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Tim Brown’s Latest: Cordero, Quentin

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UPDATE: You can throw Conor Jackson into the mix along with Quentin.

Yahoo’s Tim Brown has some new rumors and info:

  • Plan B if the Red Sox can’t get Eric Gagne: Washington’s Chad Cordero.  It seems Wily Mo Pena would be a part of that, but I imagine Jim Bowden would want a top prospect as well.
  • The Diamondbacks are shopping Carlos Quentin for a starting pitcher; the Indians and Nationals have interest.  Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Indians are willing to deal Cliff Lee, so maybe there’s a match there.  And keep in mind that former Diamondbacks Director of Scouting Mike Rizzo now works as the Nationals’ Assistant GM and VP of Baseball Operations.  Rizzo still has a lot of Arizona connections, and he definitely loves Quentin.
  • Interestingly, Will Carroll indicates that Justin Upton may be on the verge of a callup. 

Adam Dunn To The Nationals?

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Surprisingly, with roughly four hours to ago, Adam Dunn’s most likely suitor still appears to be the Washington Nationals.

Will Carroll says that Dunn would love to be reunited with good friend Austin Kearns in Washington, and might sign an extension there.  He could become the face of the franchise.  The problem is that the Nats don’t have what the Reds want, so a third team would have to get involved. 

Just speculating, but I could see some bad blood lingering between the two teams over the Gary Majewski thing.  That has to make you wonder how Wayne Krivsky would ever let Dunn end up in Washington.  Maybe he and Jim Bowden can let bygones be bygones.

Dodgers Tracking Cordero and Rauch

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Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch are on the Dodgers’ radar, and they would gladly offer shortstop Chin-Lung Hu according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.

The Washington Post’s Barry Srvluga confirms the Dodgers’ presence and adds the Mets and Tigers as teams following the relievers.  As he mentioned yesterday, Srvluga’s source thinks a trade of one of Cordero or Rauch is likely and the return would be prospects.  I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more about this today.

Jon Morosi of the Detroit Free Press ran down the Tigers’ stance on various relievers this morning, but Cordero and Rauch were not mentioned.  Morosi doesn’t see the Tigers getting Eric Gagne, C.J. Wilson, or Joaquin Benoit from the Rangers.  He also doesn’t think they’re close on Chad Qualls, Kyle Farnsworth, Al Reyes, or Dan Wheeler.  Plucking a Pirate reliever in a Jack Wilson trade makes sense.

Nationals Working On Cordero Or Rauch Trade

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According to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, the Nationals are definitely shopping Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch.  Svrluga’s source believes one of them will go for prospects, most likely Rauch.  Glad to hear it; I was worried both would stay put.  I always prefer more trade action.

There’s also the possibility of packaging both relievers together to get one top-notch prospect.  The Dodgers seem most likely to agree to something like that.  Matt Kemp would probably work for Jim Bowden.  The post mentions that Bowden indeed asked for Cameron Maybin from the Tigers for Rauch.

One last note: Adam Dunn remains on the radar, but right now it’s mostly just interest.

Mets Hunting For Reliever, Second Baseman

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Pretty much the same old story with the Mets, though Joel Sherman and Mark Hale of the New York Post do have some new tidbits.

