Tanaka Notes: McGehee, AL West, Phillies
2013/12/tanaka-notes-mcgehee-al-west-phillies.html"Whoever gets him…it’s going to be money well spent." The Athletics will be monitoring Tanaka's situation, but mostly because of the chance that he could go to another AL West team, InsideBayArea.com's John Hickey writes.
Mets’ Ricciardi On Ruben Tejada, Draft Picks
2013/12/mets-ricciardi-on-ruben-tejada-draft-picks.html"I think next year he’s going to be a better player than he was this previous year." Stephen Drew remains a free agent and would provide an immediate upgrade at shortstop.
The Changing Closer Market
2013/12/closers.htmlWhat we haven't seen is much of that money going to closers.
Blue Jays Still Mulling Starting Pitching Options
2013/12/blue-jays-still-mulling-starting-pitching-options.html"I have said that we’re definitely going to inquire on any free-agent pitchers that are out there," is about as specific as GM Alex Anthopoulos is willing to get.
Indians Notes: Murphy, Westbrook, Tanaka
2013/12/indians-notes-murphy-westbrook-tanaka.html“She spoke up that her dad was going to the Indians.
C.J. Nitkowski Q+A
2014/01/cj-nitkowski-qa.htmlMLBTR: What is it like to have to [bounce around] from year to year and not know where you're going to be? CJN: I really thought my career was over in 2002, and it didn't end until last January, so I always felt I was on borrowed time anyway.
Dennis Gilbert Reflects On His Career As Top Agent
2014/01/dennis-gilbert.htmlGoing to children's hospitals, signing dozens of bats every year and handing them out and doing a lot of things that people weren't cognizant of.
Quick Hits: Free Agents, Scherzer, Papelbon, Mulder
2014/01/quick-hits-free-agents-scherzer-papelbon-mulder.htmlBeck thinks GM Dave Dombrowski will look to a one-year deal for 2014 to avoid going to arbitration with Scherzer, and those talks could lead to negotiations with agent Scott Boras over a longer-term extension.
Astros Sign Jesse Crain
2014/01/astros-sign-jesse-crain.html"We're not going to rush him but we feel like he's going to be ready to go certainly early in the season if not before," Luhnow said.
The Teams That Could Use Stephen Drew The Most
2014/01/the-teams-that-could-use-stephen-drew-the-most.htmlTwins: The Twins have spent $86.75MM on four free agents so far this winter, with 97% of that going toward pitching.
East Notes: Braves, Rays, Berry, Red Sox
2014/01/east-notes-braves-rays-berry-red-sox.html"I felt [Tampa Bay] was going to be the best option and this is where I wanted to be," Loney says.
Quick Hits: Schilling, Royals, Morales, Podsednik
2014/01/quick-hits-schilling-royals-morales-podsednik.htmlSchilling had been traded three times before his career really got going as a 25-year-old with the Phillies in 1992.
Assessing The Impact Of The Phillies’ New TV Deal
2014/01/impact-of-phillies-new-tv-deal.htmlWith the club's ratings dropping a remarkable 40% in each of the last two seasons, going from first in the game to seventh in the process, one can't help but wonder what impact the team's on-field downturn may have had on negotiations.
AL Notes: Orioles, Rosario, Blue Jays
2014/01/al-notes-orioles-rosario-blue-jays.htmlIt sets back his progression [toward] going up to the big leagues." MLB.com ranks Rosario the Twins' fifth-best prospect.
Cafardo On Red Sox, Denorfia, Cruz, Kemp
2014/01/cafardo-on-3.htmlSaid one scout familiar with Kemp, “I think he’s going to be a guy who will be OK this year, but you’ll get the best of Kemp the following year as he’s recovered completely from the ankle.” The Reds have been very quiet this offseason, but Homer Bailey’s name has come up quite often as possible trade bait.
Poll: Which Team Will Sign Stephen Drew?
2014/01/poll-which-team-will-sign-stephen-drew.htmlIf the market is going to widen much beyond those two teams, Scott Boras may have to get creative.
Walt Jocketty On Homer Bailey, Arbitration Cases
2014/01/walt-jocketty-on-bailey-arbitration-cases.htmlUnsurprisingly, Jocketty sees Bailey as "probably the one guy that's going to be the most difficult [to sign] because of…
Doug Melvin On Free Agency, Relievers, Mets
2014/01/doug-melvin-on-free-agency-relievers-mets.html“We weren’t going to get [Shin-Soo] Choo.
AL West Links: Tanaka, A’s, Astros, Castro
2014/01/al-west-links-tanaka-as-astros-castro.htmlIn other AL West news from earlier today, the Mariners will need approval from ownership before going ahead with any more big moves, and the M's signed catcher Humberto Quintero to a minor league deal.
NL Central Notes: Pirates, Samardzija, Morgan, Cards
2014/01/nl-central-notes-pirates-samardzija-morgan-cardinals.htmlYou just never know when you're going to need arms to come to the rescue," Miklasz writes.
Ubaldo Jimenez Still Seeking $14MM+ Annually
2014/01/ubaldo-jimenez-still-seeking-14mm-annually.htmlThough it's been a somewhat quiet offseason on the Ubaldo Jimenez front thus far, the lack of chatter doesn't mean his asking price is going down.
AL Central Rumors: Twins, Plouffe, Downs, White Sox
2014/01/al-central-rumors-twins-plouffe-downs-white-sox.html“The talks that I had about rebuilding, about going young, about needing some extra veteran leadership in the clubhouse and on the field -- it all appealed to me,” Downs said on a conference call, according to Dan Hayes of CSNChicago.com.
NL East Notes: Braves, Mets, Davis
2014/01/nl-east-notes-braves-mets-davis.html“It’s like running a Mercedes dealership and saying, ‘We’re going to charge you $55,000 for this car, but it’s used and banged up, and you have to figure out how to fix it.
Pirates’ Pitching Coach Expects Burnett To Retire
2014/01/pirates-pitching-coach-expects-burnett-to-retire.htmlBurnett on whether he will pitch in 2014 or retire, but Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage is moving forward under the expectation that Burnett will call it a career, he said in an appearance on 93-7 The Fan Morning Show in Pittsburgh this morning: "I'm on the percentage point where he's not going to come back.
Mets “Not That Actively Engaged” In Davis Trade Talks
2014/01/mets-not-that-actively-engaged-in-davis-trade-talks.htmlAlderson repeated that he has no plans to simply give Davis away: "We're not going to move Ike just to move Ike -- or any other player for that matter.