Results tagged ‘ Jorge Cantu ’

Cody Ross off the market?

Chris Coghlan’s knee injury has the Marlins reconsidering their trade options. The player who most is impacted is Cody Ross.

For weeks, the club has fielded trade offers for the versatile outfielder. Yet, losing Coghlan, coupled with the team being over .500, has the Marlins leaning towards keeping Ross.

Ross, who is making $4.45 million, has one more arbitration season remaining. For the right offer, the Marlins would consider trading Ross, who has attracted attention from the Braves, Dodgers and Red Sox. But the deal would have to completely make sense.

Also, moving Ross would be a sign they team is throwing in the towel on their chances this season.

Based on how they’re playing, Coghlan’s injury has the Marlins re-evaluating.

Coghlan has a torn left meniscus in his left knee. If surgery is required, he will be out six to eight weeks, which means he could be lost for the rest of the season.

With Coghlan out, prospect Logan Morrison has been called up from Triple-A New Orleans. Morrison and Emilio Bonifacio are expected to split time in left field, replacing Coghlan.

Ross is the club’s best defensive outfielder, and he’s been a steady influence on rookie right fielder Mike Stanton. The Marlins are realistic about their playoff hopes, but with the team winning eight of 11 since the All-Star Break has management considering staying the course for the remainder of the season.

The player most likely to be traded is Jorge Cantu. Coghlan has been considered the option to move from left field to third base if Cantu is dealt. Bonifacio is an option to play third, or platoon the position with Wes Helms.

– Joe Frisaro

 

 

Cantu subject of trade talks

Boosted by winning seven of 10 on their homestand that completed on Sunday, the Marlins are not thinking about making wholesale changes before Saturday’s non-waiver trade deadline.

The most likely player to be moved is Jorge Cantu.

A free agent after the season, Cantu has drawn attention from the Rangers, Rockies and Giants.

The Rangers appear to be the most viable option, based on reporting by MLB.com and other news outlets.

One of the Marlins most productive players since 2008, Cantu has 10 homers and 54 RBIs this season. In his 2 1/2 years with Florida has has 55 homers and 249 RBIs. The Marlins are seeking pitching in return.

The Marlins have already shown signs that they are preparing to be without Cantu. Dan Uggla, who is not being shoppped, was switched to cleanup with Cantu, dropping from fourth to fifth. 

After Cantu made two costly errors in a loss to the Braves on Saturday, he wasn’t in the lineup Sunday, although manager Edwin Rodriguez said the veteran was expected to get the day off anyway.

In late innings, Cantu has often been replaced at third base by Wes Helms. In the past, Cantu would switch to first base when Helms entered. Now, Gaby Sanchez frequently remains at first.

And at Triple-A New Orleans, highly touted prospect Logan Morrison — primarily a first baseman — has started in left field in nine straight games, including Monday afternoon. The last time Morrison started at first base was on July 19.

The significance of Morrison playing more in the outfield means the team appears to be leaning towards moving Chris Coghlan from left field to third base.

Coghlan, whose best position in the Minor Leagues was second base, saw considerable time at third base when he was a prospect. Defensively, Coghlan is said to be a little better at third than Cantu, whose best position is first base.

If Morrison is added to the lineup, it would provide a much needed left-handed bat. Morrison at New Orleans is hitting .306 with six homers and 44 RBIs with 16 doubles, and a .424 on-base percentage. He doesn’t generate big home run numbers, but he is seen as a plus .300 hitter in the big leagues.

Cantu may wind up being the only Marlin traded before Saturday’s deadline. Cody Ross, a subject of speculation, is a steady center fielder and teams haven’t been offering anything to entice the Marlins to make a trade.

Uggla is part of the team’s plans for 2011. The team is weighing whether to sign Uggla to a multi-year contract.

– Joe Frisaro

Marlins more deliberate about dealing

Pulling off three walk-off victories in five days has the Marlins taking a wait-and-see approach to making drastic deals.

Coming out of the All-Star Break, management said the 10-game homestand, which wraps up on Sunday, would decide which direction the club is heading.

By ralling to a 7-6 win over the Braves on Friday night — scoring twice off Billy Wagner in the ninth — the Marlins players have bought themselves more time. The organization no longer views Sunday as the day to determine their course of action. The team will continue to evaluate all the way up to the July 31 non-waiver deadline, which will come when the Marlins are on the West Coast. Next week they are at the Giants for four games before facing the Padres in San Diego.

Now at .500 for the first time since June 4, the Marlins are thinking they may indeed be able to make a run.

