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By Tim Dierkes [September 3, 2008 at 9:55am CST]
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has a new column up.
- Rosenthal fills us in on Jim Hendry's contract status: Hendry controls his own fate with an option for '09. If the new Cubs ownership doesn't want to extend him beyond that, he could elect free agency this winter. Click here to download a spreadsheet of Hendry's trade history.
- Teams with third basemen to trade this winter are at an advantage due to the weak free agent market. Names like Garrett Atkins, Melvin Mora, and Hank Blalock could generate interest. Blalock is a huge question mark though, and the Rangers still have to decide on his $6.2MM option. Jorge Cantu, Adrian Beltre, and Kevin Kouzmanoff are other names to watch in my opinion.
- Rosenthal talked to a rival executive who sees the Red Sox making a "major push" for A.J. Burnett if he opts out. He can hindle the rigors of pitching in the AL East, and will also draw interest from the Yankees.
- The Rangers may shop Gerald Laird this winter. Laird, 29 in November, is under team control through 2010. The Reds could be a nice match.
- Marlins infielder Chris Coghlan can play second or third base, giving the Fish flexibility on whether they want to trade Cantu, Mike Jacobs, or Dan Uggla this winter.
Yankees should be one of the top contenders for A.J Burnett if he decides to Opt.
Posted by: YankeeFan4life | September 03, 2008 at 10:14 AM
The yankees are probably going to get C.C but if joba stays in the bullpen then they have to sign A.J if he opts out.
Posted by: lowwryda354 | September 03, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Think the Yanks might try to swap Cano for Uggla? Yanks add pop and local press is all over Cano as not hustling since he got his contract. Not sure if Cano can opt out of contract after 1 year since he hasn't been in league 6 yrs - Tim can you enlighten me on that rule?
Posted by: touchmymonkey | September 03, 2008 at 10:37 AM
I think the Sox are going to make a move for Sheets, but I can certainly see Burnett. I know John Hendry is a big fan of AJ's from their days with the Marlins.
Beckett
AJ or Sheets
Lester
Dice-K
Buchholz/Wake/Bowden
I'll take it.
Posted by: Papelboner | September 03, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Cano cannot opt out of his contract. He is under team control for several years.
Posted by: bjsguess | September 03, 2008 at 10:51 AM
the marlins would be sheding payroll aka CHEAP PROSPECTS. the dont want cano, who doesnt hustle and makes double what uggla would make next yr. meanwhile, i think the dodgers should make a run at uggla, with kent retiring. i dont trust dewitt for a full season. What do u think tim?
Posted by: lakersdodgersyankees4life | September 03, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I don't see the need for the Red Sox to pickup another starter. After Daisuke, Beckett, and Lester there are only two spots in the rotation to fill.
The potential candidates are numerous - Buchholtz, Bowden, Wakefield, Masterson, Pauley, Zink.
Granted, I think Zink walks as a minor league free agent and Pauley ends up as a bullpen piece somewhere down the line but that is still a decent list of options to fill out the rotation. I just think that in the end the team will be better served spending money elsewhere rather than on an unneeded starting pitcher.
Posted by: Aaron | September 03, 2008 at 10:57 AM
You can get rid of Buchholz there Papelboner, if he ever comes back to the majors, it'll be a reliever. Its possible that the Sox reconvert Masterson to start, although, its pretty good in the pen. If Sheets does come here, I see him having a first year like Beckett did.
Posted by: dicecca112 | September 03, 2008 at 10:59 AM
The Red Sox interest in AJ is just the same old Boston/New York game. The Sox just wanna make it more expensive for the Yanks.
Posted by: Dev0 | September 03, 2008 at 11:09 AM
I dont know but if i were the cardinals i would sell high on troy glaus and get a nice return for him, i mean they do have in house replacements in brett wallace,allen craig and david freese.
Posted by: samael88 | September 03, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Where else are the Red Sox going to improve? They're basically loaded everywhere across the diamond besides catcher and there aren't any good FA catchers available. Varitek (resign), Youk, Pedroia, Lowell, Lowrie, Bay, Ellsbury/Coco, Drew, Ortiz. Where else are they going to spend? It's looking like the rotation and bullpen. Adding a top guy like AJ or Sheets would give the team close to 3 aces with Beckett and Lester and would position themselves for a great 3-5 year run.
I agree with you dicecca112- Buccholz might not be back for a while, but you can't argue with the kids potential and the Sox aren't going to just give up on him. I wouldn't mind Masterson in the rotation although he's been huge for us out of the pen and Bowden is not ready. He's close, but he needs another year in the minors to work on his secondary pitches.
Pauley and Zink have no business in Boston's rotation. Spot start? sure, but not a full spot. That would just be terrible. And there's always the chance Wake hangs it up.
Posted by: Papelboner | September 03, 2008 at 11:18 AM
touchmymonkey,
Being able to opt out of a multi-year contract when traded was removed in the last labor agreement. Since Cano's extension was signed after the labor agreement went into effect, he can't opt out, no matter what. Contracts signed before the new labor agreement were granfathered in, and only those players can opt out if traded.
Posted by: Darin | September 03, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Thanks Darin - but upon further review - no way FLA makes the trade. I did not realise how back loaded Canos ( or how pricey ) contract was. I could have sworn he was $5mil a year. I also thought Uggla was entering his first yr of arb but that seems to be in '10. Mea Culpa for not checking contracts first.
Posted by: touchmymonkey | September 03, 2008 at 12:12 PM
"i think the dodgers should make a run at uggla, with kent retiring. i dont trust dewitt for a full season."
Why not? It is not like DeWitt has been bad this season. He slumped, worked on it and came back swinging. He is a left handed bat with an excellent swing and is an infinitely better defensive player. Not saying I would mind Uggla, but he isn't worth breaking up the team for when you already have options internally.
Posted by: AA | September 03, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Do you think the Angels will look for a thirdbaseman next year? how bout troy glaus for brandon wood + robert fish?
Posted by: samael88 | September 03, 2008 at 01:25 PM
"Do you think the Angels will look for a thirdbaseman next year? how bout troy glaus for brandon wood + robert fish?"
Why would they. They get 3B production from CF and CF production from 3B. Figgins is a much harder player to find than a power hitter and is a very good defensive player who can also move if needed in a pinch.
Honestly, look how good the team has been this season with Vlad's production down. With a winter's worth of rest for his knees, who is to say he isn't back to hitting .320 next year?
Posted by: AA | September 03, 2008 at 01:46 PM
I dont think the sox will get burnett nor do i think he is near the top of their list. i think they would prefer sheets or in house options
Posted by: shaneg | September 03, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Tommy, I don't agree with the dempster part. I think the Yanks need to get two out of CC/Sheets/Burnett but not Dempster. He is a great pitcher but I don't feel he would be great in teh AL. He is really good for the Cubs and prefers to stay there. The Cubs have the money and more importantly Dempster is having a career year adn spending on pitchers is risky enough, I wouldn't want to pay for a career year.
Posted by: yanksown | September 03, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Hindle?
Posted by: Grant77 | September 03, 2008 at 04:17 PM
"I think the Yanks need to get two out of CC/Sheets/Burnett"
Nobody is getting two out of CC/Sheets/Burnett. Not when there are 30 teams in MLB. No no no no.
Posted by: melonis rex | September 03, 2008 at 05:33 PM