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• Is League the most valuable closer on market?

  July 19, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  The trade interest in San Diego Padres reliever Mike Adams is strong, and for good reason: He has been one of the elite setup men in baseball over the past four seasons, with an otherworldly 0.91 WHIP during that span.

  Some clubs could point to the fact Adams won’t become a free agent until after the 2012 season and conclude that he has more value than teammate Heath Bell, the All-Star closer and free-agent-to-be.

  By that logic, it shouldn’t be a surprise that sources say Seattle Mariners officials are fielding a similarly heavy volume of phone calls about All-Star closer Brandon League.

  League is also on track to hit free agency after next season. And he has demonstrated two things that Adams has not: He can close, and he can get big outs in the American League.

  Adams pitches in one of baseball’s most pitcher-friendly ballparks, in the lesser offensive league. That’s a fact, not a criticism. It’s not his fault that he has pitched for National League teams (the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego) during the entirety of his major league career.

  Yet, League should be credited for what he has accomplished, including the 168 appearances he made for the Toronto Blue Jays, who compete in baseball’s best division. This year, he has a better WHIP (1.088) than Bell (1.205) despite pitching in the AL.

  The Padres probably have the most relievers to trade before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. But there’s no guarantee that they have the best.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Mariners not budging on King Felix

  July 19, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  You’ve heard this before, but it bears repeating with the non-waiver trade deadline only 12 days away: The Seattle Mariners aren’t trading right-hander Felix Hernandez.

  “Felix is part of this organization. We’ve signed him long term. It’s great to look at our rotation and see Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda and the rest of the guys we have,” Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Tuesday morning.

  “Right now, there is no motivation to move him. We’re happy as well with him. We hope he’s here for a long time. It’s nice to know that every fifth day we’ve got Felix Hernandez pitching. That has been my stance all along.”

  Zduriencik tells rival teams the same things privately that he says publicly. The New York Yankees occasionally call to see if the Mariners will reconsider their position on Hernandez, but Zduriencik has yet to give them any indication that the M’s will budge, according to a major league source.

  Hernandez, 25, is in the second year of a five-year, $78 million contract.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Tigers, focused on pitching, are following Kuroda

  July 14, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  The Tigers are currently prioritizing pitching over offense on the trade market and have maintained their interest in Dodgers right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, sources say.

  Detroit has had a scout at several of Kuroda’s recent starts, one source told FOXSports.com.

  

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  Kuroda, 6-10 with a 3.06 ERA in the first half, is one of the Dodgers’ top trade candidates, but a full no-trade clause could complicate any efforts to move him. Kuroda is owed around $5 million over the remainder of this season, after which he will become a free agent.

  The Tigers are keener on Kuroda than the likes of Wandy Rodriguez, Brett Myers, Jeff Francis and Ryan Dempster, sources say. Also, Detroit is unlikely to trade for Seattle’s Erik Bedard – who is currently on the disabled list – in part because the Tigers’ deal for another Mariners lefty (Jarrod Washburn) didn’t pan out because of health reasons two years ago.

  Meanwhile, Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran is on the Tigers’ position-player wish list, if they opt to upgrade the lineup instead. But for now, with the back end of the rotation looking unstable, general manager Dave Dombrowski is likely to spend any trade chips on pitching.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Phillies, Mariners, Reds interested in Padres’ Ludwick

  June 22, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  Outfielder Ryan Ludwick couldn’t help the Padres reach the playoffs after San Diego acquired him from St. Louis last July.

  But that won’t prevent Ludwick from being moved again this year.

  Sources say the Phillies, Mariners and Reds are among the teams that have already inquired about Ludwick’s availability. And the Padres are signaling that they are willing to move Ludwick, the 32-year-old who is eligible for free agency at season’s end.

  San Diego appears to be one of the few certain sellers, with roughly 40 days to go before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. If parity around the game causes the overall supply of available players to be short, this could become a busy trading season for Padres general manager Jed Hoyer.

