Akinori Otsuka Rumors

Odds And Ends: Otsuka, Orioles, Johnson

I'll keep this updated as more comes in, but for now these are your Saturday links... Patrick Newman found that Akinori Otsuka will work out in front of reps from all MLB teams next month. Apparently Padres GM Kevin Towers is interested if Otsuka's healthy. Roch Kubatko knows there's pitching talent coming from the minors, but he doesn't love the current Orioles rotation and expects them to add two more starters. The difference between 69 and 72 in 2009 wins isn't worth much to the Orioles, Peter Schmuck writes. The Red Sox move on after missing out on Mark Teixeira....   Continue Reading

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Akinori Otsuka Headed For Elbow Surgery?

The Newberg Report passes along a comment reportedly made by Rangers GM Jon Daniels yesterday. Apparently, Daniels told the crowd that he non-tendered Akinori Otsuka because he's headed for elbow surgery. The status of Aki's elbow had been a mystery up to this point, though there had been signs that it wasn't right   Continue Reading

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Ranger Rumors: Botts, Otsuka, Padilla

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News recently did a Q&A, and there were some interesting hot stove-related tidbits to consider. Grant believes one of Nelson Cruz or Jason Botts will depart before Opening Day. Botts is out of options, so he may be more likely to go. While acknowledging that he is a 27 year-old DH, Botts' recent Major League Equivalencies say he may be able to post an .800 OPS in the bigs. Grant answers a question about Akinori Otsuka and his "scary" elbow. He says Otsuka probably can't pitch through the pain and if he did his..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Roberts, Otsuka, Walker, DaVanon

A few minor moves to speak of... The Cubs don't appear to be concerned about Brian Roberts' steroid admission. The Padres' talks for Xavier Nady are "on hold," according to Bill Center. Also, the Friars continue to eye Akinori Otsuka. Aside from the aforementioned Michael Barrett, the Padres signed Robert Fick and Jeff DaVanon. DaVanon, a switch-hitter, has had some decent years against righties. Ken Rosenthal believes the Padres may consider their outfield situation settled now after missing out on Geoff Jenkins and signing DaVanon. Todd Walker, remember him? He was released by the Padres this year in Spring Training..   Continue Reading

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Stark's Latest: Prior, Lofton, Otsuka

ESPN's Jayson Stark dishes some good rumorage in his latest column. Stark dug around to find all the Mark Prior suitors and came up with this list: Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, Mets, Cardinals, Padres, Astros, Giants, Reds, Nationals (11 teams). Let's compare notes. MLBTR readers have seen the Yankees, Mets, Cards, Padres, Astros, Reds, and Nats linked to Prior already. So Stark has added the Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, and Giants. The idea of the Mariners runs contrary to this MLB.com article. Stark did not name the Rangers, who are said to be aggressively pursuing Prior. Prior..   Continue Reading

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Phillies Interested In Otsuka?

UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 10:09am: Ah, now the true story comes out on Otsuka. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers were going to send him to the White Sox for Chris Carter but the Sox nixed the deal after looking at Otsuka's medical reports. No surprise the Rangers non-tendered him, now. Hat tip to Rangerfans.com. FROM 12-14-07 at 8:47am: Reliever Akinori Otsuka hit the free agent market on Wednesday; he turns 36 in January. With a career ERA of 2.44 in 232 innings, it's surprising the Rangers chose to non-tender him. Otsuka earned $3MM in 2007, and even with a raise..   Continue Reading

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Rangers Acquire Broussard, Non-tender Otsuka

Quick note from Geoff Baker - the Mariners sent first baseman Ben Broussard to the Rangers for minor league infielder Tug Hulett. Makes sense; the Mariners clear $3.5MM+ from the payroll and actually get something in return. The Rangers get a cheap stopgap first baseman who won't embarrass them. We may never hear from Hulett again, but he's better than the nothing the Mariners would've gotten for non-tendering Broussard. The Rangers also non-tendered Akinori Otsuka. Last we'd heard he was throwing pain-free in October, but maybe the Rangers learned he needed Tommy John after all. (Hat tip to Rangerfans.com)   Continue Reading

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Padres Deep In Talks For Bay

UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 3:56pm: Krasovic jumps in to say that the Padres definitely won't be trading Headley to the Bucs (and probably not at all). The Pirates and Padres have been talking a lot, and some kind of deal involving some of the players below could definitely happen. UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 12:01pm: Buster Olney is reporting that the Padres are "deep into discussions" with the Pirates about a multiplayer trade in which Bay would be the centerpiece. FROM 12-12-07 at 9:30am: Tom Krasovic checks in with all sorts of fresh Padres rumors, as he often does. Below are the ones..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Fukudome, Mahay, Santana

Rounding up some odds and ends for you... I'd read that Akinori Otsuka recommended the Padres to Kosuke Fukudome, kind of glossed over the fact. But Jamey Newberg has is rightly disappointed in the Rangers reliever. After all, the Rangers have Fukudome in their sights, and Otsuka plays for the Rangers. A good source tells me the Yankees believe they are in the lead for Ron Mahay, and think it can be done this upcoming week. If it's true that Mahay has narrowed his choices to the Yanks and Royals, and the Royals have little interest, this makes sense. MetsBlog..   Continue Reading

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Heyman's Latest: Teixeira, Otsuka

Jon Heyman of SI.com has been working the phone lines; here are some notable rumors from his latest column. The Braves seemed fairly close to a Mark Teixeira trade yesterday, but the Angels are definitely knee deep in it. They'll make a solid offer including Casey Kotchman, Ervin Santana, and Major League player. Adam Dunn remains Plan B. Heyman says there's speculation that Akinori Otsuka could need Tommy John surgery, which might compel the Rangers to sign Eric Gagne and/or keep Joaquin Benoit. Refresher on Gagne's 12-team allowable list can be found here. Gagne must consent to a trade to..   Continue Reading

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