The team still may make a couple of trades. Jorge Cantu has drawn interest from the Giants, Rockies and Rangers. Cody Ross has a handful of teams — like the Red Sox, Reds, Dodgers and Braves — who are interested. Don’t expect the Marlins to deal with Atlanta. A couple of years ago, before the Braves acquired Nate McLouth, they had feelers out on Ross.

A match with Atlanta is doubtful. If the Marlins, now 6-2 on the homestand, feel they can make a run, they will need Ross, and wouldn’t send him to their division rival.

Several teams have inquired about Leo Nunez, including the Giants, Red Sox and Tigers. Recently, the Marlins told clubs that Nunez isn’t available, at least at this point. If they, however, fall out of the race, by July 31, that may change.

Still, indications are that barring a deal too good to pass up, Nunez will not be dealt.

Dan Uggla is not being shopped, and the organization is expected to pursue signing him long term in the off season. Ricky Nolasco also won’t likely be dealt. The Marlins also are entertaining signing Nolasco to a multi-year contract.

– Joe Frisaro
 

Marlins likely to keep Uggla

For more than a year, Dan Uggla’s name has been tossed around in trade rumors. Of late, he’s been linked in speculation with the Rockies, who have liked him for a couple of seasons.

While the Marlins have a policy of listening to possible offers on just about anyone on their team, there are indications that the club is not leaning toward trading the two-time All-Star second baseman.

In his fifth season with Florida, Uggla is a core player who is in his second season of arbitration.

The Marlins are considering retaining Uggla, not only for the remainder of the year, but to sign him again for 2011, his final season of arbitration. The organization could seek a long-term contract in the offseason, but that decision has not been determined.

What is clear is Uggla is a player the Marlins value and hope to build around, barring a trade offer that is too tempting to pass up.

Uggla paces the team with 16 homers. He has driven in 52 runs, and he’s batting .283.

In the clubhouse, Uggla’s leadership is valued.

The Marlins are in the midst of a 10-game homestand, and no trades are expected until after it is concluded on July 25.

A couple of deals are possible. The two position players who may be moved are Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross. Wes Helms is a veteran who has attracted the attention of some teams, including the Yankees. The Marlins also value Helms, and hope to make him part of the organization in a coaching capacity once his playing days are over.

– Joe Frisaro

 

Roundup: A Lowell-to-Rangers revival?

One of the biggest surprises of the offseason came when the Rangers nixed a proposed deal to acquire Mike Lowell, which led to one of the more uncomfortable situations in baseball, considering Lowell knew the Red Sox were looking to deal him and just couldn’t find a match. Well, according to a report by WEEI.com, we may have Lowell to Texas Part II. The Web site attributed an unnamed Major League source that the Rangers “continue to monitor” the status of Lowell — currently on the DL with soreness in his surgically repaired hip — and could have “increased interest” in a deal. 
The Red Sox and Rangers have continued to talk throughout the season about the possibility of bringing the previously vetoed deal back to life, according to the site. Texas would be interested because it just dealt Justin Smoak to the Rangers to acquire Cliff Lee, and current first baseman Chris Davis (.203 batting average, zero home runs in 19 games) is struggling. Still, the Rangers, according to WEEI.com, will continue to look for other trade options before pulling the trigger on another Lowell deal. 
Here’s more from around the league … 
* The Mets, as a surprise to no one, are in the market for starting pitching. ESPN’s Buster Olney named Jake Westbrook, Ted Lilly and — wait for it — Brett Myers as rotation candidates they’ve kept tabs on. 
* The Marlins could be on the verge of making a move, considering manager Edwin Rodriguez said Thursday that he’s thinking about plugging Emilio Bonifacio into the leadoff spot, even though there’s seemingly no position for him at the moment. Can that mean Cody Ross, Jorge Cantu or Dan Uggla are moved relatively soon? As MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro writes, this homestand could decide what course of action Florida takes in regards to the non-waiver Trade Deadline. 
* Struggling left-hander Dontrelle Willis was prepared to sit out the rest of the 2010 season, but the Giants gave him another shot with a Minor League contract, and the Alameda, Calif., product accepted. 
* A couple of rather notable bullpen moves were made late Thursday afternoon. The Reds signed 41-year-old right-hander Russ Springer, and the Phillies designated 36-year-old righty Nelson Figueroa for assignment. Meanwhile, GM Walt Jocketty may not be done tweaking the Reds’ bullpen just yet, writes MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. 
* Could Joba Chamberlain be next? That’s a question being posed by ESPNNewYork.com’s Andrew Marchand, who believes Chamberlain’s struggles (a 5.79 ERA in 37 1/3 innings) could lead to him being replaced before the Trade Deadline. 
* The Mariners signed three international prospects on Friday, according to Baseball America — Dominican outfielder Phillips Castillo ($2.2 million), Colombian right-hander Jose Torres ($851,000) and Venezuelan third baseman Yordyn Calderon ($477,500). 
* The Giants have long been linked to Royals outfielder David DeJesus. But it might be his teammate, Jose Guillen, who they end up acquiring, writes MLB.com’s Chris Haft. 
– Alden Gonzalez

Roundup: White Sox, Oswalt a match?