  Ludwick is hitting .255 this year and leads the Padres with nine home runs and 45 RBI. Entering Tuesday, he had a .763 OPS since the beginning of May despite playing his home games at spacious Petco Park. Ludwick’s power numbers could spike in the second half if he’s dealt to a team that plays in a more hitter-friendly ballpark.

  As of Tuesday, the Cardinals had yet to contact the Padres about the possibility of reacquiring Ludwick. But that could change if St. Louis struggles to score without superstar Albert Pujols, who is expected to miss at least the next month with a broken bone in his left forearm. (The Cardinals lost to the Phillies, 10-2, in their first full game without Pujols on Tuesday night.)

  Still, Hoyer is probably going to receive more phone calls about pitching than hitting over the next month. Sources say a number of contenders have already contacted the Padres about their relievers. Now team officials must decide how many pitchers they are willing to move without diminishing their chances to win in 2012 and beyond.

  One of the likeliest scenarios would involve the Padres trading two relievers – closer Heath Bell and veteran setup man Chad Qualls – while keeping the more affordable Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson.

  Bell is the Padres’ highest-paid player ($7.5 million this year), and he’s eligible for free agency after the season. The Padres and Bell haven’t had serious discussions about a contract extension, a source said, which makes it a virtual certainty that he will be dealt before July 31, provided he remains healthy.

  The Phillies and Cardinals are among the teams that have checked in on Bell and Qualls, sources say. Rival clubs are expected to make a serious push to acquire Adams, who has a 1.35 ERA in 33 appearances, because he’s not eligible to become a free agent until after next year. But the Padres are inclined to keep him, for the very same reason.

  -- Jon Paul Morosi

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• Lesser deals pay off for Mariners

  June 01, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has whiffed on some big contracts – four years, $36 million for free-agent third baseman Chone Figgins, two years, $10 million for second baseman Jack Wilson – but a number of his lesser deals are looking good.

  Free-agent catcher Miguel Olivo (two years, $7 million) and designated hitter Jack Cust (one year, $2.5 million) have played significant roles during the team’s 12-3 run. So have second baseman Adam Kennedy (one year, $750,000) and shortstop Brendan Ryan (two years, $2.75 million after arriving in a trade from the Cardinals).

  

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  The energetic Ryan didn’t quite fit in the staid St. Louis clubhouse, but Zduriencik attributed the infielder’s offensive dropoff last season to the surgery he underwent on his right wrist shortly before spring training. The Mariners liked the idea of getting an elite defender who was under club control for three years, especially when the price was only Class A pitcher Mikael Cleto.

  Ryan is hitting, too, at least by the feeble standards of a team that ranks next-to-last in the AL in runs. Entering Wednesday’s play, Ryan ranked third on the club with a .700 OPS. Kennedy was second at .755. First baseman Justin Smoak, the principal piece that Zduriencik obtained for Cliff Lee, led the club at .825.

  Kennedy, like Ryan, is a former member of the Cardinals. He offered a left-handed bat and the ability to contribute at second, third and DH. He has been playing mostly second, and the Mariners will need to figure out how to keep him in the lineup once they promote Dustin Ackley.

  “I almost signed (Kennedy) two years ago when he signed with Washington,” Zduriencik said. “I regretted not doing it. When he was available again, it was easy.”

  Kennedy, Ryan, Olivo, Cust.

  Without them, the Mariners would be buried.

  Ichiro is fighting through a career-worst offensive season. Figgins has the lowest OPS in the AL. Yet, the Mariners are only a half-game out in the AL West.

  The M’s, of course, are doing it with pitching – they’re second in the AL with a 3.39 ERA. Yet scouts find even the performance of their bullpen to be somewhat mysterious.

  One scout, referring to righties David Pauley (0.84 ERA) and Aaron Laffey (1.78) says, “You go to 10 scouts, and nine or maybe 10 will tell you that you don’t want those guys on your staff.”

  -Ken Rosenthal

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• Notes from spring training

  March 23, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  • Still no signs — none — that the Padres are willing to trade closer Heath Bell to the Rangers or any other club before Opening Day.

  The Padres, coming off a 90-win season, are reluctant to upset their fan base before even playing a game, particularly after trading first baseman Adrian Gonzalez during the offseason.

  

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  The Mariners, recognizing that their offense would be challenged, made a strong push for Gonzalez late in spring training a year ago, according to a major-league source.

  Good thing the Padres kept Gonzalez; their surprising 2010 season would have turned out much differently otherwise.

  • A scout in Arizona expresses concern about Brewers closer John Axford, who has an 8.44 ERA in seven appearances this spring.

  “He has a very complicated delivery,” the scout says. “You have to manage him day by day, inning by inning, pitch by pitch.”

  Rick Peterson, the Brewers’ former pitching coach, succeeded in doing that with Axford last season. Peterson’s replacement, Rick Kranitz, inherits the challenge.

  • The Marlins are unlikely to seek outside help at third base if they demote Matt Dominguez, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking.

  Dominguez, batting .175 entering Wednesday’s play, looks increasingly unlikely to make the club. The Marlins’ current plan is to use Omar Infante at second and choose from among Emilio Bonifacio, Wes Helms and Donnie Murphy at third.

  The team does not want to add to its projected Opening Day payroll of approximately $60 million.

  • The Padres and A’s are among the teams looking for backup infielders who can play shortstop. The Orioles’ Robert Andino and Mets’ Luis Hernandez, both of whom are out of options, are among the players who likely could be had.

  The Padres’ need stems from Kevin Frandsen’s difficulties playing shortstop. Everth Cabrera could serve as Jason Bartlett’s backup, but the Padres want Cabrera to play at Triple A.

  • Tigers right-hander Brad Penny, engaged to “Dancing with the Stars” pro Karina Smirnoff, jokes that her demeanor is the opposite of his.

  “She’s a real good girl, easy to be around,” Penny says. “She’s great. You’d love her. Great personality. Kind of goes with mine — no personality.”

  • Finally, here’s to Will Rhymes, the 5-foot-9, 155-pound battler who says he overcame a “lifetime of being an underdog” to win the Tigers’ second-base job.

  Rhymes, a 27th-round pick in 2005, was not even invited to major-league spring training last season; the Tigers were grooming another prospect, Scott Sizemore, for the job.

  This time Rhymes beat out Sizemore, in large part because he batted .304 in 191 at-bats last season, manager Jim Leyland said.

  Rhymes, who turns 28 on April 1, figures to remain at second until Carlos Guillen recovers from microfracture knee surgery, which could be a while.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Twins make Slowey available, but where will he go?

  March 23, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  The Minnesota Twins have chosen Scott Baker over Kevin Slowey as their No. 5 starter, and sources say they are willing to trade Slowey for a late-inning reliever.

  But even with Slowey’s success last season — 13-6 with a 4.45 ERA — the Twins don’t appear to have an abundance of trade options.

  

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  The ideal trade partner would (a) need a right-handed starter and (b) be able to deal from a surplus of major league-caliber relievers. Right now, few (if any) teams match that description.

  Two clubs that are looking for a starting pitcher — the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners — are also short on relievers.

  Teams that could or will be without starters on Opening Day — the Cardinals (Adam Wainwright), Dodgers (Jon Garland), Blue Jays (Brandon Morrow) and White Sox (Jake Peavy) — seem inclined to go with internal options.

  Slowey, who has a career 4.41 ERA in the American League, should be an appealing target for National League teams with young rotations. But officials from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates say they aren’t actively looking for major-league starters via trade.

  The Toronto Blue Jays have been mentioned this spring as a possible trade partner for the Twins, but the teams don’t have an easy fit right now. The Blue Jays aren’t in position to part with relievers, with Frank Francisco and Octavio Dotel possibly starting the season on the disabled list.

  The Twins are looking to fortify their middle relief after a number of off-season departures, including Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier, Jon Rauch and Brian Fuentes. Team officials have been impressed by Carlos Gutierrez and Kyle Waldrop in camp this spring, but neither has pitched in the majors.

  Slowey became more expendable with the rapid rise of right-hander Kyle Gibson, who was ranked among the top 40 prospects in the game by Baseball America this spring.

  When asked this week about the likelihood of using Gibson, 23, in the majors this year, Twins general manager Bill Smith said, “We’ll see how things go. He’s only pitched one year in the minor leagues. He was very successful. He was our minor-league pitcher of the year. He needs to get stretched out. He’s going to start in the minor leagues. When we need help, we try and go get the best guy.”

  — Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

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• Notes from spring training

  March 17, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  • The Rockies are beginning to look like they might have decent rotation depth — perhaps even enough to trade right-hander Aaron Cook once he is healthy.
  
  Start with right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, lefty Jorge De La Rosa and righties Jason Hammel and Jhoulys Chacin — a formidable front four.
  
  Right-hander Esmil Rogers also is throwing well, and the Rockies believe that righties John Maine and Greg Reynolds will contribute at some point as well.

  

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  Cook, set to earn $9.25 million this season, began the spring with right shoulder tightness, then suffered a broken right ring finger. He would be difficult to move, but at least the Rockies are in a position in which they do not need to rely on him.
  
  • Talk about a roster crunch. By the end of spring training, the Mariners could bid farewell to five members of their 40-man roster, or 16 percent.
  
  The M’s invited 23 non-roster players to spring training, and at least five stand reasonable chances of making the team — catcher Josh Bard, infielder Adam Kennedy, right-handers Jamey Wright and Chris Ray and one of two outfielders, Ryan Langerhans or Gabe Gross.
  
  The Mariners currently are at the maximum 40. Left-hander Garrett Olson already is on waivers, according to a major-league source.
  
  • Another issue for the M’s: Their bullpen.
  
  “It starts with (Brandon) League,” one scout says. “Try to name the next guy.”
  
  The M’s might need lots of “next guys” if they open with rookie right-hander Michael Pineda and lefty Erik Bedard in their rotation. Neither is likely to work deep into games, at least initially.
  
  • Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers, who spent last season scouting with the Yankees, offers yet another ringing endorsement for the Yanks’ top pitching prospects — and actually likes right-hander Dellin Betances even better than lefty Manny Banuelos.
  
  Betances, 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, “might be King Felix," Towers says.
  
  Banuelos?
  
  “Teddy Higuera in his prime,” Towers says, “but with a better arm.”

  • New Dodgers first base coach Davey Lopes raves about the work ethic of shortstop prospect Dee Gordon, who is the son of former major-league pitcher Tom Gordon.
  
  Lopes says that Gordon is inquisitive about the game and absorbs information like a sponge.
  
  “His dad taught him right,” Lopes says.
  
  • Finally, check out my video interview with the Dodgers’ Andre Ethier, who tells an amusing story about working out last offseason with the Red Sox’s Dustin Pedroia at a rehabilitation center in Gilbert, Ariz.
  
  “He’s into yelling at other patients,” Ethier says. “It’s a public place where anyone comes in to work out. You had some old retirees to young kids battling stuff. He’s in there mixing it up with all of them, asking them what’s going on, challenging them or trying to outdo them in an exercise.
  
  “It was pretty comical for me, and I bet for those patients in there getting a chance to have some little crazy guy yelling at them every day.”

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Details of Felix Hernandez's no-trade clause

  March 16, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  File this one away for July.

  Felix Hernandez has a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract with the Seattle Mariners. During this season, the right-hander will be able to block deals to the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies and two unknown teams, a major league source said.

  We shouldn’t infer from that list that Hernandez wants to avoid large-market clubs. Rather, astute players (and agents) will often protect against trades to high-revenue teams, because those clubs (a) are most likely to be interested in acquiring expensive players and (b) have the wherewithal to offer financial inducements that encourage players to waive the clauses.

  Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has said Hernandez isn’t available on the trade market. But some in the industry believe that could change if the Mariners start slowly for a second straight year.

