 1. Yankees finished with pursuit of Dunn
2. Lilly would be free to return as free agent
3. Angels keeping options open
4. Tigers make more roster moves in search of offense
5. Cards are still hoping, shopping
6. Cleveland happy that Jhonny Peralta is gone?
7. Little Sox chatter as trade deadline approaches
8. Trade winds are not blowing for Brewers
1. Yankees finished with pursuit of Dunn
THe Ny Post is reporting The Yankees have all but given up hope of landing Nationals slugger Adam Dunn, The Post has learned.
The Yankees consider the current asking price steep and would only deliver that kind of package for a game-changing necessity, such as Cliff Lee, not for someone they consider a luxury, such as Dunn.
Plus, the Yankees were worried about giving up significant prospects and not being sure about Dunn as a DH. Dunn has spent his entire career in the NL, so he has never DH'ed regularly and has said repeatedly he does not want to be exclusively a DH. That combination made the Yankees wonder if he would adapt to the job, especially when you add on a new league, a new city, and a level of expectation Dunn has never experienced with the Reds, Diamondbacks or Nationasl.
Similar worries also – coincidentally – moved the Yankees' nearest AL East pursuer, the Rays, away from Dunn, as well.
Dunn is a well-below-average defender at either first base or the corner outfield, so the Yankees did not see using him in the field except for, perhaps, a spot start. In addition, the Yankees want to use the DH slot regularly down the stretch as a rest sanctuary for Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira."
To read more..
http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/hardball/yankees_finished_with_pursuit_of_tUkqK3o8850Ct5tWxvimaI
2. Lilly would be free to return as free agent
The Chicago Sun Times is reporting "The big question about left-hander Ted Lilly isn't so much whether he'll be traded this week but whether he'll come back next season as a free agent.
The Cubs say they won't make that kind of decision until after the season. And several factors might come into play, not the least of which is how quickly and efficiently they can unload right-hander Carlos Zambrano.
But with a continuing emphasis on grooming high-end prospects into a contending core, the value of having respected, tone-setting veterans such as Lilly and right-hander Ryan Dempster at the front of the rotation is part of the thought process going forward.
''We'll see,'' Lilly said. ''We're getting toward the end of July, and those kinds of things are a ways away. So many things between now and then can happen.
''I think it's evident I would prefer to stay here for the future. But you get to that point where you get the opportunity to become a free agent, those don't come around too often.''
Lilly, the Cubs' winningest pitcher since signing a four-year, $40 million deal before the 2007 season, will turn 35 in January.
Until then, the line of possible suitors for the stretch run seems to be growing as the non-waiver trade deadline nears (3 p.m. Saturday). Add the Philadelphia Phillies to the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers as teams interested in Lilly."
TO read more..
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/2545874,CST-SPT-cubnt29.article
3. Angels keeping options open
The LA TImes is reporting "Which way will they go?
Two losses Wednesday - one on the field and one off it - raised the question: Are the Angels buyers or sellers?
Up until that point, the Angels certainly were buyers, looking to upgrade their team via trade, willing to part with prospects for major leaguers who could help the club immediately. They acquired infielder Alberto Callaspo and pitcher Dan Haren for major league starter Joe Saunders and five minor leaguers in separate deals in recent days, tapping into that organizational depth.
But now that starter Joel Pineiro will be out for six to eight weeks with a strained oblique muscle, and the fact that the Angels spent their day off Thursday in third place and nine games behind American League West-leading Texas, the question was posed to Angels general manager Tony Reagins if the team would now focus more on next season and beyond rather than this season.
"We would consider any move that would strengthen us, whether it's for future years or this year," Reagins said. "You have to look at what the deal consists of."
Before losing Pineiro, the Angels' focus was on improving the offense. Among the bats believed to be available are first basemen Prince Fielder of the Brewers and Adam Dunn of the Nationals.
Dunn is making $12 million in the final year of a two-year, $20 million deal and is a free agent after this season. Fielder is making $10.5 million this season in the final year of a two-year, $18 million deal. But unlike Dunn, Fielder is not eligible for free agency after this season. He is arbitration-eligible and figures to make as much as $16 million in 2011 if a multi-year deal can't be reached.
He is eligible for free agency after the 2011 season.
Both players would cost the Angels plenty, likely both from their major-league club and minor-league system. "
To read more..
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_15637137
4. Tigers make more roster moves in search of offense
The Detroit Free Press is reporting Still seeking an upgrade from their runs-starved offense, the Tigers on Thursday called up outfielder Jeff Frazier from Triple A Toledo and designated for assignment left-handed hitter Jeff Larish.
They also sent second baseman Scott Sizemore to Triple A Toledo as they cleared roster space for third baseman, Jhonny Peralta, who was obtained Wednesday in a trade with the Indians.
The Tigers were beaten Thursday by Tampa Bay, 4-2, at Tropicana Field, which sewed up a series sweep for the Rays.
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Frazier, who turns 28 next month, was batting .273 in 104 games for the Mud Hens, including 23 home runs, 32 doubles and 68 RBIs.
In his last 13 games, he was batting .333 with seven homers, four doubles and 16 RBIs.
Frazier is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound, right-handed hitter. Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Frazier will be in Friday night's lineup against the Red Sox and their left-handed starter Jon Lester."
TO read more..
