Justin Morneau Rumors

Odds and Ends: Kawakami, Griffey, Greinke

Links for Tuesday... The weekly chat has been moved to Wednesday at 2pm CST this time. I'll be on Seth Stohs' radio show tonight around 8pm CST. From NPB Tracker: Kenshin Kawakami has switched to Dan Evans as his agent, while Koji Uehara wants a rotation spot and multiple years. Ken Griffey Jr.'s agent, Brian Goldberg, has been in contact with nine teams (six AL, three NL). The Mariners were one of the AL teams. It's been over a decade since the White Sox signed a free agent from another team for more than $20MM. Justin Morneau would like the...   Continue Reading

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Joe Nathan Agrees To Extension With Twins

2:07pm: LEN3 has details. He says it's $11.25MM per year for 2008-11. He's unsure of the amount of the 2012 option, but it has a $2MM buyout. Since Nathan was set to earn just $6MM in '07, it seems that's been overwritten or increased. 1:19pm: MLB.com reports the deal as done. It's a three-year extension with a club option for a fourth. MONDAY, 8:22am: La Velle E. Neal III says only minor details remain on Nathan's extension. They still need to figure out what to do about a no-trade clause. Buster Olney says the deal will have "significant no-trade provisions."...   Continue Reading

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Twins Lock Up Cuddyer, Morneau

UPDATE, 1-25-08 at 4:35pm: Cuddyer gets a $2.75MM signing bonus, $5MM in '08, $6.75MM in '09, and $8.5MM in '10. The Twins have a $10.5MM option for '11 with a $1MM buyout. As far as I can tell Cuddyer would've become a free agent after the '09 season. Morneau gets six years, $80MM, a Twins record both in years and dollars. I believe this buys out three years of free agency. This should generate some good PR and help brace the fans for the loss of Johan Santana. Plus, Bill Smith can say he made a solid offer to Santana...   Continue Reading

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Multiyear Contract Discussions: Teixeira, Tulowitzki, Morneau

With today's deadline for arbitration-eligible players, it only makes sense that all sorts of long-term contract discussions are going on. Even players and teams who do agree to one-year deals for '08 may find themselves with groundwork laid for bigger deals. That could be the case with Mark Teixeira. His agent, Scott Boras, had "quite a bit of dialogue" with Frank Wren about an extension prior to Tex signing for one year and $12.5MM. I recently guessed the Braves have a 10% chance of getting this done. The Rockies have had "intense, serious dialogue" with Troy Tulowitzki's agent about a..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Morneau, Jocketty, Santana

Your usual dose of random rumors and links... Justin Morneau says he has had no extension discussions with the Twins. The Reds brought Walt Jocketty aboard as a special advisor to President and CEO Bob Castellini today. For now, Wayne Krivsky's job appears safe. But jeez, with Walt in the house he has to be feeling a little pressure, doesn't he? In other news, the Reds talked with Brett Tomko's agent this week. The Tigers signed Matt Mantei for the league minimum. He can ask for his release if he's not in the bigs by May 1st. As Jon Paul..   Continue Reading

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Twins To Talk Extension With Morneau?

Just a one-liner from Charley Walters: "the Twins plan to begin talks with Justin Morneau on a multiyear contract soon." At one point in March of this year, Morneau said he and the Twins were "pretty close." Morneau is under team control through 2010, but didn't sound optimistic about extending that when asked in September. He'd love a five or six-year deal, buying out two or three years of free agency. We'll see what the Twins offer   Continue Reading

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Unfounded Rumors: Bonser, Morneau

UPDATE, 11-28-07 at 10:50am: LaVelle E. Neal III and Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune looked into both of these rumors, and found nothing. FROM 11-27-07 at 10:25pm: We have seen some Unfounded Rumors come to fruition in the past; you never know. No insult is intended towards the originators of these, but they are reports I have not been able to verify. I know most of you just want rumors any way you can get them. DRays Bay has some chatter about a possible Boof Bonser to Tampa Bay deal. Apparently quotes from Bonser himself played a part in..   Continue Reading

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Matt Garza For Carlos Quentin?

Shooter! It's time for some new rumors courtesy of Charley Walters. You like rumors don't you? Walters tosses out the idea of a Matt Garza for Carlos Quentin swap. He's the guy who was saying previously that Garza for Delmon Young wouldn't die. I think if Quentin demonstrated good health this could be a fair swap. Meanwhile, Buster Olney suggests Quentin could end up an Athletic if the D'Backs look to acquire Dan Haren or Joe Blanton. However, Nick Piecoro doesn't see it happening. No extension talks going on with Justin Morneau, and it's arbitration time. Hey, maybe those trade..   Continue Reading

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Can Twins Afford Morneau?

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau only has about three years of service time, but talk is already starting about his escalating salary. He's talked extension with the Twins before, but is still currently going year to year in arbitration. He's still under team control through 2010 though. There was talk earlier this month that Morneau would be agreeable to a six-year deal, which would buy out three years of free agency. There hasn't been any indication that the Twins would go past five years though. Listening to Morneau's comments yesterday, he doesn't seem optimistic. If Morneau keeps doing what he's..   Continue Reading

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Walters On Morneau, Santana, Nathan

Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has some Twins rumors for us today in his Don't Print That feature. Walters says Justin Morneau would be agreeable to a six-year contract if the Twins are interested. Walters wrote back in March that the Twins were looking to add a fifth option year to Morneau's contract at $14MM. Morneau thought a deal was "pretty close" at that time but of course it hasn't happened. By my calculations a six-year contract would buy out three years of free agency. So it wouldn't be anything like Joe Mauer's 4/33 deal. The Twins..   Continue Reading

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Twins Notes: Morneau, Ponson

Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has a few Twins tidbits for us this morning: He says the Twins want a fifth option year on Justin Morneau's multiyear pact in the range of $14MM. Three days ago, Morneau said the two sides were "pretty close." At that time, Morneau confirmed that he was never offered the 4/33 deal that Joe Mauer received. Walters also writes: "It will be a shock if pitcher Sidney Ponson isn't released by the Twins." Back in late February, Ron Gardenhire said he viewed Ponson as being one of the team's starters. If his..   Continue Reading

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