Mark Loretta Rumors

Heyman On Contracts, Loretta, Indians, Lackey

SI.com's Jon Heyman has a new column up... Heyman writes in praise of White Sox GM Ken Williams, who says, "People don't really understand our way, our method." Heyman names his top 13 contracts, from an agent point of view. Barry Meister appears twice, with Edgar Renteria and Kyle Farnsworth. Scott Shapiro and Barry Praver get two mentions (Willy Taveras and Juan Cruz), and Scott Boras has three (Derek Lowe, Mark Teixeira, and Willie Bloomquist). Heyman writes of "talk at Dodgers camp" about possible Yankee interest in Mark Loretta (you may recall their consideration of him as a first base...   Continue Reading

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Pirates Rumors: McLouth, Maholm, Doumit

WEDNESDAY, 6:22pm: Kovacevic says Doumit's agent will meet with the Pirates later tonight to discuss their offer. Rob Biertempfel says the Pirates did make offers to all three and want to finalize deals within six to eight weeks. TUESDAY, 11:28pm: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers up the latest information on the Pirates. The Pirates have initiated extension talks with Nate McLouth, Ryan Doumit, and Paul Maholm. The Braves inquired on McLouth and Maholm, but the Pirates' demands were "way high" according to an Atlanta official. Kovacevic mentions Jordan Schafer as someone who could be offered. The Pirates had...   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Sign Mark Loretta

WEDNESDAY: The Dodgers officially announced Loretta's one-year deal, which is for $1.25MM. MONDAY: According to MLB.com's Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers agreed to terms with Mark Loretta on a one-year deal worth around $1.4MM tonight. He'll take his physical on Tuesday. Loretta was a Type B free agent, but the Astros did not offer him arbitration so there will be no draft pick compensation.   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Sign Casey Blake

8:55pm: There's also a club option for a fourth year. 7:51pm: Tony Jackson says it's $17.5MM over three years for Blake. TUESDAY, 12:28pm: ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Dodgers have reached an agreement with Blake for three years and slightly more than $17.1MM. The Twins apparently offered two years, $14MM. He adds that Mark Loretta's deal is for one year and $1.25MM. MONDAY, 11:09pm: Jackson has Colletti saying there's no agreement in place, and they'll meet again with Blake's agent Tuesday. Ken Rosenthal says a three-year, $17MM deal is close. 9:47pm: Jayson Stark says the Dodgers are inching toward a...   Continue Reading

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D'Backs Rumors: Clark, Punto, Rhodes, Unit

8:10pm: Piecoro says the D'Backs don't want to trade Snyder; in fact, they'd like to extend him. Piecoro notes talks with Eddie Guardado, but they didn't go far. And Japanese lefty Ken Takahashi is not on Arizona's radar. 7:20pm: The D'Backs have discussed a contract with Tony Clark for '09, says Gilbert. 6:20pm: Rosenthal says the D'Backs want to trade the more pricey Snyder to clear a path for Montero. They could then ink a Gregg Zaun type to back him up. 3:30pm: Gilbert says the D'Backs have a one-year offer out to Loretta. 3:18pm: MLB.com's Steve Gilbert says the...   Continue Reading

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Perrotto's Latest: Dye, Jenks, Werth, Madson

THURSDAY: David Lennon of Newsday talked to a source who said there's "nothing there" in regard to the rumor of a Dye and Jenks to the Mets blockbuster. Joel Sherman talked to a few Mets officials who called the rumor nonsense. Sherman says Martinez is "all but untouchable." WEDNESDAY: Let's dig into the latest column from John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus. Perrotto speaks of whispers of a possible White Sox-Mets blockbuster. The Mets would receive Jermaine Dye and Bobby Jenks and the White Sox would receive Fernando Martinez among others. Regarding the Orioles' possible involvement in a trade that would...   Continue Reading

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Astros Decline To Offer Arb To Wolf, Brocail, Loretta

MLB.com's Alyson Footer makes it official - the Astros did not offer arbitration to Type B free agents Randy Wolf and Mark Loretta or Type A free agent Doug Brocail. The Astros still hope to re-sign Brocail. Just like the Cubs with Kerry Wood and the D'Backs with Adam Dunn, Wolf is a quality player who was not offered arbitration due to payroll concerns. Richard Justice figures it may have come down to Wolf or Jose Valverde for the Astros, and they chose Valverde. Another note in Justice's post - the Astros had their eye on Jose Ceda before he...   Continue Reading

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At Least Four Teams Interested In Loretta

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, at least four teams are interested in free agent infielder Mark Loretta. Among them: the Phillies, Pirates, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers. The Pirates have talked to Loretta's agent twice. Crasnick figures the Astros won't offer Loretta arbitration this time around; he accepted last year. He lost his case but still earned $2.75MM. The 37 year-old hit .280/.350/.383 in 297 plate appearances while playing a below-average second base and an above-average third base.   Continue Reading

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D'Backs Rumors: Easley, Loretta, Vazquez

5:54pm: The D'Backs offered Vazquez a one-year deal with a club option for 2010, according to his agent. Vazquez has a better offer from another club, and awaits a counteroffer from Arizona. He wants a multiyear deal. 10:20am: Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune says the D'Backs offered a one-year contract to Vazquez, but he seeks a multiyear deal. 10:08am: According to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert, the Diamondbacks have talked to the representatives for free agent infielders Damion Easley and Mark Loretta recently. They've already offered a contract to Ramon Vazquez; Easley or Loretta could form a platoon with him....   Continue Reading

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Wolf Will Test Market

THURSDAY: Wolf told KRIV-TV in Houston last night that he's flattered by the Astros' efforts, but he plans to test the market. His main goal is playing for a winning team, and he says his urge to play on the West Coast is overstated. Astros GM Ed Wade says he'll look at alternatives starting Friday. WEDNESDAY, 5:30pm: The Astros also made an offer to reliever Doug Brocail. His agent says about a dozen teams have inquired, the Red Sox among them. The Astros would also like to re-sign Mark Loretta, but conversations have not yet begun. 1:46pm: According to Brian...   Continue Reading

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