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Ibanez Trade Unlikely

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6:10pm: Just to wrap up Toronto’s brief venture into the Bay sweepstakes (since it was first reported in this post)…the Jays backed out when the Pirates asked for Shaun Marcum and top prospect Travis Snider.

5:36pm: Geoff Baker has some more details on the failed deal with Toronto although he still is not sure who was offered for Ibanez. Baker has quotes from JP Ricciardi that says it was the Mariners that backed out of the deal. Baker then goes on to speculate that the aquisition of Ibanez was a marketing tool to convince the fans in Toronto that the team was still gunning for the playoffs to keep TV ratings up.

2:48pm: Jayson Stark says the Mariners had second thoughts and will likely keep Ibanez.  It could’ve been a 2-for-1 with Major Leaguers going to Seattle.

2:34pm: Jeff Blair says talks for Ibanez are ongoing.  It’s even possible (though unlikely) an Ibanez trade could allow the Jays to include Adam Lind in a deal.

Blair adds that the Marlins called the Jays about Matt Stairs.

2:20pm: The Jays are left as the sole Ibanez suitor as we draw to within 40 minutes of the deadline.

1:14pm: Stark says the Jays are also eyeing Raul Ibanez.  Eh?  Also, Dejan Kovacevic says the Bay talks ended quickly based on the Pirates’ asking price.  Think Shaun Marcum and Travis Snider.

11:48am: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Blue Jays have entered the mix for Jason Bay.  Of course, the asking price will be high.  But Bay is Canadian!

The Jays are 6.5 games out of the wild card, that dangerous area where a team thinks it’s a contender.  Bay is under contract for ’09 too though.

No Market For Reed Johnson

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According to a source of Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail, the market for left fielder Reed Johnson is "non-existent."  This is not a big surprise – Johnson was a candidate to be non-tendered this winter.  He had back surgery in April and is set to earn $3.27MM in ’08.

Blair speculates that the Jays may be inclined to listen to offers for Adam Lind.  Back in November, ESPN’s Keith Law had this to say about Lind:

Lind has a classic left-hander’s swing and good hand-eye coordination. His power is fringe-average but projects to above-average. He’s best suited to play first base, but it’s possible to live with his defense in left because of how he’ll hit.

Law: Top 10 Trade Candidates

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Keith Law, a favorite here at MLBTR and at home home, River Ave. Blues, has posted an article on 10 potential trade candidates off-season. It seems that if anything big does go down this off-season, it will be in the form of a trade, since the FA market is particularly weak. So who does Law have in mind?

The most surprising name on the list is the Blue Jays’ Adam Lind. Law believes that with the next year’s financial commitments to Frank Thomas, Lyle Overbay, and now Matt Stairs, there is no obvious spot for Lind, and he’ll have to win a job in Spring Training — which he could most certainly do. It seems a bit foolish to trade a 24-year-old because of a couple of short-term financial commitments, most notably in the case of Stairs, who will be making a paltry $1 million in 2009. J.P. Ricciardi has done stranger things, though.

Another strange name is Ben Broussard, who figures to at least have a shot at being non-tendered. Law notes his favorable platoon splits against righties and figures he can help a team fill out a position. But since the Mariners already have Richie Sexson and Jose Vidro under contract, and are looking to get Adam Jones some more playing time, there doesn’t seem a logical spot for Broussard.

Law also brings up David DeJesus and Coco Crisp, often mentioned around these parts, as well as Andy LaRoche and, despite the trade of Jacques Jones, Matt Murton.

As a Yanks fan, I have to be at least a little curious at the inclusion of Cliff Lee. With Andy Pettitte’s career at the most a year from ending, and with the further possibility that he’s thrown his last pitch, the Yanks are going to need a lefty starter. Might as well inquire on Lee, as his not-so-stellar 2007 has significantly decreased his value.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues, a Yankees blog.

No Room For Adam Lind?

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According to Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star, a multiyear deal for Matt Stairs would leave Adam Lind’s 2008 playing time in question.

Vernon Wells and Alex Rios will lock up center and right field for many years.  And DH Frank Thomas is under contract for 2008 with a reasonable vesting option for ’09.  If Stairs is retained and gets another 300 ABs, Lind will be at best locked into a platoon.  And he and Stairs are both left-handed.

Lind, who turned 24 last July, began the season at Triple A.  He quickly got the call in April when Reed Johnson was injured.  Lind hit well initially, but was terrible in May and June as the full-time left fielder.  He was demoted by July and posted a good but not great performance until his September call-up.

Before the season, Lind was considered an "outstanding offensive prospect" by Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein.  Goldstein ranked Lind 43rd overall on his top 100 prospects list.  He obviously didn’t make much progress this year, making him a fine buy-low candidate for another GM.  If Stairs is re-signed, GMs should come calling for Lind.

As I mentioned here, the Jays’ primary need is a shortstop.  If J.P. Ricciardi decides to give up on Lind, he could use him in a deal for Edgar Renteria, Jack Wilson, or Miguel Tejada.

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