Which Teams Shed Salary At The Deadline?
Yesterday we found that the Cardinals led the group of 12 teams that took on at least $1MM leading up to the trade deadline. They took on $6.6MM and were the only team to add as much as $5MM in payroll. So what about the sellers? Here's a look at the teams that traded away at least $1MM in 2009 salary this summer. Again, all totals are approximate:
- The Indians trimmed $8.1MM from their payroll, trading Mark DeRosa ($2.9MM), Victor Martinez ($2MM), Cliff Lee ($2MM) and Rafael Betancourt ($1.2MM).
- The Pirates shed $7.3MM in trades, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- The A's saved $5MM by dealing Matt Holliday ($3.7MM) and Orlando Cabrera ($1.25MM).
- The Mariners' decision to trade Jarrod Washburn saved them $3.6MM.
- The Padres saved $2.8MM in the Jake Peavy deal.
- The D'Backs shed $1.4MM by trading away Felipe Lopez.
- The Orioles saved $1MM by trading George Sherrill.
Seven teams saved $1MM or more this deadline. The Indians, Pirates and A's saved considerably more than that this year and the Padres saved considerably more than that in the future. Surprisingly, the Nationals don't appear on this list. Their decision to trade Joe Beimel saved them $700k and they're paying Nick Johnson to play for the Marlins, so ironically, the team everyone thought would sell wasn't much of a seller.
Nats Will Look For Pitching & A Second Baseman
The Nats will look for a veteran starter, relievers and a second baseman this offseason, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Here are the details on the team's plans:
- Acting GM Mike Rizzo says he's looking for a "teacher and mentor type" pitcher to solidify the staff and help develop the club's young arms.
- The Nats want to revamp their bullpen and Ladson expects them to pursue closers this offseason.
- Second base has been an issue, so Ladson suggests the team could pursue Orlando Hudson again when he becomes a free agent after the season.
- The Nats would also like to add speed to their lineup.
Odds & Ends: More Deadline Reactions
A few more links in the aftermath of the trade deadline…
- MLB.com's Bill Ladson says that Nationals interm GM Mike Rizzo "didn't have a choice but to trade Nick Johnson because the latter did not want to negotiate an extension with the Nationals." Johnson is looking for a two year deal according to Ladson.
- ESPN's Keith Law ranks the prospects traded at this year's deadline. Brett Wallace, acquired by Oakland in the Matt Holliday deal, tops the list.
- John Sickels of Minor League Ball chimes in with his thoughts on all of this year's deadline trades.
- The Padres signed sixth rounder James Needy to a $298K bonus according to Baseball America's Jim Callis. Needy is just the second player this year to sign a deal worth more than $100K over MLB's slot recommendation.
- As exciting as yesterday was, Ryo at NPB Tracker tells us that the trade deadline in Japan went by rather quietly. There has been exactly one trade made all year in Nippon Professional Baseball, and it involved just two players filling supporting roles. Where's the fun in that?
Odds & Ends: King Felix, Matusz, Johnson
A hearty batch of links for your Saturday afternoon viewing pleasure…
- Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times takes a deeper look at the Felix Herandez-Red Sox talks that took place just before the trade deadline yesterday. It seems like a sensitive subject for most Mariners fans.
- According to Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun, the Orioles are having a "vigorous debate" about calling up pitching prospect Brian Matusz. "The service time issue also is largely moot," Schmuck writes, "because no matter how much time he spends up here this year, he's still under reserve for another six."
- Matthew Pouliot of NBCSports.com's "Circling The Bases," reviews the trade deadline's winners and losers.
- Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports that Nick Johnson did not want to discuss an extension with the Nationals, thus the trade, and is hoping for a two-year deal when he becomes a free agent this offseason.
- MLB.com's Corey Brock, a Padres beat writer, has more on the impending release of Mark Prior.
More Trade Reactions
A few more trade discussions on a calm Saturday afternoon…
- John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer believes the Scott Rolen deal has left the Reds with no payroll flexibility heading into 2010. "That's not good," he writes, "when you need a shortstop and an outfielder with some pop — among other things."
- Tracee Hamilton of the Washington Post writes the Nationals "did absolutely the right thing" in shipping off left-hander Joe Beimel and first baseman Nick Johnson.
- Longtime Padres beat writer Tom Krasovic has a look at the Jake Peavy trade: "This looks like a potentially big victory for the Padres and new CEO Jeff Moorad — if, and it's a big if, the club can parlay the $56 million saved into good investments throughout its baseball operations and future payrolls."
- Michael Salfino of SNY thinks the Mets should have made a move or two at the deadline. "The frustrating thing for Mets fans," Salfino writes, "is that catcher Victor Martinez was there for the taking. The cost reportedly was one of two Double-A pitchers Brad Holt or Jenrry Mejia plus Jon Niese."
