Results tagged ‘ Pirates ’

Roundup: Trade Deadline comes and goes


That’s it. The non-waiver Trade Deadline has now passed, and the dust
has settled. Several big-name players — like Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt,
Dan Haren and Lance Berkman — wound up switching teams, while
several notable trade candidates — such as Adam Dunn, Jayson Werth,
Scott  Downs, Brett Myers and Prince Fielder –
stayed put. 

Here’s a look at what did
happen Saturday … 

* The Dodgers acquired the best remaining starting pitcher on the
market, post-Oswalt, by swinging a deal for Lilly of the Cubs in
the afternoon. In the deal, the southpaw — a free agent after this season and
making $12 million in 2010 — infielder Ryan Theriot and $2.5 million go to Los Angeles, while infielder Blake
DeWitt and Minor League right-handed-pitching prospects Kyle Smit
and Brett Wallach head
to Chicago. 

* The Cardinals officially acquired Indians pitcher Jake
Westbrook in a three-team deal with the Indians and Padres. Westbrook
was scratched from his Saturday start as the deal was set into motion. The
Padres acquired Ryan Ludwick from the Cards, while Padres prospect
Cory Kluber was sent to
Cleveland and pitcher Nick Greenwood went to St. Louis.

* The Yankees made some big moves (surprised?). They solidified the designated-hitter role by
getting Berkman from the Astros, bolstered their outfield with the
acquisition of Austin Kearns from the Indians, and on Saturday, added an arm to the bullpen by getting
another Cleveland piece, closer Kerry Wood (acquired for a player to be
named later or cash). 

* A few other relievers were dealt just before the 4 p.m. ET Deadline.
Coveted left-hander Will Ohman went to the Marlins in exchange for Minor
League right-hander Rick VandenHurk; Pirates closer Octavio Dotel
was dealt to the Dodgers for right-hander James
McDonald and Minor League outfielder Andrew Lambo; Dotel’s
teammate, lefty Javier Lopez, was sent to the Giants for a couple of Minor
Leaguers; and the Giants got Ramon Ramirez from the Red Sox. 

* Just before the Deadline, the Red Sox got catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from the
Rangers in exchange for two prospects — right-hander Ramon Mendez and
first baseman Chris McGuiness — and a player to be named later or cash. 

* The Braves bolstered their bullpen and got some needed help in
the outfield by swinging a last-minute deal with the Royals, one
that brought right-hander Kyle
Farnsworth and outfielder Rick Ankiel (along with cash
considerations) to Atlanta in exchange for outfielder Gregor Blanco,
right-hander Jesse Chavez and Minor League lefty Tim Collins. 

* The Diamondbacks acquired outfielder Ryan Church,
infielder Bobby Crosby and reliever D.J. Carrasco from the
Pirates in exchange for catcher Chris Snyder and Minor League shortstop Pedro
Ciriaco. 

* Looking to strengthen their bullpen, the
Rays nabbed veteran right-handed reliever Chad Qualls from the D-backs. 

* In what would have been a true Deadline blockbuster, FoxSports.com is reporting on Saturday that
the White Sox had been trying to acquire Manny Ramirez from the Dodgers,
but the Dodgers didn’t bite on the first attempt. 

– Alden Gonzalez and Bailey Stephens

Bucs discussing Maholm with multiple teams

A baseball source has confirmed that the Pirates are discussing possible Paul Maholm trade scenarios with multiple teams. The Pirates still do not feel a need to have to move Maholm, but if another club meets its asking price, Pittsburgh will make a deal.

Recent reports have listed the Dodgers, Padres and Mets as teams interested in acquiring the left-hander before Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline. Multiple sources have told MLB.com that no deal is imminent.

When asked to comment on specific rumors, Pirates GM Neal Huntington said: “We will not discuss any specific trade rumor.  We are working through various scenarios with various players and will make a move only if we believe the return to be compelling.”

