Daily Archives: July 31, 2008
Mets GM Omar Minaya talked with reporters today not long after the MLB Trade Deadline.
…minaya’s comments are left-justified, mine are to the right…
Minaya said he looked in to acquiring a relief pitcher who was a ‘difference maker,’ while noting there were not many relief pitchers who were traded.
…i’m thinking difference maker means, maybe, A’s RHP Huston Street, or M’s RHP J.J. Putz, neither of whom were traded…
He is not disappointed that his team did not make an acquisition, because the prices on players were very high, especially for players who he does not consider ‘premium guys.’
Additionally, he repeatedly said he had no interest in trading ‘three or four prospects’ for a ‘rental guy.’
Though he did not mention Manny Ramirez by name, Minaya said he checked in with Red Sox GM Theo Epstein regarding ‘some things,’ but the Mets could not get them a guy who could ‘help the Red Sox right away.’
…which, based on all of the above comments, would suggest that they a) had no real shot at bay, because they would not give up a top prospect or two, and so, if they could not help facilitate bay to Boston, and could not directly replace ramirez in the Red Sox lineup, manny was never an option…
Also, he checked in with the M’s regarding Arthur Rhodes, among other relief pitchers, but, ‘We just didn’t have a fit.’
Minaya says he talked to the Pirates about Jason Bay, ‘but they were looking for a very premium-plus prospect.’
…hi, Fernando Martinez…how are you today…
Minaya said he is confident that players will clear waivers who he may be interested in, but he also feels the players he has are capable of ‘getting the job done.’
Additionally, he intends to look in to possibly promoting a minor-league player to fill a hole if need be.
Minaya said he will not be afraid to bring up Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Robert Parnell, Dan Murphy or Eddie Kunz, like they promoted Nick Evans, and put them ‘in the mix.’
…well, they better…i mean, today was a huge, huge endorsement for these guys…also, i’m glad to see minaya mention murphy, in addition to parnell, niese, fernando and kunz, all of whom were characterized as ‘untouchable,’ according to reports…
…Update…5:55 pm…
For more, including direct quotes from Minaya, check out the beat writer’s blogs for the Daily News and the Journal News.
Tagged Omar Minaya |
According to the Boston Globe and Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Red Sox have traded Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers.
NESN is reporting that Jason Bay will be traded to the Red Sox.
…Update…4:32 pm…
SI.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that Bay will be traded to the Red Sox, while the Pirates will acquire four prospects.
…Update…4:41 pm…
Heyman is now reporting that the Pirates will recieve 3B Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris from the Dodgers, and Craig Hansen and Damion Moss from the Red Sox.
According to Ken Rosenthal, on FoxSports.com, as of 3:49 pm, the deal is off, which would have sent Jason Bay from the Pirates to the Rays.
Earlier this afternoon, MLB.com wrote, “The Rays are going to acquire Bay for Minor League prospects including shortstop Reid Brignac and right-hander Jeff Niemann.”
From this point forward, if any team in MLB intends to make a trade it will need to be conducted through the waiver wire.
For more on how waiver-wire deals work, go to MLB.com, where an article from 2005 explains the process in detail.
According to Peter Gammons, speaking while on ESPN News, there will be a lot of people on waivers, “and the Mets figure if they can hold and see what’s available in August they think there will be some guys they can get.”
…Update…3:50 pm…
In a report for ESPN’s MLB Trade Deadline Show, airing now on ESPN News, Jayson Stark says that talks are dead between the Royals and Mariners regarding OF Raul Ibanez.
According to Stark, as of about two hours ago, the deal was a 2–for-1 exchange set to include all major-league players, but the Mariners had second thoughts and now intend to keep Ibanez.
…Original Post…
In a post to his blog for the Globe & Mail in Toronto, Jeff Blair believes the Blue Jays and M’s are in on-going talks, adding, “The acquisition, if it were to happen, might open the doors for the Blue Jays to put together a deal involving Adam Lind.”
Earlier in the day, ESPN’s Peter Gammons said the Mariners had been requesting two of Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Robert Parnell from the Mets in a deal for Ibanez.
…Update…3:18 pm…
During ESPN’s MLB Trade Deadline Show, Jason Stark told the show’s hosts, “The Mets are focused on acquiring a relief pitcher, if they make any move at all.”
…Update…1:59 pm…
According to Jon Heyman, on SI.com, the Mets are talking to the Nationals about a deal involving RHP Luis Ayala.
In 54 games for the Nationals, Ayala is 1–6 with a 5.54 ERA, during which opponents are batting .286 against him.
Heyman also blogs about the Marlins acquisition of Arthur Rhodes, and how it could impact whether the Yankees can trade for Jarrod Washburn.
According to MLB.com, “The Rays are going to acquire right-handed hitting outfielder Jason Bay for Minor League prospects including shortstop Reid Brignac and right-hander Jeff Niemann.”
…now, the question becomes, just how serious are the Red Sox about moving Manny Ramirez, can the Marlins pull such a deal off without the Pirates or a third team involved, and if not, is there another team, like the Dodgers, who could acquire ramirez…
According to Buster Olney, during ESPN’s 
MLB Trade Deadline Show, which is airing now on ESPN News:
- The Indians will not be trading Paul Byrd, though he could likely be available on the waiver wire in August.
- The A’s will not be trading Huston Street, though teams were interested.
- The O’s will likely revisit the trade market in the off-season, when more teams can be interested.
- It is highly unlikely that the D’Backs and Angels will be making any acquisitions today.
…Update…2:42 pm…
According to Jason Stark, on ESPN’s MLB Trade Deadline Show, talks are not going well between the Blue Jays and Pirates regarding OF Jason Bay.
…Original Post…
…i would love to be in the war room with the Pirates right 
now, because, according to reports on ESPN.com, SI.com, Baseball Prospectus, MLB.com, and local reports, they are apparently weighing prospects and offers from the Rays, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Marlins, and who knows who else, in a deals that include OF Jason Bay…
…yesterday, all signs pointed to the Rays and Pirates resolving their pitching-prospect issue and eventually sending Jason Bay to tampa…i’m still betting on the Rays getting bay, because it just seems like a good fit on all sides…
…assuming, of course, that talks with the Marlins and Red Sox are truly ‘dead,’ as has been previously reported…
In an appearance on ESPN’s MLB Trade Deadline Show, 
currently airing on ESPN News, Peter Gammons said the Mariners had been requesting two of Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Robert Parnell in a deal for Raul Ibanez.
According to Gammons, there will be a lot of people on waivers in August, “and the Mets figure if they can hold and see what’s available in August they think there will be some guys they can get.”
[poll id="152"]
Tagged Raul Ibanez | ← Older posts