- For all full look at the deals that went down Friday, check out MLBTR's transactions-only archive.
Deadline Roundup: Cabrera, Astros, Nats
More links as we sift through all the trades and slowly realize that there are actual games to be played, too:
- MLB.com's Kelly Thesier passes on a nice line from the Twins' latest addition, Orlando Cabrera. When asked why he's happy to join the team, Cabrera said "Who doesn't like M&Ms?"
- Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says the Astros did the right thing by holding onto the players that could help them win this year and the prospects that could help them win in the future.
- The Angels had no restrictions from owner Arte Moreno, but weren't comfortable making any deals, according to MLB.com.
- SI.com's Tom Verducci lists the Tigers, Red Sox and Phillies as his deadline winners.
- Acting GM Mike Rizzo says the Nats are in building mode, not rebuilding mode, acccording to MASN's Pete McElroy. Pretty soon they'll have to be in Stephen Strasburg mode, since they have just over two weeks to sign their top pick.
Deadline Roundup: Mets, Washburn, Nats, Rays
Two Cy Young Award winners were traded this deadline and neither one of them was Roy Halladay. It's been a wild few days. Here's a recap of the action and here are some more details and reactions:
- Omar Minaya told Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post that the Mets couldn't find a trade partner because of what other teams were asking for.
- MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo says Aaron Thompson is a pretty good return for Nick Johnson. it sure beats losing him for nothing after the season.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mariners told the Yankees they had to give up an Austin Jackson-type player for Jarrod Washburn, who was dealt to Detroit.
- The Brewers were told they'd have to surrender Manny Parra, Alcides Escobar or Mat Gamel for Washburn, Sherman reports.
- Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Washburn is open to returning to the Mariners in the offseason, when he hits free agency.
- Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski tells MLB.com's Jason Beck that the Tigers were "not close at all" to completing any other moves.
- Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times says the Rays will look for help on the waiver wire in August.
- Any bobblehead collectors? Tomorrow night is still Victor Martinez bobblehead night in Cleveland, according to MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince.
- The Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox and Tigers are Jon Heyman of SI.com's deadline winners. His losers? The Nats and Royals.
Rockies Acquire Joe Beimel
4:08pm: MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that the Nats get righty Ryan Mattheus and Robinson Fabian in the deal.
2:20pm: The Rockies acquired lefty reliever Joe Beimel from the Nationals, according to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post. The Nats received two minor leaguers, says SI's Jon Heyman via Twitter. Beimel, 32, has allowed a .233/.288/.417 line to lefties this year. He has about $800K left on his contract and projects as a Type B free agent after the season.
Marlins Acquire Nick Johnson
3:00pm: A 180 in this rumor – FOX now says the Marlins acquired Johnson for Double A lefty Aaron Thompson, with the Nats paying Johnson's remaining salary.
2:37pm: Rosenthal and Morosi report that the Marlins are no longer pursuing Johnson or Heath Bell.
2:15pm: Via Twitter, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says the Marlins are not expected to complete any trades by the deadline, which is in 45 minutes.
11:29am: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports say the Marlins increased their offer for Johnson by adding another minor leaguer along with Tucker.
11:07am: ESPN's Peter Gammons reports that the Marlins "appear to be moving closer" to a Nick Johnson trade. Last we heard, the Fish offered pitcher Ryan Tucker to the Nationals and asked Washington to pay part of Johnson's contract (he has $2MM remaining). At the same time, Danny Knobler of CBSSports says the Marlins are growing frustrated with the trade talks and may move on.
Johnson, a free agent after the season, currently projects to fall short of Type B status, so it makes sense for the Nats to take what they can get. At the same time it'd be big for the Marlins to put a .408 OBP player in front of Hanley Ramirez.
Heath Bell Rumors: Friday
2:54pm: USA Today's Bob Nightengale, via Twitter, says the Twins' talks for Bell are all but dead. However, they're in on Arizona's Jon Rauch.
2:38pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that the Marlins are no longer pursuing Bell or Nick Johnson. That should leave the Angels or Dodgers if anyone.
2:11pm: ESPN's Buster Olney says the Twins have interest in Bell, as well as Oakland's Michael Wuertz.
1:18pm: Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times says the Angels and Dodgers are battling for Bell.
9:19am: Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the Padres wanted Cameron Maybin and Miller for Bell. The Fish have seen other trade ideas dry up as well, leading Rodriguez to suggest "it might be Nick Johnson or bust for the Marlins." SI's Jon Heyman agrees.
7:02am: The latest on Padres closer Heath Bell, who is under team control through 2011…
Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune says that "late Thursday night, both the Angels and Marlins were still talking to the Padres regarding Bell." We learned yesterday that the Padres requested Andrew Miller or Sean West from the Marlins, and Florida declined. Marlins president David Samson appeared on the radio yesterday to discuss the trade deadline, and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald has a nice summary of that.