Mike Cameron Rumors

Odds and Ends: Wade, Crisp, Holliday

Links for Thursday... New commenters are signing up every day as MLB Trade Rumors grows. Before commenting, be sure to read our policy. If you ever see someone violating the policy just send me an email and I'll take care of it. If you receive an email from noreply@mlbrumors.com talking about some kind of newsletter, that has nothing to do with me or MLB Trade Rumors. We have a daily email of our latest posts, and that comes from dierkes@gmail.com. Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald wonders if Kerry Wood might accept an offer of arbitration from the Cubs. Hal...   Continue Reading

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Stark's Latest: Putz, Manny, Lackey, Ibanez

Let's take a look at the latest column from ESPN's Jayson Stark. Stark does the math and finds 15 potentially available closers versus six clubs in the market for one. Should result in a few bargains or teams holding on to their surpluses. The Mets don't seem willing to extend to four years for Francisco Rodriguez. Stark says J.J. Putz would become the Mets' top closer target if he's made available. MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone wrote a few days ago that the Mets are likely to trade for a reliever with closing experience before attempting to sign one. J.P. Ricciardi quote:...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Hardy, Flowers, Wolf

Another day, another column from Ken Rosenthal. With multiple vacancies in the rotation and bullpen, the Brewers may need to see what kind of pitching Mike Cameron and/or J.J. Hardy can bring in return. GM Doug Melvin is not ready to shop Hardy. He's received interest, but most teams have not given names (one team suggested swapping him for a pitcher Melvin termed, "a fifth starter.") The Padres have asked the Braves to substitute catcher Tyler Flowers for center fielder Gorkys Hernandez in their Jake Peavy offer. Dave O'Brien sees this as unlikely. If they can't sign Mark Teixeira, the...   Continue Reading

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Cameron Not Likely For Yankees

Peter Abraham suggests that the Brewers may be willing to trade center fielder Mike Cameron if his friend C.C. Sabathia does not sign. He says Ian Kennedy and Melky Cabrera are on Milwaukee's radar. Brewers GM Doug Melvin admitted to talking trade with the Yanks, but says nothing is imminent. Ken Davidoff and Kat O'Brien of Newsday report that the Yanks are not optimistic about acquiring Cameron. Center field is not a top priority for the Yanks, and they're not inclined to include Kennedy.   Continue Reading

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Yankees Rumors: Cameron, Melky, Pettitte, Lowe

5:06pm: More on the Cameron situation: Ken Davidoff says Cabrera and Ian Kennedy have been discussed. However, the Brewers will probably wait to see if they can sign Sabathia, since he's good friends with Cameron. 10:26am: The latest Yankees hot stove buzz... According to Joel Sherman and George King of the New York Post, the Yankees inquired with the Brewers on Mike Cameron. The Yanks would be willing to send Melky Cabrera and pitching to Milwaukee. The Yankees are also talking to other teams about Wilson Betemit. The Yankees are only willing to do a one-year deal for Andy Pettitte,...   Continue Reading

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Heyman's Latest: Furcal, Jenks, Nats, Yankees, White Sox

Here are a few of the latest notes from Jon Heyman... The Dodgers offered Rafael Furcal a two-year deal worth $25-30MM. A source close to Furcal told Heyman that the Dodgers know that it will take more and at least eight teams have expressed interest in Furcal. In the same piece Heyman says the White Sox are open to trading Bobby Jenks, but Heyman's source says it will "take quite a bit." Heyman says the Nationals are not likely to land any of the big names they covet noting they do not have the pieces for a trade and few...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: El Duque, Tazawa, Ausmus

Links for Tuesday. Be sure to check back on Odds and Ends posts, as I update them throughout the day with minor links. The Jays may no longer have A.J. Burnett under contract, but they continued their claiming frenzy by adding pitcher Les Walrond. The A's re-hired Jason Giambi's strength coach. Does it mean anything? The Cardinals remain intrigued by the idea of bringing Edgar Renteria back. The Dodgers bought out catcher Gary Bennett for $50K; he's a free agent now. Mike Cameron thinks C.C. Sabathia has a good chance of re-signing with the Brewers. He says Sabathia could be...   Continue Reading