Maholm, who is under contract through 2011 and has a clup option for 2012, doesn’t have the ability to veto a trade. He had this to say on Friday regarding the rumors:

“I’ve always said I want to be on a winning team. My first choice would be on the team that turns it around here. I’ve been in Pittsburgh my whole career and I love the fans, love the ballpark, and I think they deserve a winner. I want to be a part of that. But it’s not up to me. If they come in and tell me to go somewhere, I’m going. I don’t have a ‘no trade [clause].’ We’ll just see how it goes.”

– Jenifer Langosch

Carrasco hopeful of chance to play for contender

Aware that the Pirates could dangle his name to teams looking for relief help before Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline, D.J. Carrasco said that he would welcome the chance to join a team making a push for the playoffs.

“Yeah, I’d like to have an opportunity to go and play in the postseason and play with a contender,” Carrasco said on Wednesday. “I’m not getting any younger. That window gets a little smaller as you get older. At the same time, hopefully it could help the Pirates build if they can get what they need from me.”

The market for quality relievers isn’t particularly strong right now, which could bode well for the Pirates considering that they would be selling from an area of strength. Though Octavio Dotel is speculated to be the most likely to go before the deadline, Carrasco’s versatility could certainly be an asset to a team looking to fill a bullpen hole.

In 54 2/3 innings this season, Carrasco has posted a 3.95 ERA, struck out 44 and walked 22. Fourteen of his 44 appearances have been over an inning in length, as he has been used as the Pirates’ primary long reliever. Carrasco has maintained, too, that he’d welcome the chance to start again, though it’s unlikely that a team would acquire him solely for that purpose.

Carrasco comes at an affordable price – a $950,000 salary for 2010 plus up to another $300,000 in incentives – though it’s unknown what type of return the Pirates are seeking from clubs inquiring about the right-hander.

– Jenifer Langosch

Doumit unlikely to be moved

The Pirates placed Ryan Doumit on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday with a concussion, which would seem to take him out of discussions leading up to the July 31 Trade Deadline. The Pirates were making Doumit available — at the right cost, of couse — but his injury-plagued history was already extensive before this latest addition. This concussion certainly can’t help his value, and if there were any interested teams, expect them to either back off or lessen their offer.

To this point, though, interest in Doumit seemed miminal anyways.

On a side note, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington addressed the Trade Deadline briefly again on Thursday, noting that the Pirates’ sudden results improvement hasn’t changed the team’s stance.

“We talk about the balancing of the short-term and the long-term goals all the time,” Huntington said. “You want to keep the momentum going forward, but if we get a situation that allows us to take a big step forward as an organization, it’s something that we have to take a look at. We’re trying to be beyond just the talent accumulation mode. We’re trying to build a winning Major League team here. Each one of those moves will be factored in as we go forward.”

– Jenifer Langosch

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

Bucs listening, but without urgency

General manager Neal Huntington hasn’t promised that the Pirates will be entirely inactive on the trade front through the end of the month, but it’s obvious that the urgency to deal away players for prospects is not like it has been in each of the past two seasons.

“This year, we’ve got some guys that we’re not real motivated to move,” Huntington said. “If we get a good baseball trade, then we’ll make it. But we’re beyond the prospect collection mode, and we’re trying to move forward with this group.”

Veterans Paul Maholm, Zach Duke and Ryan Doumit have garnered interest in the past, and all three could be asked about again over the next 11 days. Doumit and Duke haven’t had particularly strong seasons, though, which could affect their value. And without the need to have to make deals, don’t expect the Pirates to sell low.

Relievers Brendan Donnelly and D.J. Carrasco are other potential trade pieces given how valuable reliable veteran relievers are for clubs looking to make a postseason push. And then there is closer Octavio Dotel, who perhaps has as much value as anyone that the Pirates would be willing to part with midseason. 

Dotel’s name has already surfaced as a potential fit on a number of clubs, though there have been no indications that it has fostered into anything more than speculation at this point. So why does Dotel seem as likely to go as anyone else in the Pirates’ clubhouse?

