Kuroda Wants Four Years
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 6:28pm: Tony Jackson dug up some info on this situation. He says the Mariners’ three-year offer worth $30-33MM is tops so far, despite other reports. He doesn’t believe the Mariners are at 4/44. The Ms and Dodgers, as expected, are the leaders for Kuroda.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:55pm: First Heyman suggested 3/45 for Kuroda. Now Jeff Passan is saying 5/50! Passan throws the Giants into the mix for him, which is a new one.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:29pm: Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News confirms that the Dodgers have an offer out to Kuroda, probably in the 3/30 range. He says that the Ms are reportedly already at four years and more than $40MM.
FROM 12-4-07 at 1:26pm:
Previous reports floating about had the Mariners offering four years, $44MM to Hiroki Kuroda. Not so, according to MLB.com’s Jim Street. Street says the Mariners, Dodgers, and D’Backs have all made offers in the three-year, $30MM range. None of the three clubs wants to go to four years on soon-to-be 33 year-old pitcher with no MLB experience.
Kuroda may make his decision early next week, after his agents meet with the interested parties.
Street adds that the Ms plan to meet with the Orioles today to discuss Erik Bedard possibilities. Also, he mentions the rumor that the Mariners inquired on Ben Sheets. Maybe it was both the Dodgers and Mariners.
Odds and Ends: Cliff Lee, Edwin Jackson
You know the drill…
- Nick Piecoro checks in on his blog. Apparently the D’Backs discussed swapping Carlos Quentin for Cliff Lee before sending him to Chicago. As much as he might’ve liked to it seems like Josh Byrnes couldn’t get a starter for Quentin.
- Geoff Baker links the Mariners to Lee, Ben Sheets, Mark Prior, and Edwin Jackson based on yesterday’s buzz. The Sheets one has since been questioned, since the Dodgers were identified as the West Coast team that inquired. Prior could be part of a Raul Ibanez trade, but the Cubs are first focusing on Fukudome. As for Jackson, the Rays would want more than just Ben Broussard.
- John Fay believes the Reds will have to part with Jay Bruce or Homer Bailey to get a frontline starter.
Crasnick’s Latest: Ellsbury, Owings, Eckstein
A few new rumors courtesy of ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick…
- The Scott Boras Corporation recently signed two new clients – Jacoby Ellsbury and Micah Owings. Seems insignificant now, but wait 4-5 years.
- David Eckstein is open to playing second base or shortstop. Crasnick notes that he turned down a four-year offer from the Mets, which might’ve been a mistake.
Tigers Willing To Trade Miller In Haren Deal?
A short note from Yahoo’s Tim Brown: the Tigers were apparently willing to put stud starter Andrew Miller in a deal for Dan Haren. It’s interesting to hear that the Tigers inquired on Haren. You have to figure Miller or Cameron Maybin would be a requirement.
Meanwhile Brown reiterates that the D’Backs checked in on both Haren and Joe Blanton. Arizona may have also checked in on Ian Snell, if you believe lobby fodder.
Rangers Rumors: Bay, Gagne, Fukudome
T.R. Sullivan has the Rangers goods for us this evening. Wow, did MLB.com send 30+ reporters out to Nashville?
- The Rangers are still pursuing Eric Gagne to return as their closer (and then maybe they’d flip him again). The interest is mutual.
- The team is also considering LaTroy Hawkins, Shawn Chacon, Luis Vizcaino, Trever Miller, and Octavio Dotel. Basically, most of the relief market. Problem is, the Rangers don’t want to give more than one year to any of these guys.
- The Rangers are moving toward filling center field internally after exploring options. Carlos Gomez, Felix Pie, and Carlos Gonzalez proved unavailable or too pricey (though if all the Mets wanted for Gomez was Gerald Laird, Daniels should’ve pounced).
- Daniels has shifted gears to a corner outfielder. Kosuke Fukudome remains on the radar.
- The Rangers had a preliminary conversation with the Bucs about Jason Bay.
- The team isn’t focused on getting pitching for once, but Daniels is still perusing medical reports on Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, and Jason Jennings.
- Daniels said he’s not shopping Hank Blalock.
Odds and Ends: Cabrera, Blanton, Haren, Sabathia
Let’s round ’em up.
