Here's the latest news and notes out of the AL West…
- The Angels have reached their payroll limit and any further moves will have to come via the trade market, GM Jerry Dipoto tells Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles. Dipoto says the club would need "a fairly compelling reason" to trade either Kendrys Morales or Mark Trumbo, but "there are scenarios you could envision."
- Dipoto tells Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times that the Angels' signing of infielder Jorge Cantu isn't a sign that the Halos have new concerns about the health of either Morales or Trumbo.
- Josh Hamilton's hard-nosed style of play (and subsequent injuries) will make it hard for the outfielder to earn top dollar either in free agency or from an extension with the Rangers, writes MLB.com's Lyle Spencer.
- The Mariners recently turned down inquiries about Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda from Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. This doesn't really represent a failed attempt for Anthopoulos since, as Rosenthal explains, the Toronto GM "routinely asks about the best players on every team. He almost always is told no."
- The Mariners have addressed most of their offseason wish list, notes MLB.com's Greg Johns, except their biggest need: an impact bat. Johns says there has been no indication that the biggest name the M's have been connected to this winter, Prince Fielder, has any interest in coming to Seattle.
- Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle finds it "astounding" that Billy Beane is remaining with the Athletics through this latest rebuilding period, but the A's GM isn't just looking ahead to the club's potential move to San Jose. "I'm too competitive to 'punt' anything," Beane said. "It's not part of my DNA. I've got an emotional investment in this team, and if we're playing in Oakland, then let's make the best of the situation. I don't leave for clear skies as soon as I start seeing the clouds. I keep thinking something will get better."
AA: “Would you deal Kemp?”
NC: “Got any mediocre infielders?”
AA: “Well, sort of dealt some of them to the Dbacks last year.”
Dial tone….
AA: “We got some proven veteran gritty relievers if you’re interested though! Ned… Ned…”
Bruce Jenkins is a disgusting pro-Giants hack who hates the A’s being in Oakland.
Calm down.
He’d hate San Jose more.
very true, plus he has no idea what he’s talking about usually when it comes to baseball. this was the one readable piece about baseball he’s written in a loooooong time.
dude still places value in freaking wins for gods sake
from what i’ve seen on here about bob elliot from toronto fans, i’d say bruce jenkins is seriously at that low of a level…
That’s very true!
AA never goes away… GMs must find him annoying but end up dealing with him because he always gets them what they want. But i am sure Blue Jays fans love him.
I dont like this AA fellow, he seems to continually pull the wool over poor unsuspecting GMs. But i do love my avatar, i cant help but get lost in his gaze. Must…do..whatever..he says…
edit: this will really get Angry3 … well … angry.
Better to ask and get rejected, than to not ask and find out *Rizzo gets traded for a fairly low return.
*prime example of what could happen.
There was a rumor that the Jays offered Kyle Drabek, Travis Snider, Henderson Alvarez, Anthony Gose and JP Arencibia, but I doubt that actually happened.
Only difference is Rizzo is a prospect and Could be a great player in the future
But was the key player in the trade, like Felix would be.
I’m sure that was just a rumour. but boy would that have been a brutal trade.
jays have no position player depth, trading anyone off the current starting roster just doesn’t work.
If the A’s go through another rebuilding phaseand trade Weeks and anybody else who is good then I am through with the Oakland triple A’s. Worst ownership in all of sports. All their games next year should be boycotted. If you do go to a game wear a paperbag over your head and heckle Lew Wolf
Ya so original, what good is that going to do..
never understood the whole “don’t trade Weeks” thing. He and his brother never seem to be healthy. If someone offers a king’s ransom, why not sell high? slapping a single, then stealing 2nd does no good, when the rest of the team doesn’t have the skill to drive you in.
Their games aren’t already boycotted? I figured that’s why they averaged 50 fans a game..
partly the fans not liking ownership, partly we just haven’t had an exciting team since 06 (09 was exciting before the season, then the a’s started crapping out), and partly because the stadium is a dump
I think that Hamilton will get about $12MM-$16MM per year with something around a three or four year contract. I don’t think that anyone would give him much more due to his injuries.
