Rumors for trades
Florida Marlins looking to add another catcher
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Yesterday we heard that the Florida Marlins would be looking to add another catcher during the off-season in the wake of Ronny Paulino’s recent 50 game suspension for violating MLB’s substance abuse policy. Today is appears that the team isn’t going to wait until the off-season to make the move. Manager Edwin Rodriguez says that the team is in the process of signing another catcher, according to Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald.
Catchers that are free-agents after this season include Bengie Molina, Jason Varitek, Victor Martinez, Rod Barajas, Yorvit Torrealba and A.J. Pierzynski. Yesterday, Angels‘ Mike Napoli said he wanted more playing time, and with the Angels being likely crowded next season behind the plate, he could be a good fit for the Marlins. Napoli is also under team control, so he wouldn’t be a short-term rental.
Minnesota Twins send RHP Loek Van Mil to Angels
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To complete the trade for left-handed pitcher Brian Fuentes, the Minnesota Twins have sent right-handed pitcher Loek Van Mil to the Los Angeles Angels, according to Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune.
Van Mil, 25, is best known for being the tallest pitcher in the Minor Leagues at 7′1″. He was designated for assignment by the Twins on August 28.
He has not played in the Major Leagues, but was added to the Twins 40-man roster last November. In High-A and Double-A in 2010, Van Mill is 1-3 with a 6.15 ERA in 26 games. He has a 1.960 WHIP and 1.23 SO/BB ratio.
| Team | Acquires |
| Los Angeles Angels | RHP Loek Van Mil (PTBNL) |
| Minnesota Twins | LHP Brian Fuentes |
New York Yankees to use loophole to acquire Ted Lilly and use him in postseason?
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A source close to The New York Daily News says the Yankees were awarded a waiver claim on Tuesday for Los Angeles Dodgers’ left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly, and should the Yankees acquire the pitcher they would like to use a “loophole” to use him in the postseason. A Yankees’ source says the team will continue to push to make a deal for Lilly.
The Daily News says, “the Yankees believe there is a loophole because they were awarded the claim before the first of the month, they could use Lilly on their postseason roster.”
By trading Lilly, the Dodgers would save about $2 million. However, GM Ned Colletti still believes his team is a Wild Card contender. The Dodgers are currently 6 1/2 games out of the Wild Card lead.
Update – Atlanta Braves holding onto Troy Glaus – will recall INF on Wednesday
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8/31 23:16: FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal says the Braves are not trading Glaus. Rather the team is recalling him Wednesday.
8/29 10:05: Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports says a trade of Atlanta Braves’ infielder Troy Glaus is possible. One Major League source close to Morosi says multiple teams have shown interest in Glaus and he could fit in for teams with needs at first base and/or designated hitter. Candidates for such as need include the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers.
There are approximately two days left before the August 31st deadline to set post season rosters and many of the contenders are trying to round out their rosters in preparation for a World Series run.
Glaus was placed on the disabled list earlier this month, and is currently on a Minor League rehabilitation assignment where he’s hitting .391 with two home runs and 8 RBIs in six games. He’s hitting .239 with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs with the big league club in 115 games this season. He carries a balance of about $300,000 should a team pick him up for September.
Update – San Diego Padres looking for starting pitcher
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8/31 20:15: A source from the Padres says via FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal, “all quiet . . . don’t expect anything.” Rosenthal adds that it’s not for a lack of effort, the team just couldn’t pull off a deal for a starting pitcher.
8/31 14:34: FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal tweets that the San Diego Padres are looking for starting pitching. Rosenthal says nothing is close at this time.
Some starting pitchers that could be moved include Baltimore Orioles’ Kevin Millwood or Los Angeles Dodgers’ Ted Lilly. Pure speculation, but a long-shot for the Padres could be right-handed pitcher Mark Prior who has had two previous and unsuccessful Minor League stints with the Padres. Prior signed with Orange County of the independent Golden Baseball League earlier this month.
Yesterday, Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune said the Padres attempts to acquire Dodgers’ starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda ended over the weekend when the Dodgers revoked Kuroda from waivers. The two teams were negotiating a waiver trade when the Dodgeres decided to pull him from waivers.
Update – Texas Rangers acquire Jeff Francoeur for Joaquin Arias
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8/31 19:42: According to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, the Texas Rangers have acquired Jeff Francoeur. He adds per team press release that the Mets have acquired infielder Joaquin Arias.
