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Passan On Upton, Nationals, Melky, Francoeur

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The latest on the trade market from Yahoo’s Jeff Passan…

  • A number of MLB officials tell Passan that they consider the Nationals the favorites for B.J. Upton. However, a Rays official says there’s no favorite at this point (click here for the latest on Upton).
  • Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has told teams that pitching prospect Brad Peacock is not available.
  • Nationals executives and scouts have told others that Ian Desmond is available (despite reports that that Washington will hold onto its shortstop).
  • The Royals are leaning toward keeping Melky Cabrera in 2012, according to Passan. Cabrera, who is having an excellent season and remains under team control next year, might not fetch enough in a trade for GM Dayton Moore to pull the trigger.
  • The Royals are hoping to work out some kind of contract for next year with Jeff Francoeur. The sides have a 2012 mutual option for $4MM, but the Royals would likely have to offer more to lock Francoeur up for next season. They get the impression that the 27-year-old is interested in staying in Kansas City.

Quick Hits: Rangers, Quentin, Gomes, Bauer

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The Red Sox and Rangers rank first and second in the majors, respectively, in runs scored. Yet one night after Michael Cuddyer prevented the Rangers from scoring, another position player, Mitch Maier, shut down the Red Sox. Here's the latest from around MLB…

  • The Rangers agreed to sign 11th round pick Connor Sadzeck for an over-slot bonus of $350K, according to Jim Callis of Baseball America (on Twitter). The right-hander tops out at 95 mph and projects as a reliever.
  • The Phillies are among the teams scouting Carlos Quentin in case the White Sox decide to move him, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter).
  • The Nationals like the fact that they could obtain a draft pick for newly-acquired outfielder Jonny Gomes after the season, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter).
  • Arizona GM Kevin Towers told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that Trevor Bauer, who signed yesterday, "possibly could" help the bullpen in September (Twitter links). The D'Backs "fully envision" Bauer competing for a rotation spot next spring.
  • The D'Backs continue looking for pitching, according to Scott Miller of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).

NL Central Rumors: Brewers, Hernandez, Cardinals

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The latest buzz from the NL Central…

  • The Brewers have discussed Clint Barmes, Coco Crisp and Jerry Hairston Jr., according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.
  • Ramon Hernandez of the Reds is "not on the block," according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • "We're still exploring both [starters and relievers]," said Cardinals GM John Mozeliak to MLB.com's Matthew Leach. "But when it comes down to it, I think the reliever market’s got more opportunities." Mozeliak also indicated that the team could conceivably add payroll both this year and next in a trade.
  • An AL executive told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that while the Astros asked for a big return for lefty Wandy Rodriguez a few weeks back, they now "will take little at deadline to get rid of most of his contract" (Twitter link).  Rodriguez has about $38MM left on his contract if he exercises his 2014 player option.  He's a bit overpaid, but presents a nice opportunity for a team to add a solid starter without giving up top prospects.
  • The Reds are not close on any deals, GM Walt Jocketty told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link).  While Jocketty would not reveal his list of untouchable prospects, he laughed when Fay mentioned catcher Devin Mesoraco.  Earlier today we learned that the Rockies asked for Mesoraco and Aroldis Chapman in an Ubaldo Jimenez trade.  Jocketty seems disinclined to trade prospects for rentals.
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin seeks a left-handed reliever, but told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that the market "isn't very strong."  It's a similar story with the Brewers' other main needs, shortstop and third base.

Cardinals Shopping Colby Rasmus

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9:51pm: Manager Tony La Russa told KSDK TV-5 in St. Louis that Rasmus "doesn't listen" to Cardinals coaches, as Austin Laymance and Matthew Leach explain at MLB.com. "That's why he gets in these funks, in my opinion," La Russa said.

1:41pm: Cardinals GM John Mozeliak told Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio today that nothing has changed since he told Bowden at the All-Star game that he was not shopping Rasmus (Twitter link).   

12:04pm: An AL official told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that the Cardinals "are definitely shopping" center fielder Colby Rasmus, despite public denials.  The official says the Cards "are asking for a ton."  Danny Knobler of CBS Sports agrees, tweeting that the Cards are shopping Rasmus widely.  Knobler notes that the Nationals had a scout in St. Louis last night.

The White Sox and Rays have also been linked to Rasmus, but earlier this month GM John Mozeliak said a trade is "highly unlikely."  The Mariners have also inquired, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, and Knobler notes that the Giants have watched Rasmus as a possible Carlos Beltran backup plan.

Even in a down year, the 24-year-old Rasmus is hitting .245/.332/.421 on the season.  He's under team control through 2014.

My apologies for an earlier error in which I erroneously attributed the "asking for a ton" quote to the Rays and B.J. Upton.

