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• How the signing of Kubel increased the D-Backs' options

  March 05, 2012 by KenRosenthal

  The Arizona Diamondbacks’ signing of free-agent left fielder Jason Kubel in December prompted immediate speculation that the team might trade outfielder Gerardo Parra.

  Well, the D-Backs indeed might trade an outfielder eventually, particularly if Triple A prospects A.J. Pollock and Adam Eaton develop the way that the team envisions.

  But the player they move won’t necessarily be Parra.

  By the end of the season — if not before — the D-Backs’ depth will give them the option to trade one of their prospects, or perhaps even Kubel or center fielder Chris Young.

  While none of the veteran outfielders is prohibitively expensive, the developments of Pollock and Eaton would enable the D-Backs to go younger and cheaper. Both prospects play all three outfield positions.

  Young, 28, is signed for $7 million this season and $8.5 million next season with an $11 million option for 2014.

  Kubel, 29, is signed for $7.5 million this season and $7.5 million next season with a $7.5 million option in ’14.

  Parra, 24, will be eligible for arbitration for the first time next winter.

  Kubel is the least likely to be dealt, at least short-term. As a newly signed free agent, he cannot be traded without his consent before June 15. The D-Backs, who value his power, probably wouldn’t want to move him, anyway.

  Young, an All-Star in 2010 who has produced back-to-back 20-homer seasons while playing above-average defense, is a more interesting case.

  Say the D-Backs decide at the end of the season that Parra could be Young’s equal, or that Pollock or Eaton is the long-term answer in center.

  Young still would be under club control for two more seasons and $19.5 million — a more affordable rate than potential free agents Shane Victorino, Michael Bourn and B.J. Upton likely would command on the open market.

  Of course, Parra and the two prospects would be even cheaper — and potentially more coveted.

  The signing of Kubel, which some in the industry found curious, created all of those possibilities.

  The D-Backs can sit back and wait, then pick and choose.

  — Ken Rosenthal

   

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• Twins looking to lock up their own

  December 06, 2011 by FOXSports

  The Minnesota Twins have an offer out to free agent Michael Cuddyer, and are meeting with his agent to seek a resolution, a source said.
  
  The team acknowledged they probably can't keep Cuddyer and right fielder Jason Kubel, another Twins free agent. Should one sign with the Twins, the other is likely gone.
  
  For now, the market on Kubel is unclear, but the Twins have made him an offer.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• For Phillies, everything hinges on Rollins

  December 05, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  The rest of the Phillies’ offseason hinges on whether they re-sign free-agent shortstop Jimmy Rollins, a negotiation that one rival agent describes as “an epic Roman battle” between two strong-willed men, Rollins and Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

  If the Phillies do not keep Rollins, they intend to play rookie Freddy Galvis at short and lose considerable offense at the position. Their next move — the one for another bat — is where things would get interesting.

  The Phillies, according to two reports, are interested in free-agent third baseman Aramis Ramirez, a move that could require them to trade their current third baseman, Placido Polanco.

  They are actively trying to move Polanco, according to a rival executive.

  The pursuit of Ramirez could be a ploy to get Rollins to come off his desire for a five-year deal. Ramirez, who turns 34 in June, does not fit the Phillies’ desire to get younger — Rollins, 33, is an exception because of his history with the team. Some teams also question Ramirez’s makeup.

  The other option, of course, would be for the Phillies to add another bat in their outfield. The team reached agreement with free agent Laynce Nix, a left-handed hitter, on a two-year, $2.5 million contract Sunday. But Nix might simply be a hedge in case Amaro is unable to get another outfielder he wants.

  The Phillies, one source said, have cooled on free agent Michael Cuddyer, viewing his best position as right field, where Hunter Pence is under control for two more seasons. Another free agent, Jason Kubel, might be too expensive and require too long a contract. Still another, Carlos Beltran, could be had on a shorter term, but at a higher salary — and he’s 34.

  Plenty of other outfielders are available either on the open market or in trade, and Amaro is always aggressive, always full of surprises. Maybe his next move is Ramirez. Maybe it’s an outfielder. Or maybe he’ll just settle his epic Roman battle with Rollins.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Thome, others on trade waivers

  August 22, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  The Twins placed Jim Thome on trade waivers Monday, according to major-league sources. Whether they actually trade him remains to be seen.

