Rumors for June, 2010
Phildelphia Phillies Rumors: Looking for middle-of-the-rotation starter?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine, the Phildelphia Phillies pre-trade deadline priority is a middle-of-the-oration starter. Olney speculates that they are looking at someone better than right-handed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie of the Baltimore Orioles.
One of the big problems the Phillies face is figuring out what trade chips they have. Their system has been depleted over the last couple of years with trades. We spoke earlier about what possible trade chips they have on the farm.
Although not a starter, the Phillies have been mentioned as a suitor for Kerry Wood of the Cleveland Indians. Wood could help as a set-up man or a backup closer to Brad Lidge. The Indians and Phillies have a cordial relationship with each other since they made a trade involving Cliff Lee last July.
Texas Rangers scouted Jeremy Guthrie and Ty Wigginton of Orioles
Posted by: | CommentsAcording to Buster Olney of ESPN.com, he says the Texas Rangers recently scouted the Baltimore Orioles right-handed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie and infielder Ty Wigginton.
Texas has been trying to acquire a starting pitcher, such as Houston Astros Roy Oswalt, but because of their bankruptcy and ownership transfer, they may be limited in their spending. Unless they get creative, it will be difficult for the team to acquire a high profile and expensive name without get special permission from Major League Baseball.
Guthrie, 30, is making $3 million this season and is under club control through 2012.
Wigginton, 32, is in the last year of a two-year contract. He has a salary of $3.5 million for 2010.
St. Louis Cardinals looking at Cliff Lee?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse, he tweets that a “mystery” team is interested in Cliff Lee. Price speculates that it may be the St. Louis Cardinals. He also thinks that 2009 first-round pick, right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller, is a possible trade chip.
Jeff Fletcher of AOL FanHouse has confirmed, through an MLB source, that the Cardinals are interested in Lee, but he is not sure where the talks stand.
Miller, 19, is currently at Single-A with Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League. He is 1-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 12 starts.
Jose Guillen Rumors: Kansas City Royals pushing to move OF/DH
Posted by: | CommentsBuster Olney of ESPN says the Kansas City Royals are really pushing to move designated hitter/outfielder Jose Guillen, and they will 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.
In early May, the Mariners were rumored to be interested in Guillen, but that is unlikely now that the Mariners are all but done for the season.
Guillen, 34, is hitting .262/.344/.470 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs this season.
Arizona Diamondback players worried about trades?
Posted by: | Comments“I think we’re all super surprised there hasn’t been something really big by now,” one Arizona Diamondback player said.
Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic says over the past several weeks, the players have been expecting a trade. The only big trade was the Conor Jackson deal to the Oakland Athletics earlier this month.
“If it doesn’t happen soon, when will it?” asked another player.
McManaman says there’s a strong possibility that Arizona could trade first baseman Adam LaRoche, second baseman Kelly Johnson, catcher Chris Snyder and pitcher Dan Haren.
“They’re dealing with it each individually on their own,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “But it’s important that for all of us to do our jobs . . . and try to win games.”
The Los Angeles Angels have been mentioned as a suitor for LaRoche since they are lacking in the first base department. The Atlanta Braves are also looking for a left-handed bat, but LaRoche was not specifically targeted.
The Mets are known to be seeking a second baseman, but may not want to sacrifice their trading chips to acquire Johnson.
FOX Sports suggested that Snyder could go to St. Louis Cardinals and give Yadier Molina some rest before the pennant drive.
Haren can wind up anywhere since starting pitching is important in the stretch-drive. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe says scouts from the New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers all came out to watch Haren’s start last week.
Do the Philadelphia Phillies have enough Minor Leaguers as trade bait?
Posted by: | Comments
The Philadelphia Phillies are trying for their third straight National League title and they will likely need external help if they want to achieve that. They sit 2.5 games out of the first in the NL East and they are need help in their bullpen and a starting pitcher. The big question now is how to acquire that external help?
The Phillies have depleted their farm system over the years and Keith Law of ESPN wonders what their next move is.
