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Archives for December 2006

Gotham: Reds Still After Bonderman

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According to Gotham Baseball, reporting from the Winter Meetings, the Reds are still trying to trade for Jeremy Bonderman.  Unfortunately, the Tigers probably will not trade him.  Wayne Krivsky is chasing a lesser option in Brian Bannister of the Mets.  Last week, we reported that the Rockies and Mariners have interest in Bannister.

Of course, plenty of teams are still trying to trade for Jason Jennings.  Those include the Mets, D’Backs, Astros, and Cards according to Gotham.  Previously, the Rockies had received inquiries from the Cubs and Twins.

Weathers to Stay with Reds?

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Hey all you Hot Stove addicts,

Chris Hurst here. Tim asked for my help this week in posting some hot rumors for you all. I should probably introduce myself first though. While I don’t have any blogging experience, I am a Journalism student at Emerson college in Boston, and have done extensive radio and TV work. Baseball is my life, and my blood is Phillies red. I guess I’m also obligated to give a shout out to all the guys at www.philliesphans.com and the Eagles Message Board, the two places with the best Phillies talk on the web, outside some great blogs.

Speaking of the Phils, one of their relief options may be coming off the table. MLB.com is reporting that David Weathers is reported close to re-signing with the Reds for 2 more years, in a deal worth about $5MM total. Weathers was decent last year, going 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA, but after the break, he had a 1.64 ERA in 29 appearances.

by Chris Hurst

Gleeman: Crede In Play

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Aaron Gleeman reports from Orlando that White Sox third baseman Joe Crede "continues to be in play, regardless of whether the Angels remain the destination."

As a Scott Boras client with two years left of service time, now might be the time to cash in for Kenny Williams.  The feeling seems to be that Josh Fields is ready to step in at third base after posting an .894 OPS at Triple A as a 23 year-old.  Of course, no one knows what kind of overall dropoff the Sox would experience in making that substitution.

Williams, of course, holds other important cards in his starting rotation.  It makes sense to deal a pitcher separately rather than package one with Crede.

Updates On Borowski, Lilly, Piazza

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ESPN’s winter meetings article is being constantly updated with new info. Highlights:

Joe Borowski could sign with the Tribe if his medical reports check out.  Confirmed at MLB.com.

The Angels may have some interest in Mike Piazza.

The Cubs are close on Ted Lilly and Jacque Jones seems plenty available.

The Reds will likely snag David Weathers for two more seasons.

Bucco Blog Winter Meetings Update

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Bucco Blog has a new podcast with a Winter Meetings update.  Interesting points within:

The White Sox and the Pirates are the teams that "have the arms."  GMs looking for pitching will go to the Sox for experienced guys and the Pirates for solid 0-3 guys.

Many are speculating that a Devil Rays/Pirates deal would fit well.  The D-Rays are desperate for pitching, the Pirates would like a young slugger.  How about Duke for Dukes?

GMs are targeted the following Pirates: Zach Duke, Tom Gorzelanny, and Mike Gonzalez.  Will Dave Littlefield part with them?

Two first basemen who have been connected to the Bucs are Daric Barton and Casey Kotchman.  Jake questions the Kotchman possibility – if he was over his mono, how come he didn’t play winter ball to prove it?

UPDATE: Reader Tom points out that Kotchman is indeed playing winter ball in Puerto Rico.

Vernon Wells: The Next $20 Million Man?

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Already, speculation is starting that Blue Jays’ center fielder Vernon Wells could be the next player to command $20MM annually.  Wells turns 28 later this month and will be a free agent after the 2007 season.

Wells’s offensive production this year ranked third in baseball for his position, behind only Grady Sizemore and Carlos Beltran.  Bill James’s panel of fielding experts ranked his glovework 8th among CFs.  J.P. Ricciardi seems willing to let Wells play out the string in his walk year rather than try to cash in.  The bidding war a year from now could involve the Rangers, Red Sox, White Sox, Phillies, Astros, and Cubs.

For 2007, baseball has three players set to earn $20MM or more:  Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Jason Giambi.

With that, let the Winter Meetings begin!  No more puff pieces about Zito or the number 51.1111 or the 2000 meetings in Dallas…it’s time for action.

Rogers: Cubs After Lofton

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According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs are "working to sign" Kenny Lofton to play center field.  Rogers was quoting a Major League source in the article.

Should Julio Lugo opt for the Mets or Red Sox, the Cubs are basically left with Lofton as the only reasonable free agent center fielder.  The backup plan appears to be using Alfonso Soriano there.

I think Lofton is a fine idea for the Cubs; I thought so last year too.  You get a decent OBP on a one-year deal.  Lofton’s defense doesn’t impress at this point, and 130 games is a stretch, but it’s a smart low-risk move.  The oft-touted Felix Pie will be 22 next season; he could learn as Lofton’s backup and won’t be blocked when he’s ready.

There’s also a nostalgia factor – Lofton played center for the Cubs when they last had a decent team in 2003.

Importing a center fielder would make Matt Murton or Jacque Jones the odd man out.  With Murton playing for cheap and posting a .319/.390/.522 second half, it would be hard to part with him. 

If the Cubs were to attempt to find a CF via trade, here are some possibilities:  Rocco Baldelli, Eric Byrnes, Ryan Freel, Aaron Rowand, Willy Taveras, or Reggie Willits.

UPDATE:  The link above is dead; it’s been replaced with this one.  There is no mention of Lofton in it, for some reason.

In addition, this article from MLB.com says that Jim Hendry has yet to meet with Ted Lilly’s agent and does not intend to trade Murton.  The idea of moving Jones to center is mentioned.

Astros, Rockies Interested In Juan Rincon

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Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press writes that the Astros and Rockies are talking to the Twins about righty reliever Juan Rincon.  The Venezuelan will be 28 this January.  Rincon has always shown good command and kept the ball in the park; he’s seemingly a lock for 75 innings and an ERA around 3.

Struggling with a groin injury, Rincon posted a 1.60 WHIP in the second half and lost his job as the eighth inning setup man in September.  Also, he had surgery to remove bone chips in his pitching elbow in October of 2005 and soreness lingered into the start of the season.  Back in May of ’05, Rincon earned a 10 game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.  He lost an appeal of the suspension.

Rincon made about $700,000 in 2006; he’ll be a free agent after the 2008 season.  As RotoWorld mentioned, a fine fit would be third baseman Morgan Ensberg. 

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