DISCUSSION OF THE WEEK: MLB TRADE DEADLINE

[HOVA]

White Sox Exploring Deal For Brett Myers
By Tim Dierkes [July 30 at 10:56am CST]
We know the White Sox are seeking a mid-rotation starter and might pull off a deal for Edwin Jackson.  But GM Kenny Williams is also quietly exploring acquiring Brett Myers from the Astros, tweets USA Today's Bob Nightengale.  Myers is thought to be mostly unavailable, as the Astros hope to re-sign him and perhaps would prefer not to decimate their rotation for the rest of this year.

Williams might be burning up the phone lines with Ed Wade for multiple players, as AOL FanHouse's Ed Price tweets that there's buzz about the Sox going after Lance Berkman.  It certainly seems that the White Sox will make some noise in the 28 hours leading up to the trade deadline.

NOT A "SEXY" DEAL FOR MYERS BUT I WOULDN'T BE AGAINST IT.

HE'S PITCHED WELL LATELY.

WOULD MAKE SENSE IF THAT 3 TEAM DEAL GOES DOWN. 

IT COULD THEN MOVE GARCIA TO THE 5TH SPOT IN THE ROTATION, WERE HE BELONGS. 

[HOVA]

The D'Backs announced they've traded Jackson to the White Sox for Hudson and pitching prospect David Holmberg.



HE BETTER BE FLIPPED TO THE NATS NOW

[TheGame]

The D'Backs announced they've traded Jackson to the White Sox for Hudson and pitching prospect David Holmberg.



HE BETTER BE FLIPPED TO THE NATS NOW

Maybe that is why they are also looking at Myers

[TheGame]

According to the Denver Post's Troy Renck, Brad Hawpe remains on the radar for the Tigers and White Sox.
If the Rockies are going to sell, Hawpe is a good place to start. The team should have better ways of spending the $10 million he's due next year if his option is picked up. A Seth Smith-Dexter Fowler-Carlos Gonzalez outfield would be a whole lot better defensively.

[TheGame]

The Rangers have acquired Cristian Guzman from the Nationals for prospects, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
The Nationals definitely wanted to shed either Guzman or Adam Kennedy before the deadline. They're probably picking up the approx. $3 million that Guzman was still owed in order to make this happen. Guzman can fill in at second base for now and then slide into a utility role once Ian Kinsler returns. The Nats will go with Kennedy at second and Ian Desmond at short for the rest of the year.

[TheGame]

Brian McTaggert reports that Lance Berkman is out of Houston's lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.
Berkman has done a fair amount of sitting against lefties as of late, but he had a great series against the Cubs and the Astros had Thursday off: it's hard to believe the team would want him to sit two days in a row. Maybe a trade is close. THe Yankees and White Sox appear to be the primary suitors.

[HOVA]

Brian McTaggert reports that Lance Berkman is out of Houston's lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.
Berkman has done a fair amount of sitting against lefties as of late, but he had a great series against the Cubs and the Astros had Thursday off: it's hard to believe the team would want him to sit two days in a row. Maybe a trade is close. THe Yankees and White Sox appear to be the primary suitors.

Yanks  appear to be front runners.

[TheGame]

Though there are a couple of dissenters, multiple other sources are reporting that the Pirates and Padres are nearing a deal for Pirates' started Paul Maholm. Tim Brown at Yahoo! just said that the teams were "close."

[TheGame]

UPDATE: A source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com that Berkman gave approval of a trade to the Yankees earlier today, however he can waive the trade anytime in the next 24 hours because of his 10-5 rights. As such, this trade probably won't be official until tomorrow afternoon.
5:10 PM: Earlier this afternoon Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that the Yankees were "definitely in for Lance Berkman" and "considering him seriously."
And now Sherman is reporting that a deal sending Berkman from Houston to New York is "on verge of completion."