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Brewers Exercise Option On Cameron

According to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, the Brewers exercised their $10MM option on center fielder Mike Cameron. This is a good call - Cameron is above average offensively and defensively, and the market for center fielders is weak.   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Peavy, Burnett, Sabathia

Let's take a look at the latest column from Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports. Don't look for a Jake Peavy trade this week at the GM meetings, as the Padres haven't found a match with Peavy's five preferred teams. A.J. Burnett's agent should announce his client's decision to opt out today. Rosenthal notes Burnett's preference to sign near his Maryland home, with the Yankees and Red Sox as the most realistic possibilities. Rosenthal believes the Brewers offered C.C. Sabathia $100MM over five years (rather than four). The Brewers can say they tried, but no one expects Sabathia to settle so...   Continue Reading

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C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Monday

David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a C.C. Sabathia rumor: The figure I’m hearing that Milwaukee might offer C.C. $100 million for four years. They’re hoping that by going with fewer years and more per year, they can keep him. He’s indicated to friends a serious interest in staying there, he liked it so much. The Brewers might help their chances of signing him if they pick up the option on Mike Cameron, who’s a good friend of CC’s. With Cameron, the Brewers figure to have over $70MM committed (not including Chris Capuano). It's hard to see the Brewers...   Continue Reading

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Yankees Targeting Cameron?

George King of the New York Post talked to "an industry source," who believes the Yankees have targeted center fielder Mike Cameron in the event that the Brewers decline his $10MM option. GM Brian Cashman wouldn't bite on the rumor. Ken Rosenthal wrote back in January that the Yankees pursued him but may have passed due to concerns over paying both Cameron and Johan Santana. King says the Brewers could also pick up Cameron's option and then trade him. Cameron is a Type B player, by the way. Joel Sherman believes Cameron is a backup plan for the Yankees, as...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Prior, Mulder, Cameron

Links for Wednesday... Mark Prior hopes to return to the Padres, according to a blogger who talked to him at a pumpkin patch. That wheelbarrow looks a bit heavy... I am still digging through the many applications for the Saturday morning position - thanks for your interest. Tons of great candidates in the mix. Viva El Birdos reflects on Mark Mulder's time with the Cardinals. Mulder is trying everything he can to get back to his old self. Dave Cameron names Mike Cameron the top free agent bargain of last offseason. SI.com's Jon Heyman looks at how the Rays were...   Continue Reading

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Mike Cameron's Option

From ESPN's Buster Olney: The Brewers have five days after the World Series to tell Mike Cameron whether they're picking up the option; to date, there has been no official conversation between the team and the player, and it figures there won't be until Doug Melvin's situation is resolved. Melvin has one year left on his contract, and the Brewers plan to offer him an extension. Cameron has a $10MM option with a $750K buyout. At the time of the signing (January), it seemed likely to stand as a one-year deal. Cameron began the season with a 25-game suspension for...   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Dempster, Mora, Cameron

Ken Rosenthal has a new column up; let's take a look. Rosenthal agrees with those who considered C.C. Sabathia pitching the ninth inning Monday a needless risk. Sabathia already had thrown 112 pitches and the Brewers had a seven run lead, but he pitched the ninth to bring the total to 130. The innings shouldn't affect Sabathia's payday, but hopefully he remains healthy. Rosenthal sees a minimal chance of Ryan Dempster signing elsewhere, given his strong relationship with Cubs GM Jim Hendry. Dempster will be the Cubs' top offseason priority. I also consider Kerry Wood unlikely to leave. Add Melvin...   Continue Reading

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Cameron, Padres Fan The Fire In Arizona

As early as April 2007 the Padres and Mike Cameron had seemed destined to go their separate ways, but the flames were rekindled down the stretch and the flirtation continued well into December to the point that a re-signing seemed likely. Of course Cameron ran off to Milwaukee, but the two parties remain embroiled in a he said/they said with little reconciliation in sight. Tom Krasovic has the latest chapter in which Cameron shoots down the rumor he took a discount in signing with the Brewers, saying "I'm not stupid," and claiming the Padres punched his ticket when Jim Edmonds...   Continue Reading

