Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Nationals Rumors

Reaction To The Vidro Trade

By | at

As expected, Mariners fans are up in arms about this deal.  Check out Lookout Landing or U.S.S. Mariner if you don’t believe me.  Nationals blogs, on the other hand, are ecstatic.

There is just no way to rationalize that trade.  None.  I’m guessing that it was like one of those Emperor’s New Clothes things in the Mariners’ front office when this thing came to fruition.  No one would admit to Bavasi that his trade was downright awful.  I tried to defend the Horacio Ramirez acquisition a little bit, but the Vidro trade just can’t be rationalized.

Who would’ve thought the Ms would swap Fruto, Snelling, and Soriano for Ramirez and Vidro?  Ramirez may have been nontendered and Bowden would’ve gladly sent Vidro away for much, much less.  I actually thought it was the Nats paying 75% of Vidro’s contract to in effect purchase the two prospects.  That it’s the other way around and a vesting option was added is laughable.

Mariners Acquire Jose Vidro

By | at

The Mariners have traded Chris Snelling and Emiliano Fruto to the Nationals for second baseman Jose Vidro, according to the Washington Post.  The Mariners intend to pay $12MM of the $16MM remaining on Vidro’s contract for 2007-08.  Jim Bowden did well.

Vidro, 32, hopefully will not supplant young Jose Lopez as the starting second baseman.  In getting into 126 games last year, Vidro had his healthiest season in a while.  However, his power seems to have evaporated and he’s not exactly nimble in the field.  Sure, he’s cheap, but he’s not particularly good.  He’s little help at 2B or DH.

Snelling is another oft-injured player, though he is only 25.  Many of his injuries have been the result of bad fortune, but he’s been through a lot.  He’s still a good gamble for a team like the Nats.

Fruto is just 22 and is a high-upside arm with three plus pitches, according to Baseball America.  He hasn’t started since ’03 but maybe the Nats will want to reinvent him.

Some Mets’ Notes

By | at

The Mets have resigned relief pitcher Guillermo Mota to a 2-year/$5MM contract, according to MLB.com.  Mota was acquired from the Indians back in August and went 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA in 18 games for the Mets in 2006. He’ll be in New York for his 34 and 35 year seasons.

The Mets also lost top catching prospect Jesus Flores in the Rule V Draft today to the Washington Nationals. Though Jesus was still in the St. Lucie (A-advanced), he was considered to be the heir to the backstop once Paul Lo Duca was ready to move on. Flores will now be forced to play in the same stadium where he broke his thumb in an exhibition game at the start of the 2005 season.

""We’re disappointed, because we like Jesus a lot, but we’ll see how the process plays out," said Mets director of Minor League operations Adam Wogan."

The Mets are also still slated to meet with Barry Zito soon.

By Adam Howe

Nationals Rumor Roundup

By | at

I know I don’t give a lot of love to the Nationals on this blog, so here we go.  Late last night, MLB.com’s Bill Ladson weighed in with all sorts of rumors.

Chad Cordero can be had, albeit for a steep price.  The Red Sox want him.  According to the Washington Post, the Mets love Cordero, but Bowden wants Lastings Milledge and then some.  Specifically, Bowden wants a top prospect, a near Major League ready starter, and one more pitcher.

Ryan Church has been connected to the Phillies, Royals, Cubs, Pirates, and Tigers.  Seems that Nats can’t wait to get rid of him.  Specifically, the idea of sending Church to Philly for Ryan Madson has surfaced.  That one doesn’t suit Washington though.  Meanwhile, the Bucs are backing off.

Nobody wants Jose Vidro, but Jim Bowden would love to unload him.

There could be some chance of Rodrigo Lopez ending up a National, but no serious offer exists.  Ladson doesn’t think Lopez makes sense for the Nats.  It may have been a three-way proposal with the Tigers mixed in, but that one didn’t get far.

Edes On The Manny Meetings

By | at

Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe is all over the Manny Ramirez dealings.

The Angels will meet with the Red Sox tonight, but would have to bite the bullet and part with Scot Shields to get the deal done.  Why are they so reluctant to do this?  Come on.  Its Manny.  Boston is also interested in Orlando Cabrera, Ervin Santana, and Jered Weaver.  You can count Weaver out.  That’s silly.

