Rumors for June, 2010
New York Yankees not going after Cliff Lee at trade deadline
Posted by: | CommentsJay Greenberg of the New York Post says Yankees’ GM Brian Cashman “vows to keep a farm system from again running dry,” so it is unlikely the team will pursue left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee before the July 31 trading deadline.
However, this will probably set up the Yankees for a strong run at him come November or December.
There is precedence for Cashman’s thinking. He let the Cleveland Indians trade C.C. Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers in mid-2008. The Yankees missed the playoffs that year. So by not pursuing Lee this summer, will that foreshadow the Yankees’ likelihood to play in October?
Greenburg says the Yankees will likely make moves before the deadline, but Cashman will focus on the bullpen or bench help.
San Francisco Giants need to acquire Prince Fielder?
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Mike Bauman of MLB.com says the San Francisco Giants should go after Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder in order to add spark to the team’s offense. Fielder would give the giants the middle-of-the-order power and run production that they currently lack. The Giants are currently 12th in the league in runs scored.
If this were to happen the Giants will need to give up one of their front-line pitchers. ESPN Insider suggests a Madison Bumgarner or Jonathan Sanchez could get the deal done.
While this could give the Giants instant offensive pop, they will need to make additional roster changes in order to accommodate the husky first baseman.
Buster Posey’s name will be the first name that comes to mind. Will Posey be sent to the Minors or will the team trade catcher Bengie Molina and put Posey behind the plate for a playoff run. Will Aubrey Huff be shutout of first base and be forced to fight for playing time in the crowded outfield? With these scenarios, an acquisition of Fielder will just lead to a domino effect in trading other pieces to make this work.
Fielder, 26, will be a free agent after the 2011 season and he may command as much as $200 million over eight years – a sum that the Brewers probably cannot afford. The team will be better off trading him this season to get the maximum amount in return – in this case, a front of the rotation starter.
Cliff Lee Trade Rumors: What can the Mariners expect for Lee?
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of FOXSports dissects the trade market for Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners. Here are a few highlights:
- He will be owed between $3 million and $4.5 million when traded – this will attract a large number of clubs.
- The return to the Mariners should be lower based on the last two trades involving Lee. The Mariners are trading Lee to a team that can only use him for two to three months.
- Rosenthal suggests that the Mets can trade catcher Josh Thole, outfielder Fernando Martinez and a Minor League pitcher.
- Lee is on target to become a Type-A free agent so if the Yankees sign Lee this winter, they will lose a first-round draft pick. Because the draft pick is in play, Rosenthal suggests the Yankees could trade catcher Jesus Montero and a solid pitching prospect for Lee.
- Other teams involved could be the Rangers, Twins and the Reds, but at the end of the day, the it will come down to the highest bidder.
Bobby Valentine Rumors: Not eliminated from Marlins job yet?
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of FOXSports
says Bobby Valentine’s status with the Florida Marlins is “out for now”. Valentine was considered the front-runner for the Marlins’ managerial position as of last week, but as of yesterday, he was no longer considered for the job.
According to Rosenthal, there are two different version of how the Marlins’ initial talks with Valentine disintegrated:
- Marlins officials were turned off by Valentine during their initial phone conservations with him.
- Valentine grew disenchanted with the Marlins and decided to pull back and consider other options.
Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach, Bo Porter, interviewed for the position on Friday and according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated, the Marlins’ attention has been turned to him for now.
Dan Haren would love to play for the St. Louis Cardinals again?
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The Arizona Diamondbacks are on the verge of a sell off and one name that always comes up is right-handed starting pitcher Dan Haren.
On Monday night, he was asked if he would like to come back to St. Louis, the city where he started his Major League career, “I’ve always said I’d like to play here again.”
“The fans are so good. Even being six years removed now, they still treat me with the utmost respect. Walking around the city today, a few people stopped me. In some cities, they’ll stop you and want your autograph to take a picture. Here, they say, ‘Hi,’ and they shake your hand.”
“It’s not a situation where I’m asking to be traded,” Haren said. “It’s not the first time it’s happened to me. … I’m sure it will get crazy come July 31.”
The Cardinals were reported to be interested in Mariners starting pitcher Cliff Lee yesterday. It was suggested that the team trade 2009 first-round pick, right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller. However, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals believe that Haren is more a attainable target.
So maybe in four weeks, Haren will able to wear his Cardinals uniform again.
Information from Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was used in this article.
Seattle Mariners want three of the Mets best prospects for Cliff Lee?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Matt Pignataro of NY Baseball Digest, a front office official from an unidentified American League team had the following to say about the Mets’ pursuit of Cliff Lee:
It is going to take three of your best prospects if you want Cliff Lee right now. … I’ve always believed in developing talent. I don’t believe you should drain your farm system. You want to develop your own home grown talent, you want that sense of pride, and then again, I don’t know what their (Mets) situation is. Those money market teams teams such as the Mets, Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers can afford a guy like Lee.
