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Archives for December 2007

The Giants and Hideki Matsui

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As we learned earlier this week, the Giants and Yankees have talked about a Hideki Matsui trade.  Let’s discuss.

  • According to Andrew Baggarly, talks are still in the early stages but the teams will meet again soon on the topic.  A source close to Matsui indicated that he’d waive his no-trade for San Fran.  However, the Giants are said to prefer adding a right-handed slugger.  Baggarly thinks the Giants would readily part with Jonathan Sanchez and Brad Hennessey, with Noah Lowry a possibility.  The Giants won’t part with Brian Wilson, their closer of the future.
  • Other notes from Baggarly – the Giants are over Miguel Tejada and were told Jay Bruce is untouchable.
  • Pete Caldera says the Yankees like Lowry but considers a deal a long shot.
  • Ed Price reports that Matsui’s agent hasn’t had a request about waiving the no-trade, and the agent won’t comment on Matsui’s willingness.
  • Don’t expect the Giants to acquire both Alex Rios and Matsui.  Tim Lincecum would stay if Lowry goes.  At this same link Mark Feinsand notes that subtracting Matsui’s contract might create more flexibility to acquire Johan Santana.

Cubs Rumors: Fukudome, Prior, Roberts

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Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago-Sun Times checks in with the latest Cubs buzz.

  • The Cubs, Padres, and White Sox are in on Kosuke Fukudome.  It seems that both Chicago teams are willing to spend big bucks.
  • Wittenmyer’s source indicates sparse interest in Mark Prior, though the Cubs have been shopping him.  The Cubs could still choose to non-tender him on Wednesday rather than pay $3MM+.  Seems like a reasonable gamble though.
  • The Orioles want to figure out their plans with Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada before making a move with Brian Roberts, so talks with the Cubs have cooled.  The O’s want Sean Gallagher and a outfield prospect, but not Matt Murton.  Could 22 year-old Tyler Colvin be involved?  Felix Pie is said to be off-limits.  Colvin has drawn Steve Finley/Shawn Green comparisons from Baseball America.

Red Sox, Blue Jays and Erik Bedard

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A note from Jayson Stark’s recent column is making the rounds – that the offers the Orioles were hearing for Erik Bedard were coming from the Blue Jays and Red Sox.  Stark notes the strong improbability of Bedard being trade to a division rival.

The count of teams interested in Bedard reached 11 during the crazy Winter Meetings.  The Red Sox are the 12th team. 

Here’s the tally: Phillies, Cardinals, Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, D’Backs, Reds, Cubs, Red Sox, and Blue Jays.  Toss out the AL East and we’re at 9.  Toss out the Phils and Cards for lack of top tier available youngsters too.  That leaves us with these 7: Mets, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, D’Backs, Reds, and Cubs.

Phillies, Dodgers Not Interested In Inge

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According to Jayson Stark yesterday, the Tigers are indeed shopping ousted 29 year-old third baseman Brandon Inge.  He says the Dodgers and Phillies have already said no.  My guess at the rationale: the Dodgers will go internal and are less concerned with the position, and the Phils want a good hitter at the position.

Inge seemingly peaked in ’06, hitting 27 HRs with fine defense.  That earned him a four-year, $24MM extension.  He’s got three years and $19.1MM left.  His stock is down after posting a .688 OPS last year.  Inge was a catcher as recently as 2004, so maybe he can don the tools of ignorance once again.  There, his offense wouldn’t look nearly as poor.  Still, it’s hard to figure out a team that would pursue him.

A’s May Consider Bonds

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It was suggested yesterday that the Cardinals had a little bit of interest in free agent Barry Bonds.  Not so, according to Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Miklasz was told a while back by team owner Bill DeWitt that it wasn’t happening.

However, Susan Slusser’s article this morning indicates the A’s will consider signing Bonds.  Billy Beane recently indicated he was leaning toward playing to win in ’08, so Bonds makes sense.  Slusser talked to a Major League exec who said he’d be shocked if it didn’t happen.

Slusser’s industry source says two other teams have expressed interest, and Bonds’ agent said he’s talking to teams from both leagues.  Any guesses?  It’s known that the Rangers, Twins, Mariners, and Tigers aren’t interested.

Cubs Willing To Pay $12-15MM Per Year For Fukudome?

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 7:39pm: Sandy Alderson was on 1090 AM XX Sports Radio tonight. He said the Padres gave Fukudome one of the top two or three offers the team ever proposed.  An answer from Fukudome is expected tonight or tomorrow.

