Francisco Cordero Rumors

Perrotto's Latest: Waivers, Extensions, Garcia, Braves

John Perrotto over at Baseball Prospectus has his Every Given Sunday column up: Perrotto lists off several people which he believes are the most likely to be made available if and when they clear waivers. While the list is comprised of a lot of the usual suspects this August (Greg Maddux, Jarrod Washburn, Paul Byrd, Randy Winn), Perrotto lists some other names that we haven't seen as much: Francisco Cordero, Tyler Walker, Todd Jones, Jose Bautista, and Doug Mientkiewicz. Perrotto also says that he feels Aubrey Huff has the best chance to be traded of any impact bat available. Perrotto...   Continue Reading

---

Francisco Cordero Drama

There's been a little drama unfolding the last few days regarding closer Francisco Cordero's defection from Milwaukee to Cincinnati for a difference of $4MM. According to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, the Crew stretched beyond their comfort zone to offer him four years and $42MM. Melvin set a deadline for Cordero and his agent Bean Stringfellow on his offer, as he didn't want to be played. Stringfellow figured the Brewers were at their limit and never came back to Melvin to see if he'd match the Reds' $46MM offer. Cordero himself has a different account; he says Stringfellow did come back...   Continue Reading

---

Crasnick's Latest: Encarnacion, Hamilton, Jenkins

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has been working hard all day to get us some good rumors. Here's the latest. The Reds want to acquire a starter, but they spent all their money on Francisco Cordero. The plan is to trade a young player for a cheap starter. Joey Votto and especially Jay Bruce would be near impossible to acquire. However the Reds will listen on Josh Hamilton and Edwin Encarnacion. They never seemed to like Encarnacion. Crasnick thinks the Cubs could work for Hamilton but they'd need to pony up more than Sean Marshall. Would Rich Hill be too much? It's..   Continue Reading

---

Brewers May Pass On Gagne, Percival, Dotel

UPDATE: Here is the official Journal-Sentinel article. New material - Melvin admitted to an interest in David Riske, and may have an offer out to him. Thanks to Al's Ramblings for the tip. Tom Haudricourt recently spoke to Brewers GM Doug Melvin about his pursuit for a closer candidate. Melvin recently had Kerry Wood pass over his two-year, $6MM offer for a one-year deal with the Cubs. Melvin seemingly would only offer a one-year deal to Eric Gagne, Troy Percival, or Octavio Dotel. All want multiyear contracts, however. It's a bit odd that he wouldn't offer two years to any..   Continue Reading

---

Thoughts On The Cordero Signing

The only thing between Francisco Cordero and a massive four-year, $46MM deal with the Reds is a physical. John Fay notes that the Reds are taking payroll up past $80MM, $5MM more than he'd previously speculated. Might the Reds take it even higher to add a Carlos Silva type? They could always backload a contract, too. The Brewers have to be annoyed that their two Type A free agent relievers signed with protected 2008 first-round picks. What's worse, Cordero improves one of their direct competitors. We can talk about Cordero being overpaid, about how he'll earn $165K per inning. But..   Continue Reading

---

Francisco Cordero Now A Red

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Reds have come to an agreement with Francisco Cordero. The terms: four years and $46 million, with a $11 million club option for 2012. It's still pending a physical. Rosenthal points out that this is the largest four-year deal ever given to a closer. The Brewers had offered four years at $42 million. There was no mention of whether Cordero gave them a chance to match the Reds offer. I'm not sure this brings the Reds much closer to contending. Yes, it's nice to have some security in the ninth inning, but you need guys..   Continue Reading

---

Reds In Serious Talks With Cordero

Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Reds have approached closer Francisco Cordero, and that the two sides are working towards a deal. This would figure to top the Brewers current offer of four years, $42 million. This would be a major step for a team that finished 18 games below .500 in baseball's worst division in 2007. According to Rosenthal, the Reds have emerged as front runners. Competing are the Brewers and a mystery team, possibly the Yankees, who expressed interest in Cordero if Mariano Rivera bolted town. The closer has since returned, though, likely eliminating the Yankees from consideration...   Continue Reading

