Odds & Ends: Nationals, Podsednik, Duchscherer

Links for Monday...

• Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that the Nationals still have money left to sign Matt Capps, assuming he wants to go there. Morosi expects Capps to decide on his next team this week.
• In a separate tweet, Morosi notes that the Tigers are only interested in Scott Podsednik if it's a one-year deal. Detroit has no interest in Rick Ankiel.
• ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Justin Duchscherer has received contract offers from three unnamed teams, and he expects to decide on his 2010 home within a week.
• Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Royals are interested in free agent outfielder Brian Anderson on a minor league deal.
• Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle sees Rajai Davis and Ryan Sweeney retaining starting jobs in the wake of the impending Coco Crisp signing.  Slusser suggests a possible reduced role or trade for Scott Hairston.  FanGraphs' Dave Cameron doesn't understand the move, noting that Davis and Sweeney are similar to Crisp.  Crisp's physical will take place tomorrow, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. 
• Matthew Carruth of Lookout Landing explains that Mariners fans fully understand the dangers of Milton Bradley.  The Seattle Times' Geoff Baker reflects on Carlos Silva's time with the club.
• Patrick Newman joins FanGraphs with a look at Japanese baseball imports and exports for 2010.  Speaking of which, new Met Ryota Igarashi would like to be Francisco Rodriguez's set-up man.

Red Sox Will Tender Contract To Kotchman

On July 22nd, the Red Sox made a surprising acquisition in first baseman Adam LaRoche.  Odder still, they shipped LaRoche to the Braves eleven days later for Casey Kotchman.  Perhaps the Sox simply felt two potential seasons of Kotchman had more value than one potential supplemental pick gained if they offered arbitration to LaRoche and he signed elsewhere.

We learned today that the Red Sox will not cut the arbitration-eligible Kotchman loose on Saturday, as WEEI's Alex Speier says they fully intend to tender him a contract.  Kotchman probably won't sign for much more than $3MM for 2010.  The Sox seem intent on moving Mike Lowell, so Kotchman would be the default starter at first base (with Kevin Youkilis moving to third) unless Adrian Beltre or another corner infielder is acquired.

Speier relays a suggestion from Red Sox GM Theo Epstein that the Red Sox have one non-tender candidate for Saturday.  Speier believes it to be outfielder Brian Anderson, who made our list.  Other outfielders who, in our estimation, might be non-tendered tomorrow: Jack Cust, Jonny Gomes, Gabe Gross, Ryan Langerhans, Jeremy Reed, and Cory Sullivan.

Odds & Ends: Anderson, Rangers, Brew Crew

Another batch of links, served fresh...

• According to WEEI's Rob Bradford, the Red Sox have called up Brian Anderson and plan to start him in right field tonight against the Rangers.  The former White Sox outfielder was acquired in late July for Mark Kotsay.
• T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports the Rangers are "actively looking for catching help on the trade market" with starting backstop Jarrod Saltalamacchia headed for the disabled list.  Arizona's Chris Snyder seems like a good fit, but that's just speculation on our part.
• Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he's optimistic a deal will be reached with supplemental first-round pick Kentrail Davis by Monday's deadline.  Davis is an outfielder from the University of Tennessee.
• Check MLBTR out on Twitter for quick updates and a little more conversation.  And, if you're so inclined, hit up your boy Drew Silva.

Red Sox Acquire Brian Anderson For Mark Kotsay

2:08pm: MLB.com's Noah Coslov says the White Sox received Mark Kotsay and cash from the Red Sox for Anderson.  A Red Sox press release says Anderson will be assigned to Triple A Pawtucket.  The 27 year-old voiced his desire for a trade last Thursday to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.  He has a .225/.288/.364 line in 862 career plate appearances (and here's a look at his glovework; the biggest sample is 966 innings in '06).

Kotsay was designated for assignment by Boston on Friday.  The 33 year-old hit .257/.291/.324 in 79 plate appearances for the Red Sox; he'd re-signed in January for $1.5MM plus incentives.  He was hobbled by calf and back injuries.

1:59pm: The Red Sox acquired Brian Anderson from the White Sox, according to David Lefort of the Boston Globe. It's unclear what the Red Sox gave up or where they'll assign Anderson, who had been playing in the minors for the White Sox. 

Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.

Brian Anderson Asks White Sox For Trade

3:47pm: Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times says Anderson "isn't going anywhere." The club has tried to trade him recently with no success. 

1:21pm: Brian Anderson wants the White Sox to trade him, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. The 27-year-old outfielder explained to GM Kenny Williams why he believes he'd do better with another organization.

Odds and Ends: Hearings, Anderson, Selig

Links for Monday...

