Countdown to the July 31st trade deadline

[Mattingly]

Countdown clock in the top center of this link: http://sportsline.com/mlb/

Yes, boys, girls, children of all ages and baseball fans! :D :p

Anyway, you know the drill. Teams want something. Some guys are tradeable. Heck, even guys who are untradeable, because either of their humongous contracts and/or their partial or full no-trade contracts, aren't even worth considering.

Which teams are buyers? Which are sellers? Who is obtainable from certain teams, and what's the price, be it in terms of players sent in return, cash, or picking up a larger part of the desired player's contract remainder?

Anyway, please discuss. :)

[Reed Johnson]

Newark Star-Ledger: "The Blue Jays have looked into reacquiring Cesar Izturis from the Dodgers if they can't get Lugo from Tampa Bay."

Why? Sure Mcdonald doesn't have a good average but his defensive work is great and he hasn't gotten to many AB's. We lead the league in average we dont need another hitter! We need pitching just like every other team in the league!!!

[Erik Bedard]

Many teams are interested in Erik Bedard, but the O's are saying he's untouchable.

Smart move!

[Mariano_Rivera]

Is the price for Soriano dropping?

[mojorisin71]

http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060725&content_id=1574438&vkey=pr_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la

Odalis Perez and two prospects got traded for Elmer Dessens

[BoofBonser26]

Indians have for sale:

Boone
Hollandsworth
Broussard
Blake
Belliard

Boone is going, even if they don't get anything for him. That's for sure. By the way, the stupid MLB.com article said they're shopping Westbrook. No such thing, I can assure you.

[Baseball Guru]

the stupid MLB.com article said they're shopping Westbrook. No such thing, I can assure you.


I heard that as well today on the Charley Steiner show:confused:

[Baseball Guru]

GM Omar Minaya reiterated New York's priority at the trade deadline is to add another starter to its rotation. According to the Newark Star-Ledger the two names that have stood out on the Mets' radar are Washington's Tony Armas Jr. and Pittsburgh's Kip Wells. The New York Post says New York has also contacted Baltimore about Rodrigo Lopez and Philadelphia about Jon Lieber and Cory Lidle.

[BoofBonser26]

I heard that as well today on the Charley Steiner show:confused:
Well then maybe they are, but the Indians pre-game yesterday was all about who was up for grabs (not Westbrook), and Matt Underwood and Tom Hamilton were talking as the game was going on about how he's not going (not because he's great or anything, but because they need an innings guy). Here's how the Indians rotation looks next year:

C.C. Sabathia
Cliff Lee
Paul Byrd
Jake Westbrook
Jeremy Sowers

Now, without Westbrook, who would they put in the 4 slot? Another one-year free agent rental? A prospect? Either way, with not much money to spend, Westbrook is vastly preferable over a prospect or a mediocre free agent, who would only be as good as Jake, not better.

Just my thoughts. I say they should keep him to eat innings. But if they want to trade him, they'd better get something for him. And he's not that valuable. Therefore...:crazy

[Baseball Guru]

Either way, with not much money to spend, Westbrook is vastly preferable over a prospect or a mediocre free agent, who would only be as good as Jake, not better.

Just my thoughts. I say they should keep him to eat innings. But if they want to trade him, they'd better get something for him. And he's not that valuable. Therefore...:crazy


Oh, I definitely agree... A contending team may give up some young talent for him... Personally I like Westbrook and think the Tribe should keep him as well....

[Mattingly]

I'm still wondering if Dontrelle Willis will be traded, and to whom, and what the Marlins will get in return. He's about the only guy I can think of who's on people's "A List" of players.

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2006/06/17/z7i5Tl6v.jpg
A quality young pitcher like Ervin Santana would
bring a high return at the deadline.
(Francis Specker/AP)

AL clubs eye veteran talent at deadline
Tigers, Rangers in search of missing piece for second-half run (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060725&content_id=1574384&vkey=trade2006&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb)
The guests for baseball's annual midseason party -- the Trading Deadline Hop -- have definitely been B-list thus far. While the Alfonso Sorianos and Bobby Abreus remain behind the velvet rope, the Shea Hillenbrands and Mike MacDougals have hit the floor.

