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Gabe Kapler
Free agent outfielder | Last updated: 7/11
Kapler a free man; will Sox bite right away?
Kapler was placed on waivers by the Yomiuri Giants on Friday, and it seems only a matter of time before he signs with the Red Sox. However, don't expect Kapler to jump right to the big club upon his return. The Providence Journal reported that Kapler may have to accept a minor-league deal from the Sox, and there's a chance he could stay in the minors and wait for either an injury or for rosters to expand on Sept. 1 before coming up to the big club. One reason is because the Sox want to take a good look at Rule V pickup Adam Stern. If the Sox demote Stern, they risk exposing him to waivers or having to offer him back to the Braves. |
Bret Boone
Twins
Second baseman | Last updated: 7/11
Twins trade for Boone
It appears the Minnesota Twins have taken a chance on Bret Boone. This from the Twins’ official web site on Monday: “The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have acquired second baseman Bret Boone and cash from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for a player to be named later. Boone, 36, was batting .231 (63-273) with 30 runs, 15 doubles, three triples, seven homers and 34 RBIs in 74 games for the Mariners this season. He had a .299 on-base percentage and a .385 slugging percentage before being designated for assignment by the Mariners on July 3.” |
Chad Bradford
A's reliever | Last updated: 7/11
Bradford deal not done yet ... but could come soon
The Boston Herald reported that the trade sending Jay Payton to Oakland and Chad Bradford to Boston is expected to be announced during the All-Star break. However, the San Francisco Chronicle report that Payton's agent -- Craig Landis -- said he was told by the Sox that there is no deal in place. The Providence Journal speculated that the Sox may be trying to get a third team involved that would give Payton a chance to play every day. The 6-foot-5 Bradford appeared in 68, 72, and 75 games for the A's in the last three seasons. Bradford's best season came in 2003, when he went 7-4 in 72 games with a 3.04 ERA. Last year, he was 5-6 with a 4.42 ERA in 68 games. The Providence Journal's Sean McAdam writes that Bradford's "sinking fastball generates lots of ground balls, and the Sox believe he can help them in the sixth and seventh innings." |
Yankees | Last updated: 7/11
Cashman: 'No way I'm spending any more money'
Could the Yankees be non-players in the trade market? Recent comments from Yankees GM Brian Cashman seem to indicate that may be the case: ''We made our bed and we have to sleep in it. It's a very restrictive roster. People say, 'How can you improve on this?' You fix what you have if it's broken and we have to tap our system because there's no way I'm spending any more money. Wang and Cano have had a huge impact and maybe Melky Cabrera will, too." Cashman has also said he's finding prices for outside help way too high. Mark Kotsay was said to be the team's top priority, but Kotsay signed an extension with the A's over the weekend. |
Billy Wagner
Phillies closer | Last updated: 7/11
Might Wagner be an option for Sox?
The Boston Globe reported that the Red Sox are one of the teams that may have interest in acquiring Phillies closer Billy Wagner. Wagner, a lefty with one of the hardest fastballs in the majors, will be a free agent after this season, and he has not talked with the Phillies about a new deal. With the Red Sox bullpen woes and the uncertainty of Curt Schilling's stature in the pen, the Sox may be in the market for a proven commodity like Wagner. |
Braden Looper
Mets closer | Last updated: 7/11
Is he a fit for Sox?
