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| Jones continues downward slide | Thursday 7/31, 11:42 PM CT |
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Andruw Jones continued his embarrassing campaign, going 0-for-4 and striking out once in the Dodgers loss to Arizona.
Our View: Jones hit .159 for the month of July, and is now hitting .163 on the year. Clearly, fantasy owners don't have him on their team, and neither should the Dodgers. |
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| Drew gets three hits | Thursday 7/31, 11:39 PM CT |
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Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew went 3-for-4 in Arizona's 2-1 win over the Dodgers. J.D.'s brother had two singles and a double.
Our View: Drew hit .311 during July and raised his batting average almost 20 points, from .256 on July 1 to .273 now. He still needs to improve on his on-base percentage dramatically, but he is a good option for fantasy play, especially in NL-only leagues. |
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| Lowe out-dueled | Thursday 7/31, 11:36 PM CT |
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Dodgers hurler Derek Lowe threw an effective 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out seven, but he was out-dueled by Arizona's Brandon Webb and took the loss.
Our View: Lowe picked up his ninth loss of the year, but he probably deserved better. He deserves a spot on fantasy rosters even with the unseemly W-L record. |
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| Webb wins again | Thursday 7/31, 11:33 PM CT |
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Brandon Webb won his 15th game of the season by throwing eight innings and giving up just one earned run in Arizona's 2-1 win over L.A.
Our View: Webb's ERA dropped to 3.04, and he is on his way to picking up another Cy Young Award if he keeps it up. |
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| Span gets no hits, scores three runs | Thursday 7/31, 10:56 PM CT |
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In a pretty remarkable feat, Minnesota's Denard Span went 0-for-3 with one walk, yet still managed to score three runs in the Twins 10-6 victory over the White Sox.
Our View: So how did he do it? Span reached base on the aforementioned walk, along with reaching on a fielder's choice and throwing error. |
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| Fields strikes out in every at-bat | Thursday 7/31, 10:53 PM CT |
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White Sox third baseman Josh Fields struck out three times in three at-bats, and he was saved a potentially embarrassing accomplishment as Ozzie Guillen lifted him for a pinch hitter before his fourth AB.
Our View: The not-as-dirty-as-it-sounds feat is the Golden Sombrero, which is the term for when a baseball player strikes out four times in one game. |
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| Baker strikes out eight | Thursday 7/31, 10:49 PM CT |
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Scott Baker had an up and down performance, giving up four earned runs in six innings to Chicago, but also striking out eight White Sox hitters.
Our View: After not walking three hitters in one game all season, Baker has now done it twice in a row. He still remains a good option in fantasy due to his low WHIP and moderate ERA. |
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| Danks has average outing | Thursday 7/31, 10:45 PM CT |
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John Danks got a no-decision in Chicago's 10-6 loss to Minnesota, pitching six innings and allowing four earned runs on eight hits.
Our View: This is the fourth consecutive start that Danks has given up at least four earned runs. His ERA has gone from 2.50 to 3.31 during that time. Stick with him, but watch for any more performances like this. The 23-year-old is nearing last season's total in innings pitched already and may be getting fatigued. |
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| Tulowitzki hitting streak ends | Thursday 7/31, 10:27 PM CT |
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Troy Tulowitzki saw his modest six-game hitting streak come to a halt with an 0-for-5 contest, but still ended July with a .418 batting average for the month.
Our View: We're all aware what Tulowitzki is capable of, and his batting average should continue to rise despite this minor setback. |
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| Ramirez 1-for-3 | Thursday 7/31, 10:23 PM CT |
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Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez went 1-for-3 and hit his 25th home run of the season in Florida's 12-2 demolition of Colorado. Ramirez also scored twice and wound up with two RBI.
Our View: Okay, so he struck out twice. Big deal. We'll take the strikeouts as long as he keeps chugging towards a 40-40 season. |
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| De La Rosa crushed | Thursday 7/31, 10:19 PM CT |
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Jorge De La Rosa has certainly had better outings than the one he had on Thursday. The Rockies starter failed to get through two innings, and allowed seven earned runs while walking two batters with the bases loaded.
Our View: De La Rosa has had control problems this season, but nothing to this extent. He may lose his spot in the starting rotation with this effort. |
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| Sanchez wins first game | Thursday 7/31, 10:16 PM CT |
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Anibal Sanchez threw well in his first game of the season after coming back from Tommy John surgery. He threw 5.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits while striking out four against the Rockies.
