MLB FanHouse

Baseball Brunch: Off to the Races

Ed Price — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Angels, Athletics, Blue Jays, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Giants, Marlins, Mets, Padres, Phillies, Rangers, Red Sox, Reds, Rockies, Royals, Tigers, Twins, White Sox, MLB Playoffs, Minor Leagues, MLB Inside Scoop, Baseball Brunch, MLB Trade Deadline

Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

Now that the hands are dealt -- expect for one or two more this month -- we can examine the pennant races to come.

There wasn't much point in assessing the races until after Friday's non-waiver trade deadline, when we know what we're dealing with. Some important pieces will change hands after they clear waivers this month, but they probably won't be difference-makers.

Before we get to the predictions, though, let's talk about one trade that didn't happen.

Toronto held on to Roy Halladay. The Blue Jays had every right to ask for a boatload of prospects for him, as Halladay may be the most reliable pitcher in the game.

The strategy was to either use Halladay for a quick rebuild or keep him and make a run in 2010. An official from another team told FanHouse that strategy comes "right out of the Oakland playbook: load up for a year, take your shot. If it doesn't work, start over."

Remember, Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi came from the A's.

There's one problem, and that's Halladay himself. He was said to be quite motivated to move on, because his goal -- stated publicly -- is to get a chance to pitch in the playoffs.

That won't happen this year. And now that he's been teased with the proposition of moving to a contender, he may itch even more to get out of Toronto. He may be more vocal about what he really wants, which is a shot at October.

One person familiar with the situation assured FanHouse that trading Halladay will get revisited over the winter. He won't be worth quite as much then as he was last week, since the acquiring team gets him for just one season rather than one plus part of a second, but there may be more clubs involved in the bidding.

Halladay and Ricciardi have a good relationship. If Halladay makes it known he's unhappy, Ricciardi may accommodate him.

Until then, though, we have to play two months plus the postseason.

The most compelling race should be in the division that was most active in July trading. And while Cleveland was trying to re-stock its farm system, contenders Detroit, Chicago and Minnesota were all making a move for this year.

Edge to the Tigers.

At least for this year. They figure to get about 12 starts from Jarrod Washburn, which gives them the best one-through-four starting pitchers in the AL. Meanwhile, Jake Peavy figures to make seven starts max for the White Sox because he has to work back from an ankle tendon problem.

That five-start gap is enough for Detroit to hold onto its division lead.

The other three AL playoff teams should be the Red Sox, Angels and Yankees -- even though the latter two didn't make a significant move.

Boston recognized its offensive deficiencies and addressed them with the addition of Victor Martinez. The Angels should hold on because the Rangers seemed to be fading and couldn't pull off a booster deal.

The Yankees have an issue in rotation depth, and maybe some back-end starter will pass through waivers. They need to do something, because if they don't, then if Andy Pettitte, A.J. Burnett, Joba Chamberlain or Sergio Mitre has any kind of issue the rest of the way, the Yankees will have to subtract from their bullpen to fill the hole.

In the NL, the race for two spots between the Rockies, Giants, Cubs, Cardinals, Marlins, Braves and (perhaps) the Mets should be fun.

All but the Mets made some kind of move. The suspicion here is that San Francisco grabs the wild card because all it needed was a little more offense to supplement its pitching. Since the All-Star break, the Giants have lost eight games, and five of those were by the scores of 2-1, 2-0, 4-2, 4-2 and 5-1.

The Phillies will hold on in the East and the Dodgers in the West, leaving the jumbled Central. Like with San Francisco, St. Louis addressed its offensive need and seems OK in the pitching department, so that's the pick.

That gives us a postseason first round of Philadelphia vs. San Francisco and Los Angeles vs. St. Louis. We'll go with a Phils-Cards NLCS and the Phillies back in the World Series.

In the AL, the Angels would play the AL East runner-up (we'll say the Yankees) and the Tigers the AL East winners. We know the Yankees can't beat the Angels, and we'll take Boston over Detroit.

But the Angels aren't quite that good, so they fall to the Red Sox -- meaning a Boston-Philadelphia World Series.

Who wins? Get back to us in October if these predictions are correct.

Overheard and Understood

o. Lost in the shuffle after the bungled news conference to announce the decision is the impact of the Mets' firing of Tony Bernazard, who was supposedly overseeing their farm system. Bernazard had detractors inside the organization as well as in the media, but sources said he had ingratiated himself with GM Omar Minaya and COO Jeff Wilpon. One source said Bernazard ran off a number of good minor-league instructors (which has manifested itself when the players have reached the majors) and Gary LaRocque, who at one point ran the scouting and player development departments. LaRocque, the source said, brought a sense of organization to the front office, making up for one of Minaya's weakness -- and that too has been exposed in recent years. "We do a number of things by the seat of the pants," the source said. [LaRocque] was a structure guy. [Minaya] knows he needs a structure guy." Now Minaya has a chance to correct that.

Chart of the Week
It's a lofty comparison, and not a prediction, but look at Mike Schmidt's statistics from his 23rd birthday (July 27, 1972) through his 26th birthday compared to Mark Reynolds' numbers since his 23rd birthday (Reynolds turns 26 on Monday):
Stat	Schmidt	Reynolds
G	404	365
AVG	.244	.262
OBP	.362	.342
SLG	.470	.503
OPS	.832	.845
HR	74	75
RBI	227	229
SO	401	476
BB	234	153
Source: Diamondbacks, STATS LLC

o. While getting Cliff Lee, the Phillies kept most of their top young players. "They don't want to give up [lefty J.A.] Happ, and I don't blame them," one scout said. "He's come up with a really good changeup. He throws across his body but is able to get the ball back inside. If you can do that, you're going to be successful." Another scout called outfielder Michael Taylor, now in Triple-A, "the best player in the [Double-A] Eastern League. Plus, plus power. For a big kid, he doesn't strike out a lot. Good pitch recognition. He has a chance to hit for average and power. He can run and throw."

o. Four rookies have nine wins: Rick Porcello, Ricky Romero, Jeff Niemann, Matt Palmer. There haven't been four rookie 13-game winners in the same season since 2002 (Ryan Jensen, Kaz Ishii, Rodrigo Lopez, Jason Jennings).

o. Philadelphia went 20-7 in July, its most wins in any month since going 20-8 in May 2001, and its winningest July since 1963.

o. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, when San Diego beat Cincinnati on Wednesday, it marked the first time since the rookie rule was established in 1957 that three rookies combined on a one-hitter (Mat Latos, Greg Burke and Mike Ekstrom).

o. Enough already of people ripping the Pirates or bemoaning the breakup of the team. This isn't the selloff of the 1997 Marlins. At least Pittsburgh is trying, by using what players had value to restock and start all over.

o. Colorado has rocketed into contention under interim manager Jim Tracy, but one NL scout said first baseman Todd Helton deserves a lot of the credit. "He's this decade's [Jeff] Bagwell," the scout said, "the star player in the clubhouse who puts the team on his back. He's part of the reason they've recovered."

o. Unless there's a rainout, Oakland will play a franchise-record 28 straight days after the All-Star break (July 16-Aug. 12). In fact, the A's have just five off days in the second half because of makeup games.

o. Toronto's Marco Scutaro is on pace to be just the fourth shortstop to field .993 or better and average more than three assists per nine innings, after Rey Sanchez in 2000, Mike Bordick in 2002 and Omar Vizquel in 1998.

o. When Kansas City got double-digit strikeouts games from starters two nights in a row last weekend (10 for Zack Greinke and 13 for Luke Hochevar) it marked the first time that happened for the Royals since Tom Gordon and Kevin Appier in 1993.