[TheGame]

The New York Post's Joel Sherman is reporting that the trade sending Lance Berkman to the Yankees is complete.July 30 - 6:30 pm ET

[HOVA]

Berkman vetoed a trade to the White Sox, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale


THANK GOD

FUCK HIM

[HOVA]

The Nationals told teams that Edwin Jackson was key to obtaining Adam Dunn from them, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Many teams tried to obtain Jackson, the White Sox got him and now the Nationals say they aren't so sure they want the righty. Obviously, teams are frustrated with the Nationals

[TheGame]

Berkman vetoed a trade to the White Sox, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale


THANK GOD

FUCK HIM

Same here brother 
I did not want the Tigers in on his fairwell tour.
But so far Peralta looks good 

[TheGame]

Yankees acquired outfielder Austin Kearns from the Indians for a player to be named or cash.July 31 - 10:30

[TheGame]

Even bad teams like to join in the fun

The D-backs are expected to receive D.J. Carrasco, Bobby Crosby and Ryan Church from the Pirates in the pending deal for Chris Snyder, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.July 31 - 11:25 am ET

[HOVA]

White Sox Made Failed Run At Manny Ramirez
By Tim Dierkes [July 31 at 10:28am CST]
The White Sox made a failed run at Manny Ramirez, report Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  This was apparently what Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times was referring to when he said GM Kenny Williams was trying to "shock the world" before yesterday's Edwin Jackson trade.

Though the Sox were rejected, Manny makes for an interesting DH target for multiple teams.  Ramirez is having a strong year statistically, but he was otherworldly after the '08 trade to the Dodgers.  Obstacles abound: Manny has a full no-trade clause, he's on a rehab assignment for a calf strain, and he has over $7MM remaining on his contract (much of it deferred).  The contract makes Ramirez an August trade candidate, if the Dodgers feel they can spare him.


THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST

IF THE DODGERS PUT MANNY ON WAIVERS I BET THE SOX WOULD CLAIM HIM, LIKE THEY DID WITH RIOS LAST YEAR.

[TheGame]

The Indians are close to trading Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes.July 31 - 11:35 am ET

[HOVA]

I'VE ALWAYS LIKED MANNY.  YEAH HE'S A NUT JOB, BUT HE IS A PHENOMENAL PLAYER WHEN HIS HEAD IS RIGHT. 

SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT MANNY, BUT HE IS PROBABLY THE BEST RIGHT HANDED HITTER OF HIS GENERATION AND SHOULD BE IN DISCUSSIONS WHEN YOU MENTION ALL TIME.

[Lloyd]

I'VE ALWAYS LIKED MANNY.  YEAH HE'S A NUT JOB, BUT HE IS A PHENOMENAL PLAYER WHEN HIS HEAD IS RIGHT. 

SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT MANNY, BUT HE IS PROBABLY THE BEST RIGHT HANDED HITTER OF HIS GENERATION AND SHOULD BE IN DISCUSSIONS WHEN YOU MENTION ALL TIME.

If his head is there... I would totally agree with you Hova...

[HOVA]

White Sox Made Failed Run At Manny Ramirez
By Tim Dierkes [July 31 at 10:28am CST]
The White Sox made a failed run at Manny Ramirez, report Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  This was apparently what Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times was referring to when he said GM Kenny Williams was trying to "shock the world" before yesterday's Edwin Jackson trade.

Though the Sox were rejected, Manny makes for an interesting DH target for multiple teams.  Ramirez is having a strong year statistically, but he was otherworldly after the '08 trade to the Dodgers.  Obstacles abound: Manny has a full no-trade clause, he's on a rehab assignment for a calf strain, and he has over $7MM remaining on his contract (much of it deferred).  The contract makes Ramirez an August trade candidate, if the Dodgers feel they can spare him.


THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST

IF THE DODGERS PUT MANNY ON WAIVERS I BET THE SOX WOULD CLAIM HIM, LIKE THEY DID WITH RIOS LAST YEAR.

11:18am: The Sox intend to make one more run at Manny today, tweets Rosenthal.  Yahoo's Steve Henson tweets that the Dodgers would love to move Manny but they don't want to eat his contract.

