Astros Rumors: Tejada, Loretta
MLB.com’s Alyson Footer chased down a few Astros rumors today.
- The Astros’ chances at Miguel Tejada were graded a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 yesterday. Now they’re at a 0. So, that’s that.
- Mark Loretta has until Friday to decide whether to accept the team’s offer of arbitration. He may not want to accept since he wants a full-time job. His agent contacted Ed Wade about that today. Dan O’Dowd suggested that the Astros "got him back."
Angels, White Sox, Rockies, A’s Interested In Burke
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 9:45pm: A White Sox source told MLB.com’s Alyson Footer not to look too much into their supposed interest in Burke.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 9:25pm: The Rockies have made a trade offer for Burke, according to the Denver Post.
FROM 12-4-07 at 8:07pm:
Just talked to a source close to Chris Burke. So far four teams have contacted Burke’s agent: the White Sox, Rockies, A’s, and Angels.
The 2001 first rounder is almost certain to be traded by the Astros; he just wants an opportunity to start somewhere. The Angels’ could have an opening if they trade Howie Kendrick.
D’Backs Rumors: Haren, Kuroda, Carlos Gonzalez
MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert has some trade rumors to digest this evening concerning the D’Backs.
- Arizona had discussions with the A’s about Dan Haren today. Many names were thrown about. Conor Jackson was not involved. The A’s asked about Max Scherzer and were told he’s not available. We learned earlier that Carlos Gonzalez‘s name came up.
- By the way, the D’Backs aren’t interested in Joe Blanton.
- Arizona is still around 3/30 on Hiroki Kuroda.
- The Rangers inquired about Carlos Gonzalez but wouldn’t consider parting with Eric Hurley for him.
- The Nats are indeed interested in Miguel Montero, as reported previously.
Crasnick’s Latest: Hamilton, Figgins, Andruw, Inge
Jerry Crasnick filed more rumors ripe for discussion.
- The Reds may consider trading Josh Hamilton, but not to an NL Central team. There was nothing to the Hamilton-Cubs rumor anyway, according to Bruce Levine. And now officials from both teams have debunked it.
- The Cubs actually want to add two left-handed hitting outfielders, for some reason. Beyond Kosuke Fukudome, Geoff Jenkins remains on the radar. Jim Hendry likes Chone Figgins, but the Angels would ridiculously ask for Aramis Ramirez in that one.
- Scott Boras is still saying Andruw Jones isn’t looking for a one or two-year deal.
- The Rays have checked into Shawn Green, Geoff Jenkins, and Cliff Floyd. No truth to the rumor that Green is considering retirement.
- Brandon Inge hits the market, though he’s got three years and $19.1MM left on his deal. Plenty of clubs are in the market for a third baseman assuming the Tigers will eat some of the contract. Inge probably won’t be moving back behind the plate, by the way.
White Sox Not Interested In Andruw
At about 4:30 today, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said "he’s in the mix, I guess" in reference to Andruw Jones. According to Sox GM Kenny Williams, Ozzie guessed wrong. Williams says Jones is not on his list, as he desires patient hitters.
Williams’ statement about patience might indicate the Sox are in on Jason Bay and Kosuke Fukudome, as has been rumored. Others who exhibit patience or deep counts who might be available: Nick Swisher, Austin Kearns, Reggie Willits, Johnny Damon, Brian Roberts, Jamey Carroll, Milton Bradley, and Mike Cameron.
A Crazy, Rumor-Filled Day
I’ve written something in the neighborhood of 11,000 words today. That’s not a typo. Insane, isn’t it? In my opinion the Winter Meetings have been awesome so far; a constant flow of hot stove to discuss. Yesterday MLBTR had 490,000 pageviews, our second best day ever (can’t top this year’s trade deadline). Thanks for reading. We’re not even halfway done with the Meetings. I should note that I’ve written so much today that it all doesn’t fit on the page (I think the front page has 25 posts or so). If you want to read more than you see, click on the December archive and you’ll get the entire month of posts.
I know we have a lot of new visitors here today. I wanted to re-post this info, the MLBTR basics.
- My name is Tim Dierkes, and you can learn a little bit about me here. If you’ve got a rumor you haven’t seen on the site, feel free to email me here. Sometimes my inbox fills up quickly, so don’t be offended if I don’t reply. I read ’em all.
- MLBTradeRumors.com began about two years ago; read The Origins of MLBTR here.
- If you need help finding info on a certain player or just finding your way around the site, check out this post. I highly encourage you to add my feed to your feed reader. Google Reader is a nice, feed reader if you don’t have one.
Reagins Clears Things Up
Angels GM Tony Reagins recently held court with the media to debunk most of the Angels rumors swirling about recently.
- The Angels are not currently in the mix for Johan Santana. Reagins spoke to Bill Smith last night, but not about Johan.