Baseball Brunch: Off to the Races originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MLB Trade Deadline 2009: Winners, Losers and Everything in Between

Andrew Johnson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST

Filed under: Brewers, Cardinals, Indians, Phillies, Rangers, Rays, Red Sox, Tigers, MLB Trade Deadline

So you thought that once Matt Holliday went to St. Louis and Cliff Lee wound up with the Phillies deadline day itself would be anticlimactic? Hardly.

Three All-Stars, including a former Rookie of the Year and Cy Young, went elsewhere on July 31, and all that happened while the biggest name on the market all month, Roy Halladay, stayed put.

No, this deadline did not disappoint. There was a flurry of activity right down to 4 PM ET and a legitimate shocker to finish it all off. What better way to wrap up all of the intrigue then with a look at the early winners and losers? Join me -- and a few other members of the MLB FanHouse crew -- as we break it all down after the jump.

More Coverage: Jays' Ricciardi Overplays Hand | Full Roundup

Winners

Philadelphia had been looking for rotation help since at least May. And the Phillies were the best match for getting Roy Halladay, with a deep farm system and the knowledge that he'd approve a trade there. They didn't get 'Doc,' though, opting for a slightly lesser pitcher in Cliff Lee -- but they got Lee by giving up much less. The two position players they surrendered may not wind up as above-average big-league regulars, and they held on to Kyle Drabek and J.A. Happ. Lee isn't postseason-tested, but neither is Halladay, and he too comes from the tougher AL, so he should be fine even in Citizens Bank Park. Lee even had a better home run rate than Halladay. -- Ed Price

The Red Sox have been looking for an offensive upgrade since last winter when they were hot and heavy after Mark Teixeira. Victor Martinez isn't the hitter Teixeira is, but he should help Boston plenty, especially because of his versatility -- he can fill in at first base, pushing Kevin Youkilis over to third base, and spell the aging Jason Varitek behind the plate. The Red Sox offense has declined in batting average, on-base percentage and OPS every month of the season so far. V-Mart, while not an elite offensive force, is very, very good and should help stem that tide. Better yet, the acquisition cost was low. Boston did not have to surrender Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden -- two pitchers it might need in the second half with a fragile rotation -- or top offensive prospect Lars Anderson. Justin Masterson isn't as critical to the bullpen as he once was with the emergence of Daniel Bard, and Nick Hagadone has made only 10 starts since a major surgical procedure. Oh yeah, they'll have Martinez in 2010 as well. -- Andrew Johnson

Yes, they paid a steep price to get Matt Holliday, giving up Brett Wallace, their best prospect. At the same time, Wallace seems destined for either first base or designated hitter, positions which make him entirely expendable to the Albert Pujols-led Cardinals. Since July 1, Holliday is hitting .383/.469/.638 and if he stays hot, that gives St. Louis an imposing Pujols-Holliday-Ryan Ludwick alley in the heart of the order. Without Holliday, the Cards were a borderline playoff team. With him, they're one of the two favorites in the National League. -- Pat Lackey

The Giants needed some offense, and they needed it badly. By acquiring Freddy Sanchez and Ryan Garko, San Francisco replaced a quarter of its everyday lineup. Neither player is a difference-maker -- Martinez and Holliday were the only true impact offensive players who moved -- but they are definite improvements over what the Giants had at those positions. Also, both may stick around beyond this year. Garko isn't eligible for free agency until after 2012 and Sanchez has an option for next year. It's a little pricey, at more than $8 million, but the Giants might be able to renegotiate it. The cost for those players was two minor-league pitchers, Tim Alderson and Scott Barnes. Alderson was considered the second-best pitching prospect in the organization, but a distant second to Madison Bumgarner. At best, he'd have been the No. 4 starter behind Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Bumgarner in the future. -- Jeff Fletcher

Kudos to Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski. Detroit clearly needed offensive help most, but once Holliday was gone, that bat wasn't there. So instead of twiddling his thumbs or getting a hitter for the sake of getting a hitter (with no guarantee of quality), he strengthened a strength by adding Jarrod Washburn to one of the best rotations in baseball. The left-hander is not a flashy pickup like the rival White Sox's addition of Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, but he'll be much more reliable over the final two months of 2009 than Peavy. He's no slouch either -- ranking in the top seven in ERA in the big boy league. -- Andrew Johnson

Losers

As the trade deadline passed, Tampa Bay sat seven games out in the AL East, in third place, and -- more importantly -- third in the wild card, 4 1/2 back of Boston and three behind Texas. The Rays looked into Halladay and Martinez, but in the end decided to hang onto their prospects, a strategy that in the past helped them build the team they have. But this July called for action, especially an added bat or a piece for the shaky bullpen. Perhaps a reliever will be available after clearing waivers in August, but at this point Tampa Bay has decided to chase from behind by standing pat. -- Ed Price

The Angels are a team built for now, with a list of impending free agents that includes John Lackey, Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero, yet they did nothing to address either of their biggest needs for the present. Their bullpen has been among the worst in the league all season. Even closer Brian Fuentes, who was the one consistent reliever, has struggled lately. George Sherrill, Joe Beimel, Rafael Betancourt and John Grabow all changed teams, and Los Angeles didn't get any of them. They could have gotten Michael Wuertz from the A's or Heath Bell from the Padres if they'd sweetened their offers, but they didn't. The Angels also could have used a starter, and they got no one. They still may have enough to get to the postseason -- the Rangers didn't do anything either -- but they could be vulnerable in October. -- Jeff Fletcher

All year, the Brewers were connected to the big-name pitchers on the trade market, from Peavy to Halladay. As the deadline approached, they held firm in their stance that Alcides Escobar and Mat Gamel were untouchable. That's fine, especially since both of them seem to have a future in Milwaukee. They set their sight on Washburn, who could've potentially shored up their rotation behind Yovani Gallardo and at least kept them in the wild-card hunt. But they decided the asking price was still too high and ended up with Claudio Vargas. This isn't a long-term loss for them, but with the Cardinals adding Holliday and the Cubs getting John Grabow to fill their need for a left-handed reliever, the Brewers' inactivity will probably cost them dearly in the short-term. -- Pat Lackey