Our View: Sanchez could be a late season asset for fantasy owners, especially those in NL-only leagues. |
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| Beltre homers | Thursday 7/31, 10:12 PM CT |
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Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre, who had been rumored to be trade bait, stayed in Seattle and helped the Mariners beat the Rangers with a two-run home run on Thursday. He went 1-for-4 in the contest.
Our View: Beltre now has 19 home runs and 54 RBI on the season. Fantasy owners will deal with his marginal batting average as long as his power totals remain high. |
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| Harrison has little control | Thursday 7/31, 10:08 PM CT |
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Walking batters is usually the precursor to a poor outing, and Matt Harrison can testify to that, as he walked five Seattle Mariners, equaling the number of hits he gave up in 4.2 innings of work. He allowed six runs during that time.
Our View: Harrison has been one of the worst statistical pitchers in the game, as he has struck out just six hitters in 24.1 innings, and his WHIP is creeping dangerously towards the 2.00 mark. |
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| Dickey wins third game | Thursday 7/31, 10:05 PM CT |
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Mariners hurler R.A. Dickey ran his record to 3-6 by tossing 7.2 innings and giving up just six hits and two earned runs against the Rangers.
Our View: This is one start after Dickey gave up eight earned runs, and despite the quality outing, he should not be on fantasy teams. |
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| Davis gets three hits | Thursday 7/31, 10:03 PM CT |
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Rangers first baseman Chris Davis accumulated three hits in four at-bats and scored two runs in the Rangers 8-5 loss to Seattle.
Our View: Davis ended up hitting .303 in July, with eight home runs and 16 RBI. He's being picked up quickly, so grab him right now if you can. |
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| Bay to arrive in Boston tomorrow | Thursday 7/31, 9:45 PM CT |
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Jason Bay will arrive in Boston tomorrow and will be ready for the game, according to the Boston Globe.
Our View: Trying to take the place of Manny Ramirez isn't going to be easy, but Bay is a very solid player who can provide offensive pop in the middle of the lineup. |
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| Teixeira gets two hits | Thursday 7/31, 9:39 PM CT |
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Mark Teixeira went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in the Angels victory over New York.
Our View: Of course, Teixeira also left three runners on base, but soon enough his bat will produce in an even bigger way. |
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| Rodriguez makes debut | Thursday 7/31, 9:36 PM CT |
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Catcher Ivan Rodriguez made his Yankees debut on Thursday, and went 1-for-3 in the Yankees 12-6 loss to the Angels.
Our View: Pudge batted out of the eight hole, and he also hit into a double play. His numbers are still good enough to make their way into fantasy lineups. |
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| Garland a winner | Thursday 7/31, 9:33 PM CT |
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Angels hurler Jon Garland picked up his tenth win of the season by throwing an efficient six innings, surrendering three earned runs on seven hits in the team's 12-6 win over New York.
Our View: Garland is a steady if unspectacular performer, and should only be used in AL-only leagues, as his overall numbers aren't good enough to be utilized in mixed leagues. |
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| Pettitte rocked | Thursday 7/31, 9:31 PM CT |
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Andy Pettitte was rocked by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The lefty threw 5.1 innings, allowing nine earned runs on 11 hits. He also walked three and gave up two home runs.
Our View: Bad night for Pettitte, which was obvious by his lack of control, which is usually sparkling. Just chalk this one up to a bad night. |
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| Zimmerman leaves game | Thursday 7/31, 9:28 PM CT |
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Ryan Zimmerman left the game against the Phillies in the third inning after being hit in the hand with a pitch, according to The Sports Network.
Our View: An x-ray taken on the hand was negative, and Zimmerman is officially day-to-day. |
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| Victorino goes 2-for-4 | Thursday 7/31, 9:24 PM CT |
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Shane Victorino went 2-for-4, scored a run and stole a base in the Phillies 9-4 thrashing of the Nationals.
Our View: Victorino had a great July, hitting .333 on the month and stealing six bases. By all means, keep him in your lineup. |
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| Willis takes an oh-fer | Thursday 7/31, 9:21 PM CT |
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Willie Harris went 0-for-5 against the Phillies, but he still wound up hitting .291 for the month of July, and won a Player of the Week award.
