Results tagged ‘ Jayson Werth ’

Roundup: Haren, Oswalt chatter continues

Many contending clubs are looking for reliable starting pitching (who isn’t really?), and so the attainable Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren are hot topics of discussion with the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline now just eight days away. 

Regarding Oswalt, the Dodgers, Cardinals and Phillies have reportedly all reached out to the Astros to try and work something out. The Cardinals seem like Oswalt’s most desired destination. The 32-year-old right-hander, who has a full no-trade clause, grew up in nearby Mississippii and has said he would not force the Cardinals to pick up his 2012 option for $16 million — something he would reportedly demand of a team like the Phillies. 
The Dodgers, according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, are also looking into Oswalt and have discussed names with Houston. The Astros, Stark added, would prefer not to trade Oswalt to a divisional opponent. According to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Astros seek two top prospects, a third Minor Leaguer and a young player who’s Major League ready for Oswalt. Perhaps those demands come down as the Deadline approaches. 
Regarding Haren, D-backs CEO Derrick Hall said he has no urgency to move the right-hander and would need “an A-plus deal” to ship him out. As MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert wrote, the D-backs are hesitant to move both Haren and Edwin Jackson. The Tigers, Yankees, Phillies, Cardinals and Twins have all been linked to Haren. According to FOXSports.com, Haren would have to approve a deal to the Twins and Tigers. 
Here’s more from around the league … 
* The Athletics signed catcher Kurt Suzuki to a four-year extension. The deal runs through 2013, Suzuki’s arbitration years, and includes a club option for 2014. 
* The Giants, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, scouted Jose Guillen on Thursday night. 
* With Carlos Beltran back in the lineup and Jeff Francoeur‘s playing time dwindling, the Mets are looking to trade Francoeur, according to The New York Post. 
* David DeJesus, the subject of much speculation, will miss the rest of the season after suffering a complete ligament tear in his right thumb on Thursday, according to The Kansas City Star. His surgery is set for Monday. 
* The Rays do not expect to acquire Jayson Werth, Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown reported via Twitter. 
– Alden Gonzalez

Roundup: Buzz says Oswalt in, Werth out in Philly

In need of a starter for Saturday’s game, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. cryptically said Tuesday: “I think we we know exactly what we’re going to do.” Perhaps a starter, like Ben Sheets, Dan Haren, Jeremy Guthrie or Roy Oswalt is headed to Philadelphia? The club optioned Kyle Kendrick to the Minor Leagues that same day, and later that night, veteran Jamie Moyer sustained an injury that will likely put him on the disabled list, so starting pitching is needed in Philly. 

ESPN.com wrote about “indications” that the Phillies were in the midst of a “major deal” to acquire a starting pitcher in hopes of salvaging their season on Tuesday night. But on Wednesday afternoon, they followed-up by reporting that Oswalt “could be on the verge of blowing up a potential deal,” since he wants any team that acquires him to guarantee his $16 million option for 2012. For now, the Phillies are balking at that offer. ESPN.com added that it’d probably be J.A. Happ moving in an Oswalt deal, and the club is also looking to move struggling outfielder Jayson Werth (a free agent after this season). 
Astros owner Drayton McLane told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart that no deal involving Oswalt appeared imminent as of Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, Oswalt — owner of a full no-trade clause — told reporters he hasn’t been approached about any possible trades. 
With less than two weeks remaining until the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, here’s more buzz from around the league … 
* The White Sox, according to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, are “trying to accelerate talks” with the Brewers for slugging first baseman Prince Fielder. The problem, Rosenthal notes, is Milwaukee wants a starting pitcher, and they view trade candidate Daniel Hudson as only a middle-of-the-rotation starter. White Sox GM Ken Williams said recently that the market was not to his benefit. 
* The Mets reportedly signed Chad Cordero to a Minor League contract on Wednesday, but they apparently want even more relief help. FOXSports.com wrote that the Mets are currently focused on the relief-pitching market and are eyeing the Pirates’ Octavio Dotel and the Blue Jays’ Scott Downs. 
* Seeking bench strength, the Yankees are looking into the Indians’ Jhonny Peralta and the Marlins’ Wes Helms, according to Rosenthal, who added that the price for Jose Bautista and Ty Wigginton were too high. 
* Pedro Martinez will not pitch in 2010, his agent, Fernando Cuza, told ESPNDeportes.com. But he has not officially retired. 
* The Giants, Tigers, White Sox and Braves have inquired about Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista, Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan reported via Twitter. 
– Alden Gonzalez

