John Mozeliak Chat On MLB.com

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak chatted with fans over at MLB.com. Let's dig out the hot stove info. Mozeliak seems open to talking extension with Kyle Lohse at some point during the season. Lohse has a 3.79 ERA in seven starts. Less than 3% of his flyballs are leaving the yard, a trend that doesn't figure to last. But for less than $5MM, who's complaining? Mozeliak reiterated that the Cardinals have no interest in Barry Bonds. Trade talks "could be exciting" come July. Sadly, Juan Encarnacion is not likely to play baseball again.

Lohse/Cardinals Deal Official

TODAY: Lohse passed his physical; it's official. THURSDAY: According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals signed Kyle Lohse to a one-year deal (pending a physical). The deal is worth $4.25MM plus incentives, a fine deal by John Mozeliak. The Cardinals needed some depth, and Lohse offers upside beyond just innings (especially under Dave Duncan). Lohse has to be bummed - he was looking for ten times what he received. On the other hand, he's still set for life.

Nats To Pass On Weaver

Scott Boras found a deal for Kyle Lohse; will he now focus on getting Jeff Weaver a job? On Monday, Jeff's brother Jered said the Nationals and Cardinals had expressed interest. The Cards are surely out of the mix now, and MLB.com's Bill Ladson says Weaver has seemingly "priced himself out of the Nats' pay range." I'll guess the Nats were thinking $2MM or so. So if the Nats and Cards are both out, what's the elder Weaver to do? Baltimore seems to be his best option. Toronto could work. Perhaps the Astros as a long shot. In a note...

Odds and Ends: Mirabelli, Lohse, Spring Stats

Here are some links I've cobbled together. Surprise move by the Red Sox, releasing Doug Mirabelli. Check out this typically lengthy blog entry from Joe Posnanski. I laughed out loud twice. Read it. Derrick Goold says the Cards are having "continued dialogue" with Kyle Lohse's people. Viva El Birdos considers this a test for ownership. With a hat tip to John Dewan, RotoAuthority attempts to find some meaning in this year's spring training stats. If you haven't already, take a look at my video mailbag from yesterday. We should have one of those MLB Roundup things on the way this...

Astros To Pass On Lohse

This morning, Brian McTaggart of the Houston Chronicle suggested the Astros' rotation picture looked like this: 1. Roy Oswalt 2. Brandon Backe 3. Wandy Rodriguez 4. Woody Williams 5. Shawn Chacon as the frontrunner, with Chris Sampson, Felipe Paulino, Runelvys Hernandez, Jack Cassel, Mark McLemore, and Brian Moehler in the mix Now Paulino is out a month with a pinched nerve. Williams has been destroyed this spring. So now it's looking like Oswalt/Backe/Rodriguez/Chacon/Sampson. Not exactly playoff quality nor likely to stay healthy all year. However, Ed Wade said today he doesn't see Kyle Lohse as a fit for around $4MM....

Cardinals Interested In Lohse

Joel Pineiro's second bout of shoulder tightness this spring has the Cardinals scrambling for pitching help. Fortunately there are still a few names left on the market who are probably as good as Pineiro. One such pitcher is Kyle Lohse; the Cardinals put in an inquiry with Scott Boras recently. GM John Mozeliak was upfront in saying that Pineiro's uncertainty changes the landscape for his team. If Lohse truly goes in the $4-5MM range we've been hearing about, that's a fine signing. Hell, Pineiro got two years and $13MM and was more questionable than Lohse at the time of the...

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Crisp, Capuano, Lohse

Does anybody else think that Brian Roberts' agent fuels 90% of these rumors just so his client's name is kept in the news? Me neither...Now that we have gotten the obligatory Roberts reference out of the way, let's move on to some trades/signings that might actually happen in the near future. The biggest of course is the recent news that talks may be heating up with the Red Sox to move Coco Crisp. So far we know that the Sox are not interested in Jason Marquis or Sam Fuld and the Padres may only be having internal discussions at this...

Cafardo's Latest: Inge, Marte, Fuentes, Lohse

TUESDAY: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has an update to Cafardo's Yankees/Fuentes item. Renck says that while the Yanks have scouted Fuentes, Rockies' GM Dan O'Dowd says there's "zero chance" of a trade at this time. I imagine he wants to see a healthy Luis Vizcaino before considering it. MONDAY: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe checks in with plenty of rumors in his Sunday column. The Red Sox checked in on Brandon Inge during the Winter Meetings, but found his contract prohibitive. Most teams seem to feel the same way. The Yankees are eyeing southpaw relievers Damaso...