---

Rivera Agrees To Deal With Yanks

UPDATE: Kat O'Brien's sources also indicate that Rivera has accepted the offer. We can close the book on this one. Pete Caldera of the Bergen Record has the scoop: Mariano Rivera has agreed to the Yankees three-year, $45 million offer. Caldera's source is a friend who spoke to Rivera today, so I suppose it's not official official. Caldera also reports that the friend said, "He would have taken two years and an option." Wonderful. So not only did the Yankees overpay, but now it's rubbed in their faces. This will surely somehow factor into the deal for Francisco Cordero, now...   Continue Reading

---

Odds And Ends: Cordero, Torrealba, Koskie, Clement

Just browsing the web this morning: Troy Renck of the Denver Post speculates that the Mets deal with Yorvit Torrealba might have fallen apart because of the catcher's shoulder issues. This is based on Torrealba having missed time in 2006 with two shoulder injuries. The deal fell apart when it was thought to be complete, with only the physical remaining. The Rockies have also inquired on Matt Clement. Renck mentions the Diamondbacks as also having interest in the 33-year-old righty, adding them to the aforementioned Padres and Royals. Clement has thrown just 65.1 innings in the past two years. The..   Continue Reading

---

Rosenthal's Latest: Cordero, Livan, Jenkins

Somehow, I missed a Ken Rosenthal column. This thing is already 14 hours old. I'm slipping. A Mystery Team has already made a four-year offer to Francisco Cordero. We know the Brewers made an offer on Monday but Rosenthal may be referring to another club. Rosenthal suggests Scott Linebrink could be reunited with Bruce Bochy to become the Giants' closer. It's known that the Astros already have an offer out to Linebrink. Teams interested in Geoff Jenkins: the Cubs, Padres, Giants, Rangers, and Royals. Several of those are new to me. The Tigers' payroll is expected to exceed $115MM. Time..   Continue Reading

---

Brewers Targeting Herges, Hawkins, Mahay

UPDATE: Melvin signed sidearmer Randy Choate this afternoon to start things off. This MLB.com article also quotes Cordero's agent Bean Stringfellow that "numerous" teams have shown serious interest in the closer. The Astros may be making a strong push. Tom Haudricourt checks in with some names among the eight or nine free agent relievers on Brewers GM Doug Melvin's radar. And to think, they cut this part out of Haudricourt's newspaper article. Melvin is currently interested in righties Matt Herges and LaTroy Hawkins, as well as southpaw Ron Mahay. The Rockies have one-year offers on the table for Herges and..   Continue Reading

---

Random Rumors: Glavine, Cordero, Percival

Let's kick things off today with one of those posts packed with random rumors. Tom Glavine's agent Gregg Clifton meets with Braves' GM Frank Wren this afternoon. They'll talk money. Wren is expected to offer $8-10MM for '08 plus a mutual option for '09. Glavine isn't a lock for the Braves - three other teams are interested. The pool includes the Mets, Phillies, Nationals, Cardinals and Astros. Reds beat writer John Fay recently suggested the Reds might have a payroll around $75MM, giving them only $6MM to spend. But now Fay is saying he thinks the Reds might go past...   Continue Reading

---

Astros To Make Offers To Cordero, Castillo, Wolf

So far, Ed Wade's list of targets for the Astros is as follows: Jeremy Affeldt Luis Castillo Francisco Cordero Tom Glavine Tadahito Iguchi Jason Jennings Troy Percival Jon Lieber Scott Linebrink Kaz Matsui Dontrelle Willis Randy Wolf According to the Houston Chronicle's Richard Justice, Wade will be making offers today to Cordero, Castillo, Wolf, and more. Wade plans to toss out "multiple offers at multiple positions" until each hole is filled with some kind of warm free agent body. It seems like a strange way to build a team. Sounds like the Astros intend to sign a second baseman, closer,..   Continue Reading

---

Royals Rumors: Cordero, Silva, Guillen

Some good info surfacing regarding the Royals, as usual courtesy of the KC Star's Bob Dutton. While Joakim Soria will remain in the pen, the Royals want to add more relief help. They could re-sign David Riske, and even plan to contact Francisco Cordero's agent (Bean Stringfellow). Bringing back Octavio Dotel is also being considered, though Soria would remain the closer. Ron Mahay is on the radar. It's thought that he'll require something close to a three-year, $12MM deal as one of the better southpaw relievers out there. Riske wants a deal like that too. Dayton, just take the draft..   Continue Reading

---

Astros Contact Cordero, Iguchi, Matsui

As promised, new Astros GM Ed Wade has touched base with a ton of free agents. We already knew about Luis Castillo, Jon Lieber, Scott Linebrink, Torii Hunter, Aaron Rowand, and Tom Glavine (see Astros rumor archive). Today we've got more names to add to the list, courtesy of Jose de Jesus Ortiz. The most interesting one: closer Francisco Cordero. Buster Olney's thinking is that the Astros contacting Cordero indicates a willingness to trade incumbent closer Brad Lidge. Olney spoke to one executive who predicted Cordero would get $40MM this winter. That sounds about right. Cordero's agent, the delightfully named..   Continue Reading

---

Rosenthal's Latest: A-Rod, Glaus, Cordero

Ken Rosenthal's work is a must for any rumor junkie. Here are some highlights from his latest column. Rosenthal gives his take on possible A-Rod destinations, discussing the Mets, Tigers, and Dodgers in depth. He tosses out an idea I hadn't seen before - moving David Wright to left field and declining Moises Alou's option. MetsBlog discusses Scott Boras' sales pitch to the Mets. The Cards want to hire Chris Antonetti, but the Indians don't want to let him go. Rosenthal says they may have to pay him GM money and/or promise him the post in the future. Rosenthal has..   Continue Reading

---

Tigers Hot Stove Talk

Lynn Henning of the Detroit News runs down all of the big names rumored to be possibilities for the Tigers this winter and assesses the likelihood of each. It's a well-written article so be sure to read it. Here are the players, ranked by the percent chance of playing for Detroit next year: Kenny Rogers - 90% Todd Jones - 80% Geoff Jenkins - 75% Edgar Renteria - 50% Jack Wilson - 30% Francisco Cordero - 5% Alex Rodriguez - 3% Mariano Rivera - 3% Raul Ibanez - 0.5% Torii Hunter - 0% Andruw Jones - 0% Henning believes Jenkins..   Continue Reading

---

Melvin To Speak With Francisco Cordero

Brewers GM Doug Melvin has been talking about keeping Francisco Cordero in Milwaukee since at least mid-September. Jason Isringhausen is off the market, though he didn't get an extension. Cordero's agent, Bean Stringfellow, might be wise to wait and see what Mariano Rivera signs for first. Said Stringfellow (via Buster Olney): It's a good time to be Francisco Cordero. Stringfellow snagged Billy Wagner a four-year, $43MM deal in November of 2005. He'll probably seek something similar for Cordero, who doesn't quite have the track record of dominance that Wagner had. Olney mentions that Melvin will meet with Stringfellow this week..   Continue Reading

---

Brewers Hope To Keep Cordero, Linebrink

A couple of high-priced pieces of Milwaukee's bullpen have reached free agency - Francisco Cordero and Scott Linebrink. According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers will make an aggressive offer to Cordero and hope to retain Linebrink as well. My hunch is that both players leave for greener pastures. Cordero seems likely to earn at least a four-year, $40MM deal. That's elite closer territory. Linebrink should be compensated in the three years, $15-18MM range. While backloading is possible, the Brewers would be looking at adding $15MM per year on average to keep this pair. My back..   Continue Reading

---

Brewers Hope To Retain Francisco Cordero

This may just be feel-good lip service, but both Francisco Cordero and Doug Melvin are talking about keeping the closer in Milwaukee. There are a decent number of free agents with closing experience. But if you take Mariano Rivera and Jason Isringhausen off the board, Cordero's the best available. As pitchers often do, Cordero's improved his control and strikeout rate coming over to the NL. In a market where setup men are priced at three years and $5-6MM annually, Cordero figures to cost $10MM over four years at the least. It'd probably make sense for Cordero to wait and see..   Continue Reading

---

ESPN: Carlos Lee To Rangers

Breaking news from ESPN's Keith Law: "The Milwaukee Brewers are trading slugger Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers as part of a multi-player deal, ESPN.com learned Friday. The Brewers are sending Lee, minor-league outfield prospect Nelson Cruz and a player to be named later to the Rangers for relief pitcher Francisco Cordero and outfielders Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix." Initial opinion: Jon Daniels got the best of Doug Melvin here. Daniels gets a player comparable to Mench in Cruz, only cheaper. He adds a huge addition to the middle of the lineup for the stretch run in Lee. Mench is..   Continue Reading

---

Search MLBTR

MLBTR Mailing List

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

MLBTR Features

Recent Posts

Rumors By Team

Monthly Archives

Live Chats

Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST