Nick Johnson Rumors

Orioles Notes: Beltre, Delgado, Wolf, Blalock

The Orioles are positioned to be buyers in free agency, according to Jeff Zrebiec and Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun. GM Andy MacPhail says that the club is looking to spend this offseason, but there remains some skepticism in Baltimore as to whether owner Peter Angelos will be willing to open up his checkbook. If the O's decide to dole out dollars this winter, here are some of the players they will and won't be targeting: Barring a change in organizational plans, you can cross the Orioles off the list of suitors for outfielders Matt Holliday and Jason Bay....   Continue Reading

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Giants Rumors: Posey, Molina, Uggla, Johnson

Recently re-signed GM Brian Sabean has his work cut out for him this offseason. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle brings us the latest on the Giants offseason: Giants brass are discussing whether or not they feel Buster Posey will be ready to play in the majors at the start of the 2010. Even if they decide he's not, Bengie Molina isn't likely to be back in San Francisco. As we've heard elsewhere, the Mets are interested in the 35-year-old catcher. Sabean said that as of Thursday, the club wasn't close to a deal for Florida's Dan Uggla. However,...   Continue Reading

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Possible Destinations For Omar Vizquel, Nick Johnson

You could hardly think of two more dissimilar players than Omar Vizquel and Nick Johnson, but Evan Brunell of The Hardball Times took a look at where these two free agents may end up playing in 2010. First, Vizquel. Brunell thinks that Vizquel's desire to play for a higher-profile club than Texas may stem from the fact that playing for a big-market team may improve Vizquel's chances of being voted into the Hall of Fame when his career is over. There's also the fact that the 42-year-old shortstop would no doubt love to get another chance at a World Series...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Saito, Jaramillo, Marlins

More Monday linkage... Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Rockies want catcher Yorvit Torrealba back, but not at his $4MM option price. WEEI's Alex Speier explains that outrighting Takashi Saito makes a Boston re-signing more feasible. Rudy Jaramillo will likely reach an agreement soon with the Cubs for their hitting coach position, according to SI's Jon Heyman. Heyman says Jaramillo will be near the top of the coach pay scale, at $800K a year for multiple years. The Cubs are hoping Jaramillo can help Alfonso Soriano. Milton Bradley hit well in Texas, though he's a trade candidate....   Continue Reading

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Discussion: Nick Johnson

Quick: name the OBP leader among this year's free agent class. Manny Ramirez, Matt Holliday, or Bobby Abreu perhaps? Nope. It's Nick Johnson, who was third in all of baseball this year with a .426 OBP. The facts about Johnson: he didn't hit for much power this year; in fact, his OBP exceeded his .405 SLG. Aside from his on-base skills, Johnson is best known for his extensive injury history; he missed all of '07 and had only 147 plate appearances in '08 (due to a broken femur and wrist surgery). However, he was able to tally 574 PAs this...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Pavano, Gomez, Nick Johnson

Reggie Jackson tells Jon Heyman of SI.com that Alex Rodriguez will have a big postseason. Jackson says as much every year, but A-Rod did hit well last night - maybe 2009 is his year. Here are the rest of Heyman's rumors: Like most Yankees people, Jackson is no fan of Carl Pavano. Carlos Gomez is hesitant to call the trade that sent him (and others) to Minnesota for Johan Santana fair. But, as Heyman points out, the Twins beat the Mets to the playoffs. The Mets will look at free agent first basemen this offseason, but don't expect them to...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Matsui, Bradley, Dye, Chapman

Hideki Matsui is in the final year of a four-year, $52MM extension he signed with the Yankees following the 2005 campaign. At the age of 35, Matsui turned in one of his best seasons in the majors, posting .280/.373/.521 and 28 HRs. However, it doesn't appear that Hideki Matsui is a capable fielder at this stage of his career after all the injuries he has been through. Having not taken the field once all season, Matsui is strictly an American League player. As Tim Dierkes pointed out last week, if Matsui looks to sign elsewhere, he will find himself vying...   Continue Reading

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Fixing The Mets

The New York Post's Joel Sherman offered up some suggestions for shaking things up in the Mets clubhouse this offseason. He worries that Luis Castillo won't be able to replicate his strong 2009 and that Jeff Francoeur (.826 OPS with New York) may not be able to build on his solid second half. Unsurprisingly, his chief concern is the Mets starting rotation. However, Sherman suggests that the Mets first address their other holes before looking at starting pitchers, considering the weak crop available this winter: "Put out strong one-year offers with a 2011 option to a group at each position....   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Zambrano, Johnson, Fielder, Felix, Braves

On this date 39 years ago, the Mets purchased the contract of Dean Chance from the Indians. At the time, the Mets were 1.5 games back in the NL East. The former Cy Young winner would make only three relief appearances down the stretch and the Mets finished six games back in third place. Chance would subsequently be traded in the off-season and play just one more season. With only two weeks remaining before the start of most team's off-season, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... Goat Riders of the Apocalypse feels the reports...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: More Deadline Reactions

A few more links in the aftermath of the trade deadline... MLB.com's Bill Ladson says that Nationals interm GM Mike Rizzo "didn't have a choice but to trade Nick Johnson because the latter did not want to negotiate an extension with the Nationals." Johnson is looking for a two year deal according to Ladson. ESPN's Keith Law ranks the prospects traded at this year's deadline. Brett Wallace, acquired by Oakland in the Matt Holliday deal, tops the list. John Sickels of Minor League Ball chimes in with his thoughts on all of this year's deadline trades. The Padres signed sixth...   Continue Reading

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