Stark's Latest: Davis, Valdez, Roberts, Lofton

ESPN's Jayson Stark checks in with a blog entry jam-packed with rumorage. Stark says the Giants are shopping Rich Aurilia, Ray Durham, Steve Kline, Randy Winn, Tyler Walker, Rajai Davis, and Merkin Valdez. The vets we knew about; the last two are a surprise. Probably stems from both being out of options. Brian Roberts update: Stark talked to a club official who's in touch with the Cubs and O's. That guy expects a deal to be done next week. Plus, Stark sees the O's as an active suitor for Kyle Lohse at the right price. Stark confirms the rumblings that...

Odds and Ends: Zimmerman, Lohse, Quintero

The Nationals renewed Ryan Zimmerman's contract and will pay him $465K in 2008, but still hope to sign him to a longer deal. Zimmerman will be eligible for arbitration in 2009. According to the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles recently discussed free agent pitcher Kyle Lohse with his agent, Scott Boras. Lohse was originally seeking a five-year deal for approximately $50 million, but word is his price has come down drastically. The Detroit Free Press says the Tigers "have mild interest in Houston's Humberto Quintero but are giving strong consideration to Dane Sardinha, the starting catcher at Triple-A Toledo last year."...

Phillies Not Interested In Lohse

Kyle Lohse for one year and $4MM doesn't sound too bad, does it? Not to the Phillies, even with Adam Eaton and a couple of Durbins battling it out for the fifth starter job. Phils assistant GM Mike Arbuckle said "I know we're not interested" in Lohse at such a price. I don't get this. Pretty much every team in the NL should be looking at Lohse if he's really willing to take $4MM. Even non-contenders have to consider the ol' sign and flip with him. Even this year, with teams showing relatively more common sense with free agents, $2-3MM...

Kyle Lohse Ready To Settle?

ESPN's Buster Olney says Kyle Lohse is currently looking for a one-year deal between $4-10MM. According to Olney, multiple teams have expressed their disinterest in the Boras-represented Lohse. Lohse at $5MM seems really solid - how is this guy out of work on March 3rd? He's even young enough to have upside, which can't be said for Livan Hernandez. On Sunday, Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger said the Mets hadn't ruled out Lohse. The Mets would probably need to unload an arm or two first though. Shouldn't the Phillies, Astros, and Cardinals be in on Lohse too?

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Garcia, Lohse, Colon

With a full slate of Spring Training games underway today, there are still some big names hanging out in the free agent market. After the Red Sox signed signed former Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon to a minor league deal, there are still two big-name starting pitchers that have yet to find new homes. Former all-star Freddy Garcia is not expected to be ready until mid-season after having rotator cuff surgery last fall, but may have interest from several clubs. On the other hand Kyle Lohse is still looking for work despite being perfectly healthy. His biggest ailment maybe that...

Stark's Latest: Patterson, Lohse, Lofton, Clemens

Finally, new info regarding some of the remaining free agents. Jayson Stark has the scoop. Seems there's a chance Corey Patterson takes a cheap deal to return to Baltimore. He could be relegated to fourth outfielder duty in that case. Stark says the Marlins have discussed Patterson internally, but aren't sure if they could afford the Boras client. Patterson would be a nice stopgap for Cameron Maybin, who'd be well-served with some time in Triple A. Ken Rosenthal also mentioned the Florida possibility. One of the most surprising free agents at this point is Kyle Lohse. Stark shoots down the...

Rosenthal's Latest: Lohse, Furcal, Lofton

FOX's Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest buzz from Spring Training. The Mets, Cardinals, and Orioles are listed as possibilities for Kyle Lohse. However, the Mets may deem him unnecessary, reports are conflicting on the Cards' interest, and the Orioles are wary of the price. Rosenthal says Rafael Furcal's agent met with Ned Colletti a few days ago, but the Dodgers would likely want to see Furcal return to form before entertaining an extension. Click here to see the other shortstops eligible for free agency after the '08 season. The Dodgers may have a viable replacement for Furcal in...

Mets Dangled El Duque

According to SI.com's Jon Heyman: The Mets quietly sought trade offers for Orlando Hernandez late this winter, with the idea that if anyone bit, they would sign Kyle Lohse. But apparently there were no takers. Swapping El Duque's 140-150 innings for Lohse's 190 might add a few wins, given the replacement level pitchers the Mets went to in '07. Hernandez at $6.5MM isn't terribly appealing though. The Mets could probably get Lohse for a similar amount on a one-year deal. Maybe they still should and just force Hernandez into the bullpen whether he likes it or not.

Odds and Ends: Choo, Inge, Lohse, Francona

Let's round up some rumors and links. Not only is Shin-Soo Choo out of options, but he's recovering from Tommy John surgery and may have to join the South Korean military. Brandon Inge sat out a demanding drill on Friday, causing Tom Gage to wonder if trade talks are ongoing. Dave Dombrowski spoke on the topic recently, saying all the right things about Inge. Kyle Lohse is not interested in a minor league deal or playing in another country. He's still waiting by the phone though. Funny anecdote involving J.P. Ricciardi's son. Terry Francona was extended through 2011, with club...