Our View: Harris is a decent fantasy option, but only in deeper NL-only leagues. |
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| Kendrick throws well | Thursday 7/31, 9:18 PM CT |
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Kyle Kendrick threw 6.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out four in the Phillies victory over Washington.
Our View: Kendrick ran his record to 9-5, but he does not translate well to fantasy in any other statistic. His ERA, WHIP and strikeout rate simply are not good enough. |
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| Lannan loses 11th game | Thursday 7/31, 9:15 PM CT |
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John Lannan pitched poorly, allowing six earned runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings of work as Washington lost to Philadelphia 8-4.
Our View: Lannan had only given up four earned runs in his last 19 innings of work, but seeing as how he pitches for Washington, does not have much of a record to show for it. |
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| Johnson gets two hits | Thursday 7/31, 9:11 PM CT |
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Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson went 2-for-4 and scored two runs in Atlanta's 9-4 win over the Cardinals.
Our View: Johnson wound up hitting .224 in the month of July. He has solid fantasy value with nine home runs, nine stolen bases and 43 RBI, but a hot streak to raise that batting average would be nice. |
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| Pujols extends hitting streak | Thursday 7/31, 9:09 PM CT |
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Albert Pujols extended his hitting streak to six games, going 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI against the Braves.
Our View: Not only does Pujols have a six-game hitting streak, he also has a six-game RBI streak, pushing his total to 67 for the season. |
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| Hampton's ERA drops to 10.00 | Thursday 7/31, 9:06 PM CT |
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Mike Hampton saw his ERA drop from 13.50 to 10.00 as he threw five innings and allowed four earned runs in Atlanta's 9-4 win over St. Louis.
Our View: Hampton didn't pitch well, but he was up to his old tricks at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. Unfortunately, only his pitching stats count for fantasy, making him unusable. |
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| Pineiro hit hard | Thursday 7/31, 9:03 PM CT |
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Joel Pineiro saw his record drop to 3-5 as he allowed six earned runs on ten hits in six innings of work in St. Louis' 9-4 loss to Atlanta.
Our View: Pineiro's ERA jumped to 5.04, and once again he blew a lead that was handed to him. He should not be on fantasy rosters. |
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| Casilla puts off surgery | Thursday 7/31, 8:31 PM CT |
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In a surprising about-face, Twins second baseman Alexi Casilla will not undergo surgery like he had planned, and instead will put his thumb in a splint to see if it heals on its own, according to TwinsBaseball.com.
Our View: It's still very possible Casilla will have surgery, but if you did not get rid of him yet, stash him on your fantasy team's DL for a week if you can afford the roster spot. |
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| Hudson needs Tomy John surgery | Thursday 7/31, 7:33 PM CT |
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Braves pitcher Tim Hudson will need to undergo Tommy John surgery, and will likely miss most of next year, according to MLB.com. Dr. James Andrews took an MRI of his arm and showed Hudson where the tear of the ligament was.
Our View: Hudson is realistic about it and understands he will need to undergo the procedure, but he wants to hold off for a few days. Still, he realizes it will take something remarkable to not have to go under the knife. "Miracles happen," Hudson said. |
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| Inge will be starter in '09 | Thursday 7/31, 7:12 PM CT |
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Brandon Inge has been given the starting catcher's job for the rest of this season and 2009 as well, according to the Detroit Free-Press Inge started out the year seeking a trade because he did not have a position to play on a regular basis.
Our View: Quite an odd year for Inge. No matter what position he plays, however, unless he raises that batting average, he has little use in fantasy baseball. |
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| Zumaya could see save opportunites | Thursday 7/31, 7:07 PM CT |
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Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya will be given some opportunities to close out games, depending on the circumstances, according to the Detroit Free-Press. “I’m going to use Zumaya, too, if the situation’s right,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Our View: With the acquisition of Kyle Farnsworth, the Tigers are now in a full-fledged closer-by-committee situation. On any given night, Zumaya, Farnsworth or Fernando Rodney could get the call. |
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| McCarthy could be back soon | Thursday 7/31, 6:59 PM CT |
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Rangers pitcher Brandon McCarthy will make a rehab start tomorrow and likely another one after that, and if all goes well, he could join the big league team, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Our View: McCarthy has yet to pitch in the majors this season, but he is a candidate to go into the rotation as soon as he is deemed ready. |
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| Wainwright throws 25 breaking balls | Thursday 7/31, 6:27 PM CT |
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Cardinals hurler Adam Wainwright had a bullpen session in which he threw 25 breaking balls and felt good, according to StLCardinals.com. "I'm getting close, man. I'm a few steps away. I'm not far at all," he said.