- Indians GM Mark Shapiro will soon get a contract extension offer for C.C. Sabathia approved by ownership. Then he’ll put that in front of Sabathia’s agent, with an eye on resolving the situation one way or another before Spring Training. Shapiro’s model will not be Johan Santana‘s upcoming deal but rather Jake Peavy‘s three-year, $50MMish extension.
- White Sox outfielders Ryan Sweeney and Brian Anderson might be on the fringe. The Marlins, if I recall correctly, once had interest in Anderson as a center field option.
- Miguel Cabrera is out to prove he’s a good athlete and can stay at third base – he’s beginning a rigorous workout program like nothing he’s ever done before.
- The D’Backs could pursue Joe Blanton or Dan Haren, while the Yankees may turn to Haren if they fail to acquire Johan.
- The Yankees are receiving a lot of interest in The Farnz, according to Brian Cashman.
Levine’s Latest: Rowand, Prior, Hudson, Swisher
Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 went on air a few hours ago with some interesting tidbits regarding the Chicago teams. This was before the Sox acquired Carlos Quentin so I’m not sure what kind of effect that has on this info.
- The White Sox are still very much in the mix for Aaron Rowand, but they really don’t want to give him five years. By the way Jerry Crasnick mentioned today that the Phillies may be willing to stretch to four years on Rowand or at least three years plus a vesting option.
- The Cubs are having all sorts of trade discussions involving Mark Prior. The Rangers and Padres are said to be two interested parties.
- Of course the Cubs still have Kosuke Fukudome in their sights. But they also have their eye on Oakland’s Nick Swisher and Arizona’s Orlando Hudson. Both are switch-hitters, by the way.
D’Backs Trade Quentin To White Sox For Chris Carter
According to MLB Radio via MetsBlog, the D’Backs will send outfielder Carlos Quentin to the White Sox for first baseman Chris Carter. Here’s the MLB.com link. Kenny Williams and Josh Byrnes have gotten together on many trades in the past.
Carter was recently ranked Chicago’s 4th best prospect by Baseball Prospectus’ Kevin Goldstein, and their best position player prospect. The 21 year-old first baseman will try his hand at High A in 2008. Goldstein calls him a "true slugger with tremendous strength and power to all fields," while noting that he is poor defensively even at first base. Carter’s a few years off, so Conor Jackson doesn’t have to worry quite yet.
Quentin didn’t have a place on the D’Backs after they signed Eric Byrnes to a contract extension. 2007 was a lost year for Quentin as he dealt with shoulder and hamstring issues. He plans to have labrum surgery to fix the shoulder this winter. The 25 year-old has mashed at Triple A and knows how to take a walk – he is exactly what the White Sox needed. Faith in Kenny Williams has been restored, perhaps.
It’s tough to pick a winner here; I like the deal for both clubs. I love it for the White Sox, who had a strong need for position-playing young talent. The D’Backs did well getting Carter, though they weren’t able to spin Quentin into a starting pitcher. Quentin wouldn’t have gotten a chance to rebuild value with Arizona at the big league level in 2008 anyway. Yahoo’s Jeff Passan is not impressed with the move for Arizona.
Peavy Extension Could Be Model For Webb
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that the Diamondbacks may use Jake Peavy’s new three-year extension with the Padres as a guideline for their ace, Brandon Webb. Webb recently rejected a three-year proposal from Arizona.
Peavy is to receive roughly $50MM for the three-year extension. Webb will earn only $20.5MM over the 2008-10 seasons.
Giants, Astros Interested In Miguel Tejada
Friend of MLBTR Jeff Zrebiec reports on the Orioles Winter Meetings situation. All Orioles are available, and Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard figure to be in all sorts of rumors.
A few days ago Zrebiec named the Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, and Dodgers as the teams that have inquired on Bedard. Today he adds the Diamondbacks to that list.
As for Tejada, we know he’s a fallback option if the Halos can’t acquire Miguel Cabrera. One new one is the Giants, who have an opening at third base. The Orioles won’t pry Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum loose, but maybe Jonathan Sanchez would be a start. Hard to see the two teams matching up though. Plus Tejada makes little sense for the Giants.
Meanwhile, Jon Heyman confirms the Giants’ interest and adds the Astros to the mix. They’ve been interested in before, but Roy Oswalt was a part of those talks way back when. These days the O’s have interest in Adam Everett, Michael Bourn, and various prospects. Hopefully they can do better than that!