Miguel Olivo Rumors

Olivo Staying With Royals

TUESDAY: The 2010 mutual option is for $3.25MM, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Olivo decided to stay because he was promised the starting catcher job. John Buck is still expected to receive plenty of playing time, and catcher Brayan Pena was added to the 40-man roster. MONDAY: According to Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News, the catcher Miguel Olivo will remain with the Royals for the 2009 season. Hell yes! The Royals exercised his $2.7MM option, and Olivo chose not to void it. Another mutual option for 2010 was added. Olivo, 30, hit .255/.278/.444...   Continue Reading

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Heyman's Latest: Colletti, Maddux, Burnett

The latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman... Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is "fixated" on the team's recent unsuccessful free agent signings. You have to wonder if he'll direct Ned Colletti to exercise caution this winter. Heyman's sources say McCourt intends to stick with Colletti for '09. Greg Maddux is "said by friends to want to return next year." Tim Keown wrote in April that Maddux told teammates this is his last season. Heyman is now saying Larry Lucchino is likely to remain Red Sox president. Heyman considers Hank Steinbrenner's suggestion of interest in A.J. Burnett "the clearest example of tampering in...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Olivo, Eckstein, Angels, Astros

Labor Day linkage... I did a Q&A with an Angels blog called The Halo Is Lit. Royals catcher Miguel Olivo patched things up with manager Trey Hillman. Olivo has a mutual option for '09. David Eckstein is a borderline Type B player, but the D'Backs won't get a pick unless they offer him arbitration and he declines and signs elsewhere. As of August 29th, Eckstein did not have Type B status anyway. By the way, the D'Backs designated Emiliano Fruto for assignment to make room for Eckstein. Needless to say, the Angels weren't able to acquire a shortstop. Richard Justice...   Continue Reading

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Olivo Won't Be Back With Royals In '09

According to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star, catcher Miguel Olivo won't be back with the Royals in 2009. (Olivo's exact words: "Hell no.") Olivo's $2.7MM option for '09 is mutual, so he'll decline it even if the Royals exercise it. Olivo is upset about his lack of playing time, but he knew John Buck was part of the team when he signed. Olivo, 30, is hitting .264/.291/.472 in 261 plate appearances. As Mellinger points out, that ugly OBP is actually a career high. To his credit, Olivo has hit lefties well and gunned down a healthy 37.9% of...   Continue Reading

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Marlins Looking For Catcher, Reliever

The NL East is a three-team race, with the Mets, Phillies, and Marlins all within a game of each other. Who'd have thought the Marlins would be contending after trading Miguel Cabrera? According to Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Marlins have intensified their search for a catcher. The targets: Bengie Molina, Ramon Hernandez, Gerald Laird, and Ryan Doumit. Molina and Hernandez are the pricey options. Doumit would be especially tough to pry loose; he has a .937 OPS this year as a 27 year-old. MLB.com's Joe Frisaro wonders if Miguel Olivo, Gregg Zaun, and Paul Lo Duca...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Redding, Laird, Wolf

Fresh column from Ken Rosenthal. The Rockies, six games out in the NL West, could certainly become buyers. They offered Clint Barmes for Jeremy Guthrie and were turned down, and continue to monitor Bronson Arroyo and Tim Redding. Closer Brian Fuentes still seems likely to be traded though (the demand: top of the line prospect and a secondary player). Rosenthal cautions us against judging the Pirates' new regime too quickly. The deadline will be a good test for them. The Yankees definitely have interest in Rangers catcher Gerald Laird, but haven't asked the Royals about Miguel Olivo. The Astros are...   Continue Reading

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Yankees Looking At Catchers

Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger says the Yankees have inquired on four catchers: Gerald Laird, Paul Lo Duca, Miguel Olivo, and Rod Barajas. Laird, 28, is expected to rejoin the Rangers Saturday after his hamstring injury. He's a Boras client with a $1.6MM salary this year. He's under team control through 2010, and Ken Rosenthal says the Rangers want young pitching for him. Lo Duca, 36, will be a free agent after the season. He's got about $1.9MM left on his contract this year. He understands that he's a strong trade candidate. Olivo, 30, is splitting time with John...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Laird, Washburn, Nady, Bay

Ken Rosenthal has more new material. I've updated the post, as Rosenthal updated his. The Yankees are looking for catching - Rosenthal and Jon Heyman do not agree with Peter Abraham. Rosenthal says the Yanks have expressed interest in Gerald Laird and Miguel Olivo. The Rangers want young pitching for Laird, however. Jarrod Washburn's limited no-trade protection includes the Yankees. He might want compensation to waive that, putting him out of the Yanks' price range. Washburn, a Boras client, wouldn't mind pitching in New York though. The Mariners are looking for young pitching for him. It sounds like the Yankees...   Continue Reading

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Miguel Olivo Signs With Royals

Press release from the Royals - they've signed catcher Miguel Olivo to a one-year deal with options for both sides for '09. This is a surprise; there hadn't been any rumors of KC's interest. While allergic to walks, the 29 year-old backstop has above average pop for a catcher. He's also adept at gunning down attempted thieves. Incumbent 27 year-old catcher John Buck also bats right-handed and has decent power. Perhaps the Olivo signing is designed to push him   Continue Reading