The days remaining prior to July 31's 4 p.m. ET deadline may remain just as quiet. Or, they could bring a flurry of activity. General managers tend to be like dominos; one falls, and the rest follow.

It certainly isn't a black-and-white world, particularly with Wild Card possibilities graying the picture. Observers like to lump clubs into camps -- buyer or seller -- depending on their postseason race status.

But such an approach overlooks a basic aspect of any deal, which Oakland GM Billy Beane points out: "We're always buyers and sellers. I don't think there's necessarily a distinction there, because with every buy, you're also selling. That's the nature of a trade."

Trade Deadline 2006 (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/trade_deadline/index_06.jsp)

[rockin500]

i doubt dontrelle is going anywhere. unless they get a very good set of players in return, i cant see him going anywhere

[Francoeurstein]

We're all set. Our rotaion is comfortable along with the bullpen. We now have a real closer (YES!!!!). But Marcus Giles isn't doing good, that is why we have Betemit :D.

[Mattingly]

i doubt dontrelle is going anywhere. unless they get a very good set of players in return, i cant see him going anywhere
Just think, a $15m payroll and that includes a $4.5m pitcher. If they get rid of him, and presuming that the fortunate club picks up 80-100% of his remaining salary, that would leave a $10-11m payroll. Amazin'.

Anyway, Florida could definitely stock their farm with a rookie and a blue chipper prospect for him if they'd just let out a well-placed "leak" to some ESPN reporter. 6 days left, so it wouldn't surprise me if they did.

[Baseball Guru]

Take this for what its worth: Manager Joe Girardi told the Miami Herald he believes the Marlins are done trading for the year. He added Florida would only make a trade if "someone blows us away."

[BoofBonser26]

Take this for what its worth: Manager Joe Girardi told the Miami Herald he believes the Marlins are done trading for the year. He added Florida would only make a trade if "someone blows us away."
The Reds could pick up Willis for Griffey, Dunn, Phillips, and Arroyo. :crazy

[Mattingly]

The Reds could pick up Willis for Griffey, Dunn, Phillips, and Arroyo. :crazy
It's not nice to post right after visiting the local watering hole. :D :p ;)

Arroyo alone may be worth Griffey, but I can't see any purpose in that trade. Hmmmmmmmmm, when did Girardi also get the GM's job? Perhaps their Exec VP/GM, Larry Beinfest, could clarify. If he's looking to be blown away, as in one of those "Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano" things, then he shouldn't ask.

Since he's got the horse, one that's certainly useful and isn't excessively priced by standards of teams not having a $15m payroll, then what would "blowing him away" mean? Pujols? To me, if he's willing to dump 30% of his payroll in that one player, then a blue chipper and a solid bench guy (or an MLB starter who's cheap) should suffice. If he wants more than that, I say he can enjoy himself in la-la land.

[Gamingboy]

I'll probably be on an airplane while all the big deals go down.


It's times like this I wish I had ESPN MOBILE... but I'm not insane.

[Erik Bedard]

I'll probably be on an airplane while all the big deals go down.


It's times like this I wish I had ESPN MOBILE... but I'm not insane.

Plus, you can't use it in most planes. I'll be in the car or camping for two weeks, so I must agree with you. I was in the car for the Nomar deal, the Bigbie deal, the Kazmir deal, and many others.

[BoofBonser26]

Indians have for sale:
Broussard

SUre enough, Broussard to Seattle for Shin-Soo Choo. The Name Coolness Factor alone makes this a good trade, but I also like it because it lets Victor Martinez move to first for some games.

It's not nice to post right after visiting the local watering hole.
I just like the precedent the Reds set with the Lopez/Kearns trade, that's all. :rolleyes:

[SamtheBravesFan]

We're all set. Our rotaion is comfortable along with the bullpen. We now have a real closer (YES!!!!). But Marcus Giles isn't doing good, that is why we have Betemit :D.

