Alex Anthopoulos Rumors

Odds & Ends: Bellorin, Chapman, Cardinals

Links for Friday...

• Frankie Piliere of AOL FanHouse takes at Yankees prospects who could draw attention in trade talks.
• The Royals signed catcher Edwin Bellorin to a minor league deal, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.  Bellorin, 28 in February, hit .277/.308/.351 in 216 plate appearances in his fourth Triple A stint.
• David Waldstein of the New York Times profiles new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
• Ronald Blum of the AP chatted with Aroldis Chapman, who doesn't mind beginning his pro career in the minors.
• MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince expects a quiet offseason for the Indians, though he wonders if they could bring back Omar Vizquel.
• Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reiterates that Joe Crede and Jarrod Washburn are on the Twins' radar.
• Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes the Cardinals will be involved with more than just Joel Pineiro among our Top 50 Free Agents, and he names many candidates.
• Click here to watch our mention as ESPN SportsNation's Site of the Day yesterday.

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Odds & Ends: Gordon, Uribe, D'backs, Igawa

Links for a busy Wednesday, as writers, agents, and GMs catch their flights out of O'Hare...

• Welcome to Twitter: ESPN's Buster Olney.
• ESPN's Keith Law assesses the Mark Teahen, J.J. Hardy, Jeremy Hermida, and Akinori Iwamura trades.
• The Royals are committed to Alex Gordon as their third baseman despite acquiring Josh Fields, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Fields instead could play left field in the event David DeJesus is traded.  DeJesus' name popped up in our left field trade market post.
• Rosenthal and Morosi also note that the Giants are talking with Juan Uribe about a new contract.  Uribe was one of the year's best minor league deals.  He's represented by Barry Praver. 
• Rosenthal reported yesterday that the Nationals hired Bryan Minnitti from the Pirates to be their new assistant GM.  Jake from New Bucs interviewed the young exec last year.
• Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic names four relievers who might be of interest to the Diamondbacks: Rafael Betancourt, Mike Gonzalez, LaTroy Hawkins, and Bob Howry.
• Joe Pawlikowski of River Ave. Blues has a reality check for fans as we head toward the offseason insanity.
• Victor Martinez's agent Alan Nero told WEEI's Rob Bradford there's been "little or no dialogue" in terms of the Red Sox extending his client.
• Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if the Yankees' championship might enable them to take things more slowly this winter.
• Sherman tweets that there is interest in Japan from Kei Igawa, but he doesn't want to go.  Igawa posted a 4.15 ERA in 145.3 Triple A innings this year, and still has $8MM remaining on his contract.
• Baseball America's Matt Eddy has your minor league transactions.  Wilson Valdez and Mike Gosling are among those joining the free agent ranks.
• New Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos seems passionate, talking to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.  Anthopoulos even gives props to the fine Jays blogs out there.
• Padres pitcher Chris Young told Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune that he understands the business aspect of baseball.  With a healthy first half, Young could be a trade candidate.
• Grant at McCovey Chronicles says AT&T Park isn't a pitcher's park anymore, and agents know that.

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Odds & Ends: Thome, Anthopoulos, 2010 Draft

Here's a few links to check out while the Cardinals try to stave off elimination...

• Prior to this evening's game, Jim Thome said he would "still love to come back" to the White Sox, according to Chris DeLuca of The Chicago Sun Times. ''I want to come back to the American League,'' said the 39-year-old Thome, who is making $13MM in the final season of the monster six-year, $85MM contract he signed with the Phillies prior to 2003.
• Ken Fidlin of The Calgary Sun writes that new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopolous "would do well to foster" what he calls the "Twins Way" in Toronto. He's referring to a "culture of professionalism and attention to detail."
• Forgive the self-promotion, but if you're looking for a way to keep track of where each team's draft picks go once free agency starts, make sure you check out our 2010 Draft Order Tracker at River Ave. Blues. I'll keep that baby updated all winter as signings are make official, so make sure you check back in often.

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Odds & Ends: Fredi Gonzalez, Giants, Beane

Links for Tuesday...

• Chat today, 2pm CST.
• The Marlins will retain manager Fredi Gonzalez, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
• Joel Sherman of the New York Post believes the Mets will look to take on overpriced players via trade this winter.
• A must-read from Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: his ten steps to re-boot the Pirates for 2010.  Kovacevic again notes that closer Matt Capps will be on the trading block.
• RotoWorld's Matthew Pouliot looks at the performance of a couple of Alex Anthopoulos fantasy teams from ten years ago.  My best pick from '99 was definitely Mike Sweeney.
• Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has a transcript of yesterday's Brian Sabean/Bruce Bochy sit-down.  Lots of good stuff in there.
• Tyler Bleszinski of Athletics Nation has part two of his Billy Beane chat.  Beane seems interested in retaining free agent infielder Adam Kennedy.
• ESPN's Buster Olney wrote yesterday that "rival executives are already speculating about Kevin Towers' possible connection to the Texas Rangers if -- and it's a big if -- Dennis Gilbert's group wins the bidding for the team."

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Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Dye, Varitek

Links for Monday...

• Yakyu Baka translated a recent Yusei Kikuchi press conference.  Kikuchi has yet to decide between the U.S. and Japan.  The Mets and Tigers attended the conference.
• Baseball America's Jim Callis has the 2010 draft order, and he also explains which picks are protected from Type A free agent signings.
• Jermaine Dye talking to Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald on possibly finishing his White Sox career: "I don't really have a feeling."
• Talking to WEEI's Alex Speier, Jason Varitek would not address next season (he has a $5MM team option and $3MM player option).  Manager Terry Francona made sure Varitek received an ovation yesterday.
• MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan gives one-liners on 35 Rangers players.
• Tyler Bleszinski of Athletics Nation talked to A's GM Billy Beane.  Beane chatted about Matt Holliday, stolen bases, and the first base depth chart, among other things.
• Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star tells us about new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.
• Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times explains how advanced defensive metrics influenced the team's acquisition of Franklin Gutierrez. 
• Outfielder So Taguchi hopes to play in 2010, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.

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