Orlando Hudson Likes The Royals
FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson "is interested in the Royals."
Tim covered this for MLBTR earlier today, but Rosenthal has made a few updates.
Hudson has ties with two members of Kansas City’s coaching staff and wouldn’t mind a reunion. Of course, that doesn’t mean a deal will get done. The Royals would have to move some cash around to fit him in their budget and this market might not allow it. Hudson is thought to be seeking between $4MM and $5MM.
As Rosenthal notes, the signing would also "cost the Royals a second-round draft pick due to the team’s finish in the bottom half of the overall standings last season."
Kenny Rogers To Retire?
Jeremy Bonderman said Tuesday that he’s trying to convince 44-year-old Kenny Rogers to return to the Tigers, but doesn’t believe it will work. Jason Beck has the full report over at MLB.com.
"I think he wants to be here," Bonderman said, "but he also wants to be with his family. That’s just one of those things. You have to pick which one’s more important."
Team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski added some thoughts: "I think he’s in a position where he’s content where he is right now. But it’s more up to him on what he decides to do with his life, and I don’t know if he’s made that decision 100 percent."
Giants Maintain Interest In Joe Crede
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports that the Giants are still keeping an eye on free agent third baseman Joe Crede.
Special assistant Ron Schueler, who attended Crede’s workout last week, said the free-agent third baseman looked pretty agile while taking ground balls and his back appeared to hold up fine in the cage, writes Baggarly. Schueler noted that Crede appeared stronger in the upper body.
The Twins also remain interested in Crede, but talks haven’t progressed too far with that club either. At last check, the 30-year-old Scott Boras client was still seeking $7MM guaranteed, plus around $4MM in incentives. That kind of asking price obviously isn’t going to entice too many teams.
Brewers Not Interested In Izzy
According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, the Brewers are not interested in free agent reliever Jason Isringhausen.
That could have something to do with their signing of Eric Gagne earlier today. At the start of this week, the Cardinals, Brewers and Dodgers were the only teams known to have interest in the 36-year-old former closer. With the Cards and Brew Crew out, let’s see what the Dodgers do now.
More From The Sign-And-Trade Front
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle shares some thoughts from the A’s brass on this whole sign-and-trade fiasco:
I spoke to a member of the A’s front office who is doubtful that deals of this nature will be allowed to go through because they so clearly run counter to specific rules.
Slusser also writes that the A’s are not considering tyring such a deal with the White Sox for Type-A free agent Orlando Cabrera.
For one thing, the A’s would lose a second-round pick to Chicago rather than a first-round pick if they were to sign Cabrera, writes Slusser. And the source told me that losing a second-rounder is not something that would squash a deal. The A’s aren’t concerned with it at all. Cabrera’s wish for a $9 million-plus salary, though? That could kill things.
Brewers Avoid Arb With Corey Hart
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers have agreed to terms with Corey Hart on a one-year, $3.25MM contract.
Hart requested $3.8MM and the Brewers offered $2.7MM back when arbitration numbers were filed. His hearing was scheduled for Wednesday. The 26-year-old outfielder hit .268/.300/.459 last season with 20 home runs and 91 RBI. He also stole 23 bases.
Cardinals May Have Interest In Juan Cruz
According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals took note of the recent sign-and-trade allowance by MLB. They’re said to have a "passing interest" in Juan Cruz. Wouldn’t hurt to add another power arm to the bullpen if the price is right.
Strauss doesn’t say it, but the Cards could also look to pull off a sign-and-trade for Orlando Hudson (pure speculation on my part). The Cardinals have not been linked to Hudson in recent days; the Dodgers and Royals are the rumored suitors.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday
3:07pm: A little bit of info from Colletti, by way of Tony Jackson:
Specifically, I asked him if the club has made any offers beyond the two we already know about…He said no more offers had been made. Dylan Hernandez from the Times then asked, "Has there been a counteroffer?’" and Ned said, "Sort of.” He wouldn’t comment beyond that, but it’s clear he was talking about a proposal that was so far out of the Dodgers’ range as to be unrealistic.
On the Giants side, Henry Schulman makes a clarification:
At the end of this post, I write the Giants "are waiting to see what happens," but I am told that they, too, are continuing a dialog with agent Scott Boras on Manny — on the good ‘ol telephone.
9:34am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said:
"We continue to talk. I wouldn’t say we’ve made progress. Hopefully, the conversations will lead to progress."
8:13am: A rumor made the rounds last night that Giants president Larry Baer was to meet with Scott Boras and/or Manny Ramirez in San Francisco. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle checked into it, and it was bogus. They did not meet.
The truth is less exciting:
So calm down, folks. Nothing has changed. The Dodgers and Boras continue to talk, often, while the Giants are waiting to see what happens.
Padres Sign Emil Brown
According to MLB.com’s Corey Brock, the Padres signed outfielder Emil Brown to a minor league deal. He may have a hard time squeezing into the Padres’ outfield picture though. Brown, 34, hit .244/.297/.386 in 438 plate appearances for the A’s last year while playing the outfield corners.
Fredi Gonzalez Gets Extension
According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez had his contract extended through the 2011 season.