“They have two premium guys now in Domonic Brown and Jarrod Cosart, and could use either as the head of any trade, but I can’t imagine them giving up either guy. Brown is the heir apparent in RF if Jayson Werth leaves, or could take over LF from Raul Ibanez if Werth stays. Cosart has #1 starter potential and arms like that are almost never available in trade. Beyond those two, however, the system thins out as the result of so many past trades. They have a number of high-quality tools prospects, but beyond Jonathan Singleton, who has only played about half the year so far, most of them — like Trevor May, Anthony Gose, Jiwan James, and Sebastian Valle — have underperformed this year, and the haul from the Cliff Lee trade has also disappointed. The system as a whole is actually pretty good, but doesn’t have the kind of polished prospects below the Brown/Cosart level who tend to headline July trades.”
The Phillies have been mentioned as a suitor for Kerry Wood of the Cleveland Indians. Wood could help as a set-up man or a backup closer to Brad Lidge. The Indians and Phillies have a cordial relationship with each other since they made a trade involving Cliff Lee last July.
When Cliff Lee goes on the market the New York Mets want in
Posted by: | CommentsJoel Sherman of the New York Post
says Mets GM Omar Minaya has called the Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik to say that when left-handed pitcher Cliff Lee officially goes on the market, the Mets want to be in. Sherman says the Mets have had a scout at each of Lee’s past few starts and plan to keep up the scouting.
It was believed the Mets want to have a negotiating window available with Lee so that they can sign him to an extension. This traditionally happens if a team is going to send a significant prospect or prospects. They want to make sure the trade pays over a long period of time as opposed to just a rental. However, Sherman says the Mets would not need a negotiating window even if it includes top rookies Jenrry Mejia and Angel Pagan.
Other possible starting pitchers include the Houston Astros Roy Oswalt, Cleveland Indians Fausto Carmona and Chicago Cubs Ted Lilly. Sherman says Lilly is more to the Mets liking than the either Oswalt or Carmona.
Expect to see something happen from the wild card leading Mets in the weeks to come.
Los Angeles Dodgers sign LHP Jack Taschner
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According to the Pacific Coast League transactions page, the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, have signed left-handed pitcher Jack Taschner.
Taschner, 32, was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 8. He refused an assignment to Triple-A and opted for free agency. The left-hander was 1-0 with a 6.05 ERA in 17 appearances for the Pirates this year.
Cleveland Indians Rumors: To trade Westbrook, Wood, Peralta or Camona soon?
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When Cleveland Indians GM Mark Shapiro was asked if one should expect more trades from the team, Shapiro said, “There’s a chance.”
Names that come immediately to mind, according to Jim Ingraham of The News-Herald, include pitcher Fausto Carmona, pitcher Jake Westbrook, closer Kerry Wood and third baseman Jhonny Peralta. All are free agents after this season.
The New York Mets have been actively seeking starting pitching and have been named as a potential destination for Carmona and Westbrook. Carmona is an interesting trade because he’s relatively affordable and can be had for a long period of time since he’s practically signed through 2014. However, Carmona is prone to wildness and he may not be able to handle the pressures of New York.
Peralta has experience at shortstop and third base so he could give teams infield flexibility.
The Phillies have been mentioned as a suitor for Wood due to their inefficient bullpen. Wood could give any team help as a set-up man or a backup closer.
Dustin Moseley Rumors: Will Yankees promote RHP?
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Triple-A right-handed pitcher Dustin Moseley will pitch will pitch against the Minnesota Twins’ Triple-A affiliate on Monday and the New York Yankees will be watching closely. Moseley has a clause in his Minor League contract that allows him to opt out of his contract if the Yankees do not promote him to the Major League roster.
Moseley has been somewhat strong in the Minors. He is 4-4 witha 4.21 ERA, but at one point he had an eight-start stretch that produced a 1.35 ERA.
Moseley, a former Los Angeles Angel, has a career record of 8-7 with a 5.41 ERA in 64 career appearances (23 starts).
Information from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports was used in this article.