Newsday reported that the Red Sox may have interest in Mets reliever Braden Looper. Looper, who has struggled in his role as closer (blowing four of 24 save opportunities), would provide the Sox bullpen with a live arm that could benefit from a change of scenery. |
Danys Baez
Devil Rays closer | Last updated: 7/11
Rays preparing to deal Baez
The Devil Rays are preparing to deal All-Star closer Danys Baez, the Tampa Tribune reported. The Rays expect to sign former Cubs closer Joe Borowski in the next few days, freeing them to trade Baez. The Tribune reported that at least four teams -- the Red Sox, Marlins, Braves, and Diamondbacks -- have scouted Baez, who has 13 saves this season. |
Mark Redman
Pirates starting pitcher | Last updated: 7/11
Redman would come cheaper than most
The Newark Star-Ledger reported Sunday that the Red Sox may be interested in bringing Pirates pitcher Mark Redman to Boston. While speculation on the Sox acquiring a starting pitcher has focused on front-line pitchers like Jason Schmidt and AJ Burnett, acquiring a lesser commodity like Redman would still allow the Sox to be able to focus on supplementing their less than stellar bullpen. |
Mark Kotsay
A's outfielder | Last updated: 7/11
Kotsay re-signs with A's
The A's signed outfielder Mark Kotsay to a two-year, $15 million extension. Kotsay, rumored to top the Yankees' midseason wish list, would have solved the Yankees defensive hole in center field as well as made the team younger. |
Mike Stanton
Yankees reliever | Last updated: 7/11
Stanton deadline looms
The Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reported the Marlins are interested in bringing released Yankees reliever Mike Stanton to Florida. The Yankees have until Monday to trade Stanton, whom they designated for assignment ten days ago; if they don't strike a deal, Stanton is released and free to sign with any team. The Marlins, with their need for a left-handed reliever, appear to be most interested in acquiring Stanton. |
Roger Clemens
Astros
Starting pitcher | Last updated: 7/11
Yankees think Rocket's staying put
The Yankees believe that Astros pitcher Roger Clemens will remain in the Astros organization for the rest of his career, the New York Daily News reported. It had been rumored that the Yankees would make a run at reacquiring Clemens for the remainder of the season, but the Astros drafting of his son Koby has apparently quashed any possibility of The Rocket changing organizations. The chance to be in the same organization as his son, the Yankees believe, will preclude Clemens from swapping uniforms at the deadline. |
A.J. Burnett
Marlins pitcher | Last updated: 7/11
Burnett draws a crowd
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Marlins pitcher AJ Burnett drew a congregation of scouts at his start last Wednesday. The hard throwing free-agent-to-be struck out 14 batters while walking five in his appearance against Milwaukee, with scouts from the Yankees, Braves, and Nationals in attendance. Although the Marlins are still in the thick of the playoff hunt and have a potent rotation, rumors persist regarding a swap of Burnett. The Orioles are also rumored to have serious interest in him. |
Preston Wilson
Rockies outfielder | Last updated: 7/11
Rockies fully intend to deal Wilson
The Rocky Mountain News reported that the Rockies fully intend to trade Wilson before the trade deadline. While the Nationals have expressed the most interest so far -- agreeing on the players to be exchanged but not on the amount of the $5.3 million on Wilson's contract they would pay -- the Yankees are rumored to be in the pack of teams interested in Wilson. |
Red Sox | Last updated: 7/8
Sox probably not done dealing