Our View: Wainwright will throw a few more bullpen sessions and then the Cardinals will decide what to do with him. He was having a very good season before his injury, and hopefully fantasy owners who were patient with him will be rewarded soon. |
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| Andino sent down | Thursday 7/31, 6:22 PM CT |
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Robert Andino was demoted to Triple-A in order to make room on the roster for reliever Arthur Rhodes, according to FloridaMarlins.com.
Our View: Andino played in 40 games but had only 61 at-bats and hit .213. He was a non-factor in fantasy baseball. |
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| McGowan gets good news on arm | Thursday 7/31, 5:51 PM CT |
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Dustin McGowan underwent surgery on the frayed labrum in his right shoulder, and the news was positive as additional work was not needed, meaning he should be ready for Spring Training, according to MLB.com.
Our View: McGowan had average numbers - a 6-7 record and 4.37 ERA, but was useful in AL-only leagues. He should be good to go next season. |
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| Greene's season in jeopardy | Thursday 7/31, 5:33 PM CT |
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Padres shortstop Khalil Greene could miss the rest of the season after fracturing his hand punching a storage chest, according to Padres.com. Greene also may face disciplinary action. "I need to get more of the facts of what happened, the nature of the injury before we decide what to do moving forward," San Diego general manager Kevin Towers said.
Our View: Greene's forgettable season just got more forgettable. He and his .213 batting average and .260 on-base percentage have no business being near fantasy rosters. |
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| Thomas activated from DL | Thursday 7/31, 5:25 PM CT |
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Oakland DH Frank Thomas will be activated off the disabled list in time for Oakland's series in Boston on Friday, according to OaklandAthletics.com.
Our View: Thomas was hitting well for Oakland after being released from the Toronto Blue Jays. He could be a factor in fantasy baseball, but it might be wise to monitor his progress for a few games before giving him a roster spot. |
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| Ramirez suspended | Thursday 7/31, 5:19 PM CT |
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Yankees reliever Edwar Ramirez has been suspended three games for throwing at Baltimore's Kevin Millar, according to the AP. Ramirez's pitch was seen as retaliation for Orioles hurler Daniel Cabrera throwing at New York's Alex Rodriguez.
Our View: Ramirez has been great this season, with a 0.94 WHIP and 10.33 K/9 average. He has struck out 44 batters in 38.1 innings. |
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| Cabrera suspended | Thursday 7/31, 5:15 PM CT |
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Orioles pitcher Daniel Cabrera was suspended six games and fined for throwing at Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez on Tuesday, according to the AP.
Our View: Cabrera has seven wins, but a terrible K/BB ratio (80/66), and should only be used in deep AL-only leagues. |
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| Weeks strikes out three times | Thursday 7/31, 4:27 PM CT |
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Rickie Weeks went 1-for-4 and struck out three times as the Brewers were swept out of their home stadium by the Cubs.
Our View: For the month of July, Weeks had five more strikeouts (25) than he did hits (20). His time as the Brewers starting second baseman may soon come to an end, dropping his already low fantasy value down even further. |
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| Harden gets first NL win | Thursday 7/31, 4:23 PM CT |
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Rich Harden must really like pitching in the National League, because he's been awfully good since coming to Chicago. He got his first NL win today, throwing seven innings, allowing one earned run and striking out nine.
Our View: Harden has an ERA of 1.11 since joining the Cubs and has yet to give up more than one run in a game. His nine strikeouts were the fewest he has recorded in a game since he was traded. |
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| Bush hit hard | Thursday 7/31, 4:19 PM CT |
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Dave Bush was hit hard for the second consecutive outing, suffering his ninth defeat by allowing three home runs resulting in six earned runs to the Cubs in 7.1 innings.
Our View: The only thing going for Bush was that he had performed well at home. He has given up 10 earned runs over 12.1 innings in his last two starts at home. He doesn't belong on a fantasy roster right now. |
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| Edmonds hits two bombs | Thursday 7/31, 4:15 PM CT |
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Cubs outfielder Jim Edmonds went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI in Chicago's 11-4 win in Milwaukee. One of his home runs was a grand slam.
