Rumors for trades
Angels and Nationals have discussed Bourjos trade
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The Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Angels have held preliminary discussions about a trade that would send center fielder Peter Bourjos to Washington, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports. It is not known what pieces the Angels would receive in any potential trade.
The Nationals are not the only team that has checked in on Bourjos as the Diamondbacks, Royals and Blue Jays have also checked in on him.
Bourjos who started the season as the everyday center fielder for the Angels recently lost his job to top prospect Mike Trout.
The Angels’ obvious area of need in any trade would be the bullpen, but the Nationals’ bullpen recently lost Brad Lidge to the DL and already had Drew Storen on it.
The Angels also just lost Chris Iannetta to a wrist injury for 6-8 weeks and have Triple-A catcher Hank Conger, on the DL as well. So a potential could include a catcher going back to the Angels.
Bourjos hit .271 in 502 at-bats last season while posting a .327 OBP and swiping 22 bases.
This season in limited action, Bourjos is hitting .192 in 52 at-bats with a .259 OBP.
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Is Kevin Youkilis on his way out of Boston?
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I haven’t really given this much thought until now, but Will Middlebrooks is making a case for himself that he, indeed belongs in the Majors, and that kinda makes Kevin Youkilis a very good trading chip. Youkilis is making $12.25 million this season and the team holds a $13 million option for 2013 with a $1 million buyout.
For a .288/.389/.489 career hitter with 131 HR’s, 559 RBI’s and a 127 OPS+ in nine years in the Majors, a $12.25 salary is an attractive deal. Because of his latest injuries, and slow start this season, Youkilis is projected to hit .255/.355/.443 with 16 HR’s and a .349 wOBA (ZiPS Updated data), but he’s still a good player that could interest any team in the majors looking for an offensive boost.
If they decide to trade him they could ask for Major-League-talent at a corner outfield spot or starting pitching positions where the Red Sox have deficiencies. Middlebrooks, nine years younger than Youkilis, is projected to hit .256/.290/.446 with 17 HR’s and a .321 wOBA. Besides the OBP, and in consequence the wOBA, both players have almost identical numbers, which suggests that if they can find a good deal for Youkilis they should trade him.
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Early trade candidates- National League
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Just like the AL East, in the NL East every team has a chance to compete right now, and the gap between the first place (Nationals) and last place (Phillies) is just 5.0 games, so I’m not messing with teams from that division.
In the NL Central, the Cubs and Pirates seem to be off track already, and the Astros are another fan favorite to fall out of contention soon and become sellers at the trade deadline, so I will analyze those three teams to see which players could be dealt.
When we go to the NL West we see a solid Dodgers team leading the division followed by the Giants 5.0 games behind, the Diamondbacks 5.5 games behind, the Rockies 6.5 games behind and the Padres 9.5 games behind and clearly out of contention. From this division the only team that I’m going to dismantle is the Padres, who are probably not coming back from the grave to compete this season.
– Houston Astros: Among the players in the last year of their contract we have Carlos Lee and Brandon Lyon. Lee could be dealt if the Astros eat a substantial portion of his deal ($19 million for 2012 and if Lee waives his no-trade clause). Lee is hitting .289/.355/.392 with 2 HR’s, 14 RBI’s and a 108 OPS+ in 97 AB’s for the Astros. Lyon could be a good piece for a team looking for bullpen help (0-1 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.0 HR/9, 1.9 BB/9 and 8.7 SO/9 in 9.1 innings), but again, the Astros would have to eat most of the $5.5 million left on his contract.
Brett Myerscould be another trade chip, the closer has a $10 million vesting option with a $3 million buyout for next season and even though he’s earning $12 million this season, a team looking for relievers could work out a deal with the Astros to land him. He’s 0-0 with a 1.04 ERA, 1.0 HR/9, 1.0 BB/9 and 6.2 SO/9 in 8.2 innings so far with the Astros.
– Chicago Cubs: The Cubs have four players in the last year of their contract, Ryan Dempster, Jeff Baker, Reed Johnson and Shawn Camp and another two more with a 2013 option, Kerry Wood and Paul Maholm. Camp, 36, seems like an interesting piece. He’s only making $550K and he has gone 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA, 0.6 HR/9, 1.8 BB/9 and 7.2 SO/9 in 15.0 innings so far.
The 35-year old Dempster is off to a great start, leading the league with a 0.95 ERA in 28.1 innings. Even though his record is 0-1 he is walking 2.9 per nine innings and striking out 9.2 batters per nine innings. If the Cubs agree to eat half of his contract they could get something value in return. As part-time players, Johnson is hitting just .189/.250/.351 with a 64 OPS+, while Baker is hitting .240/.310/.320 with a 75 OPS+, both don’t seem like valuable additions to any team. Even though Maholm is off to a slow start (3-2 with a 5.13 ERA, 1.7 HR/9, 2.1 BB/9 and 4.8 SO/9 in 26.1 innings), he could find a new team who needs help at the back end of their rotation if he turns his season around. The 29-year old lefty is making $4.25 million this season and the Cubs have a $6.5 million option.
– Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates have two obvious trade chips in Erik Bedard (2-4 with a 2.65 ERA, 0.3 HR/9, 3.7 BB/9 and 9.8 SO/9 in 34.0 innings) and Kevin Correia(1-2 with a 3.38 ERA, 0.9 HR/9, 2.8 BB/9 and 3.7 SO/9). Both are on in the last year of their contracts and are affordable at $4.5 million (Bedard) and $4 million (Correia). Jason Grilli seems like a good deal at $1.1 million also. He’s 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA, 1.6 HR/9, 4.1 BB/9 and 16.4 SO/9.
The only position player in the last year of their contract is Nate McLouthwho is making $1.75 million, but he’s not off to a good start (.211/.286/.263 with a 56 OPS+ in 38 AB’s) so he doesn’t represent too much trade value either. Same goes for Rod Barajas, who has a $3.5 million option for 2013 and is just hitting .133/.200/.183 with a 9 OPS+.
– San Diego Padres: The players that are in the last year of their contract in San Diego are Carlos Quentin, Mark Kotsay and Jeremy Hermida. Quentin has yet to play a game this season, so as for right now he doesn’t represent any trade value. Kotsay, 36, could be an intriguing option for teams looking for a part-time outfielder that can hit from the bench and provide some offensive pop. He’s making only $1.25 million this season and is hitting .276/.344/.448 with 1 HR and a 124 OPS+.
Hermida, 28, is hitting .250/.333/.375 with a 102 OPS+. He’s making $800K, but I don’t see him as a valuable trading chip, although that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be available. Another player that could be available and could represent some value is their closer Houston Street, but the Padres would have to eat most of the $7.5 million owed to him and buy out his $9 million option ($500K buyout). The 28-year old closer is 0-0 with a 0.93 ERA, 0.0 HR/9, 1.9 BB/9 and 12.1 SO/9 in 9.2 innings and seems like a nice addition to any team looking for bullpen help, though he is currently on the DL.
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Early trade candidates- American league
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Even though the season is just underway, it’s never to early to talk trade candidates. We’re going to name a few players that could be trade candidates as the July Trade Deadline approaches. First, lets take a look at the American League.
The American League East is a really fun division to watch right now, led by the surprising play of the Orioles who are half a game above the Rays. The Blue Jays are third and in my opinion they could be contenders for one of the Wild Card spots, and then the Yankees and Red Sox close out the standings, but for how long are they going to stay there? My guess is probably not for long. But either way I’m not making judgements about who is going to get last and who they will probably trade, let’s just enjoy what the Orioles are doing and hope they remain in contention for the reminder of the season.
The AL Central is different. Even though the Tigers are in second place right now, they remain the clear favorites to take the division. Many writers projected the Royals to finish second and even to contend for a wild card spot. Clearly, their slow start are threatening their aspirations of a second place finish, and I think things are not going to get easier for them. The Twins are on a really bad track and its obvious they’re not going to be contenders this year either.
In the AL West the Rangers are leading the way with a 3.5 game cushion on the A’s who are off to a good start (15-14). Then the Mariners, who are not on the contender track are 6 back. Then there comes the Angels who are off to an awful start, but will certainly improve as the season continues.
The teams I’m going to “dismantle” here are the Royals, Twins and Mariners, because they are the teams that are already out of contention.
– Kansas City Royals:
The Royals have four players in the final year of their contract, Jonathan Sanchez, Jonathan Broxton, Yuniesky Betancourt and Humberto Quintero. The club holds options for Joakim Soria, who is recovering from a Tommy John surgery from 2012 to 2014 and Bruce Chen, Brayan Pena and Jeff Francoeur have one more year on their contracts.
Among those players, the only ones I think could generate interest from other teams is Broxton, who is off to a good start (0-1, 2.08 ERA, 0.0 HR/9, 3.1 BB/9 and 7.3 SO/9 in 8.2 innings) and Francoeur, although he is not off to a hot start (.242/.281/.319 with 4 RBI’s in 91 AB’s), but is coming off a solid season where he hit .285/.329/.476 with 20 HR’s, 87 RBI’s and a 119 OPS+.
– Minnesota Twins:
The players on the Twins payroll who are in the last year of their contract are Carl Pavano, Francisco Liriano, Ryan Doumit and Jason Marquis. The club holds options for 2013 on Scott Baker and Matt Capps. Justin Morneau and Alexi Casillas are under team control for one more year and the Twins hold an option for 2014 for Nick Blackburn.
To be honest, all of the players in the last year of their contract are off to a slow start, especially Liriano, but at $3 million Marquis could help at the back end of any rotation. His career record is 106-98 with a 4.57 ERA, 1.1 HR/9, 3.4 BB/9 and 5.2 SO/9 in 1693.0 innings. Another interesting player could be Doumit, who is also making $3 million and is a career .270/.332/.438 hitter with 68 HR’s, 278 RBI’s and a 105 OPS+ in 2,249 AB’s. Doumit could help behind the plate, at first base and as a designated hitter (if he goes to an American League team).
