Archive for July, 2007

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Reds acquire Cantu from Devil Rays

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Jorge Cantu, a minor leaguer and cash from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for reliever Brian Shackelford, a minor league pitcher and future considerations on Saturday.

The 25-year-old Cantu had played out his welcome in Tampa Bay after setting the Devil Rays’ single-season club record in 2005 with 117 RBIs with 28 home runs while hitting .286. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player that season. Last season, he hit .249 with 14 homers and 62 RBIs, and he hit .207 in 25 games with the Devil Rays this year. He was sent to the minors on July 19 and said at the time he expected he’d played his last game for Tampa Bay.
Shackelford spent parts of the 2005 and 2006 seasons with the Reds. He was 0-5 in 41 relief appearances with Louisville this season. Tampa Bay also received minor league right-hander Calvin Medlock, who was a combined 4-3 in 42 relief appearances with Louisville and Double-A Chattanooga.

The Reds also received outfielder Shaun Cumberland, who was hitting .246 with six home runs and 34 RBI for Double-A Montgomery. Cumberland was assigned to Chattanooga.

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Astros, Devil Rays make trade

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

Houston Astros acquired Ty Wigginton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Saturday for relief pitcher Dan Wheeler. Wigginton was hitting .275 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs in 98 games this season. Last year, he had a career-high 24 homers and 79 RBIs. Since Wigginton isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2009 season, the trade could signal the end of Morgan Ensberg’s career in Houston.

Wheeler (1-4, 5.07 ERA) leads the Astros with 11 saves, but has blown four this season. Wheeler had a 2.41 ERA with 146 strikeouts in 159 innings over the previous three seasons.

Earlier Saturday, Tampa Bay traded for minor league reliever Brian Shackelford from Cincinnati, and sent down struggling reliever Shawn Camp. On Friday they added reliever Grant Balfour in a trade with the Brewers.

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Phillies get 2B Iguchi from White Sox

Friday, July 27th, 2007

The Phillies have acquired White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi for Class A right-hander Michael Dubee.

Iguchi will be a temporary replacement for the injured Chase Utley, who will miss up to a month after undergoing surgery Friday morning to repair a broken right hand.

Dubee is the son of Phillies pitching coach Rich Dubee.

Iguchi, 32, is a free agent at the end of the season. The Phillies could try to use him as a utility man after Utley returns.

Iguchi is batting .251 with six homers and 31 RBIs

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Kenny Lofton Back to the Indians

Friday, July 27th, 2007

The Texas Rangers traded the 40-year-old outfielder to the Indians for minor league catcher Max Ramirez.

Lofton, who had 21 steals with Texas, will immediately give Cleveland’s lineup a needed boost of speed at the top. He’s Cleveland’s franchise leader in steals (450) and ranks third in club history in runs (951). In nine seasons with the Indians, Lofton batted .300 and won four straight Gold Gloves in center field.

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Brewers get Linebrink for 3 minor leaguers

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

In turnabout in trade philosophy, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired reliever Scott Linebrink from the San Diego Padres for three minor league pitchers on Wednesday, hoping to bolster their unexpected run at the playoffs.

Linebrink will be a setup man for closer Francisco Cordero, who has converted 32 of his 35 save chances.

The Padres acquired right-hander Will Inman, a third-round pick in June 2005; left-hander Steve Garrison, a 10th-round pick in the same draft; and 25-year-old left-hander Joe Thatcher.
The bullpen is one of the Brewers’ main concerns, in part because of injuries. Reliever Yovani Gallardo had to move into the starting rotation after Ben Sheets hurt a finger on his pitching hand earlier this month.

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Red Sox after Pitching and Power Hitters

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

The Red Sox have reportedly shown interest in several sluggers (Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn, Jermaine Dye, Reggie Sanders), relief pitchers (Octavio Dotel, Salomon Torres, Akinori Otsuka) and may even have interest in reviving talks with the Colorado Rockies about Todd Helton, according to a source — Boston Herald

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Braves dealing Salty for Rangers Teixeira?

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

The Braves have needs, including pitching. If they could get an impact starter or a package of pitchers for Jarrodd Saltalamacchia, they might pull the trigger. They’ve also talked to the Rangers about first baseman Mark Teixeira, a slugger and Gold Glover who could earn more than $10 million in arbitration next season and then become a free agent. Saltalamacchia hasn’t played much since the Braves signed first baseman Julio Franco, who made his fifth start in six games Tuesday. McCann has gotten healthy and needs few days off. … Saltalamacchia was the Braves’ top-rated prospect before the season and has further elevated his stock with a strong performance in his first stint in the majors. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Garland Rumors

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

Teams aren’t offering the kind of prospects White Sox GM Ken Williams is seeking in return for pitchers Jose Contreras and Javier Vazquez, so he’s listening when they ask about Jon Garland, who is signed through 2008 and is scheduled to make $12 million next year. The Yankees have expressed some interest, as have the Braves, who reportedly have offered shortstop Edgar Renteria in return (thinking they can play Yunel Escobar at shortstop in Renteria’s place). Garland is a long shot to move before Tuesday. — Star-Ledger

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Angels after Konerko

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

The Angels have resumed their pursuit of Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, who turned down a five-year, $62-million free-agent offer from the Angels after 2005 to remain in Chicago. According to several industry sources, the Angels, looking to add a power bat to their sagging offense, have inquired about Konerko, who is batting .261 with 22 home runs and 61 runs batted in. Konerko has a limited no-trade clause and is signed through 2010, but he has a good relationship with Scioscia and would probably waive the clause to come to Anaheim. — LA Times

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Braves looking for Pitching

Tuesday, July 24th, 2007

Rafael Soriano’s recent struggles, and other erratic performances from relievers, have forced the Braves to work the phones trying to pull off a trade for at least one reliever before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. This comes while they look for another starter — Livan Hernandez, Jon Garland, Jose Contreras and others have been discussed — and consider reinforcements at first base. Soriano is the last guy the Braves expected to be worrying about in July, after the way he pitched for most of the season’s first half. He blew all three save opportunities on the homestand; the Braves blew only seven before the homestand. Soriano had a 12.46 ERA and .400 opponents’ average with eight hits and six runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings during the homestand, extending a slump that has lasted more than five weeks. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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