The Giants might get in on it instead.  The buzz is that the Nats could wedge their way into a three-way trade involving the following players: Chad Cordero, Noah Lowry, J.J. Putz, and/or Rafael Soriano, and Jimmie J.J. Walker.

Earlier this afternoon Edes talked to a Dodger official who rated the team’s chances of acquiring Manny at 5% at best.  So you’re saying there’s a chance.

Nationals Sign A Million Minor League Free Agents

By | at

U.S.S. Mariner has a rundown of the slew of minor league free agents recently signed by the Nationals. 

They label Tim Redding as the creme de la creme.  Redding, 29 next year, posted some fine numbers in Triple A this season: 3.40 ERA, 2.6 K/BB.  He’s got to be better than many current fifth starters in the bigs. 

You can also read up on why they are down on Jason Schmidt and Alfonso Soriano.

Soriano Rejects 5/$70MM Offer From Nats

By | at

Here’s a link to a Sportsline story quoting Listin Diaro, the oldest daily newspaper of the Dominican Republic.  The news: Alfonso Soriano has rejected a five-year, $70MM offer from the Nationals.  Here’s the original article for those fluent in Spanish.  It appears that the Listin Diaro article is quoting a Mexican radio station that interviewed assistant GM Jose Rijo.

So the initial bar on Soriano has been set: he’ll require more than $14MM annually.  That’s not going to end well.  In fact, I’m not sure he’ll be worth it in year 1. 

Soriano’s rejection of the offer will at least stop the Nats from compounding their own error.  Jim Bowden failed to trade Soriano at the deadline, but signing him for five years wouldn’t have righted that wrong. 

UPDATE: So much for everything I just said in this post – Rijo and Nats president Stan Kasten just denied this report.

 

Diamondbacks Acquire Livan Hernandez

By | at

Looks like someone got some faulty info about Livan Hernandez being pulled back from waivers; Ken Rosenthal reports that the Diamondbacks have acquired the 31 year-old righty.  The Nats received Double A pitchers Matt Chico and Garrett Mock.  Chico has had more success with Tennessee so far.  Neither pitcher is on the 40-man roster, making it easier to get the deal done.

Hernandez is set to earn $8MM this season and $7MM in 2007.  While his strikeout rate has remained steady from last year, his hit and home run rates have spiked.  To his credit, his two August starts have been excellent.  The D’Backs are middle-of-the-pack as far as starting pitching and are just two games back in the West.  They’re only one game behind the Reds in the wild card.

Hernandez has 56 innings worth of playoff experience from his time with the Marlins and Giants.  He was the NLCS MVP with the Marlins after winning two games.

Alfonso Soriano Stays Put

By | at

In the most surprising non-trade of the afternoon, the Nationals have retained Alfonso Soriano.  Will the two sides be able to hammer out a long-term contract extension, or will the Nats just have to take a couple of draft picks for their left fielder?

It’ll be interesting to hear how the team spins this one.  Right now it’s hard to see how this was the right choice.

Red Sox Trade Rumors

By | at

It’s tough to get anything out of Boston these days; Theo Epstein has plugged all of his leaks.  Let’s see what we can piece together though.

According to Sean McAdams of The Providence Journal:

"Friends of the Rocket insist he’s sorry that he chose the Astros over the Red Sox."  McAdams mentions that Clemens would love a trade to Boston if it could be done without infuriating the Houston fanbase.  Also, a source of mine tells me that the Mets have inquired about Clemens.

Then there’s the possible three-way trade with the Rockies and Padres.  The Padres would get Mike Lowell, the Red Sox would get Ryan Shealy and a starter, and who knows what the Rockies would get. 

Don’t get that rumor confused with the other three-team scenario from Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe.  In that case, the Red Sox get Julio Lugo and Scott Linebrink, the Padres get Mike Lowell, and the D-Rays get prospects.      

Plus, Jayson Stark mentioned last night that the Red Sox are "making a late run at Alfonso Soriano."  He doesn’t have much more than that, but it can’t be dismissed.  Stark has also connected Boston to Jason Schmidt and Brad Lidge.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top