• MLB.com's Tom Singer looks at the effects of arbitration hearings on players.  He found that most players don't experience a post-hearing performance decline, but they do change teams at the first opportunity.
• MLB.com's Lyle Spencer says the Angels and Ervin Santana are $725K apart with a hearing scheduled for later this month and "no progress" according to GM Tony Reagins.
• The Tigers are hopeful about bridging the $950K gap with Justin Verlander.
• Athletics Nation's conversation with MLB.com's Mychael Urban, Part 2.
• Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald wouldn't be surprised to see the White Sox trade Brian Anderson.
• Murray Chass reflects on the Homestead camp for unsigned players heading into the 1995 season.
• Commissioner Bud Selig earned $18.35MM in the last fiscal year, according to Eric Fisher of Sports Business Journal.
• The latest minor league transactions from Baseball America, including the Nationals' signing of Alex Cintron and the Rockies' addition of Scott Munter.
• Even with a new stadium, the Marlins will continue to prefer going year-to-year with most players.

What's Next For Brian Anderson?

White Sox center fielder Brian Anderson has had a roller coaster career, though he's only 26.  The former first-round pick entered the '06 season as Chicago's starting center fielder, but he didn't hit enough to keep the job.  BA didn't make much noise in '07 (aside from comments he made to Scott Merkin).

Now Anderson is making the good kind of noise, hitting .351/.442/.568 in 37 spring ABs.  He's battled his way into the Opening Day picture, especially with Jerry Owens and Carlos Quentin ailing.  Anderson is leading all players in spring ABs, which would almost indicate a showcase.  All sorts of teams have had interest in the past, including the Marlins and Rangers.  However, Anderson still has two options so there's no pressing need to trade him.

Odds and Ends: Colon, Koskie, Atkins

We take a break from your regularly scheduled Erik Bedard drama to bring you some random links.

• The White Sox made an incentive-laden offer to Bartolo Colon, but Colon apparently physically disappeared at the thought of it.  There's a joke here, somewhere.  Kenny Williams also almost kind of hinted at implying that he made some kind of effort to acquire Bedard.
• A brief note from the Sun-Times - outfielder Brian Anderson may be traded to an NL team (Marlins?).
• It's possible that Corey Koskie makes another comeback attempt.  He's gone through a postconcussion syndrome nightmare.
• The Denver Post's Troy Renck is always going over to Rockies players' houses and chilling in their living rooms.  This time, it was Garrett Atkins.  Atkins says the Rox made a multiyear offer to him a year ago more similar to Jeff Francis' (4/13.25) than that of Aaron Cook (3/30) or Troy Tulowitzki (6/31).  That offer was to cover Atkins' three arbitration years and have a club option for his first of free agency.
• I recently did a Q&A with Science Fiction Baseball.
• Website note: I am leaning toward doing a full redesign.  New logo, widen this baby, brighten her up, increase the font size, and yes, do away with the white on black type.  Lots of room for improvement with this clunky old design, we all know it.

Odds and Ends: Velocity, Santana, Teixeira

Make sure to check out these links.

• Baseball America admits that fastball velocity is important, and does a Where Are They Now with all those who had reached 98 mph from the '02 prospect handbook.  The success rate was solid.  They have an even bigger list of guys who topped 98 from their upcoming '08 handbook, some of whom will be aces one day.  Did you know Felipe Paulino reached 102?  Hat tip to Depressed Fan on the link.
• Joe Posnanski writes about how the Royals are leading the Johan Santana race.  Funny stuff.  Would be refreshing to see the Royals in there.
• White Sox outfielder Brian Anderson busts out the ol' "best shape of my life" cliche.  He's trying to ditch the negative attitude, but still wants out of Chicago so he can have a shot at a full-time role.
• Not sure what to make of this...did Mark Teixeira buy a house in north suburban Atlanta?  If so does it mean anything?  Hat tip to Braves Love for the discovery.

Rockies Rumors: Fuentes, Fogg

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:28am: More from Renck.  He confirms the Red Sox' interest in Fuentes and adds the Astros to the mix.  While the Rox like Burke, the teams don't really match up because that's not enough.

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 12:01am: The Denver Post's Troy E. Renck has more. 

• Brian Anderson - remember him? - is on the radar as a lefty swingman.  The 35 year-old hasn't pitched in the bigs since '05.
• Renck ponders whether the Rox might revisit talks for Matt Morris, a sentiment echoed by Jenifer Langosch.
• Nothing seems to be imminent on the Fuentes-Lowrie rumor.

UPDATE, 12-3-07 at 9:21pm: A suitor for Fuentes has emerged.  ESPN's Amy Nelson says the Red Sox are interested and the Rockies could seek Jed Lowrie.  Lowrie would be a nice fit at second base.

FROM 12-3-07 at 8:28pm:

MLB.com's Thomas Harding checks in with some Rockies nuggets.

• The Rockies have no pressing need to trade Brian Fuentes, so they'll sit pretty with two closers unless an impressive and helpful offer comes along.  Dan O'Dowd believes four or five clubs might have the goods and need to get Fuentes.  We'll see.
• The Rox let Josh Fogg's agent know they'd like to explore bringing him back.  No figures were exchanged.
• The team still hopes to bring LaTroy Hawkins back, but they'd have to go to two years to pull that off.  They already chose not to exercise an effective $3.5MM option on him.  It seems the Rockies may have underestimated the interest in Hawkins.