Daily Archives: November 10, 2008
According to Peter Gammons at ESPN.com, the Marlins have traded OF Josh Willingham and LHP Scott Olsen to the Nationals for 2B Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers RHP P.J. Dean and OF Jake Smolinski.
Olsen was 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 33 starts for the Marlins, while Willingham hit .254 with 15 home runs.
Last month, in post to his blog for the Sun Sentinel, Mike Berardino listed seven players who could be traded by the Marlins, including 2B Dan Uggla and RHP Kevin Gregg, as well as Willingham and Olsen, and Mike Jacobs, who was recently traded to the Royals.
Tagged Phillies |The A’s are close to acquiring Rockies OF Matt Holliday, according to Jon Heyman at SI.com.
…oh, Billy Beane, you’re nothing if you aren’t active…
…by the way, at first, the SI report said, The A’s have acquired Holliday,’ and was then changed to, ‘The A’s are closing in on a deal,’ which is interesting…
In 139 games for the Rockies, the 28–year-old Holliday hit .321 with 25 HR and 88 RBI, while hitting .308 away from Coors Field.
…i wonder if Huston Street is involved in this deal, as it seems like he would be a nice addition for the Rockies, though that would go against beane’s style…
…Update…3:15 pm…
In a report for FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal writes, “Over the weekend, the teams discussed A’s outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, left-hander Greg Smith and reliever Huston Street, according to one source, but it is not known if any or all of those players will be included in the package for Holliday.”
Rosenthal adds, “The A’s are not acquiring him with the intention of flipping him or even trading him in July. The team is in position to increase its payroll to as much as $80 million, and plans to contend next season.”
…Update…3:47 pm…
Heyman’s story has once again been revised, no reading, “The A’s have acquired Holliday.”
…Update…4:07 pm…
In a report for the Denver Post, Troy Renck reports the two teams have agreed in principle to swap Street, Gonzalez, and relief pitcher Greg Smith for Holliday.
…Update…4:34 pm…
According to Scott Miller at CBSSports.com, citing ‘one source,’ if the Rockies end up acquiring Street from the A’s, ‘they are prepared to turn around and trade him — though to which team he wasn’t sure.’
…thanks to Rob Z for the link…
In a post to his blog for Newsday, Ken Davidoff lists three 
teams who are willing to deal a veteran player, such as the White Sox, who are looking to trade OF Jermaine Dye.
…if the Mets need to acquire a corner outfielder with power, who has leadership skills, successful post-season experience, and a short-term contract, dye should be of interest to them…
…from what i can gather, the Sox will likely want a pitcher back in a deal for dye, who they are eager to move, in an effort to get younger and free up some cash…
Dye hit .292 with 34 HR, 96 RBI and a .344 OBP in 154 games for the White Sox this season.
He has hit at least 20 home runs during each of the last four seasons, while playing mostly right field.
Dye will earn $11.5 million in 2009, after which he has a mutual option in 2010 for $12 million, or a $1 million buyout that could make him a free agent.
According to Randy Youngman, of the OC Register, “Angels owner Arte Moreno already has decided against bringing back record-breaking closer Francisco Rodriguez.”
Last week at his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, 
Andrew Marchand wrote, “The Mets are not interested in offering K-Rod a five-year, $75 million contract, but this may not be a deal breaker because (the agent) says K-Rod will be flexible.”
…as i have said before, only the Mets, Rangers, Tigers and Angels have been linked to rodriguez in rumor, which means, being a team from New York City, most likely with the most money, the Mets may be wise to let Brian Fuentes and k-rod come to them, while poking around the trade market, and maybe spooking the free agents in to dropping their price…
By the way, among offering up a bunch of other interesting tidbits, Youngman believes the Angels are going to offer Mark Teixeira a six– or seven-year deal worth $20 million per season.
‘Talks between the Rockies and Cardinals about a trade of OF Matt Holliday have hit a dead end,” reported Tracy Ringolsby in yesterday’s Rocky Mountain News.
In fact, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak recently told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “That one’s not happening – at all.”
According to Ringolsby, the Rockies asked for Cardinals OF, Ryan Ludwick, OF Skip Schumaker and RHP prospect Mitchell Boggs for Holliday, who will earn $13.5 million in 2009 and eligible to be a free agent after next season.
Meanwhile, according to the Post-Dispatch, ‘A cluster of teams, including the Phillies and Mets, is also in pursuit of Holliday.’
Ringolsby mentions the Phillies as having interest in Holliday, as well as the Red Sox, Rays and Yankees, however he does not mention the Mets.
…i actually have no idea what the Mets can offer that would look similar to what was asked of the Cardinals, but i assume it would have to include Daniel Murphy…
To check out the latest photos of Shea Stadium, taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880, click here.
Basically, the infield, scoreboard, dirt, grass and dugouts are totally gone – all that is left is concrete ands seats.
Also, you’ll notice that the infield of Citi Field has been created, and for the first time, it’s starting to look like a baseball field, which is exciting.
Tagged Shea Stadium |According to Marty Noble at MLB.com, “The chances of the Mets trading for a reliable closer are all but nil, and they don’t have enough 
expendable talent to deal for a starting pitcher.”
As such, Noble believes the Mets will, and can, outspend other teams to fill their needs in the free-agent market, writing:
“If the Mets want Brian Fuentes - and they do - they’ll have to outbid other clubs with interest in the veteran closer, and if they want to bring Derek Lowe to Citi Field, money will have greater appeal than access to a luxury box in the club’s new digs.”
…i have to be honest, i’m having a real hard time determining the direction of the Mets off-season, and it’s not for a lack of trying…i have a general, informed hunch of what may happen, but i think a lot is going to depend on what the Dodgers do with Manny Ramirez, what the Padres do with Jake Peavy, and what the Yankees do with CC Sabathia…
…once those players lock in some place, all of which i think will happen sooner than later, then other teams, specifically the Mets, will be able to move more freely and aggressively through the market place when dealing with players like lowe, fuentes, Francisco Rodriguez, Matt Holliday and others…
Last week, in a report for ESPN.com, ‘Jerry Crasnick surveyed 
15 general managers, assistant GMs, baseball operations people and scouts on seven notable questions that will play out in the coming weeks.’
According to Crasnick, four of the 15 people believe Manny Ramirez will eventually sign with the Mets, while 10 think he will end up returning to the Dodgers.
The people who Crasnick talked with estimate Ramirez will sign for between three years, $55 million and five years, $105 million, ‘while several respondents predicted three years and $80 million.’
Also, nine of the 15 believe Jake Peavy will end up on the Braves; and nine would rather sign Derek Lowe over A.J. Burnett.
Crasnick also asks if and where Matt Holliday will be traded; would they rather sign Pat Burrell or Bobby Abreu; will Ken Griffey Jr. retire; and where will CC Sabathia end up signing.