11:15am: SI's Jon Heyman tweets that Manny appears amenable to going to the White Sox but the Dodgers want big prospects back.

11:06am: The Rays inquired on Manny a while back and it went nowhere, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

[HOVA]

What a boring fucking trade deadline.

No wonder only me, Game, and a few others chimed in.

Or is it that over half our members keyboards don't fucking work.   

[Oscarxena]

Royals trade Ankiel, Farnsworth

CINCINNATI -- The Atlanta Braves made a five-player deal Saturday to upgrade their outfield and an already formidable bullpen, acquiring Rick Ankiel and right-hander Kyle Farnsworth from Kansas City for three players.
 
The NL East leaders are trying to fend off a charge by second-place Philadelphia, which had cut a seven-game deficit to 3 1/2 entering play on Saturday. The Phillies also made one of baseball's most high-profile trades this week, acquiring starter Roy Oswalt from Houston.

Atlanta sent reliever Jesse Chavez, outfielder Gregor Blanco and minor league pitcher Tim Collins to the Royals. Kansas City included cash in the deal.

Ankiel joins an outfield that currently features rookie Jason Heyward in right, Melky Cabrera in center and Eric Hinske in left. The Braves demoted struggling outfielder Nate McLouth -- who started a team-leading 52 games in center -- to the minors four days ago with a .168 average.

"Ankiel's a tremendous outfielder, a great athlete," third baseman Chipper Jones said. "Hopefully he helps solidify things out there in center."

The 31-year-old Ankiel batted .261 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 27 games for the Royals, who signed him to a one-year, $3.25 million deal. He has missed time with an injured right thigh.

"I know he hasn't played much, but since he's been back, he's played well," manager Bobby Cox said. "He's great defensively. He's really, really good."

Atlanta's offense has struggled lately, but still ranks among the top in the NL. The Braves are fifth in batting average and runs scored.

Farnsworth joins a bullpen that is already one of the NL's best, bringing the Braves a hard thrower who can help them get to closer Billy Wagner. The 34-year-old Farnsworth is 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA. He's in the second year of a two-year, $9.25 million deal.

Atlanta's bullpen leads the NL with 21 wins and is second to San Diego with a 3.22 ERA.

"Farnsworth -- we know he can be really dominant," Jones said. "I think that moves our bullpen to top-notch. When we get to the seventh inning with a lead, I like our chances."

Both players were expected to join the Braves for the final game of their series against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. The Reds won 5-2 on Saturday.

The Royals got three young players in the deal. Kansas City recently traded outfielder Scott Podsednik to the Los Angeles Dodgers and infielder Alberto Callaspo to the Los Angeles Angels.

"It's been busy," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said. "I'm very comfortable with our strategy. It all unfolded originally with Alberto Callaspo and Scott Podsednik. We felt we needed to get out in front, figuring it was going to be a busy trade deadline."

"We were certainly necessarily motivated to move Rick. The deal had to feel right for us. The three we got in return for Rick and Kyle Farnsworth made sense for us," he said. "It is great for Rick and Kyle to join an organization that is 3 1/2 games up in the pennant race and go there and send Bobby [Cox] out in style."

The 26-year-old Chavez spent his first full season in the majors with Pittsburgh last year. He went 3-2 with a 5.89 ERA in 28 games with the Braves. The 26-year-old Blanco was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett before Saturday's game, then dealt away. He has batted a combined .269 in eight minor league seasons.

The 20-year Collins came to Atlanta on July 14 in a five-player deal that sent shortstop Yunel Escobar to Toronto and brought shortstop Alex Gonzalez to the Braves. The 5-foot-7, 155-pound Collins has pitched at Double-A all season, going 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA in 41 appearances.

Chavez and Blanco will join the Royals on Sunday and Collins will go to Triple-A Omaha.

[Oscarxena]

Cardinals trade for Westbrook

TORONTO -- The NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals made a three-team trade Saturday, getting pitcher Jake Westbrook from Cleveland and sending outfielder Ryan Ludwick to NL West-leading San Diego.
 
