Nick Punto Rumors
Twins Still Exploring Shortstop Options
According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins are still exploring shortstop options despite signing Nick Punto.
Two of the team's targets do not seem available - J.J. Hardy and Yunel Escobar. The Braves were hard-pressed to discuss Escobar even when they thought they had Rafael Furcal, though the Twins inquired. And Doug Melvin is sticking to his stance on Hardy.
We talked about other failed Twins infield pursuits yesterday.
Pirates Sign Ramon Vazquez
FRIDAY, 1:51pm: Kovacevic says the Vazquez signing is official at two years and $4MM.
THURSDAY, 11:37pm: Dejan Kovacevic says the Pirates have agreed to the framework of a contract with Vazquez. The contract is not signed yet, and Vazquez needs to take a physical. Another note: the Twins' signing of Nick Punto reduces the already-weak market for Jack Wilson. Kovacevic says the Dodgers have leverage if they want to go after Wilson as a Rafael Furcal fallback.
12:32am: Vazquez's agent told Kovacevic they're "very, very close" but not done. Neal Huntington also said it's not done.
10:51am: Dejan Kovacevic phrases it as "trying to sign" Vazquez.
10:12am: According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Pirates are on the verge of a two-year, $4MM deal with infielder Ramon Vazquez. Vazquez should be able to step in at either middle infield position if the Bucs manager to trade Freddy Sanchez or Jack Wilson. He needs to sit against lefties though.
Twins Re-Sign Punto
According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins re-signed infielder Nick Punto to a two-year, $8.5MM deal with an option for 2011. Punto drew interest from the D'Backs, Yankees, Phillies, Mets, and Tigers at the Meetings.
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 D'Backs have not resumed talks with Randy Johnson.
12:12pm: Piecoro says talks between the D'Backs and Mark Loretta have advanced in recent days. They've made a "significant overture" according to Loretta's agent.
2:26am: Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has the latest on the Diamondbacks, in blog posts here and here.
- Piecoro dissects the D'Backs' thought process behind their decision not to offer arbitration to Type A free agent Adam Dunn. He notes that their rumored two-year offer to Dunn was "more of an exploratory offer, nothing formal." They'll stay in touch with Dunn in case the market is not to his liking.
- Free agent targets: Nick Punto, Arthur Rhodes, and the aforementioned Joe Beimel.
- Punto is one of many candidates for second base. Ramon Vazquez was the top target, but he was two guaranteed years rather than one with an option.
- Piecoro wonders if the D'Backs might now be able to scrape together another $3MM or so for Randy Johnson, given the Dunn draft pick savings and Brandon Lyon's decision to decline arb.
Punto Visits With Phillies, Draws Yankee Interest
7:31pm: The Yankees are looking for a utility infielder, and Brian Cashman said today Punto is on their radar.
6:51pm: John R. Finger of Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia says Nick Punto visited with Phillies brass this afternoon. They'll meet again later today. Punto may return to the Twins, and he's also been linked to the D'Backs and Mets.
Tigers Acquire Gerald Laird
1:21am: Morosi says the second pitching prospect is indeed Melo.
12:12am: Morosi says an agreement has been reached, and the second prospect is a pitcher. There's speculation that prospect could be Carlos Melo, as he fits Rosenthal's description.
11:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Tigers acquired Laird for Moscoso and a second prospect. The second prospect "is a 17-year-old who spent last season in the Dominican Summer League." Could it be shortstops Samuel Ortiz or Domingo Gonzales? Pitchers Rayni Guichardo or Carlos Melo? The deal will be announced Monday. Laird, a Scott Boras client, is under team control through 2010.
Rosenthal adds that the Tigers are considering Adam Everett and Nick Punto as shortstop options.
9:26pm: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "The Tigers and Texas Rangers have made significant progress toward a trade that would send catcher Gerald Laird to Detroit and pitching prospect Guillermo Moscoso to the Rangers." It's not known whether the Tigers would include anyone else.