Our View: Edmonds missed the last three games with a sore left knee, but he returned to help the Cubs sweep Milwaukee. He remains an iffy fantasy performer, but from time-to-time he can still make things happen. |
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| Gagne ejected | Thursday 7/31, 4:09 PM CT |
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Milwaukee reliever Eric Gagne faced one hitter and wound up getting ejected after throwing behind Cubs outfielder Jim Edmonds, who had hit two home runs on the day.
Our View: The first three pitches of the at-bat were inside, and the fourth was a foot behind Edmonds. Brewers manager Ned Yost made a lame attempt to defend his hurler, but the intent was obvious. |
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| Manny has options dropped | Thursday 7/31, 4:08 PM CT |
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Manny Ramirez's $20 million team options in 2009 and 2010 will be dropped as part of his trade to LA, according to SI's Jon Heyman.
Our View: We assumed this would be part of the deal. Manny will now be a free agent after the season, and he's reportedly looking for a $100 million deal. |
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| Morris sent to Pittsburgh | Thursday 7/31, 3:59 PM CT |
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The Pirates acquired Bryan Morris from the Dodgers as part of the Manny Ramirez deal.
Our View: Morris, 21, was the Dodgers' first-round pick in 2006. He profiles as a solid middle of the rotation guy if he reaches his potential. |
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| Hansen acquired by Bucs | Thursday 7/31, 3:56 PM CT |
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The Pirates acquired Craig Hansen from the Red Sox as part of the Manny Ramirez deal.
Our View: Hansen was once viewed as Boston's closer of the future, but his star has fallen dramatically since then. However, with the Bucs having limited options, he could get a chance to close right away. |
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| Moss lands in Steel City | Thursday 7/31, 3:54 PM CT |
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The Pirates have acquired Brandon Moss from the Red Sox as part of the Manny Ramirez trade.
Our View: Moss is a decent player but many scouts view him as more of a fourth outfielder. He should get a shot to start in left right away in the Steel City, though. |
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| LaRoche sent to Pittsburgh | Thursday 7/31, 3:52 PM CT |
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The Pirates have acquired Andy LaRoche as part of the Manny Ramirez deal.
Our View: LaRoche should be the everyday third baseman right away in Pittsburgh, where he will be joining his brother. It's a little odd the Bucs asked for LaRoche in the deal given that their first-round pick from June, Pedro Alvarez, also plays third. |
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| Bay headed to Beantown | Thursday 7/31, 3:34 PM CT |
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Jason Bay is headed to Boston as part of the Manny Ramirez deal, according to SI's Jon Heyman.
Our View: We'll give you the details on this as they surface. |
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| Nunez traded to Yankees | Thursday 7/31, 3:32 PM CT |
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The Yankees acquired Jhonny Nunez from the Nats Thursday in exchange for Alberto Gonzalez.
Our View: Nunez has some upside. He posted a 4.85 ERA over two levels in the minors, but he held a 90/27 K/BB rate over 89 innings. He'll likely do to Double-A Trenton. |
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| Manny lands in LA | Thursday 7/31, 3:29 PM CT |
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The Dodgers have acquired Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox, according to SI's Jon Heyman.
Our View: Jason Bay is going to Boston as part of the deal. More details to follow. |
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| Nats nab Gonzalez from Yanks | Thursday 7/31, 3:24 PM CT |
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The Nationals acquired Alberto Gonzalez from the Yankees Thursday in exchange for minor league pitcher Jhonny Nunez.
Our View: Gonzalez doesn't hit much but has a good glove. He profiles as a solid utilityman. |
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| Arias claimed off waivers | Thursday 7/31, 3:19 PM CT |
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The Astros claimed Alberto Arias off waivers from the Rockies Thursday. Arias held a 2.3 ERA in 12 games with the Rox.
Our View: The diminutive righty (5-11, 155 pounds) has had a pretty decent year at Triple-A Colorado Springs, as well, but we wouldn't bet on him doing much in the long term. |
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| Rosenthal says Bay to Rays talks off | Thursday 7/31, 3:11 PM CT |
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FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal has been told by a source that the Jason Bay to the Rays talks are off "unless a miracle happens."
Our View: We're not sure who to believe at this point, but we will keep tracking everything for you. |
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| Britton recalled from Triple-A | Thursday 7/31, 3:05 PM CT |
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The Yankees recalled Chris Britton from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Thursday. He will replace Kyle Farnsworth in the bullpen.