The Red Sox had a busy day Thursday, acquiring veteran backup infielder Alex Cora from Cleveland for the struggling Ramon Vazquez. The lefthanded hitter is a career .243 hitter who has made more big league starts at second base (280) than short (200). The Sox also designated Jay Payton for assignment and will trade for A's reliever Chad Bradford, according to the Boston Globe. However, the Sox may not be done dealing. According to the New York Post, ESPN's Peter Gammons said he expects Theo Epstein to add two relievers because Boston has "no bullpen." ... The Red Sox lost Keith Foulke to the disabled list on Wednesday, but they added a reliever with the revelation that Curt Schilling will join the bullpen when he returns sometime after the All-Star break. Sox GM Theo Epstein said yesterday that the Schilling move may buy the Sox some time in the trade market. "This helps us avoid doing something desperate and shortsighted, " Epstein said. However, Schilling isn't a permanent fix. According to the Herald's Howard Bryant, Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino told Epstein on Monday to make a deal for a reliever. According to Bryant's sources, Lucchino ordered reinforcements by this weekend (when the Red Sox face the Orioles). |
Danny Kolb
Braves reliever | Last updated: 7/8
Red Sox gave Kolb a look
According to Friday's Boston Globe, it appeared that as of Thursday, the Red Sox had yet to show serious interest in Kolb. Earlier this season, Kolb was booted from the Braves' closer spot after struggling with his command. He is 1-5 with a 5.63 ERA. |
Eddie Guardado
Mariners closer | Last updated: 7/7
Guardado can block trade to Red Sox
Multiple news outlets reported Thursday morning that Guardado has a limited no-trade clause (apparently, the Red Sox are one of 10 teams on his trade veto list) and would have to sign off on any deal. And considering many of Guardado's contract incentives are tied to closer-type statistics, it can be assumed he would likely veto any deal to Boston. "It's strictly a business decision,'' Guardado's agent, Kevin Kohler, told the Boston Herald yesterday. "It's nothing against the Boston franchise or their fans.'' |
Jason Schmidt
Giants pitcher | Last updated: 7/7
White Sox making a big push
Reports out of Chicago indicate the White Sox are going hard after Schmidt. ... The Globe's Gordon Edes mentioned in a Boston.com chat on Friday that while the Sox inquired about Schmidt, the Giants ace is hardly at the top of their list. Schmidt has been great since coming off the disabled list and is back to throwing his typical mid-90s heat. The New York Post reported that the Yankees spoke with San Francisco about Schmidt, but that they have no interest in acquiring the right-hander. The Orioles, who appear to be the most actively pursuing starting pitching so far this trading season, have stronger interest in Schmidt than AJ Burnett, according to the Sun Sentinel. |
Tom Glavine
Mets starting pitcher | Last updated: 7/7
Mets say they're still contenders
Hold off on this one for now. The Mets said yesterday that until they're out of the race, they're going to be buyers, not sellers. Newsday reported Wednesday that Glavine might agree to be traded. Glavine, who has 267 career wins and a full no-trade clause, said he would be willing to waive the clause to go to a contending team. It has been speculated that the Yankees, with their need for starting pitching, deep pockets, and status as a contender, could make a run at the Hall of Fame-bound pitcher. |
Ron Villone
Mariners reliever | Last updated: 7/6
Report: Red Sox have interest in Villone
The Mariners have made the lefty Villone -- who's having a great season in Seattle (averaging more than nine strikeouts per nine innings with an ERA well below 3.00) -- available, and the Sox have some interest in him, the Providence Journal reported Wednesday. The report went on to say that the Sox don't see him as a solution for the closer's spot. The Herald also reported Wednesday that Villone was a Sox target, and the New York Daily News confirmed the Sox (and Yankees) have talked to the Mariners about Villone. |
Brantley Jordan
Red Sox pitcher | Last updated: 7/6
Can this guy help the Sox?
The Forum Newspaper of Fargo, North Dakota, reported that the Red Sox purchased the contract of pitcher Brantley Jordan of the Fargo-Morehead Redhawks, a Northern League team. The 24-year-old Jordan, a left-handed reliever, is 1-2 with a 3.13 ERA and three saves. Batters are hitting .183 against him, and he has recorded 28 strikeouts and 8 walks in 23 innings. Jordan pitched at the University of Texas and was drafted by St. Louis in the 29th round of the 2003 amateur draft. The Cardinals released him in April. Last year for the Cardinals' Class-A affiliate (Peoria), Jordan had a 3.17 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 54 innings. |
Brett Tomko
Giants pitcher | Last updated: 7/5
Could Sox consider Tomko for 'pen?
