June 19, 2013

Rosenthal: “What about Soriano to the Indians?”

June 12, 2012 by 19 Comments

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal wrote today about possible MLB trades, and brought up an interesting proposal for the Indians-

“JUST A THOUGHT … And let’s be clear, this is my speculation only. But what about the Cubs’ Soriano to the Indians?

No NL team will want the defensively challenged Soriano, but the guy can still hit. In fact, he leads the majors with 12 homers since May 15 after hitting none in his first 30 games. The Indians struggle mightily against left-handed pitching, and Soriano could be a relatively inexpensive solution. The Cubs know that to move Soriano, they will need to pay the bulk of his remaining obligation — about $42 million through 2014.

Indians skipper Manny Acta managed Soriano for the Dominican Republic’s entry in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Indians DH Travis Hafner is in the final year of his contract; his deal includes a $2.75 million buyout on a $13 million option for 2013.”

Adding further intrigue, Rosenthal went on to say that rival executives expect the Indians to be aggressive-

“Rival teams expect the Indians to be aggressive; remember, the Tribe acquired right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez last summer to take advantage of a window that likely will remain open through next season, after which right fielder Shin-Soo Choo will be a free agent.

The Indians surely would prefer a more consistent, better-rounded player than Soriano. But the Cubs left fielder has a career .866 OPS against left-handers, and an .834 OPS against them this season.”

Would this be a move Cleveland fans could get behind?

[Related: OF Jeff Francoeur available]

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Waiving Goodbye to Jensen Lewis?

March 23, 2011 by 4 Comments

I’m sure some of you will be terribly offended by this post, since you already know MLB’s waiver rules like the back of your hand.  If that’s the case, by all means, accept my profoundest apologies.  But for the rest of us who need a little schoolin’ on some of the finer points of MLB’s transaction rules, let’s get it on.

On Monday, Ken Rosenthal tweeted that Jensen Lewis had been placed on waivers.  And some people—not you, of course; you’re very smart—didn’t quite understand what that meant.  Was Lewis cut?  Was he still allowed in camp?  If a team claimed him, could the Indians pull him back and protect him?  Was Jack Hannahan to blame?  What about Russell Branyan?  I love blaming that guy for stuff.

So all together now, let’s get on the same page.  According to Keith Law, formerly a member of the Toronto Blue Jays front office and writing at baseballanalysts.com:

There are three kinds of waivers in MLB: [Read more...]

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MLB Trade Rumors: Cliff Lee AND Victor Martinez to LA?

July 27, 2009 by 15 Comments

Cliff LeeWhile Cliff Lee was cruising through the Seattle Mariners yesterday afternoon, and Victor Martinez was given the day off, both players found their names in one of the bigger 2009 trade deadline rumors that we have seen thus far.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has had his ear to the street over the last few months, and has featured Lee and Martinez quite frequently in his updates.  But while we have heard rumors of both players being on the trade market, did we ever feel that they would both go to the same team?

The [Los Angeles] Dodgers and Indians are in serious discussions about a blockbuster that would send left-hander Cliff Lee and catcher Victor Martinez to Los Angeles for first baseman James Loney, one of the Dodgers’ young starting pitchers and prospects, according to major-league sources. [...]

Lee would replace either left-hander Clayton Kershaw or right-hander Chad Billingsley — it is not known which the Dodgers would part with in the package — giving manager Joe Torre the more experienced starter that he covets.

[Read more...]

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MLB Trade Rumors: Cliff Lee/Victor Martinez, Yes. Carl Pavano, Not so Much.

July 22, 2009 by 19 Comments

Rays Indians BaseballIt’s almost the end of July, which means “who can help the big market teams the most?”  You have Los Angeles and Philadelphia looking to add in the National League; and surprising very few, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox looking to add in the American League. 

Given that our Indians are nearing full-blown rebuilding mode, teams continue to sniff out our potential available players while trying to offer as little as possible to obtain their services.  While we here at WFNY look to move guys like Jhonny Peralta and Jamey Carroll, the Yankees and Sox are dreaming a bit bigger.  Ken Rosenthal chimes in…

Of course, [SP Clay] Buchholz also could be the centerpiece of a trade offer for the Indians’ Victor Martinez, a player who would serve as protection against injury or ineffectiveness by catcher Jason Varitek, designated hitter David Ortiz and third baseman Mike Lowell (Martinez could play first with Kevin Youkilis moving to third).

[Read more...]

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