Our View: Britton has had a great year, allowing just one run in seven innings with the Yanks while holding a 1.80 ERA at Triple-A. |
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| Ibanez staying in Seattle | Thursday 7/31, 3:01 PM CT |
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Raul Ibanez will be staying in Seattle. The Mariners and Blue Jays had been close to a deal, but the M's apparently had second thoughts, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.
Our View: The Jays should have never been in the market for Ibanez anyway, so it's a good thing for them that Seattle had a change of heart. |
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| Bay not going to Tampa after all? | Thursday 7/31, 2:55 PM CT |
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Jason Bay isn't a member of the Rays just yet, according to MLBlogs.com. A source has told Jonathan Mayo that one of the proposed names that the Rays would send to Pittsburgh (Reid Brignac or Jeff Niemann) may not be made available after all.
Our View: The Rays are surely hesitant to include Brignac in any deal, as Mayo speculates. The deadline is nearing, so they'll need to make up their minds soon. |
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| Verlander struggles again | Thursday 7/31, 2:48 PM CT |
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Justin Verlander struck out nine batters Thursday, but the good news ends there. He allowed six runs on five hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Cleveland.
Our View: This is Justin's second straight poor outing after a superb stretch of starts. His next outing will be against the White Sox, who lit Verlander up two starts ago. |
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| Carmona solid in win over Detroit | Thursday 7/31, 2:44 PM CT |
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Fausto Carmona had a solid outing Thursday in his second start back from the DL, holding the Tigers to two earned runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three over 6 1/3 innings.
Our View: This was encouraging for Carmona owners considering how Fausto fared in his first start back from the DL (nine runs allowed in 2 1/3 innings). The most encouraging part was that he walked just one. |
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| White Sox looking at Hanrahan, not Lannan | Thursday 7/31, 2:34 PM CT |
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The White Sox are apparently interested in acquiring Joel Hanrahan from the Nationals, not John Lannan as initially reported, according to MLBlogs.com.
Our View: The Sox are looking for relief help, and Hanrahan has had a nice year. We'll let you know if anything comes of this. |
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| Teams could look to Garcia | Thursday 7/31, 2:31 PM CT |
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Teams that are unable to acquire a starter at the deadline might decide to look at free agent Freddy Garcia, who is working his way back from a torn labrum, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. Garcia will likely throw for scouts on August 18-19 with the hope of signing on with a team that wants help over the final month. Garcia's agent, Peter Greenberg, said of the pitcher: "He's excited about where he's at."
Our View: We doubt Garcia can come back and be a big help to someone over the final month, but some team will probably take a chance on him. |
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| Sox unwilling to let Moss go | Thursday 7/31, 2:08 PM CT |
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The Red Sox are apparently unwilling to deal Brandon Moss to the Royals for reliever Ron Mahay because they feel Moss would be their best insurance for Manny Ramirez, according to the Boston Herald.
Our View: Moss really isn't much of a prospect. Dealing him for Mahay would seem like a good move for the Sox, regardless of Manny's situation. |
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| Maddux unlikely to go to LA | Thursday 7/31, 1:53 PM CT |
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Greg Maddux is likely to remain in San Diego, as the Padres have been unable to reach a deal with the Dodgers, the only team Maddux has agreed to go to, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.
Our View: Maddux has pitched well this year despite a poor record, but the Dodgers were apparently unwilling to offer more than a modest offer. |
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| Fuentes likely to stay put | Thursday 7/31, 1:49 PM CT |
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Unless a team dramatically ups their offer for Brian Fuentes, the reliever will remain in Colorado, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.
Our View: A boatload of teams have been in on Fuentes, but it appears, at least at this point, that he's going nowhere. |
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| Dodgers back in on Manny | Thursday 7/31, 1:47 PM CT |
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It doesn't look like Manny Ramirez will be going to the Marlins, but the Dodgers are apparently now back in the mix, according to SI's Jon Heyman. SI has also learned that Manny has approved a trade to go to Florida, Philadelphia, Los Angeles or anywhere else.