Jon Heyman of SI.com and MLB Network brought up that possibility on Sunday night, when he wrote on his Twitter account that the White Sox “might” consider adding Roy Oswalt after Cliff Lee signed with the Rangers, though they are “leery” about how he’ll react to switching from the National League to the American League for the first time. 
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com wrote via Twitter recently that Oswalt would use his full no-trade clause to block a trade to the White Sox and Tigers. But perhaps that changes. 
Oswalt said he’s not really sure how the Lee deal impacts his situation, but the White Sox — after a furious one-month run — are in the thick of things in the AL Central and are almost assured of being buyers before the non-waiver Trade Deadline. Since Jake Peavy is expected to miss the rest of the season, Chicago will likely need starting-pitching help if they hope for a division title. 
Oswalt would come at a pro-rated price tag of $15 million. The 32-year-old right-hander is owed $16 million next season and then has a $16 million option (with a $2 million buyout) for 2012. The Mets, Dodgers, Rays, Twins and several others could also be interested in adding a veteran starter like Oswalt. 
Here’s more from around the league as we await the State Farm Home Run Derby … 
* The Angels plan on pursuing speedy left fielder Carl Crawford when he becomes a free agent this offseason, according to FOXSports.com. For that reason, and because Kendry Morales is expected back in 2011, the club doesn’t want to acquire a first baseman who’s signed beyond the rest of this season. 
* It doesn’t look like the first-place Padres will be sellers before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, but it looks like they’ll be looking into smaller deals, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Lance Berkman and Jermaine Dye are two guys San Diego is looking into for the outfield, the newspaper stated. 
* The Blue Jays have made three of their late-inning relievers – Scott Downs, Jason Frasor and Kevin Gregg – available, according to multiple reports. All three of them are free agents at the end of this season and not part of Toronto’s long-term plans. 
* The financially strapped Marlins have made Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu available, but are holding off on Ricky Nolasco and Dan Uggla for now, according to FOXSports.com. Florida has a long climb ahead of itself in the second half if it hopes to content for a playoff spot, so drastic roster changes may be inevitable. 
* It would take “an extraordinary deal” for the Nationals to trade slugger Adam Dunn, general manager Mike Rizzo said Sunday. Rizzo also said the club wants Josh Willingham there “long-term.”
– Alden Gonzalez

Roundup: Tigers looking in Drew’s direction?

In search of middle-infield depth and a stable shortstop, the Tigers are “in the market” for the D-backs’ Stephen Drew, according to FOXSports.com. In Drew, the Tigers could improve their offensive production at shortstop — where a revolving door has led to a team-wide .235 batting average heading into Monday — and get a stable presence there. Drew isn’t a free agent until 2012. 

MLB.com reporter Jason Beck believes the Tigers don’t see Ramon Santiago as a long-term solution at shortstop and added: “If they have a chance to add a young shortstop they could keep around for a few years, there’s a good chance they’ll look into it.”
It’s unknown just how closely the Tigers are monitoring the market for Drew — who, like many of his Arizona teammates, is expected to be made available before the non-waiver Trade Deadline — but they’ll also need help at catcher, starting pitching and possibly reliever at some point, and it’s impossible to think they can get all of that. So they’ll have to prioritize. 
Here’s more from around the league … 
* The Rangers, Twins, Yankees and Mets are among the teams most active in discussions for much-desired starter Cliff Lee, according to FOXSports.com. The Cardinals and Phillies all had scouts watching Lee’s Sunday start — when he gave up a run in eight innings to move his ERA to 2.34 — but aren’t considered to have as strong an interest. The Dodgers also had a scout there, and they’re interested, too. 
* The further the Marlins drop out of the race in the National League East, the more likely it is that they become sellers, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro wrote. The most likely to be jettisoned is probably Jorge Cantu, who is a free agent after this season. So can Nate Robertson, Cody Ross, Dan Uggla and Ricky Nolasco. 
* The Braves signed veteran outfielder Willy Taveras to a Minor League contract recently and assigned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. Taveras was released last week by the Phillies, marking the third time he’s been released this year. 
– Alden Gonzalez
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