Trade talk

According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies were discussing a deal that would have brought outfielder Matt Holliday and closer Brian Fuentes to Philadelphia in exchange for a package of players, likely consisting of outfielder Shane Victorino, left-hander J.A. Happ, Double-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco and Double-A catcher Lou Marson. However, the talks have since stalled and it is unlikely that deal will be revisited.

 

Holliday will be a free agent after next season I think. He could end up in Boston after the season if the Sox decide to cut ties with Manny. I don't think it will happen but it's at least possible. Holliday would likely cost the Rockies too much on the open market. If he's traded this year look for the Angels or the Dodgers to be involved.

 

After next season, yes, so he's not a free agent until 2010. The Rockies could keep him if not for Todd Helton's ridiculous contract.

 

Holliday is a Boras client so whoever signs him is going to be paying out the ass. If it's Boston you know they are rolling in cash since they'll have Boras' guys in left and right.

 

So much for the Phillies going after Holliday

Phil 'er up: With that Joe Blanton deal out of the way, the Phillies are all over the left-handed-reliever market. They're in on most of the usual suspects (Fuentes, Marte, George Sherrill, Jack Taschner). But we're hearing they could have expanded the Blanton trade to include Alan Embree if they'd have been willing to throw in Olympic-team shortstop Jason Donald, and turned that one down. Another option they've mulled is recalling J.A. Happ as a situational left-hander. Left-handed hitters went 1 for 12 off Happ in his two starts earlier this month.

• Phil 'er up again: Could the Phillies still deal for a bat? Not impossible. But it won't be Matt Holliday. Yes, they looked into it, but they were scared off by the price tag before they even made an offer. Ditto on Nady. An official of one club that spoke with the Phillies says they're more focused on a "Casey Blake-type" bat, but pitching remains their top priority.

 

The Phillies were dumb to waste good prospects on Blanton. He's pretty mediocre and will give up a lot more home runs in Philadelphia.

 

As much as I'd like Holliday, it would require a lot to get him. Would rather have another middle relief pitcher.

 

I just don't see the Rockies not making every effort to keep Holiday. Buisness is buisness, I understand that and it will take a mint to keep him but....if you're going to overspend on someone, why not him ?

 

Helton, for two reasons. One, he's getting $20 million for the next couple of years, so it's hard to take on another player at that salary. Two, Helton looked worth it at that time too, so they'll probably be gunshy about any more long-term expenditures.


Also, the Yankees just flat out stole Nady & Marte. If the Rays didn't offer a better deal, their five fans should strangle their GM.

 

Per ESPN Insider:
Boston and Houston are talking trade to move Tejada to Boston

ESPN's Enrique Rojas writes that the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros have had conversations about shortstop Miguel Tejada.

Rojas' sources indicate that the talks have just started. Tejada told ESPN in a phone interview, "I feel good in Houston, but I wouldn't be afraid to accept the challenge of playing in Boston."