Our View: The Dodgers have offered Andre Ethier, but Boston prefers Matt Kemp. |
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| Bucs ask Jays for too much for Bay | Thursday 7/31, 1:43 PM CT |
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The Blue Jays' conversation with the Pirates regarding Jason Bay was apparently a short one. The Bucs asked for top prospect Travis Snider and pitcher Shaun Marcum in the deal, and the Jays quickly hung up the phone, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Our View: The Pirates sure are driving a hard bargain for Bay. I guess you can't blame them, but it's becoming less likely that he will be dealt, though Tampa still looks like a pretty strong possibility. |
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| Feliz has bulging disc in back | Thursday 7/31, 1:40 PM CT |
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Back specialist Todd Albert examined Pedro Feliz today and determined that the third baseman has a mild disc bulge in his back, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He won't participate in any baseball-related activities until sometime next week.
Our View: Feliz is eligible to return on August 9, but that might not happen. Greg Dobbs and Eric Bruntlett will handle third while he is out. |
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| Wood throws in sim game | Thursday 7/31, 1:37 PM CT |
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Kerry Wood had a 26-pitch simulated game Thursday and was able to throw all his pitches, according to MLB.com. Wood had not thrown since July 11 because of a nagging blister on his right index finger. "I'm beyond antsy," Wood said. "It's the [darndest] thing I've ever seen. I can't explain it, and nobody here can explain it. We've tried just about everything we could think of, and tried some things we probably shouldn't have. I think time is going to be the best thing for it."
Our View: Despite the positive step in Wood's recovery, the Cubs have not placed a timetable on his return. |
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| Jays after Ibanez? | Thursday 7/31, 1:31 PM CT |
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In one of the more bizarre trade scenarios of the day, the Blue Jays are apparently talking to the Mariners about acquiring Raul Ibanez, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.
Our View: This would make absolutely zero sense for the Jays. Ibanez is a rental player, and the Jays aren't in playoff contention. |
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| Bay-to-Rays talks heating up | Thursday 7/31, 1:29 PM CT |
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With the three-way deal involving the Red Sox and Marlins likely kaput, the Bucs and Rays have renewed their talks involving Jason Bay, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.
Our View: According to Stark, the Rays are willing to part with pitcher Jeff Niemann and shortstop prospect Reid Brignac, but the Bucs want one of Tampa's elite pitching prospects - Wade Davis, David Price or Jeremy Hellickson. Earlier reports said the Rays were unwilling to deal Brignac. |
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| Mets may look to Ayala for relief help | Thursday 7/31, 1:20 PM CT |
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The Mets badly want a reliever, and Luis Ayala is on their radar, according to SI's Jon Heyman.
Our View: Ayala has been very good in the past but it's hard to imagine him representing much of an upgrade given how he's pitched this year (1-6, 5.54 ERA, 1.49 WHIP). |
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| White Sox talking to Nats about Lannan | Thursday 7/31, 1:16 PM CT |
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The White Sox are talking to the Nationals about a deal involving John Lannan, according to SI's Jon Heyman. It's not clear who the Nats would give up in return.
Our View: You can bet Jim Bowden would rather give up Tim Redding, but he'll trade anyone if the price is right. Lannan is just 23 and has had a good year, though his strikeout rate leaves something to be desired. |
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| Liriano to arrive ASAP | Thursday 7/31, 12:58 PM CT |
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The Twins want to bring Francisco Liriano up from Triple-A ASAP, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Liriano is 9-0 with a 2.51 ERA and a 73/9 K/BB rate over his last 10 ten starts.
Our View: We think the Twins will surely stick Liriano in the rotation and send Livan Hernandez to the bullpen. However, there's at least a possibility Liriano will first pitch out of the pen. |
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| Yanks, Sox in on Eyre | Thursday 7/31, 12:44 PM CT |
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Both the Yankees and the Red Sox are talking to the Cubs about acquiring Scott Eyre, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.
Our View: Eyre has really struggled over the last year and a half for the Cubbies. The Yanks and Sox are looking for more substantial bullpen help in addition to Eyre. |
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| Another official says Manny deal is dead | Thursday 7/31, 12:40 PM CT |
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It's been about 20 minutes. Time for another Manny Ramirez update. ESPN's Jayson Stark is saying that yet another official with one of the three teams involved states that the deal is dead. The blame game is now being played, with Stark saying that the Pirates are blaming the Marlins for the deal falling apart and the Marlins blaming the Pirates. The Red Sox? Well, they're not too thrilled with either team.
