Baseball Rumors

[twentyonekid]

MLB Rumor Central: TRADES: Sox deal hinges on Lowell



More Rumors: MLB | NBA | NFL | NHL

Add Widget
You are signed into Insider and have access to this premium feature.

Sunday, July 5
TRADES: Sox deal hinges on Lowell

Mike Lowell | Red Sox
The Red Sox may not make a deal until they see how the oft-injured Mike Lowell performs when he comes off the disabled list. The Boston Globe says the Red Sox are not likely to make a deal over the next three weeks and adds that Boston is reluctant to deal Mark Kotsay.

TRADES: Giants pursue Sanchez

Freddy Sanchez | Pirates | Interested: Twins? Giants?
Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez has drawn the interest of the Giants. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the two teams are talking trade and that the Giants, who have been looking to add a quality bat to their lineup for weeks, have had a scout following Sanchez. The newspaper added that the teams also have discussed Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche, but those talks have not progressed as far. Sanchez and LaRoche both are eligible for free agency after the season. FoxSports.com reported that the Twins are interested in Sanchez as well as relievers Matt Capps and John Grabow.

TRADES: Royals shopping Guillen

Jose Guillen | Royals
The Royals have tried to deal veteran outfielder Jose Guillen and the Braves are a possibile destination, according to the Boston Globe. The newspaper points to the ties Dayton Moore has with the Braves organization and notes that Jeff Francoeur is a favorite of the Royals' general manager.

DEPTH CHART: Replacement for Wang?

Chien-Ming Wang | Yankees
The Yankees now have some decisions to make with their pitching staff after Chien-Ming Wang was forced to leave Saturday's start against Toronto with a shoulder injury that could land him him on the disabled list. The New York Daily News says the right move will be to keep Phil Hughes in the bullpen because he has emerged as too valuable a set-up man for Mariano Rivera. "He's one of the options we have," manager Joe Girardi said, "but he's been really, really important to us in the bullpen." The most likely scenario would likely see the Yankees call up Sergio Mitre from Triple-A, but could they now look outside the organization?

TRADES: Johnson not being shopped

Nick Johnson | Nationals
Acting general manager Mike Rizzo told the Washington Post that the Nationals are not actively shopping first baseman Nick Johnson, the subject of numerous trade rumors. "Nick is probably the one with the most trade rumors, but we're not looking to move him," Rizzo said. "We'll only move him if we have the right opportunity. I don't want to put names as to who's most likely [to be traded], because we don't really know." Johnson also insisted there would be no fire sale simply because the Nats own baseball's worst record. Could that mean he is waiting for better offers?

TRADES: Suitors for the Braves

ESPN's Buster Olney wrote last week that the Braves were willing to trade Yunel Escobar for a bat. The Atlanta Journal Constitution added that the Braves were trying to make a move for the shortstop while also raising the possibility that Atlanta would consider trading Javier Vazquez. Buster's blog details six possible suitors for the Braves: Red Sox, Royals, Brewers, Twins, Dodgers and Athletics.

DEPTH CHART: Gamel pushed out?

The emergence of Casey McGehee could prompt the Brewers to send prized third base prospect Mat Gamel back to the minor leagues. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel said the Brewers have held discussions on what best to do with Gamel, who has started just three games since June 21. "It's a tough call. I don't want to bury him. Yet, you're trying to contend for a pennant," manager Ken Macha said.

Saturday, July 4
TRADES: Can Rangers still deal?

The financial health of the Texas Rangers has been called into question amid reports that the club has borrowed $15 million from Major League Baseball's central fund in order to pay its players. Rangers team president Nolan Ryan insisted that the club was not in dire straits, and that it was business as usual under owner Tom Hicks. "If we have something that would be beneficial, we would bring it to Tom," Ryan said of trade offers. "There haven't been any restrictions put on us." A columnist in the Dallas Morning News did not agree, saying the Rangers would be unable to take on any notable contracts for the rest of the season.

TRADES: Price for Holliday

Matt Holliday | Athletics | Interested: Cardinals?
ESPN's Jayson Stark writes in his last edition of Rumblings & Grumblings that the Athletics are not quite ready to deal Matt Holliday just yet and that the asking price will be a steep one. The cost will be two prospects "with tremendous upside." One of those prospects must be able to contribute immediately and the other must be able to contribute next season. Stark says one thing that remains unclear is how much of the approximately $6.75 million left on Holliday's contract the A's are willing to pick up.

TRADES: Tribe dealing Betancourt?

Rafael Betancourt | Indians
Talk of a possible Indians' fire sale has circulated for weeks, and ESPN's Jayson Stark says that the name of reliever Rafael Betancourt can be added to that list. In the latest edition of Rumblings & Grumblings, Stark writes that the Tribe is interested in moving Betancourt if he gets his act together after he comes off the disabled list. While the Indians might be interested in trading Kerry Wood, his two-year, $20 million contract makes him unmovable anyway.
MORE RUMBLINGS FROM STARK
Teams have asked Royals about Gil Meche


NEGOTIATIONS: Sox talking with SS Iglesias

According to SI.com, the Red Sox are in discussions with Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias and the deal, if finalized, could be for about $8 million. Iglesias, listed at 19 years old, defected in Canada during last year's World Junior Championships.

TRADES: Yanks have eyes on Grabow

John Grabow | Pirates | Interested: Yankees?
The Yankees could be interested in Pirates pitcher John Grabow. The New York Post reported that the Pirates had two scouts at Thursday's game between the Yankees and the Mariners. Their presence only adds to speculation the Yankees have an interest in the 30-year-old Grabow as a second lefthander for their bullpen.