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R.A. Dickey Rumors: Thursday

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Josh Hamilton’s deal with the Angels will affect the market for many players, including Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Here are the latest Dickey-related rumors, starting with the possibility of a trade to Anaheim…

  • The Angels have shown interest in Dickey, Yahoo's Jeff Passan reported today (on Twitter).  
  • However, the Angels were not the team that jumped back in on Dickey earlier this week, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (on Twitter).
  • Mark Trumbo to the Mets is unlikely, Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports (on Twitter). ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that the Angels have said they are keeping Trumbo (on Twitter).
  • Newsday’s Marc Carig reports that Trumbo or Peter Bourjos would not be a fit in a trade for Dickey (Twitter link).

Cubs Notes: Soriano, Price

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Since winning the NL Central in 2008, the Cubs have seen their win total decrease every year. Here's the latest on the Cubs as they seek to improve on their 2012 mark of 61-101…

  • The Cubs are willing to pay approximately $26MM of the $36MM remaining on Alfonso Soriano’s contract if they get the right prospect back in a trade, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Soriano, who turns 37 next month, hit 32 home runs and posted a .262/.322/.499 batting line in 2012. He'll earn $18MM per season in 2013 and 2014. The Cubs have discussed Soriano with the Phillies and shopped him to the Astros, according to recent reports.
  • Other teams have complimented the Cubs’ methodical approach to building a contender, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes (Twitter links). Olney points out that the Cubs could be well-positioned to pursue a trade for David Price by next winter.

Angels Positioning For Big Move

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12:44pm: Before the Winter Meetings, Dipoto told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez that the team was set in terms of position players (Twitter link). That said, circumstances can change.

12:11pm: The Angels are positioning themselves for a big strike in the market, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter). Josh Hamilton, Michael Bourn, Anibal Sanchez and Nick Swisher are among the top free agents remaining.

Angels owner Arte Moreno and general manager Jerry Dipoto have moved aggressively and unexpectedly on free agents before. At last year's Winter Meetings the Angels reached a ten-year agreement with Albert Pujols and a five-year agreement with C.J. Wilson. This is speculation on my part, but it's possible Moreno and Dipoto decided to pursue Hamilton now that the market for the free agent outfielder appears to be limited to three and four-year opportunities.

Melvin On Marcum, Dempster, Jackson

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If Ryan Dempster signs with the Red Sox, the Brewers might not pursue other free agent starters, Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Melvin indicated free agent starters have shown limited reciprocal interest, according to Haudricourt. "This may be one of those years when we don't do too much,” the GM said. “We're still looking at relievers but we might see if we get a surprise in Spring Training.” Here are the details on the team’s search for starting pitching…

  • Though Shaun Marcum recently indicated he’d consider returning to Milwaukee, Melvin said he hasn’t talked to the right-hander’s agent. Marcum hadn’t been on the Brewers’ radar, Haudricourt reports. “I always thought he'd engage in talks with a team and get something worked out, and he probably will," Melvin said.
  • Melvin confirmed that he offered Dempster a two-year contract and said he hasn’t heard back from the right-hander’s agent. "It doesn't appear that he'll be coming to Milwaukee," Melvin acknowledged.
  • There’s “some intrigue” with respect to right-hander Edwin Jackson. The Brewers spoke with Jackson’s agent, though it doesn’t sound as though talks developed from there.

Reds To Sign Jack Hannahan

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10:51am: Hannahan is believed to have obtained about $4MM, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).

7:50am: The Reds announced that they have signed free agent infielder Jack Hannahan to a two-year contract. The deal includes a club option for 2015, according to the team (on Twitter). Hannahan, a Joe Speed client, is expected to back up Todd Frazier in Cincinnati.

Hannahan became a free agent two weeks ago when the Indians non-tendered him. Five teams had "genuine" interest, including the Yankees, Twins and White Sox. MLBTR projected a $1.5MM salary for the 32-year-old via the arbitration process, so he ends up profiting from the Indians' decision to release him.

Hannahan appeared in 105 games for the Indians in 2012, mostly at third base (he played in seven games at shortstop and another two at first base). In 318 plate appearances, he posted a .244/.312/.341 batting line with 16 doubles. The left-handed hitter has slightly better numbers against right-handed pitching for his career, making him a natural complement to the right-handed hitting Frazier.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported the agreement and John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer first reported the two-year term.

Josh Hamilton Rumors: Thursday

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Yesterday Texas GM Jon Daniels said the Rangers remain interested in Josh Hamilton. "We want Josh back and always have," Daniels said. They're not the only team eyeing the free agent outfielder. Here's the latest, the the most recent items up top…

  • The Mariners are among the other teams showing interest in Hamilton, and they appear to be willing to offer a deal of four years or more, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. However, they’re still viewed as an outsider by rival executives. It’s not clear if the Mariners have made Hamilton an official offer.
  • Rival officials suggest to Heyman that the chances of Hamilton re-signing with the Rangers appear to have increased in recent days. Meanwhile, there’s little evidence that the Brewers and Red Sox have seriously pursued Hamilton recently.