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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...   Continue Reading

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Olney's Latest: Barrett, Cameron, Santana

Let's take a run through Buster Olney's blog today. Olney chatted with Kevin Towers recently. One learning: the Padres plan on keeping Michael Barrett. Never hurts to have a little catching depth. The Padres might've given Mike Cameron a two-year deal worth at least $17MM, more than he received from the Brewers. Did Cameron want out of San Diego, or did his agent make a miscalculation of the market? Olney talked to a talent evaluator who wondered whether the Twins might be concerned about Johan Santana's health. Reduced late-season velocity and less use of his slider could be signs   Continue Reading

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Olney's Latest: Hall, Cameron, Benson

Buster Olney's ESPN blog is always a good read. A few nuggets from today's posting: Olney wonders whether the Brewers and Dodgers will revisit talks about Bill Hall. There seems to be this general vibe that Hall is upset about moving positions again, even though he hasn't said anything publicly. Plus, he'd have to move back to third as a Dodger anyway. According to Olney: "The Yankees were never seriously engaged in talks to sign Mike Cameron." However you can't really say Cameron's agent used the Yankees to pump up Cameron's price, since he signed for just one year and..   Continue Reading

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Brewers Sign Mike Cameron

UPDATE, 1-11-08 at 5:21pm: Tom Haudricourt has the contract details. Cameron gets a $1.25MM signing bonus and will make about $4.22MM in '08 (missed out on $780K due to his suspension). The 2009 option is for $10MM, plus a $750K buyout. As Haudricourt says, in a way it's a one-year, $6.22MM deal. Were the Padres unwilling to pay this amount? By the way, the signing isn't a precursor to a Bill Hall trade. FROM 1-11-08 at 2:18pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Brewers have signed center fielder Mike Cameron to a one-year deal with a club option for 2009. The..   Continue Reading

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A's Interested In Cameron

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports in with new info regarding an A's target. She says Mike Cameron is in their sights, and the A's have had "several conversations" with his agent. The A's weren't mentioned as a contender for Cameron last night; he is expected to land with the Brewers or Yankees. Slusser also names a couple of available right-handed hitting free agent outfielders in Reggie Sanders and Rondell White. Those are just examples, though - there is no current indication that the A's have interest. Slusser adds that there's nothing to recent rumors of a Huston..   Continue Reading

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Brewers, Yankees Interested In Mike Cameron

UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 11:58pm: Ken Rosenthal checks in, adding that the Cubs and Twins are on the fringes for Cameron. However he expects Cameron to end up with the Yankees or Brewers, before anything is determined with Johan Santana. The Yanks could always just keep Melky Cabrera or spin him off for prospects. The Braves and Pirates have expressed interest in him in the past. UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 9:04pm: Haudricourt says the Yankees' are the Brewers' main competition for Cameron, in the event they trade Melky Cabrera. It's known that A-Rod has been "privately endorsing" him. UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 10:23am:..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Cameron, Inge, Bay

Here are some random rumors and links I've cobbled together today. The Fish officially signed Jorge Cantu to a minor-league deal worth $500K with $100K in incentives. The Cardinals re-upped Aaron Miles for $1.4 mil. This team needs some good middle infielders. According to Tyler Kepner, Alex Rodriguez has been "privately endorsing" Mike Cameron. Well, it's not private anymore! The Yankees could entertain such a signing if they trade Melky Cabrera but don't want to move Johnny Damon back to center. Kepner's article also discusses the internal struggle between Hank and Hal Steinbrenner. Hank wants Johan Santana, Hal wants to..   Continue Reading

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Rangers Rumors: Guardado, Cameron, Hamilton

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan has all the latest hot stove buzz around the Rangers. The Rangers are nearing a deal with Eddie Guardado. Everyday Eddie might be a dark horse to close, if he can flash his late season form again. The Reds decided in October that he was not worth $3.5MM, and declined his option. Guardado is 37. The Rangers hope to add some kind of veteran starter. Bartolo Colon and Jason Jennings are still options, but Mark Prior and Freddy Garcia pretty much are not. Sullivan names Mike Maroth, Mark Hendrickson, and Josh Towers as pitchers of interest. Mike..   Continue Reading

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Stark's Latest: Prior, Lofton, Otsuka

ESPN's Jayson Stark dishes some good rumorage in his latest column. Stark dug around to find all the Mark Prior suitors and came up with this list: Yankees, Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, Mets, Cardinals, Padres, Astros, Giants, Reds, Nationals (11 teams). Let's compare notes. MLBTR readers have seen the Yankees, Mets, Cards, Padres, Astros, Reds, and Nats linked to Prior already. So Stark has added the Red Sox, White Sox, Mariners, and Giants. The idea of the Mariners runs contrary to this MLB.com article. Stark did not name the Rangers, who are said to be aggressively pursuing Prior. Prior..   Continue Reading

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Phillies Interested In Cameron, Benson

ESPN's Jayson Stark wrote recently that the Phillies have expressed interest in center fielder Mike Cameron, now that the Padres are out of the mix. Pat Gillick, who had Cameron back in Seattle, may have warmed to the idea of a two-year contract. Back on December 6th Todd Zolecki said the Phils didn't even want to go that far. Stark says the White Sox and Rangers are other contenders for Cameron. Also, both the Phillies and Padres remain on the trail of Geoff Jenkins, according to Zolecki. His choices have been narrowed down to those two clubs since Friday. The..   Continue Reading

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Cameron, Padres Sever Ties

The Padres and Mike Cameron will go in different directions, according to his agent. It had been said previously that Cameron and the Padres agreed on two years but couldn't meet on the amount of money. Tom Krasovic notes that the Padres have already talked to the Cardinals about Jim Edmonds. They've also got an eye on free agent Kenny Lofton. Lofton may not be a defensive asset these days, but the 40 year-old still hits righties at an .800 OPS. Scott Hairston could play center when the Padres face a southpaw. As for Cameron, the White Sox, Twins, Rangers,..   Continue Reading

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Padres Rumors: Iguchi, Prior, Cameron

Padres rumor guru Tom Krasovic checks in with the latest. Why does Tadahito Iguchi love San Diego so much? He passed on far superior offers (and hitter's parks) from the Rockies and Phillies. The Padres have definitely developed a competitive advantage over the years in that guys will make concessions to play there. Nine teams have expressed interest in Mark Prior, according to his agent. The Astros are confirmed. The Reds, Rangers, and Phillies are other possibilities. The Padres haven't checked in yet but they are expected to. Talks are still ongoing between Mike Cameron and the Padres   Continue Reading

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Padres Sign Tadahito Iguchi

UPDATE, 12-12-07 at 9:15am: Iguchi gets "nearly $4 million," according to Krasovic. It's surprising he couldn't do better elsewhere. FROM 12-11-07 at 10:25pm: Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Padres have signed second baseman Tadahito Iguchi to a one-year deal. This will give Matt Antonelli time to get a little more seasoning. The second base prospect will turn 23 in April; he has 49 games above A ball under his belt. The free agent market for second basemen is now pretty bleak, with David Eckstein perhaps the best choice. Now that the Padres' top offseason target..   Continue Reading

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Padres Rumors: Iguchi, Eckstein, Barrett, Bonds

Aside from the aforementioned Fukudome stuff, Tom Krasovic has some trade rumors to discuss in today's article. It seems the Padres and Rockies are the main competitors for Tadahito Iguchi. The Pads wouldn't mind getting Matt Antonelli more seasoning at Triple A. Meanwhile the Rockies are offering Iguchi two years. The Padres also like the idea of getting David Eckstein on a one-year deal, not something he's expecting to go for. The Pirates still like Michael Barrett, but expect him to require little in the way of players. While the Padres recently met with Barry Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, the..   Continue Reading

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Padres May Learn Today About Fukudome Offer

Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune has a new column up, chock full of Padres rumors. Let's discuss. The Padres have a three-year offer out to Kosuke Fukudome that may make him the highest paid Padre ever, aside from Jake Peavy. Kevin Towers expects to get an answer today from Fukudome's agent, Joe Urbon. Urbon basically said that geography would only come into play if offers from competing teams were similar. Towers admitted he sees the Cubs as the lead horse in this race. San Diego has a strong need for an outfielder or two, especially now that Milton..   Continue Reading

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Reds In On Cameron?

According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Mike Cameron's agent tonight said he has a new suitor. Krasovic makes an educated guess that the Reds are that team. He cites Cameron's desire to play for Dusty Baker, the possible defensive improvement, and the availability of Josh Hamilton as factors. It would be odd for the Reds to spend their remaining money on a position player though. Cameron enjoyed his time in Cincinnati in 1999, hitting .256/.357/.469 as a 26 year-old before being included in the Griffey trade. Wouldn't it be interesting if the Reds brought back Cameron and..   Continue Reading

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Padres Near Deal With Milton Bradley

UPDAT, 12-6-07 at 12:11pm: MLB.com's Corey Brock says the deal is worth $3.5-4MM. FROM 12-6-07 at 11:24am: According to MLB.com's Jim Molony, the Padres are nearing a one-year deal with outfielder Milton Bradley. Bradley is expected to be ready to play in April; hopefully he can stay healthy and give the Padres 400-500 good ABs. Bradley recently lost 15 pounds in an effort to reduce his injury risk. Does this take the Padres out of the Kosuke Fukudome sweepstakes? Probably not - the Padres won't sign both Fukudome and Mike Cameron, but Bradley probably came cheaply   Continue Reading

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Phillies Rumors: Iguchi, Inge, Silva, Ensberg

Sounds like there's a whole lot of 'nothin' going on with the Phillies. As you know, the Phils are out on Hiroki Kuroda. Yesterday the Phillies made an offer and a second improved offer to Tadahito Iguchi. Iguchi is looking for a three-year deal for around the $16.5MM Kaz Matsui received. Todd Zolecki says the Phils have "kicked around" Brandon Inge's name; he's definitely available. The general sentiment is that the Tigers would have to eat some of the $19.1MM owed to Inge over the next three seasons. Plus, the Phillies already tried the defense-first idea at third base. Talks..   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Bradley, Haren

Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest buzz. The Astros might be "on the verge of a major deal." Rosenthal notes the availability of Chris Burke and Luke Scott plus the team's interest in Damaso Marte. He also says some clubs are after Houston's young pitching. Ed Wade spoke of two-way, three-way, and even four-way discussions before he hit the hay last night, but nothing seemed imminent. Rosenthal says the Padres might have a better chance of re-signing Milton Bradley than Mike Cameron. He also implies that the Friars could reach a one-year agreement with Michael Barrett and then shop..   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Still In On Andruw, Rowand?

UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:03pm: Talks between the Dodgers and Andruw revived today, according to Ken Gurnick. Gurnick thinks Scott Boras is looking for something similar to J.D. Drew's Dodgers deal, a long-term one with an opt out in the middle. Boras told Jerry Crasnick today that he does not have a one or two-year deal in mind for Andruw. UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 2:00am: MLB.com's Ken Gurnick is with Tony Jackson on this one...Colletti hasn't made any offers and will move on to other priorities unless Jones and Rowand reduce their demands. Gurnick notes that the Dodgers are still in hard..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Jose Lopez, Green, Silva, Fukumori

Let's round a few more rumors up, because they just don't stop coming. Says Jim Molony: no less than 10 teams have expressed interest in Carlos Silva. Weak - 11 have expressed interest in Bedard, loser. Other guys in the 10 interested teams club - Livan Hernandez and Kazuo Fukumori. At least, that's where their agents would like everyone to think. The Padres can only afford one of Mike Cameron and Kosuke Fukudome. They think Fukudome can play an adequate center. Kevin Towers is still in talks with Cameron. The Mariners are shopping Jose Lopez, who Jeff Passan names as..   Continue Reading

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Padres Rumors: Loretta, Iguchi, Peavy, Barrett

Tom Krasovic fills us in on the latest with the Padres. Kevin Towers is considering Mark Loretta and Tadahito Iguchi as second base options. Loretta has expressed interest. I wonder how this will make the Padres feel; his strong flirtations may turn them off. Jake Peavy will get full no-trade protection for 2008-10, limited for 2011-12. As reported yesterday Towers is in talks for Mark Prior and Josh Towers. Towers said that himself? Tampering! The Padres still expect Michael Barrett to accept arby. Krasovic mentions the Cubs actually considered having Barrett switch positions last year. Yes! Barrett should market himself..   Continue Reading

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Today's Arbitration Decisions

The decision whether to offer your own free agent arbitration can affect your team in two ways: you may end up retaining a player you didn't want, or you may score a draft pick or two as compensation. With that in mind let's run down the rumors regarding some Type A and B free agents. The Red Sox plan on offering arbitration to Type B Eric Gagne. Worst case scenario, they hang onto him for one more year. Best case, they get a sandwich pick. The Astros have to decide on Trever Miller and Mark Loretta. Both are Type Bs,..   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Peavy, Guillen, Barrett

Ken Rosenthal checks in with another fine rumor-filled column. Johan Santana doesn't seem a great fit for the Angels, partly because he'll be very expensive and the Halos actually do have a payroll limit. Jake Peavy knows he'd have to take a discount to stay in San Diego...but even a $15MM per year type deal would be unprecedented for them. He's under the Padres' control through '09. Rosenthal's sources are divided on whether the Mets will go after Jose Guillen. Such a scenario is possible if Lastings Milledge and/or Carlos Gomez are dealt. It's said that the Mets are still..   Continue Reading

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Padres Rumors: Cameron, Jenkins, Colon

UPDATE, 11-28-07 at 10pm: Krasovic has an update on the Union-Tribune's sports blog. Cameron's agent said tonight that he would decline the Padres' offer of arbitration. That doesn't mean the Padres still can't sign him, but it seems unlikely. Krasovic also notes that the Friars are pursuing Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori. As you know, they brought him in for a workout previously. The Rockies and Red Sox have been linked to him in the past. FROM 11-28-07 at 10:40am: Tim Sullivan and Tom Krasovic make are a productive tandem for Padres rumors. Sullivan and Krasovic both posted new articles today...   Continue Reading

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Rangers Rumors: Dunn, Hamilton, Kemp

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan has some interesting hot stove banter surrounding the Rangers. A three-year deal for Kosuke Fukudome or a two-year pact for Mike Cameron might be the most sensible options to fill the Rangers' center field void. Aaron Rowand is probably too expensive. While the Rangers have a touch of interest in Adam Dunn and Coco Crisp, they prefer the idea of acquiring a young bat. Names they like: Fernando Martinez, Carlos Gomez, Carlos Gonzalez, and Matt Kemp. Sullivan notes that the Rangers have talked to the Reds about Josh Hamilton. If the Rangers sign starting pitching it's likely..   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Riske, Bedard, Wolf

And now for your daily jumble o' rumors. More to come. The Twins cleared several spots on their 40-man roster...will they be active next week? The Yankees have "reached out" to free agent reliever David Riske. Troy Percival and Ron Mahay have also been linked to the Yanks this offseason. The Dodgers have an interest in Tony Clark, which has to bum out James Loney. Dylan Hernandez also notes that the Dodgers' talks for Erik Bedard have stalled because the Orioles want to see what happens with Miguel Cabrera first. Ned Colletti expects Jeff Kent back, by the way. The..   Continue Reading

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Rangers Rumors

T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com has some Rangers notes. Of course, much of it revolves around the outfield, since they missed out on Torii Hunter. On that front, they're exploring Kosuke Fukudome, who is reportedly seeking three years and $30 million. Add the Rangers to the Cubs, the Phillies, the Yomiuri Giants and his former team, the Chunichi Dragons. I would toss the Nats and possibly the Twins in that group, and there are probably other teams where Fukudome would fit. The Rangers have a level of interest in both Aaron Rowand and Andruw Jones, but not nearly to the level..   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: Bonds, Broussard, Hunter, Rowand, More

We missed an installment from good ol' Kenny Rosenthal yesterday. He's back today in full force (unlike another great rumor source, Buster Olney, who posted nothing really new in his blog today). The A's, once considered the best bet for Barry Bonds, are no longer interested in the indicted slugger. Rosenthal thinks it's likely that Bond's trial will start after Opening Day, causing him to miss time regardless of the verdict. And then there's the whole prison issue. The Rangers spoke to the Mariners at the GM meetings regarding the availability of Ben Broussard. Talks didn't really go anywhere, since..   Continue Reading

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Dodgers Pursuing Aaron Rowand

Buster Olney's blog today had some good rumors to digest. Olney writes that the Dodgers are making a "heavy play" for Aaron Rowand. Apparently they love the idea of adding a good character guy to the clubhouse. They'd be paying $25MM for Rowand and Juan Pierre in their outfield for the next several years. The Phillies are making a "big play" for Mike Lowell. This certainly doesn't jive with the speculation that the Phils only have $10MM to spend and it's going toward pitching. By the way, Ruben Amaro Jr. ruled out the possibility of signing Torii Hunter. Olney has..   Continue Reading

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Latest Braves Rumors: Glavine, DeJesus, Dotel

Here's a look at the recent dealings and rumors surrounding the Braves. Frank Wren publicly admitted that the Braves would like to add Tom Glavine to their rotation for 2008. They're hoping for a hometown discount, which he may be amenable to based on this report. At the minimum, the Braves will have competition from the Nationals, Cardinals, Astros, and possibly the Mets. Wren also stated that the Braves will look outside the organization for their center fielder. David O'Brien (linked above) indicates that the Braves won't make offers to Torii Hunter, Aaron Rowand, or Mike Cameron due to the..   Continue Reading

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Rosenthal's Latest: A-Rod, Posada, Cameron

Ken Rosenthal is back with a column loaded with rumory goodness. Rosenthal's column is like a drug. Rosenthal doesn't think the Red Sox will just ignore the availability of Alex Rodriguez, especially if someone lures Mike Lowell away with a five-year offer. Rosenthal suggests a shorter term of five-years, $150MM with option years and opt-outs so that A-Rod could have one more payday as he theoretically approaches Hank Aaron's record. Jorge Posada will receive a "monster offer" from the Mets. While the Mets can't move him to DH down the road, they can put him at first base. I've been..   Continue Reading

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Padres Rumors: Crisp, Pie, Andruw, Eckstein

Tom Krasovic continues to set the standard for Padres inside information. Today's column is especially delicious for rumor junkies, with tons of new material to chew on. Kevin Towers expects to fill his center field vacancy via trade. He may first want to wait to see if Mike Cameron accepts the team's upcoming offer of arbitration. Cameron is a Type B free agent. Remember that he will be limited to 137 games in '07. As for trade candidates, Coco Crisp is on the radar but the Padres smartly won't part with Chase Headley. Krasovic notes that Bud Black's connection with..   Continue Reading

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Rangers Rumors: DeJesus, Lamb, Millar

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

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Padres Rumors: Maddux, Cabrera, Barrett, Bradley

As usual, Tom Krasovic has the scoop with the Padres. The Padres expect Greg Maddux back, at a salary near the $10MM he earned in '07. One way it could happen - Mad Dog declines his $8.75MM player option and the Padres exercise their $11MM club option. Otherwise they'll just tear it up and figure something out. The Padres will pass on available third basemen Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera. It sounds like a Padres team source is indicating the Marlins plan to shop Cabrera aggressively. As if this offseason wasn't going to be crazy enough, here's another marquee player..   Continue Reading

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Mike Cameron Suspended For Stimulant

Mike Cameron recently appeared on XX Sports Radio in San Diego today and stated that he will receive a 25-game suspension for a banned substance, but not a steroid. That implies a stimulant, for which the penalty is 25 games for a second positive test (example: Neifi Perez). Actually Neifi tested positive a third time and snagged an 80 game ban. Here's the press release for Cameron. This should knock his price down a bit, knowing that Cameron can only play 137 games next season. The Braves are considered a strong contender for him   Continue Reading

