Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday
11:33pm: According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, Scott Boras said he expects to resume contract talks for Ramirez with the Dodgers on Wednesday. The Manny rumors were fractured into various posts today at MLBTR – here’s the one about the Mets not being involved, and here’s the one about Ramirez rejecting the Dodgers’ one-year, $25MM offer.
We also have an article from David Waldstein of the New York Times, where Yankees GM Brian Cashman says:
"People expect us to get in on Manny, but it’s not going to happen. We’re in the nonroster invitee mode. He’s a great player, but when you look at our payroll, we’re tapped."
9:39pm: Bobby Evans, Giants VP of Player Personnel, appeared Tuesday night on XM Radio’s Home Plate show. Manny was obviously a hot topic. Check out some of the quotes from the interview:
"Manny is amongst a number of different options out there, he’s clearly the most renowned player and probably future hall of famer, so you can’t deny interest if there’s an opportunity to bring him to the Giants."
"We’re going to monitor the market of him, it doesn’t seem to be going down, although he did turn down this offer, it was a 1 year offer verse a 2 year offer that was for more money. Again ultimately I don’t know which way it will go, but we’re going to stay engaged and see what happens."
8:48pm: Chris Haft of MLB.com makes a case for the Giants signing Manny. Unlike the Nationals, who made their stance known almost immediately, Giants officials refused to comment Tuesday after news broke that the Dodgers’ offer was rejected.
7:35pm: Nationals GM Jim Bowden reaffirmed Tuesday evening that his club is not in the hunt for Manny Ramirez. Bill Ladson filed the report for MLB.com.
"We are not pursuing Manny Ramirez," Bowden said. As Ladson points out, "the Nationals are overloaded with right-handed-hitting outfielders, plus he’s 36 years old. The Nationals have often said that they are looking for players for the long term."
The Nats have focused on landing Adam Dunn and reportedly offered him a contract some time ago. He should come at a cheaper price than Manny and Washington can feel more comfortable offering the 29-year-old Dunn a mutli-year contract.
Royals Avoid Arb With Brian Bannister
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Royals have agreed to terms with Brain Bannister on a one-year, $1.7MM contract.
Bannister can earn another $25K if he reaches 200 innings or makes the All-Star team. The 27-year-old right-hander asked for $2MM when arbitration figures were due and the Royals countered with $1.45MM. It seems they’ve found a middle ground. Bannister went 9-16 last season with a 5.76 ERA.
Twins Looking To Avoid Arb With Guerrier
Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Twins have made multi-year offers to reliever Matt Guerrier, but have made little progress.
The Twins are hoping to avoid an arbitration hearing with the 30-year-old right-hander. Guerrier and his representatives asked for $1.75MM while the Twins submitted a $1.2MM bid. He was great from 2005-2007, but struggled last season under a heavy workload once Pat Neshek hit the disabled list. Christensen writes that the Twins "appear detemined to take this all the way" to a hearing.
Twins Showing Interest In Jarrod Washburn
TUESDAY, 7:37pm: Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes that the Twins have "lost their appetite for a Jarrod Washburn trade." It probably had something to do with his $10.35MM ’09 salary.
MONDAY, 8:49pm: According to John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intellegencer, the Twins have "some interest" in dealing for left-hander Jarrod Washburn.
Hickey writes that the Mariners and Twins discussed a deal last week that would have sent Washburn and catcher Jeff Clement to Minnesota for 23-year-old outfielder Delmon Young. It’s not known whether that particular deal fell through, but it’s likely. The pieces just don’t seem to fit. Washburn, 34, went 5-14 last season with a 4.69 ERA and the Twins already have a young, All-Star catcher.
The M’s are trying to dump some cash in order to make a play for one of the remaining free agent outfielders and would accomplish the feat if they can move Washburn, who’s set to rake in $10.35MM this year. They’ve shown interest in Bobby Abreu, Garret Anderson and Ken Griffey Jr. so far this offseason.
Nats Ink Valentin To Minor League Deal
According to Chico Harlan of the Washington Post, the Nationals have signed catcher Javier Valentin to a minor league contract.
Valentin, 33, hit .256/.326/.411 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 129 at-bats for the Reds last season. He’ll be given a shot to win the backup catching job over Wil Nieves this spring. Nieves, 31, batted .261/.309/.341 with one dinger and 20 RBI in 176 at-bats during the ’08 season.
Odds and Ends: Costas, Red Sox, Wigginton
A few little items worth checking out on a slow Tuesday night in the baseball world…
- Bob Costas is leaving HBO for the MLB Network. They really are assembling a heck of a cast over there (depending on your preference, of course).
- Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun interviews brand new Oriole Ty Wigginton.
- Major League Baseball suspended Marlins infielder Pascual Arias 50 games for violating terms of the league’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Arias tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.
- It looks like "Citi Field" is going to keep its name.
- The Providence Journal takes a position-by-position look at the 2009 Red Sox.
- Oh, and check out Tim’s chat transcript from earlier today.
Mariners Still Trying To Ink Josh Fields
According to John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Mariners have reopened talks with Scott Boras, the agent for 2008 first-round draft pick Josh Fields.
Boras demanded a $2MM signing bonus last June when the M’s took the Georgia right-hander 20th overall. The organization balked at the figure and the two sides dropped communication for several months.
"We’ve had a few discussions now,” Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik said Tuesday. ”We’re keeping the status quo… I like Scott Boras. I realize he’s a professional, and my discussions with him have always been pleasant going back 15 years now.”
The Mariners are obviously hoping to sign Fields before spring training gets underway on February 13.
Moorad, Moores Reach Agreement On Padres Sale
According to the AP, Jeff Moorad’s group reached an agreement to buy the Padres from John Moores. The deal should close by Opening Day, and the article suggests Sandy Alderson could be out. The San Diego Union-Tribune has more details.
Rangers Sign Eddie Guardado
4:13pm: The Rangers’ minor league deal with Guardado is official, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan.
TUESDAY, 7:48am: Wilson says Guardado "has agreed to return to the Rangers on a non-roster deal." Final details remain, and the deal could be worth up to $3MM.
MONDAY, 5:21pm: Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram spoke with Rangers GM Jon Daniels, who confirmed that a deal could be finalized for Guardado "within the next few days."
2:05pm: According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers are close to a deal to bring lefty reliever Eddie Guardado back to Texas. It may be completed in the next few days. Adding Guardado could help soften the blow of losing Joaquin Benoit to rotator cuff surgery.
Sullivan adds that the Rangers continue to look for pitching help beyond Guardado, with names like Jason Jennings, Kris Benson, and Chad Cordero in the mix.
Rockies, Atkins Avoid Arbitration
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies avoided arbitration with infielder Garrett Atkins by signing him at $7.05MM for ’09. He can earn another $125K if he makes 700 plate appearances (something he’s yet to do). Atkins had submitted $7.95MM, with the Rox countering at $6.65MM.
Atkins, 29, hit .286/.328/.452 in 664 plate appearances last year. He’ll be eligible for free agency after the 2010 season.