This is barely a rumor or anything, but the Tribune’s Mark Gonzales notes that Jermaine Dye accompanied the White Sox to New York to play the Yankees. Of course, Dye could hop a plane to Boston pretty easily if a deal goes down.
Archives for July 2007
Cubs, Braves, D’Backs, Mets Interested In Carlos Silva
According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs have some interest in adding Twins’ starter Carlos Silva for some rotation insurance. Despite the lack of strikeouts, I think Silva could put up an ERA below 4.50 in the NL Central.
La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune mentions the Cubs, Braves, Mets, and Diamondbacks as teams that like Silva. He could be used as a starter or reliever.
Padres Inquire On Eckstein
According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Padres have asked the Cardinals about impending free agent David Eckstein. They’d use him at second base. However, the Cardinals aren’t prepared to sell off parts after a recent winning streak.
Healey’s Latest: Wilkerson, Marte
Gotham Baseball’s Mark Healey has a new post up with some good trade rumors:
- The Mets are talking to the Rangers about Brad Wilkerson, not Eric Gagne. This makes sense, as Wilkerson has hit lefties well this year and can play right field.
- The Mets are also talking to the Reds; could’ve been about Ken Griffey Jr. or David Weathers. From what we’ve heard, though, Weathers is not available. And would Junior approve a trade to the Mets? He vetoed a trade there once before.
- The Pirates want Alan Horne from the Yankees for Damaso Marte. Given that Brian Cashman didn’t seem to want to give him up for Gagne, I don’t see this happening.
- The Orioles are shopping Chad Bradford, but the Yankees aren’t allowed in the store.
Cordero/Rauch Not Going To Tigers, Mets
A Nationals source tells me that if traded at all, Chad Cordero and/or Jon Rauch will not be going to the Mets or Tigers.
Rays Willing To Trade Jonny Gomes
Here’s a new name for you, courtesy of ESPN’s Jayson Stark: Tampa Bay’s Jonny Gomes. I’ve always been a huge Gomes fan; he mashed .282/.372/.534 as a rookie in 2005. Then he had a ridiculous 11 HR April before succumbing to a shoulder injury. Gomes had offseason surgery and started off slow for the D-Rays, earning a demotion to Triple A.
Gomes hit five homers in June and another five this month, despite getting just 132 ABs over that span. The Devil Rays are finally starting to play him regularly, but that’s partially because of Carl Crawford’s injury. I would not be shocked to see Gomes offer similar production to Jermaine Dye for the balance of the season, and you can keep him for several years cheaply. He’s going to be the steal of the day if traded.
Stark says that the Rays are getting more calls on Elijah Dukes than Gomes, however.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Blanton, Relievers
Ken Rosenthal’s latest was updated five hours ago. He probably didn’t sleep. Let’s catch up before he breaks six more trades.
- UPDATE: Scratch the Russ Springer stuff below – the Cardinals promised him they would not trade him. Troy Percival can be had, however. The Rockies like Percy.
- The Dodgers made a strong push for Joe Blanton last night but their offer fell short. However, talks are not completely dead. The Dodgers offered two position players and one pitcher from their minor league stash. Rosenthal suggests those were among Andy LaRoche, Chin-Lung Hu, Tony Abreu, and Jonathan Meloan. Matt Kemp, James Loney, and Jonathan Broxton would not be part of any deal. Anyway the Dodgers will now turn their focus to relievers, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see Colletti re-engage on Blanton in the next seven hours.
- Rosenthal adds that the Mets and Phillies inquired on Blanton but the A’s preferred L.A’s deep farm system. But with the Dodger talks cooling maybe one of those teams will jump in.
- Rosenthal confirms that the Blue Jays will listen on Troy Glaus but doesn’t name any teams that specifically inquired. He speculates that the Yankees, Rangers, Angels, and Astros might want him. Aren’t the Texas teams supposed to be sellers?
- Plenty of relievers can be had: Scott Proctor, Kyle Farnsworth, Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, Russ Springer, Troy Percival, Chad Qualls, Brad Lidge, Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler, and Brian Fuentes. Fuentes is still on the DL for a strained lat, however. And we know the Cardinals want to accomodate Springer and his son. Rosenthal names the Mets, Phillies, Tigers, Indians, and Rockies as teams looking for relievers.
- The Mariners, Red Sox, Rockies, and Phillies like Qualls.
- The Mariners seem focused on Wheeler and Reyes of the Devil Rays.
- The Padres want Mike Lamb from the Astros a lot more than they want Mark Loretta.
- The Twins don’t have much interest in Morgan Ensberg (described as minimal), but they could compete with the Tigers for Clint Barmes. Ah, yet another blockbuster for the Twins.
Mariners Discussing Jeff Clement For Al Reyes?
It was established yesterday that the Mariners are after Devil Rays reliever Al Reyes, desiring a young catcher in return. Naturally, we raised Jeff Clement’s name.
Today U.S.S. Mariner comments on that idea, saying that Clement for Reyes has legs. Needless to say they don’t like the idea. I agree – it would be a steal for the Rays. As noted yesterday, Reyes hasn’t been effective since mid-June.
Dodgers Tracking Cordero and Rauch
Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch are on the Dodgers’ radar, and they would gladly offer shortstop Chin-Lung Hu according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
The Washington Post’s Barry Srvluga confirms the Dodgers’ presence and adds the Mets and Tigers as teams following the relievers. As he mentioned yesterday, Srvluga’s source thinks a trade of one of Cordero or Rauch is likely and the return would be prospects. I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more about this today.
Jon Morosi of the Detroit Free Press ran down the Tigers’ stance on various relievers this morning, but Cordero and Rauch were not mentioned. Morosi doesn’t see the Tigers getting Eric Gagne, C.J. Wilson, or Joaquin Benoit from the Rangers. He also doesn’t think they’re close on Chad Qualls, Kyle Farnsworth, Al Reyes, or Dan Wheeler. Plucking a Pirate reliever in a Jack Wilson trade makes sense.
White Sox Discuss Vazquez, Garland
There hasn’t been much buzz on Javier Vazquez, but as suspected, Kenny Williams is at least willing to discuss him. According to Toni Ginnetti of the Chicago Sun-Times, Williams was discussing Vazquez with the Phillies before the Phils got Kyle Lohse. Pat Gillick and Kenny Williams really get along it seems. It would be interesting to see Vazquez in play over the next 6.5 hours.
SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports some talks surrounding Jon Garland. Heyman says Garland is "by far the best available starting pitcher right now." The Dodgers, Mets, and Diamondbacks have all inquired and found the price unreasonable, however. And don’t forget the Mariners and Yankees, who liked Garland earlier this month.