“When looking at the composition of our 25-man roster, specifically our outfield, we are relatively left-handed,” assistant GM Thad Levine said via Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram. “It gives us an opportunity to pick our spots and platoon with guys like Murphy and Borbon rather than expose them to every left-handed pitcher.”
| Team | Acquires |
| Texas Rangers | OF Jeff Francoeur |
| New York Mets | INF Joaquin Arias |
8/31 16:43: Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman says there are discussions involving Rangers’ infielder Joaquin Arias in exchange for the Mets’ Jeff Francoeur.
8/31 14:11: Sources close to ESPN’s Adam Rubin says the Texas Rangers are considering New York Mets outfielder Jeff Francoeur.
“His name has definitely been talked about,” one source said.
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman adds, “rangers and mets are indeed talking about francoeur. would give rangers OF flexibility, extra righty bat”
Yesterday, Richard Durrett of the ESPN.com said the team is looking for a right-handed bat via the waiver wire, and at the time suggested Francoeur as possible candidate at the time.
Francoeur, 26, is hitting .236/.293/.369 with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs in 123 games for the Mets this season.
Ted Lilly staying put with the Dodgers – not being traded
Posted by: | CommentsJon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says the Los Angeles Dodgers have pulled Ted Lilly off of waivers, so the left-handed pitcher is staying with the team for the rest of the season. Heyman adds that the New York Yankees were at least one of the teams that claimed Lilly off of waivers.
Lilly was acquired by the Dodgers before the July 31st trade deadline. With an outside chance of making the playoffs, it was believed that Los Angeles may try to save on payroll and dump players such as Lilly.
Teams such as the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres are known to be pursuing starting pitching in preparation for the final month of the season and the playoffs.
Lilly is making $12 million this season in the final year of his contract, and there’s a possibility the Dodgers may offer Lilly arbitration this winter.
Texas Rangers NOT likely to acquire Boston Red Sox Mike Lowell
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8/31 15:22: A club official close to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan said “Nothing is happening with Lowell.”
8/31 14:26: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan says the Texas Rangers are in talks with the Boston Red Sox for Mike Lowell. Sullivan says the conversations “have heated up.”
The talks between the Rangers and Red Sox for Lowell started last winter. At the time, the two teams agreed to a deal that would have sent Lowell to the Rangers for catcher Max Ramirez. However, because Lowell needed surgery to his thumb, the deal was called off. The two teams revisited the deal this summer, but they are becoming more serious as the deadline approaches.
Earlier today we heard the Rangers are talking with the Mets for Jeff Francouer, but Sullivan says the Rangers main target appears to be Lowell.
In his limited play this season, Lowell is hitting .234/.309/.373 with 4 home runs and 20 RBIs.
Rockies acquire RHP Manny Delcarmen for RHP Chris Balcom-Miller
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Alex Speier of WEEI tweets that the Boston Red Sox have traded right-handed pitcher Manny Delcarmen and cash to the Colorado Rockies for right-handed pitcher Chris Balcolm-Miller.
Delcarmen, 28, is 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 48 appearances for the Red Sox this season. He is under contract for this season for $905,000.
Balcom-Miller, 21, pitched for the Rockies’ Single-A Ashville team this season. He went 10-7 with a 2.72 ERA, 177 strikeouts, 29 walks in 30 careers starts for the Rockies’ Minor League system. He has been assigned to Single-A Greenville
| Team | Acquires |
| Colorado Rockies | RHP Manny Delcarmen
Cash |
| Boston Red Sox | RHP Chris Balcolm-Miller |
Colorado Rockies looking at Mariners Jose Lopez
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Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says the Colorado Rockies may not be done finalizing their roster for a run at the playoffs. He says the team is looking at Seattle Mariners infielder Jose Lopez. The Rockies placed third baseman Ian Stewart on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle and are in need of infield depth.
A source close to Rosenthal said he doubts the Rockies will actually land an infielder whether it is Lopez or another player.
The Philadelphia Phillies were looking “hard” at Lopez in mid-July, but ultimately passed on him.
Lopez, 26, is hitting .241/.273/.333 with 7 home runs and 48 RBIs. He will be a free agent after the season. There is a $4.5 million mutual option for Lopez in 2011.
