The Blue Jays, Twins, and Marlins added closers in recent days, and it's not clear whether the remaining teams with ninth inning openings are willing to spend big. The latest on several closers…
- There is "no interest" from Madson or Rodriguez in accepting arbitration, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB Network. However, one agent believes that if the Red Sox trade for Andrew Bailey, which is a "real possibility," Madson and K-Rod could be in trouble, tweets ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
- The Angels are interested in trading for Seattle's Brandon League, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Angels have also expressed interest in free agents Todd Coffey and Jason Isringhausen, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, but they probably won't move on a reliever until C.J. Wilson decides what to do.
- There's lots of buzz that Ryan Madson and Francisco Rodriguez could accept arbitration with the Phillies and Brewers, respectively, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark. I still think Scott Boras will advise both to decline tomorrow night.
- The Rockies are willing to eat all of Huston Street's $8MM salary for prospects, tweets Stark. He says the Padres are a possibility. Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link) hears the Rockies would take on some "but not all" of Street's salary.
- Stark confirms yesterday's rumor that the Royals will listen on Joakim Soria, but they want a front-line starter in return.
Would love to see Madson accept arbitration, it’s not my money though.
Papelbon/Madson/Bastardo at the back end is close to, if not, the best bullpen in the league.
Next year he could be looking at the Yankees, Dodgers, Tigers (?), Diamondbacks, among others looking for a closer and he’d be the best option if Rivera retires.
I couldnt agree more about Madson, with Madson and Papelbon that is the best 8/9 guys, would be real easy for us phils fan when we had a lead after the 7th
Especially since it keeps you from having to stretch 7 innings out of Joe Blanton or Vance Worley.
The return of Madson might take funds out of re-signing Rollins though. Is a set-up man really worth letting a quality shortstop go?
A front end starter for Soria seems a little steep, but its a good place for the Royals to start the negotiation. With the ridiculous contracts that closers have been getting it might not be a bad idea to trade for one instead.
I take it to mean that’s where the talks would start. Soria + a B type prospect. Soria + Monty + a C guy would probably net someone decent.
“could accept arbitration”
I will laugh. I will laugh for weeks non-stop.
I hear John Lackey might be available… ; )
Key piece of what? Saving 40 meaningless games of a 65 win season isn’t front line starter value. That is discounting the fact that he was dreadful the first two months of the season and overall shaky the whole season. KC would be selling low but he also might be trending that way with his 91mph fastball and secondary pitches he can’t locate.
Worst scouting report I’ve ever heard. Learn about the Royals and Soria before you start talking smack.
Sean, what planet are you living on?
I guess you are excited that he saved a game on a Tshirt Tuesday game. He’s not gonna be moved for a front of rotation starter. They have 3 guys in the pen right now that can do his job. His value has never been worse.
Yeah, its that easy just to put someone at the closer role and BAM!! There’s a closer. It’s not that easy.
-I only see 1 relief pitcher on the roster that has 160 ML saves in 5 seasons. Experience matters…
Q: How screwed are the Brewers if K-Rod accepts arbitration?
A: Very.
a huge rotation and a huge bullpen..phillies would be tough to beat, but dang thats gotta cost a pretty penny
Hey, if LAA were willing to over pay for League that would not be so bad, who cares about the trade within your own division thing on a reliever.
But they won’t trade away their best talent for League so it would be better if the M’s take their business elsewhere which I am sure they will.
Bourjos would be nice. I am sure he stays in LAA.
Who did they draft with the pick they got from the M’s as comp for the M’s signing Chone? It might be nice to have that.
Cowart? not happening.
Madson may have painted himself into a corner asking for such a long and expensive contract. He’s a great pitcher but I don’t see anyone offering him 4 years. If he does accept arbitration I don’t see it helping his cause for a big contract down the road since he’ll be second fiddle to Papelbon. He and his agent need to think about accepting a 2 or 3 year deal somewhere where he can close.
I would much rather a bad contract for bad contract deal between the Padres and the Rockies. I would do Hudson for Street any day and twice on Sunday. Both players would fill a need for their new team and the salaries are very similar.
I really don’t want the Padres to be trading away any of their top prospects this off season. Stay the course Josh, stay the course.
How about Pelfry for him…
bailey 4 kalish, reddick, lowrie, and anderson
Beane only wants younger players and only Kalish and Reddick are fits in Oakland. Think Middlebrooks, Brentz or Chiang straight up for Bailey. I would think this would be a wise move for Boston, seeing as next years’ FA market is loaded with SPs and nothing much else at all. They already have the bats and adding a cost controlled stud like Bailey would help free up cash to go after Cain, Danks, Greinke, Hamels, C. Lewis, Marcum, A. Sanchez, McCarthy or Peavy.
Man, that’s going to be interesting to see how that market pans out. An average team could just go buy a Big 3 and become instant contenders…
Jason really? that guys a grandpa!.. that Todd guy looks alright but i prefer Angels make a trade for Brandon
Okay great idea for a trade for the Royals…Soria, Colon, and Clint Robinson for James Shields
TB is asking way more than that for Shields. Soria has been hurt, Colon has struggled, and Robinson has no value whatsoever. I’m a Royals fan and would jump all over that deal. TB would laugh and laugh in Moore’s face.
Indeed. Many Royals fans seem to put way too much value into Colon and Robinson. Colon hasn’t done poo and Robinson is simply AAA filler.
Just to remind you, Clint Robinson won the triple crown at AA and last year was a stud at AAA too!
Who would we have to give up then in order to get a potential ace like Shields of Gio Gonzales?
Hopefully without having to trade a player like Wil Meyers.
That way we still get to keep our coveted Wil Meyers but then our spot at 2b isn’t secure if you don’t like Gio’s defense
mediocre? ok yes he wasn’t nearly as good last year due to injury as he had been in previous years but save % he is second only to rivera since 07′. i agree we wont get a straight trade for a frontline starter for him, but he’s a key piece
It’s good to know a bad half season can cancel out the rest of someone’s career. Chase Utley must be a pretty mediocre 2nd baseman too.
I pretty sure the Royals know if they want a front of the rotation starter for Soria they would also have to move some of their prospects… just not prospects with names of Hosmer, Moustakas and Meyers…
Soria is well worth giving up a front of the rotation starting prospect if you look at the failure rates of top prospects, and just how consistently good Soria has been.
Plus I also would like to ponder the idea of Soria moving to the rotation. Basically, you’re trading a wild card for an already established, dominant closer, and you can flip him into the rotation. If it works out, you have one heck of a bargain.
Same for Pujols halfway through this season, and now he’s going to get $200M+.
Agreed, but there’s some other ones not mentioned. I think Cain’s the only one that gets signed before next year but no one knows for sure. My point is if Boston comes to next years meetings with money, they can definitely afford to go as big as they can, because they wont be paying $13MM a year on a closer.
Soria will never be a consistent starter in the MLB. His body is too fragile.