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100729/SPORTS0104/7290462/1129/sports0104/Tigers-make-more-roster-moves-in-search-of-offense
5. Cards are still hoping, shopping
STL Today is reporting "The Cardinals always felt they were a "long shot" to land Houston ace Roy Oswalt, as one executive said early in their pursuit, and it wasn't only because of an inability or unwillingness to meet the asking price in prospects.
Baseball geography was a hurdle as Houston remained hesitant to move Oswalt within the National League Central, let alone with a rival.
The Philadelphia Phillies landed Roy Oswalt in a trade with Houston on Thursday, and after a late check on their chances the Cardinals continued other conversations with potential fits. With less than two days remaining before Saturday afternoon's nonwaiver trade deadline, they seek a second-tier pitcher and, if possible, a starting infielder.
"We explore a lot of things," Mozeliak said leaving Citi Field after the team's 4-0 loss to the New York Mets. "We go down the road and sometimes things work out and a lot of times they don't. ... We still have a lot of balls in the air."
The Cardinals have kept connected on other additions they could make to the rotation. Cleveland righthander Jake Westbrook remains a possibility, and Colorado's Aaron Cook has surfaced as a potential fit. Cardinals officials have said that they have payroll flexibility — not just to add on for this season but to acquire a player with a contract beyond 2010. Cook has an $11 million mutual option for 2011 and a $1 million increase if he's traded. That's a hefty $14.25 million price tag with the rest of this year's salary included.
The sinkerballer is 4-7 with a 5.08 ERA this season for the Rockies, and he lost all three of his road starts this month.
For Oswalt, the Astros were seeking a major league or major league-ready player, two prospects and a third minor-leaguer, according to an executive from a team that checked on the righthander's availability. To get him, the Phillies shipped starter J.A. Happ — that essential "major league" element of the deal — and two minor-leaguers.
Such big financial blocks were only a part of the moving parts that limited the Cardinals' chances of landing Oswalt. According to a source with knowledge of what the Astros told interested teams, the Cardinals were Oswalt's "first choice." Still, the Astros, according to others, had reservations about putting their ace with a division foe for this season and beyond.
Mozeliak declined to speak about a specific player, but he outlined the situation the Cardinals ran into in general terms when trading with a division rival."
To read more..
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_84911000-9c6c-5c77-a736-1afd16510fe6.html
6. Cleveland happy that Jhonny Peralta is gone?
The Detroit Press is reporting OK, the Tigers had no choice but to trade for someone like Cleveland's Jhonny Peralta when Brandon Inge was injured.
But down in Ohio, do they have to treat it like such a boon for the Indians to rid themselves of Peralta, who failed to live up to high expectations?
• Dennis Manoloff, Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Those Indians fans who love to criticize Jhonny Peralta -- the number seemingly grew exponentially each year -- finally can relax."
• Sheldon Ocker, Akron Beacon Journal: "Until the Tigers were forced to look around at the available third basemen, it was beginning to look like (the Indians) might not be able to procure even a warm body for Peralta. ...
"Peralta always has been a range-challenged defender and a streaky hitter, who could catch fire and stay hot for three or four weeks, but just as easily fall into a trancelike presence at the plate, swinging at the same slider two feet off the plate day after day.""
To read more..
http://www.freep.com/article/20100730/SPORTS18/7300344/
7. Little Sox chatter as trade deadline approaches
The Boston Globe is reporting "There are times when the trade deadline is critical to the Red Sox. When disgruntled Manny Ramirez was shipped to the Dodgers in 2008, the complicated negotiations between three teams were completed with minutes to spare.
But no frenzy is expected in the hours leading up to the 4 p.m. deadline tomorrow. For many teams, especially the Red Sox, there could be more activity in August, even if players have to first be passed through waivers before being traded.
At 58-44, the Sox are in third place in the American League East. That is close enough to contemplate making improvements, but not at the expense of the organization's best prospects.
Within two weeks, general manager Theo Epstein will have a much better feel for how aggressive he should be. A four-game series in New York against the Yankees Aug. 6-9 will be telling.
Meanwhile, the Sox are changing from within. In just the past week, catcher Victor Martinez and starting pitchers Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz came off the disabled list. Outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and second baseman Dustin Pedroia are moving closer to joining the team, as well.
Ellsbury has played in three minor league rehabilitation games, while Pedroia is scheduled for a CT scan on his broken left foot today."
TO read more..
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2010/07/30/little_sox_chatter_as_trade_deadline_approaches/
8. Trade winds are not blowing for Brewers
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting "With just more than a day remaining before the non-waiver trade deadline expires, Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said all was quiet on his end.
"I don't anticipate anything happening," Melvin said late Thursday afternoon. "Things can change, but that's the way it looks now. I don't have to trade players."
Which, despite two discouraging losses to Cincinnati to end the Brewers' last home stand, is the difference between Milwaukee and other clubs making moves before the 3 p.m. deadline Saturday. There are no players or contracts Melvin has to move at this particular stage.
First baseman Prince Fielder and rightfielder Corey Hart, two names bandied about on the trade rumor mill, aren't free agents until after the 2011 season. Accordingly, Melvin said he'd have to be bowled over at this stage to move either player.
"I have to make sure anything we consider makes absolute sense to do anything," he said. "All of our players can be here next season. We don't have to move them until then, or maybe this off-season if we choose.
"Right now, we don't have anything of a serious nature. I don't consider it serious unless you're exchanging names. I'm not interested in trading major-league players for mid-level prospects.""
To read more..
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/99592124.html
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