Rhodes for Michaels deal done

[Beckett95]

(AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Guardians reached agreement Friday on a Jason Michaels-for-Arthur Rhodes trade, a deal that could trigger a bigger swap involving the Boston Red Sox.

 

Rhodes was in Philadelphia taking a physical, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized.

 

If the trade is completed, the Guardians could turn around and send center fielder Coco Crisp to the Red Sox to fill the gap left when free agent Johnny Damon left for the New York Yankees.

 

Boston had been trying to send third base prospect Andy Marte and reliever Guillermo Mota to Cleveland.

 

Trades involving the three teams had a hitch earlier this week when the Guardians got an unfavorable medical report on Mota. The righty reliever spent about a month on the disabled list with Florida last season because of elbow inflammation.

 

Rhodes went 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 47 games for the Guardians last year. But the left-handed reliever missed most of the final two months for family reasons.

 

Michaels hit .304 with four homers and 31 RBIs for the Phillies. He platooned in center field with Kenny Lofton.

 

Michaels recently was put on six months' probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service following a fight with a Philadelphia police officer last year.

 

Crisp was a sparkplug and fan favorite for Cleveland, hitting .300 with 16 home runs, 69 RBIs, and stealing 15 bases.

 

Mota went 2-2 with a 4.70 ERA and two saves in 56 games last season with the Florida Marlins.

 

There was a chance Boston catching prospect Kelly Shoppach and Cleveland reliever David Riske, as well as backup catcher Josh Bard could be involved in a larger deal.

 

looks like coco will be on the redsox after all. This morning it was on life support, now its almost done.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2308605

[Beckett95]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5282852

[Redguitar985]

So who gets the better part of the deal, Cleveland or Philadelphia?

[Beckett95]

i think cleveland. Michaels finally gets a chance to play, and batting 2nd maybe in clevelands lineup will help him. Rhodes is old and i dont think hes set-up man quality anymore.

[elsrbueno]

i think cleveland. Michaels finally gets a chance to play, and batting 2nd maybe in clevelands lineup will help him. Rhodes is old and i dont think hes set-up man quality anymore.

 

The Phillies. Jason Michaels (IMO) is way overrated and Rhodes had a 2.08 ERA last year.

 

He's still a 4th outfielder even in Cleveland.

 

Edit: bad stat.

[Soxfan1]

The Phillies. Jason Michaels (IMO) is way overrated and Rhodes had a 2.08 ERA last year.

 

He's still a 4th outfielder even in Cleveland.

 

Edit: bad stat.

I agree. Rhodes is one of the more underrated relievers in baseball.

[Beckett95]

2004 era--5.12

2003 era--4.18

[Soxfan1]

didnt he have a 0.98 era sometime last year?

[Beckett95]

he also has alot of injury problems and is 36 years old. He folds under pressure, which isn't a good thing for him in philly with there fans.

[schillingouttheks]

Hahahha, I would laugh if the Sox stalled talks with the Guardians now that they have Michaels to try and get Crisp for less. If Cleveland can't unload Crisp, and they have Michaels, what do they do?

 

Nah, nevermind, they unload him elsewhere...

 

Whatever, at least this is starting to mean that we will most likely end up with a lead off hitting CF by the start of the season! About time.

[riverside sluggers]

Cleveland's not done yet. Its looking like Michaels could still end up being a 4th outfielder...

 

Crisp, Rhodes trades made

Westbrook could be next in deal with Reds

By Sheldon Ocker

Beacon Journal sportswriter

 

CLEVELAND - This is beginning to look like the trade that would never end. In addition to disposing of Coco Crisp and acquiring top third-base prospect Andy Marte from the Boston Red Sox on Friday night, the Guardians shipped Arthur Rhodes to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for outfielder Jason Michaels.

 

That might not be the extent of Tribe General Manager Mark Shapiro's machinations. Cincinnati Reds interim General Manager Brad Kullman confirmed that Shapiro is proposing a deal that would bring power-hitting outfielder Austin Kearns to Cleveland and send right-handed starter Jake Westbrook to the Reds. This precise swap reportedly was turned down last week by then-Cincinnati GM Dan O'Brien, before he was fired by new owner Bob Castellini. With a new man in the Reds front office, the attitude has changed.

Kullman said Friday that some Cincinnati baseball people were concerned Kearns' loss would be a serious blow to the attack.

 

However, it's no secret that the Reds are desperate for starting pitching. A lot of teams are interested in Austin Kearns, and the Guardians proposed that type of deal (Kearns for Westbrook),'' Kullman said. The GM added: "If Jake could put us over the top this year, I'd jump at it. I won't say I'm not interested.'' As a matter of policy, Shapiro does not comment on possible trades or free-agent signings. If the Tribe acquired Kearns, what would happen to Michaels, who batted .304 and posted an on-base percentage of .399 in 289 at-bats with the Phillies last year?

 

"Jason Michaels is a hard-nosed, tough player that complements our lineup extremely well,'' Shapiro said in a prepared statement. "He has always been a tough out while recording a high on-base percentage and has the ability to play all three outfield positions well.'' The acquisition of Kearns probably would make Michaels the team's No. 4 outfielder, a role that he played for Philadelphia. That would allow Kearns to play every day, possibly in right, with Casey Blake moving to left.

 

In his first full season last year, Kearns, 25, batted .240 but hit 18 home runs with 67 RBI in 387 at-bats. A free swinger, to be sure, he struck out 107 times. Shapiro has been seeking a right-handed hitter with muscle for at least a year. Losing Westbrook would leave a giant hole in Cleveland's rotation. According to a rival team, Shapiro has been in recent discussions with free-agent right-hander Jeff Weaver (14-11, 4.22 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005).

 

Weaver, 29, made $9.5 million last season, but the market for him has been thin, and he might be willing to take at least $1 million less on a one-year contract. The cost of his salary would be offset by the departure of Rhodes ($3.7 million) and Westbrook ($4.25 million). Michaels will make $1.5 million this season. The on-again, off-again deal with the Red Sox turned hot Friday. In addition to receiving Marte, who will start the season in Triple-A, the Guardians obtained catching prospect Kelly Shoppach and reliever Guillermo Mota, whose fuzzy physical examination caused Shapiro to pass on the deal for one day.

Marte has been named the ninth-best prospect in the game by Baseball America.

 

"We are acquiring a potential impact player at a very difficult position to fill in Andy Marte,'' Shapiro said. In addition to Crisp, Boston will receive reliever David Riske and backup catcher Josh Bard. To compensate for concerns over Mota's right shoulder, Cleveland also will receive both a player to be named and cash, believed to be at least $1 million, which required the assent of the commissioner.

[Cityofchampions33]

That'd be a good deal for them, Kearns still has the potential to be somethin big once he breaks out, and theyd gain power over what they lsoe in Crisp.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Would they trade Michaels again if they got Kearns?