Much like the Brewers, this isn't necessarily a long-term loss, but make no mistake, the Rangers are in the playoff hunt right now, three games out in the AL West and 1 1/2 back of the Red Sox in the wild-card race entering Friday. And they did nothing to get better. Though Texas' pitching staff has actually been a strength so far -- it's allowed the third-fewest runs in the American League this year -- it will need pitching help to catch either Boston or the Angels, a fact magnified by the loss of Matt Harrison for the season and the recent absence of Vicente Padilla as he battles swine flu. That pitching help didn't come July 31, and unless Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz grow up very fast, it's not coming until at least 2010 either. -- Andrew Johnson

There's nothing wrong with trading Lee or Martinez given the Indians' position. Mired in fourth place in the AL Central and holding two of the most valuable trade chips on the market, dealing the duo was something that could've set Cleveland up for years down the road. Somehow it managed to trade Lee and Ben Francisco to the Phillies without getting even one of the coveted prospects the Blue Jays wanted for Halladay. Then it turned around and sent Martinez to the Red Sox without getting Buchholz. Some of the players the Tribe did get (specifically Masterson and Lou Marson) could be nice pieces, and it's never easy to judge trades involving prospects right as they are made, but the return that GM Mark Shapiro got for two of the best players swapped this week looks underwhelming right now. -- Pat Lackey

Leftovers

Is it possible to be a loser after holding onto the best pitcher in baseball? Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi is about to find out ... The Marlins win the World Series every six years. They're due in 2009, making first baseman Nick Johnson their key acquisition ... The Yankees uncharacteristically went small, adding only utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. Given Boston's big splash, fans in the Bronx might call for more from GM Brian Cashman, but, realistically, who should he have gotten? ... Colorado made two deals to strengthen its bullpen -- adding a lefty and a righty to set up for Huston Street ... Mets fans didn't actually want Omar Minaya to add to that triage unit they call a team did they? ... We'll have to wait and see on: Seattle, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Washington ... The Dodgers are hardly losers, having added George Sherrill, but they don't look like runaway favorites in the NL anymore with what St. Louis and Philadelphia did ... Leave it to the Twins to finally get a notable name at the deadline in Orlando Cabrera and get completely overshadowed anyway ... Finally, you have to admire the boldness of White Sox GM Kenny Williams, who finally got Peavy months after he first traded for him. It's an enormous gamble, and with Peavy signed for years to come, it's hard to call it a loss long-term. That might not make it a win in 2009.

MLB Trade Deadline 2009: Winners, Losers and Everything in Between originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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J.P. Ricciardi Overplayed His Hand

Jeff Fletcher — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:36:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, MLB Trade Deadline

OAKLAND -- The Blue Jays have the best pitcher in baseball on their roster, yet they still came up as losers at the trading deadline.

The players in the clubhouse didn't feel that way. The manager didn't feel that way. The general manager didn't.

We don't know how Roy Halladay feels about it, because he chose not to talk to reporters. Therein lies the clue to what happened here. When Halladay was talking about his status on the trading block at the All-Star Game, he said over and over and over that he was willing to do whatever gave him the best chance to win.

As the trading deadline passed on Friday, with him still wearing a Blue Jays uniform, perhaps he knew that opportunity had passed for him and the Blue Jays.

J.P. Ricciardi, the Blue Jays GM, was asking for the moon, and a couple asteroids, for Halladay. His price was never met.

"We never really came close at all [to trading Halladay]," Ricciardi said. "We were just never moved. We said we would listen, we listened, and we were really never moved by an offer, something that made us jump up and say 'Wow, this is something that will really make us better, not only now but in the future.'"

The only two reasons to ask such a high price are a) if you really don't want to trade the player because you have hope of contending with him in the future or b) if you think you can get it. If it was the latter, Ricciardi clearly misjudged Halladay's value. He was asking the Phillies for a package including Kyle Drabek and J.A. Happ, a minor leaguer who is a potential front-of-the-rotation starter and a current successful young big-league pitcher. When the Phillies instead got Cliff Lee, the reigning Cy Young winner, they didn't have to give up either of those players.

Halladay is better than Lee, but not that much better. That gives you an idea of the gulf between Ricciardi's idea of Halladay's value and his open-market value.

If Ricciardi was being honest when he said he didn't feel he needed to trade Halladay because the Blue Jays can build a contender around him in 2010, then he's really got a big job ahead this winter. He's going to have to find whatever pieces are necessary to jump over the Red Sox, Yankees and Rays.

Good luck with that.

For Ricciardi to make dramatic improvements in the Blue Jays' short-term outlook, he's going to have to spend a lot of money on free agents and/or give up some of the Blue Jays prospects in trades. Even then, it's not a sure thing. Heck, the Orioles have more promise for quick improvement than the Blue Jays because of their core of young players.

This winter Ricciardi is going to have to plot two courses for his team. The aforementioned Quick Fix Course, and then the Abort And Trade Halladay Course.

If Ricciardi tries again to trade Halladay, he may get even less for him than he could have this time around. Halladay is only going to have one year left on his contract, so he's unlikely to appeal to any team that can't afford to re-sign him beyond 2010.

Again, good luck with that.

J.P. Ricciardi Overplayed His Hand originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Deadline Shocker: White Sox Get Jake Peavy From Padres

Ed Price — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:38:00 EST

Filed under: Padres, White Sox, MLB Trade Deadline

A major league source has confirmed to FanHouse that the White Sox have obtained injured Padres ace Jake Peavy -- who earlier this year rejected a trade to Chicago -- for lefties Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda and right-handers Dexter Carter and Adam Russell.

The deal was completed 23 seconds before the 4 PM ET trade deadline, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said.

"In my world," Williams said, "if you get to a situation where you have a chance to get to the playoffs, you certainly want a chance to dream about being in the playoffs and getting to the World Series and winning the World Series. I simply did not feel as though we were positioned right now to match up against some of the big boys when we're in a short series. You're talking about the Yankees, you're talking about Boston."

Williams said Peavy, recovering from a strained tendon in his right ankle, would throw off a mound Saturday, start a minor-league rehabilitation assignment around Aug. 13-15 and be off the disabled list in late August.

"In our division," Williams said, "this thing is going to go down to winning games in September, and we want to be as strong as we can possibly be in September, and that is what we're focused on."

Peavy, who has a full no-trade clause, makes $11 million this year, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011, $17 million in 2012 and a $22 million team option for 2013. He won the 2007 NL Cy Young Award and was 6-6 with a 3.97 ERA this year before the mid-June ankle injury.

Poreda and Richard were in the deal that Peavy vetoed in May, citing a desire to stay in San Diego.

"If you recall," Williams said, "he never said no. He said, 'Not yet.' ... If you allow the process to play out sometimes and you're patient in your pursuits, sometimes you ultimately get what you want. When we called back this time, he and his family were better prepared for what lies ahead."

SI.com's Jon Heyman first reported the surprise trade.

It was a busy day in the right AL Central, with Detroit getting lefty Jarrod Washburn and Minnesota adding shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

"We've got the ability to win this division," Williams said. "I think it's less to do with the other teams and more to do with how we come on a day-to-day basis to compete."

