Kevin Correia Rumors
Rockies Links: Correia, Karstens, Cuddyer
Troy Renck of the Denver Post shared some Rockies items on his Twitter feed earlier today, here are the hot stove-related tweets...
- The Rockies kept an "ongoing dialogue" with Kevin Correia's representatives but didn't come close to the two-year, $10MM deal that Correia signed with the Twins earlier today.
- The Rockies have a "mild interest" in right-hander Jeff Karstens, who was non-tendered by the Pirates last month. Karstens posted a 3.97 ERA and 4.4 K/BB ratio in 90 2/3 innings for Pittsburgh in 2012, though he spent significant time on the DL and was projected to earn $3.8MM through arbitration according to MLBTR's Matt Swartz.
- From that same tweet, Renck feels that if the Rockies make a big move for pitching, it will be through a trade and not the free agent market.
- Michael Cuddyer hasn't drawn much trade interest, though Renck says the Rockies aren't particularly interested in dealing him anyway.
Twins Sign Kevin Correia
The Twins announced that they have signed Kevin Correia to a two-year, $10MM contract. The right-hander will earn $4.5MM in 2013 and $5.5MM in 2014, according to the Twins.
The 32-year-old Lapa & Leventhal client spent last season with the Pirates where he pitched to a 4.21 ERA in 171 innings with a 4.7 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and strong 51.2 percent ground-ball rate. He'll join Vance Worley and Scott Diamond in a Twins rotation that will also likely include 2009 first-rounder and eventual Tommy John victim Kyle Gibson.
Twins general manager Terry Ryan has emphasized starting pitching all offseason. He's already traded Denard Span and Ben Revere in order to acquire Worley and a pair of high-upside arms in Alex Meyer and Trevor May. With uncertainty still in the 2013 starting rotation and money to spend, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Twins pursue additional help via free agency.
Correia's two-year deal is similar to the two-year, $8MM pact he signed with the Pirates two years ago. A fourth-round selection of the Giants in 2002, Correia has spent his entire career in the National League between the Giants, Padres and Pirates. In that time, he's compiled a 4.54 ERA, 6.0 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 and 44.3 percent ground-ball rate in 1066 innings.
Correia reportedly received multiple multi-year offers, including one from Japan. In addition to the Twins, he was connected to the Royals and Orioles at the Winter Meetings last week.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports first reported the agreement (on Twitter). ESPN's Jerry Crasnick first reported the value of the contract and that the sides were nearing a two-year deal. Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.
Twins, Correia Close To Two-Year Deal
The Twins are nearing a two-year deal with right-hander Kevin Correia, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter).
This post was originally published on Dec. 10 at 9:35pm.
Free Agent Notes: Greinke, Correia, Downs
Club officials and agents continue to wait for Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton to come off the board so that the other dominoes can fall, Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) writes. Olney looks at the scenarios that could unfold from there and notes that the Dodgers should make a strong play for Anibal Sanchez or Kyle Lohse or Edwin Jackson if Greinke lands in Texas. Here's today's batch of free agent notes..
- Kevin Correia is mulling multiple multi-year offers, including one from Japan, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Earlier today we learned that the Royals are looking at Correia as a potential plan B if they fail to land a No. 1 starter.
- Free agent infielder Matt Downs is getting interest from Phillies, Marlins, and Rockies, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com (via Twitter). Downs posted a .202/.253/.371 batting line in 191 plate appearances last season, down from the .276/.347/.518 line he posted in his first full season with the Astros.
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (via Twitter) that he has noticed in the last few days agents asking for higher signing bonuses in anticipation of the new tax rate.
Latest On The Royals
The latest on the Royals, who continue to seek a front-rotation starting pitcher...
- The Royals are exploring a group of free agent starters that includes Brett Myers, Kevin Correia, and Jair Jurrjens, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, which could be a backup plan if they fail to acquire a No. 1. Dutton has heard differently, saying he's been told the Royals have no intention for now of pursuing any pitcher who wouldn't front their rotation.
