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Orioles, Padres, Blue Jays Interested In Reynolds

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The Diamondbacks are discussing possible Mark Reynolds trades with three teams, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The Orioles, Padres and Blue Jays are interested in the third baseman, though he can block trades to Toronto. The extent of the Padres' interest is unclear, according to Rosenthal.

Yahoo's Tim Brown reported last month that GM Kevin Towers is "looking for contact hitters and bullpen help" in exchange for Reynolds. The 27-year-old batted .189/.320/.433 last year, leading the league in strikeouts for the third consecutive season. Reynolds, whose homer total dropped from 44 to 32 last year, will earn $5MM in 2011, $7.5MM in 2012 and either $11MM or a $500K buyout in 2013.

Red Sox, Tigers, Phillies Seem Serious About Werth

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The Red Sox, Tigers and Phillies are seen as the most serious suitors for Jayson Werth, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Red Sox met with Werth and agent Scott Boras yesterday, according to ESPNBoston.com. However, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that the sides did not discuss contract terms yesterday. Instead, Werth, GM Theo Epstein and manager Terry Francona got to know each other.

The Rangers haven't ruled out pursuing Werth, but the White Sox are not pursuing him, Morosi reports. 

Derek Jeter Rumors: Thursday

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3:09pm: The Yankees have increased their offer to Jeter by an unknown amount, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.

2:28pm: The Yankees informed Close today they're willing to improve upon their three-year, $45MM offer to Jeter, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.  Jeter's side lowered their request, adds SI's Jon Heyman on Twitter.

8:03am: Derek Jeter and his agent Casey Close reached out to the Yankees to set up Tuesday's meeting in Tampa, report Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden of the New York Daily News.  Hal Steinbrenner, Randy Levine, and Brian Cashman attended for the Yankees.

Money and years were not discussed, say Feinsand and Madden.  Instead, the meeting concluded with the Yankees' brass asking Close for ideas on how to bridge the large gap.  The tenor of the meeting was cordial, reports Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times.  Close did not get back to them on Wednesday.

The Yankees were emboldened by Troy Tulowitzki's new deal, in he has a $15.7MM average salary over the next ten seasons and Cashman and company offered Jeter $15MM per year.  Of course, the new part of Tulowitzki's contract is $134MM over seven years from 2014-20, which comes to $19.1MM per year.  To include Tulowitzki's low 2011 and '12 salaries in an average would be disingenuous, since those weren't potential free agent seasons for him.  At any rate, MLB is pleased that the Yankees have not gone overboard on their Jeter offer, report Feinsand and Madden.

White Sox Non-Tender Bobby Jenks

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The White Sox non-tendered reliever Bobby Jenks, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Lefty Erick Threets, who was not arbitration eligible, was also cut loose.

Jenks, 30 in March, will probably be the day's most glamorous addition to the free agent list.  The 6'4", 275 pound righty posted his best strikeout rate since his rookie year, but the Sox unsurprisingly did not deem him worthy of a raise upon this year's $7.5MM salary.  Unless they add a free agent, they can turn to Matt Thornton or Chris Sale in the ninth inning.

Jenks burst on to the scene with the 2005 World Championship club and ended up with 173 saves in his White Sox career.  All those saves would have made his arbitration reward excessive for the Sox, but now Jenks' agents at Legacy Sports can seek a multiyear deal on the open market.

Threets, a hard-throwing 29-year-old, tossed 12 1/3 innings for the Sox this year without allowing an earned run.  He had an excellent ERA at Triple-A as well, though his strikeout rates were low at both stops.  He did have a strong 55.6% groundball rate in his brief Major League stint.

Twins Avoid Arbitration With Repko, Neshek

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The Twins avoided arbitration with outfielder Jason Repko, tweets SI's Jon Heyman, agreeing to a $600K contract for 2011.  Repko gets a $100K raise after hitting .228/.324/.346 in 146 plate appearances for the Twins.  The former first-round pick played all three outfield positions in 2010.

Minnesota also reached a deal with reliever Pat Neshek for $625K, tweets John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.  Neshek, 30, had Tommy John surgery two years ago and also dealt with a finger injury early this year.  He spent most of the year at Triple-A, posting a 3.89 ERA, 5.7 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, and 0.9 HR/9 in 39 1/3 innings.  He had the same $625K salary in 2010.

White Sox Exercise Option On Alexei Ramirez

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THURSDAY, 1:04pm: The White Sox exercised their $2.75MM club option on Ramirez rather than go to arbitration, tweets MLB.com's Scott Merkin.

WEDNESDAY, 10:51am: Alexei Ramirez opted out of his $1.1MM salary for 2011 and will go to arbitration with the White Sox unless the team exercises a $2.5MM option within a week, according to Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune. The shortstop had until today to decline a set $1.1MM salary for next year. The White Sox now have a week to choose between their $2.5MM option and taking the 2010 Silver Slugger winner to arbitration. MLB.com's Scott Merkin reports that the White Sox have until December 15th to decide between arbitration and a $2.75MM option (Twitter link).

Ramirez batted .282/.313/.431 with 18 homers, 29 doubles and 13 steals in 626 plate appearances last year. In three big league seasons, all with the White Sox, the Cuba native has a .283/.321/.430 batting line. Ramirez, 29, would be “very willing to discuss” a multiyear extension, agent Jaime Torres told van Dyck.

Cubs Avoid Arbitration With Jeff Baker

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The Cubs avoided arbitration with infielder Jeff Baker, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, agreeing to a one-year, $1.175MM deal.  Baker, 29, hit .272/.326/.413 in 224 plate appearances for the Cubs this year while playing mainly second and third base.  Arbitration eligible for the second time, he receives a $200K raise for 2011.

Poll: Will Russell Martin Be Traded Today?

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The Red Sox have long admired Dodgers catcher Russell Martin, notes Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.  With tonight's non-tender deadline less than eleven hours away, there appear to be three possibilities for Martin:

  • The Dodgers could re-sign him at a minimum of $4.04MM.
  • The Dodgers could trade him.
  • The Dodgers could non-tender him and get no return.

Technically the Dodgers could tender Martin a contract and trade him later, but they might seek a quicker resolution and more certainty.  Sometimes the non-tender threat can kill a player's trade market, but in other cases it compels a suitor to make a move before the player hits the open market.  If the Red Sox would be willing to meet Martin's salary demands and the Dodgers aren't, a deal would be mutually beneficial.  Other clubs may have interest too.  What's your take?

 

Royals Won’t Trade Greinke Within Division

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The Royals won't trade Zack Greinke within their division, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  The Twins might have been a nice match, and the White Sox often check in on big names, but it appears those two teams as well as the Indians and Tigers will have to look elsewhere if they want to import an ace.

On Tuesday, Yahoo's Jeff Passan talked to a source that feels Greinke will not rule out any winning team.  The 27-year-old righty can submit a list of 15 teams to which he cannot be traded without his consent.

Cardinals Make Brendan Ryan Available

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The Cardinals feel that Ryan Theriot is an upgrade at shortstop over incumbent Brendan Ryan.  Ryan is now expendable, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:  "The Cardinals have let other teams know Ryan is available, and they'll look to trade him during next week's winter meetings in Florida, if not sooner."

Ryan doesn't want to leave, but he doesn't have any say in the matter.  He's arbitration eligible for the first time, but his dismal offensive career numbers should keep his salary down.  The Fielding Bible's love for his 2010 defense might not provide much ammo for his agents at WMG in an arbitration hearing.

Starting shortstops are hard to come by, but the Pirates, Orioles, and Padres might be the only teams in the market.

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