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Nationals Targeting Denard Span

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10:08am: The Twins are unhappy with the Nationals' offer, Rosenthal reports (on Twitter). Meanwhile, the Nationals are worried about Span's concussion.

FRIDAY, 9:23am: Talks between the Twins and Nationals are ongoing, according to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Span and Storen are at the center of discussions, with Roger Bernadina and others in play. The Nationals aren't talking exclusively to the Twins as they search for a center fielder, but Span appears to be high on their list of targets.

THURSDAY, 12:52pm: The Nationals are not willing to trade Storen for Span, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson.

WEDNESDAY, 3:20pm: The Nationals continue to target Span, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, and Storen may be in play.

MONDAY, 2:03pm: The Nationals have talked to the Twins about Span, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  The Nationals are unwilling to trade Drew Storen or Tyler Clippard, though Rosenthal feels Ian Desmond could be of interest to the Twins.

1:30pm: Twins center fielder Denard Span is high on the Nationals' list of targets, reports Amanda Comak of the Washington Times.  Span would fit the team's desire for a controllable center fielder/leadoff hitter, assuming there are no ill effects from a concussion suffered in June.

Span, 27, is hitting .294/.361/.385 on the season in 255 plate appearances.  His center field defense has been a plus in recent years, according to UZR.  His team-friendly contract has less than $15MM remaining through 2014, plus a club option for '15.  It's not known whether the Twins consider Span expendable; Ben Revere has a .249/.287/.284 line filling in.  The asking price would surely be significant.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first mentioned Span as a potential Nats target earlier this month, along with B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn, and Colby Rasmus.

AL Central Notes: Indians, Marquis, Soria

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The Indians acquired Kosuke Fukudome from the Cubs today and they might not be done yet. GM Chris Antonetti told Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he’s open to adding another pitcher or a hitter – even another outfielder. Here are some other notes and rumors from around the AL Central…  

  • The Indians should see a "marginal improvement" after adding Fukudome, according to ESPN.com's Keith Law. The Indians, who gave up two "fringy" prospects for the outfielder, are getting a player with enough on-base skills to help out.
  • Antonetti, by the way, called the improvement “incremental.”
  • MLB.com’s Bill Ladson confirms that the Tigers are interested in Jason Marquis (Twitter link). A scout suggested to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that Marquis is out there now and could clear waivers next month to enable an August trade (Twitter link).  
  • There are indications that Joakim Soria will stay in Kansas City, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

Ubaldo Jimenez Rumors: Wednesday

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Yesterday's Ubaldo Jimenez info: about seven teams are in on him, but the Yankees and Reds are best-positioned to make a deal if the Rockies are as motivated as has been reported.  So far, the Rockies' asking price of "three sure-thing young players, including one pitcher who goes into their rotation immediately" has not dropped.  The latest:

  • The Red Sox are still in on Jimenez, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com (on Twitter).
  • The Indians have asked about Jimenez, but are a "real longshot," according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
  • The Indians are strongly in the mix for Jimenez, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Indians have been working aggressively to upgrade their offense and rotation, Rosenthal writes. They're "thinking big in multiple deals."
  • Though the Yankees and Reds have been the most active suitors for Jimenez, they aren’t close to a deal, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The Yankees aren’t close to matching Colorado’s asking price and it’s hard to imagine the Reds obtaining Jimenez without surrendering Mesoraco. The Tigers and Red Sox are ‘on the fringe’ of the trade talks and the Rangers are no longer considered a candidate to acquire the right-hander.
  • The Yankees have the best chance of landing Jimenez, reports Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.  The Rangers are all but out, while the Tigers and Blue Jays are remote.
  • The Rockies do not require Reds untouchables Devin Mesoraco or Billy Hamilton in a deal with the Reds, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
  • The Rockies are in active trade talks with six to eight teams, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.  A source tells Stark that two NL teams, yet to be identified, are in the mix, and the guess is that one of them is the Nationals.
  • As of yesterday, the Reds were the most motivated Jimenez suitor and the Red Sox were more seriously inquiring than the Yankees, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Still, the Rockies appear amenable to doing a Jimenez deal for three of these Yankee youngsters: Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Jesus Montero, and Ivan Nova.  The Yankees, however, are hesistant to even include two.  Ownership is not pushing Yankees GM Brian Cashman to make a deadline splash, writes Sherman, and the front office is more focused on relievers.

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.

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