More A's deals unlikely.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Posted by Buster Olney
The Oakland Athletics were among the most active teams in trade discussions during the past 35 days as they swapped pitchers Rich Harden and Joe Blanton, and they've had some talks with the White Sox about Huston Street in recent days. But one source says the chances of the A's making a deal before the deadline are "about 1 percent." Everything can change with one phone call, of course.
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Rays consider Bay, Dunn
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Posted by Buster Olney
The Rays have been involved in conversations with the Pirates about Jason Bay, who would fill their need for a right-handed hitter perfectly, and for the Reds' Adam Dunn, a left-handed hitter who leads the majors with 32 homers and has a .385 on-base percentage. But with less than five hours remaining before the trade deadline, the Rays aren't sure which way their talks will go -- and it might be that in the end, their upgrade will be Rocco Baldelli, the veteran outfielder who has been on a rehabilitation assignment in the minors.
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Marlins made attempt to trade for Pudge
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Posted by Jayson Stark
According to clubs that have spoken with Detroit, Pudge Rodriguez was offered to several teams Wednesday before he was traded to the Yankees. And the one other team that made a serious attempt to deal for him was the Marlins. But they didn't have a veteran back-of-the-bullpen arm to offer. So Detroit chose Kyle Farnsworth over the Marlins' prospect package.
The Marlins are still in the catchers' market as the deadline approaches. Other names they've been linked to include Texas' Gerald Laird, Baltimore's Ramon Hernandez and the Giants' Bengie Molina. But it now appears Molina isn't going to be traded.
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No movement in Washburn talks
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Posted by Buster Olney
As of 10:30 a.m. ET, the Mariners and Yankees had not picked up the threads of their conversations about pitcher Jarrod Washburn, and executives involved in the trade talks don't expect that their standoff will be resolved.
The Yankees are willing to pay the rest of Washburn's salary, about $14 million, but aren't willing to trade a good prospect in the deal, and the Mariners asked for the Yankees' best pitching prospect. It is a situation, however, that could change rapidly with one phone call.
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Cardinals could trade Lohse
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Posted by Jayson Stark
Here's one of the most surprising names to pop up on the "available" list in the past 24 hours -- Kyle Lohse. Officials of two teams that spoke with the Cardinals report that they've been offering to deal Lohse if they can get back the right package.
The Cardinals have been looking for both a bat and a bullpen arm. And apparently, they concluded they didn't have the prospects to get both. They got Chris Carpenter back from the disabled list Wednesday, with Adam Wainwright a couple of weeks behind. And they have no assurance they can re-sign Lohse because he's a Scott Boras client.
So Lohse could dramatically alter the starting-pitching market Thursday if the Cardinals can find the right taker. Among the teams still looking for a starter: White Sox, Rockies and Yankees.
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Manny deal '50-50'
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Posted by Jayson Stark
Here's what I know about the status of this deal, as of this morning:
• An official of one of these three teams placed the odds of this getting done today at "50-50."
• Multiple sources have said that outfield prospect Mike Stanton is not in this trade, although Boston asked for him and Pittsburgh has been insisting on a prospect of his caliber, in addition to Jeremy Hermida and other prospects.
• Despite reports that left-handed reliever John Grabow would wind up in Boston, indications are that he would actually go to the Marlins if this trade gets done.
• The status of Marlins pitcher Ryan Tucker (recently sent back to the minor leagues to be converted to the bullpen) remains uncertain. Tucker, according to a baseball man who has spoken to the teams involved, is still a name that's "in play."
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Maddux talks stalled
Thursday, July 31, 2008 | Print Entry
Posted by Buster Olney
The conversations between the Dodgers and Padres about future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux have hit a roadblock, and it's unclear whether the two sides will continue talks on Thursday. The Dodgers have mild interest in Maddux, who essentially has boxed in San Diego with his insistence that he can be dealt only to a West Coast team; the rival Dodgers are the only team on the coast with a need for a starter. The two sides are far apart in agreeing on what compensation is appropriate for the pitcher.
If Maddux is not dealt before the deadline, the Dodgers could try to place a waiver claim on the pitcher in August, and once again, the Padres would be left with little leverage.