Rumors for July, 2011
Mets want top prospect for Carlos Beltran
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The New York Mets want a top prospect for outfielder Carlos Beltran, Buster Olney of ESPN reports. The San Francisco Giants have been the leading contender for Beltran’s services, but given their lead in the National League West, their needs for someone of Beltran’s caliber may not warrant a sacrifice of their future.
It was suggested earlier this week that the Giants could move pitching prospect Zack Wheeler to New York in exchange for Beltran in addition to New York paying most of the $9 million that is due to outfielder for the rest of the season.
While not mentioned specifically by the media, the team could also move Brandon Belt or event starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez.
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David Aardsma set to undergo Tommy John surgery
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Right handed pitcher David Aardsma had an MRI exam yesterday on his elbow.
The results revealed that Aardsma will have to undergo Tommy John surgery. Aardsma will have the elbow ligament replacement procedure done in California late next week by Lewis Yocum, the Los Angeles Angels team physician. reports Greg Johns of MLB.com.
“Unfortunately my season is over,” the 29-year-old Aardsma tweeted on Friday. “I guess I wasn’t meant to pitch this year. I will undergo elbow surgery next week.
The Mariners closer already had to undergo surgery this year (January) to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, and hasn’t pitched in the Majors this season. He injured his elbow in May while still rehabbing from the hip surgery.
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Kevin Slowey drawing interest from Rockies and Pirates
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The Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates are among the teams showing interest in Minnesota Twins’ pitcher Kevin Slowey, sources close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report.
The 27-year-old Slowey is currently on the disabled list with an abdominal strain, but Morosi’s sources say that he’s healthy now.
The right-hander is due a little less than $1.35 million for the rest of the season, and the Twins are willing to trade Slowey to a club to be used as a starter if they receive a fair value in return.
Morosi suggests that Slowey is a better fit for the National League than the American League. He’s spent his entire career in the AL.
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Francisco Rodriguez agrees to waive his $17.5MM option
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Right handed pitcher Francisco Rodriguez has agreed to waive his $17.5 million vesting option in exchange for additional compensation according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports adds that Rodriguez’s buyout increased from $3.5 million to $4 million. That was the inducement, the Mets will pay the original amount and the Brewers the additional amount.
The Brewers can now use him as a closer without fear of option vesting. Rodriguez was acquired by the Brewers hours after the All Star game in exchange for a reported $5 million and a player to be named later. In 42 appearances for the Mets, K-Rod is 2-2 with 23 saves and a 3.16 ERA.
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Phillies considered frontrunners to land either Bell, Adams or Qualls
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The San Diego Padres have made it known that they plan to sell at the trade deadline. Closer Heath Bell and relievers Mike Adams, Luke Gregerson and Chad Qualls are the names that are being mentioned the most. It’s not a matter of if some of their relievers are traded, it is just a matter of who they are going to.
Earlier this week, we learned that the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Philadelphia Phillies were all possible destinations for Bell. According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Phillies have become frontrunners to acquire either Bell, Adams or Qualls.
Bell is 2-3 with a 2.61 ERA and 26 saves in 38 innings.
Adams is 3-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 42 games and Qualls is 4-3 with a 2.60 ERA in 45 innings for the Padres this season.
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Chicago White Sox sign Doug Davis
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The Chicago White Sox have signed 35-year-old Doug Davis to a Minor League deal, a source tells Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com. Davis will head to Triple-A Charlotte and provide the White Sox depth to the rotation in the Minors.
The left-handed was previously released by the Chicago Cubs on June 29 after he gave up 12 hits and 10 earned runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched in his last start.
Davis was signed by the Cubs to a Minor League deal on April 12. He was on track to make $900,000 with up to $2 million in incentives while on the Major League roster. The left-hander was 1-7 with a 6.50 ERA in nine games with Chicago.
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Orioles willing to give three-year contract to J.J. Hardy
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Back in June, we learned that the Orioles had begun contract talks with soon-to-be free agent J.J. Hardy. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, he’s hearing the team is willing to give three years to the short stop.
The question though is the amount of money adds Zrebiec. Yesterday, we learned that the Orioles were getting calls on him and some of their other veteran players.
If the Orioles fail to sign him, they could deal him to a team in need of a short stop upgrade like the San Francisco Giants or the Milwaukee Brewers. Prior to yesterday’s game, Hardy was hitting .278 with 13 HR’s and 33 RBI’s.
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Royals willing to part with Cabrera and Francoeur for starting pitching
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The Kansas City Royals are looking for “near ready” starting pitchers in exchange of outfielders Melky Cabrera and Jeff Francoeur, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN reports.
Earlier this week, we learned that the Royals were open to dealing some of their veterans in exchange for something that could help them long term. “Any deal that we would potentially make would be something that we felt would help us long term,” GM Dayton Moore said. “We’ll be open-minded as we move forward, as we always are, but there’s no specific strategy in place where we’re trying to push a certain player.”
The Royals’ master plan has them maturing and blossoming into contenders in the next couple of years, so getting “near ready” starters will keep their plan going by being contenders in a couple of years.
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Mariners taking calls on Brandon League
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The Seattle Mariners are taking calls on Brandon League, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. He adds that the team has no plans to make Felix Hernandez available.
There were talks last season about the Mariners moving League before the trade deadline. The Tampa Bay Rays had interest in the right-handed pitcher, but ultimately the deal did not go through.
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Chicago Cubs sign Dave Bush
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The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a Minor League deal with right handed pitcher Dave Bush according to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald. Bush will report to Triple-A Iowa over the weekend.
The right hander was released by the Rangers earlier this month. He was designated for assignment on July 1. He is 0-1 with a 5.71 ERA in 17 appearances. Bush, 31, has pitched to a career 56-69 record with a 4.70 career ERA. He has played for 3 career teams; the Brewers, the Blue Jays, and the Rangers.
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