Our View: Well, we are now leaning towards the side that says Manny is staying in Beantown. Obviously anything can happen over the next couple hours, though. |
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| Yanks unlikely to land Byrd | Thursday 7/31, 12:35 PM CT |
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The Yankees are unlikely to acquire Paul Byrd from the Indians, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal. The Bronx Bombers have been frustrated with their pursuit of the Mariners' Jarrod Washburn and were "kicking around" the idea of trading for Byrd, but it appears that their interest is only mild.
Our View: The Rockies are also rumored to be interested in Byrd, but they also don't appear to be aggressively pursuing the veteran. |
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| Phillies can't meet Royals' price for Mahay | Thursday 7/31, 12:31 PM CT |
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The Phillies failed to reach the Royals' demands for left reliever Ron Mahay, so now the team is turning their attention to the Braves' Will Ohman, Pirates' John Grabow and Giants' Jack Taschner, according to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Our View: It's a good bet that the Phils will be able to land one of the three southpaws. |
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| Pirates agree on prospects they would receive | Thursday 7/31, 12:28 PM CT |
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The Pirates have agreed on what prospects they would receive in the three-way deal involving Jason Bay, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Additionally, Ronny Paulino's name is now involved. He would go to the Marlins, who are desperately looking for a catcher.
Our View: ESPN's Peter Gammons has reported that the Marlins' insistence on getting more money from the Red Sox has been holding up the deal. It sounds like which players are involved might now be agreed upon. |
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| Trade talks for Manny taking off? | Thursday 7/31, 12:19 PM CT |
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The rumors just keep on coming. Peter Gammons of ESPN has reported that the trade talks revolving around Manny Ramirez are at a standstill. However, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal has a source that says the talks are "taking off and Pittsburgh is getting what they're looking for."
Our View: Rosenthal has another source that is still not so sure a deal will get done. There's really no point in putting much stock into one report over the other at this point. |
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| Yanks and Rox interested in Byrd | Thursday 7/31, 12:05 PM CT |
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Paul Byrd told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he heard the Yankees and Rockies were interested in acquiring him. "I think there are some teams interested, but I don't know if anything will get done," said Byrd.
Our View: Byrd hasn't been very good this year, but he wouldn't be a bad add for a team needing help at the back end of their rotation. |
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| Rangers yet to receive solid offer for Laird | Thursday 7/31, 12:02 PM CT |
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The Rangers have received multiple offers for Gerald Laird, but none of them are strong enough to make a deal work, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.
Our View: With Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Max Ramirez and Taylor Teagarden in the system, it would behoove the Rangers to deal Laird, who is eligible for salary arbitration. |
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| Blue Jays also talking to Bucs about Bay | Thursday 7/31, 11:58 AM CT |
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The Pirates are apparently also talking to the Blue Jays about a Jason Bay trade, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark. Prized outfield prospect Travis Snider would likely be involved in any deal.
Our View: This move doesn't make much sense for the Jays, given that they are not playoff contenders and Snider looks like a future superstar. |
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| Manny trade talks close to dead? | Thursday 7/31, 11:55 AM CT |
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ESPN's Peter Gammons has been told by a source that the Manny Ramirez trade talks are close to dead. The Marlins have reportedly asked for additional cash along with Ramirez in the three-way deal. That would mean the Sox would essentially be giving up Manny, two prospects and $9 million for Jason Bay.
Our View: We can't blame the Sox for not wanting to do that deal. This story is changing by the minute, so it's certainly possible a trade could be completed eventually. |
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| Washburn could end up in NYC after all | Thursday 7/31, 11:51 AM CT |
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SI's Jon Heyman is reporting that the Yankees may get Jarrod Washburn after all. The Mariners, at least according to Heyman, relented when they traded Arthur Rhodes to Florida, as the Hernandez offer had reportedly been on the table for weeks. The Yanks hope that since the M's relented on one trade, they may do so on another.
Our View: The Yanks are offering to pick up the rest of the $14 million remaining on Washburn's contract through 2009 while also sending the M's a middling prospect. |
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| Rays refuse to part with Brignac | Thursday 7/31, 11:33 AM CT |
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The Rays have refused to part with Reid Brignac in any potential deal, according to SI's Jon Heyman. They have been talking to the Pirates about Jason Bay and the Reds about Adam Dunn.
Our View: It will be hard for the Rays to land either Bay or Dunn if they refuse to give up Brignac, since he would likely be the main piece in any potential deal. The Rays do still have plenty of pitching prospects to give up. |
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