Baseball America ranks Moscoso tenth among Tigers prospects, noting shoulder woes but suggesting a high ceiling. They say he could end up a #3 or #4 starter. He's drawn some comparisons to Jair Jurrjens.
Odds and Ends: Teahen, Mastny, Clement
Sunday evening links...I will add to this post as needed.
- Dejan Kovacevic describes what it's like for a reporter at the Winter Meetings.
- The Royals do not want to trade Mark Teahen. They've received inquiries on Teahen, David DeJesus, Jose Guillen, and Billy Butler. They mainly seem willing to move Guillen, which Jayson Stark reported earlier.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along nuggets on Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara. He says the Angels contacted Kawakami's agent, while the Tigers and Giants have been in touch with Uehara's.
- Newman also says the Yokohama BayStars acquired reliever Tom Mastny from the Indians.
- Free agent infielder Nick Punto admitted to LEN3 that it'd be hard to leave the Twins.
- John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus says the Pirates are "willing to take a flyer on free-agent local boy Matt Clement." Clement may also consider Cleveland if they'll have him.
- Other teams are pulling ahead of the Rockies in the pursuit for free agent lefty Joe Beimel. Nothing against Beimel, but it seems that every year one free agent lefty reliever is elevated beyond his true value. It might be Beimel this year.
- Jon Paul Morosi discusses trading Dontrelle Willis.
- The Marlins figure to hang on to Dan Uggla.
- Roch Kubatko says Orioles exec Mike Flanagan won't be attending the Meetings, sparking speculation about his future with the team.
Phillies, Mets Interested In Punto
According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Phillies and Mets have expressed interest in free agent infielder Nick Punto. The Twins are also in contact.
Punto, 31, hit .284/.344/.382 in 377 plate appearances this year. He seems to play an above average shortstop, according to the plus/minus system. Punto is also capable of playing the other infield positions. He earned $2.4MM in '08.
No Agreement Yet For Moyer
12:01pm: David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News says everyone expects the Phils to re-sign Moyer. He says not to read into the Lowe/Burnett inquiries; the team has inquired on more than 25 free agents. MLB.com's Ken Mandel names six of them: Doug Brocail, Russ Springer, Raul Ibanez, Rocco Baldelli, Jerry Hairston Jr., and Nick Punto.
10:16am: According to Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies are still talking to free agent pitcher Jamie Moyer but don't have an agreement yet. Moyer apparently wants a multiyear deal. The Phils recently contacted Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett to hedge their bets.
Perrotto's Latest: Free Agent Predictions
John Perrotto has his Every Given Sunday column up over at Baseball Prospectus. Perrotto offers a list of some educated guesses as to where some of the top free agents in baseball will land, with some surprises here and there. Let's take a look:
- Perrotto lists the Yankees loading up on starting pitching, landing C.C. Sabathia and Derek Lowe, while the Dodgers land Manny Ramirez after doubling their initial offer to four years, $100MM.
- Perrotto says the Nationals will land Mark Teixeira, as they could be prepared to offer Teixeira - a Maryland native - ten years, $200MM. Turning down that kind of money would certainly be difficult.
- Perrotto has Adam Dunn landing on the North Side of Chicago and having an adventurous time in right field for the Cubs. According to these predictions, he'll be joined by Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood - neither of whom are going anywhere.
- Perrotto feel Andy Pettitte won't be back with the Yankees, and feels that he will either take a below-market contract from his hometown Astros or retire. He also pegs Mike Mussina to likely retire, but agrees he'll be back with the Yankees if he does indeed make a run at 300 wins.
- Other predictions from Perrotto: Raul Ibanez and Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets, Milton Bradley to Toronto, Orlando Cabrera to Minnesota, Casey Blake back to Cleveland, A.J. Burnett to the Orioles, Brian Fuentes to the Angels, Nick Punto to St. Louis, Randy Johnson to the Angels, Jason Giambi to Oakland, and Orlando Hudson to the Mets.
- The list of players who will end up back with their current teams: Ben Sheets, Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Jamie Moyer, and Jason Varitek, on a two-year $20MM contract, courtesy of Scott Boras.
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