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'Tis the season for trade rumors

By John Schlegel

 

It's Spring Training for everybody, including baseball's beloved rumor mongers. But they're getting their work in, don't worry.

While scouts scour Arizona and Florida to send back reports on possible trade bait, reporters put things together and throw the stuff out there. It's as much a tradition as the smell of the freshly cut grass.

 

Here's a quick rundown of some of the rumblings out there this Spring Training:

 

Junior's round-trip ticket: The hottest rumor this spring, hands down, has been Ken Griffey Jr. heading back to Seattle. Yet so far it's been more hype than substance.

 

Although neither team has publicly acknowledged discussing such a deal, the rumors have escalated to the stage where center fielder Randy Winn and Triple-A right-hander Rett Johnson were speculated as possible trade bait in The Sporting News.

 

Reds GM Dan O'Brien is keeping away from specifics but says a lot in generalities.

 

"We won 69 games last season. So we have to explore every possible avenue available to us, meaning that we have to be open-minded about every player on our 40-man roster," O'Brien said.

 

One other name that has drawn a lot of attention is Adam Dunn, the 24-year-old slugger. The Dodgers reportedly have been scouting him heavily. Pretty much everyone, with the possible exception of Austin Kearns, could be up for grabs.

 

First salvo for DePo: New Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta has yet to make his first trade, and if he follows some other first-year GMs, it wouldn't be a shock if that first deal is with the team he worked for previously -- Oakland.

 

It's been widely reported that the Dodgers like first baseman Graham Koonce, and DePodesta was a big fan of outfielder Jason Grabowski when he was with the A's, so maybe there's a fit there. There's also talk about the Dodgers having interest in Cincy's Sean Casey or Kearns. Other names thrown out lately include Baltimore's Admin Bigbie and Jay Gibbons.

 

On a much grander scale, one rumor that floated around Dodgers camp this week was a trade that would bring Nomar Garciaparra from Boston in exchange for Odalis Perez and Cesar Izturis.

 

Benson walking the plank? It seems Pirates right-hander Kris Benson is pitching every Grapefruit League outing now like it could be his last with Pittsburgh. "It's going to be interesting to see what happens over the next couple of weeks," said Benson.

 

Benson's agent has informed him that five teams -- including the Yankees, Cardinals, Phillies and Braves -- are currently in negotiations to acquire the former No. 1 overall selection in the 1996 First-Year Player Draft. The Star-Ledger in New Jersey reported earlier this week that the Red Sox are also believed to be a fifth team interested in Benson.

 

More dangling names: A few names have been out there waiting for takers, or waiting for the right fit. Some teams know what they want but don't know how to get it. Here's a breakdown:

 

 

There have been rumors that the Cubs were interested in trading right-hander Juan Cruz, but the Cubs aren't going to deal any potential starting pitcher until they figure out how healthy Mark Prior is.

 

Oakland's Koonce, Grabowski and right-hander Justin Duchscherer are all on the block. The Dodgers like both hitters, and the Twins have scouted the pitcher.

 

Mets outfielder Roger Cedeno hasn't been mentioned in any specific trade rumor recently, but they have been trying to get rid of him since November. They'd also like to move Timo Perez, but might wait until later this spring, if at all.

 

The Angels have six starting pitchers and could part with one before the spring is over. The main candidates to be traded are Jarrod Washburn, Ramon Ortiz and Aaron Sele.

 

The Tigers' Brandon Inge was rumored to be on the block heading into Spring Training, possibly in a package with Craig Monroe for a starting pitcher, but Tigers manager Alan Trammell has said more than once that Inge is not on the block.

 

Fred McGriff is in Devil Rays camp purely to show other teams he is healthy and would be dealt to any team that asks for him. The Rays also may have an extra lefty pitcher if Damian Moss does not win the fifth starter spot.

 

The Cardinals are looking for a second baseman or left fielder, somebody who could lead off. But they haven't made much headway yet.

 

 

Word out of Phillies camp is that teams have inquired about Ricky Ledee, since the Phillies have six outfielders in camp and may not keep all of them.

 

The Expos are also loaded with outfielders, and Ron Calloway or Peter Bergeron could be trade bait for a lefty reliever, if the Expos decide to go outside the organization for that while Joey Eischen recovers from an elbow injury.

