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Cafardo’s Latest: Red Sox, Jurrjens, Drew, Ross

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The Red Sox are reluctant to exceed the $178MM luxury tax threshold on player salaries, writes Nick Cafardo in his latest column for the Boston Globe. If the Sox decide to remain under the threshold, it will limit the team's spending flexibility for outfield and pitching help, effectively eliminating top-tier free agents. Cafardo discusses the club's options and touches on a few other topics in his piece. Here are a few highlights:

  • The Braves have some concern about Tommy Hanson's shoulder, meaning they may end up holding on to Jair Jurrjens rather than dealing him.
  • An NL GM on J.D. Drew: "I know he had a wasted year, but he can still hit, he can still defend, and for a National League team, he'd be a heck of a bat off the bench. If he wants that role. He could easily be a starter somewhere. He's not that old, and sometimes that fresh start energizes a player."
  • Cafardo names the Rays, Braves, Giants, Rangers, and Cardinals as possible fits for Drew.
  • A source tells Cafardo that Cody Ross is seeking a three-year deal worth about $6MM annually. Sounds like an awfully tall order for Ross' representatives at SFX.
  • Mike Brown, former pitching coach for the Nippon Ham Fighters and current scout for the Diamondbacks, is confident that Yu Darvish will be very successful in the Majors: "He's the real deal. He's got great stuff, a great presence on the mound. He would definitely be a top pitcher here if he comes out."

Quick Hits: Pujols, Wilson, Beltran, Bergesen, Lane

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Fifteen years ago today, the Astros and Tigers swung a nine-player trade. Houston received Brad Ausmus, Jose Lima, Trever Miller, C.J. Nitkowski, and Daryle Ward while Detroit imported Doug Brocail, Brian Hunter, Todd Jones, and Orlando Miller. It's not often you see a club turnover 20% of its roster in a single deal. Here are some evening links…

  • Albert Pujols' new ten-year contract with the Angels will keep him with the team for another ten years after it expires. MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reports (on Twitter) that the deal will keep him on board as a consultant to owner Arte Moreno for a decade after his playing days are over.
  • In a second tweet, Gonzalez heard from C.J. Wilson that not only did the Marlins offer him a sixth guaranteed year, but they also offered him an option for a seventh year as well.
  • Even after signing Rafael Furcal to a two-year, $14MM contract, Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio reports (on Twitter) that the Cardinals remain in contact with free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran. Beltran could step in at right field and help replace some of the offense lost when Pujols left.
  • "I haven't talked to anyone," said non-tender candidate and Orioles right-hander Brad Bergesen to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, indicating that he doesn't know what will happen before Monday's deadline to tender contracts to players with less than six years of service time. "I have no idea. I don't know what the plan is. I don't know how they view me or if I fit in their plans. All I can do is prepare myself and be ready for whatever comes my way."
  • Baseball America's Matt Eddy reports that the Diamondbacks have signed former Astros outfielder Jason Lane as a left-handed pitcher. The 34-year-old hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2007, but he made the move to the mound this past season. Todd Dewey of the Las Vegas Journal-Review chronicled the conversion back in August.

First Round Picks On The Move At Winter Meetings

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At least 50 transactions were completed during the winter meetings this week, including 16 free agent signings, eight trades, three waiver claims, and 14 minor league signings. A total of eight first round picks were involved in those transactions, not including Jeremy Hermida and Andrew Miller, former first rounders who were designated for assignment by the Padres and re-signed by the Red Sox, respectively. Let’s recap the first rounders that changed addresses during the last five days…

Interestingly enough, three of the four largest contracts handed out this week were given to players selected in the 5th round (C.J. Wilson), 13th round (Albert Pujols), and 38th round (Mark Buehrle) of the draft. The lone exception is Jose Reyes, who signed with the Mets as an international free agent.

Padres Are Not Shopping Mat Latos

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The Padres' rotation will have a different look next year after Wade LeBlanc and Aaron Harang departed via trade and free agency, respectively, but the club isn't planning to move its homegrown ace. Tom Krasovic of Inside The Padres reports that San Diego is not shopping Mat Latos, but other teams don't think the right-hander is cemented in the team's long-term plans.

Latos, 24, is coming off two stellar seasons despite a bout with shoulder inflammation early in 2011. Since the start of 2010, he's pitched to a 3.21 ERA in 379 innings across 62 starts. He's struck out 8.88 batters per nine innings, walked just 2.66 per nine, and generated a ground ball 43.7% of the time. The Padres control Latos for another four seasons, the final three as an arbitration-eligible player, so his trade value at the moment is substantial.

Angels Will Tender Kendrys Morales

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The Angels introduced Albert Pujols at a press conference today, but they still have to figure out what to do with their two incumbent first basemen. GM Jerry Dipoto indicated that they will find a place for Mark Trumbo, and today he confirmed to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez that Kendrys Morales will be tendered a contract before Monday's deadline.

Morales, 28, hasn't played since breaking his leg celebrating a walk-off grand slam against the Mariners on May 29th, 2010. He'd hit .302/.353/.548 with 45 homers in the 203 games prior to the injury, dating back to the start of the 2009 season. The team will know more about the health of his leg after the New Year, but he must also prove he can run at full speed in Spring Training.