The price right now for Lee is pretty high, but Pignataro expects the price to drop as the trading deadline approaches.
Will the Oakland Athletics trade RHP Ben Sheets or OF Coco Crisp?
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Joe Stiglich of the Contra Costa Times reminds us that it’s that time of the year for the Oakland Athletics, and he says that GM Billy Beane will have to face a familiar decision: keep the team intact or trade his marketable veteran players before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.
Two names that have been thrown around are right-handed pitcher Ben Sheets and center fielder Coco Crisp.
It’s possible Beane may not move any players. Stiglich says that Beane likes the influence his current cast of veterans is having on the younger players.
“The few veterans that we have are instrumental,” Beane said. “At this time, I’m not looking at the trade deadline. And once we get there, those points will (be considered). Part of developing a young team is trying to win as many games as you can.”
The A’s may be waiting until the Mariners deal Cliff Lee. Once other teams have to go with their “plan B” for starting pitching, Beane should expect a few calls for Sheets.
“I think he looks pretty good actually,” one scout said. “Stuff-wise, it’s always there. Yeah, he runs deep in counts and his fastball can be straight. But for a contending club looking for a No. 5 guy, there’s going to be interest.
Another scout said he would take Sheets over the Baltimore Oriole’ Kevin Millwood.
A third scout was skeptical of what the market will be for Sheets or Crisp.
Sheets is due the balance of his $10 million and is a free agent after this season. Crisp has a salary of $4.75 million this year and has a club option for 2011 for $5.75 million with a $500,000 buyout.
Last week, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle said Sheets’ name is not stirring up interest and Crisp has hardly played this season due to injury.
Will Jenrry Mejia’s injury hurt the Mets chances at acquiring Cliff Lee?
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New York Mets rookie Jenrry Mejia left his start with Double-A Binghamton on Sunday after 43 pitches and was eventually diagnosed with a posterior cuff strain. Mejia is down in the Minors to stretch out his arm to get him into the Met’s rotation.
Dan Martin and Kevin Kernan of The New York Post wonder if Mejia’s injury could prevent the Mets from acquiring Mariners left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee. It is widely known that the Mariners want top-notch talent in exchange for Lee and it’s possible that the Mets could include Mejia in a trade for Lee.
“We’re not about one prospect,” GM Omar Minaya said. “We have other good prospects. Our farm system, if you look at our talent, we have some young players that can be attractive to other teams.’’
The Post asked Minaya if Mejia’s injury is a set back to a trade, he said, “I don’t think so because I think we have other very good possibilities.’’
Mejia will return to pitching as soon as he can tolerate pitching.
Update – Jose Guillen Rumors: San Francisco Giants interested in DH/OF
Posted by: | Comments6/28 23:30: Two opposing scouts say, according to Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star, that the Royals are willing to swallow much of Guillen’s contract for the right deal. There is roughly $6.2 million left on his contract.
6/28 14:02: Jim Bowden of FOXSports says the San Francisco Giants are interested in designated hitter and outfielder Jose Guillen of the Kansas City Royals. However, they will only be interested if the Royals pay most of his salary.
Luckily for the Giants, the Royals are pushing hard to move Guillen and earlier today, Buster Olney of ESPN said the Royals would eat a lot of money on his existing contract to make that happen.
This is what a scout said earlier this month regarding Guillen:
Guillen has shown sufficient bounce-back punch after an injury-filled 2009 to generate interest if a contender finds itself with a hole to fill. That might not happen until August, but he is likely to clear waivers (which allows him to be traded after the July 31 deadline). He is in the final season of a three-year, $36 million contract, which means a two-month rental would cost about $4 million. After that, even less.
Guillen, 34, is hitting .262/.344/.470 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs this season.
Update – David DeJesus Rumors: Reds, Red Sox and Braves interested
Posted by: | Comments6/28 23:26: “I don’t call up (other teams) and say, `We want to move this guy, this guy and this guy,’” Royals GM Dayton Moore said. “But clubs call and ask, `Is this player available?’ And you listen. Everybody is potentially available. That’s just the way the game is. You have to listen.
Moore’s price for DeJesus is two top prospects since DeJesus is projected to be a Type-A free agent. Type-A free agents, if offered arbitration, generally get two draft picks before the end of the second round as compensation if they sign elsewhere.
Information from Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star was used in this article.
6/28 18:33: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Reds are not talking to Kansas City about DeJesus (via a Reds Insider).
Fay adds the Reds do not have a need for an outfielder.
6/28 13:56: Jim Bowden of FOXSports says that the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves are having discussions with the Kansas City Royals for outfielder David DeJesus.
The Royals have previously let it be known that DeJesus is available, but because he comes relatively cheap, the Royals will want a Major League ready player in exchange for DeJesus. DeJesus is being paid $4.7 million this season and there’s a $6 million club option for 2011.
