe his manager and friend Gibbons to the Adam Dunn debacle. And Griffin thinks that his firing will be the next step. Griffin writes:

Make no mistake, the hiring of (new manager Cito) Gaston was not the embattled GM’s idea. The statistics-driven, micro-managing Ricciardi likes his managers to be beholdin’ to him – see Carlos Tosca and John Gibbons, two men never considered to manage elsewhere, but given the chance of a lifetime with the Jays. Gaston is not J.P.’s type: a proven winner more popular than J.P. himself. He is, however, nostalgic (team) president (Paul) Godfrey’s type.

Griffin also mentions that Godfrey was “furious” about Ricciardi’s unprovoked criticisms of Adam Dunn and that after giving J.P. nearly seven years at the helm without much to show for it, patience is running very thin. Seventy-five games into 2008, the Jays find themselves already 10.5 games out and in last place in the AL East. The team does have movable pieces as we near the trading season, but the question remains as to whether or not Ricciardi will be allowed to navigate those waters.

Paul Moro writes for UmpBump.com.

Phillies Trade Strategy Mired By Parity

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Scott Lauber of the Delaware News-Journal writes in the Phillies/baseball blog about the team’s trade strategy in the looming trade-deadline season.

He spoke to Phillies Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and GM Pat Gillick, both of whom reiterated the notion that it’ll be tough to trade this year because of the parity among some clubs. There are 15 teams with a .500 record or better, which means some of those teams may still be in contention in mid July. Of course, it also means some of those teams will be out of it by the trade deadline.

To wit: The Brewers reportedly have told teams that they aren’t willing to move Ben Sheets, even though they’re 6-1/2 games behind the Cubs in the NL [Central]. Of course, one losing streak could force them to change their strategy. Within the past week, Gillick has dispatched scouts to evaluate Cleveland’s C.C. Sabathia, Cincinnati’s Bronson Arroyo and Toronto’s A.J. Burnett, a former pupil of pitching coach Rich Dubee in Florida.

This echoes what Buster Olney wrote in his blog about some of the teams contending in the C.C. Sabathia Sweepstakes and how some of them may think they’re in it, but may actually be testing the waters.

***
Speaking of Ruben Amaro Jr., Doc at Balls, Sticks & Stuff writes that a new book by Bob Gordon introduces Amaro Jr. as "currently the club’s general manager." Last year, the actual, current GM, Pat Gillick, said he may step down at the end of the season. Typo? Food for thought?

Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Rumors? Comments? Email me, alexo05 [at] umpbump [dot] com.

Phillies Scouting Rumors

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All of these "team X scouts team Y" type reports should be taken with a grain of salt, because scouting does not necessarily imply trade interest.  But hey, this is MLB Trade Rumors.

Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News says the Phillies sent special assistant Charley Kerfeld to watch the Brewers play the Blue Jays.  Hagen notes that Kerfeld may have observed Ben Sheets and A.J. Burnett.

Jayson Stark told us Thursday that the Brewers would have to be "way out of it" before making Sheets available.  But Burnett might be fair game, and Stark said the Phillies have already kicked the tires on him.  Stark said the Phils are also eyeing Bronson Arroyo and Jarrod Washburn.  Jim Salisbury believes the best acquisition the Phillies could make is an effective Brett Myers.

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