Archives for June 2009

No One’s Calling Toronto About Halladay

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 2:54pm CDT

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times reported yesterday that no one's calling the Blue Jays about Roy Halladay.

"We haven't gotten one call," Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said.

It's not for a lack of interest- Halladay became the first ten-game winner in the majors yesterday and he leads the AL in innings pitched and strikeout to walk ratio. He's been a top-five Cy Young finisher each of the last three years and while he makes a lot of money, he's hardly overpaid at $14.25MM this year and $15.75MM next. Ricciardi's not fielding calls, because the Jays are 32-27, just two games back of the Yankees in the AL East. Ricciardi believes the Jays need Halladay for them to win.

"We're not going to be a playoff team without Roy Halladay."

Ricciardi repeated that he does not expect to trade Halladay and plans to work on an extension with him after the season.

Odds And Ends: Huff, Ackley, Strasburg

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 2:21pm CDT

Some more links to pass along…

Steve Melewski of MASN.com reports that Orioles president Andy MacPhail is "open" to talking with Aubrey Huff about a possible extension. Huff, a free agent at the end of the year, has been the subject of many trade rumors.
ESPN.com's Rob Neyer agrees with a suggestion Howard made on this site yesterday: Jon Rauch would be a good fit for the Rays.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Cards GM John Mozeliak was among those watching as two college hitters worked out at Busch Stadium this morning. Josh Phegley and A.J. Pollock took some swings in front of the Cardinals' scouting staff.
As Ian Browne of MLB.com points out, the Red Sox have drafted well in recent years even when they haven't had early selections.
MLB.com's Jim Street writes that it would be shocking for the Mariners to pick someone other than Dustin Ackley.
As ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports, Angels scouting director Eddie Bane is amazed by Scott Boras because he intimidates, but "never says a price."
Tim Keown of ESPN the Magazine passes along one scout's thoughts on Stephen Strasburg: "He'd be a front-of-the-rotation guy for almost every team right now."

Dellucci Would Return To Rangers

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 1:59pm CDT

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, the recently-released David Dellucci is interested in playing for the Texas Rangers again. He could return to Texas, where he played two seasons, if they offer him the major league minimum. The Indians are paying the rest of his salary.

The Blue Jays have also expressed interest in Dellucci, according to Olney's sources.

Strasburg: A Sure Thing, Or Not?

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 1:06pm CDT

ESPN.com's Rob Neyer agrees with the argument Alan Schwarz makes in New York Times: Stephen Strasburg is a phenomenal prospect, but we've seen other "can't miss" pitching prospects falter in the major leagues or fail to reach them. Until Strasburg proves himself in the majors, Neyer suggests that we stop preparing to etch Strasburg's name onto a Hall of Fame plaque.

Keith Law argues there's a difference between Strasburg and past pitchers like Ben McDonald and Mark Prior. Law compares Strasburg's career to six pitchers who were also labeled "best college pitcher ever" and finds that Strasburg has the best ERA, struck out the highest percentage of batters and walked the lowest percentage of batters.

And while pitchers drafted first overall haven't overwhelmed as a group, Law concludes that Strasburg "clearly is the right choice, his performance backs it up and the history of the draft doesn't give sufficient ammunition to send Washington in another direction."

Heyman On Strasburg, D’Backs, Penny

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 12:33pm CDT

Jon Heyman of SI.com anticipates some memorable negotiations between the Nationals, Scott Boras and Stephen Strasburg. Here's what Heyman heard about Strasburg along with the rest of his rumors:

Boras is still expected to demand $50MM for Strasburg.
Think that's a lot? Some think Strasburg would command $100MM as a free agent.
Executives generally guess he'll end up signing for more than $20MM, but not by much.
One NL exec said he expects the deal to reach $30MM.
Strasburg could always pitch in Japan or for an independent team if he doesn't sign, but Heyman imagines he'd much rather join a major league franchise immediately.
The Pirates could draft catcher Tony Sanchez with the fourth pick.
The D'Backs could deal Chad Qualls and Tony Pena at the deadline.
Boston seems "in a hurry" to deal Brad Penny.
One Red Sox person was not impressed by what he saw from Jeff Francoeur.
It's probably too early for the Rangers to release Vicente Padilla.