Roundup: Rangers (not Yankees) end up with Lee

After a potential deal sending Cliff Lee to the Yankees stalled in the final stages, the Rangers ended up acquiring Lee from the Mariners, instead. First baseman Justin Smoak, pitcher Blake Beavan and two other players will be going to Seattle, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan. 

The Yankees went from dark horse to front-runner in the Lee sweepstakes on Thursday night, when The New York Post reported they were “on the brink” of acquiring the ace left-hander from the Mariners. Come Friday morning, ESPN.com wrote that a deal to bring Lee to New York and put him in a starting rotation that was already stellar was “just about done.” 
By mid-afternoon, however, the seemingly imminent deal was put off, according to the Post. The Yankees were ready to send top catching prospect Jesus Monetero, second baseman David Adams and right-hander Zach McAllister, according to reports. But Adams had been out with a high ankle sprain, and the Mariners were apprehensive about acquiring him. 
Here are more rumors from around the league … 
* Jayson Werth is being shopped by the Phillies, but a rumor that has Philadelphia sending Werth — a free agent after this season — to the Yankees for Javier Vazquez — also a free agent after this season — will not happen, MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki writes. The Phils, as Zolecki noted, want players they can control past this season, and besides, the Yankees may be more reluctant to keep Vazquez now that it seems they won’t get Lee. As for Werth, the Red Sox and Rays have also shown interest, according to The New York Post. Philadelphia likely seeks a proven starter in return. 
* The Mets will “turn strongly” towards Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly as a possible addition to their starting rotation, Joel Sherman of The New York Post — who reported the Lee-to-Yankees story — wrote via Twitter. 
* The way things shake out in the National League East could decide whether they’re buyers or sellers at the Trade Deadline. If they are buyers, though, FOXSports.com says they could look to help out the back end of their bullpen by acquiring Blue Jays lefty reliever Scott Downs. 
* The Rays released veteran Hank Blalock after he was designated for assignment and cleared waivers. 
* The Yankees signed 30-year-old, left-handed-hitting corner infielder Chad Tracy to a Minor League contract, according to The Boston Globe. 
* The Cubs are picking up efforts to shed “cumbersome salaries,” according to The Chicago Tribune. The newspaper added that the club will address the media soon to speak about the club’s direction, especially if they keep falling in the NL Central. 
– Alden Gonzalez

Vazquez could return to the NL East

All is quiet on the Braves trade front.  But one of their former pitchers could change the landscape of the National League East if the Yankees acquire Cliff Lee. 

If they add Lee to their rotation, the Yankees are expected to attempt to trade Javier Vazquez.  This morning a National League scout said the buzz he’s hearing among his peers is that Vazquez could be dealt to the Phillies in exchange for Jayson Werth. 

Vazquez enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his career in Atlanta last year and continued his success against National League opponents by going 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA in four Interleague starts for the Yankees this year. 

But with Chase Utley sidelined until at least the latter portion of August, the Phillies may not feel comfortable moving one of their top offensive threats simply to attempt to improve their shaky rotation. 

The Braves don’t appear to have much interest in Corey Hart and they definitely won’t be dealing Mike Minor or any of their top young pitching prospects unless they gain a much more attractive return than Hart, who would only be under team control through the end of the 2011 season.

Once the Braves get a better feel about how productive Jason Heyward and Nate McLouth could be when they return from the disabled list, they’ll determine whether they want to add a starter or a bench player to their offensive mix before the July 31 trade deadline.

– Mark Bowman

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