The Blue Jays have pulled off a trade, a signing, and a DFA today, all before lunch time where the GM Meetings are being held in California. Here's the latest from the AL East…
- Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun says that the Orioles can't afford to take a risk like signing Josh Hamilton given their resources relative to the rest of the AL East. Yesterday we heard that Baltimore was targeting Hamilton and Cody Ross in their search for a left fielder.
- The Red Sox have interest in Japanese right-hander Kyuji Fujikawa, reports Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). The 32-year-old is a true free agent and has been the country's top closer for nearly a decade.
- The Red Sox are casting a wide net in their search for outfield help and even checked in on Grady Sizemore, writes WEEI.com's Rob Bradford. Yesterday we heard that Sizemore will try to play next season after missing all of this year due to injury.
- “Right now we’ve got some gaping holes," said Yankees GM Brian Cashman to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Morosi wrote about the team's challenge of building a competitive roster in 2013 while trying to get under the 2014 luxury tax threshold.
- Ken Davidoff of The New York Post writes that while the Yankees intend to offer him a pay cut, talks with Mariano Rivera should go smoother than they did with Derek Jeter two offseasons ago.
- Yankees right-hander Joba Chamberlain has left the Hendricks Brothers and followed agent Jim Murray to Excel Sports Management, reports Joel Sherman of The New York Post (on Twitter).
- The Red Sox are eyeing Tino Martinez for their hitting coach job, reports Joe McDonald of ESPN Boston. The team is considering hiring two hitting coaches.
I think today officially established that the Red Sox are talking to everyone.
And in a way, that’s a huge plus. It seems like last year we weren’t talking to anyone. But, Cherington also has a manager in place this time around and doesn’t have to be doing that while every other GM is laying ground work on potential deals.
I have no problem with that, just an observation.
As is mine lol
Think Fujikawa could be an excellent influence on Tazawa, even though Fujikawa himself would probably just be a middle inning person himself from the couple of reports have found on him and how what he has now would translate to MLB.
I think it’s easier with the situation there is now. The team isn’t fully expected to compete, so he can go out there and find some big-risk big-potential players. Sizemore if healthy could be a very good signing. They sign some these guys and hope they get some value back.
I like the idea of the Japanese righty. Also, Tino Martinez for hitting coach? Who wouldn’t like that…?
Yankee fans..
Yeah, true. Similar to last year when David Cone was rumored as pitching coach. Oh well. Honestly, I’m a Sox fan and I have no problem bringing in an ex Yankee. Obviously, we have know idea how good a hitting coach or bad a hitting coach he will be, but with his track record you have to expect he has plenty of knowledge to use toward helping this team.
Not really. Martinez was an icon for the yanks, Cone was just another solid addition.
But if I remember correctly it struck a cord with Yankee fans.
Not for many. Cone was 37 or 38 when he left the Yankees, and he actually signed with Boston after the Yankees had signed Mussina. Cone had a miserable year in 2000 with the Yankees and at his age we knew he was all but done
Won’t forget that near perfect game match when they faced head to head and Carl bleeping Everett of all players ends it.
He was great for the Yanks, but I hope the best for the guy. Unless your willing to bring the guy into your organization you really can’t be all that upset if he signs somewhere else.
Tino Martinez would be a great fit imo.
Think Kuroda would excel in Boston but I’m pretty sure he is either re-signing with the Yanks or heading back to Japan.
Considering Peter Angelos is a billionaire and the revenue he got from the Orioles/Nationals on Masn…. I am sure he could afford Hamilton
When Angelos wins a case, he gets installment payments. He doesn’t get lump sums. So my recommendation now is to merge with JG Wentworth and therefore the Orioles could live by the motto: It’s your money, use it when YOU need it!
Then and only then could the Orioles afford
Josh Hamilton
Nick Swisher
Dan Haren
I am telling you though, either Angelos has no money (poor cash flow) or he simply does not want to spend it. All the apologists are out there in full force trying to pour cold water on this free agency period.
You don’t usually become a billionaire by being extremely foolish with your money. It is a mindset.
so the only news we get about the yankees is they have gaping holes to fill but still staying with the 189 million dollar mark??? oh and joba leaves his agency. ok??
how about this then….stop shopping for other players bring up Melky Mesa there you go there is our every day RF. surely he cant do no worst then granderson or swisher.
“surely he cant do no worst then granderson or swisher.”
I sure hope this is sarcasm.
actually its not. i would trade grandersons 40 HR’s for a .280+ avg and less strikeouts any day. ill be happy with gardner in CF and Granderson gone. and siwsher dont even have to worry about, he is not coming back. Melky Mesa in RF Gardner in CF and Ichiro in LF ill take that.
And a declining Tex/ARod will sure up the middle of that lineup no problem huh? Robbie Cano can’t do it alone.
That is a below average MLB outfield. That should not be acceptable to Yankee fans with the amount of money that team has.
Chris Dickerson definitely has dibs over Melky Mesa.
For crying out loud! The Sox are looking at a 32 year old pitcher with 10 years on his arm and Grady Sizemore, who has a permanent residence the local hospital? Why don’t they just see if Babe Ruth or Cy Young can be reanimated? They need to give their minor leaguers a chance to play. C’mon man!
You live up to your name, Angry Bruin! :p
Tino just signed with the Marlins
damn, you beat me to it.
I wasn’t going to add to this but I figured what the hey.
I just googled it and according to one news source it happened 9 minutes ago. What took you guys so long? :p
They still haven’t put it up. I hope MLBTR and ESPN did not switch baseball staffs for a day!!
As a player or a coach? :p
According to the experts, that just leaves the Mariners as the only finalist left to sign Hamilton.
A player who religiously swears off drugs and alcohol going to a state with legal marijuana and arguably the best microbrews in America? What a perfect match.
Sizemore is a younger J.D Drew.He has a bad dream and can’t play for 3 weeks.Bad idea.
JD Drew was indifferent about the game & rarely, if ever, showed any passion on the field. Sizemore plays balls to the wall, he’s just an egg. Bad, bad, very bad comparison.
Good, sign Sizemore…. then Jacoby will have someone to hang out with on the DL…