Mark Kotsay Rumors

Red Sox Rumors: Crisp, Lugo, Burnett, Baldelli

By Tim Dierkes [November 7, 2008 at 12:11pm CST]

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

Red Sox Review

By Tim Dierkes [October 21, 2008 at 9:24am CST]

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein spoke to the press yesterday, resulting in a slew of articles in the Boston papers. Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe runs through the team's entire 25-man roster. Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald looks at Epstein's to-do list, as does Joe McDonald of The Providence Journal. Paul Kenyon of the Journal looks at the team's minor free agents. An overview of various common topics: Jason Varitek. Silverman sees an effort to re-sign him for one or two years, while McDonald thinks he will look for three or four. Massarotti thinks things could get nasty... Continue Reading

Week In Review: 8/24 - 8/30

By Steve Adams [August 31, 2008 at 5:18pm CST]

Sunday afternoon is here again... let's have a look back at some of the moves and rumors since last time: The injury-plagued Red Sox acquired Mark Kotsay to help compensate for their injuries. In exchange, the Braves received minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza. Nice acquisition by the Red Sox; Kotsay has been swinging a solid bat this season. The Twins acquired Eddie Guardado from Texas in exchange for minor league pitcher Mark Hamburger. Guardado has spent the majority of his career with Minnesota and provides a solid arm to the bullpen. To make room for him, they DFA'd Mike Lamb.... Continue Reading

Red Sox Acquire Kotsay

By Tim Dierkes [August 27, 2008 at 12:03pm CST]

12:01pm: According to ESPN's Keith Law, the Braves will receive minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza. 10:23am: Rosenthal says it's done, though the prospect remains unknown. He is now saying Kotsay did waive no-trade rights, and received $325K to do so. 9:14am: Rosenthal says it's close, but the teams have not yet agreed on the mid-level prospect. He says Kotsay does not have no-trade protection this year. WEDNESDAY, 8:41am: The latest - The Boston Globe's Amalie Benjamin wrote late last night that a deal had not been agreed upon. Meanwhile, John Tomase of the Boston Herald notes Kotsay's strong relationship with... Continue Reading

Molony's Latest: Red Sox, Kelly Johnson

By Tim Dierkes [August 25, 2008 at 1:53pm CST]

Here's a look at the latest blog post from MLB.com's Jim Molony. Molony agrees with previous reports - the Red Sox are eyeing outfield help. An inquiry on Darin Erstad fizzled, while Mark Kotsay remains on the radar. Drew might be headed to the DL. The Red Sox might also be eyeing another starter, given Josh Beckett's injury. Molony speculates that Kevin Millwood or Vicente Padilla could make sense (both have cleared waivers). Molony expects Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson to be traded this winter. Johnson, 26, slipped to .264/.333/.405 in 482 plate appearances this year. He'll be arbitration-eligible for... Continue Reading

Rosenthal's Latest: Kotsay, Fuentes, Glavine, Smoltz

By Nat Boyle [August 24, 2008 at 9:34am CST]

On August 18th, Rosenthal mentioned Mark Kotsay had cleared waivers, and that Brian Fuentes had not yet been placed. Here's an update, from today's Inside Pitch video: The Brewers and Red Sox are both showing interest in Kotsay. The Brewers would only pursue a trade if Ryan Braun's ribcage injury worsens, and so far he looks more than fine. The Sox made a play for lefty-hitting Brian Giles before Giles vetoed the deal, so it makes sense that they'd exert similar effort toward Kotsay. Even more so now that J.D. Drew has a herniated disc. Fuentes is expected to be... Continue Reading

Rosenthal's Latest: Holliday, Fuentes, Kotsay

By Tim Dierkes [August 18, 2008 at 10:14am CST]

Ken Rosenthal posted a new Full Count video this weekend. Rosenthal believes the Rockies are "almost certain to trade Matt Holliday this offseason." Should be a hot topic at the Winter Meetings in December. Rosenthal says to watch out for smaller-revenue sleepers on Holliday like the Nationals, Royals, and Blue Jays. Holliday, a Boras client, is set to earn $13.5MM in '09 before he hits free agency. Rockies closer Brian Fuentes has yet to hit the waiver wire, but he will soon. Rosenthal wonders if the Dodgers would win the claim if their record is worse than Arizona's when Fuentes... Continue Reading

Odds and Ends: Roberts, Ohman, Kotsay, Eyre

By Tim Dierkes [July 30, 2008 at 1:52pm CST]

Rumor roundup... ESPN's Buster Olney implies that another website backdates timestamps in an attempt to fake scoops. I was following the Mark Teixeira rumors like a hawk; I gave the scoop to ESPN's Jayson Stark with an assist to MLB.com's Lyle Spencer. Joe Christensen says Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts is not available. MLB.com's Mark Bowman guesses Will Ohman will land with the Cardinals. He also puts the odds of a Mark Kotsay deal at 50%. With Mark Teixeira out of the picture, Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes doesn't expect to make any more trades. Will Carroll says the Dodgers had... Continue Reading

Graziano's Latest: Dunn, Putz, Laird

By Tim Dierkes [July 30, 2008 at 11:54am CST]

Time to check in with Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger. Graziano calls Adam Dunn "the man without a rumor." Even with his flaws this one is hard to figure out. [UPDATE: SI.com's Jon Heyman is finally hearing a couple of teams are in on Dunn.] John Maine's rotator cuff strain has the Mets looking at pitching. Graziano suggests names like Livan Hernandez, Paul Byrd, and Jarrod Washburn. The Mets have talked to the Tigers about Scott Schoeneweis. They'd have to replace him, maybe with Arthur Rhodes or Eddie Guardado. The Mariners will listen on J.J. Putz, but he won't... Continue Reading

Odds and Ends: Alvarez, Kotsay, Street

By Tim Dierkes [July 24, 2008 at 1:22pm CST]

Time to round up today's links. Hank Steinbrenner admits Barry Bonds' name will be mentioned at today's meeting of Yankees execs. Mark Cuban is a finalist to buy the Cubs. Pirates president Frank Coonelly expressed frustration with the Pedro Alvarez negotiations, in the first public comments on those talks. Dejan Kovacevic's source says the Pirates aren't requiring two prospects for Xavier Nady or Damaso Marte. One elite prospect would work. Mark Kotsay wonders if he'll be traded this year. As with Mark Teixeira, it'll depend heavily on the next week. Richard Justice takes Drayton McLane to task. DRays Bay relays... Continue Reading

Kotsay Traded To Braves For Devine, Richmond

By Tim Dierkes [January 14, 2008 at 5:11pm CST]

UPDATE, 1-14-08 at 5:07pm: Kotsay passed his physical; he's a Brave. The Braves also got most of his salary covered. In return the A's receive Joey Devine and Jamie Richmond. Devine is a 24 year-old righty reliever with a 92-94mph sinker, according to Baseball America. Richmond turns 22 in March; he's the type of pitching prospect who doesn't light up the radar gun but has "command of three pitches and advanced feel for pitching" according to BA. FROM 1-13-08 at 12:11pm: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports today via a Braves official that the Mark Kotsay trade is.. Continue Reading

Odds and Ends: Adam Jones, Weaver, Jocketty

By Tim Dierkes [January 12, 2008 at 6:43pm CST]

You know how it works...random rumors and links to clear out my inbox. Adam Jones left winter ball early, perhaps as a prelude to a trade. The Cardinals' interest in Jeff Weaver is "at best, tepid" according to Derrick Goold. However, Goold thinks they should bring him back. Walt Jocketty said on XM Radio: "I don't want to be a GM again." I guess that settles that, Wayne Krivsky can rest easy. This is kind of funny. Mark Teahen on meeting Jose Guillen: "For the most part he didn’t rub me the wrong way - he seemed like a good.. Continue Reading

Kotsay Traded To Braves For Devine

By Tim Dierkes [January 12, 2008 at 5:04pm CST]

UPDATE, 1-12-08 at 5:01pm: According to ESPN's Buster Olney, an agreement is in place for the A's to send Kotsay to the Braves for reliever Joey Devine. The A's will also eat $5.325MM of Kotsay's '08 salary, leaving the Braves on the hook for only $2MM. Essentially Billy Beane bought Devine. UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 3:54pm: MLB.com's Mychael Urban has a source who believes the Braves would not pay more than $3MM of Kotsay's $8MM salary. FROM 1-11-08 at 3:09pm: David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution just posted his upcoming story in the comments of his blog. He says Billy Beane.. Continue Reading

Odds and Ends: Morneau, Jocketty, Santana

By Tim Dierkes [January 11, 2008 at 4:42pm CST]

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

Braves May Be Interested In Kotsay, Patterson

By Tim Dierkes [January 9, 2008 at 4:02pm CST]

As I mentioned in my Braves Needs and Luxuries post, the one piece missing from this puzzle is a decent big league center fielder. According to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mark Kotsay and Corey Patterson could be options. In regards to Kotsay, O'Brien doesn't specifically say the Braves are interested. It's more implied based on the fact that no one has told him the Braves aren't interested. Kotsay has one year left on his deal at $8MM, and it's thought that the A's might eat half of that to ship him out. Who knows, maybe he can toss.. Continue Reading

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Beane Has High Asking Price For Haren

By Tim Dierkes [December 3, 2007 at 8:43am CST]

Did you expect anything different? Billy Beane is happy to field offers on Dan Haren and Joe Blanton, but he'll require a king's ransom for either pitcher. Jayson Stark says Beane asked the Yankees for two of Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy for Haren. With the Red Sox it was two of Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester, and Jacoby Ellsbury. The Mets would have to pony up Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez. With two starters under contract through 2010, Beane and the A's are sitting pretty. One source of Stark echoes the popular sentiment that Miguel Cabrera in an.. Continue Reading

Rangers Rumors: DeJesus, Lamb, Millar

By Tim Dierkes [November 3, 2007 at 10:42pm CST]

Evan Grant writes for the Dallas Morning News, but he posted this column at night. Go figure. He's got some new info regarding the Rangers. As you know, the Rangers have had difficulty finding a long-term center fielder. That's the main focus of this offseason. The team has already shown interest in Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, the top center fielders available. Other free agents such as Andruw Jones and Mike Cameron appear to be in play as well. Grant's trade candidates: Coco Crisp, David DeJesus, Mark Kotsay, and Carlos Beltran. We've speculated on DeJesus to Atlanta in the past... Continue Reading