Our projections have Morales earning $2.975MM in 2012 following his second trip through arbitration this winter. There has been some speculation that the Angels would non-tender him after landing Pujols, but they should be able to finding some trade interest. A number of teams could use a switch-hitting power hitter at first base (or DH), including the Rays, Blue Jays, Orioles, Indians, Brewers, Pirates, and Rangers.

Quick Hits: Pujols, Lee, Davis, Buehrle

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On this day in 2008, the Rays traded Edwin Jackson to the Tigers for Matthew Joyce.  In his first full season for Tampa Bay in 2011, Joyce hit .277/.347/.478 with 19 homers and received his first All-Star nomination.    Here are some links for Saturday afternoon..

  • The personal services clause in Albert Pujols' contract ties him to the Angels for ten years beyond his playing contract, tweets Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.  In total, Pujols and the Angels are set to be in business together for 20 years.
  • The Angels were the only team to call the Cardinals about a possible trade for Pujols in recent years, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links).  The talks never advanced, however, as the Cards wouldn't consider trading him (via Twitter).
  • There's no evidence of any interest in Carlos Lee yet, tweets Jon Heyman of MLB Network.  Heyman suggests that the 35-year-old might need Prince Fielder to come off the board first before the Astros can trade him.  Last year, Lee hit .275/.342/.446 with 18 homers for the Astros.  The Indians have reportedly considered the veteran but are wary of his price tag.
  • The Athletics’ haul for right-hander Trevor Cahill should be a pretty good indication of what the Rays might expect for righty Wade Davis, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.  Clubs might not view Davis as highly, but his contract might make him even more appealing to teams such as the Reds and Marlins.
  • According to a person with knowledge of the situation, the Nationals’ final offer to Mark Buehrle was $39MM over three years, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.  Ultimately, the right-hander signed with the Marlins for $58MM over four years.  Ultimately, the Nats' offer was $19MM less in overall guaranteed money and $1.5MM less in average annual value.

Dodgers Interested In Daniel Murphy

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During the Winter Meetings, Dodgers GM Ned Colletti alluded to a near-trade for a position player that fell through.  That player was Daniel Murphy of the Mets and they might make another run at him, a source tells Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Colletti addressed the near-trade during the meetings without naming Murphy or the Mets specifically.  The GM said he thought the trade might happen until the other club satisfied its need elsewhere.  That apparently was a reference to the Mets trading for Giants outfielder Andres Torres. 

Murphy, 26, has been plauged by injuries in recent years.  The left-handed hitter missed the entire 2010 season with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.  In 2011, Murphy hit .320/.362/.448 in 109 games before suffering a torn MCL in his left knee.

Yankees Win Rights To Hiroyuki Nakajima

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Saturday, 2:41pm: Nakajima spoke to Nikkan Sports (Japanese link) about the Yankees submitting the top bid.  "I thought 'whoa!'. I got a bid from a great team," said the shortstop before adding that he doesn't know how everything will turn out.  Thanks to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker for the translation.

Thursday, 6:18am: ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that the question is being explored as to whether or not the Yankees will trade Nakajima, as they don't really have a role for them on their club.

Wednesday, 6:43pm: Given the low salary Nakajima figures to receive, the Yankees aren't confident they'll sign the infielder, tweets Heyman. Nakajima could decide to stay in Japan.

11:34am: The Yankees won the bid for about $2MM, tweets Jon Heyman.  Noting Nakajima's preference to play for a West Coast team, Rosenthal wonders if he'll be willing to be a utility player for the Yankees.  

11:18am: The Yankees won the rights to negotiate with Nakajima, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  They now have 30 days to work out a deal with him.

11:08am: The Yankees submitted a posting bid on Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima with an eye on using him in a utility role, tweets David Waldstein.  One person believes the Yankees won the bid, but Waldstein has not yet confirmed that.  The Seibu Lions should announce the winning bidder today.

Cardinals, Furcal Agree To Two-Year Deal

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The Cardinals and Rafael Furcal have reached agreement on two-year deal, pending a physical, a source tells Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (via Twitter).  Furcal's two-year deal will likely come in around $14MM, a source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).

Furcal, 34, hit .255/.316/.418 with seven homers in 217 plate appearances after being traded to St. Louis at the deadline last year.  He was said to be seeking a multi-year contract last month.  Furcal recently underwent an appendectomy but is expected to be ready for the start of Spring Training.

The signing shrinks the market for Jimmy Rollins even further and could signal his return to the Phillies.  The Cardinals were known to have interest in the shortstop and had more money to spend after the departure of Albert Pujols.  However, the club wasn't willing to give Rollins the five-year deal that he seeks.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) first reported that the two sides were making progress towards a new deal while Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweeted that a deal was close.

Darren Oliver Keeping An Open Mind About 2012

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Earlier this week it appeared as though Darren Oliver would be heading back to the Rangers next season, but that's not necessarily the case. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says that Oliver is keeping an open mind about his 2012 destination, and he's drawing interest from the Red Sox and other clubs (Twitter links).

Oliver, 41, pitched to a 2.29 ERA in 51 innings this past season, striking out 44 and walking just 11. During his two most recent years in Texas, he's held left-handed batters to a .212/.250/.306 batting line with 66 strikeouts and just seven walks in 207 plate appearances. Oliver is one of the few remaining left-handed relievers on the free agent market.

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