- The Royals' payroll pinch is tighter than initially believed, explains Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. In fact, the team appears to already be over budget. Regarding the Shields talks, a Royals official told Dutton, "It’s not like we’re going to bend over backward,” one club official said. “We’re not going to do that. We want to make a trade to get another starter, be it Shields or someone else, but we don’t feel we have to make a trade." The Rays are likely to wait to move Shields until Zack Greinke signs, writes Dutton.
Earlier updates:
- The Royals are still talking to the Rays about Shields, tweets Yahoo's Jeff Passan, but currently the price of top prospect Wil Myers and then some is too much. Passan's source insists the Royals are not in on Anibal Sanchez, whose market price stands at five years and $70MM+ at this time.
- "The Royals are definitely not in on [R.A.] Dickey," a rival executive told Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
- The Royals may be at a critical stage in the decision whether to trade top prospect Wil Myers for a starting pitcher such as the Rays' James Shields, tweet Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Bob Dutton believes the Royals would not hesitate to trade Myers for Shields, but that it'd probably require more.
- The Royals are interested in a variety of free agent starters, tweeted Morosi earlier, and Anibal Sanchez appears to be their top choice.
- The team is focused on "just a few players," GM Dayton Moore told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star today.
Orioles Notes: Saunders, McLouth, Correia, Schierholtz
Orioles manager Buck Showalter addressed reporters and appeared on MLB Network Radio today to discuss a few O's-related subjects. Let's round up all things Orioles, courtesy of Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli, and Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and SiriusXM (all links go to Twitter)....
- Orioles VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette told reporters he hopes to come home with a signed player by the end of the week.
- The Orioles met with Joe Saunders' reps today and had preliminary talks, tweets Connolly.
- The Orioles have interest in free agents Kevin Correia and Nate Schierholtz, and have had meetings with their agents in Nashville, tweets Connolly.
- Showalter spoke to free agent outfielder Nate McLouth earlier today, and GM Dan Duquette is expected to meet with McLouth's agent tonight. McLouth is looking for only a one-year deal, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, so he can re-establish his value and return to the market.
- The Orioles haven't given up on the idea of re-signing Mark Reynolds, who the club non-tendered last week.
- The O's are also hoping to re-sign Omar Quintanilla, another non-tender.
- If other clubs don't value Baltimore's young players as much as the O's do, the club won't make a trade just for the sake of making one, says Showalter.
- Baltimore's payroll will be between $90MM and $100MM next season.
- According to Showalter, MLB's managers were asked whether they were in favor of expanding instant replay, and 29 of 30 voted yes.
Blanton, Correia, Myers On Twins' Radar
While the top options on the free agent market may be out of the Twins' price range the club's search for pitching has Minnesota eyeing Joe Blanton as a "prime target," according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. Kevin Correia and Brett Myers are also on the team's radar, Crasnick reports.
In addition to those three names, recently non-tendered pitchers like Mike Pelfrey, John Lannan, and others could interest the Twins, according to Crasnick. Vicente Padilla has also drawn a little interest from Minnesota.
Although the Twins seem to be looking at plenty of pitching options in free agency, the team has also been more active in trade talks than expected, says Crasnick. Teams with pitchers on the block have approached the Twins about both Ben Revere and Josh Willingham.
West Notes: Dodgers, Giants, Angels, Padres
Here's a look at some news out of the AL and NL West..
- The Dodgers are letting teams know that shortstop Dee Gordon is available, tweets Bob Nightengale of the USA Today. Gordon could represent a fallback option for teams who lose out on Stephen Drew. Earlier today, we learned five teams are in on Drew.
- The Giants are looking for a center fielder and are talking to Michael Bourn, Angel Pagan, and Shane Victorino, tweets CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman.
