The Friday Night Rumor Mill--May 5, 2006

It looks like the Cubs, along with any other team looking to add a power-hitting first baseman to the mix, can forget about Kansas City’s Mike Sweeney as an option. Long plagued with ailments, Sweeney has another bulging cervical disk in his back that will sideline him for the next several weeks. As with most back problems, this appears to be a chronic situation, which explains why Sweeney has discussed the possibility of retiring at the end of this season, or possibly next. Among his many failures as the general manager of the Royals, Allard Baird’s unwillingness to trade Sweeney over the past three years may have to rank as the largest blunder. At the peak of his value, Sweeney could have brought back a package of two to three top prospects. Right now, his value on the trade market is less than zero, given the fragile condition of his 32-year-old body… The Royals don’t plan to replace Sweeney, their No. 1 DH, by making a trade. Instead, they’ve promoted first baseman Justin Huber from Triple-A Omaha and will do no more than platoon him with veteran lefty swinger Matt Stairs. Of course, the Royals should play Huber every day and trade Stairs while he still has some value, but that’s just the latest bone of contention the Kansas City media has had with Baird…

While we know that Sweeney won’t be going to the Cubs, the possibility of a trade with the Orioles seems to be growing by the day. The Orioles are willing to trade either Jeff Conine or Kevin Millar to the Cubs for a grade-B or grade-C prospect, but keep in mind that both players have the right to veto a trade until June 15. Conine is the better defensive first baseman and is also a more legitimate outfielder, while Millar has more power and offensive potential, and neither is the answer to what the Cubs really need. That would be a first baseman who can really hit, and preferably one that has the ability to play another position when Derrek Lee returns from his wrist injury. The Cubs have already ruled out a trade for Arizona’s Tony Clark—he’s certainly a better hitter than either Conine or Millar right now—on the premise that he can’t play another position in the field when Lee returns. Clark doesn’t run well enough to play the outfield, which is the only other spot the Cubs could even consider as a secondary option. As a result, Clark will continue to waste away on Arizona’s bench—at least until a team like the Angels comes calling…

Here’s a theory as to why Carlos Pena did not opt for free agency on Tuesday (when the Yankees failed to bring him to the Bronx) and then sign a contract with the Cubs. Pena might simply view the Yankees as a better long-term alternative. With Andy Phillips struggling at the plate and Jason Giambi incompetent at playing first base, the Yankees will need some help at the position for the rest of the season. If Pena were to go to Chicago, he could play every day for two months, but then find himself on the bench when Derrek Lee returns. That would put Pena in an unenviable position of trying to learn to play the outfield—or looking at another tango with unemployment…

It’s no secret the Phillies need starting pitching. They plan to fill one hole in the rotation by promoting Cole Hamels from Triple-A, but they’d like to fill another hole with a veteran starter through trade. They’ve talked to the Pirates about Oliver Perez, but the left-hander’s mysterious loss of velocity has the Phillies concerned… The Phillies might also have some interest in Minnesota’s Brad Radke, despite his horrid performance over the first month of the season. If the Twins don’t climb back into the race soon, don’t be surprised if both Radke and Kyle Lohse become prime trade bait…

Also, don’t be shocked if the Phillies make a late-season run for Dontrelle Willis, who will be the No. 1 pitching commodity on the trade market. The Phillies can offer Shane Victorino and Gavin Floyd to start, and that may give them a leg up on rivals New York and Atlanta, both of whom would love to bring in Willis for the stretch run…