- The Angels haven’t met with the Orioles, so there haven’t been discussions about Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada at the Meetings.
- Reagins wasn’t involved much with Miguel Cabrera before the Tigers snagged him.
- On the less boring front, Reagins said "some interesting and exciting things have surfaced" with surprising new teams. Get your speculating caps on.
Kuroda Wants Four Years
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 6:28pm: Tony Jackson dug up some info on this situation. He says the Mariners’ three-year offer worth $30-33MM is tops so far, despite other reports. He doesn’t believe the Mariners are at 4/44. The Ms and Dodgers, as expected, are the leaders for Kuroda.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:55pm: First Heyman suggested 3/45 for Kuroda. Now Jeff Passan is saying 5/50! Passan throws the Giants into the mix for him, which is a new one.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:29pm: Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News confirms that the Dodgers have an offer out to Kuroda, probably in the 3/30 range. He says that the Ms are reportedly already at four years and more than $40MM.
FROM 12-4-07 at 1:26pm:
Previous reports floating about had the Mariners offering four years, $44MM to Hiroki Kuroda. Not so, according to MLB.com’s Jim Street. Street says the Mariners, Dodgers, and D’Backs have all made offers in the three-year, $30MM range. None of the three clubs wants to go to four years on soon-to-be 33 year-old pitcher with no MLB experience.
Kuroda may make his decision early next week, after his agents meet with the interested parties.
Street adds that the Ms plan to meet with the Orioles today to discuss Erik Bedard possibilities. Also, he mentions the rumor that the Mariners inquired on Ben Sheets. Maybe it was both the Dodgers and Mariners.
Tigers Acquire Cabrera, Willis For Six Players
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 6:04pm: Jon Paul Morosi reveals the three remaining players, and they’re all pitchers: Burke Badenhop, Eulogio de la Cruz, and Dallas Trahern. Based on Kevin Goldstein’s Tigers prospect list, the team surrendered its #1, 7, and 11th ranked prospects. Miller’s not on the list due to big league experience but he’d be third if he was.
Morosi also notes that Marcus Thames, Brandon Inge, and Chad Durbin are now on the block.
Baseball Prospectus’ Nate Silver weighs in on the big trade here.
FROM 12-4-07 at 5:30pm:
ESPN’s Peter Gammons is reporting that the Tigers have acquired Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Mike Rabelo, and three minor leaguers.
This is what the hot stove league is all about, unexpected massive eight-player blockbusters. All the talk was that the Tigers would have a quiet Winter Meetings. Instead they traded for one of the best hitters in the game, adding an immediate 5-7 wins in the process. Swapping out Willis for Miller will probably be a push in 2008 before things swing toward the Fish.
Maybin and Miller are both elite prospects; it seems packaging Cabrera with Willis was the only way they could get both. Interestingly, it seems like Sports Review Magazine may have scooped this trade way back at 9:52am CST. I am surprised this link didn’t get in my hands until now.
Mets Rumors: Kuroda, Livan, Estrada, Colon
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 5:49pm: Jayson Stark says the Mets haven’t talked to the the A’s or Orioles at all in Nashville, meaning no talks for Haren or Bedard as of yet.
FROM 12-4-07 at 8:05am:
What’s cooking with the Mets? Let’s round ’em up.
- Mark Hale reports that the Mets have advanced to "Round 2" of the bidding process for Hiroki Kuroda. They did this by indicating a ballpark of what they might offer but without actually making an offer. Hale says 8-10 teams are in on Kuroda, including the Royals, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Mariners. The Ms reportedly have some kind of offer out to him, either 3/30 or 4/44. The Phils are said to have an offer out as well. Hale doesn’t name the Dodgers but it’s been said they’re getting aggressive on him too. The Cubs and Rangers are other teams that have been connected to Kuroda.
- The Mets appear to have mild interest in Livan Hernandez, perhaps as a fallback innings-eater option. The Phillies, Cardinals, Nationals, and Astros are other known suitors for Livan.
- The big fish are still out there in Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, and Dan Haren. The Mets won’t include Jose Reyes, David Wright, or Carlos Beltran in any deal. It’s been said that a Carlos Gomez/Aaron Heilman/Philip Humber package was offered for Bedard and rejected.
- Dan Graziano says the Mets also inquired on Dontrelle Willis, Ben Sheets, and Roy Oswalt and were told none of the three are available. Graziano adds that the Mets are looking into signing Bartolo Colon.
- Omar Minaya will meet with the agents for Octavio Dotel and Shawn Chacon today.
- Minaya disputes Ken Rosenthal’s report that he sought an extension from the Mets and didn’t get one. Ownership told him he’ll be there "a long time."
- Though they didn’t want him in the Lastings Milledge deal, the Nationals are interested in acquiring Johnny Estrada for their catcher vacancy. Damian Miller is also known to be a target of Jim Bowden’s.