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Archives for January 2012

Adam Jones Talks Extension

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Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has appeared in more than his share of trade rumors this offseason, but there’s a chance he’ll stay in Baltimore long-term. Jones told WBAL 1090 in Baltimore this week that he’s not ruling out an extension should the Orioles pursue one with him.

“That has not been presented,” he said. “It’s kind of like looking into the future, which is a hard thing to do.”

Jones projects to earn $5.8MM or so in 2012 as a second time arbitration eligible player. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested in August that a four-year extension in the $40MM range could work for the Orioles and the CAA client. Jones, 26, is on track to hit free agency after the 2013 season. He posted a .280/.319/.466 line with 25 homers last year.

Oswalt Still On Rangers’ Radar

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As negotiations with Yu Darvish appear to be going well, the Rangers continue to make inquiries on veteran right-hander Roy Oswalt, a major league official told Gerry Fraley of The Dallas Morning News.  Bob Garber, who represents Oswalt, declined to comment.

Earlier today, we learned that the Yankees are in contact with Oswalt as well as Hiroki Kuroda.  The Red Sox also remain interested in the 34-year-old but, like the Yankees, are looking to cap their spending.  The Cardinals have also been linked to Oswalt but could be eyeing him for a relief role rather than a guaranteed spot in the rotation.

Quick Hits: Jurrjens, Ankiel, Mets, Darvish, Yankees

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Thursday night linkage..

  • Mark Bowman of MLB.com believes that both Martin Prado and Jair Jurrjens will be with the Braves at the start of the season.
  • The Nationals are still talking with Rick Ankiel, tweets Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.  If he returns, it would be in a platoon/fourth outfielder role, with a chance to earn more playing time.
  • As a fan, losing shortsop Jose Reyes to the Marlins was difficult for Mets owner Fred Wilpon, writes Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal.
  • Rangers president Nolan Ryan told reporters that he expects the club to sign Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish by the 3pm Wednesday deadline, writes Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram.  Ryan also believes that the negotiations will go down to the wire.
  • Both Ryan Ludwick and Rick Ankiel remain possibilities for the Reds, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  GM Walt Jocketty is familiar with both outfielders from his time in St. Louis.
  • A person familiar with the Yankees' thinking told Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger that "January brings shifts" and it's possible that the club will add to their payroll in order to satisfy their pitching need.  The Bombers are still in contact with Hiroki Kuroda and Roy Oswalt and are considering Edwin Jackson.
  • From a negotiation standpoint, it doesn't make sense for Yoenis Cespedes to play in the Dominican Winter League, opines Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
  • Right-hander Brian Gordon, whose rights were sold by the Yankees to the SK Wyverns of the Korean Professional League over the summer, will remain with in the KBL after signing with the Samsung Lions, tweets Ken Davidoff of Newsday.

Prince Fielder Rumors: Thursday

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While there's no guarantee that Prince Fielder will sign soon, he will be off of the market by Spring Training. Agent Scott Boras told Barry Bloom of MLB.com that he intends to complete a deal for the powerful 27-year-old before March.

"Certainly we're going to have him signed well in advance of Spring Training," Boras said. "I can't give you the exact date. These things take some time. That's why we have January and early February. Spring Training doesn't start until late February."

Boras is in Phoenix, where owners have gathered for their quarterly meetings, to discuss Fielder and other clients, such as Edwin Jackson. Here are the latest rumors on Fielder:

  • There are more teams involved than the ones that have been reported and most of the unnamed teams are from the National League, a source close to the situation told Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle.  At present, it appears that the Mariners are lying in the weeds and aren't at the front of the pack.
  • The Blue Jays are not a serious suitor for Fielder, multiple people in the industry told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).   Fielder's price and years would need to come way down for Toronto to get involved.
  • The Brewers invited Fielder back on a one-year contract that would have set him up for a mega-deal with the Dodgers next winter, once the team has a new owner in place, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times tweets. However, Boras showed no interest in the Brewers' proposal. Dodgers owner Frank McCourt says he's "not going to talk about" Fielder, Shaikin tweets.
  • The Dodgers aren’t currently involved in the Fielder sweepstakes, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets.
  • There are strong indications that the Marlins aren’t pursuing Fielder aggressively, MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports. Boras touched base with owners including Jeffrey Loria of the Marlins yesterday, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reported.
  • The Nationals are “patiently and aggressively” pursuing Fielder, Kilgore reported.
  • Exchanging information with Fielder’s suitors takes time because “he's going to be there a long time, wherever he's going,” Boras told Bloom.

NL West Notes: Padres, Rockies, Wilson, Blake

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Here are the latest rumors and notes on the division that featured the National League's two lowest-scoring offenses in 2011…

  • Jeff Moorad's purchase of the Padres hit an "unforeseen snag" and was not approved at today's MLB owners meetings, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today anticipated (Twitter link). Owners want more information on Moorad and some aren't convinced they want to admit him into their fraternity, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com tweets.
  • Moorad told the Associated Press that the delay won't affect the team's TV deal and a separate Padres source confirmed that to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (via Twitter).
  • Bud Selig told reporters that the Padres may not have to wait until May to get their new ownership approved as it could be done via conference call, Hayes tweets.
  • Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd confirmed to Troy Renck of the Denver Post that prospect Russell Wilson will pursue football full-time instead of reporting to Spring Training with the Rockies. Wilson, a star football player for Wisconsin, will have to surrender his baseball signing bonus, Renck reports. The 2010 fourth rounder posted a .229/.354/.356 line in 379 minor league plate appearances in Colorado's system.
  • Newly acquired third baseman Casey Blake attracted Colorado's interest by proving that he's now healthy heading into 2012, writes MLB.com's Thomas Harding.

