Jon Niese Rumors
By Tim Dierkes [December 1, 2008 at 2:45pm CST]
Links for Monday... Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik admitted to have a conversation with Ken Griffey Jr.'s agent, but wouldn't reveal anything else. One of Matthew Cerrone's readers dug up a Primera Hora article saying the Mets have been scouting free agent reliever Fernando Cabrera. Bob Klapisch looks at Pedro Martinez's four-year, $53MM deal and asks: was it worth it? Rays Index notes that Grant Balfour will use WBC participation as a bargaining chip in contract negotiations (he's eligible for arbitration). Marc Hulet of Baseball Analysts looks at top hitters for the Rule 5 draft. Fire Brand of the American League...
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By Tim Dierkes [July 31, 2008 at 8:39am CST]
8:39am: SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Mets have "kicked around" the idea of acquiring Ian Snell from the Pirates and using him in relief for the rest of the year. Snell is signed through 2010 with club options for '11 and '12. It's tough to see the Bucs moving him, even in an off year. 8:13am: According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Mets are not finding a deal to their liking for a reliever or outfielder. They've put pretty much all of their good prospects off-limits - Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Eddie Kunz or Bobby Parnell. Players such as...
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By Tim Dierkes [July 30, 2008 at 3:49pm CST]
Some additional notes from ESPN's Jayson Stark: The Mariners still want Jon Niese and another prospect for Raul Ibanez; the Mets are not biting. Similar situation with the Ms asking the Cubs for Felix Pie and another player. The Mets aren't in on Jarrod Washburn or Tim Redding. The Marlins are making it clear that there is no done deal for Arthur Rhodes. Clark Spencer had written the Fish "could be closer" to a deal for Rhodes than a catcher. Stark says the Mariners are driving a hard bargain for Rhodes, with the Red Sox, Marlins, Phillies, Brewers, Tigers, Mets,...
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By Tim Dierkes [July 29, 2008 at 12:06pm CST]
12:06pm: ESPN's Buster Olney ranks the Mets' priorities as reliever, corner outfielder, and starter, in that order. They're currently discussing Ibanez with the Mariners, but not much has come of it yet. 10:17am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger doesn't buy the denials - he says Mets GM Omar Minaya remains interested in Manny Ramirez. The Mets rank Ramirez above alternatives like Raul Ibanez, Adam Dunn, and Randy Winn, and might make certain prospects available just for Manny. Is Jon Niese among them? Niese is thought to be untouchable, and was promoted to Triple A today. Meanwhile Mets manager Jerry...
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By Tim Dierkes [July 27, 2008 at 10:11pm CST]
Rounding up rumors and links from the weekend... SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Mariners are asking the Mets for Jon Niese for Raul Ibanez. Not likely. ESPN's Buster Olney says the Braves would require Conor Jackson from the D'Backs in a Mark Teixeira deal, but Arizona is not biting. Another quick hit from Olney: the White Sox are surveying the relief market in the wake of Scott Linebrink's shoulder injury. Several readers have written in about Phillies' lefty J.A. Happ being pulled early from a Triple A start (2.2 scoreless innings) with no sign of injury. Something to keep an...
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By Tim Dierkes [July 23, 2008 at 9:16am CST]
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have asked various teams for the following players for closer Brian Fuentes: Wade Davis, Ian Kennedy, Clay Buchholz, and Jon Niese. Tracy Ringolsby says no concrete offers have been made for Fuentes yet. Fuentes will provide two months of solid relieving, and possibly two draft picks after that. But alternatives are plentiful, and the Rockies are in danger of overplaying their hand if the price doesn't come down soon. It doesn't help the Rockies that the Nationals accepted Emilio Bonifacio for for 2.3 years of Jon Rauch.
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By Tim Dierkes [July 21, 2008 at 3:45pm CST]
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has the latest Pirates hot stove chatter. The Pirates are not opposed to creating a hole at shortstop for the rest of the year by trading Jack Wilson. They would just need the right return. Teams are still calling on Wilson, with the Dodgers confirmed and the Tigers possible. A Jason Bay deal seems less likely - the Pirates' price is high for their star. Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte continue to draw interest, with John Grabow in the mix as well. Nady or Marte would require two prospects each. Nady's suitors are the...
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By Tim Dierkes [July 15, 2008 at 4:25pm CST]
The New York Post's Joel Sherman is working hard today, filing blog posts here and here. Multiple teams are in the hunt for a right-handed hitting outfielder: the Mets, Rays, and maybe the Yankees. The Pirates are asking for too much for Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, while the Rockies are waiting to see what Bay costs so they can ask for more for Matt Holliday. The Rays' might find their solution internally, with Rocco Baldelli. Holliday as a replacement for Manny Ramirez this winter? Right now it's just a couple of execs speculating to Sherman. The Rockies want either...
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By Tim Dierkes [July 15, 2008 at 9:30am CST]
Joel Sherman of the New York Post talked to Mets GM Omar Minaya yesterday, gaining insight on the team's plans for the second half. If Ryan Church is able to return (the Mets are cautiously optimistic), the Mets will focus on a righty-hitting left fielder. Raul Ibanez is a lefty, while the prospect price on Matt Holliday and Xavier Nady seems prohibitive. I assume the same applies to Jason Bay. Sherman has mentioned Austin Kearns in the past; he could make sense. The price on Brian Fuentes and similar relievers is also apparently too high. Minaya might prefer not to...
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By Tim Dierkes [July 14, 2008 at 5:38pm CST]
Joel Sherman of the New York Post has been digging up rumors left and right - here, here, and here in recent days. Let's discuss. The Angels have "hinted at a willingness to build a deal around pitching prospect Nick Adenhart." This would apparently involve Mark Teixeira or Matt Holliday. The Phillies made an initial offer last week for A.J. Burnett, and the Jays were thoroughly unimpressed. The Phillies won't discuss prospects Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, or Greg Golson in trades. The Yankees have zero interest in Burnett. The A's are willing to move Joe Blanton. He's not perfect, but...
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By Tim Dierkes [March 19, 2008 at 11:26am CST]
Here's today's gathering of links. John Shea examines the Giants' roster crunch, which would be greatly relieved by trading Dave Roberts and Steve Kline. Adam Rubin implies that the Angels want too much from the Mets for Juan Rivera - Jon Niese or Bobby Parnell. A deal seems unlikely. Cole Hamels, accused by a heckler of being a cross between Casey Fossum and Shawn Camp. BURNED! Buster Olney is hearing from other teams that the Orioles may shop 30 year-old newly anointed closer George Sherrill this summer. Joe Christensen believes that we'll learn about Joe Nathan's future with the Twins...
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