Lamar Odom stays put.
Lamar Odom decided yesterday that he would spurn Dwyane Wade and the Heat, and re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers for a deal that only has a guaranteed $27 million through four years. The deal could end up being worth as much as $33 million through that stretch. This move is without a doubt the biggest for any team this offseason. Regardless of Ron-Ron replacing Trevor Ariza in LA-LA Land, the Lakers would not be able to truly defend their title without the presence of Lamar Odom. His versatility is unmatched, and his demeanor is one of a kind. Lamar always made the right decisions down the stretch and hit key shots in the Lakers pursuit of a championship this past season and without him, the Lakers would have been S.O.L.
Odom was making over $14 million last season and when the Lakers needed him to accept the reserve role and come off the bench, Lamar said he would do whatever is best for the team. There is no one else in the NBA that would quietly embrace that role once solidifying himself in the L as a starter (see: Allen Iverson, Richard Hamilton, etc.). Now with the return of such a force whether or not he will be a starter for this upcoming season, the Lakers should be the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals in 2010.
“He makes us a much, much stronger team,” Bryant said of Odom last during a promotional tour of Asia last week.
White Sox Acquire Jake Peavy
Jon Heyman is reporting that San Diego traded Jake Peavy to the White Sox again for minor leaguers, no word on if he waived his no-trade clause. Corey Brock says Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard, AAA pitcher Adam Russell and High-A pitcher Dexter Carter go for Peavy, who waived his no-trade clause to complete the deal. Richard and Poreda and major league ready now, Russell isn’t too far behind and Carter has upside. Peavy needs to get healthy, but he’ll be an excellent piece for the White Sox’s pennant run.
MLB Deadline Day Rumors
-Roy Halladay has not been traded.
-Looks like the Dodgers did nothing, Joel Sherman says.
-Angels could be up to something big, Bob Nightengale says. Arizona is done.
-Minnesota out of the Heath Bell sweepstakes but could be after Jon Rauch, Bob Nightengale says.
-Mets unlikely to do anything before 4pm, says Joel Sherman via Twitter.
-Fox Sports says Casey Kotchman could go to Boston for LaRoche, though Mark Bowman isn’t too sure.
-Heath Bell to the Dodgers could be close.
-Florida is giving up on Nick Johnson and Heath Bell, says Fox Sports.
-The A’s and Twins are talking about Michael Wuertz, says Bob Nightengale via Twitter.
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-All quiet with Yankees and Mets, says Jon Heyman via Twitter.
-The Pirates can’t stop dealing. They traded AA SP Sean Smith to Toronto for future considerations.
-Fox Sports says that the Dodgers could go after both Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell.
-Jon Heyman says via Twitter that the Braves are interested in Adam LaRoche.
-Ken Rosenthal said on MLBNetwork that the Dodgers are making a run at Adrian Gonzalez with James Loney included. The Mets could be interested in Adam LaRoche.
-Jayson Stark says that the Royals are asking the Yankees for a similar package that got Detroit Jarrod Washburn.
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-The two LA teams are battling over Heath Bell. It seems like he’s staying put.
-An Angels trade could be in the works.
-Florida is getting closer to getting Nick Johnson, Jon Heyman says via Twitter.
- A Jayson Stark source says the asking price for Gonzalez is “astronomical, three times the asking price on Halladay.” (MLBTradeRumors)
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-All is quiet with the Red Sox for now, says Ed Price via Twitter. Jon Heyman says via Twitter that the Padres and Red Sox are talking a lot with Heath Bell’s name also coming up.
-”The Rays continued to talk with Cleveland about Martinez Friday afternoon, but clubs they’ve spoken with say they’re more focused on “under-the-radar” bullpen arms.” Jayson Stark via MLBTradeRumors.
-Tampa Bay are looking for relievers, says Fox Sports.
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-Jon Heyman says via Twitter that Boston and San Diego are still talking about Adrian Gonzalez, with Clay Buchholz, Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson in the mix. Padres want Ryan Westmoreland and Lars Anderson.
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-An A’s source says that Orlando Cabrera is close to getting traded to the Twins, says Susan Slusser via Twitter. She also says Adam Kennedy probably isn’t getting traded.
-Jeff Fletcher predicts via Twitter that Orlando Cabrera will to to the Twins.
-Johnathan Mayo said via Twitter that a Victor Martinez trade is 50-50 right now.
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-Oakland wants 3B prospect Danny Valencia for Orlando Cabrera, and the Twins could go after Adam Kennedy or David Eckstein instead, says the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
-Johnathan Mayo said via Twitter that he doesn’t expect Adrian Gonzalez to be traded.
-Texas’ bid for Roy Halladay appears over, says Fox Sports.
-An Indians source expects Victor Martinez to be traded, says Jeff Fletcher via Twitter.
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-The Angels are looking for relief, but are hard to deal with, Jeff Fletcher says via Twitter. He also says that it looks like the Brewers are going to stand pat.
-Ed Price confirms that the Tigers are going after a hitter. Earlier, Fox Sports mentioned Luke Scott.
-Jarrod Washburn was hoping for the Yankees, Jon Heyman said via Twitter.
-Doug Davis and Jon Garland are still on the market, but things have been really quiet, says Fox Sports.
-Florida is getting frustrated with how slow the Nick Johnson talks are going, says Danny Knobler. Washington has been active, with interest in Johnson, Dunn and Joe Beimel.
-Yankees unlikely to make big splash, Jon Heyman says.
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-Ed Wade says all is quiet with the Astros, says Alyson Footer via Twitter.
-Pittsburgh may not necessarily be done dealing, and Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Matt Capps are their current chips, says Fox Sports.
