A few notes on some free agents on a busy first day of the annual GM Meetings…
- Octagon agent Alan Nero and his team are ready to advance talks regarding clients Victor Martinez, Jason Hammel and Asdrubal Cabrera, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweets. While we don’t typically see too many free agents come off the board this early in the offseason, it sounds as if Octagon is being aggressive.
- Corey Hart has received interest from several teams despite his down season in 2014, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The market is thin on power hitters and Hart, 32, was a 30-homer threat from 2010-12 before undergoing surgery on both knees and sitting out the 2013 campaign.
- Jason Grilli has had some interest from multiple clubs, but the bullpen-hungry Tigers aren’t among them, Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press tweets.
- Ichiro Suzuki has switched agents and is now represented by John Boggs, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports (Twitter link). Suzuki had previously been represented by Tony Attanasio.
- Also from Rosenthal, Alberto Callaspo has switched agents and is now represented by Praver Shapiro Sports Management. Callaspo had previously been represented by Eric Goldschmidt. For agency info on over 1,700 players, check out MLBTR’s oft-updated Agency Database.
If VMART is signing early, then the Tigers will get him. Looks like they are all in as they have deferred conversations with Price and are in radio silence with Scherzer and Hunter.
Looks like VMART to Tigers will be my 2nd correct MLB TR prediction.
They have no need to talk with Price as he still has a year of arbitration left, and Scherzer will be in radio silence for a while because that’s how Boras operates.
If the Tigers wanted Price instead of VMART, they would have gone to him the day after the season ended and declared that he was their first choice and would have given him the Scherzer offer from last year +5%.
Could be that the Tigers want to make all their upgrades first and then talk with Price hoping the moves they make prove to him they will be World Series material for several years. I think he will need to be sold on the idea that Detroit is the place to be. I am sure that Price would want to see how the top 3 pitching FA make out in a market full of pitching to see where he should be money wise. Any talks about a new contract will be in Dec or Jan.
Maybe, maybe not. Seattle has connections to Martinez and a bucket o cash to spend. I would prefer the Mariners go after a guy that could play the field, but if McClendon and Zduriencik want Martinez, I’m not going to complain about it.
i wonder if the octagon folk aren’t a little worried that once the big fish-pitchers, hanley, panda, and maybe Martin (who will be seen as more of a necessity for some teams) and Toman get spent on, that there will be a little less for them, particularly Hammel and Cabrera, who aren’t see as top tier.
I dont think so when it comes to Hammel.
you think hamels is top tier, or you think hamels will get a big offer anyway?
I think there’s always the market for mid tier starting pitchers. I prefer them alot actually.
Hamels isn’t mid tier. Hes an ace. Are you talking about Jason Hammel?
hammel, the modestly talented chap referred to in the article. not Hamels, the very fine Philly that RA wants seven top ten prospects and for the acquirer to take howard as well.