Official Trade Rumor Thread 2007

[KC Royals Nation]

This thread will be dedicated to all trade rumors that will surface in the coming days leading to the July 31 trade deadline and the August 31 non-tender trade deadline.

Feel free to post all the trade rumors that you have either found on the Internet, word of mouth, newspaper, or simply possible trades that you would find interesting.

Here is a consensus on which Royals will be available this trading season:

Definitely available/will attract interest:

2B - Mark Grudzielanek
RP - David Riske
RP - Octavio Dotel

Definitely available/might attract interest:

C - Jason LaRue
1B - Ross Gload
1B - Mike Sweeney
LF - Emil Brown
RF - Reggie Sanders
SP - Odalis Perez
RP - John Bale
RP - Brandon Duckworth

Others Available/Possible, but not likely, trade candidates:

SS - Tony Pena
LF - Joey Gathright
CF - David DeJesus
RP - Zack Greinke
RP - Jimmy Gobble

Available/likely will not attract interest:

SP - Scott Elarton
SP - John Thomson

I will post all the rumors I hear and find. Feel free to post your own trade scenarios below. I will update the thread when trades officially surface.

[KC Royals Nation]

According to CBSSportsline.com:

It appears the Dodgers have emerged as the most serious party yet in the Royals’ effort to seek an impact return by offering veteran closer Octavio Dotel before the July 31 nonwaiver trading deadline, as reported by the Kansas City Star.

And according to The Kansas City Star:

The Royals are trying hard to trade outfielder Reggie Sanders, who has roughly $2 million remaining on his contract, and appear willing to eat the contract and accept little in return, as suggested by the Kansas City Star. Oddly, they show no inclination at this point to release Sanders, which amounts to much the same thing.

According to MLB.com, Octavio Dotel is being eyed by the Tigers, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Braves. The Dodgers appear willing to part ways with first baseman James Loney:
thebaseballcube.com/players/L/James-Loney.shtml

....outfielder Matt Kemp:
thebaseballcube.com/players/K/Matthew-Kemp.shtml

....or pitcher Chad Billingsley.
thebaseballcube.com/players/B/Chad-Billingsley.shtml

From the Red Sox, there's Jed Lowrie. From the Tigers, there's Jair Jurrjens and/or Jeff Larish, and from the Braves, there's Elvis Andrus and/or Yunel Escobar.

According to the Boston Herald, Reggie Sanders likes the thought of being traded to the Boston Red Sox. According to RotoWorld, the Sox could trade Wily Mo Pena for Sanders:
thebaseballcube.com/players/P/Wily-Mo-Pena.shtml

Also, Cubs G.M. Jim Hendry is interested in Zack Greinke, according to MLBTradeRumors.com, another great site.

What are the chances the Royals trade darkhorses such as Emil Brown, Jason LaRue, Odalis Perez, or Ross Gload? Do they have any trade value at all?

Also, could the Royals use a guy such as Leo Nunez or Justin Huber as a "throw-in" to a possible trade?

[gilgameche]

If we could net Loney or Kemp for Dotel Dayton should be GM of the year

[ror1fan]

The Cubs are looking into getting Greinke

From MLBTR


Cubs Interested In Zack Greinke
Whether he tops out at 96 or 100 mph, there's no doubt 23 year-old Zack Greinke is an intriguing pitcher. His name helps us remember or mnemonic devices from elementary school. The man even has his own website.

Bob Dutton mentioned Greinke as a trade possibility a few days ago, and now Jeff Vorva of the Daily Southtown reports that the Cubs are interested. Vorva is quoting "broadcast reports" for this rumor; I will try to find more detail. UPDATE: The rumor is from 670 The Score out of Chicago.

Greinke would be a fine addition for the Cubs whether used as a starter or reliever. I don't believe he becomes a free agent until after 2010, though you'd have to check my math. However, Greinke is a very valuable property for Kansas City and the Cubs would have to give up something good. Maybe Dayton Moore could add some middle infield depth with Ronny Cedeno or Eric Patterson. Would that be enough for Greinke?

[ror1fan]

All taken from the site MLB Trade rumors.com

from Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger. Here's my summary:

Beyond the Cubs, Graziano lists the Braves, Dodgers, and Diamondbacks as teams interested in pitcher Zack Greinke. If the initial asking price for Octavio Dotel was as high as reported, I can't imagine what Dayton Moore would want for Greinke.
Graziano's Dotel suitors: Cubs, Dodgers, and Brewers. The Red Sox, Rockies, and Indians have been mentioned by other sources. Quite a market for this guy.


By Jayson Stark

Zack Greinke is admittedly a long shot to be traded, but that doesn't mean teams aren't asking all the time. The Braves connection is obvious. Stark says John Schuerholz is getting very aggressive and creative trying to improve his team.

[KC Royals Nation]

Another couple paragraphs on Zack from Jayson Stark's Rumblings & Grumblings at ESPN.com.

sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=2941630&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

Zack Greinke

You won't find Greinke on the list of pitchers the Royals are working feverishly to trade this month. Odalis Perez and Scott Elarton are the guys on that list. But Greinke, who is still just 23, is the KC pitcher we hear teams talk about most. He's exactly the kind of talent you could see the Braves paying heavily for -- especially given Royals GM Dayton Moore's longtime ties to Atlanta.

But some teams like Greinke more as a reliever than a starter. And no matter what teams think they're buying, the Royals aren't going to settle for an SUV full of second-tier prospects for a pitcher this young who still shows flashes of greatness.

"He's got more upside than almost any pitcher out there," says one NL executive. "But they can control him until 2010, so they're reluctant to move him unless they get astounded by the offer. So I'd be surprised if that happened."

[gilgameche]

exactly it would take a mind blowing deal to pry Grienke from KC

[ror1fan]

I'd asume trade Greinke fairly soon while his value is high.

[KC Royals Nation]

According to MLB.com, the Red Sox have offered center fielder Coco Crisp in return for Dotel.

The Yankees are also one of the teams interested in Dotel. According to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times, the New York Yankees have also become interested in Dotel. According to many sources (including the K.C. Star), Moore's asking price has been very high.

Also, according to Dayton Moore, the Cubs never called expressing interest in Zack "Boy Wonder" Greinke.

[ror1fan]

CoCo for Dotel that would be awesome. I am very high on Crisp.

[gilgameche]

is Coco signed long term?

[KC Royals Nation]

According to MLBTradeRumors.com...

(Fox Sports Repoter Ken) Rosenthal believes the Royals could not even acquire a Tony Abreu from the Dodgers for Octavio Dotel. Previously it had been said that the Dayton Moore was asking for Matt Kemp or James Loney. And Duke Snider plus Sandy Koufax.

Also at MLBTradeRumors...

The Royals would love to pawn Reggie Sanders off, but the Red Sox don't have interest.

[gilgameche]

What about Andy LaRoche?His name is not mentioned among untouchables

[agordon4]

alexgordon07roy said:

What about Andy LaRoche?His name is not mentioned among untouchables

I like LaRoche as well but really feel no need for another 3rd Baseman in the organization with AG and Moose on the horizon.

[gilgameche]

agordon7 said:

alexgordon07roy said:

What about Andy LaRoche?His name is not mentioned among untouchables

I like LaRoche as well but really feel no need for another 3rd Baseman in the organization with AG and Moose on the horizon.

maybe Moose plays 2nd, AG plays 1st and LaRoche at 3rd