– Seattle Mariners:
Ichiro Suzuki, Brandon League, Hisashi Iwakuma and George Sherrill will all be free agents at the end of the season, although Sherrill is out for the rest of the season due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. To think that the Mariners would trade Suzuki is kind of complicated, he’s the face of the franchise and at $18 million is not exactly a bargain for any team, so I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
League is another story, the 29-year old reliever could be a fit for a lot of teams looking for bullpen depth, including their division rivals the Angels. League’s career record is 17-24 with a 3.67 ERA, 0.8 HR/9, 2.9 BB/9, 6.6 SO/9 and 52 saved games in 355.2 innings. Iwakuma, the other free-agent-to-be is off to a slow start (9.00 ERA, 3.6 HR/9, 3.6 BB/9 and 7.2 SO/9 in 5.0 innings) so its hard to determine his true value on the trade market.
Given the fact that the season is just one month under way, it is hard to say what players are likely to be dealt near the July Trade Deadline, but we could have an idea of what the market is going to be as the season continues. Right now, we could assume that these three teams are going to be sellers at the trade deadline, but things could change as the season continues and more teams will become sellers and maybe one or more of this teams could become buyers.
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Padres trade Ernesto Frieri to the Angels
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The San Diego Padres have traded right handed pitcher Ernesto Frieri to the Los Angeles Angels for infielder Alexi Amarista and right handed pitcher Donn Roach according to the Padres official Twitter account.
Frieri, 26, is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA, 0.6 HR/9, 3.1 BB/9 and 13.9 SO/9 in 11.2 innings with the Padres.
Amarista debuted in the Majors in 2011 when he hit .154/.182/.250 in 52 AB’s. Roach is 5-0 with a 2.16 ERA, 0.2 HR/9, 0.6 BB/9 and 6.3 SO/9 in 41.2 innings with the Angels Class-A team.
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Orioles trade Josh Bell to the Diamondbacks
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The Baltimore Orioles have traded third baseman Josh Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange of a Player To Be Named Later or cash considerations according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.
Bell was designated for assignment last week after the Orioles claimed Luis Exposito off waivers from the Red Sox. Bell last played in the Majors in 2011 and hit .164/.215/.164 in 61 AB’s.
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Red Sox acquire Marlon Byrd from Cubs
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The 4-9 Boston Red Sox have acquired Marlon Byrd and cash from the Cubs for Micheal Bowden and a player to be named later, Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston reports. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe was the first to report the teams were close to a deal. The cash will likely cover most of the $6.5mm still owed to Byrd.
Boston has been exploring the outfield market since they lost Jacoby Ellsbury to a dislocated shoulder.
Earlier this week, we heard that the Red Sox were scouting veteran outfielder Scott Podsednik who is playing for the Phillies’ Triple-A team.
Byrd has gotten off to a very slow start this season accumulating 3 singles in 47 at-bats. He hit .276 with 9 home runs and 35 rbi’s last season in 482 at-bats.
Byrd has had success in the AL when he played for the Rangers from 2007-2009. With the Rangers, he hit .295 while totaling 402 hits in 1364 at-bats.
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Royals trade Zach Miner to the Tigers
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According to Bob Sutton of the Kansas City Star, the Kansas City Royals have traded right handed pitcher Zach Miner to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations.
Miner last played in the Majors in 2009 with the Tigers. In four Major League seasons, all of them with the Tigers, he has a 25-20 record with a 4.24 ERA, 0.9 HR/9, 3.7 BB/9 and 5.5 SO/9 in 357.0 innings.
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Red Sox scouting outfielder Scott Podsednik
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According to sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Boston Red Sox have been scouting veteran outfielder Scott Podsednik who is playing for the Phillies’ Triple-A team.
Given the fact that the Red Sox lost their everyday center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury for for at least six weeks, and their other speedy outfielder, Carl Crawford, is still rehabilitating for his wrist surgery, it is logical that the Red Sox are looking for outside help to fill Ellsbury’s void.
Podsednik is a speedy, veteran outfielder who can provide similar, but not better defense, and less offensive than Ellsbury. Podsednik’s career FRAA is 27.1 and Ellsbury’s career FRAA 21.9. Podsednik is a career .279/.340/.381 hitter with 41 HR’s, 300 RBI’s and a 89 OPS+ in ten Major League years, and Ellsbury is a career .299/.354/.450 hitter with 52 HR’s, 238 RBI’s and a 109 OPS+ in six Major League years. While they both have similar OBP, Ellsbury’s SLG percentage and OPS+ is considerably higher, but given the available options Podsednik is a very nice fit for the Red Sox.
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Padres acquire Brian Tallet from the Pirates
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The 0-3 San Diego Padres have acquired left-handed pitcher Brain Tallet from the Pirates, Corey Brock of MLB.com reports. Tallet will report to Triple-A initially but will probably be called up at some point this season, and just like must pitchers on the decline that land in San Diego, he will probably pitch lights out and revitalize his career.
The Pirates will either receive cash considerations or a player to be named later for Tallet.
In parts of 9 seasons with the Indians, Cardinals and Blue Jays, Tallet has a 16-25 record with a 4.79 era. He has a career 6.6 k/9 and 4.2 b/9 in 460 innings of work.
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