Billy Butler Rumors

Odds & Ends: Butler, Holliday, Counsell

A batch of links to kick off the work week... Newly minted Royals Player of the Year Billy Butler has not held long-term extension talks with the team, MLBTR learned on a conference call today. Butler will not be arbitration-eligible until after the 2010 season. Desipio on the Cubs-Curtis Granderson idea: "In the end, this smells like a winter of Brian Roberts and Jake Peavy trade rumors. One that ends with us talking ourselves into how Marlon Byrd isn’t so bad after all." Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports believes it's a three-horse race for Matt Holliday: the Red Sox,...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Twins, Mets, Rockies, Delgado, Nady, Butler

On this date six years ago, Aaron Boone ended the ALCS with an 11th inning home run off of Tim Wakefield. Yesterday we learned that Boone is likely to retire, ending his 12-year career. With this season's LCS underway, 26 teams are already in the Hot Stove season. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... Twins Geek examines the Twinkies '10 payroll. Jorge Says No! wonders if the Twins should trade Joe Nathan. The Ghost of Midnight Graham looks at the trade market for Brad Hawpe. Around the Majors looks at the Rockies big off-season...   Continue Reading

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Dayton Moore Chats With Fans

Royals GM Dayton Moore was not terribly revealing in his MLB.com chat with fans today, but let's take a look anyway. He deserves props for answering a few tough questions, though it would've been nice to have one about Alex Gordon's service time manipulation (Gordon and his agent didn't consider the demotion devious, though). There are "no immediate plans" to try Joakim Soria as a starter, though Moore did not dismiss the idea outright. Yuniesky Betancourt and Mike Aviles will compete for the shortstop job in 2010. Moore wouldn't reveal much regarding his team's catching situation, though he expressed a...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Rolen, Butler, Braves, Yanks

More links for the morning... Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports hears that Reds will pay Scott Rolen $11MM next year without help from the Blue Jays. Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star wonders if the Royals should lock Billy Butler up long-term. The 23-year-old has hit well this year, but he doesn't figure to be a free agent until after 2013, so the team has time to deliberate. Bill Rankin of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Braves reached an agreement with an insurance company for an undisclosed settlement. The Braves sought compensation after paying an injured Mike...   Continue Reading

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GM: Royals Won't Trade Core Players

The Royals aren't trading any of their core players this year, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. GM Dayton Moore said some players just aren't available. "You're not going to see us unloading Gil Meche and Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria and Alex Gordon and Billy Butler," Moore said. "You're not going to see us doing that. You're just not." Moore didn't say as much, but Dutton suggests the Royals are open to dealing David Dejesus and Mark Teahen. They need a center fielder and could negotiate a deal with injured outfielder Coco Crisp or look for...   Continue Reading

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Orioles Rumors: Roberts, Uehara, Zaun, Pudge

10:46pm: Roch Kubatko says Zaun wants a two-year deal but the Orioles prefer one year. The O's are also talking with Ivan Rodriguez. Kubatko adds that Kenshin Kawakami was seeking a three-year deal. In another post, Kubatko says the O's have no interest in Shelley Duncan, but Richie Sexson and Ty Wigginton are possibilities for first base. Peter Schmuck adds Nick Swisher, Ryan Garko, Billy Butler, and Ryan Shealy as trade possibilities. Dan Connolly says the Orioles offered Brian Roberts a multiyear extension at about $10MM per, but the two sides have not made progress and Roberts doesn't want talks...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Teahen, Mastny, Clement

Sunday evening links...I will add to this post as needed. Dejan Kovacevic describes what it's like for a reporter at the Winter Meetings. The Royals do not want to trade Mark Teahen. They've received inquiries on Teahen, David DeJesus, Jose Guillen, and Billy Butler. They mainly seem willing to move Guillen, which Jayson Stark reported earlier. Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along nuggets on Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara. He says the Angels contacted Kawakami's agent, while the Tigers and Giants have been in touch with Uehara's. Newman also says the Yokohama BayStars acquired reliever Tom Mastny from the...   Continue Reading

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Ibanez May Be Too Pricey For Royals

According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, Royals officials view Raul Ibanez as the best free agent fit for them. However, they're not likely to give him a three-year deal in the $10-12MM range. They're also reluctant to surrender their second-round pick to the Mariners. Dutton says the Royals are "taking a hard look" at Rafael Furcal, who is the best available shortstop and doesn't cost a draft pick. However, Dutton doesn't see the Royals as the high bidder for Furcal either. The Giants, A's, and Braves are eyeing Furcal, among others. Dutton sees the Royals adding a...   Continue Reading

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Royals Rumors: Francoeur, Butler, Ibanez, Greinke

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star has several Royals rumors this morning... Dutton says the Braves appear willing to trade Jeff Francoeur. While no trade talks have taken place, it's known that Royals GM Dayton Moore is a fan. Dutton speculates that the Royals would not give up Zack Greinke for Francoeur, but may consider offering Luke Hochevar, Danny Cortes, or Mark Teahen. The Royals and Mariners discussed a Billy Butler for Yuniesky Betancourt trade before the '07 season, and Dutton wonders if Seattle's new GM could reignite those talks. Dutton says the Mark Teahen to Cleveland rumor "just...   Continue Reading

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