Trade Talk

No other Reds moves Thursday

2008-08-01T01:13:19Z

Only one deal was made by the Reds before Thursday's non-waivers Trade Deadline but it was a doozy. Ken Griffey Jr. went to the White Sox but none of Cincinnati's 12 other potential free agents were moved.

Reds GM Walt Jocketty said some offers were made near the end of the deadline but he chose not to agree to them.

"We talked to different clubs about different proposals but never felt there was one that really benefitted us," Jocketty said. "We're better off holding on to the players we had and try to win as many games as we can."

The Reds outfield will now have Adam Dunn in left field, Jerry Hairston Jr. in center field and Jay Bruce in right field.

-- Mark Sheldon

Guardado to the Washington Nationals...not!

2008-07-31T22:57:56Z

Pitcher Eddie Guardado was informed Thursday afternoon that he was being traded to the Washington Nationals. Manager Ron Washington delivered the news while Guardado was taking a steam bath in the Rangers clubhouse. Washington told Guardado they wanted to see him upstairs.

Guardado stormed into a conference room in the Rangers front office where general manager Jon Daniels was meeting with aides. Daniels asked Guardado into another room, then couldn't keep a straight face.

"You're still a Texas Ranger," Daniels said, revealing the elaborate joke played on one of the game's best practical jokers.

Said Guardado later, "They got me good."

-- T.R. Sullivan

Mets don't make deadline deal

2008-07-31T21:10:11Z

It's official: the Mets did nothing at the Trading Deadline.

General manager Omar Minaya said he was in quite a few discussions to improve the team's bullpen today, but nothing materialized. The Mets targeted a group of top-flight relievers, but the price of those players remained too high. And they had chances to acquire a mid-level reliever, but Minaya didn't see that as enough of an improvement over what they already have.

"We talked to some teams, but we really, at the end, there was no name guy there that was a difference-maker," Minaya said.

Minaya said that the Mets would likely still try to swing a waiver deal in the coming weeks, and that many of their top prospects -- Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Eddie Kunz and Bobby Parnell included -- would "definitely" factor into the mix down the stretch. None of those players were truly untouchable during trade negotiations, but none of them went anywhere, either. That should tell you the direction in which the Mets are trying to go with their farm system.

--Anthony DiComo

Cardinals stand pat

2008-07-31T20:37:49Z

General manager John Mozeliak just confirmed by text message that the Cardinals did not complete any moves prior to the non-waiver Trade Deadline.

-Matthew Leach

Manny to LA, Bay to Boston: deal official

2008-07-31T20:30:22Z

The Pirates will be announcing a trade shortly, as they are a part of a three-team trade that involves the Pirates, Dodgers and Red Sox.

Manny Ramirez has been dealt to the Dodgers.

The Pirates will receive Brandon Moss (OF) and Craig Hansen (RHP) from Boston and Bryan Morris (RHP and Andy LaRoche, the brother of Pirates' Adam LaRoche, from Los Angeles.

Jason Bay has been dealt to the Red Sox.

An official announcement is expected shortly.

-- Jenifer Langosch

Hollywood for Manny?

2008-07-31T20:27:47Z

Just when it seemed the Red Sox weren't going to be able to find a deal for star slugger Manny Ramirez, they have reportedly dealt the right-handed hitting run producer to the Los Angeles Dodgers. SI.com reported the news. The Boston Globe also reported that the Red Sox had traded Ramirez to the Dodgers. Rumblings are that Jason Bay is in fact going from Pittsburgh to Boston to make it a three-way deal.

Details to come.

Ian Browne

Royals make no deals

2008-07-31T20:13:24Z

The Trade Deadline passed with the Royals making no deals. The club announced at 3 p.m. CT that the club did nothing although left-handed reliever Ron Mahay and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek were among Royals rumored to be attracting interest.

-- Dick Kaegel

Mets all quiet

2008-07-31T20:07:21Z

The official 4 p.m. deadline has approached, and while there's still the possibility that the Mets snuck in a last-minute deal, they've been eerily quiet all day.

