Cubs GM Jim Hendry recently explained to the Chicago Sun-Times that he'd like to add a right-handed reliever, but they're hard to come by on the trade market. For the Cubs and other interested teams, which righty relievers might be out there soon?
- Kyle Farnsworth has done tolerable work so far this year. He's being paid $4.5MM, plus a $500K buyout after the season. The Royals would probably eat a significant portion. The Indians will have to get creative to move Kerry Wood, who is earning $10.5MM. The Orioles' Koji Uehara was recently activated from the DL. At $5MM, the O's would presumably be happy to move a portion of his contract.
- If the White Sox decide to sell, they could potentially blow up their bullpen. Tony Pena, Bobby Jenks, J.J. Putz, and Scott Linebrink would have varying degrees of trade value. The Astros could do the same, with Matt Lindstrom the most attractive piece. The Brewers have inventory, but no one too useful.
- The Mariners have three controlled, quality arms in David Aardsma, Brandon League, and Mark Lowe. Lowe is currently on the DL with a back injury. If the Ms start looking to next year, one of the three might be traded.
- The Pirates could look to flip many of their recently-signed free agent relievers, including Octavio Dotel, Brendan Donnelly, and D.J. Carrasco. Donnelly should return from an oblique strain this week.
- Should the Diamondbacks send up the white flag, Aaron Heilman and Chad Qualls could hit the market.
Jesse Crain is getting older, more expensive and alarmingly prone to gopher balls, but he throws hard and has had success in the past. I’m not sure anyone would want him in his current state, but a call to Bill Smith might get results for a GM showing interest.
A call to Bill Smith about Jesse Crain also could get a GM fired. My guess is that is DFA when Hardy comes off the DL.
I can almost guarantee the Astros won’t trade Lindstrom. All jokes about Wade’s love for relievers aside, he’s a 29 year old lights out closer with three years of team control left, on just a $1.6M contract.
Brian Moehler, who has performed admirably in long relief this year, might be available. Chris Sampson (1.13 ERA this season), perhaps? Brandon Lyon…. (chorus of laughter ensues).
Wouldn’t Hanrahan and Meek be more attractive from the Pirates? Both could be on the market due to big arbitration raises.
No.
umm…4 of those guys have already played, and failed, for the Cubs. Does the author actually know anything about baseball?
You obviously don’t come here often:
“Tim Dierkes started MLB Trade Rumors as a hobby in 2005, and has since written over 8,500 posts as MLBTR grew into baseball’s most popular hot stove website as well as his full-time job. MLBTR has received over 240,000,000 pageviews since its inception and is a favorite of baseball writers, executives, players, and fans everywhere. Tim graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a business administration major in 2004. He originally met his lovely wife Agnes on campus. Tim currently lives with his wife and daughter in Roselle, Illinois. He is a lifelong Cubs fan, but swears it does not affect his objectivity on MLBTR.”
Don’t overlook Jason Frasor.
Seems to me like a Cubs-Mariners deal is a match made in heaven; Fukudome and say $6M to Seattle for Aardsma and a serviceable prospect or two. It gives the M’s the bat they need while upgrading their outfield defense and gives the Cubs the chance to play Tyler Colvin everyday for the rest of this year. With a new GM and manager taking over this winter, the Cubs need to find out if Colvin can be the player they think he can. The Seattle team has long been Japanese oriented and Kosuke should feel comfortable there. Aardsma would give the Cubs the power RH arm they’re looking for, albeit an inconsistent one.
Farnsworth’s stats are okay. However, he can only pitch in non-pressure situations. When he is in a pressure situation, he struggles.
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