The Red Sox have considered putting a starting pitcher into middle relief, given the prohibitive prices teams are asking for relief pitchers, ESPN's Peter Gammons reported. San Francisco's Brett Tomko was mentioned as a potential target for the Sox pen. Gammons also mentions unsigned draft pick Craig Hansen as an arm that could bolster the bullpen by September. |
Shigetoshi Hasegawa
Mariners reliever | Last updated: 7/5
Hasegawa could catch Theo's eye
The Boston Herald reported that the Sox might have interest in Mariners reliever Shigetoshi Hasegawa. Given the high price for bullpen help, it is unlikely the Sox would spend heavily for a reliever at this point in the season. As they near the July 31 trade deadline, the Sox may have no choice but to acquire an arm for the pen. |
Eric Milton
Reds pitcher | Last updated: 7/5
Yankees could revisit Milton
The New York Post reported that the Yankees might have interest in Cincinnati pitcher Eric Milton. Cincinnati is ready to deal Milton, whom they signed this last offseason, and acquire prospects in order to build for the future. The Yankees made a push for Milton this past offseason before signing Carl Pavano and Jared Wright. |
Craig Hansen
Red Sox
pitching prospect | Last updated: 7/1
Will Hansen be ready to help the Sox right away?
The latest on Craig Hansen, the St. John's closer whom the Sox drafted in June, from the Globe's Gordon Edes: "(Contract talks), as expected, have started out slowly. Chances are both sides are waiting for some guys drafted ahead of Hansen to sign to get a better feel for the market. Hansen is expecting and almost certainly will receive a major league deal, but where he begins could depend on how long it is before he signs. My guess is they'd probably start him in Class A Wilmington, with the idea that he could move up quickly. It's a stretch, but don't rule out the possibility that the Sox give him a look in September on the big league level. |
Joe Borowski
Relief pitcher | Last updated: 7/1
Could Sox take a chance on him?
The former closer (who's coming off an injury) was designated for assignment by the Cubs recently after struggling. He could probably be had cheap, but the Globe's Gordon Edes doesn't think the Sox will bite: "Joe was a great little story for a while in Chicago, the journeyman who came up big in '03, but with his arm problems, I don't know. The Sox have nothing to lose to look at him, now that the Cubs have designated him, and supposedly he was back up to 91 the other day, so it probably bears a little watching. But only as a middle guy, not a closer. I think those days are gone for Joe." |
Gary Sheffield
Yankees outfielder | Last updated: 6/30
Yankees diffuse Sheffield-to-Mets rumblings
Joe Torre said the team rejected a possible trade with the Mets involving Sheffield, who reacted emotionally when asked to comment on a story in the New York Post. ''I can't sit here and blame the Yankees for other teams wanting me, so let's clear that up," Sheffield said. ''But I'm just letting you know if it happens, it becomes personal and I'm not going to accept this." The story said the Yankees have held preliminary talks on a trade involving Sheffield and Mets outfielder Mike Cameron. Meanwhile, the Palm Beach Post on Thursday reported that, according to a National League source, the Marlins and Yankees are discussing a deal that would send A.J. Burnett and Juan Encarnacion to the Yankees for Sheffield. |
Adam Dunn
Reds outfielder | Last updated: 6/30
Orioles, Yankees could be interested
Ken Rosenthal of the Sporting News reported that the Reds are shopping slugging outfielder Adam Dunn, looking for a potential ace for their pitching staff or package of top prospects in return. While Rosenthal highlights the Astros and Cubs as Dunn's likely suitors, he also mentions the Orioles and Yankees as teams with possible interest. Rosenthal speculates that the Yankees would have to put together a package starting with pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and either second baseman Robinson Cano or third baseman Eric Duncan. |
Mike Cameron
Mets outfielder | Last updated: 6/30
Minaya: Cameron is part of our core
Cameron responded recently to the rumors that he could be headed to the Yankees in a deal involving Gary Sheffield: "Don't be coming over here and ask me about some damn trade," Cameron said, half joking, to a crowd of reporters. "Go ask Omar (Minaya). I don't know nothing about it. I'm here to play baseball." A short time later, Minaya denied the reports to the New York Daily News. "I don't comment on rumors," Minaya said. "I think Cameron's doing a great job in right field. We're very happy with Mike Cameron and he's part of our team. I want to say he's part of our core." |
07-11-2005, 04:18 PM
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