Day 2: Putz Rumors

by ~ December 9th, 2008 at 8:00 pm

8:00 PM:
Geoff Baker is reporting that the Mariners and Cardinals discussed Putz today.

He also mentioned that the Mariners and Brewers have discussed Putz and Prince Fielder, but not in a deal for each other.

6:09 PM:
Tom Haudricourt:

And, despite many reports to the contrary, Melvin said he has no trade offers on the table involving first baseman Prince Fielder or shortstop J.J. Hardy.

Melvin said he did talk about possible trades with Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik, the Brewers’ former scouting director. Melvin wouldn’t reveal which names were discussed but the Brewers are known to have interest in Mariners closer J.J. Putz, who is available via trade.

But Melvin said he decided he did not have a match with the Mariners, so you can forget those rumors about Fielder going to Seattle.

“I don’t think so, at this point,” Melvin said of a possible match with the Mariners. “He’s familiar with our players so he probably would prefer to do a deal with us.”

They may be back to the drawing board, but I doubt negotiations are dead.

4:12 PM: Updated by Rob T:
Steve Phillips has an interesting tidbit up

The Mariners need a power hitter. The Tigers need a closer. There is speculation that the two teams are discussing a package involving J.J. Putz and Prince Fielder.

This is from Steve Phillips so take it with a giant grain of salt. Add that to the fact that Prince Fielder is not on the Tigers.

3:57 PM: Updated by Rob T:
Jayson Stark has a blurb up regarding the Mariners asking price on Putz

Clubs that have spoken to Seattle report that the Mariners haven’t discouraged teams that asked about J.J. Putz. But the asking price is hefty.

11:08 AM:
Morosi has another article up.  He says that Seattle and Detroit were discussing Putz this morning, and again mentioned Joyce and Larish.

1:29 AM:
The Tigers are becoming known as one of J.J. Putz’s most aggressive pursuers at the Winter Meetings.

John Paul Morosi:

As of late Monday night, the Tigers and Mariners had not engaged in any serious trade talks. Seattle officials believe they will be able to obtain a three-player package in exchange for Putz. For Detroit, that could mean parting with young left-handed hitters Matt Joyce and Jeff Larish, along with a big-league-ready pitcher.

I would love to receive a package centered around Joyce and Larish.  Earlier in the offseason I would have been more than happy with just those two, but I think I was underrating Putz’s value a bit and overrating Joyce.

On top of Joyce and Larish, Morosi suggests a “big-league-ready pitcher.”  That would almost certainly be a reliever.  The Tigers don’t really have any good young starting talent that is ready for the majors– Virgil Vazquez and Chris Lambert appear slightly intriguing at first glance, but leave much to be desired– and Seattle doesn’t have any rotation openings at the major league level.

If Seattle can get Joyce, Larish and another useful part in return for Putz I think I would be overall happy with that deal, even if Seattle misses out on Rick Porcello.  That said, it’s 1:30 AM and I’ll have to take another look at this when I’m thinking more clearly tomorrow.

Other recent Putz rumors:

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  • chris d

    Jon, glad you have been getting so many hits. You deserve them. Like I said before I go to your site first now as you have most recent and up to date info on these Winter meetings.

    I hope, and it sounds like, JMZ will only trade Putz if he gets an amazing deal offered. I hope it is with the Brewers as then he would know exactly what we are getting and they seem to have talent we need; namely, JJ Hardy. I hope, I hope.I do not want their overweight first baseman.

  • seatown27

    i just wanted to say i found this site about a month ago, and you keep us updated better than the other blogs… and also i don’t think anybody on the m’s should be untouchable, other than felix, so if a trade improves the team for the long haul i say do it.

  • http://marinermelee.blogspot.com/ Mariner Melee

    I’m going to go mad keeping up with these Putz rumors.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    For what it’s worth, Dave from USSM took a look at Larish and Joyce today.

    http://ussmariner.com/2008/12/09/joyce-larish-analyzed/

    He said that he’d do a Joyce-for-Putz deal straight up, something that I was pulling for a little while ago. Like I mentioned in the post, I’ve since been convinced that it wouldn’t be enough, but Dave’s a smart enough guy to bring me back.