Richard, 25, was 4-3 with a 4.65 ERA in 14 starts and 12 relief appearances for Chicago. He was scheduled to start Friday night against the Yankees, but right-hander D.J. Carrasco came out of the bullpen instead.

Poreda, 22, was the White Sox's first-round pick in 2007. He made 10 appearances in the majors earlier this year and was back in the minors, at Triple-A, after starting the season in Double-A.

Russell, 26, was 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 34 relief appearances at Triple-A. He made 22 appearances for Chicago last year.

Carter, 22, was 6-2 with a 3.13 ERA in Class A, leading the South Atlantic League in strikeouts. He was a high school teammate of Justin Upton.

Deadline Shocker: White Sox Get Jake Peavy From Padres originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marlins Get Nick Johnson From Nats

Jeff Fletcher — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:24:00 EST

Filed under: Marlins, Nationals, MLB Trade Deadline

The Marlins acquired first baseman Nick Johnson from the Nationals in exchange for former first-round pick Aaron Thompson, a Double-A left-hander, FanHouse has confirmed.

Johnson, who is going to be a free agent at the end of the season, is hitting .295 with six homers. He's got a .408 on-base percentage. The Marlins will presumably move Jorge Cantu to third and Emilio Bonifacio to the bench.

Thompson, 22, was 5-9 with a 4.11 ERA at Double-A. He was the Marlins' first-round pick, 22nd overall, in 2005.

The right-hander was ranked the eighth best prospect in the Florida system entering the 2008 season.

Though the Nationals are mired in the throes of a wretched season, they were relatively quiet at the trade deadline.

Washington also dealt left-handed relief pitcher Joe Beimel to the Rockies for two minor-league pitchers -- Ryan Mattheus and Robinson Fabian -- both of whom are right-handed.

Beimel has been one of the better arms in a lousy Nationals bullpen, posting a 3.40 ERA this year. He is the second pitcher Colorado has added to its bullpen to set up for closer Huston Street along with Rafael Betancourt. The southpaw could serve as a specialist in front of Street; Beimel has held lefties to a .233 average this season.

Marlins Get Nick Johnson From Nats originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scott Rolen Bound for Cincinnati

Ed Price — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:21:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, Reds, MLB Trade Deadline

It looks unlikely that Roy Halladay will be on the move, but the Blue Jays did shed payroll Friday afternoon, dealing third baseman Scott Rolen to the Reds for Edwin Encarnacion and two minor leaguers, a source tells FanHouse.

Cincinnati has rapidly fallen out of the NL Central race over the last few weeks, losing nine of its last 10 games to slide into fifth place in the division and draw the ire of manager Dusty Baker, who criticized his team for their lifeless play.

The deal reunites Rolen with general manager Walt Jocketty, the same executive who brought him from Philadelphia to the Cardinals in a 2002 deadline deal. Rolen, who is hitting .320 this year and has a sterling defensive reputation, is signed through 2010 at $11 million, so this move is likely geared toward building the club for next season.

"Trading two young pitchers was a stumbling block, but we finally gave in to get Rolen. We felt there are a lot of things Scott will provide for this club that was lacking -- leadership on the field with the players. He is a veteran and I had a lot of experience with him when we were together in St. Louis. He'll bring a lot to our club. He is still playing well -- a good RBI guy and plays good defense. He'll be a big asset," Jocketty told Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News.

"The type of character he brings will help our organization -- a guy who will be big part of this organization this year and in the future. I hope he's here for quite a while," he added.

Toronto received two right-handed pitchers, Josh Roenicke and minor-leaguer Zach Stewart, in addition to Encarnacion.

The Reds also dealt utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Yankees. Hairston Jr. is expected to serve as insurance for injured center fielder Brett Gardner in New York. Cincinnati received minor-league catcher Chase Weems, a sixth-round pick in the 2007 draft, in exchange for Hairston.

Cincinnati assigned Weems to Single-A Dayton, and in a move related to its wheeling and dealing, called up right-handed pitchers Justin Lehr and Kip Wells from Triple-A Louisville.

Scott Rolen Bound for Cincinnati originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Sox Swoop for Indians' Martinez

Ed Price — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:53:00 EST

Filed under: Braves, Indians, Red Sox, MLB Trade Deadline

Locked in a tight wild-card race and in need of an offensive boost, the Red Sox struck a blockbuster deal Friday, acquiring catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez from the Indians.

FanHouse first reported that Boston was on the verge of acquiring Martinez Friday afternoon. A source confirmed reports that Cleveland would get right-hander Justin Masterson, Single-A left-hander Nick Hagadone and a player to be named, expected to be Single-A right-hander Bryan Price.

A second source said Boston then traded first baseman Adam LaRoche, the odd man out after Martinez's arrival, to Atlanta. The first source confirmed that was straight up for Casey Kotchman, who could be a defensive replacement at first.

More: Latest Trade Deadline Stories | Fantasy Impact of V-Mart Deal

Martinez could theoretically play first base when third baseman Mike Lowell (hip) is unavailable, with Kevin Youkilis at third in that case. And Martinez could share time at catcher with Jason Varitek, who his hitting .231 since May 25.

Cleveland already traded ace Cliff Lee this week, figuring it could not contend next year with the economic constraints given by ownership.

The switch-hitting Martinez is hitting .284 with 15 homers and is 10th in the AL with 67 RBI. His contract includes a $7 million team option for 2010.

Boston has a team .317 on-base percentage since the All-Star break, with just 55 runs and eight homers in 13 games.

LaRoche, acquired from Pittsburgh on July 22, was hitting a combined .248 with 13 homers and 43 RBI.

Masterson, 24, was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA for Boston in six starts and 25 relief appearances.

Hagadone, 23, was a supplemental first-round pick in 2007. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2008 and has returned for 10 starts this year.

Price, 22, was 4-8 with a 4.67 ERA for two Class A teams. He was a supplemental first-round pick last year.

Red Sox Swoop for Indians' Martinez originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A's Trade Orlando Cabrera to Twins

Jeff Fletcher — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST

Filed under: Athletics, Twins, MLB Trade Deadline

The A's completed the long-rumored trade of Orlando Cabrera to the Twins, acquiring minor league shortstop Tyler Ladendorf, a source confirmed to FanHouse. The A's are also sending cash to the Twins.

The Twins, seeking middle-infield help, reportedly focused on Cabrera and San Diego's David Eckstein. Cabrera, 34, has raised his average to .280 by hitting .354 since June 16.

The A's had little incentive to keep him because they agreed when they signed him not to offer him arbitration, so they would not have gotten any compensation picks for him if he left as a free agent.

The A's are likely to promote Cliff Pennington and have him play shortstop for the rest of the season.

Ladendorf, the Twins' second-round pick last year, was hitting a combined .322 at Rookie-level Elizabethton and Single-A Beloit this season.

A's Trade Orlando Cabrera to Twins originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 MLB Trade Deadline Live Chat

Andrew Johnson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: MLB Live Blogging, MLB Trade Deadline

There have already been two massive blockbusters in the last week, but as the clock ticked toward the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline at 4 PM ET a few more went down.

