Heyman’s Latest: Santana, Gagne, Kuroda
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has penned (or typed I guess) a new column with some hot stove banter.
- The Mets are offering Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, and others for Santana. Joel Sherman thinks the offer is at least viable, and that Aaron Heilman may interest Minnesota.. The Yankees offered Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Jeff Marquez. The Red Sox proposed Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson. The Mariners have offered Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow. Seems to me the Red Sox still have the advantage, at least slightly.
- Heyman says the Brewers and Astros are in the mix for Eric Gagne (if he doesn’t accept arbitration). Regarding the Brewers, though, Doug Melvin said today that they already have a closer in Derrick Turnbow.
- Heyman says offers for Hiroki Kuroda are expected to approach $15MM per year. Damn, for him?
Does Bowa Mean No Rolen For Dodgers?
In an article today, MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick suggests that the Dodgers may be reluctant to trade for Scott Rolen due to his history with former Phillies manager Larry Bowa. Bowa is the Dodgers’ new third base coach. Perhaps not news to many of you, but it’s an angle that hadn’t occurred to me. Those two probably can’t work together.
Gurnick says that with Andruw Jones in tow, the Dodgers are inclined to use internal options at third base anyway.
Gagne May Accept Arbitration
According to Rob Bradford of the Boston Herald, Eric Gagne may accept Boston’s offer of arbitration. The deadline for that decision occurs tomorrow. Bradford says a surprising number of players might accept tomorrow.
Bradford thinks it may just be posturing, and Gagne will hook on to close with the Brewers, Rangers, or Astros. After all, he’d make more money in 2009 if he finished ’08 with 30 saves.
Three-Team Deal Fell Through
Quick note from MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert. He has a source indicating that the Diamondbacks were close to a three-team trade with the Rays and another club, but it fell through. Any guesses? Something involving the Astros and Luke Scott, maybe? Ed Wade spoke of multiteam deals that didn’t work out.
Rays Rumors: Pena, Floyd, Scott
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 2:17pm: Molony confirms that the Rays have talked to the Astros about Scott, though the Padres are still the frontrunner.
FROM 12-6-07 at 8:29am:
A few minor Rays nuggets (hat tip Drays Bay)…
- Marc Lancaster talked to Scott Boras about the possibility of Carlos Pena signing a long-term deal with the Rays. Pena is eligible for free agency after the 2009 season. Boras indicated that Pena would go year to year. If 2008 and 2009 are in the stratosphere of what Pena did in ’08, he’s looking at four years, $60MM easily in my opinion.
- Adam Rubin reports that the Rays are eyeing Cliff Floyd, a name we’ve seen linked to them before.
- Marc Topkin considers Luke Scott a realistic possibility for the Rays, Luis Gonzalez and Josh Hamilton not so much. Topkin suggests Andre Ethier could be a good match, in a separate post.
Five Teams Interested In Alexei Ramirez
ESPN’s Enrique Rojas checks in with the agent for Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez, Jaime Torres. Torres says he met with five teams on Ramirez and another two are scheduled. The message is now that Ramirez "can play second base or outfield." The original message was that he could play shortstop and center field.
Giants Discuss Hideki Matsui, Reds Like Rios
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 1:38pm: Abraham has more than a no comment now – he confirms that the Yankees and Giants have discussed Matsui. Abraham speculates that Noah Lowry could make sense.
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:29pm: Peter Abraham got a "no comment" from Cashman on Matsui. Abraham implies that the no comment could be telling. Abraham also adds that Matsui has said he would waive his no-trade clause.
FROM 12-6-07 at 10:31am:
Good stuff from the Toronto Sun’s Bob Elliott today.
- Just a small blurb from Elliott – the Giants and Yanks have discussed Hideki Matsui. Elliott notes that Matsui has a full no-trade clause. He makes $13MM in each of the 2008 and ’09 seasons. On November 8th, Ken Davidoff noted that the Yanks would prefer to move Matsui over Johnny Damon. He added that it could be embarrassing for Matsui to leave New York.
- Elliott also said the Reds are interested in Alex Rios. If the Giants are pondering sending Tim Lincecum to the Jays for him, I imagine the Reds would have to counter with Homer Bailey. Bailey, however, is less proven than Lincecum.
Rockies Rumors: Iguchi, Cook, Kip, Holliday
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:57pm: According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, David Eckstein is now a Rockies’ target for second base. They talked to Mark Loretta today, also. Harding adds that the holdup on the Cook deal is the amount of a fourth-year option.
FROM 12-6-07 at 12:21pm:
The Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck has a lunchtime Rockies update.
- Renck doesn’t see Tadahito Iguchi getting Kaz Matsui money, noting that only the Rockies are pursuing Iguchi at his preferred position of second base. That could change if the Orioles trade Brian Roberts.
- Though Aaron Cook‘s 3/30 extension isn’t final, GM Dan O’Dowd believes it will get done.
- Free agents on the radar: LaTroy Hawkins, Shawn Chacon, Octavio Dotel, Victor Zambrano, and Kip Wells. There was recent chatter about Wells trying to become a setup man.
- According to Scott Boras, he’s never received a contract offer from the Rox for Matt Holliday. The original rumor was that the Rockies were planning to offer a four-year, $60MM extension.
ESPN’s Latest: Barrett, Ensberg, Mahay
Who said the Meetings are over? ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, and Jerry Crasnick are still running down rumors.
- The Rays want Michael Barrett, according to Gammons.
- Looks like Kevin Mench will be non-tendered.
- Crasnick says the Marlins may go after Morgan Ensberg, who is also likely to be non-tendered. The Phillies aren’t much interested in him.
- Gammons says Ron Mahay is down to the Yanks or Royals.
- He also says the Padres’ Milton Bradley signing won’t get in the way of their Kosuke Fukudome pursuit.
- Olney backs up the rumor about the Giants’ interest in Hideki Matsui.
Not Much Cooking With Johan
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:25pm: Check out LENIII’s latest. He believes the Red Sox were always serious about Santana. Neal suggests the Angels are a sleeper even though they’ve yet to discuss Johan with the Twins. Neal spoke to an agent who nominated the Mets as his sleeper. As for the Dodgers, Neal’s not sensing much interest.
FROM 12-6-07 at 10:13am:
Thus is the nature of the rumor mill – tons of words expended on possibilities, sometimes with little closure. The latest semi-news on Johan Santana:
- Newsday’s source says it would be "virtually impossible" for the Mets to acquire Santana without including Jose Reyes. And the Mets are staunchly against that.
- The Red Sox made a couple of proposals that fell short, but they’re satisfied that he’s not a Yankee. Theo Epstein has left the building, no Santana deal in place.
At this moment, nothing much appears to be simmering on the Santana hot stove.