Jeff Clement Rumors

Looking Beyond Varitek

According to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, a slew of catchers are being shopped to the Red Sox. Among them: Jeff Mathis, Mike Napoli, Brian Schneider, Miguel Montero, John Buck, Ramon Hernandez, Bengie Molina, Carlos Santana, Kelly Shoppach, Victor Martinez, Jesus Flores, Kenji Johjima, Jeff Clement, Yorvit Torrealba, and the Rangers' guys. Silverman says the Braves, Cardinals, and Rays also have catchers available. It seems that teams are asking for players like Justin Masterson, Clay Buchholz, or Lars Anderson in some cases. On the Jason Varitek front, Scott Boras told the AP yesterday that he's had no financial discussions...   Continue Reading

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Red Sox Rumors: Crisp, Lugo, Burnett, Baldelli

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has the latest on the Red Sox. GM Theo Epstein says there's one deal he might be able to do before the winter meetings, possibly involving Coco Crisp or Julio Lugo. The free agent market for center fielders and shortstops is weak this year. Cafardo doesn't believe the Sox are in on C.C. Sabathia or A.J. Burnett, and he says they're unsure about Derek Lowe. However, Buster Olney says "there is an expectation within other quarters of the AL East that the Red Sox will get in on the Burnett bidding." Cafardo does see...   Continue Reading

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Olney's Latest: Nady, Delgado, Clement, Lofton

Buster Olney has some thoughts. Let's have a looksee. He thinks that Xavier Nady could fit with the Mets or the Indians, but notes that the Pirates are sitting tight for now, hoping to compete this year. They'll be singing a different tune in July. Olney goes on to speculate that the Mets could release Carlos Delgado if he continues his weak hitting. Nady would seem a decent replacement, though he hasn't played first since 2006. Scott Hatteberg could be another option. In what he calls "pure speculation," Olney suggests that the Mariners trade Jeff Clement to the Red Sox...   Continue Reading

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Kenji Johjima Signs Extension

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mariners will give catcher Kenji Johjima a three-year extension. That'd keep him with the team through 2011, his age 35 season. It's worth three years and $24MM - no kind of discount. I didn't see this coming; I thought the Ms would hand catching duties over to Jeff Clement in '09 despite questionable defense. Instead, they'll apparently use him as a DH/1B or trade him. He's hitting .375/.500/.688 in 19 Triple A games. Here's a look at the remaining free agent catchers after this season. Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Varitek head the class.   Continue Reading

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Latest On Bedard/Mariners Talks

John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer jumps into the Erik Bedard fray with some new info. Connecting a few dots - I'm speculating here - it seems possible that the Mets could move to the forefront on Bedard as the Mariners fade. If the Mets pony up Fernando Martinez and some decent pitching depth, maybe Andy MacPhail would go for it. Hickey says that with Adam Jones returning to action in Venezuela, "the Mariners have may given up on acquiring Bedard." Nonetheless, according to Hickey, the Orioles "appear to be looking at" the Mariners' Chris Tillman and Carlos Triunfel. The..   Continue Reading

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Erik Bedard Rumors

Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider dug up "a few fresh nuggets" regarding the Erik Bedard trade discussions. The Mariners reportedly offered Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, and George Sherrill for Bedard. Seems the Orioles want Brandon Morrow or Carlos Triunfel instead of Clement. One source of Churchill's believes the Mariners would be more inclined to buckle and surrender Morrow than Triunfel. It's even possible that the Orioles gave the Mariners a "final counteroffer" including one of the two and will move on if it's rejected. Many Mariners fans believe Bedard is not even worth Jones straight up, so imagine how they'll..   Continue Reading

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Erik Bedard Rumors: Mariners, Reds, Indians

Erik Bedard staying put in Baltimore this winter? Maybe not. Ken Rosenthal and Jason Churchill both busted out brand new material this evening with the latest Bedard chatter. The upshot is that the Mariners seem to have a decent shot at him. Rosenthal says the Mariners will put Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, and Matt Tuiasosopo in the deal. He indicates that the Orioles could push to substitute and get one of Tony Butler, Chris Tillman, and Carlos Triunfel. Looks like Bill Bavasi is sticking to the idea of keeping Brandon Morrow. Rosenthal hedges his bets, but admits to "growing indications..   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors: Snell, Estrada, Villone

John Perrotto had some new Pirates' rumblings in yesterday morning's column. Don't be so quick to dismiss the Ian Snell to Seattle rumor. Perrotto acknowledges it, noting that the Mariners would offer Jeff Clement but the Pirates would probably require Adam Jones. Perrotto believes the Pirates have backed off their pursuit of Johnny Estrada, though Dejan Kovacevic hasn't heard this. I never thought Estrada made much sense for them. Perrotto says the Pirates have an eye on free agent lefty Ron Villone, who pitched for them back in '02   Continue Reading

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Mariners Offering Three Players For Bedard?

On Monday, Phil Rogers wrote of the Mariners' continuing pursuit of Baltimore's Erik Bedard. He says the Ms are shopping a package including Adam Jones, Jeff Clement, and Yung Chi Chen. Rogers notes that the O's would probably require Brandon Morrow. This is the first time we've seen Chen's name as part of a Bedard deal. He doesn't fall within Seattle's top 14 prospects, according to Kevin Goldstein. Our previous Bedard update came four days ago, with info supplied by Jeff Zrebiec and John Fay. At that time Andy MacPhail said there was a "strong likelihood" that Bedard is the..   Continue Reading

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Erik Bedard Rumors: Monday

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 12:20am: MLB.com's Jim Molony has a big ol' post up at his blog. Molony names the Phillies and Cardinals as new teams interested in Bedard. Previously we'd learned that the Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, and D'Backs had inquired. Neither the Phils nor the Cards would appear to have the goods in my estimation. UPDATE, 12-3-07 at 9:06pm: Andy MacPhail says he told the Washington Post that extension talks with Bedard had cooled, but the door remains open. Something have gotten lost in translation. MLB.com's Spencer Fordin believes Bedard and Miguel Tejada could both be traded by..   Continue Reading

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Mariners Discussing Jeff Clement For Al Reyes?

It was established yesterday that the Mariners are after Devil Rays reliever Al Reyes, desiring a young catcher in return. Naturally, we raised Jeff Clement's name. Today U.S.S. Mariner comments on that idea, saying that Clement for Reyes has legs. Needless to say they don't like the idea. I agree - it would be a steal for the Rays. As noted yesterday, Reyes hasn't been effective since mid-June   Continue Reading

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