 

Mariners catcher Ben Davis might soon be on the block. He is having a lousy spring offensively and defensively, and his pitch-calling was criticized recently by manager Bob Melvin, who made it very clear the opportunity for playing time was Davis' for the taking.

 

A report in the Kansas City Star said the Dodgers were offering two high-level prospects -- right-hander Edwin Jackson and first baseman James Loney -- to the Royals for highly coveted center fielder Carlos Beltran, but also said both clubs denied the rumor. Said GM Allard Baird: "I'll just say this. We're trying to win, too."

 

With a crowded rotation probably bumping him to the minors, lefty Jeriome Robertson has been rumored to be going to the Rangers, but the Astros would have to be blown away by any offer for pitching.

 

The Marlins are scouting around for middle relief help. Some teams have shown interest in outfielder Abraham Nunez, who is out of options.

 

Junior Spivey rumors have circulated ever since the Brewers acquired him from Arizona. Are any of the early Spivey rumors legit? "No," GM Doug Melvin said. "Nobody has called. Teams aren't interested right now."

 

Somebody's interested in something, somewhere. It's that time of year.

The Marlins are scouting around for middle relief help. Some teams have shown interest in outfielder Abraham Nunez, who is out of options.

BULLPEN THIS YEAR WITH NO HELP=disastrous season

I personally have no problem in trading Nunez. He may only need a chance to prove what he can do in the majors, but I don't see it happening with the Marlins.

He also has had durability problems to go along with advanced age problem. Despite all this there should be interest in him. Don't be surprised if he ends up in Detroit or Pittsburgh.

nunez has been with the marlins to long we should have traded him long ago for releif maybe last year?

That's interesting, he's a very talented player that's for sure. I'm just not sure how big his value is. He impressed me today seeing him live, hopefully he did the same for the scouts.

Question is: Who is out there at Nunez value to get?

I really hope we trade nunez away for a major league middle relief pitcher.

I don't care if he is lefty or righty. I just hope that that guy is good.

He's good, but the marlins need that additional great bullpen arm and with a little luck you're back in the play offs. Sigh, you should of got Urbina!

He's good, but the marlins need that additional great bullpen arm and with a little luck you're back in the play offs. Sigh, you should of got Urbina!

dont start that stuff up again :lol

if he was affordable it would have happened...

... and the Yankees should never have let Pettite get away. These things happen.

 

I don't see anyone beating a path o UU's door and there is a reason.

I'm an Urbina fan and I really think his performance deserves an adequate payday. If I were him I would go to Japan.

That's interesting, he's a very talented player that's for sure. I'm just not sure how big his value is. He impressed me today seeing him live, hopefully he did the same for the scouts.

im sure he is of some value, i mean he did have a great winter league season and has been doing pretty good this spring.

 

also, everyone knows the kid has talent and that he just needs a chance.

I don't understand why we never gave Nunez a shot....?

That's interesting, he's a very talented player that's for sure. I'm just not sure how big his value is. He impressed me today seeing him live, hopefully he did the same for the scouts.

im sure he is of some value, i mean he did have a great winter league season and has been doing pretty good this spring.

 

also, everyone knows the kid has talent and that he just needs a chance. totally agree.

I don't understand why we never gave Nunez a shot....?

Abraham Nunez' career has lots of ups and downs. He's been injured more than once, last season he pulled a muscle in ST and was out until July. When he came up in 2002 he looked just plain awful, unfocused, unable to hit MLB pitching. Then there's the age thing thing - he isn't a kid anymore and aged two years overnight when the Fish found out he was older than he claimed. So to say he's had a spotted minor league career would be an understatement.

 

On the upside he's been hitting a ton since last July and it looks like he's finally gotten it together. His big problem right now is Wil Cordero who has just about sewed up the number 4 OF spot and my guess he will make the team and at the expense of Brian Banks. But you never know with Trader Jack, he may go with with experience and Nunez will be traded.

 

Until last season he really hadn't shown that he deserved a shot.

i dont think we could get anything decent for him

 

he hasnt proven jacksquat yet

We have a lot of options at reserve OF (Rios, G. Williams, Christenson, Banks) that could make Nunez expendable. And we DO need some middle relief help. Those things in mind, I would support this trade as long as we got a MAJOR LEAGUE middle reliever- a guy with some kind of experience.

I agree with geemoney here. We do need someone and we have the room to let Abe go, but unless we get someone decent I wouldn't bother.