I agree, but I got jumped on for claiming this yesterday. Hamilton isn’t a guy who just seeks money. He wants to stay in Texas. And while he doesn’t want to be cheated and get a small contract, he isn’t going to demand too much. I could see Texas and Hamilton settling in the 3-4 yr, 16-20 mill range
The elephant in the room is his pretty severe history of substance abuse. Wrongly or rightly, that too has to factor into any club’s decision about whether to make a long-term investment in his future.
There will be a stipulation in his contract regarding that so it is no big deal in the contract aspect.
Make drug testing part of the contractual agreement, giving the Rangers or whoever signs him the power to void the contract if he tests positive in any drug test, gets any drug-related suspensions, or is found guilty on any new drug charges. The team can subject him to periodic drug testing.
If he’s legitimately clean and sober, it’ll be a non-issue.
Other players’ contracts have stipulated against harmful/high injury risk baseball activities (even legal ones).
Beane <3
Beane is less than 3?
If there are a rumor about the Jays, It is most likely 99.99 percent false!
GM’s should learn not to be leverage for Scott Boras. I really hope Fielder gets the advice to wait it out and gets a 3-5 year deal.
i wonder if AA routinely asks natalie portman to marry him.
Thank you for not calling Hamilton “fragile.” I’m so tired of people calling him that. He plays hard and sometimes he gets hurt. It’s not like his hamstrings blow for no reason or his bones break when you look at him crosseyed.
Maybe people are just getting him and Cruz mixed up. Personally, I don’t think you can blame Hamilton for freak injuries from crashing into a wall and sliding into home. He’s hardly as injury prone as people claim. Unlucky is a word that word fit better here.
Nothings harder than sliding into home.
Beane shows loyalty to the Oakland franchise and it’s considered heresy. Albert Pujols exercises his rights and leaves the St. Louis Cardinals and it’s considered heresy. It seems to me that there are a lot of people, and some of them well educated and in positions to shape public opinion that are actually mental midgets.
“The Mariners have addressed most of their off season wish-list”
Most. Clueless. Organisation. Ever.
I was kind of thinking the same thing. The Mariners have addressed nothing. All they’ve done is purchased a 30 year old Japanese SS, which is only to keep Japanese ownership happy, acquired John Jaso and oh yeah, can’t forget about Sherrill. I’m beginning to think that the Mariners are doing this intentionally or this is all one big joke. If you think about it, every team in the MLB would like Felix. Jack’s reasoning is somewhat inexplicable and his answer is no and in spite, we’ll run the rest of the team into the ground. I’ve seen similar behavior. It was over the holidays when I saw my 3 year old nephew. I just don’t get these Mariners. I’m not the only who thinks this, just about every sports writer in baseball (except for Shannon Dyer) thinks the M’s should just get on with the rebuilding already.
You have forgotten about Iwakuma. He could easily be a solid 3rd or 4th option in the rotation with Felix and Pineda. This also gives them more leverage to trade Vargas, who is due a big pay raise they cannot really afford if they are to sign a bat or two.
Prince Fielder is not the answer. He is overweight, as was his father, Cecil, which shortened his career. Generally, NL hitters coming to the AL do not do as well (I suspect that by 2013… Pujols could be a disappointment for the Angels). I would prefer to see what the young kids can do, and wait until Ichiro’s $18M ends and getting rid of Figgins & 2 yrs. at $9M per. I have been a fan since 1977, I have patience, and am a bit intrigued. Remember the Mariners have some real talent coming up to Triple A.
If he keeps hitting 30+ HR’s a year, it doesn’t matter to me how overweight he is. M’s need to find a way to score runs!
Tony Gwynn and Kirby Puckett were overweight, it didn’t stop them…
AA called me a couple of times in December to ask me if I am selling my car. Told him I might do it for Brian Jeroloman.
Brian Tallet’s agent here, he’s willing to shovel your driveway and walk your dog for your car. What do you say?
why would you shovel his driveway, just to take his car away?
Because he bought a new one?
Strange that ranger fans attacked cj wilson for his postseason struggles yet seem to be ignoring hamiltons
Trumbo to Oakland? Makes sense
So easy to unload on Beane. I don’t think he was the sole architect of the rebuilding phase. Props to him for ripping the Nats on the Gio trade. If his back was pushed against a wall, I think he did a great job of his club’s assets management.