NL West Rumor Mill: 7/28/13
“Deep & Strong” Market for Gregerson, Thatcher
According to ESPN’s Jim Bowden, the market for Padres relievers Luke Gregerson and Joe Thatcher is “deep and strong.” As a fan, whether or not you want Gregerson or Thatcher gone, the reality is at least one, if not both, will be traded before Wednesday’s deadline. The good new is, with so much interest in the Padres relievers, if a team wants to acquire one of them, they’re going to have to over-pay.
O’s Internally Discussed Quentin
After acquiring right-handed starter Scott Feldman from the Cubs and right-handed reliever Francisco Rodriguez from the Brewers, most baseball insiders thought the Orioles were done spending this summer. According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com however, the team might have more payroll flexibility than they’ve been letting on as they have internally discussed acquiring a bat such as the Padres’ Carlos Quentin.
As part of his current contract, Quentin has a full no-trade clause and can exercise the right to block any trade. It is not certain however that San Diego will even part with Quentin as a source told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports last week that they don’t plan to trade the veteran.
Tigers Maintain Interest in Gregerson
According to Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com, the Tigers currently aren’t pursuing Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon, but have maintained conversations with the Padres about set-up man Luke Gregerson. Money is not a issue with Detroit (Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Justin Verlander); they must just like Gregerson more.
Diamondbacks Looking for Left-handed Specialist
Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com tweets that Arizona Diamondbacks’ GM Kevin Towers thinks his team’s “main need” as the trade deadline approaches is a second left-handed reliever. I wonder how much interest they might have in Padres’ left-hander Joe Thatcher. After all, as the Padres’ GM in 2007, Towers traded right-handed reliever Scott Linebrink to the Milwaukee Brewers for Thatcher and two other players. Could there be an inner-division trade?
Will keep updating throughout the day as more rumors and speculation pop-up. Stay tuned.
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