FROM 12-6-07 at 2:23pm:

According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, it "sounds like the Cubs might go as high as $12-15MM per year" for outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. He adds that Fukudome would have to be willing to take less money to play on the West Coast if he is to become a Padre.  Many players have before, so don’t go buying those Fukudome Cubs jerseys just yet.

Krasovic also has a note on Andruw Jones.  Apparently the only other concrete offer outside of the Dodgers was a two-year, $22MM one from the Royals.

Astros Tejada Trade Not Close, But Possible

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 5:01pm: MLB.com’s Alyson Footer checks in with some detail.  She notes that no deal is close but it is possible.  Hunter Pence, J.R. Towles, and Felipe Paulino are considered off-limits.

UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 3:02pm: Still listening to 790…the message is now that the talks are in an "advanced stage" and they do not know the names involved.  There’s also a question of whether Tejada would waive his no-trade.  Ken Rosenthal checks in – the teams have had significant discussions and may have been on the verge at some point.  But nothing is imminent.

UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 1:33pm: ESPN’s Jayson Stark says Andy MacPhail has left Nashville without a deal in place.  But talks about Tejada and Brian Roberts are on the frontburner.  Hopefully Jeff Zrebiec will weigh in soon…

FROM 12-6-07 at 12:39pm:

790 The Sports Animal, a Houston radio station, is reporting that the Astros are close to a deal to acquire Miguel Tejada.  The reported package: Adam Everett, Chris Burke, and a pitcher.  Heard them saying this myself by listening online; they’re talking about it now.

The package sounds light, but maybe better if Troy Patton is the pitcher.  More when I have it.

Odds and Ends: Bonds, Rusch, Iguchi, Nathan

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The Winter Meetings are over and I have a nice case of carpal tunnel.  Let’s round up some odds and ends anyway, I can always type with my toes.

  • In a chat today, Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus said the only team besides the A’s with a modicum of interest in Barry Bonds is the Cardinals (a week ago).
  • Couple of Phils notes per Scott Lauber.  Glendon Rusch asked for a big league deal and a rotation spot, neither of which the Phils are keen on.  Also that Tadahito Iguchi waiver?  No chance.
  • Joel Sherman noted today that the Twins and Yankees briefly discussed expanding the Johan Santana talks to include Joe Nathan.  I heard this one at the beginning of the Meetings but I was skeptical.  I wonder if including Nathan ever came up with the Red Sox?  Maybe that would compel them to put both Ellsbury and Lester in the deal.

Blue Jays Close With Lo Duca

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 4:10pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the "final touches" are being applied to Lo Duca’s one-year, $3MM deal with the Blue Jays.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 10:11pm: Robert MacLeod says the Jays are close with Lo Duca on a one-year deal for $3-4MM.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 8:02pm: Jeff Blair says the Jays made a one-year offer for less than $5MM.  It was the Jays’ last and best offer and has yet to be accepted.

UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 5:36pm: Joel Sherman says Lo Duca is "very close" to a one-year deal with the Jays.

FROM 12-4-07 at 6:25pm:

The Globe and Mail’s Jeff Blair says the Blue Jays met with Paul Lo Duca’s agent today.  This discussion was expected; the Jays might only have about $2.5MM to offer on a one-year deal.  Lo Duca earned $6.25MM in ’07, so he might not be amenable to the huge pay cut and part-time opportunity.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Santana, Fuentes, Heilman

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The execs may be on a plane home right now, but the writers are still filing all sorts of rumors.  Here’s Ken Rosenthal’s latest piece.

  • Rosenthal says the Mets did not talk to the Twins about Johan Santana today, which is surprising.  But they did talk earlier this week, at which point the Twins gave the Mets a list of players they liked.  The Mets were fine with everyone on the list, which probably included Carlos Gomez and Mike Pelfrey.  Rosenthal adds that the Mets are the only NL team firmly in the mix for Santana, and shipping him to the other league might be a factor for the Twins.
  • The Giants turned down an offer of Delmon Young for Tim Lincecum before Young was sent to the Twins.  This leaves skepticism that the Giants will accept three years of Alex Rios after turning down five of Young.
  • The Mets made a straight up offer of Aaron Heilman for Brian Fuentes.  As far as I can tell Heilman doesn’t reach free agency until after the 2010 season, so the Rockies would be doing pretty well here.  Plus, they could plug him into the rotation.  Oddly the dealbreaker was the Rox asking for Scott Schoeneweis as well.  I thought the 34 year-old had negative trade value.  Rosenthal adds that the Tribe took a glance at Fuentes as well.
  • The Rox offered Jamey Carroll for Josh Barfield, which is pretty lopsided even with the year Barfield had.  Of course the Indians declined.

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