So... you actually think we can get to the World Series with that bullpen?

Be that as it may, the big rumor is thus:

Braves get:
P Scott Proctor

Yankees get:
INF Wilson Betemit.

That would be foolish and terrible on so many levels.

[Erik Bedard]

So... you actually think we can get to the World Series with that bullpen?

Be that as it may, the big rumor is thus:

Braves get:
P Scott Proctor

Yankees get:
INF Wilson Betemit.

That would be foolish and terrible on so many levels.

For the sake of the Braves, I pray that that doesn't happen.

[SamtheBravesFan]

For the sake of the Braves, I pray that that doesn't happen.

Me either. But with Chipper Jones being gimpy lately, it's not going to happen. I don't think Braves fans would sit well with Pete Orr or Martin Prado at third.

[cbenson5]

A utility infielder would probably be part of any deal involving Betemit. Either that or Mr. Schuerholtz would have another deal lined up for a utility infielder if he trades Betemit for relief help.

[Go Bravos!!!#1]

We're all set. Our rotaion is comfortable along with the bullpen. We now have a real closer (YES!!!!). But Marcus Giles isn't doing good, that is why we have Betemit :D.

Nope. We need a lefty reliever to put in Jorge Sosa's place in the bullpen. It'd be nice to get another arm in the rotation. Since Davies and Thomson are injured, I do not feel confident with Jason Shiel as our #5 starter.

Plus we are not good in left field. It'd be nice to make a move for a good, solid left fielder. So we have 3 holes to fill. But we'll probably only fill one.

And we can trade Betemit. We have a lot of depth. Yunel Escobar or Martin Prado would take over Betemit's role and be fine.

[Baseball Guru]

Rosenthal on trade rumors:

Several teams were said to be in the running for Baltimore's Miguel Tejada. But after the Orioles rejected an offer from Houston, they might not move him at all. Ken Rosenthal talks about this and all the hot trade rumors in his video report.
The White Sox withdrew their offer for Soriano, and the Tigers apparently are out as well. The Astros aren't sure they can afford the approximately $3.5 million remaining on Soriano's contract.
The Twins, like the Angels, boast enough prospects to entice the Nationals with a substantial proposal. However, the Twins were far less aggressive than the Angels in the bidding for Brewers left fielder Carlos Lee, who ultimately went to the Rangers.
The Yankees, Mariners and Dodgers remain on the periphery for Soriano. If the Nationals' price drops, it's conceivable that another contender or two could jump in. But the Angels, from the beginning, have made the most sense. While they lead the American League in runs in July, their No. 3 hitter is Orlando Cabrera. Over his 10-year career, Cabrera has more at-bats in the second spot than any other position, and he has hit eighth, seventh, fifth and sixth more than third.
LUGO: WHAT'S NEXT?
All indications are that the Devil Rays are going to fail in their efforts to sign potential free-agent shortstop Julio Lugo to a contract extension. But the Rays also are at a standstill in their trade talks with the Blue Jays, and trading Lugo to the Red Sox could be problematic if Lugo balks at moving to second base, a position he hasn't played with any frequency since 2000.
If the Sox acquired Lugo, they likely would trade second baseman Mark Loretta, possibly to the Cardinals. However, the Cardinals' first choice at second seems to be the Indians' Ronnie Belliard, who recently missed six games with a hamstring injury, but returned to the lineup on Saturday night.
The Cardinals rank next-to-last in the National League in on-base/slugging percentage at second base.


MADDUX: THAT'S MORE LIKE IT
A pitcher with 327 career victories shouldn't need a strong performance to enhance his trade value, but Cubs right-hander Greg Maddux entered Saturday's game against the Cardinals with a 6.03 ERA since May 1. He likely increased his appeal by pitching six innings and allowing only one run.
The Cubs are willing to pay a significant portion of the approximately $3 million remaining on Maddux's contract if they receive a quality return in a trade. One interested club wanted the Cubs to pay all of the money and accept only a mid-level prospect, according to a major-league source. The Dodgers, Maddux's most likely suitor, are exploring other options first.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle will now wear the pinstripes.

