A look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..
- Kosuke Fukudome wants to remain in the majors, according to a source with knowledge of his thinking. Some executives, however, believe he could end up back in Japan. The Brewers had interest in Fukudome before signing Japanese outfielder Norichika Aoki.
- Rangers right-hander Koji Uehara enjoyed his time so much in Baltimore that he recommended the Orioles to the two free-agents the team signed out of the Japanese league, Tsuyoshi Wada and Wei-Yin Chen, according to a major-league source. A trade back to the O's is possible for Uehara, who rejected a deal to the Blue Jays this week.
- The Red Sox are talking to Edwin Jackson, who might be open to a one-year pact. However, one executive points out that the AL East isn't an easy landing spot for a starting pitcher. If Jackson signs for one year, he might be better off in the NL, where he could produce better numbers before trying the open market again.
- The bright side of the Nationals’ failure to sign Prince Fielder is that it allows the club to retain positional flexibility, particularly in center field. A long-term deal for the slugger eventually might have pushed the Nats to use an outfield of Michael Morse in left, Jayson Werth in center and Bryce Harper in right. Now, they can move Morse to first after Adam LaRoche plays out his contract this season and go after a center fielder.
kosuke he would make a great addition since Cody Ross is gone.??
A light-hitting, declining corner outfielder who’s horrific on the bases? Perfect fit for the Giants.
Declining? Kosuke’s just as good as he always was.
He was terrible then, too
Disqus is really messing me up today…..
Considering many of the big hitters have now moved over the AL, I completely understand the point of Jackson being better off in the NL if he only has a guarantee of 1 year. Wouldn’t be smart to sign in Boston for example, potentially get smacked around by the rest of the AL and then seek a multi year deal the season after. Doesn’t work like that. I think neither Oswalt or Jackson end up in Boston. I’m still saying trading for Gavin Floyd is the best fit for all parties and for a lot of reasons.
How many times will the sox face the angels or tigers for that to be a reason for Jackson?
If Pujols stayed with the cards and Fielder stayed with the Brewers, its still wise for any pitcher to stay out of the AL east…
Realistically played in the East isn’t bad aslong as you’re on one of the sox/yankees.. because then you don’t have to face yourself..
He’ll go to Boston, but not on a 1 year deal. If boston wants him they are going to need to do 4-5 years
4-5 years?!?!?!
yah i guess only good pitchers like john lackey, aj burnette and gio gonzalez deserve those deals .
Gio’s in the National League East, with Washington.
I think the point was the deal Gio got, not the division he plays in
Maybe, but the article and many posts are talking about playing in the AL East, as Lackey and Burnett do.
I still think Lackey will out perform him over the next 2-3 years (like 2013-2015) since think both are just innings eaters and Lackey at least had a track record of consistency spanning 7-8 seasons.
Sox fans hammer him mercilessly, but i have faith he will come back and give them at least a couple years of #3 type SP and can’t say that about Jackson.
Nobody on this planet can say that lackey does not go on the mound and pitch with intensity and give it his all every time. His arm must have been literally falling apart since he signed that deal with the Sox.
Man, you can’t agree with anything right now.
“If Pujols stayed with the cards and Fielder stayed with the Brewers, its still wise for any pitcher to stay out of the AL east…”
That statement makes absolutely no sense. Well, that’s my point, it wouldn’t be smart to pitch a 1 year deal in the AL, especially factoring in the additions Pujols, Fielder, 2nd full year of Gonzalez, several new young power hitters, Trout, Montero, the whole Royals team under age 22. I didn’t mention a single Yankee and yeah, you’ve got to face those guys too..
No chance the Red Sox or any team gives him a 4 or 5 year deal, that’s insane. I have no idea where Jackson could sign. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wound up back on the Cardinals for two years. If the price is cheap enough, maybe the Nat’s or Padre’s.
you can make the same list of young budding power hitters for the NL..
the author is saying he should stay out of the AL EAST not the AL.. why wouldn’t he go pitch in Cleveland, Detroit, LA, Seattle?
You don’t think Jackson’s decent enough to be Boston’s #4? Or am I misinterpreting?
dbl posts galore
I hope Koji is friends with more good Japanese players.
