Links for Thursday night, starting with a pair of notes on the offseason's top remaining free agent…
- The Nationals appear to be a leading suitor for Prince Fielder, but first baseman Adam LaRoche told MLB.com’s Bill Ladson that he won’t hold grudges if he’s not a part of Washington’s plans for 2012. “Hopefully, I'll be a part of it. If not, that's life," he said.
- If the Mariners are serious about making Fielder a competitive offer without hamstringing the organization, they could propose a backloaded seven-year, $155MM deal that includes an opt-out after three years, Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner explains.
- ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick suggests the Marlins are convinced Javier Vazquez is retiring (Twitter link). Miami rounded out its rotation today, obtaining the unpredictable Carlos Zambrano for Chris Volstad.
- Angels infielder Mark Trumbo says the stress fracture in his right foot is taking longer than expected to heal and that his rehabilitation will likely extend to late February, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times.
- The Braves’ interest in Rockies outfielder Seth Smith has cooled, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. The Rays, who had interest in Smith earlier in the offseason, are not in the hunt any longer, Renck writes.
- The Rockies aren’t actively pursuing Braves right-hander Jair Jurrjens, though they continue to monitor the market for starting pitching, according to Renck.
- The Mets continue to look for a shortstop to back up Ruben Tejada, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. They brought Omar Quintanilla in on a minor league deal this week, but the move doesn’t necessarily eliminate the need for shortstop depth. Jack Wilson and Ryan Theriot have been linked to the Mets this offseason.
wait, wait, woahwoahwoahwhoa…since when are the Braves interested in Seth Smith…smh
haha news to me
There’s been reports of this for a while. Whether they’re true or not, however, who knows. Seth Smith doesn’t strike me as a guy who should be getting so much attention.
We dont need or want smith or jones right now, we need to sign wilson,scott and wait till the AS break when both JJ and Prado will be valuable to an AL contender.
I seriously doubt Boras would advise Fielder to take a backloaded opt out deal, kinda removes the purpose of the power the player would have in the opt out deal.
This was an opinion in a report by a Seattle writer. It in no way is accurate as to what the mariners are actually offereing prince and I’m sure its not because that deal doesn’t even make sense. saying the m’s don’t really want him is ludicrous. They’ve basically let their whole offseason slide trying to sign the guy.
i don’t get all the interest in seth smith, hes never really stood out to me
He’s available and he kills righties. Not the greatest player ever but he’s workable
I don’t think he should be a huge stand out to you but he’s a real solid platoon/4th outfield and many teams have interest in increasing depth, and he should come relatively cheap if hes by himself. Thats why there is so much buzz imo.
If he was so cheap and so solid as a #4 OF, I think he’d be wearing a different uniform by now.
Look at the numbers he kills righties. There is plenty of time left in the offseason, just because a player wasnt traded in December doesn’t mean he isn’t solid.
I still like Adam LaRoche. Much like myself, he has adult ADD, and beyond that we agree on all kinds of things like hunting, fishing… what were we talking about… did you guys see the new episode of community?
He’s married 😛
Foot Injury gonna take longer to rehab…. haven’t we heard this before?
there must be something in the water there. With Pujols recent string of injuries, the Angels better pray that nothing ever happens to Pujols
Why would trumbo even say something about his injury and a bigger question why would digovanni publicize it?? This could have potentially ruined a trade for the Angels, potentially.
players have to take physicals when traded anyways
hahaha Ben, it’s Wednesday night, not Thursday
poor guy is working too hard, doesn’t know what day it is
Adam LaRoche is okay with it…not a shocker here…he’s been traded plenty of times…Because he’s a good solution if a team doesn’t have a better choice…he got traded from the Red Sox back in like 09 within what a week?
For what he lacks in overall skill (especially relative to Fielder) he makes up for in class and respectability. I’m a Sox fan to the max, but I’m also a baseball fan. These guys are good for the game.
Why would any player want to sign a backloaded contract with an opt-out clause? Just means the team will keep him for 3 seasons while they aren’t paying him much and then opt-out before paying him the big bucks. That’s not going to happen.
I apologize, I thought the opt-out could be utilized by either the team or the player but I just read only the player can choose to opt-out. This makes much more sense now.
Apology accepted
I wish Washington would just sign Fielder already. That way the M’s can sign Carlos Pena to a two year deal and make a push for Joey Votto when he hits free agency.
Sorry man, I think Joey Votto is planning to go to Toronto if they give him a reasonable offer. Which I’m sure they will for the hometown boy.
At least we would still get Pena. That dude is entertaining as hell.
Ain’t happening Walt isn’t letting Votto hit Free agency
Oh, so you know Joey Votto, huh?
I pity the fans of the team that would be stupid enuf to sign Cecil jr to a backloaded Boras deal… While his stats will downgraded, ol’ Feilder will still be front- and back-loaded into his jersey and a too comfortable lifestyle with a ‘who cares about winning’ attitude.
Every example of a backloaded deal has rewarded the player and punished the team and fans.
Much like the Pujols deal, which I’ll be fully enjoying for the next decade.
You described Mr. “Me Me Me” PooHoles, not Fielder. As a Cubs fan, I know he is not coming to my team, but that won’t make me trash the guy. Fielder’s reputation is of a guy who only cares about winning and is a tireless worker. I think whomever is the team that ends up with Fielder is a lucky team. He’s a winner, through and through.
Thank you. Fielder may be a fat guy, maybe even a bit moody, but he’s intensely competitive and plays all out, all the time. He’s a great player.
No one can expect Vazquez to pitch for Ozzie again, after the things Ozzie said publicly when they were both with the White Sox.
”He hasn’t been,” Guillen said Sunday of Vazquez as a big-game pitcher,
according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “That’s the bottom line.”
Oh please, no smith for the braves, lets just sign luke scott and wilson and be done with it until the all-star break.
Yeah, Quintanilla would be bad even for the Mets expectations.
It allows one gm to sign a player and win now while screwing the gm in charge 8 years down the road.
Quintanilla was signed as a safety net, in case the Mets simply CAN’T afford anyone better. I would LOVE them to sign Theriot, LIKE it if they sign Wilson, and BE OK if they sign Cedeno. (ps- Is David Eckstein retired? He would be a perfect Terry Collins player).
And one more fun fact about recent signee Corey Wimberly; though he appears destined to play OF, he also has played 269 minor league games at 2B and 105 games at SS…