  • http://marinermelee.blogspot.com/ Mariner Melee
  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    The closer market is still pretty deep, even with K-Rod and Woods out of the picture.

    Beyond Putz there is Brian Fuentes (FA), Trevor Hoffman (FA), Bobby Jenks (CHW), Jose Valverde (HOU), Huston Street (COL), Chad Cordero (FA), and a few others.

  • Walrus

    Jon,
    What do you think it would take to get Jenks, Valverde or Street?

    Would it make some sense to trade JJ (age, injuries, etc…), and then use Larish or Vlad with Rob Johnson to get another closer who is younger and less likely for injury?

  • Mr.Benton

    Steve Phillips thinks too high of himself. Would be nice to get Fielder, but he could get spendy.

  • http://myspace.com/tr1ckz pmbaseball7

    If we could somehow get Fielder I wouldn’t care if he got expensive he’s a beast.

  • section331

    This is insane – and it’s also killing me. There are people commenting on MLBTR.com saying that we should package Putz and Morrow – that’s just dumb, and I would hope to God that Zduriencik is smarter than that.
    Didn’t this Fielder thing get buried a short while ago, anyway? Or was it just generally acknowledged to be a bad idea for the Brewers?
    According to mariners.com, however, a Putz trade would mean that Washburn would stay – so which is the lesser of the two evils here?

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    Add that to the fact that Prince Fielder is not on the Tigers.

    Wow… It doesn’t get better than this. Hahahahaha

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    @ Walrus: Jenks would probably be too expensive (prospect wise). He’s under team control for three more seasons. Valverde might come a bit cheaper as the Astros want to move him, but he’d be a free agent after the season and paid more than Putz. I’m not a big Street fan, and he’s more of an injury risk than Putz.

    The ideal thing to do is trade your “established” closer (Putz) for a premium, then develop another current unknown and start the process over again. I seem to be the only one at this point, but I still think Lowe is just an adjustment or two from establishing himself as a late inning stopper. Seattle isn’t afraid to bring in a big name closer, though. They were connected to Kerry Wood at one point this offseason.

    Also, GMZ said the wasn’t looking to trade any of their catching depth, and I don’t think Wlad is going anywhere unless Matt Joyce and/or Carlos Gomez/Delmon Young are Seattle-bound. Even then, he was so bad last season than his trade value as a prospect is a bit low.

    RE: Fielder

    When Fielder was first brought up by Jim Street a while ago, I couldn’t believe my eyes. What a ridiculous proposition, right? Sure, a Putz-for-Fielder deal straight up isn’t happening as he suggested, but Fielder’s name keeps coming up so perhaps there is something to it.

    I originally thought that there was no way Fielder was coming to Seattle without the Mariners parting with Felix or Morrow, but maybe there are other possibilities. Some combination of Putz, RRS, Tuiasosopo, Lopez and Washburn might do it, but it would be quite a stretch. I still find it highly unlikely that Fielder would end up in Seattle, but I won’t rule it out completley.

    “asking price is hefty” — Could it have a double meaning? ;)

  • section331

    Please let it be Washburn. JUST Washburn! haha!

  • Walrus

    Jon,
    I do not think you are crazy when it comes to Lowe…just early. I think he needs another year. After all, it took Putz 2 good healthy years before he figured it out.
    My thought is for Seattle to become “Closer University” for 2 years.
    Trade Putz, pick up Valverde. In June, trade Valverde, use Lowe or Shawn Kelly or (God Forbid) Josh Fields to close.
    Then in the off-season, trade thenew closer, and use Lowe to close.
    I think the way MLB overpays for closers, the Mariners could get very healthy, very fast that way.
    Ultimately unfortunately, I think our long term closer will end up being Aumonte, since I think his arm slot will prevent him from ever having a good third pitch…but he will be an excellent closer.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    I wouldn’t say it was the experience that made Putz a good late-inning pitcher. He became dominant once he developed his splitter.

    Aumont could definitely become the closer one day. It would be an awful waste, but if he can’t stay healthy and can’t develop his secondary stuff that would seem like a natural transition for him.