Ryan Howard Rumors

Odds & Ends: Reds, White Sox, Shimizu

More Thursday linkage... MLB.com's Mark Sheldon guesses the Reds will buy out Ramon Hernandez's option for $1MM, but then try to re-sign him. Sheldon also runs through the upcoming important hot stove dates. White Sox GM Ken Williams wouldn't reveal much about his offseason plans, talking to MLB.com's Scott Merkin. "I'm always looking at all the possibilities," said Williams. WEEI's Rob Bradford talked to Tim Wakefield, who is aiming for 200 victories. He's 11 shy, so he could pull it off in 2010. The Sox figure to exercise his $4MM option once again. Ryo Shinkawa of NPB Tracker says 33-year-old...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Ng, Thome, Blue Jays

Despite the threat of rain pretty much all day, the Yanks and Angels are playing in the Bronx. Here's a few links to check out between pitches... SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that Dodgers' assistant GM Kim Ng interviewed for the Padres GM job today. She's vying to become the first female GM in history. The NLCS is bringing Jim Thome back to Philadelphia for just the second time since the trade that sent him to the White Sox prior to the 2006 season, and as MLB.com's Ken Gurnick explains, the Phillies were "somewhat divided internally" about whether to deal Thome,...   Continue Reading

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Giants Rumors: Lincecum, Sanchez, Penny

Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News has the goods on the Giants, after speaking with GM Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy. Technically, Sabean and Bochy's contracts are up at the end of the month. They don't have commitments for 2010 in hand, yet the expectation is that both will be back. In discussing Tim Lincecum's upcoming arbitration case, Sabean referenced Ryan Howard's record first-time award ($10MM) from February of '08. Of course, with Howard, the Phillies screwed up by submitting only $7MM. Sabean wants to file his salary request for Lincecum before discussing a long-term deal, so...   Continue Reading

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Heyman On Manny, Pudge, Cabrera, Howard

The latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman... Heyman says "most in the know seem to still believe [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt will bend on Manny Ramirez and go to three years." The Nationals' offer to Adam Dunn was on the table for weeks until he realized no team was going to beat or approach it. There were rumors months ago that Dunn sought a $100MM deal heading into free agency. The Astros and Marlins are looking at Ivan Rodriguez. There's even an El Nuevo Dia report suggesting the Astros offered $2.5MM+ to Pudge, but that seems out of their price range...   Continue Reading

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Phillies, Ryan Howard Agree To Three-Year Deal

3:53pm: Jayson Stark chimes in, stating that the Phillies can trade Howard, without penalty, after Nov. 1, 2010. If traded before that date, Howard will receive an extra $1MM. Doesn't sound like too much of a penalty to any team seriously looking at acquiring him. 2:35pm: Joel Sherman has the numbers: Howard will earn $15MM in 2009, $19MM in 2010, and $20MM in 2011. The base salaries for 2010 and 2011 will increase by $1MM if Howard wins the MVP award in the season prior, and $500K if he finishes second in the voting. He will earn $100K for any...   Continue Reading

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Phillies Rumors: Nomar, Howard, Andruw

Kevin Roberts of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a few Phillies rumors: GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says it's "very likely" the Phillies will not make any more additions. The Phillies have inquired on "almost every righthanded bat on the market." They've considerd Rich Aurilia, Nomar Garciaparra, Moises Alou and Mark Grudzielanek. Amaro's targeting Nomar. Roberts agrees with Jon Heyman that the Phillies gave Andruw Jones a "tepid look." However, they're in no hurry to bring in a righty bench bat and could take their time adding one. The $4MM gap between the Phillies' arbitration offer to Ryan Howard and his demand...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Manny, Braves Howard, Mets, Nomar, Sheets

On this date 51 years ago, the Red Sox signed Ted Williams to a one-year deal for $135K - making him the highest paid player in Major League history. This contract came on the heels of a season in which Williams hit .388-38-87 with a .526 OBP and 233 OPS+. And all of that was at age 38. With one week to go before pitchers and catchers report, several players in the twilight of their career are still looking for contracts of their own. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... River Ave. Blues says...   Continue Reading

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Odds and Ends: Crede, Jays, Howard

Links for Wednesday... Here's the transcript of WEEI's interview with Theo Epstein. Epstein says "nothing is hot or active right now" for the Red Sox. Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote yesterday that "a Joe Crede signing remains a real possibility for the Twins." Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press writes about the Blue Jays' attempts to break into the Japanese market. Will the players union organize a training camp for unsigned players? Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times discusses the slow-moving market. Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News had two baseball officials and an agent explain how...   Continue Reading

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Phillies Still Talking Contract With Ryan Howard

Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer talked to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said the team is still involved in contract negotiations with Ryan Howard's agent Casey Close. This is Howard's second arbitration year; he's requested $18MM while the Phils countered at $14MM. A panel of three people will decide whether Howard earns $18MM or $14MM in 2009, unless the two sides reach an agreement prior to the hearing. Salisbury believes the hearing is scheduled in the February 9-13 range. ESPN's Jayson Stark wrote last week that the previous request record for a second-year arb player was Derek Jeter's...   Continue Reading

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Odds And Ends: Heilman, Pedro, Twins

A few more links for Wednesday... Ryan Howard said a long-term deal with the Phillies would be "beautiful," for what it's worth. The New York Times' Ben Shpigel comments on the Aaron Heilman deal and its effect on new teammate Jeff Samardzija. Marty Noble of MLB.com learned that Mets GM Omar Minaya met with Pedro Martinez in the Dominican Republic today, but did not make an offer (and re-signing him remains a long shot). Yahoo's Tim Brown has the roundup on the Twins' hot stove happenings. Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com takes on the Manny Ramirez-to-Mets conspiracy theorists.   Continue Reading

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