Rumors for July, 2010
Tampa Bay Rays Rumors: Acquiring one or two players by tomorrow – maybe Adam Dunn?
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Principal owner Stu Sternberg of the Tampa Bay Rays said, “My gut is there might be a different uniform or two by tomorrow,” according to Bill Chastain of MLB.com.
The Rays have been named as a possible suitor for Washington Nationals’ first baseman Adam Dunn for some time. Dunn said that he wouldn’t mind playing designated hitter.
The word is that the Washington Nationals were either working on or will present a contract extension offer to Dunn sometime before the Trade Deadline on Saturday. It will likely be a last minute deal. If Dunn accepts the deal, he stays. If he declines the deal, the Nationals will likely trade him.
Sternberg could have also meant that the team would promote one of their top prospects from Triple-A Durham such as right-handed pitcher Jeremy Hellickson or outfielder Desmond Jennings.
Toronto Blue Jays Rumors: Unsure if they will make multiple trades or none
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of FOXSports tweets, “#BlueJays unsure if they will make multiple trades or none. One source with knowledge of club’s activities says “million balls in air.”"
The biggest trade candidates on the Blue Jays’ roster include Jose Bautista and Scott Downs.
Earlier today, Jayson Stark of ESPN said that it’s increasingly looking like the Blue Jays will not be really active. They are telling teams they have to “blown away” to deal Jose Bautista.
There has been some noise on Downs earlier this week. Apparently the Jays have drawn interest from the Red Sox, Yankees and the Giants with the team already asking for right-handed pitcher Joba Chamberlain from the New York Yankees.
Colorado Rockies Rumors: Aaron Cook, Joe Beimel, Brad Hawpe, and Randy Flores
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7/30 16:14: Jayson Stark of ESPN tweets, “#Rockies telling teams they couldn’t trade Brad Hawpe right now no matter what. Might need him to play 1B depending on Helton health”
7/30 13:15: Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post says there is nothing happen with starting pitcher Aaron Cook despite the team supposedly shopping him. Renck adds that teams like reliever Joe Beimel, but are offering “4a players”.
Teams are continuing to nibble on Brad Hawpe, some are concerned with his defense in the outfielder. Teams also haven’t offered anything worth moving him. The Rockies aren’t motivated to move Hawpe since they need him at first base with the uncertainty of Todd Helton.
The Rockies are shopping left-handed relief pitcher Randy Flores.
Kansas City Royals Rumors: Not close on deal for Jose Guillen
Posted by: | CommentsBob Dutton of the Kansas City Star says the Royals are not close to any future deals. He adds that offers for outfielder and designated hitter Jose Guillen and other players are viewed as insufficient.
Guillen has about $6.2 million left on his contract before he becomes a free agent after the season. The Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants and Tampa Bay Rays have been mentioned in his rumor mill. He’s not only limited to DH. Guillen used to have a pretty decent arm during his time in the Nationals League.
New York Mets shopping left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez
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Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated said the New York Mets tried shopping left-handed pitcher Oliver Perez today.
This isn’t the first time the Mets have tried to move Perez. A couple of weeks ago, an American League source close to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com said the New York Mets tried to trade Perez, who is midway through a three-year, $36 million contract, to the Kansas City Royals.
Earlier this year, Perez refused an assignment to Triple-A Buffalo despite his then 10.13 ERA in the bullpen. His refusal caused friction in the clubhouse with one player saying, “You tell him you go to Triple-A or that’s it, you are finished,” Perez’s contract allows him to refuse assignments to the Minors.
Kosuke Fukudome Rumors: Cubs not optimistic about their chance of moving outfielder
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According to a source close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, they say the Chicago Cubs are not optimistic about their chances of moving outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.
Earlier this week, a source close to Ken Rosenthal said the Cubs would pay part of the $4 million left on his contract this year and “quite a bit” of the $13.5 million owed to him next year.
The Chicago Cubs have been trying to trade Fukudome for some time now. Last month, the Red Sox were candidates to land Fukudome, but his high salary was a liability. Now with the Cubs’ willingness to eat up much of his paycheck, more teams may be interested.
Chicago has a crowded outfield with rookie Tyler Colvin taking much of Fukudome’s playing time in right field. The other spots are occupied by Alfonso Soriano in left fiend and Marlon Byrd in center field.
Update – Jim Edmonds Trade Rumors: Multiple clubs in on veteran outfielder?
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7/30 15:07: Adam McCalvy of MLB.com says the Boston Red Sox called about the availability of outfielder Jim Edmonds.
7/30 14:43: Tom Haudricourt of the Milwauke Journal-Sentinel tweets, “OF Jim Edmonds said GM Doug Melvin would contact him first before agreeing to any trade. Edmonds is waiting to hear if anything comes up.”
7/30 00:35: Scott Miller of CBSSports.com says multiple clubs have asked the Milwaukee Brewers about veteran outfielder Jim Edmonds. Despite the attention and a serious chance at a playoff run, Edmonds has told the Brewers he does not want to go anywhere.
Miller suggests that Edmonds would make sense for the San Francisco Giants since they are are looking for an outfielder who can improve the offense.
Edmonds, 40, signed a Minor League deal with the Brewers in January. He will earn between $2-2.5 million based on performance incentives.
Cincinnati Reds could be a suitor for Chicago Cubs Ted Lilly
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A source close to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says the Cincinnati Reds could be a last-minute suitor for the Chicago Cubs’ left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly.
A source with knowledge of the talks described Lilly-to-Cincinnati as a “remote” possibility. The Reds have shown interest in Lilly, but not in the last few days, another source said.
Lilly has a limited no-trade clause, but the Reds are not one of his no-trade teams.
The left-hander has a 1-1 record witth a 4.91 career ERA in three career starts in Cincinnati.
Earlier today, we heard the Los Angeles Dodgers are in on the free-agent-to-be Lilly. The Minnesota Twins also have interest in Lilly, but the report is that the Cubs asking price for the left-hander is too high for the Twins.
Update – Jose Bautista Rumors: Blue Jays will have to be blown away to move Bautista
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7/30 14:56: Jayson Stark of ESPN says that it’s increasingly looking like the Blue Jays will not be really active. They are telling teams they have to “blown away” to deal Jose Bautista.
7/29 00:21: Philadelphia Phillies scout Dave Hollins was at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on Wednesday night – his sixth consecutive game he has seen the Blue Jays play. The same is true for Blue Jays scout Jim Beattie. He was the Phillies take on the Cardinals and the Rockies last week. The teams are possibly preparing themselves for a trade. But for who?
Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun wonders if the Phillies acquire Major League home run leader Jose Bautista, would they move Placido Polanco from third base to second base to allow Bautista to play third in Philadelphia. Elliott also says the Blue Jays are looking for starter since Jamie Moyer was injured with no expected date of return.
“Toronto has told us they’re looking for kids who are controllable with zero to three years of service time or less, either pitchers or position players,” said an American League scout. “They want blue-chip prospects, even a kid from class A.”
If the Phillies are going after Bautista, then they need to keep in mind that there will be competition. The San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox have inquired about Bautista. Both teams are in desperate need of additional offense for their lineup. Read More→