Well, there’s also some bigshot NPB righthander Yu might have heard about. Although, Yoshinori Tateyama was with the Rangers last year, as well. Tateyama was actually a former teammate of Darvish, and was very effective against RHB, but couldn’t get a lefty out to save his life.
Well, considering Yu was taken in a posting, he didn’t really have much of a say where he landed. Wada and Chen were both FA.
He didn’t have to sign. He said he liked what he saw from Texas.
Everything I read about Koji makes me like him more. Can’t wait for him to be back in Baltimore by 2013 at the latest.
He is so awesome. Then again, he will be 38. I’d re-sign him, at a good cost. But I would love to move him into the managerial side as a scout and ambassador of sorts when he is done playing. If he loves Baltimore as much as the media has made it sound, he could do wonders in getting asian talent in OPACY.
Does the Mayor of Baltimore have naked pictures of Koji?
“If Jackson signs for one year, he might be better off in the NL, where he could produce better numbers before trying the open market again.”
How uninformed (and unintentionally hilarious) of Mr. Links to say that. Has he compared Edwin’s NL stats against his AL?
The Red Sox make an offer to Jackson and Oswalt. Then they wait and wait for for a reply. It seems like none of these guys want to play for the Red Sox. They make offers to these players and it’s like the players have left Beantown at the alter. The only players the Red Sox seem to be able to sign or attract are the ones that have no control over their own destiny like Bailey or platoon players like Ross. Oh how the mighty have fallen after missing the postseason 2 years in a row.
I think its fair to say that players will still go to Boston and by their own control. As much we can bash them, its still a potential perrenial contender to play with. As long as Bobby V cut’s off the circus act and doesn’t further emphasize it, they have the ability to clean up their PR quickly this season. The mob is fickle and it can go either way.
It just seems that the particular players being discussed (Oswalt and Jackson) subsequently the only players left available through free agency, are not ideal matches for Boston at this moment. If Kuroda were still available, he’d sign in Boston as he stated he wanted to play on there or the Yanks. Oswalt and Jackson, nor their agents have stated the same.
Because nobody would want to come to a great city with great tradition and a chance at competing. It’s because of the lack of money or years being offered, not because of missing the playoffs. Get real bro..
A Yankee fan calling the Red Sox mighty?
I would love to have Koji back in Baltimore, and thanx for the good word of mouth allowing the O’s to pick up Wada and Chen. Koji was wicked good here in Baltimore. He’s got some nasty stuff when he’s in the right environment.
Koji won’t be traded unless Texas gets better players back than what they trade to Baltimore. And that’s probably not gonna happen so..
Nationals will bid crazily on one of Victorino, Bourne, Hamilton, or Upton next offseason, however many of them hit the open market.
1. Victorino
2. Bourne
3. Upton
4. Hamilton
In order of most likely to pursue, Hamilton isn’t a true centerfielder or a hitter in the lead-off role they’re looking for. Upton is young but not really as good. Bourne is pretty much a prototypical lead-off hitter, and Victorino was one of the better hitters in baseball last year. I fully expect them to sign one of them.
Hamilton in theory should cost the most, however he is probably the least ideal for the Nat’s, that is, if he is not able to move to 1st. You don’t want two similar players in the OF, of their age, when frankly, that’s against what Rizzo has been trying to do and acquire a young, speedy guy. Hamilton probably puts up the best offensive numbers of the 4 you mention, but has the greatest injury risk and will cost the most. Frankly, I don’t know what’ going to happen with that guy. Consider Fielder signed with the Tigers, it’s probably very likely that Hamilton re-ups with Texas for 3-4 years at a total of $55mm-$70mm for that period. No chance he gets more than that. The Nat’s will probably go after Bourne or Upton and both shouldn’t cost more than $50mm on a 4-5 year deal. They are probably $10mm a year type players.
Hamilton is a true CF. Just because he’s big doesn’t mean he’s slow. He’s one of the better defenders in the OF, specifically CF.
They are two different players, but the Fukudome experience the Cubs endured makes me uncomfortable with Cespedes.
They are very similar in that they both are the superstar players, coming from another country, that have never seen MLB pitching or played 162 games schedule.
Remember how everybody wanted Fukudome, the White Sox outbid everyone, but the Cubs were the lucky winners for him to the tune of $48,000,000.
Fukudome turned out to be a serviceable player at best, which is what Cespedes could end up being.