Post by IAMCAPER on Jun 27, 2005 7:51:41 GMT -4
The Florida Marlins are considering trading right-hander A.J. Burnett, a blockbuster move that would alter the pennant races in both leagues, The Sporting News has learned.
The Marlins are engaged in preliminary discussions about Burnett with the Orioles and a second, unidentified American League club. Their goal in trading Burnett, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, would be to obtain three major-league parts — a young starting pitcher, quality reliever and left-handed hitting outfielder.
The Red Sox would like to add another starting pitcher and inquired about Burnett at the winter meetings last December. The Sox would have difficulty meeting the Marlins' exact needs, but could build a package that includes their top prospect, Double-A shortstop Hanley Ramirez, along with right-handed starter Bronson Arroyo.
Knowing the price will be high, any team that acquires Burnett, 28, would need to be confident that it could sign him long term. The Marlins, unlikely to retain Burnett, would prefer to trade him for immediate help than receive only draft picks if he departs as a free agent. Burnett threw a two-hit shutout against the Devil Rays on Sunday, but for all his talent, he's only 5-5 with a 3.14 ERA this season, 41-43 with a 3.78 ERA lifetime.
The Orioles, a team in search of a No. 1 starter, could prove a match for the Marlins if they are willing to give up either right-hander Daniel Cabrera or Hayden Penn, reliever Jorge Julio and outfielder Larry Bigbie, with the Marlins likely sending them outfielder Juan Encarnacion — another potential free agent — along with Burnett.
In recent years, however, the Orioles have shown great reluctance at acquiring potential free agents, passing on deals for first baseman Derrek Lee and right-hander Tim Hudson because they could not sign them to contract extensions before making the trades.
The Yankees also could get involved for Burnett if they were willing to trade setup man Tom Gordon and right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, a move that could do as much harm as good. The Tigers are another team that has expressed past interest in Burnett.
More Inside Dish
If Lou Piniella is fed up with the Devil Rays, then he should follow the example of Jim Leyland, who walked away from the final two years and $4 million on his contract when he resigned from the Rockies after burning out in 1999. Piniella's contract runs through next season, and he reportedly has nearly $7 million coming. Resigning would be the honorable thing to do; he'd find another job, though probably not for as much money. ...
Placido Polanco (at right, celebrating a game-winning home run) has been huge for the Tigers. (Duane Burleson / Associated Press)
Here's how the Reds can trade beleaguered left-hander Eric Milton: By offering to pay half of his remaining salary to a team that plays in a pitcher-friendly park. The Nationals, Giants or Tigers might be willing to take a chance on Milton if they were paying him $4.25 million per season instead of $8.5 million. ...
The Phillies' trade of second baseman Placido Polanco for reliever Ugueth Urbina seemed like a good idea at the time, but the deal already looks like a loser. Urbina allowed five homers in his first 5 1/3 innings at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Polanco not only has given the Tigers a major offensive boost at second base, but also has emerged as a leader. ...
The price will be high for Rockies left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes, who continues to draw significant interest from the Marlins and other clubs. Fuentes, 29, is 8-for-10 in save opportunities, opponents are batting only .202 against him and he is earning only $328,000; he becomes eligible for arbitration after this season. ...
Brewers rookie second baseman Rickie Weeks drew nine walks in his first 59 plate appearances for an on-base percentage of .441, and his bat speed is something to behold. Weeks got down 0-2 in his first at-bat against Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano, then fouled off a pitch and took a ball before hitting an RBI single to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. ...
The Cubs rejected the Rockies' offer of outfielder Preston Wilson for a package of three prospects. Wilson, who turn 31 in July, is only about 18 months older than A's center fielder Mark Kotsay, but offers more power. Both can be free agents after this season. ...
The Nationals' attendance surge gives them the ability to increase payroll, but the team lacks the surplus of young talent needed to make trades. The loss of outfielder Terrmel Sledge, who underwent surgery on his right hamstring and likely is out for the season, has proven particularly damaging. A package of Sledge and right-hander Zach Day could have brought the Nationals a significant part. ...
The Orioles' demotion of utility man David Newhan prompted the Brewers to inquire whether he was available in a trade, but Newhan played just one inning in Triple A before the Orioles brought him back to replace B.J. Surhoff, who went on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left rib cage. The Orioles would not have traded Newhan, anyway. ...
The Blue Jays plan to start using rookie shortstop Russ Adams, a left-handed hitter, against lefties as well as righties. Adams has made 13 errors, tied for the AL lead among shortstops, but the Jays love his alertness in the field. Third-base coach Brian Butterfield says Adams has improved his arm from below-average to average. ...
The Phillies are fortunate that right-hander Robinson Tejeda is proving a worthy replacement for left-hander Randy Wolf, who will undergo elbow-ligament transplant surgery July 1 and be out at least 12 months; Triple-A right-hander Gavin Floyd, one of the team's top prospects, isn't the same pitcher he was last season. "He does not have the power curveball that he had, and he doesn't have great command of his fastball," one scout says. "Triple-A hitters are laying off the fastball, and he can't get them to chase his curve. It's more of a slurve this year. He used to have a snap-dragon type breaking ball."