To begin with, he comes at a reasonable price given his experience, which has spanned 12 seasons. Dotel’s $3.5 million salary is plenty affordable, and his $4.5 million club option for 2011 becomes a mutual option if he is dealt.

Furthermore, the Pirates might not need the 36-year-old right-hander beyond this season. They seem to have a closer-in-waiting with Evan Meek, and if the club is planning to hand that job to Meek next year, this would be the time to try and get something for Dotel.

– Jenifer Langosch

Roundup: A’s kick off int’l signing with 3B

The international signing period began Friday, 29 days before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, and the Athletics were the first to make an imprint by signing Venezuelan third baseman Renato Nunez to a $2.2 million contract, according to Baseball America.

Nunez, 16, was deemed the top hitter available out of Venezuela this year by several international scouts, Baseball America wrote. The international signing period is for players born outside of the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and are thus ineligible for the First-Year Player Draft. Players must be 16 years old when they sign and turn 17 by either Sept. 1 or the end of their first pro season, whichever comes later. 
Here’s more from around the league … 
* With Chase Utley out about eight weeks after surgery on his right thumb, the Phillies suddenly need help at second base. And though assistant general manager Scott Proefrock told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, “I don’t think it’s necessarily a situation where we have to go get somebody,” names like Ty Wigginton, Miguel Tejada and Kelly Johnson have been mentioned. The Orioles recently promoted third baseman Josh Bell, which could make Wigginton and Tejada available. But O’s president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail told MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli that’s not necessarily the case. 
* Because he’s a free agent after this season, he’ll come rather affordable at a pro-rated share of $8 million, the Mariners are currently not in contention and, well, he has a track record for making an impact on a new team after the Trade Deadline (see: 2009 Phillies), Cliff Lee will likely be the most sought-after player this month. But a source with knowledge of Seattle’s thinking told The New York Daily News the Mariners have not yet made Lee available. A host of teams — most notably the Mets and Dodgers — will undoubtedly be interested when he is. 
* Lee is Plan A for many teams seeking starting pitching, and Roy Oswalt may be Plan B. But Oswalt — making $15 million this season, $16 million next season and with a full no-trade clause in his contract — will be more difficult to acquire. MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart wrote recently that the Astros would be willing to pay a portion of Oswalt’s remaining salary if they get premier prospects in return. 
* The Giants traded Bengie Molina to the Rangers on Thursday. And according to MLB.com’s Chris Haft, that deal could open the door for San Francisco to add a badly needed productive hitter, particularly a corner infielder. 
* The Pirates and Blue Jays, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, are bidding on Mexican pitching prospect Luis Heredia. A source told the Post-Gazette the Blue Jays offered the 15-year-old right-hander $2.8 million, while the Pirates offered $2.5 million. Heredia can’t sign until Aug. 16, when he turns 16. 

– Alden Gonzalez

Bucs willing to listen

Management has promised Pirates fans that this Trade Deadline period will not be like the last two, which featured an exodus of veteran players and an influx of young talent. That talent accumulation period is mostly over, which means the organization doesn’t feel like it has to pull the trigger on any proposed deal. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean nothing will happen.

Pittsburgh will listen to anyone who comes with a proposal, and the likeliest candidates to go are the players under one-year contracts. That’s a group that includes outfielder Ryan Church, infielder Bobby Crosby and relievers Brendan Donnelly and D.J. Carrasco. Octavio Dotel can be added to that list if the Pirates aren’t planning to exercise his $4.5 million option for 2011. With these guys likely to be playing elsewhere next season, Pittsburgh can get something back if they trade them away now.

Catcher Ryan Doumit and left-handers Zach Duke and Paul Maholm have been asked about in the past and again, the Pirates will listen to any offers brought their way. Maholm would be able to net the biggest return at this point, but the Pirates would need to be overwhelmed by an offer to agree to part with the team’s most (and often, only) reliable starter. Maholm is also under the team’s control for two more seasons and at quite a reasonable price tag.

– Jenifer Langosch

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