  • The authors name Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, Octavio Dotel, and Eric Gagne as relievers on the radar.  However it seems the asking price is too high for Gagne and the Indians have become the frontrunner for Dotel (they may have passed the Dodgers).  Shawn Chacon doesn’t catch the Mets’ eye, and they don’t want Chad Bradford’s three-year commitment.  They had that option with Bradford this winter.  I think that logic is silly – Bradford’s pitched well this year, and acquiring him now would be akin to a two-year contract.  Sometimes it seems GMs pass over certain players because they simply want to add a fresh name.
  • You can add Al Reyes to the mix for the Mets, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
  • The Mets think many of the available starting pitchers could be traded in August – Jose Contreras, Kyle Lohse, and Steve Trachsel for example.  I don’t agree on Lohse – he’ll be traded today or tomorrow.  But Contreras’s contract would probably get through waivers without a claim.
  • The Post reports no substantive talks to the Royals about Mark Grudzielanek.  An inquiry has been made on Mark Loretta. 
  • Meanwhile, Newsday says the Twins are open to trading Luis Castillo but don’t want any of the current Major League Mets.  Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger seems to disagree, citing a Twins scout at Shea yesterday.  Graziano does not believe Castillo would get through waivers unclaimed.  He believes the Twins want Double A starter Kevin Mulvey and then some (perhaps Ruben Gotay).
  • Graziano says a deal for Castillo could be expanded to include 28 year-old righty reliever Juan Rincon.  Rincon had been consistently solid for three years (perhaps aided by steroids) but has seen his strikeout rate and overall performance plummet in 2007.  Rincon is under control next year and will make at least $2MM again.
  • Graziano notes that the Mets have talked to the A’s about Joe Blanton, but Billy Beane wants Lastings Milledge.  The Mets can’t do that without damaging the current team.  The Mets could actually add an outfielder in Jay Payton; the Cubs’ interest has waned.  The Sammy Sosa rumor also has some legs, as the Mets could bring him in to platoon with Shawn Green if they decide they can tolerate the sideshow.

Latest Mets Rumors: Luis Castillo, Chad Cordero

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Let’s have a look at the latest rumors swirling around the Mets.

Yankees Focused On Gagne, Wheeler, Qualls

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It seems highly likely that the Yankees will make a move to upgrade their bullpen before the Tuesday trade deadline.  They appear to have three main targets.

Kat O’Brien of Newsday says the Yanks have had serious discussions with Texas regarding Eric Gagne.  Though Gagne wants to close, remember that he can be traded to New York without his consent.  A Rivera-Gagne combo would essentially turn every game into seven innings.  O’Brien names righthanders Ian Kennedy and Jeff Marquez as two pitchers the Rangers might be after.  Kennedy is definitely more highly regarded.  The Rangers also like Melky Cabrera but the Yankees are resisting.

Meanwhile, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News tells us that the Yankees have "narrowed their sights" to Dan Wheeler and Chad Qualls of the Astros.  The Astros control Wheeler through 2009 and Qualls through 2010, so the asking price will be significant.  Jayson Stark says Houston is looking for a young MLB-ready position player; Cabrera seems to fit the bill.

Another Yankee-related note from O’Brien’s article – the Yankees are not pursuing Ty Wigginton anymore.  Other writers do not agree.  Dan Graziano indicates that Wiggy is still in play and the Yankees might try get Al Reyes added to the deal as well.  Peter Abraham talked to an AL exec who expects the Yanks to get Wigginton.  Graziano adds that the Yankees have had recent discussions about Octavio Dotel and Jon Rauch.

Nats Close On Dmitri Young Extension

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UPDATE: According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the idea is to put Dmitri in left field next year.  Should be wild.  This might put Ryan Church’s future in jeopardy; the Cubs have some interest.

According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Nationals are close to inking Dmitri Young to a two-year, $10MM contract extension.  That’s right around what I thought he’d ask for, and I think it’s a bad idea for Washington.

While it’s true that Young wouldn’t fetch much in trade or draft picks, locking him up for his age 34-35 seasons just isn’t wise for this team.  He’s having a career year, but can you really count on him for even an .800 OPS?  Even if he can provide league average 1B production, why lock yourself into that?

Furthermore, Nick Johnson is already tied up at $5.5MM annually through 2009.  He should be healthy next year; what then?  Do you really want one of these guys lumbering around left field?  Or a $5MM bench player?   

The justification for this deal is going to be the intangibles Young brings, and I can’t speak to that.  But from where I’m sitting it does not make sense.

Contract Extension For Dmitri Young?

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Dmitri Young learned of teammate Ron Belliard’s two-year contract extension, and now is talking about staying in Washington himself.  He’s cautious to add that there’s a ceiling on what kind of discount he will provide.

What would Young want?  It would have to be two years, already a questionable idea for Washington.  I’m guessing maybe he’d want $8-10MM?  Just doesn’t make sense for the Nats, no matter how good Young thinks he is in the clubhouse.  He’s not a reliable player; he’s a DH nobody wanted who happens to be on a hot streak. 

Even if it’s just a B-level prospect, it’s hard to see why Jim Bowden would not trade Young in the next week.

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