"I'm excited to go to a club that's contending for a playoff spot and pitch in some meaningful ballgames," Westbrook said. "That's why you play the game, to get a chance to play in the playoffs and I look forward to doing that."

The deal, first reported by ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney, was announced about three hours before the non-waiver trading deadline.

Westbrook was scratched from his start in Toronto and headed for a flight to St. Louis. He said he was sad to leave Cleveland, his major league home since 2001.

"It's tough because this is all I've known other than about a week in the big leagues with the Yankees," he said.

"Anytime you're trading a veteran guy at this point in the year it's a difficult thing to do," Indians assistant general manager Chris Antonetti said. "With Jake it's even more difficult because his contributions on the field for almost a decade or longer. This guy epitomizes professionalism. I'm not sure there's a classier act anywhere in baseball."

Antonetti said the Indians sent cash to St. Louis and San Diego, adding that Westbrook agreed to "adjust" a $2 million trade bonus to ensure the deal went through.

"He worked with us to be able to make it work," Antonetti said.

Westbrook is eligible for free agency following the season. Josh Tomlin started in his place against the Blue Jays.

"I was just hanging out, waiting to hear the final word," Westbrook said.

A 2004 All-Star, the 32-year-old righty was 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA in 21 starts this year. He is 69-71 overall in 10 major league seasons.

The Cardinals had been trying to boost their rotation. Kyle Lohse and Brad Penny have been out with injuries and Jeff Suppan, signed in midseason, has not been able to regain his form.

The 32-year-old Ludwick broke into the majors with Texas in 2002, and became an everyday player when he joined the Cardinals. He's a career .272 hitter whose best season came in 2008, when he hit 37 homers and had 113 RBIs and was an All-Star.

Ludwick has better offensive numbers than any of San Diego's current outfielders. He has played the bulk of his career in right and center. He's expected to report on Sunday.

This is San Diego's second trade in two days. The Padres acquired shortstop Miguel Tejada on Thursday from the Baltimore Orioles for a Double-A pitcher.

Ludwick hit .281 with 11 home runs and 43 RBIs this season. He was eligible for free agency after this season and the Cardinals already have a number of high-priced players such as Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Plus, rookie outfielder Jon Jay has had a huge July, hitting over .400.

"We've been looking for a quality starting pitcher to add to our rotation for some time," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. "Westbrook is someone we've had our eyes on for a good period of time."

"We also want to wish Ryan Ludwick all the best with the Padres. He did an outstanding job for us over the past 3½ seasons," he said.

Minus Ludwick, the Cardinals' outfield has Holliday in left, Colby Rasmus in center and Jay in right. Randy Winn is a backup outfielder and Felipe Lopez could be used out there, too, when third baseman David Freese returns, presumably next week.

St. Louis also acquired left-hander Nick Greenwood from San Diego. The 22-year-old Greenwood was 4-4 with a 4.15 ERA at Class A Fort Wayne.

The Indians got Double-A pitcher Corey Kluber from San Diego. The 24-year-old righty was 6-6 with a 3.45 ERA at Double-A and led the Texas League in strikeouts.

Antonetti said Kluber will be assigned to Double-A Akron.

"He has an above average fastball with a plus breaking ball," Antonetti said. "He has the ability to miss bats. He gives us another upper-level major league starter that hopefully can be part of our rotation at some point down the road."

Cleveland recalled outfielder Jordan Brown from Triple-A Columbus. The 26-year-old Brown was hitting .309 with 63 RBIs in the minors.

"We certainly don't like doing these deals," Antonetti said. "We want to be on the other end of them. That's what we're working towards."

[Oscarxena]

Cubs trade Lilly, Theriot to Dodgers

The Chicago Cubs have agreed to trade pitcher Ted Lilly and infielder Ryan Theriot to the Los Angeles Dodgers for infielder Blake DeWitt and pitching prospects Brett Wallach and Kyle Smit.

ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine had reported earlier Saturday that the deal was in place but that money was a concern for the Dodgers, who were reluctant to take on significant additional salary.

The Cubs are also sending $2.5 million to the Dodgers to cover part of the $4.25 million left on Lilly's contract this year.

"This is a tough concept to grab," Lilly told ESPNChicago.com. "It's not something I'm overly excited about. I'm going to miss a lot [in Chicago]. When I go over there and put a Dodger uniform on and meet my new teammates and go out and start competing with them, I'm sure I'll really enjoy it."

Lilly, 34, has just a 3-8 won-loss record -- but only because he has had the second-worst run support of any starting pitcher in the major leagues (3.77 runs per nine innings), ahead of only Roy Oswalt (3.07).

In his 17 starts, only three times have the Cubs scored more than two runs for him while he was in the game -- and they never scored more than three. He has failed to win 10 games in which he allowed three earned runs or fewer.

"Short of winning a World Series [in Chicago], I could not have asked for a better experience in my career," Lilly said. "I couldn't ask for a better place to play, teammates to play with, fans to play for -- all the way from the coaching staff to the front office. I can't say enough. The media as well. I'll never forget the times I've had here.

"I'm going to a real good place, and a team that aspires to winning the World Series. That's a fortunate thing to be part of."

Theriot is hitting .284, but with just a .320 on-base percentage and .327 slugging percentage. He has started 80 games for the Cubs -- 62 at second base and 28 at shortstop. He has slightly more than $800,000 of his $2.6 million salary coming over the rest of this season. He will become the Dodgers' every-day second baseman.

DeWitt is a natural third baseman who has been playing second for the Dodgers. He is hitting .270, with a .352 on-base percentage and .371 slugging percentage.

Randy Wells will start in Lilly's place on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. Thomas Diamond will be recalled from Triple-A Iowa to pitch on Tuesday against the Brewers.

[Oscarxena]

Dodgers get Dotel for McDonald, Lambo

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Los Angeles Dodgers added one final piece to their trading-deadline haul, bolstering their bullpen by acquiring veteran reliever Octavio Dotel from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Dodgers sent reliever James McDonald and highly touted outfield prospect Andrew Lambo to the Pirates.

Dotel, 36, is an 11-year major league veteran who has a 4.28 ERA in 41 appearances for the Pirates this season. Dotel was closing for the Pirates and had recorded 21 saves this season, but it isn't immediately clear where he will fit into a Dodgers bullpen that already has an All-Star closer in Jonathan Broxton and an All-Star setup man in Hong-Chih Kuo.

Dotel was in his first season with the Pirates after signing a one-year, $3.5 million free-agent deal last winter that pays him a base salary this season of $3.25 million and carries a $4.5 million club option for next season with a $250,000 buyout. The Pirates also sent the Dodgers $500,000 in cash to cover most of the remainder of Dotel's contract.

There was a clause in Dotel's deal that automatically converted the club option to a mutual option in the event of a trade, meaning Dotel could simply opt for free agency in the fall even if the Dodgers want to exercise the option.

McDonald, 25, had long been considered one of the Dodgers' top pitching prospects but hadn't been able to gain a foothold in the major leagues despite being on the postseason roster each of the past two years. He had made one start this season after being called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on July 19, giving up four runs in five innings that night in a loss to the San Francisco Giants. After that lone start, McDonald was moved to the bullpen, where he had a 10.11 ERA in three appearances.

Lambo, who will turn 22 next week, has long been considered one of the Dodgers' top outfield prospects. But he fell out of favor somewhat when he was suspended for 50 games earlier this season under baseball's Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program after testing positive for a drug of abuse, which multiple sources have identified as marijuana.

Lambo was hitting .271 with four homers and 25 RBIs in 47 games for Double-A Chattanooga.

Earlier on Saturday, the Dodgers acquired left-handed starter Ted Lilly and infielder Ryan Theriot from the Chicago Cubs for second baseman Blake DeWitt and minor league pitchers Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach.