Pudge Rodriguez Rumors: Saturday
10:16pm: Patrick Reusse of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that, despite the strong potential for Joe Mauer to miss the first few weeks of the season, Twins General Manager Bill Smith "made it clear that signing free agent Ivan Rodriguez" is not considered an option. They’re looking internally for a temporary solution.
10:15pm: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle says that the Giants "have explored the idea" of signing Rodriguez. Orlando Cepeda talked to Pudge about the Giants’ interest at the WBC and says "he’s very happy about it. He would love to play here."
7:39pm: Danny Knobler at CBSSports.com writes that the Astros are showing interest in Pudge, though "it is not yet clear how serious the Astros’ interest is." Last night MLB.com’s Alyson Footer seemed quite certain the Astros would not be signing Rodriguez, after talking to GM Ed Wade.
5:35pm: La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune says he has heard nothing from the Twins to indicate that they are interested in Rodriguez. The Twins are waiting for an update about Joe Mauer’s back, but Neal writes that, "as of now, there is nothing the Twins have heard that suggests Mauer will be out a long time."
2:03pm: As noted by Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the "Marlins have nothing to discuss with" Pudge if he is still demanding a good chunk of playing time.
1:17pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports that the Twins and Giants have emerged as new potential landing spots for Pudge. He’d be a nice fill-in for the ailing Joe Mauer in Minnesota, and San Francisco reportedly may think about using him at first or third base.
9:19am: few Ivan Rodriguez rumors for the morning…
- According to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com Pudge could sign shortly. When he was asked when we’ll know where he’s playing this year Rodriguez said "You’ll see soon."
- The Miami Herald has more quotes from Pudge, who repeats that he considers himself an everyday player. His agent is communicating with the Marlins, but Pudge says "nothing’s happening" right now.
- According to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro Pudge is open to playing first or third base. He played a little first base for the Tigers in 2006 (and even a game at second) but he’s never played third in the majors.
Beimel Close To Choosing An Offer
3:44pm: Corey Brock of MLB.com spoke Saturday with Padres GM Kevin Towers, who said plainly that the Friars "are not in the mix" for Beimel. Brock surmises that it’s all "about money."
1:25pm: MLB.com’s Ed Eagle adds the Rockies to the mix of interested teams.
11:15am: According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com Joe Beimel is close to choosing between offers. Oakland and San Diego are apparently in the running for the lefty reliever. The Dodgers were still interested a week ago.
Dennys Reyes, who held lefties to a lower average than Beimel last year, signed a two-year deal worth $3MM with the Cardinals that will likely be comparable to the deal Beimel eventually gets.
Odds And Ends: Pedro, Crosby, Nationals
A few links for Saturday…
- Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports that Omar Minaya says the Mets won’t sign Pedro Martinez. Buster Olney was on this one earlier in the week, but that was before the Mets had to shut Tim Redding down because of weakness in his pitching shoulder.
- According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle Bobby Crosby played third and first yesterday in a Spring Training game. He had never played first before and had to borrow a glove. Playing well at many positions couldn’t hurt his trade value.
- We missed this one earlier in the week: Bill Shaikin of the LA Times asked Angels GM Tony Reagins if he has interest in Barry Bonds and heard he has "none."
- Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post reports that acting GM Mike Rizzo signed Julian Tavarez to the Nats because he wants depth and doesn’t want his players feeling too comfortable about their jobs.
Yu Darvish Reactions
Over at NPB Tracker Patrick Newman passes on some reactions to Yu Darvish, who pitched in Japan’s exhibition game against the Cubs yesterday. Twenty scouts from at least 10 teams were there to watch Darvish throw as hard as 96. He won’t be a free agent until 2014 at the earliest.
John Cox, who scouts the Far East for the Giants likes what he’s seen from the 22-year-old, saying "if he’s interested in the majors we’ll think about aquiring him." Alfonso Soriano was also impressed by Darvish’s stuff and Carlos Zambrano thinks he has "an aura on the mound."
Red Sox To Pass On Bonds
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe heard from major league sources that the Red Sox will not sign Barry Bonds. They join four other teams who will not pursue him.
Jeff Borris, Bonds’s agent, asked GMs to consider Bonds in a letter sent to all 30 MLB teams.
Cardinals, Dennys Reyes Agree To Deal
8:50pm: Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the signing of Reyes was a really big piece for the Cards and GM John Mozeliak came up huge again with a March deal. It reminds Gordon of the Kyle Lohse signing a year ago.