Roy Halladay, Victor Martinez and Adrian Gonzalez were a few of the big names out there, and a number of smaller pieces were on the move. To relive the madness, as brought to you by the MLB FanHouse crew, read the chat wrap after the jump.
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=59243dad73&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;2009 MLB Trade Deadline Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

2009 MLB Trade Deadline Live Chat originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Tigers Get Jarrod Washburn From Seattle Mariners

Ed Price — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:41:00 EST

Filed under: Mariners, Orioles, Tigers, MLB Trade Deadline

The Tigers' biggest need seemed to be a bat, what with their offense ranking 10th in the American League in runs scored. Instead, they traded Friday for lefty Jarrod Washburn, who had been third in the AL in ERA for the Mariners.

A team source said Detroit is still seeking offensive help, although there has yet to be a match with Baltimore for Luke Scott. But there aren't as many impact bats available at the trade deadline, so the front office began exploring bolstering its rotation instead. Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Rick Porcello have been very good, but Armando Galarraga had struggled and Luke French was filling the fifth spot.

There were middle- to back-of-the-rotation pitchers available, and Washburn fit the bill. The Tigers gave up French and Single-A lefty Mauricio Robles.

Washburn is scheduled to start for Detroit on Tuesday night against Baltimore. He was 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA for Seattle, ranking second in the league with a .223 batting average against.

Detroit now has three of the AL's top seven pitchers in ERA, with Jackson second (2.59) and Verlander seventh (3.16).

French appeared in seven games (five starts) for the Tigers this season, going 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA. Robles was 8-6 record with a 4.24 ERA in 18 starts for two Class A teams.

Seattle had seemed to be a buyer with its acquisition of shortstop Jack Wilson from Seattle. But this trade signals the Mariners are giving up on the wild-card chase, in which they are fourth, 6 1/2 games behind the Red Sox.

"We had an opportunity to acquire two starting left-handed pitchers under the age of 23, including one with major-league experience," M's general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a prepared statement. "As we continue to build the Mariners organization, it is crucial that we acquire depth and quality. This deal is another step in that process."

Detroit Tigers Get Jarrod Washburn From Seattle Mariners originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:41:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BaseCast: Big Papi and Blockbusters

Andrew Johnson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: MLB PEDs, MLB Trade Deadline, BaseCast

It's a baseball podcast. The math is easy, right? BaseCast. Let's rock.

It's hard to imagine a busier day in the baseball world than Thursday. As if the frantic nature of the rapidly approaching July 31 trade deadline wasn't enough, the New York Times broke the story that David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were both on the infamous "List" of players who tested positive for a banned substance in 2003.

Naturally (not chemically-enhanced), the MLB FanHouse crew -- myself, Ed Price and Jeff Fletcher -- was there to offer instant analysis on Ortiz, the blockbuster Holliday and Lee trades and what lies ahead with the deadline just hours away.

Listen in after the jump.

Listen to the podcast above, or click here to download the file.

BaseCast: Big Papi and Blockbusters originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodgers Add to Bullpen, Trade for Orioles Closer George Sherrill

Ed Price — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Dodgers, Orioles, MLB Transactions, FanHouse Exclusive, MLB Trade Deadline

Giving their bullpen a needed boost, the Dodgers have acquired left-handed reliever George Sherrill from the Orioles, a major league source told FanHouse.

The Dodgers have been seeking pitching help, especially in relief with Ronald Belisario and Will Ohman on the disabled list. L.A. starters average the second fewest innings per game in the NL. Manager Joe Torre has made 322 pitching changes, third-most in the league, and has asked a reliever to go more than an inning 90 times, by far the most in the NL.

Sherrill, 32, was 20-for-23 in save chances with Baltimore, compiling a 2.40 ERA and .219 average allowed. Over his past 31 appearances, he has a 1.47 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 10 walks in 30 2/3 innings. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season.

MLB.com reported the Dodgers gave up two minor-leaguers, third baseman Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson. Johnson's father Dave is an Orioles broadcaster who pitched for the team in 1989-91.

Bell, 22, has great raw power but a thick body that some belive may force him to move to first base or the corner outfield. Baltimore, though, liked his feet, hands and arm strength on defense. Bell was hitting .296 with 11 homers, 30 doubles and a .396 on-base percentage in Double-A.

Johnson, who turns 22 on Aug. 31, is considered a smart pitcher who could wind up at the back end of a rotation. He went 8-4 with a 3.82 ERA in Class A before being promoted to Double-A, where he has made two starts (1-1, 1.69 ERA, 15 strikeouts and three walks in 10 2/3 innings).

Los Angeles has lost four straight after not having dropped more than two in a row all year.

Dodgers Add to Bullpen, Trade for Orioles Closer George Sherrill originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Exactly Is the Plan in Cleveland?

Tom Fornelli — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: Indians, AL Central, MLB Trade Deadline

Being a Cleveland Indians fan can't be the easiest thing right now. As if the fact that the Tribe are scuffling their way through another long season at 42-60 isn't enough, a familiar feeling crept into the collective psyche of Indians fans everywhere on Wednesday afternoon.

The Indians sent Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Ben Francisco for four prospects -- pitcher Jason Knapp, pitcher Carlos Carrasco, catcher Lou Marson and shortstop Jason Donald. It's a trade that sounds the death knell for the Indians in 2009, and most likely in 2010 as well. Worse yet, it is nothing new for Indians fans, who just last summer saw the team send its ace CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers for four young prospects.

What's an Indians fan to think of all this? How are they supposed to see the light at the end of the tunnel? If there is one, it's hard to see.

"What we did was kind of look at this moment in time," Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro said in a conference call, announcing the trade, "critically examine our chances to contend next year, with the economic reality that we weren't going to be able to supplement or add to the club at all. ... We think that we put ourselves in position now to create an extended run of contention."

How jettisoning Cy Young Award winners in consecutive summers helps put a team in position for an extended run of contention remains to be determined. If Victor Martinez follows Lee out the door in the next day and a half, it will be even harder to figure out. Shapiro declined to comment on Martinez's status Wednesday.

Still, there's a lot more to all of this than just the Sabathia and Lee deals, because in reality, it's way too early to evaluate either trade. Sabathia worked out well for the Brewers last season, carrying them to the playoffs for the first time in 25 years, but then left for the big bucks and the bright lights of the Bronx.

Lee may turn out to be just what the Phillies need to win themselves a second consecutive World Series title.

Which is well and good for those teams, but what about the Indians? We won't know how things worked out for them until we see how all of these prospects turn out. Waiting shouldn't be too hard for the folks in Cleveland to do, because they've been waiting a very long time as it is. Still, right now, on the surface, it isn't looking very good.

"I still feel this team can contend next year. It'll be a young, exciting core of players," continued Shapiro, "It would be a Florida Marlins-type of a story, everything would have to go right."

The problem with that is that it's been hills and valleys for the Indians since Shapiro took over.