Giants To Sign Andres Torres

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Andres Torres is heading back to San Francisco, the Giants confirmed on Twitter. The Giants have agreed to sign the free agent outfielder to a one-year, $2MM contract, Andrew Baggarly of CSN Bay Area reports (Twitter links). The deal between the Giants and the ACES client is pending a physical.

Torres played for the Giants from 2009-11 before they traded him to the Mets for Angel Pagan last offseason. Torres posted a .230/.327/.337 batting line in 434 plate appearances as New York's starting center fielder in 2012, but the Mets non-tendered him last month, making him a free agent. The 34-year-old switch hitter has a .241/.320/.388 batting line in eight career seasons at the MLB level.

Torres joins a Giants outfield that includes Pagan, Hunter Pence and Gregor Blanco. He can compete for playing time in left field and spell Pagan in center, Baggarly suggests. This means the Giants are no longer in play for Nick Swisher, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes (on Twitter).

Dodgers Could Move Punto, Uribe

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The Dodgers have an abundance of backup infielders on their 40-man roster, and some of them may be moved, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. Nick Punto could be a trade candidate, and Juan Uribe and his $7MM salary could be released, according to Rosenthal.

Punto, 35, appeared in 87 total games for the Red Sox and Dodgers in 2012. He posted a .219/.321/.281 batting line in 191 plate appearances while earning a $1.5MM salary. He'll earn the same amount in 2013 before hitting free agency. Like Punto, Uribe has one year remaining on his contract. He'll earn a $7MM salary in 2013 after missing much of the 2012 season with a wrist injury.

After acquiring Skip Schumaker from St. Louis, the Dodgers have seven backup infielders, including Punto, Uribe, Jerry Hairston, Elian Herrera, Dee Gordon and Justin Sellers. Gordon has drawn interest from many teams and could also be traded. The Dodgers designated Scott Van Slyke for assignment yesterday.

Quick Hits: Wright, Red Sox, Dodgers, DeRosa

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On today’s edition of the Rosters & Rumblings podcast, Jason Martinez of MLB Depth Charts and I discussed the Indians–Reds–Diamondbacks trade, the Yankees’ recent signings and the latest rumors. Click here to listen in and continue reading for some notes from around MLB…

  • The Mets will pay David Wright $3.1MM annually from 2021-2025 as part of the deferred payments from his new contract extension, reports Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. The money is deferred without interest.
  • The Red Sox will pay the Dodgers a total of $11.7MM over the next three years as the cash component of their August blockbuster trade according to the AP (via ESPN). Boston will make identical payments of $3.9MM in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
  • Utility man Mark DeRosa told ESPN's Jim Bowden that his first choice is to re-sign with the Nationals (Twitter link). The 37-year-old free agent has hit .220/.309/.269 in 302 plate appearances while battling injuries over the last three seasons.

Earlier Updates:

  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports argues that the Yankees' strategy of slightly overpaying for free agents on one-year deals hasn't resulted in an improved team this offseason. Morosi wonders why GM Brian Cashman hasn't obtained a power bat for the outfield such as Justin Upton, Jason Kubel or Michael Morse.
  • We're seeing more teams prey on the desperation of others in trades now that Wild Card berths seem so attainable, Yahoo's Jeff Passan writes.
  • A rival executive expects the Rangers could obtain Upton from Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers if they are willing to part with Elvis Andrus, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). “I don't think KT will do it for less," the person said. Towers has said it’s “highly unlikely" that he moves Upton.
  • Shaun Marcum said on MLB Network Radio that he's open to re-signing with the Brewers, Jim Bowden reports (on Twitter). The Twins, Royals, Padres and Cubs have been linked to the right-hander in the past month or so.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Angels, Josh Hamilton Nearing Deal

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1:21pm: The sides are nearing a five-year deal, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). People connected to the team seem confident a deal will get done, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter).

12:59pm: The Angels are getting close to a deal with Josh Hamilton, Yahoo's Tim Brown reports (on Twitter). The deal with the Moye Sports Associates client is not quite done, Brown adds. Joe McDonnell of FoxSportsWest.com first reported that the Angels were involved in serious talks with Hamilton (Twitter link).

This would mark the second time in as many winters that Angels owner Arte Moreno and general manager Jerry Dipoto have signed an elite free agent unexpectedly. The Angels signed Albert Pujols to a ten-year deal at last year's Winter Meetings to the surprise of many.

If the Angels complete a deal with Hamilton, he'd join a lineup that already includes Pujols and Mike Trout. An agreement could put Peter Bourjos and/or Mark Trumbo on the trade block, however.

Hamilton received and turned down a qualifying offer from the Rangers, which means he'll be linked to draft pick compensation. The Rangers would obtain a compensatory selection for losing Hamilton, and the Angels would have to surrender their top 2013 pick (#22 overall) to complete a deal.

This post was first published on December 13th, 2012.

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