Olney On Economy, Penny, Strasburg

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 11:23am CDT

Buster Olney said on ESPN Radio that the struggling economy could limit the number of trades we see this summer as fewer clubs are willing to take on contracts. Here are the details:

Since a limited number of teams can add salary, Olney suspects "very cheap players" could be the ones to move.
Teams are willing to give up less impressive prospects for expensive players, so the A's could be limited if they decide to deal Matt Holliday. However, they don't have to deal, so they can stand pat and collect picks after the season.
Olney says there's a good chance Brad Penny's moved within the next couple weeks. It won't be this week unless Penny gives his permission, since he can't be dealt before June 15th.
The Indians are starting to ask themselves who they'll be dealing with if they decide to shop Mark DeRosa and others.
Olney wonders if the Nats will offer Stephen Strasburg a record deal- say $18-20MM- immediately and stick with that offer until the August 15th signing deadline.

Olney fleshes his ideas out in today's column, saying that teams like the Mariners and Padres may see less impressive bids for Erik Bedard and Jake Peavy as the perceived value of cheap, young players continues rising. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox want to keep their young talent, so they don't drive up the prices for players who could be moved. The Padres could simply keep Peavy instead of accepting a second-rate return for him.

Draft Updates: Strasburg, Nats, Crow

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 10:53am CDT

With tomorrow's draft approaching fast let's take a look at some recent rumors and analysis…

MLB.com's Lisa Winston reports that former super prospect Ben McDonald is impressed by Stephen Strasburg's stuff and poise.
David Price told Danny Knobler of CBS Sports that Strasburg's stuff is better than his. Like Joe Maddon, Price believes the minors can be helpful and doesn't advocate rushing Strasburg into a big league rotation.
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post interviewed acting GM Mike Rizzo about the draft and heard that signability won't be a factor for the Nats with their 10th pick, even though they get nothing if they fail to sign the player they choose. After saying for weeks that Strasburg is his choice with the first pick in the draft, Rizzo doesn't confirm it this time.
Pete McElroy of MASN.com hears that the Nats will take Chad Jenkins, a big college righty, with their 10th pick if he's available.
Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the Pirates could use the $1.3MM they saved by trading Nate McLouth to sign the player they draft fourth overall. Aaron Crow, who's looking for $4MM, could be an option for Pittsburgh.
Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Crow's looking forward to tomorrow's draft after waiting a year.
Yahoo's Jeff Passan says prospects can be over-hyped to the point that we encounter "an uncomfortable reality" when they struggle.
MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo reports that Kyle Gibson and Tanner Scheppers could fall lower than originally expected because of injury concerns. Other players, like Jacob Turner, could fall because they're expected to demand large bonuses.
Follow the draft on Twitter as it unfolds: @mlbtraderumors and @MLBDraft.

A’s Don’t Have To Make Trades

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 9:56am CDT

The A's are in last place, 7.5 games behind the Rangers and they've already been involved in their share of trade rumors, but as Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, they don't have to shed payroll. Now riding a six-game win streak, the A's can hold onto players like Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera if they continue to win.

The A's would receive two draft picks if Holliday signs elsewhere after the season, so they wouldn't lose him for nothing. Billy Beane points out that the A's haven't had many top picks over the years and he'd like the chance to bolster his farm system with some early selections. Of course the A's are still five games below .500, so this doesn't mean they won't talk trades eventually, they just don't have to.

Odds And Ends: Mariners, Rangers, Smoltz

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 9:39am CDT

Here are a few links to kick the week off…

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says the Mariners would risk losing fan interest if they deal players like Erik Bedard before the Mariners fall far out of the playoff race.
Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports that Rangers GM Jon Daniels is looking to the trade market for a bullpen upgrade.
WEEI.com's Rob Bradford reports that John Smoltz is open to pitching out of the bullpen and may be asked to skip occasional starts. This could be one way of managing the starting pitching surplus in Boston.
Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders whether Kevin Frandsen, now in Triple A, would be open to starting fresh with a different club.
Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star believes the Royals are better off than they were a few years ago, but says they'll have trouble realizing their goal of contending in 2010.
Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says Tom Glavine isn't good enough to help the Brewers and Jake Peavy isn't cheap enough.

Red Sox Inquired On Cabrera, Aren’t Interested

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | June 8, 2009 at 9:05am CDT

Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox aren't interested in bringing Orlando Cabrera back to Boston, though they did inquire about the shortstop. McAdam's sources say the Red Sox would have to give up too much "in terms of his remaining salary and prospects." Instead, they're content to play Nick Green and Julio Lugo until Jed Lowrie returns. One team apparently determined that Cabrera, a two-time Gold Glover, is the worst defensive shortstop in the American League.

The Red Sox inquired on "a number of other veteran shortstops," including Jack Wilson, but they decided the asking price was too high. Even if Lowrie struggles once he returns, they'll have time to deal before the July 31st trade deadline.

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