  Hernandez signed a five-year, $78 million contract extension prior to last season. The deal is actually richer than that, since Hernandez’s 2011 salary jumped from $10 million to $11 million after he won the Cy Young Award last season.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Quick notes from spring training

  March 13, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  The Oakland Athletics would like to add an inexpensive utility infielder as they await the return of Adam Rosales, who is recovering from offseason surgery on his right foot and likely will be out until May.

  Chances are, though, the A’s will opt for an internal solution; they’ve been playing third baseman Andy LaRoche at short. The Tigers’ Ramon Santiago would make sense, but even he would be too pricey for the A’s at $1.25 million.

  • Yankees rookie catcher Jesus Montero is likely to open the season as the backup to Russell Martin. His bat might tempt the Yankees into expanding his playing time, but a scout says that the Yankees will need to bring Montero along slowly, citing the difficulty all rookie catchers face adapting to the speed of the game in the majors.

  

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  Lefty CC Sabathia is perhaps the only one of the Yankees’ top three starters who is low-maintenance for a catcher. Righty Phil Hughes is still developing as a pitcher, and A.J. Burnett also requires veteran guidance.

  • Mariners third baseman Chone Figgins needed a few days to think about it, but he finally came up with a comparison for second-base prospect Dustin Ackley.

  “A more athletic Todd Walker,” Figgins said, referring to the former major league second baseman.

  Mariners fans might prefer to hear, “Chase Utley,” but Walker finished his career with a .783 OPS. His defense was below average, but his peers greatly respected his offensive talent — and Figgins was talking about Ackley as a hitter.

  Ackley, the second overall pick in the 2009 draft, is entering his second full season at second base and likely to start the season at Triple-A.

  • For all the talk about how the Phillies could replace Utley, their injured second baseman, the club's utility-infield candidates — Wilson Valdez, Peter Orr, Josh Barfield — are playing well this spring.

  None, obviously, is Utley, but sources continue to say that the Phillies cannot take on a big salary. To acquire the Rangers' Michael Young — if Utley were out for a prolonged stretch — the Phils would need Texas to take right-hander Joe Blanton and include cash in the deal. The Rangers are reluctant to make that type of trade.

  • The Blue Jays are building impressive pitching depth.

  Manager John Farrell told reporters that left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes, who is out of minor-league options, could make the team as a reliever. Righties Jesse Litsch and Kyle Drabek are the favorites for the final two rotation spots, possibly leaving lefty Marc Rzepczynski to start the season at Triple-A.

  Right-hander Zach Stewart also will open at Triple-A, and the Jays are excited by the progress of righty Henderson Alvarez, who has touched 97 mph and changed the grip on his slider, creating more tilt. Alvarez likely will open at Double-A.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Mariners' Aardsma on the move?

  December 16, 2010 by KenRosenthal

  The free-agent relievers began dropping Wednesday.

  Matt Guerrier reached agreement with the Dodgers, Jesse Crain with the White Sox.

  Kerry Wood moved toward a deal with the Cubs, while Dan Wheeler was in talks with the Red Sox, according to major league sources.

  The Mariners also are involved in the game of musical relievers, but with a slightly different twist.

  The M’s are trying to trade closer David Aardsma, sources said, and free-agent right-hander Kevin Gregg, a native of Corvallis, Ore., is among the possible replacements.

  Gregg, who went 37 for 43 in save chances with a 3.51 ERA for the Blue Jays last season, also has drawn interest from the Red Sox and Orioles, among other clubs.

  Aardsma, who turns 29 on Dec. 27, had a breakthrough season in 2009, going 38 for 42 in save chances with a 2.52 ERA, but he slumped in the first half of the year, posting a 5.40 ERA before the All-Star break and a 0.84 ERA after it.

  Any desire by the Mariners to move Aardsma is at least partly because of his rising salary in arbitration. He stands to earn a significant raise from $2.75 million this offseason and would be eligible for arbitration again next winter.