  The Phillies want Thome as a left-handed hitter off the bench. But Thome, who recently hit his 600^th home run, is almost certain to be claimed before the Phils get a crack at him, sources say.

  Padres closer Heath Bell, Cubs first baseman Carlos Pena and Twins outfielder Jason Kubel were among the other intriguing names who were placed on trade waivers Monday.

  Those players and Thome will be on waivers until Wednesday. Their original teams can trade them to a claiming club or pull them back. Players who go unclaimed are eligible to be traded to any team.

  In Thome’s case, he first must clear waivers in the AL. Every NL team also would get a shot at him before the Phils, who own the best record in the majors.

  Chances are, Thome will not even get through the AL.

  The Indians, another of Thome’s previous clubs, might want to reunite with him; the team on Monday placed Travis Hafner on the DL with a strained right foot.

  Other teams also are likely to claim Thome, if only to block him from going to a rival contender. Thome, who turns 41 on Aug. 27, has a full no-trade clause, and can reject any deal.

  Another possibility, if the Twins cannot work out a waiver trade for Thome, would be for the team to place him on unconditional release waivers later this month.

  Thome then could use his no-trade clause to reject any claim, become a free agent and choose his next team. Under that scenario, he would sacrifice his remaining salary, about $500,000, and the Twins would receive nothing in return.

  The team might be willing to accommodate Thome’s desire to play for a contender, but not to that extent.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Twins getting healthy, seeking bullpen help

  July 22, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  By Saturday, when right-hander Scott Baker comes off the disabled list to face the Tigers, the number of Twins on the DL will be down to two.

  The two are center fielder Denard Span and first baseman Justin Morneau, but Span should return soon and Morneau is perhaps a month away.

  In the meantime, the Twins consider themselves buyers, even though they’re six games under .500 and six games out in the AL Central.

  Their primary target: A middle-inning reliever.

  “We just need depth,” general manager Bill Smith said Friday morning. “We’ve got (Joe) Nathan, (Matt) Capps and (left-hander Glen) Perkins at the back – that’s a good group.

  “Capps has struggled a little bit lately, but he has been very, very good for us. We’re fine with those three late in games. We just have some inexperience getting to that point.”

  Smith reserved special praise for Nathan, who has a 1.74 ERA in 11 games since returning from a right flexor muscle strain.

  “Our pitching coach, Rick Anderson, told him, ‘Go find your fastball,’” Smith said. “Go on a rehab (assignment), throw fastballs, get that back, and everything else will come together.”

  Now the Twins will find out if everything can come together for their team, too.

  On Thursday, they activated outfielder Jason Kubel, who missed 47 games with a sprained left foot. Span, recovering from a concussion, is on a rehabilitation assignment at Triple A. Morneau, out with a strained left wrist, is expected back in mid to late August.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Time for Mauer to change positions?

  April 15, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  The debate over Joe Mauer’s future at catcher almost certainly will revive now that the former MVP is on the disabled list with bilateral leg weakness.

  

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  If the Minnesota Twins want to move Mauer to another position, next offseason probably would be as good a time as any.

  Third base would be a possibility if the Twins are uncertain about Danny Valencia as a long-term solution. But Mauer’s more logical destination would be the outfield, where the Twins already are dealing with a number of moving parts.

  Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel are eligible for free agency after this season. Delmon Young will be entering his final and most lucrative year of arbitration. Two prospects, Ben Revere and Joe Benson, are expected to be ready for the majors soon.

  The Twins, if they lost both Cuddyer and Kubel, could use Young in one corner and Mauer in the other. They also could trade follow a similar blueprint if they traded Young and re-signed Cuddyer and/or Kubel.

  Another possibility would be to play Mauer in center and move Denard Span to a corner. Mauer’s leg issues likely would ease if he no longer were catching. Scouts say he has the speed and instincts to play center.

  The Twins’ depth and flexibility in the outfield also would help in their search for a catcher to replace Mauer. The team could build a package around Young, Span or one of its outfield prospects.

  One move the Twins might now regret: The trade of catcher Wilson Ramos to the Nationals last July for reliever Matt Capps. Ramos is off to a hot start, and Nationals officials believe he could develop into an All-Star.

  — Ken Rosenthal

   

   

   

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