- The Angels are aren't acting like they're confident of landing Zack Greinke, writes Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. The Angels seem to be trolling for much cheaper starting pitching options like Ryan Dempster and Shaun Marcum, as opposed to Anibal Sanchez and Kyle Lohse.
- The Dodgers' shopping list includes Greinke, a fourth outfielder that can play center, and a backup corner infielder, according to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick. Gurnick also says negotiations continue with lefty reliever Randy Choate.
- Padres GM Josh Byrnes doesn't expect to be very busy during the Winter Meetings, reports Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I expect to do one thing, maybe two," said Byrnes. "I’m not expecting to do a lot. We’re filling the holes, not roster reshaping." The Padres are looking for starting pitching and have depth at the corner outfield slots, in the bullpen, and at middle infield. The names most often mentioned as possible trade chips, according to Center, are Luke Gregerson, Joe Thatcher, and Jesus Guzman.
- The Rangers are interested in talking with the Mets about R.A. Dickey at the Winter Meetings this week, a source tells T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The Rangers aren't alone in having interest in the knuckleballer as the Mets have taken calls from six or seven teams looking to swing a trade. The Mets are expected to look for outfield help and catching in a deal.
- The Rockies are considering a run at left-hander Daniel Schlereth as they look to improve their bullpen, according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com. The 26-year-old became a free agent this week when he was non-tendered by the Tigers.
- The Rockies are looking to restore their rotation, but not rebuild it entirely, writes Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. The club will look to bolster their starting five with a veteran presence and they are known to have interest in free agent right-hander Kevin Correia.
Edward Creech contributed to this post.
Rockies Interested In Correia, Francis
As they attempt to bolster a rotation that ranked among the worst in MLB this past season, the Rockies have expressed interest in numerous free agent starting pitchers, including right-hander Kevin Correia and left-hander Jeff Francis, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. The Rockies aim to acquire a reliable arm capable of providing steady innings within a relatively young and inexperienced rotation.
Correia, 32, spent last season with the Pirates, mostly as a member of the Pittsburgh rotation. He posted a 4.21 ERA with 4.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 171 innings. Correia, an All-Star in 2011, recently completed a two-year, $8MM contract with the Pirates. When I discussed the Rockies’ search for pitching last week, I suggested Correia would be worth considering.
Francis started 24 games for the Rockies in 2012, leading the team with 113 innings pitched. The 31-year-old posted a 5.58 ERA with 6.1 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9, but he has had success at Coors Field in the past. He has indicated a desire to return to Colorado, Renck reports.
The Rockies have also been getting calls on Dexter Fowler and Michael Cuddyer, though they aren’t looking to trade either outfielder. The Braves have called about Fowler, an Atlanta native, according to Renck.
Pirates Notes: Correia, Pierzynski, Millwood
Here's a look at some news on the Pirates courtesy of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Biertempfel..
- Kevin Correia’s agent told the Biertempfel his client will test free agency and Bucs management has given no indication it will try to bring Correia back. The right-hander requested a trade over the summer when Wandy Rodriguez's arrival bumped him out of the rotation. Correia posted a 4.21 ERA with 4.7 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in 28 starts and four relief appearances last season.
- General Manager Neal Huntington certainly will try to acquire a big league-ready catcher if he moves closer Joel Hanrahan over the winter. If they try to acquire a backstop on the open market, they'll find a rather shallow market at the position. Potential targets include Gerald Laird, A.J. Pierzynski, Yorvit Torrealba, Kelly Shoppach, and Humberto Quintero.
- The Pirates will stick with A.J. Burnett and Rodriguez at the top of their rotation and look for a veteran starter to bolster the back end of the starting five. Given their budget restraints, the club may look at Kevin Millwood, Tim Stauffer, Chris Young, Carlos Villanueva, Jeff Francis, and Jeremy Guthrie.
- Despite his up-and-down performance in 2012, right-hander James McDonald remains in the plans for the rotation next season.
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