The 21st century has been an odd one for the franchise. Shapiro was brought on to be the team's general manager in 2001 after John Hart left -- Hart being the architect behind one of the greatest offenses ever assembled in the '90s -- and Shapiro's tenure in Cleveland hasn't been all that glorious.

Yes, he pulled off one of the greatest heists in baseball history when he sent Bartolo Colon to the dying Montreal Expos for Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips and Lee, but now only one of those three players remain, and the Indians only have one playoff berth to show for their efforts.

There was also the deal that sent Ben Broussard to Seattle for Shin-Soo Choo in 2006 and the Indians have found themselves a solid corner outfielder for years to come. Well, unless he has to do military service in Korea or the team trades him because it can't afford him any longer.

For those two gems, there have been an awful lot of clunkers, and not just in the trade department. Let's look at some of Shapiro's recent decisions and see how they've turned out.

In July of 2007 the Indians gave Travis Hafner a four-year, $57 million extension after his MVP-caliber 2006 season. Since then Hafner has been getting paid to spend the majority of his time on the disabled list, and when he has been on the field, he hasn't lived up to his contract.

That same season, in April, Shapiro gave Jake Westbrook a three-year, $33 million extension. Since signing it Westbrook has made 30 starts compiling a 7-11 record in between frequent stops on the disabled list.

That's an awful lot of money that in retrospect could have been better spent -- possibly on keeping Sabathia or Lee in Cleveland.

Of course, all general managers make mistakes, it's the nature of the job, so those two examples can't be used to totally negate everything Shapiro has done. After the seasons Hafner and Westbrook were coming off of there probably weren't many GMs in the game who wouldn't have tried to lock them up long term.

There are other strikes against him, though. Despite the outward message that this team can contend next year, Shapiro's actions seem to counter that at every step.

Common sense alone tells us that there's no way Eric Wedge should still be managing this team. Wedge came to Cleveland in 2003, and so far his legacy has been that he either manages a team that comes close to the precipice of success only to choke it away when it's all on the line (2005 and 2007) or a team that fails to meet any of the lofty expectations placed upon them (2006, 2008 and 2009).

"I think I understand and sympathize with a fan's focus and desires, always in that moment and that juncture in time," Shapiro said in response to negative fan reaction. "What I'd say is that just like any decision that's challenging for a general manager, you have one eye on the immediacy of the moment and one eye on building something that provides them with a championship. And if I had both eyes only on the immediacy of this moment, and hadn't executed the deal, I don't feel like we could have put ourselves in position to be a championship-caliber team again."

Maybe Shapiro is right. Maybe he has laid the groundwork to build the Indians into a contender again. Maybe by 2011 the Indians will win 100 games and stampede through the playoffs on their way to their first World Series victory since 1948.

Unfortunately for Shapiro, and Wedge, they haven't done much so far to prove that they should be around if and when that happens.

What Exactly Is the Plan in Cleveland? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lee Makes Phils Class of the NL (Again)

Ed Price — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:11:00 EST

Filed under: Phillies, MLB Trade Deadline

No National League team has gone to back-to-back World Series since the 1995-96 Braves.

Until now.

OK, the Phillies could miss out on a second straight pennant. They could cough up a seven-game lead on the NL East. They could lose in a short playoff series.

But with the addition of Cliff Lee on Wednesday, they are more than the defending NL champions in name. Even though the Dodgers have a better record, Los Angeles will need to knock Philadelphia off of its perch.
"I think there is no doubt about it ... they were the [NL] favorites to start the day," an AL executive said of the Phillies, "and I think they're the favorites now. I think they match up with L.A. very well."

The Phillies are 3-4 against the Dodgers this year -- but were out-scored just 26-25. And Philadelphia won last year's NLCS matchup.

A scout from an NL team was slightly less definitive.

"I'm not sure it pushes them over [the top]," he said. "[Roy] Halladay pushes them over.

"I think they've closed the gap. Although I think they were going to beat L.A. anyway because they're so much tougher."

Speaking of tougher, Lee moves from the tougher American League to the NL East. He is 12-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 22 career starts against NL teams, although he has never faced the Nationals or Mets, with one start against the Braves and two against the Marlins.

Remember, when CC Sabathia went from Cleveland to the NL last year, he went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA. Lee could benefit the same way, the scout said.

"He's coming to the National League, where they have half the hitters," the scout said. "It may be a Sabathia situation. The comparisons with Sabathia in Cleveland are eerie. [Lee] may go on a tear."

Although Lee was just 7-9 for the Tribe, his run support was awful and his 3.14 ERA was seventh-best in the AL. He also led the league in innings (152) and was sixth in fewest walks per nine innings (2.0). Lee was also third in the NL in fewest homers allowed per nine innings, which will come in handy at Citizens Bank Park.

"One of our goals during the course of this year is to try to add someone to our rotation that we felt would be kind of a difference-maker," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro said.

Amaro denied this deal was more about October than the final two months of the regular season.

"I absolutely cannot lose fact of the sight that there's a lot of baseball to be played here. There are some very, very good teams in our division. ... By no means do we take for granted where we are in the standings right now. There's no question that getting a top-of-the-rotation caliber pitcher, you would think that would help you, if you get the opportunity to get to the playoffs, to get deeper into the playoffs. But our goal is pretty singular now, and that's to get to the playoffs and see where things fall."

Lee has faced the Dodgers once, in June 2008, and he allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings, with six hits and one walk. But he has never pitched in the postseason.

"It may be a [CC] Sabathia situation. The comparisons with Sabathia in Cleveland are eerie. [Lee] may go on a tear."
-- An NL Scout Throw-in Ben Francisco fills the other need Philadelphia was concerned about, a right-handed bat off the bench. Francisco has a career .359 on-base percentage and .451 slugging percentage against lefties.

So the Phillies now have a No. 1-type pitcher, one of the better No. 2s in Cole Hamels, the league's best offense (most runs and homers, both overall and on the road) and a grind-to-the-last-out toughness that can't quite be quantified.

Oh, and they've won 19 of their past 22 even without Lee.

To their credit, the Phillies didn't "mortgage the future." Lee can be kept next year for an $8 million team option. And while right-hander Jason Knapp has high-end potential, he was only in Sinlge-A. The Phillies were able to keep more advanced prospects such as Double-A right-hander Kyle Drabek and Triple-A outfielder Michael Taylor.

Amaro wouldn't address his pursuit of Halladay, but when he said, "We just felt like this was the proper fit for us," it meant that Lee didn't cost as much in terms of prospects, and that mattered.

About the only quibble with the Phillies is their lefty-heavy starting corps, with Lee, Hamels, Jamie Moyer and J.A. Happ. (Then there's Joe Blanton and, when Pedro Martinez is ready, someone has to go).

Having so many lefties in the rotation "is OK," the AL executive said, "as long as they're good in the rotation."

It should be noted that the Dodgers have the NL's best team OPS against left-handed pitching (.819), and an 18-11 record when facing a southpaw starter.

What can't be measured is the psychological boost the Phillies got today. From a team that won the World Series, they have subtracted Pat Burrell and added Raul Ibanez and Lee. Amaro reportedly got an ovation from his team when he entered the clubhouse after the trade was finalized.