4:21pm: According to the AP, Reyes gets a two-year deal worth $3MM.
3:12pm: According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, the Cardinals have agreed to a deal with lefty reliever Dennys Reyes. Reyes, 32 in April, held lefties to a .202/.250/.287 line last year in 101 plate appearances.
Since Reyes was a Type B free agent offered arbitration, the Twins will receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss (#46 overall).
Pedro Martinez Rumors: Wednesday
Yesterday Pedro Martinez suggested he’d be happy to retire to his fishing boat if nobody offers him a contract he likes. Today, Joshua Robinson of the New York Times reports that Pedro doesn’t seem ready to leave baseball behind.
Robinson writes that Pedro "began to sound a little like an infomercial" after pitching against the Orioles for the Dominican Republic today. Apparently, Pedro described his health as "good" or "great" seven times in the first minute of the post-game interview. He allowed four baserunners in two innings, striking out two.
Odds And Ends: Tazawa, Anderson, Viciedo
A few links for Wednesday night…
- Ian Browne of MLB.com writes that Junichi Tazawa could probably pitch in the majors now, it just wouldn’t be ideal for the pitcher’s development.
- Newsday’s Ken Davidoff breaks down the offseason’s winners and losers.
- Lars Anderson wasn’t disappointed when Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees, according to Howard Ulman of the AP (via the Boston Globe), but the Red Sox prospect says he wouldn’t be doing anything differently if Tex were with Boston.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that third base prospect Dayan Viciedo could very well end up in the outfield if the White Sox decide to let Jermaine Dye walk after 2009.
- Eric Seidman of FanGraphs tries to come up with the best way of evaluating winners and losers in trades.
Rockies Agree To Contracts With 21
Steve Foster of InsidetheRockies.com reports that the Rockies have signed 21 players to one-year contracts. Some of the more recognizable names include Chris Iannetta, Greg Smith, Ryan Spilborghs, Matt Murton and Franklin Morales.
The Biggest Deals Of The Offseason
There’s been lots of talk about the tough market for free agents this offseason, but some players managed to sign big contracts regardless. Here’s a list of the offseason’s 20 biggest free agent deals (in order of total value):
- $180MM (8 years):Mark Teixeira signed the biggest deal of the offseason with the Yankees.
- $161MM (7 years): C.C. Sabathia signed with the Yanks too, passing on a 5 year $100MM offer from the Brewers. He can opt out after three years, at which point he’ll have $92MM remaining if he chooses to take it.
- $82.5MM (5 years): A.J. Burnett signed with the Yankees after opting out of his deal with the Jays.
- $60MM (4 years): Derek Lowe signed with the Braves after negotiations with the Mets.
- $52MM (4 years): Ryan Dempster signed with the Cubs way back in November.
- $45MM (2 years): Manny Ramirez signed with the Dodgers just this afternoon.
- $37MM (3 years): Francisco Rodriguez signed with the Mets, who added J.J. Putz the next day.
- $36MM (3 years): Oliver Perez chose this deal over a longer term option that averaged a lower salary.
- $31.5MM (3 years): Raul Ibanez signed early on with the Phillies, a move he’s surely happy with.
- $30MM (3 years):Rafael Furcal signed with the Dodgers, but not before infuriating the Braves.
- $30MM (3 years): Milton Bradley signed with the Cubs for up to three years, but some language in the contract protects the Cubs in case Bradley misses considerable time with injuries.
- $23MM (3 years): Kenshin Kawakami signed with the Braves.
- $20.5MM (2 years): Kerry Wood signed with the Indians for two years with a vesting option for a third year.
- $20MM (2 years): Adam Dunn signed with the Nats after some suggested he might only make $5MM.
- 18.5MM (2 years): Edgar Renteria signed a deal that’s been criticized by many, but the Giants can buy him out for $500K after this season if they choose not to pick up his $9.5MM option.
- 17.5MM (2 years): Brian Fuentes signed for at least two years with the Angels.
- 17.5MM (3 years): Casey Blake signed a deal that could keep him in LA for four years.
- $16MM (2 years): Jamie Moyer re-signed with the Phillies for a lot, especially considering he’ll turn 48 just weeks after the deal’s up.
- $16MM (2 years): Pat Burrell signed with the Rays for the essentially the same amount as his former teammate. The difference? Moyer’s 14 years his senior.
- 12.75MM (3 years): Juan Rivera re-signed with the Angels.