-ESPN’s Peter Gammons says that the Marlins are getting closer to acquiring Nick Johnson, and Seattle rejected offers from six teams for Felix Hernandez.
-Seattle is in full sell mode, says Joel Sherman via Twitter. Everything quiet with the Reds, says Mark Sheldon via Twitter.
-Big Fox Sports update: Detroit has contacted Baltimore about Luke Scott, but their asking price is very high. The Dodgers want more relief help, but won’t get Toronto’s Jason Frasor. Florida has offered another minor leaguer in addition to Ryan Tucker for Nick Johnson of Washington.
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-Boston is still working on a three-way deal to get Victor Martinez, and they’d have to trade Adam LaRoche somewhere, says Jayson Stark.
-It looks like the Braves are standing pat, says Mark Bowman via Twitter.
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-The Pirates have made a trade, according to the MLB Network. But who do they still have??
-The Dodgers are pessimistic about Roy Halladay, Jon Heyman says.
-Sources have told Joel Sherman via Twitter that there’s a 50-50 chance Orlando Cabrera goes to the Twins.
-Boston is still in on Roy Halladay, Adrian Gonzalez and Victor Martinez, and are looking for a third team, says Jayson Stark.
-Texas’ bid for Halladay seems over says Fox Sports.
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-From many sources, it seems like Roy Halladay isn’t going anywhere.
-There has been interest in Brian Bannister by the Yankees and Brewers, but they’d have to be bowled over to deal him, says Fox Sports. Milwaukee made an offer, but KC didn’t reply.
-Via Twitter, Joel Sherman says that the Blue Jays would want a lot for Marco Scutaro and Scott Rolen, the Yankees would want the Royals to eat some of Brian Bannister’s contract, Seattle hasn’t told the Yankees what it would take to get Jarrod Washburn and the Dodgers don’t want to empty their farm system for Roy Halladay.
-The Marlins have also discussed fifth starter options, says Jon Heyman.
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-Florida is seriously considering Nick Johnson, says Jon Heyman via Twitter.
-Detroit would like to trade for a pitcher like Jarrod Washburn, but may not have the prospects to do it, says Fox Sports, and don’t seem like they’re expecting a big trade. Jon Heyman says that the Mariners asked the Yankees for Jesus Montero for Washburn but were flatly rejected. Montero was the third ranked midseason prospect, according to Baseball America.
-An NL executive told Joel Sherman via Twitter, that the Blue Jays’ asking price really is as high as people think.
-The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the Padres wanted Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin for Heath Bell. It looks like Nick Johnson or noone for the Fish. Kansas City rejected Florida on Brian Bannister and they could go after Carl Pavano.
-Big Fox Sports update: The Angels are pursuing Heath Bell, but won’t get Michael Wuertz. Florida is still awaiting word on whether their Ryan Tucker offer for Nick Johnson will be accepted. Boston is still discussing Adrian Gonzalez, Victor Martinez and Roy Halladay, and the Tigers could use a pitcher.
-Texas may have been the closest to getting Roy Halladay, but it looks like nothing will get done.
-Bad news for Colorado, the Orioles intend to keep lefty reliever Mark Hendrickson, says Fox Sports, because of George Sherrill’s trade and also to perhaps replace the injured Brad Bergesen. Don’t be surprised if Hendrickson is moved in August, I think.
-Joel Sherman “heard that (Brian) Cashman told Seattle executives that he might be able to put a trade for Jarrod Washburn in place and not be given approval to add the approximately $3.7 million remaining on the lefty’s contract.” There’s a belief that Boston will do something big today. The Mets may make a small move today.
-Boston has been in discussions for Victor Martinez, Adrian Gonzalez and Roy Halladay, says Fox Sports.
-Indians are pessimistic about dealing Victor Martinez, says Fox Sports.
-Colorado would like a lefty bat in addition to Mark Hendrickson, says the Denver Post. Nick Johnson had been mentioned on Thursday.
-It doesn’t looks promising for a deal to get relief help for the Cards, Joe Strauss reports.
-The Angels and Marlins are still interested in Heath Bell, says the San Diego Union-Tribune. The New York Daily News reports that the Red Sox are in full pursuit of Adrian Gonzalez and could get Bell also if they include Daniel Bard.
-The Mets talked about Victor Martinez, but wouldn’t trade Jennry Mejia, Brad Holt or Jon Niese, and the Red Sox and Rays are still talking, says Jon Heyman via Twitter.
-The Twins and A’s are in “steady talks” about Orlando Cabrera, says Buster Olney.
-Fox Sports also confirms the Cabrera talks, as well as reports that the Jays’ asking price is still too high for the Texas Rangers, Derek Holland and Justin Smoak, and that the Marlins are waiting for Washington to accept their offer of Nick Johnson for AAA RSP Ryan Tucker.
-Brewers GM Doug Melvin said that the Mariners and Diamondbacks are keeping Jarrod Washburn, Doug Davis and Jon Garland.
Scott Rolen To Reds
Cincinnati upgraded at 3B today, acquiring Scott Rolen from the Reds for slumping 3B Edwin Encarnacion and two minor leaguers. AAA closer Josh Roenicke, who is 26 years old, and potential filled 22-year-old starter/reliever Zach Stewart are going to Toronto, which makes the trade good for the Reds.
Yankees Acquire Jerry Hairston Jr.
The Yankees have acquired utility IF Jerry Hairston Jr. from the Reds for Low-A catcher Chase Weems, Joel Sherman reports. Hairston’s deal ends after the season, and he can play 2nd, 3rd, short and the entire outfield. Weems is batting .260/.317/.347 with one homer and 14 RBI’s at Charleston.