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Pirates Looking For Catching Help

Ronny Paulino. The Pirates' backstop turns 27 in April and sports a career OPS of .730 (NL average for the position in '07 was .712). Paulino nailed 26.7% of baserunners in '07 and 36.2% in '06. For his gamecalling skills I'll defer to devoted Pirate fans, but he's got to be improving after two years behind the dish. In short, there's no reason to spend money at the catcher position for 2008. That is exactly what the Pirates are planning, however. The names on the radar: Johnny Estrada - free agent with few remaining skills, will cost between $3.5-4MM Miguel..   Continue Reading

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Tigers, Jays Interested In Miguel Olivo

UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 12:51pm: The Jays have their eye on Olivo as well. He would get more playing time in Toronto than Detroit. FROM 12-14-07 at 3:06pm: Hot stove action! It was revealed today that the Tigers recently contacted Miguel Olivo's agent to express interest. Olivo's agent has also heard from four or five other teams. Olivo would have to serve as Ivan Rodriguez's caddy if he signed with Detroit. A starting gig for Olivo might be hard to come by. He earned $2MM in '07 and figures to make a touch more in '08. He gunned down an impressive..   Continue Reading

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Today's Non-tenders: Towers, Prior, Everett, Durbin

Tim's out for the night, so we've got a fresh post started for the non-tenders. MLB.com has a running list as well. These guys are the officials as of now: As expected, the Marlins non-tendered catcher Miguel Olivo. Johnny Estrada was another casualty; these two make up the market for starting catchers. The Blue Jays non-tendered Josh Towers, a surprising move. Some NL team could offer him two years and get league average work out of him. Mark Prior has been non-tendered. Honestly if I were the Cubs, I would've tossed the $3.5MM his way just to see. Aaron Miles..   Continue Reading

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Dontrelle For Josh Hamilton Was Discussed

UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 2:47am: More excitement...throw Abraham Nunez into the mix of Marlins third base targets. This team is going places. FROM 12-7-07 at 11:27am: MLB.com's Joe Frisaro posted a new column last night full of good Marlins hot stove chatter. The most interesting note is that the Marlins talked to the Reds about swapping Dontrelle Willis for Josh Hamilton, prior to the blockbuster with Detroit. With Miguel Cabrera, the White Sox and Rangers were involved during the Meetings before the Tigers jumped in. The Rangers backed out when they couldn't get an extension window for Cabrera. The Tigers wanted..   Continue Reading

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MetsBlog: Lo Duca The Best Choice

Matt Cerone at MetsBlog takes on the question that's been facing the Mets since mid-day yesterday: Who starts at catcher next year? Ramon Hernandez, who was offered a contract by the Mets two years ago when he was a free agent, is said to be Omar Minaya's top choice. However, this presents a problem. Hernandez won't come cheap, and the Mets would need to retain their best trading chips if they want to acquire a front-line starter. This would seemingly rule Hernandez out, since "word from [B]altimore had bee that [H]ernandez would cost a high-end prospect." A cheaper trade option..   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Cordero, Torrealba, Koskie, Clement

Just browsing the web this morning: Troy Renck of the Denver Post speculates that the Mets deal with Yorvit Torrealba might have fallen apart because of the catcher's shoulder issues. This is based on Torrealba having missed time in 2006 with two shoulder injuries. The deal fell apart when it was thought to be complete, with only the physical remaining. The Rockies have also inquired on Matt Clement. Renck mentions the Diamondbacks as also having interest in the 33-year-old righty, adding them to the aforementioned Padres and Royals. Clement has thrown just 65.1 innings in the past two years. The..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Garcia, Greene, DeJesus

With so many rumors, there's a need for a daily Odds and Ends post to catch 'em all. Buster Olney talked to Freddy Garcia's agent. He's looking at a June return from shoulder surgery. Indians GM Mark Shapiro made an offer on Brad Lidge. The Astros didn't even reply. They did hear back from the Marlins on their Miguel Cabrera inquiry. The price is seemingly too high for talks to continue. Peter Gammons says that before the Astros got Michael Bourn, the White Sox pushed for a Chad Qualls for Ryan Sweeney swap. Evan Grant notes that the Rangers have..   Continue Reading

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State Of The Marlins

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson has all sorts of info concerning the state of the Florida Marlins. We've heard this before - the Fish can't afford to keep both Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. Do you trade the cheaper guy, or the more valuable one? As Jackson says, it really just depends on the offers. It wouldn't be a complete shock to see both traded if the Marlins received separate knockout offers on each. The Marlins are likely to non-tender Miguel Olivo, with an eye on bringing Paul Lo Duca back to Florida to provide veteran leadership for the young..   Continue Reading

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Marlins Willing To Listen On Miguel Olivo

For what it's worth, the Marlins will apparently listen to offers for catcher Miguel Olivo. Olivo makes $2MM this year, and that will increase through arbitration next year. If the Fish can't trade him, they might nontender him. Olivo, 29, is allergic to walks. He's drawn eight in 93 games this year, and just nine in 127 games last year. He does have above-average power for a backstop. Defensively, he's gunned down more than 30% of those attempting to steal on a regular basis. Originally with the White Sox, Olivo was sent to Seattle in the Freddy Garcia deal. The..   Continue Reading

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