Nationals Notes: Desmond, Johnson, Marquis

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The Nationals acquired Jonny Gomes today and Washington is also eyeing center field help. The Nationals are scouting Peter Bourjos, Michael Bourn, Denard Span, Colby Rasmus and B.J. Upton as they look to upgrade. Here are some other notes from D.C., where the Nationals host the Marlins tonight…

  • As Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post explains, trading Ian Desmond now "would be the epitome of selling low." The shortstop would be available in the right deal, but there's still a chance he can become a long-term contributor in Washington.
  • Bill Ladson of MLB.com hears that the Nationals consider Desmond part of their future and aren't planning to move him (Twitter link).
  • Before the Gomes deal, Nationals manager Davey Johnson told Kilgore that he was "not really anticipating a big trade" (Twitter link).
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears mixed opinions on whether the Nationals will trade Jason Marquis (Twitter link).

Nationals Acquire Jonny Gomes

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The Nationals announced that they have acquired Jonny Gomes and cash considerations from the Reds for outfielder Bill Rhinehart and left-hander Chris Manno (Twitter links). The Reds have confirmed the move and announced that they're calling up Yonder Alonso in a corresponding move.

Gomes, 30, has a .211/.336/.399 line with 11 homers in 265 plate appearances this season. He entered the season with a reputation for hitting southpaws (.281/.376/.510 career line against lefties) and has continued hitting them in 2011 (.333/.439/.537 line). However, the left fielder has seen his playing time decrease this month – he has only batted 31 times in July.

Gomes earns $1.75MM this year and will hit free agency after the season. Since he currently projects as a Type B free agent, the Nationals could obtain a supplementary draft pick for him by offering arbitration. However, there's no guarantee that Gomes, a two-time non-tender, will receive an arbitration offer.

Manno was a 26th round pick for Washington in last year's draft. He has a 1.47 ERA with 14.4 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 61 1/3 innings as a professional. The 22-year-old, who has yet to pitch above Class A, has worked exclusively in relief.

Rhinehart, 26, is in his fifth season as a professional.  He has a .283/.376/.587 line with 21 homers at Double-A, a level he first appeared at in 2008. Rhinehart, who reached Triple-A last year, has a .261/.331/.458 line in his pro career.

Nationals Interested In Peter Bourjos

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Welcome to life as a trade target, Peter Bourjos. The Nationals have expressed interest in the Angels' outfielder, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com (Twitter links). They've already been linked to B.J. Upton and Colby Rasmus as their search for a center fielder continues. In addition to Bourjos, Upton and Rasmus, the Nationals are also scouting Denard Span and Michael Bourn these days, Ladson reports.

Bourjos, 24, debuted early last August, so he has roughly one season of MLB experience. His .242/.286/.385 line is far from spectacular, but he has 21 steals (28 attempts) and, unsurprisingly, UZR suggests that his blazing speed translates into tremendous outfield defense (30.0 UZR/150). Bourjos, who recently returned from a stint on the disabled list with a tight right hamstring, isn't arbitration eligible until after the 2013 season or eligible for free agency until after the 2016 season.

B.J. Upton Rumors: Tuesday

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The latest on Rays center fielder B.J. Upton, who owns a .229/.310/.399 line on the season:

My apologies for an earlier error in which I erroneously attributed Joel Sherman's "asking for a ton" quote to the Rays and B.J. Upton.  The quote actually referred to the Cardinals and Colby Rasmus.

Passan On Upton, Nationals, Melky, Francoeur

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The latest on the trade market from Yahoo’s Jeff Passan…

  • A number of MLB officials tell Passan that they consider the Nationals the favorites for B.J. Upton. However, a Rays official says there’s no favorite at this point (click here for the latest on Upton).
  • Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has told teams that pitching prospect Brad Peacock is not available.
  • Nationals executives and scouts have told others that Ian Desmond is available (despite reports that that Washington will hold onto its shortstop).
  • The Royals are leaning toward keeping Melky Cabrera in 2012, according to Passan. Cabrera, who is having an excellent season and remains under team control next year, might not fetch enough in a trade for GM Dayton Moore to pull the trigger.
  • The Royals are hoping to work out some kind of contract for next year with Jeff Francoeur. The sides have a 2012 mutual option for $4MM, but the Royals would likely have to offer more to lock Francoeur up for next season. They get the impression that the 27-year-old is interested in staying in Kansas City.

AL Central Rumors: Tigers, Indians, Twins

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The AL Central has only one clear seller at this point in the Royals, and they don't have much to offer.  The White Sox and Twins will add a lot to the trade market if they decide to wave the white flag.  The latest on the division:

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