SI.com reported rumblings that the Mets were taking a look at Pittsburgh's Ian Snell (as a reliever, not a starter) and Washington's Luis Ayala. But neither deal seems to have materialized. The Mets seem to have given up on the search for a corner outfielder.

We'll know everything for certain when Omar Minaya addresses the media in roughly an hour.

--Anthony DiComo

Bay not heading to the bay

2008-07-31T20:06:06Z

With the 4 p.m. ET Trade Deadline past, a baseball source in Tampa Bay confirmed that no deal was struck between the Rays and Pirates to send Jason Bay to Tampa Bay in exchange for prospects.

While there remains the possibility that another team could have snuck in an offer before 4 p.m., it appears right now that Bay is staying in Pittsburgh. No other substantial offers were known to be on the table.

-- Jenifer Langosch

Ibanez staying in Seattle

2008-07-31T19:57:33Z

Apparently, the Mariners have pulled out of a trade with the Blue Jays that would've sent outfielder Raul Ibanez to Toronto. According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, Seattle had second thoughts about the deal, which reportedly would've been a two-for-one swap, involving only big-league players.

--Jordan Bastian

Bay on the move?

2008-07-31T19:28:33Z

Updating an earlier blog entry, there are conflicting reports about whether or not Bay will in fact be headed to Tampa Bay.

A short while ago, a source in Pittsburgh corroborated an earlier MLB.com report that Pirates outfielder Jason Bay is likely to be traded to the Rays before 4 p.m. ET this afternoon. As reported earlier, the Pirates are believed to be satisifed with taking shortstop Reid Brignac and pitcher Jeff Niemann in exchange for Bay.

However, it could be a little more complicated than that. According to another industry source in Pittsburgh, the Rays still are not believed to be offering both Brignac and Niemann. One, it is not known which, is deemed unavailable, along with Wade Davis, David Price and Jeremy Hellickson. A third baseball source also confirmed that no deal sending Bay to Tampa Bay is done as of 15 minutes prior to the deadline.

-- Jenifer Langosch

Twins remaining quiet

2008-07-31T19:27:56Z

With less than a half hour to go until the Trade Deadline, things still remain fairly quiet around the Twins. While there were indications that the club was trying to shop right-hander Boof Bonser, there has not appeared to have been any serious talks involving the pitcher. Although no deal has appeared anywhere near imminent, the Twins still could be looking to pursue middle infield options after today's non-waiver deadline. But the biggest move that Minnesota could make may have nothing to do with a trade at all. The indications have been that the team is looking to call up left-hander Francisco Liriano as soon as later this week. Exactly how the team will make room for the pitcher is uncertain, especially if no deal is made to move anyone from the current roster by 3 p.m. CT.

-- Kelly Thesier

White Sox interested in Nats' Hanrahan

2008-07-31T19:08:35Z

There are reports that the White Sox have interest in right-hander Joel Hanrahan. It's not known what the Nationals want in return. As of 3:00 p.m. ET, Hanrahan didn't hear anything about being traded to the White Sox.

There was an earlier report that the White Sox were close to acquiring Nationals left-hander John Lannan, but he is the ace of Washington's staff and they have nothing to replace him.

-- Bill Ladson .

Rays to Acquire Bay

2008-07-31T18:57:46Z

With the three-way deal between the Pirates, Red Sox, and Marlins falling through, an MLB.com source says that the Rays are going to acquire right-handed hitting outfielder Jason Bay for Minor League prospects including shortstop Reid Brignac and right-hander Jeff Niemann. The Rays have not confirmed the deal.

--Bill Chastain

No word on Byrd

2008-07-31T18:48:51Z

With 70 minutes to go before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, there are no indications that Indians right-hander Paul Byrd is going anywhere -- yet.

Because he is making $7.5 million this season and is sporting a 4.93 ERA, Byrd is certainly a candidate to pass through waivers and get dealt to a contender in August. But his recent improvement -- three straight quality starts -- the veteran presence he brings to a clubhouse and his past playoff success all might make him attractive to a team like the Rockies or Dodgers in the season's final months.

Byrd is slated to start for the Tribe on Friday in Minnesota. Consider it an audition.

-- Anthony Castrovince