Steinbrenner, Boras Discussed Edwin Jackson

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THURSDAY: The Yankees are still in contact with Hiroki Kuroda, Roy Oswalt, and potential trade partners after discussing Jackson, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

12:16pm: Steinbrenner hasn't yet approved a significant payroll boost, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (all links go to Twitter). It would be a one-year deal or nothing if Jackson signs in New York, even though the Yankees' baseball operations staff likes the right-hander. It appears likely that the Yankees will sign a starter like Jackson, Hiroki Kuroda or Bartolo Colon in Sherman's view.

WEDNESDAY: It was one year ago this month that Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner and agent Scott Boras worked out the deal that brought Rafael Soriano to the Bronx against GM Brian Cashman's better judgment. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that Steinbrenner and Boras met again to discuss another free agent pitcher: Edwin Jackson. Steinbrenner told the agent he'll think about offering Jackson a deal.

Steinbrenner said at the November GM Meetings that he was "still a little concerned about [the] rotation." Though Cashman has since re-signed Freddy Garcia, he continues exploring the trade and free agent markets for rotation options. Yankees scouts like Jackson very much, but are more comfortable offering short-term deals, Heyman tweets.

Marlins To Make “Aggressive” Run For Cespedes

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The Marlins are prepared to make a strong run for Yoenis Cespedes once he gains his Dominican residency and Major League Baseball declares him a free agent, Marlins president David Samson said in his weekly appearance on 790 The Ticket (transcribed by Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel).

“[The club's pursuit will be] aggressive right to the point of stupidity, but not quite there,” Samson said. “We think he’s a perfect fit for us, but it has to be sane. [We've been] expressing interest, going to visit, making it very clear to his representatives and to him and his family that we think he should not be anywhere other than Miami. As a Cuban and someone in the DR, it makes perfect sense. We have a perfect position for him to play. It would be great."

Samson went on to say that the club is prepared for the sizable signing bonus and contract that Cespedes will likely command.  However, Miami will back off if another team looks to "make a bigger splash or get irrational."

Rodriguez also writes that the club has not begun pursuing Prince Fielder, according to a source who has spoken with the front office.  Earlier today we learned that there are strong indications that the Marlins aren't pursuing the slugger aggressively.

Quick Hits: Cespedes, Young, Selig, Darvish

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Spring Training begins next month, but more than 100 players remain unsigned. Here's an update on the top ten available free agents and here are this afternoon's links…

  • Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will play in the Dominican Winter League, Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com reports. Cespedes will initially DH for the Aguilas Cibaenas, which will enable teams to get in-game looks at him before he becomes a free agent.
  • Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com checks in with Dmitri Young, the 38-year-old two-time All-Star who is attempting a comeback after losing 70 pounds.
  • Commissioner Bud Selig says he will “of course" commit to developing a succession plan before his new contract expires, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times tweets. Selig's extension runs through the 2014 season.
  • Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com outlines some reasons that Selig has been good for baseball. John Moores of the Padres was the lone owner not to vote in favor of the commissioner's extension, Heyman tweets.
  • The Rangers are increasingly optimistic about their chances of reaching a deal with Yu Darvish by next week's deadline, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports.
  • Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com breaks down the Mets' projected 2012 payroll and arrives at a $90MM total — $50MM less than the club’s Opening Day payroll in 2011.

Indians Interested In Carlos Pena

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The Indians like Carlos Pena and asked ownership if they could make a deal for the 33-year-old Scott Boras client work, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets. Pena would provide the Indians with a power bat at first base and make the team's lineup even more left-handed than it already is.

Matt LaPorta and Carlos Santana figure to get most of the playing time at first base unless the Indians add a first baseman such as Pena or Casey Kotchman. Pena, a well-regarded defender, posted a .225/.357/.462 line with 28 home runs in 606 plate appearances for the Cubs in 2011.

Approximately 8% of 15,600 MLBTR poll respondents said they expect Pena to sign with the Indians. Many fans and analysts expected the Indians to pursue right-handed bats because their roster already includes left-handed hitters such as Jason Kipnis, Michael Brantley, Shin-Soo Choo, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Jack Hannahan and Lonnie Chisenhall.

Indians Sign Chris Ray

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The Indians announced that they have signed right-hander Chris Ray to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Major League Spring Training. MLB.com's Jordan Bastian first reported the news on Twitter. 

Ray, who turns 30 today, posted a 4.68 ERA with 6.1 K/9, 3.3 BB/9 and a 46% ground ball rate in 32 2/3 innings for the Mariners in 2011. He has a 4.19 ERA with 7.4 K/9, 3.9 BB/9 and a 39.3% ground ball rate in a career that includes an extended stint as the Orioles' closer from 2006-07. SFX represents the six-year MLB veteran.

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