San Diego Padres Rumors
By Luke Adams [November 8, 2009 at 10:32am CST]
Nick Cafardo's latest column for the Boston Globe is a lengthy one, and is full of hot stove discussion and speculation. Let's take a look.... After Ken Rosenthal expressed skepticism about Boston's ability to acquire Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres, Cafardo declares that it's the one move the Red Sox have to make to keep up with the Yankees. Although he presents a lengthy argument for why it could work, he never specifically addresses what players the Sox could send to San Diego, which was the sticking point for Rosenthal. Xavier Nady would like to return to the Yankees, but...
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By Luke Adams [November 8, 2009 at 9:49am CST]
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up today, in which he discusses a variety of topics from around the league. Let's recap a few of the highlights.... Although the Boston Red Sox have been the team most frequently linked to Adrian Gonzalez, it's unclear whether they have the pieces to work out a trade. Rosenthal suggests the Padres will want some major-league talent in return, and quotes one baseball executive who says he can't imagine how the Sox get a deal done. Rosenthal says the Padres should be more inclined to move closer Heath Bell than Gonzalez....
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By Drew Silva [November 4, 2009 at 9:22pm CST]
According to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, infielder Edgar Gonzalez intends to opt for free agency once the World Series ends. “I think this is the end of my run here,” Gonzalez said Wednesday after the Padres dropped him from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to Triple-A Portland. “I love San Diego. And the Padres gave me an opportunity that I'm thankful for. But my future is probably elsewhere.” Gonzalez, 31, batted .216/.278/.373 with four homers and 18 RBI in 169 plate appearances this season with the Padres. He is a .255/.312/.381 career hitter and made $407K...
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By Tim Dierkes [November 2, 2009 at 8:32am CST]
Links for Monday... Offers have begun rolling in for Aroldis Chapman, says ESPN's Keith Law. Also, MLB.com's Carrie Muskat says the Cubs talked to Chapman's agent but he "doesn't fit in their budget." ESPN's Peter Gammons tweets that Red Sox Director of Player Development Mike Hazen declined Jed Hoyer's offer to become the Padres' assistant GM. MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers "refused to rule out the possibility of Milton Bradley coming back to Texas." Sullivan wasn't willing to allow the possibility a month ago, when he wrote, "The Rangers are not interested in Bradley. Sources have made that clear....
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By Luke Adams [November 1, 2009 at 12:34pm CST]
Here are a few Sunday links to browse, as a huge sports day in Philadelphia begins.... John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if the "desperate-for-pop" San Francisco Giants will try to top the Boston Red Sox rumored four-year offer to Jason Bay (we heard some speculation about this yesterday too). If not, Shea names Garrett Atkins as a cheaper potential target for the Giants. SI.com's Jon Heyman discusses Bay and Matt Holliday in his latest column. Heyman points out that although Bay's agent, Joe Urbon, refers to him as the market's "most complete" player, Urbon keeps tying Bay's...
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By Luke Adams [October 31, 2009 at 7:23pm CST]
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune looks at a few hot stove topics from around the league in his latest article. Here are some of his thoughts: He speculates that the Seattle Mariners' interest in Aroldis Chapman stems from their desire to still have a front-line starter if they eventually decide to move Felix Hernandez. Rogers is skeptical that the two Chicago teams have the resources to compete seriously in the Chapman sweepstakes. Be sure to check out MLBTR's complete Chapman review. With Tim Hudson on the verge of re-signing with the Braves, Ken Rosenthal indicated that Javier Vazquez or...
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By Mike Axisa [October 30, 2009 at 9:11pm CST]
Here's a few links to end the night... MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tweets that Astros GM Ed Wade said the team "is talking with LaTroy Hawkins, who wanted to see who the manager was going to be first." Hawkins will be a free agent this offseason for the fourth time in as many years. Juan Uribe has informed the Giants that he plans to test the market, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News. MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko reports that the Orioles outrighted three players off their 40-man roster, including southpaw Rich Hill. Meanwhile, MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says the Indians outrighted...
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By Ben Nicholson-Smith [October 29, 2009 at 9:31am CST]
Some links to read for Thursday morning... The AP reports (via the Miami Herald) that the Seibu Lions won the rights to negotiate with top Japanese amateur Yusei Kikuchi. Another top young pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, hit 100 mph repeatedly in his third AFL start, according to ESPN.com's Jason Grey. Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says fans and media members need to hold Astros owner Drayton McLane accountable, and says it wasn't GM Ed Wade's fault that managerial candidate Manny Acta signed with the Indians. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears that the Cardinals still have interest in...
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By Tim Dierkes [October 28, 2009 at 10:21am CST]
Links for Wednesday... Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times doesn't expect much to change with the Cubs under the Ricketts family. He says to expect a payroll around $143MM. That might leave GM Jim Hendry with around $8MM to work with. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic believes Eric Byrnes' time with the Diamondbacks might be nearing an end. They may attempt to trade him before releasing him. John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer wouldn't be surprised to see the Reds release center fielder Willy Taveras, who is still owed $4MM. Sox Machine reader Chris Pummer makes the case...
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By Mike Axisa [October 27, 2009 at 7:26pm CST]
Here's a few links to help you through another baseball-less night... Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus tweets that Aroldis Chapman will throw a bullpen at Fenway tomorrow. ESPN's Keith Law says that firing VP of scouting and player development Grady Fuson was a good move by new GM Jed Hoyer and the Padres. He notes that San Diego's drafts have been among the worst in the game over the last few years, although they did change course last year. Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun says the Orioles need a power hitter at one of the corner infield spots, and...
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