  The M’s might prefer a more established veteran such as Gregg, particularly when they could get him at a salary comparable to Aardsma’s over a multi-year deal.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Former top prospect McCarthy drawing wide interest

  November 22, 2010 by JonPaulMorosi

  Brandon McCarthy used to be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Even now, he’s only 27 years old.

  He spent the 2010 season in the minor leagues and/or on the disabled list, so his salary demands aren’t high. But he has thrown very well in the Dominican Winter League: 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in four starts.

  Combine those factors, and you have a buy-low frenzy for teams in need of rotation help.

  McCarthy has been scouted heavily in recent weeks, with the Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Oakland A's and Detroit Tigers among the teams having interest, according to a major-league source.

  When healthy, McCarthy was effective this season at Triple-A Oklahoma City in the Texas organization (4-2, 3.36 ERA). But a stress fracture in his right shoulder limited him to just 56 1/3 innings. That is the same injury that hampered his throwing arm in the past.

  Clubs may view McCarthy as being similar to another recent Rangers discard: right-hander Rich Harden. With both pitchers, the output can be very good, but the quantity of innings is a major question.

  One consideration in McCarthy’s favor: He isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2012 season, so the team that signs him this winter theoretically will have two years of control.

  -Jon Paul Morosi

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• What are the potential snags in a Valentine-Mariners coupling?

  October 14, 2010 by FOXSports

  It comes as no surprise that Bobby Valentine  had a strong interview with the Mariners, according to a major-league source. Valentine, highly intelligent and well-spoken, almost always interviews well.
  
  The source, however, says that the Mariners also were impressed by their other candidates, and do not necessarily consider Valentine the front-runner.
  
  Even if Valentine emerges as the Mariners’ choice, significant obstacles could stand in the way of him getting the job:
  
  *Valentine might want more money than the Mariners are willing to pay.
  
  Lou Piniella managed the M’s from 1993 to 2002, but the team prefers less expensive managers, sources say. Valentine presumably would require a substantial salary to leave his current position as an analyst for ESPN.
  
  *Valentine might desire a better chance to win.
  
  The Mariners, who lost 101 games last season, will not be a quick fix.
  
  *Valentine might not be a good fit with Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, who also possesses a strong personality.
  
  Zduriencik clashed with his previous manager, Don Wakamatsu. Valentine, who likely would want a say in personnel decisions, would pose a far greater challenge – and perhaps hasten the end of Zduriencik’s teunure.
  
  The wild card in all this is the Mariners’ Japanese owner, Hiroshi Yamauchi. Valentine was a highly successful manager in Japan. If Yamauchi decides he wants Valentine, then none of the potential obstacles will matter.
  
  The Mariners’ other candidates include Cecil Cooper, Eric Wedge, John Gibbons, Lloyd McClendon and Daren Brown.
  
  Valentine is the biggest name, by far.
  
  -Ken Rosenthal

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• Mariners to meet with McClendon about managerial position

  October 12, 2010 by JonPaulMorosi

  Lloyd McClendon will interview for the Mariners’ managerial opening this week, major-league sources confirmed to FOXSports.com.

  This is believed to be McClendon’s first managerial interview since he was dismissed as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005. That is surprising, given his credentials and the performance of Tigers hitters during his time as the Detroit batting coach.

  McClendon had a .430 winning percentage over five seasons in Pittsburgh, but his tenure was a relative success when compared to the records of his successors. The Pirates won 70-plus games only three times over the past 11 years; McClendon was the manager in each of those seasons.

  McClendon’s first season as the Detroit batting coach was 2007, when Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco and Curtis Granderson enjoyed career years. This season, he worked with potential MVP (Miguel Cabrera) and Rookie of the Year (Austin Jackson) award winners.

  The 51-year-old’s hitting background could help the Mariners, who had a historically poor offense in 2010. Players respect McClendon, a former major-league outfielder, and his even-tempered demeanor would play well in a clubhouse that disintegrated toward the end of this season.

  — Jon Paul Morosi
  

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