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Mailbag: Braves CF

Nick from Salt Lake City, Utah writes: If the Braves lose Andruw Jones this offseason, what is the likelihood that Atlanta picks up a quality major league center fielder? Who could it be and what would be the price? The chances are very good that the Braves pick up a solid center fielder to fill Andruw's void. And I'd say it's about 80% that Jones leaves the Braves after this season. The Braves could try an internal option for center field in 2008, Brandon Jones. Jones will be 24 at that point. He's a fine athlete with speed, range, and..   Continue Reading

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Cameron To Reach Free Agency

For a while, it had seemed that the Padres would be able to reach a three-year agreement with 34 year-old center fielder Mike Cameron. I had expected the years to be the sticking point, and the Padres seemed open to three. However, Ken Rosenthal tells us that contract talks have broken off between the two parties and Cameron is very likely to explore the open market. Rosenthal likes the Braves as a possibility in 2008, as Cameron lives outside of Atlanta. The star class of free agent center fielders includes Andruw Jones, Ichiro Suzuki, and Torii Hunter. None of the..   Continue Reading

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Ken Rosenthal's Latest

Ken Rosenthal has a new update up over at FOX Sports. The trade rumor highlights: Plenty of teams are interested in Brewers reliever Jose Capellan: the Giants, Rockies, Devil Rays, and Nationals. I'm surprised that Capellan was deemed unworthy of the Brewers' pen; he gave them 70 decent innings last year. Rosenthal mentions that the Nats might convert Capellan back to a starter. A fine idea, as that's how Capellan came up with the Braves. He just needs to get his curve and changeup tuned up. The story on Mike Cameron remains the same: the Padres don't want to go..   Continue Reading

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Mike Cameron Hoping For Extension

Mike Cameron is among the eight or nine viable free agent center fielder options after this season. Rather than be a part of that surplus, Cameron informed the Padres recently that he'd like to start talking about a multiyear extension. The 34 year-old makes $7MM this year, a bargain. Our good friend PECOTA thinks Cameron will be worth about $9MM in 2008. If Baseball Prospectus's projection system were a GM, I think it might offer him around $16MM for 2008-09. PECOTA sees him as a less injury-prone version of Reggie Sanders circa 2002. It's been three weeks since the sides..   Continue Reading

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Mike Cameron Deal To Be Completed Today

Several sources are telling me that Mike Cameron will be traded to the Padres today for Akinori Otsuka. As I mentioned earlier, Xavier Nady could also be included in the deal. MetsBlog now says Buster Olney is reporting that this is a done deal. Olney has yet to provide any names coming from the Padres in his ESPN Rumor Central post. Update: Gotham Baseball has the scoop on this one, telling us that the trade is indeed for Akinori Otsuka. According to editor-in-chief Mike McGann, financial concerns with Otsuka's contract are the main hangup. Thanks to Brian B   Continue Reading

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Cameron For Nady Rumor Has Legs

A new Ken Rosenthal column was just posted over at Fox Sports. Some interesting nuggets in there, including a few that confirm rumors we reported on earlier. The rumored Mike Cameron for Xavier Nady swap we mentioned on Sunday may have legs. Rosenthal adds that the Mets could spin Nady into a Manny Ramirez package if they don't want to platoon him with Mike Jacobs. Nady could make sense for the Red Sox, a team with question marks at third and second base. Cameron could also end up in Baltimore or Arizona according to Rosenthal. The column mentions some interest..   Continue Reading

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Mets To Swap Cameron For Nady

Over at RotoAuthority, I did an in-depth breakdown of the rumored Manny Ramirez trade. The conclusion? Even a trade of just Lastings Milledge and Mike Cameron for Manny Ramirez would be damaging to the Mets by 2007. If the Mets add Yusmeiro Petit or Aaron Heilman to the mix, they get killed in the deal. But now we have a new trade rumor that puts a wrinkle in the proposed Manny deal. Word is that Mike Cameron for Xavier Nady is close to a done deal. Nady's versatility is helpful, but he won't match Cameron's value in 2006. Cameron's not..   Continue Reading

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