Rumors for July, 2010
Update – Lance Berkman Trade Rumors: Astros might move first baseman – to the White Sox?
Posted by: | Comments7/29 16:05: Buster Olney of ESPN says the White Sox will consider Berkman as their Plan B options if they don’t get Dunn from the Nationals.
7/29 13:43: An AL special advisor to the GM tells Joel Sherman of the New York Post that the Houston Astros might move first baseman Lance Berkman. Ken Rosenthal also has confirmed that Berkman is “in play”
If they move Berkman, it’s a sure sign that Astros’ owner Drayton McLane has embraced the rebuilding of his franchise.
One stipulation to note, Berkman has a no-trade clause in his contract, but Sherman says that he could be a lower-cost option for most teams that don’t like what the Washington Nationals may be asking for Adam Dunn.
Berkman has a $15 million team option for 2011, and he previously told Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle that he hasn’t gotten any indication that the team will pick it up.
Berkman has previously has said that he would waive his no-trade clause to a team if they picked up his team option in the process.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated tweets that the Chicago White Sox are among the teams trying to acquire Adam Dunn from the Washington Nationals. It’s likely if that were to occur, a three-team trade would be required involving the Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitcher Edwin Jackson going to Washington.
On Monday, Jayson Stark of ESPN that there were rumblings of a three-team deal involving the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. The deal would send Jackson from the Diamondbacks to the Nationals. Dunn would go to the Chicago White Sox and a “bunch” of young pitchers to Arizona. With the White Sox not certain to acquire Dunn, it’s possible that another team could take their place in this three-way deal.
Chicago White Sox interested in Colorado Rockies Brad Hawpe?
Posted by: | CommentsTroy Renck of The Denver Post says the Chicago White Sox have been one of a number of teams “poking around” on Colorado Rockies’ outfielder Brad Hawpe. Hawpe could be the White Sox’ Plan B in the event they cannot acquire Washington Nationals’ first baseman Adam Dunn.
Looking over the PRO Rumors contract database, Hawpe is signed through this year for $7.5 million, so any team that acquires him now will be responsible for about $3 million. There is a team option for $10 million in 2011, but it can be bought out for $500,000.
Renck adds, “If Rockies were willing to eat Hawpe’s money, the could get a prospsect. But have to be worth it. Don’t just want to pay him to go away”
St. Louis Cardinals could have interest in Rockies Aaron Cook
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Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post says that the St. Louis Cardinals could have some interest in right-handed starting pitcher Aaron Cook.
Cook is owed roughly $14.25 million on his deal. Renck reminds us that the market for starters is really thin, so the former All-Star’s demand could increase the Rockies’ asking price.
The Phillies were in on Cook, but that’s out the window now that they acquired Roy Oswalt.
On Tuesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post said the Colorado Rockies want to put Jhoulys Chacin back into the rotation, and so they are quietly shopping starting pitcher Cook. They are telling teams that they would either eat some dollars or take back a contract. The righty doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so the Rockies are free to move him to the highest bidder.
Cook, 31, is 4-6 with a 4.78 ERA in 19 starts this season.
7/29 14:47: The deal has been confirmed by Scott Miller of CBS Sports.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says money will go to San Diego.
So it looks like the Padres acquired Tejada for Wynn Pelzer and cash (pending MLB approval)
7/29 14:46: Dan Hayes of the North County Times says the Padres gave up Wynn Pelzer. The deal is still pending MLB approval.
7/29 14:27: Baltimore Orioles infielder Miguel Tejada has been scratched from today’s lineup. According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore-Sun, it is believed that Tejada is being dealt to the San Diego Padres pending league approval.
Connolly adds, “#Orioles Money must be exchanging hands for league approval. Josh Bell has been removed from [Baltimore Orioles' Triple-A] AAA lineup and is heading to KC for Os game”
Tejada, 36, is hitting .269 with 7 home runs and 39 RBIs in 97 games for the Orioles this season. He’s primarily been playing third base, but the Padres think he can return to his shortstop roots. Earlier today, we heard from Scott Miller of CBSSports.com that Tejada is owed about $2 million for the rest of the 2010 season, and he will likely cost the Padres a mid-level prospect.
Detroit Tigers designate Jeff Larish for assignment
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to the Detroit Tigers official Twitter feed, the Tigers will designate Jeff Larish for assignment. The move was made when the Tigers purchased the contract of Jeff Frazier from Toledo.
Larish was added to the 40-man roster last Sunday.
Florida Marlins Jorge Cantu Traded to Texas Rangers for two Minor League players?
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Looks like the Florida Marlins and the Texas Rangers have acquired Jorge Cantu from the Florida Marlins for two Minor League players. Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports was the first to report the deal. He tweets, “#Marlins’ return for Cantu will be Double A RHP Evan Reed & Double A RHP Omar Poveda, who is on DL recovering from TJ surgery. #Rangers #MLB”
The Marlins and Rangers have been working this deal for some time. There was competition with the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies on Cantu.
Earlier today we heard from Bob Nightengale of USA Today that the Marlins have informed the Rangers that they are willing to pay most, if not all, of the remainder of Cantu’s contract.
It’s now likely that Donnie Murphy and Wes Helms will take over third base duties for the Fish.
Los Angeles Dodgers designate LHP Jack Taschner for assignment
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Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse says the Los Angeles Dodgers have designated left-handed pitcher Jack Taschner for assignment to open a roster spot for newly acquired left fielder Scott Podsednik.
Taschner was signed by the Dodgers on June 28. He was 0-3 with a 27.00 ERA in 3 appearances for Los Angeles this season.
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.
Here are a few MLB Trade Deadline Rumors to follow courtesy of Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports:
#Dodgers still checking around for pitching after [Scott] Podsednik deal, source says. (source)
Not a lot of action lately on Wes Helms, source says. But that could change. (source)
With [Ian] Kinsler on DL because of left groin strain, #Rangers now involved in 2B market, source says. (source)
#Phillies had pursued Ted Lilly as option if Oswalt fell through. Now Lilly is there for the others who need starter. (source)
Remember: #Rangers have shown interest in Cristian Guzman over past few weeks. (source)