The Marlins are engaged in preliminary discussions about Burnett with the Orioles and a second, unidentified American League club. Their goal in trading Burnett, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, would be to obtain three major-league parts — a young starting pitcher, quality reliever and left-handed hitting outfielder.
The Red Sox would like to add another starting pitcher and inquired about Burnett at the winter meetings last December. The Sox would have difficulty meeting the Marlins' exact needs, but could build a package that includes their top prospect, Double-A shortstop Hanley Ramirez, along with right-handed starter Bronson Arroyo.
Knowing the price will be high, any team that acquires Burnett, 28, would need to be confident that it could sign him long term. The Marlins, unlikely to retain Burnett, would prefer to trade him for immediate help than receive only draft picks if he departs as a free agent. Burnett threw a two-hit shutout against the Devil Rays on Sunday, but for all his talent, he's only 5-5 with a 3.14 ERA this season, 41-43 with a 3.78 ERA lifetime.
The Orioles, a team in search of a No. 1 starter, could prove a match for the Marlins if they are willing to give up either right-hander Daniel Cabrera or Hayden Penn, reliever Jorge Julio and outfielder Larry Bigbie, with the Marlins likely sending them outfielder Juan Encarnacion — another potential free agent — along with Burnett.
In recent years, however, the Orioles have shown great reluctance at acquiring potential free agents, passing on deals for first baseman Derrek Lee and right-hander Tim Hudson because they could not sign them to contract extensions before making the trades.
The Yankees also could get involved for Burnett if they were willing to trade setup man Tom Gordon and right-hander Chien-Ming Wang, a move that could do as much harm as good. The Tigers are another team that has expressed past interest in Burnett.
More Inside Dish
If Lou Piniella is fed up with the Devil Rays, then he should follow the example of Jim Leyland, who walked away from the final two years and $4 million on his contract when he resigned from the Rockies after burning out in 1999. Piniella's contract runs through next season, and he reportedly has nearly $7 million coming. Resigning would be the honorable thing to do; he'd find another job, though probably not for as much money. ...
Placido Polanco (at right, celebrating a game-winning home run) has been huge for the Tigers. (Duane Burleson / Associated Press)
Here's how the Reds can trade beleaguered left-hander Eric Milton: By offering to pay half of his remaining salary to a team that plays in a pitcher-friendly park. The Nationals, Giants or Tigers might be willing to take a chance on Milton if they were paying him $4.25 million per season instead of $8.5 million. ...
The Phillies' trade of second baseman Placido Polanco for reliever Ugueth Urbina seemed like a good idea at the time, but the deal already looks like a loser. Urbina allowed five homers in his first 5 1/3 innings at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Polanco not only has given the Tigers a major offensive boost at second base, but also has emerged as a leader. ...
The price will be high for Rockies left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes, who continues to draw significant interest from the Marlins and other clubs. Fuentes, 29, is 8-for-10 in save opportunities, opponents are batting only .202 against him and he is earning only $328,000; he becomes eligible for arbitration after this season. ...
Brewers rookie second baseman Rickie Weeks drew nine walks in his first 59 plate appearances for an on-base percentage of .441, and his bat speed is something to behold. Weeks got down 0-2 in his first at-bat against Cubs RHP Carlos Zambrano, then fouled off a pitch and took a ball before hitting an RBI single to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. ...
The Cubs rejected the Rockies' offer of outfielder Preston Wilson for a package of three prospects. Wilson, who turn 31 in July, is only about 18 months older than A's center fielder Mark Kotsay, but offers more power. Both can be free agents after this season. ...
The Nationals' attendance surge gives them the ability to increase payroll, but the team lacks the surplus of young talent needed to make trades. The loss of outfielder Terrmel Sledge, who underwent surgery on his right hamstring and likely is out for the season, has proven particularly damaging. A package of Sledge and right-hander Zach Day could have brought the Nationals a significant part. ...
The Orioles' demotion of utility man David Newhan prompted the Brewers to inquire whether he was available in a trade, but Newhan played just one inning in Triple A before the Orioles brought him back to replace B.J. Surhoff, who went on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left rib cage. The Orioles would not have traded Newhan, anyway. ...
The Blue Jays plan to start using rookie shortstop Russ Adams, a left-handed hitter, against lefties as well as righties. Adams has made 13 errors, tied for the AL lead among shortstops, but the Jays love his alertness in the field. Third-base coach Brian Butterfield says Adams has improved his arm from below-average to average. ...
The Phillies are fortunate that right-hander Robinson Tejeda is proving a worthy replacement for left-hander Randy Wolf, who will undergo elbow-ligament transplant surgery July 1 and be out at least 12 months; Triple-A right-hander Gavin Floyd, one of the team's top prospects, isn't the same pitcher he was last season. "He does not have the power curveball that he had, and he doesn't have great command of his fastball," one scout says. "Triple-A hitters are laying off the fastball, and he can't get them to chase his curve. It's more of a slurve this year. He used to have a snap-dragon type breaking ball."