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060730&content_id=1583781&vkey=trade2006&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[Baseball Guru]

Rosenthal says the Astros were willing to give up Roy Oswalt, Morgan Ensberg and Adam Everett for Tejada, but the Orioles still couldn't make it work. Baltimore was trying to spin Oswalt to the Rangers for Hank Blalock, shortstop prospect Joaquin Arias and a top pitching prospect, something that seemingly would have put the organization in much better position for 2007 and beyond. However, the deal was killed by Orioles owner Peter Angelos. The Astros were nervous about Oswalt going to Texas anyway and may have chosen to try something different. "It's over," an Astros official told FOXSports.com Sunday night. "We told them we're not dealing with them anymore." The Angels are also reportedly out of the mix for Tejada, suggesting that the shortstop will remain with the Orioles until the offseason.

Source: http://rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines.aspx?sport=MLB

ESPN's Steve Phillips said the Rangers have offered Hank Blalock to the Astros for Brad Lidge.

Source: http://rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines.aspx?sport=MLB

Also heard that the Mets are trying to work aout a deal with San Fran for Schmidt...

[Mattingly]

* * *

Also heard that the Mets are trying to work aout a deal with San Fran for Schmidt...
The Mets are also in the hunt to get the 'Stros Roy Oswalt. In either deal, they'd be expected to give up Lastings Milledge.

EDIT:

I hear that they the Mays may need to include Aaron Heilman and another player to land Oswalt.

[Big_Mac]

Tigers got 1B Sean Casey for a minor leaguer and to make room optioned Chris Shelton for assignment.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2535130

The Reds also recieved left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier from the Phillies in exchange for reliever Justin Germano.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2535126


also, is it just me or after seeing the yankees make a big trade yesterday, do you think the red sox are going to pull a big one today? maybe it's just early here and im dreaming still but i have this feeling they have been too quiet til now.

[Mattingly]

Just a few minutes under 3 hours left, folks. Deadline is 4pm ET today.

[Baseball Guru]

Mets may get Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez from the Pirates...
No word on who the Mets give up with this deal...

[Baseball Guru]

SI.com is reporting that the Mets have just traded Xavier Nady to the Pirates for Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez...

[Brannu]

Does anyone get the sense that players should have more choice in where they are going and what is going on with their lives? I'm watching this special and all the trade stuff, and realizing how powerless the players are in determining their fate. Something about that just feels wrong.

Imagine your boss coming to you and saying, "Hey, we're going to trade you to another company for so and so...and by the way, you're moving to Kansas City." :crazy

[G-String Blues]

Does anyone get the sense that players should have more choice in where they are going and what is going on with their lives? I'm watching this special and all the trade stuff, and realizing how powerless the players are in determining their fate. Something about that just feels wrong.

Imagine your boss coming to you and saying, "Hey, we're going to trade you to another company for so and so...and by the way, you're moving to Kansas City." :crazy
Pay me 17 Million a year and you can trade me. KC isn't a bad place to live for a few years.

[AnaheimAngelsFan]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5832966

[Baseball Guru]

Mets may have struck a deal to get Scott Linebrink from the Pads...

[Appling]

The trade deadline is past and Soriano is still a National. Surprise, surprise!

Apparently no team was willing to pay the price Washington was asking. Next question is: will Washington be able to sign Alfonso to a long-term contract?

[Brannu]

The trade deadline is past and Soriano is still a National. Surprise, surprise!

Apparently no team was willing to pay the price Washington was asking. Next question is: will Washington be able to sign Alfonso to a long-term contract?

Don't they have new ownership? Maybe this is what it's about. Maybe, with new money in place, they can afford him for the future.

[Mattingly]

Unsticking.

[DodgerBlue81]

The trade deadline is past and Soriano is still a National. Surprise, surprise!


I'm really surprised about that. Maybe there's a chance he'll be dealt through waivers, but unlikely. I still don't think the Nationals will re-sign him, so bad move by them.