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Archives for December 2007

Nats Extend Wily Mo Pena, Sign Aaron Boone

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UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 12:21pm:  The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford says Wily Mo could’ve gotten more guaranteed money if he’d stuck with his previous agent, Josh Zeide.

FROM 12-6-07 at 11:20am:

The Nats made a couple of moves today.

  • The rumored extension to Wily Mo Pena is done.  He gets $2MM in ’08, plus a mutual option for ’09.  The club can exercise it for $5MM, and if they decline Pena can take it for $2MM.
  • Aaron Boone signed a one-year, $1MM deal with incentives.  Boone, who turns 35 in March, hit a respectable .286/.388/.423 in part-time duty with the Marlins this year. 
  • The Nats re-signed Ryan Langerhans to a minor-league deal.

Odds and Ends: Fukudome, Mahay, Santana

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Rounding up some odds and ends for you…

  • I’d read that Akinori Otsuka recommended the Padres to Kosuke Fukudome, kind of glossed over the fact.  But Jamey Newberg has is rightly disappointed in the Rangers reliever.  After all, the Rangers have Fukudome in their sights, and Otsuka plays for the Rangers.
  • A good source tells me the Yankees believe they are in the lead for Ron Mahay, and think it can be done this upcoming week.  If it’s true that Mahay has narrowed his choices to the Yanks and Royals, and the Royals have little interest, this makes sense.
  • MetsBlog reports that Johan Santana prefers to pitch for the Mets.  He likes the idea of moving to the NL.

Yanks Interested In Kazuo Fukumori

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31 year-old Japanese reliever Kazuo Fukumori is drawing plenty of interest – 10 teams have inquired, if you believe his agent.  A new interested party has been revealed – the Yankees.  They met with Alan Nero on Wednesday.  Fukumori wants a two-year deal.

Ken Davidoff’s article says the Padres and Rays are also in the mix.  The Nationals, Royals, and Red Sox are others who have been connected.  The Rockies will pass on Fukumori because of concerns over his elbow.  East Windup Chronicle profiled Fukumori here.  A scout Davidoff talked to saw him as a sixth or seventh inning guy; he didn’t seem thrilled.

Dontrelle For Josh Hamilton Was Discussed

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UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 2:47am: More excitement…throw Abraham Nunez into the mix of Marlins third base targets.  This team is going places.

FROM 12-7-07 at 11:27am:

MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro posted a new column last night full of good Marlins hot stove chatter.

  • The most interesting note is that the Marlins talked to the Reds about swapping Dontrelle Willis for Josh Hamilton, prior to the blockbuster with Detroit. 
  • With Miguel Cabrera, the White Sox and Rangers were involved during the Meetings before the Tigers jumped in.  The Rangers backed out when they couldn’t get an extension window for Cabrera.  The Tigers wanted the same but obviously it wasn’t the dealbreaker.  The Angels, Dodgers, and Giants were involved before the Meetings, with the Giants offering Noah Lowry.
  • Frisaro says there are "strong indications the Marlins will sign Jorge Cantu.  He’ll be in the mix at third base.
  • The Fish are offering the Phils Scott Nestor for Wes Helms, who’d also compete at the hot corner.
  • The Mets have some interest in Alfredo Amezaga, though the Marlins are inclined to keep him.
  • Miguel Olivo will be released soon, so throw him into the catcher market with Michael Barrett. 

Rockies Bump Up Hawkins Offer

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Some hot news tonight…OK, not really.  The Rockies improved their offer to LaTroy Hawkins tonight, proposing a slight raise.

Hawkins made $3.25MM in 2007, and the Rockies declined a $3.75MM option on him for 2008.  Sounds like they’ll have to come in around the option price to keep him.  Even worse, they already paid him a $250K buyout.  So it was an effective $3.5MM that they passed on.  That’s right around the amount the Yankees reportedly offered.

I might be missing something, but it seems like the Rockies didn’t handle this as well as they could have.

Arbitration Decisions

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Free agents’ decisions on whether to accept their teams’ offers of arbitration are rolling in.

  • Eric Gagne told the Red Sox that he won’t their offer of arbitration.  The Boras camp had sent signals otherwise, but it was an idle threat.  He wants that multiyear deal or at least a chance to close.  The Red Sox get a delicious sandwich pick for their dalliance with Gagne.  Could’ve been more, if Gagne was lights out for them and snagged Type A status.
  • Mark Loretta accepted; Trever Miller declined.  Loretta should make $3MM+ to take on a utility role.  The Astros could always still trade him to a team looking for second base help.  As for Miller, he could still return.  The Astros will get a sandwich pick if he leaves.
  • Ron Mahay declined the Braves’ offer.  No surprise since he’s looking for three years.  You have to consider their sandwich pick as an added benefit of the Teixeira trade.
  • Aaron Rowand is expected to decline, which is a formality since he’s going to get at least three years.  As a Type A, the Phils probably hope he ends up with the Yankees somehow.

Coco Crisp’s Agent Speaks

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Coco Crisp’s agent, Steve Comte, supplied all sorts of quotes to the Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford.  Covelli’s not a fourth outfielder, he’s better than Jacoby Ellsbury, he’s a proven commodity, stuff like that.  It was interesting to read, and you can see where Crisp and Comte are coming from.  But it doesn’t really change anything, because if the Red Sox don’t trade Crisp and he wants his $4.75MM next year, he’s going to have to live with a reduced role.

Bradford mentions that the White Sox, A’s, Rangers, and Braves have inquired on Crisp.  The Padres, Twins, and Orioles have also been connected to him.

Reds In On Cameron?

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According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Mike Cameron’s agent tonight said he has a new suitor.  Krasovic makes an educated guess that the Reds are that team.  He cites Cameron’s desire to play for Dusty Baker, the possible defensive improvement, and the availability of Josh Hamilton as factors.  It would be odd for the Reds to spend their remaining money on a position player though.

Cameron enjoyed his time in Cincinnati in 1999, hitting .256/.357/.469 as a 26 year-old before being included in the Griffey trade.  Wouldn’t it be interesting if the Reds brought back Cameron and Brett Tomko?  And Antonio Perez is probably kicking around somewhere too.

Red Sox Considering Bench Additions

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Sean McAdam writes today about some bench players on Boston’s radar.  He names Russell Branyan, Ryan Klesko, Corey Koskie, Jeff Cirillo, and Olmedo Saenz as possibilities.  Branyan may be toward the bottom of the list.  He had an odd .196/.320/.423 line this year with 10 HR in 163 ABs.

Klesko seems the best hitter of the bunch with a .744 OPS this year.  Koskie missed the ’07 season with post-concussion syndrome.  He said he’ll re-evaluate in January and decide whether he can play or has to retire.

Where Do MLBTR Readers Come From?

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MLB Trade Rumors had over a million visits and two million pageviews during the Winter Meetings – nice job everyone!  Thanks for reading.  If you’re new here, I hope you stick around.  So, how did people arrive at this site during the Meetings?

About 49% came directly, maybe they have it bookmarked or just type it in.  Another 35% came from search engines.  The other 16% or so came from other websites.  I strongly encourage you to visit these guys, show ’em a little love back.

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