From mlbtraderumors.com ------
Sabean Wants Bats, Won't Deal Yet
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 23 at 10:44am CST]
According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News Giants GM Brian Sabean knows what he wants to trade for, he just doesn't expect to acquire anybody until the days leading up to the July 31st trade deadline. Few teams are completely out of the race, so Sabean said he expects a late-developing market. "You can't definitely know [which players are] available. And those who are have so many suitors," he said. "Whoever makes a trade early is going to really have to pay the price."
Sabean has created a "narrow list" of players he'd like to acquire, but said he doesn't plan on giving up top young talent for a two or three month rental. The Giants can take on salary, so Baggarly asked if Matt Holliday, who makes $13.5MM this year, is a target. Sabean didn't comment on the A's left fielder, but said his list "is more right-handed than left-handed."
Phillies Still Want Pitching; Few Arms Available
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 23 at 9:34am CST]
David Murphy and Rich Hoffman, both of the Philadelphia Daily News, believe the Phillies need pitching. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. seems to agree with them. But, as Scott Lauber of the News Journal reports, there's very little pitching available. "No one's out there dealing anybody or wanting to part with anybody because the pitchers who are available are one, hurt, and two, pitching for teams that don't think they're out of the race yet," Amaro said. "I know because I've asked about every one of them." Starting pitching remains Amaro's "main focus" even though pitchers who were expected to be available like Jake Peavy, Erik Bedard, Jason Marquis, Brad Penny, Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo are either contributing to pennant races or injured.
Rosenthal On Giants, Dye, Lopez, Kennedy
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 23 at 9:12am CST]
Diamond Leung passes along a clip in which Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggests potential trade targets for the Giants. Here are a few possibilities:The Astros, now 5.0 games back in the NL Central, aren't about to trade Miguel Tejada away, so don't expect him to end up on the Giants.
Rosenthal says Jermaine Dye is a potential fit for the Giants, even though they aren't desperate for outfielders. If the Giants are willing to take on his $11.5MM salary, they wouldn't have to give up as much in return for Dye. The White Sox are just 5.0 games back themselves, however.
Rosenthal also mentions Felipe Lopez and Adam Kennedy as cheaper options that could help the Giants out.
Glaus Could Appeal To Teams At First Or DH
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 23 at 8:57am CST]
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that Troy Glaus could appeal to teams looking for a first baseman or DH. The Cardinals may not have room for Glaus when he returns from his injury, since his hitting is progressing better than his throwing. With Albert Pujols at first and no DH, the Cardinals may decide to trade Glaus if he can't play third.If the Cardinals deal him, they'd likely have to pay a portion of his $11.25MM salary. Rosenthal names the Rangers, Mets, Giants, Braves, Tigers and Mariners as teams that could have interest in Glaus at first or as a DH.
Odds & Ends: Orioles, White Sox, Nady, Indians
By Mike Axisa [June 22 at 8:23pm CST]
Some links to check out while watching game one of the College World Series ...MASNsports.com's Roch Kubatko spoke to Orioles mastermind Andy MacPhail about plenty of topics, including the scuffling Felix Pie and fifth overall pick Matt Hobgood.
South Side Sox breaks down the White Sox players who won't (or can't) be traded.
Xavier Nady is set to begin a rehab assignment, however Buster Olney recently said the Yankees will not look to trade one of their spare outfielders once he returns.
Indians president Paul Dolan says he is concerned about the team's direction, but will not make any "rash decisions" according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It certainly sounds like Eric Wedge's days are numbered, and his number is coming up.
The Dallas Morning News' Kevin Sherrington writes that even though they're in first place, the Rangers aren't in a position to go all out and need to keep focusing on the future.
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Diamondbacks Ready To Start Selling?
By Mike Axisa [June 22 at 7:09pm CST]
MLB.com's Steve Gilbert reports that Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes sounds "like someone who had come face to face with reality" regarding his team's current state."It's the middle of June and we're 10 games under .500, so I think there's a reality as far as the types of discussions we have had and will have with other clubs," Byrnes said. This was before the D-backs went on to lose three straight to a Mariners team that had some key players out with injuries.Gilbert says that Byrnes hasn't indicated that a major overhaul is in the works, and to instead expect smaller moves involving veterans in the final year of their contracts. He mentions pitchers Doug Davis and Jon Garland, as well as second baseman Felipe Lopez and the injured Chad Tracy as candidates to find a new address.
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What Should The Mets Do?
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 22 at 3:59pm CST]
Carlos Beltran will join teammates Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, John Maine, Oliver Perez and J.J. Putz on the disabled list, according to Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post. The Mets needed a first base-outfield type before they heard the bad news about their center fielder, and now their need is even more pronounced. The Mets will combine Gary Sheffield, Fernando Martinez, Ryan Church, Daniel Murphy, Fernando Tatis and Jeremy Reed in the outfield and at first for now. As exasperating as these injuries have become for the Mets, they're only two games out of first place, thanks to the Phillies' recent slide.The Mets are hoping Beltran will miss just two weeks, but they could use help and every team now knows it. Omar Minaya says he'll "continue to have conversations" with other clubs. Should he wait it out until they know more about the injuries? Try and deal for Aubrey Huff, Mark DeRosa or Nick Johnson now? How much should Minaya be prepared to surrender in a trade?
I posted this news a bit late but this thread was falling to page 2 and I wanted to bump it with something vaguely relevant. Sadly, I'm an A's fan. From everything I've read and heard, Beane will not move Holiday unless somebody pays a hefty price. He's perfectly content to get some comp picks when he leaves after this year. Or, if he stays in arbitration, we get him for one more year.He's underperformed what we hoped for but if you look at the rest of the 'hitters' on our team, I'm not sure how much we should have expected him to be able to carry the load for everyone.Beane is usually fairly straightforward...he won't come out and say they're looking to move player x but it's often fairly simple to read between is lines. I haven't seen any indication he's going to move Matt unless a great deal falls into our laps.
