Results tagged ‘ Rays ’

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: 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

Ray Interested in Werth

According to the New York Post, the Rays are one of three teams interested in Phillies right-fielder Jayson Werth if he is available.

The report says that the Yankees and Red Sox also are interested in Werth, who will be a Type A free agent at the end of the season.

–Bill Chastain

Lee to Yankees imminent?

While most of the New York population felt the disappointment of the Knicks and Nets not acquiring LeBron James, the Yankees made themselves a frontrunner to acquire another marquee player: Cliff Lee. The New York Post reported late Thursday night that the Yankees were “on the brink” of acquiring Lee from the Mariners in exchange for a package that would include top catching prospect Jesus Monetero. 

While the Rangers, Twins, Mets, Rays and others have also been in the running, the Post wrote that the Yankees were “making the strongest move last night, coming from seeming disinterest into the clear front-runner.” Seattle officials, according to the Post, now want to move quickly and would like to move Lee before the All-Star break. 
The Yankees are currently in Seattle, and Lee is scheduled to start against the Yankees on Friday night. 
ESPN.com reported Friday morning that Lee to the Yankees was “just about done,” though there is still no agreement in place. News that the Yankees are involved aggressively, however, could’ve spurned other teams to make more-lucrative bids to acquire the ace left-hander. Still, the Yankees are deemed the favorite. 
FOXSports.com agreed that the Yankees are the front-runner and that the deal “awaits only the Mariners’ final approval.” At about 11:15 a.m. ET, Kevin Davidoff of Newsday reported via Twitter that the Mariners “told many interested teams that they’re out of the Lee sweepstakes,” adding: “All signs point to [the] Yankees completing this deal.”
– Alden Gonzalez

Roundup: Lee sweepstakes heating up

It’s hard to say who will come out on top of the Lee sweepstakes as Fox Sports reported on Wednesday that it would take a “mammoth” offering to pry Lee away from the Mariners. Other reports have suggested the Mariners want as much as two blue-chip prospects and one other talented young player in exchange for Lee.

The Rays’ chances increased on Tuesday when principal owner Stu Sternberg met with the media on Tuesday night and basically gave his blessing to midseason additions to the club. Does that mean the club has the assets made available to them to go out and acquire Cliff Lee?  Only time will tell, but his words indicated the Rays would spare no expense to see results in the standings.

“By any means necessary,” Sternberg told reporters. “We’ll do whatever. Money won’t be an object. Players are always an object for us and the money will be an impediment, but we’ll figure it out if it makes all the sense in the world for this team.”

Sternberg’s announcement came the same day as MLB analyst Peter Gammons tweeted about a possible BJ Upton for Lee deal, increasing the rumor mill.

Here’s a look at some of the other developments around the league:

 –  Henry Schulman of the SF Chronicle suggests the Giants are interested in bringing Brewers outfielder Corey Hart to San Francisco, but Milwaukee might not be willing to let him go.

 –  Reports out of Philadelphia say that the Phillies had a scout watching Oakland hurler Ben Sheets’ latest start. Sheets and his big salary could be moved by the Trade Deadline if the Athletics move farther out of contention, and the Phillies appear somewhat interested.

– After being designated for assignment by the D-backs recently, hurler Dontrelle Willis needs a break from baseball. The level of interest in Willis’ services is unknown, but he needs some time away from the game after the trials of this season, his agent told USA Today.

– The Pirates picked up an extra arm on Wednesday, trading for right-hander Sean Gallagher in exchange for cash. Gallagher is still only 24 and could provide some helpful innings for the beleaguered Pirates pen. 

 

 

–Bailey Stephens

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