"I think it's important," Amaro said, "to show our guys on the field that we're making every effort to try to make us the best ballclub we can be."

The players know this move wasn't made to help them get to the playoffs, it was made to help them win in the playoffs again.

And they should.

Lee Makes Phils Class of the NL (Again) originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Giants Get Freddy Sanchez

Jeff Fletcher — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Giants, Pirates, MLB Trade Deadline

The Giants completed the remodeling of the right side of their infield by acquiring All-Star Freddy Sanchez from the Pirates in exchange for Double-A right-hander Tim Alderson, considered the organization's second-best pitching prospect.

Sanchez, 31, will become the Giants' new second baseman, joining new first baseman Ryan Garko. The team had been trying to beef up its offense for the wild-card race. Sanchez was hitting .296 with a .334 on-base percentage.

Alderson, 20, was 7-2 with a 3.65 ERA this season, splitting time between Single-A San Jose and Double-A Connecticut. He was the Giants' second first-round pick, 22nd overall, in the 2007 draft.

"Hopefully this will help in our playoff run and moreso into the future," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. "Hopefully he'll be with us next year."

The Giants get Sanchez and his entire contract. He'll make about $2 million for the rest of this season. He has an option for $8.1 million for 2010 that will vest if he reaches 600 plate appearances. Right now he's on pace to barely make that threshold.

The Giants offense still lacks middle-of-the-order punch, but they have added two experienced big-league hitters in spots where they have struggled to find any production throughout the season.

"What I feel this club needs is a proven hitter at second base and that's what Freddy is," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He plays hard and plays the way you want to play. He's had tremendous success and gives us a bat in the lineup who can do some things."

Sanchez had been linked to the Giants for weeks. The strongest hint that a deal was coming came on Monday, when the Giants medical staff took a look at Sanchez's balky left knee. Sanchez had been out of action for the past few days with the sore knee, but obviously the Giants didn't think it was a concern.

Sanchez said his knee has improved, but he's not sure when he'll be able to play.

"The last thing you want to do is come to a new team and be in the trainer's room," he said. "I want to play, but I want to be smart about it."

Giants Get Freddy Sanchez originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infield Shift: Mariners Surprise Buyers With Addition of Jack Wilson, Ian Snell

Pat Lackey — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:45:00 EST

Filed under: Mariners, Pirates, AL West, NL Central, MLB Transactions, MLB Trade Deadline

The news of Jack Wilson heading to Seattle dropped out of the sky like a hammer early Wednesday afternoon.

Everyone knows the Pirates are rebuilding, but it was a real surprise to see Wilson headed to Seattle. The Mariners adding veterans and payroll? Are they actually buyers at this deadline?

That's certainly the initial impression here. Wilson is one of the best defensive shortstops in the league and he's having one of the best defensive seasons of his career at the age of 31. He's not a great hitter, but he's got a better bat than Yuniesky Betancourt, who manned short for Seattle for most of this year.

Given Wilson's age and his pending free agency (the Mariners also inherit an expensive $8.4 million team option for 2010), it seems that this trade has to focus on the short-term, especially in light of the news, as first reported by FanHouse's Jeff Fletcher, that Jarrod Washburn is off the market.

Of course, there's always more than one way of looking at things. It's true that trading away Jeff Clement, plus three minor-league pitchers (at least two of which, in Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock, seem to have some decent upside) seems like an awfully high price to pay for Wilson and the temperamental Ian Snell, but there is maybe another angle to look at the deal from if we rotate the crystal ball a little bit.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic indicated that the Pirates are going to send a decent amount of cash to Seattle to complete the trade. Given the emphasis that new Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has put on defense, it might not be a leap of logic to guess that that money will go towards Seattle picking up Wilson's 2010 option.

So we can consider the first half of the trade to be Clement and Ronny Cedeno for Wilson. Clement is the opposite of Wilson. He's all bat and no defense.

After the trade, a scout told Fletcher that Clement "is not a major league catcher."

"It's certain to help [Seattle] in the big leagues. They get two proven guys for a shortstop hitting .175 who is mistake prone," the scout added.

Cedeno is mostly a utility guy, so there's no great loss there. So Zduriencik is trading offense for defense. Given Wilson's age and some recent injury troubles (before 2009, his games played had declined in every year from 2006), it's a risky move, but an understandable one if Wilson's option is exercised.

The second portion of the trade is Ian Snell for the three young pitchers, Brett Lorin, Nick Adcock, and Aaron Pribanic, and it mostly boils down to this: Snell is more talented than any of the three of them and was only marked for an exit from Pittsburgh because he punched his own ticket.

He consistently failed to listen to the coaching staff, apparently demanded his own demotion, and then made it clear that he was happy to be at Triple-A Indianapolis and not in Pittsburgh. If the Mariners can straighten him out, they've managed to acquire themselves a mid-to-top rotation starter that they'll control through 2012, thanks to the options written into Snell's contract.

"Apparently they are [buyers]," said the scout of the Mariners. "It's not a bad idea, with this division. Texas is supsect and the Angels are suspect, so they might as well stay in it as long as they can."

In fact, it seems likely that while Wilson provides some short-term stability at shortstop, this deal was more about getting Snell into the system and giving him a chance to thrive with a change of scenery. If he does that, this deal could be a good one for the Mariners, no matter what happens with the other aspects of the trade.

The Pirates' end of the deal is much simpler; they couldn't afford Wilson's option, making him a pending free agent, and they simply couldn't deal with Snell's shenanigans any longer. So they managed to trade two players with very little value to them for Clement, an interesting young hitter they can try at first base with Adam LaRoche out of the picture.

Like other recent Neal Huntington acquisitions Jose Tabata and Lastings Milledge, Clement was once a highly touted prospect in the Mariners' system who's stock has dropped a bit recently because of his poor defense and a bad showing in the big leagues last year. It seems pretty clear that Huntington is targeting exactly this sort of player to try and bring as much talent into the Pirates' system as cheaply as possible, and he's now been able to take advantage of three such buy-low opportunities in the past 13 months.

A person familiar with the Seattle system told FanHouse's Ed Price it was good trade for Pittsburgh, saying, "Clement will hit. Adcock has good chance to be solid [No.] 4 or 5 [starter]. [Aaron] Pribanic has [a] plus sinker."

Lorin is 6-foot-7 and seems to be coming into his own this year, while Adcock has put up some good minor-league numbers before pitching for Single-A High Desert, which plays in maybe the best hitter's park in the the offensively addled California League. Dealing WIlson will be unpopular with Pirate fans, but overall this move seems like another step in the right direction for the Bucs.

Infield Shift: Mariners Surprise Buyers With Addition of Jack Wilson, Ian Snell originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phillies Get Lee in Blockbuster Swap

Ed Price — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:48:00 EST

Filed under: Dodgers, Indians, Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees, MLB Inside Scoop, MLB Trade Deadline

The Phillies have landed left-hander Cliff Lee of the Indians.

FanHouse first reported that, according to a major league source, the clubs were "very" close to deal that would send Lee to Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon. The Phillies also got outfielder Ben Francisco to bolster its right-handed bench, while sending Cleveland will Single-A right-hander Jason Knapp, right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson.

This could mean Toronto hangs on to ace Roy Halladay, at least until the offseason. Halladay seemed to prefer to go to Philadelphia if he was traded. Boston might be a possibility, but the Yankees don't want to add payroll and the Dodgers may not be willing to part with the package of prospects the Blue Jays seek.

"I don't think the price comes down" on Halladay with the Phillies out of the picture, said someone close to Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi.

An official from another team quoted a Red Sox official as saying, "[The Blue Jays] are asking a lot, and I don't think it's going to get done."

Said Jays manager Cito Gaston: "I'm happy if he stays. If he stays and we get our guys back next year and add a guy or two we have a chance to make a run at it next year, if we stay healthy."

Philadelphia has been trying for most of the season to bolster its rotation. Now it has last year's AL Cy Young Award winner, giving it a 1-2-3 -- all left-handed -- of Lee, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer.

Knapp, who turns 19 next month, is 2-7 with a 4.01 ERA in the South Atlantic League but has 111 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings. He was a second-round draft pick in 2008.

A scout who has seen Knapp said he throws 96-97 mph. "This guy could be a horse," the scout said. "He might be Danys Baez. That breaking ball, it's a long way away."

Marson, according to another scout, is "just OK ... Not the best defensive guy, and he's a singles/doubles bat. He's got the swing where he's going to hit. That's not a premium guy."

The second scout called Donald a "poor man's Michael Young" in that he isn't a great defensive shortstop but doesn't have the usual power profile for third base. "He doesn't move great at short, but he's a capable bat," the scout said.

Carrasco has "three solid [major-league] average pitches" -- i.e., fastball, curve, changeup -- with "decent control."

"At the root of this deal was balancing the conviction of our ability to compete in 2010 with the opportunity to impact the team's construction for years to come," Indians GM Mark Shapiro said in a written statement. "Without the sense of confidence in the team's ultimate competitiveness, we acted aggressively to add players that will impact the organization in 2010 and beyond."

Phillies Get Lee in Blockbuster Swap originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clement Going From Mariners to Pirates

Ed Price — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:42:00 EST

Filed under: Mariners, Pirates, MLB Inside Scoop, MLB Trade Deadline

Update: The Mariners have obtained shortstop Jack Wilson and right-hander Ian Snell from the Pirates for infielder Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement and three other minor-leaguers.

The move indicates Seattle is not in "sell" mode, which was indicated Tuesday as FanHouse reported the M's planned to hold on to Jarrod Washburn.

Wilson, 31, is an excellent defender who was batting .267 with four homers and 31 RBI. He is eligible for free agency after this season unless Seattle picks up an $8.4 million option.

Snell, 27, was demoted to Triple-A after going 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA for Pittsburgh. In six minor-league starts, he is 2-2 with a 0.96 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings. He is signed through next year ($10.25 million) with a team options for 2011-12.

Mariners prospect Jeff Clement is headed to the Pirates, according to a major league source. The source did not know whom Seattle would receive in return but said there were other M's minor-leaguers involved.

Clement was pulled from his Triple-A game on Tuesday night.

It could be a deal for a pitcher (Zach Duke?) or part of a three-team trade. Also, the M's could use a shortstop, and Pittsburgh has been looking into trading middle infielders Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson.

Clement, 25, is a left-handed hitter whose defense at catcher is suspect and has had trouble against lefty pitchers. But he was the third overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Clement Going From Mariners to Pirates originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:42:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Phillies May Be Pursuing Indians' Cliff Lee Instead of Roy Halladay

Ed Price — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:22:00 EST

Filed under: Indians, Phillies, MLB Rumors, MLB Trade Deadline

In a sign the Phillies may be working toward a deal with Indians left-hander Cliff Lee, pitcher Carlos Carrasco was abruptly scratched from his Triple-A start Wednesday morning.

The Associated Press reported that Philadelphia has made an offer to Cleveland for Lee.

The Phillies have been seeking a top-of-the-rotation starter and had been considered the favorites for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay because of the depth of their farm system.

But Toronto has asked for a lot (rightly so), which may have caused Philadelphia to turn to Cleveland. Lee, 30 and last year's American League Cy Young Award winner, is seventh in the AL with a 3.14 ERA.

More Trade Deadline Coverage: Jeff Clement to Pittsburgh | Tracker

Phillies May Be Pursuing Indians' Cliff Lee Instead of Roy Halladay originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who's Looking at Sanchez's Knee?

Jeff Fletcher — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:29:00 EST

Filed under: Giants, Pirates, MLB Injuries, MLB Rumors, MLB Trade Deadline

SAN FRANCISCO -- When word first surfaced that the Giants may have had their medical people take a look at Freddy Sanchez's sore left knee, it seemed like a sure precursor to a trade sending Sanchez from one clubhouse to the other at AT&T Park.

But Sanchez cleared it up on Tuesday night. Sort of.

Sanchez, who has missed the past few games, confirmed that Dr. Ken Akizuki, the Giants orthopedist, had looked at his knee on Monday night. However, he also said that was simply a courtesy since the Pirates doctor was not on the trip.

"If we'd have been in Arizona, the Arizona doctor would have done it," Sanchez said.

However, when FanHouse approached three members of the Giants organization before Tuesday's game to ask if they had examined Sanchez, the response was a variety of smiles, rolled eyes, and no comments.

"I plead the fifth," one person said.

If it was simply a courtesy examination by the Giants doctor of a visiting player, which happens regularly, there would have been no reason for such secrecy.

Whatever was going on, at the end of the day, Sanchez still had a sore knee. The plan was for him to miss Wednesday's series finale, rest during Thursday's off day, and return to the lineup on Friday.

Whose lineup is anyone's guess.

The trading deadline is Friday afternoon. Sanchez said he's having some difficulty coping with the rampant rumors, most of which have him going to the Giants or Twins.

"You try to put things in the back of your head and not worry about it, but you hear things every day," Sanchez told reporters before Tuesday's game. "You try to deal with it the best you can and go play. ... It's weird because we deal with pressure every day, up with two outs with the bases loaded in the ninth, but this is a different type of thought process. You are dealing with stuff that can affect your life and your family. That's in the back of your head, and you try to push it off the best you can."

Sanchez said he's still operating under the belief that he will remain with the Pirates.

"That's always been my thought process, to finish my career here," he said. "I'm still expecting to be a Pirate until told otherwise."

Meanwhile, Pirates President Frank Coonelly said the team is not simply unloading Sanchez or shortstop Jack Wilson.

"We have by no means concluded that we have to or even should trade Jack and/or Freddy," Coonelly said. "To the contrary, both players have significant value to us and we have made it very clear to clubs that have inquired that we will trade Jack and Freddy only if we receive appropriate value in return.

Who's Looking at Sanchez's Knee? originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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