Luke Adams 2 | MLB Trade Rumors

Cafardo On Gonzalez, Nady, Mulder

By Luke Adams 2 | November 8, 2009 at 10:32am CDT

Nick Cafardo's latest column for the Boston Globe is a lengthy one, and is full of hot stove discussion and speculation. Let's take a look….

After Ken Rosenthal expressed skepticism about Boston's ability to acquire Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres, Cafardo declares that it's the one move the Red Sox have to make to keep up with the Yankees. Although he presents a lengthy argument for why it could work, he never specifically addresses what players the Sox could send to San Diego, which was the sticking point for Rosenthal.
Xavier Nady would like to return to the Yankees, but doesn't know if they'll want him back. "I know I can go out there and be a productive starting player for someone," Nady says. As Cafardo points out though, after Nady's injury-plagued 2009, many teams would probably prefer to sign him as a fourth outfielder.
Cafardo thinks the Los Angeles Dodgers should consider signing Pedro Martinez to a half-year deal in 2010, and that Philadelphia could be a good fit for Billy Wagner.
The Jeremy Hermida acquisition raises questions about Rocco Baldelli's future as a Red Sox. Baldelli says he enjoyed Boston and would love to return, but that the team hasn't informed him of their plans yet.
"It would be an upset" if Mark Mulder signed anywhere but Milwaukee.
One baseball official tells Cafardo that the New York Yankees might be a bit reluctant to re-sign Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui because "they’re afraid of sticking with a guy too long. They’d rather get rid of a guy a year sooner, ahead of his decline, than a year later."

Rosenthal On Gonzalez, Beckett, De La Rosa

By Luke Adams 2 | November 8, 2009 at 9:49am CDT

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports has a new column up today, in which he discusses a variety of topics from around the league. Let's recap a few of the highlights….

Although the Boston Red Sox have been the team most frequently linked to Adrian Gonzalez, it's unclear whether they have the pieces to work out a trade. Rosenthal suggests the Padres will want some major-league talent in return, and quotes one baseball executive who says he can't imagine how the Sox get a deal done.
Rosenthal says the Padres should be more inclined to move closer Heath Bell than Gonzalez.
When Josh Beckett discusses a contract extension with the Red Sox, Rosenthal advises him to point to the deal A.J. Burnett signed last winter as a starting point, since Beckett's track record is even stronger than Burnett's. He thinks if the Red Sox were to balk at a long-term commitment, plenty of other teams would be interested.
A source indicates that when Jorge De La Rosa hits free agency in a year, he would like a contract similar to Oliver Perez's three-year, $36MM deal. It's hard to see him demanding that much unless he has a breakout year in 2010, but his impending raise could prompt the Rockies to field trade offers for the lefty.
Ken Griffey Jr. will likely decide in a couple weeks whether he wants to keep playing.
According to Rosenthal, "some who know [Matt] Holliday say he would prefer not to play in New York."
We heard from Troy Renck yesterday that the Rockies were talking to Rafael Betancourt about an extension. Rosenthal reports that Betancourt apparently turned down a two-year deal worth up to about $7MM.
Rosenthal opines that Garrett Atkins is unlikely to be traded because of his price tag, and will almost certainly be non-tendered.

Odds & Ends: Cubs, Cuddyer, Eyre, Marlins

By Luke Adams 2 | November 7, 2009 at 9:39pm CDT

Let's check out a few Saturday evening links….

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune writes that the Chicago Cubs seem prepared to part ways with Rich Harden and Reed Johnson.
ESPN.com's Rob Neyer isn't a big fan of the Minnesota Twins' decision to exercise Michael Cuddyer's 2011 option.
Potential free agent Scott Eyre will have surgery on his left elbow, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Zolecki mentions that Raul Ibanez and Brad Lidge will also go under the knife. Eyre and Ibanez should be ready for the start of spring training, but Lidge may need a little more time.
John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle doesn't think the New York Yankees will be able to hold back on their spending this offseason, and expects them to make a big free agent splash or two.
MLB.com's Joe Frisaro projects the Florida Marlins' payroll for 2010.
We heard earlier today from Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, regarding his club's offseason plans. Dave Rutt at Batter's Box provides an interesting article on the same subject, sharing his own thoughts on how to improve the Jays.

Rockies Negotiating With Betancourt, Won’t Retain Fogg

By Luke Adams 2 | November 7, 2009 at 8:26pm CDT

The Colorado Rockies are attempting to bring back setup man Rafael Betancourt, but will not re-sign righty Josh Fogg, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post.

Renck doesn't have any specific details on the talks with Betancourt, but writes that the Rockies has approached the reliever about a multi-year deal. Betancourt has a $5.4MM option for 2010. However, we heard previously that the club would like to sign him to a restructured deal that pays him less in 2010, but locks him up past next season.

Fogg, meanwhile, signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies before the season, and earned a mop-up spot in the team's bullpen. He compiled a 3.74 ERA in 24 appearances. According to Renck though, the team told the right-hander that they're "moving in a different direction."

Yankees Notes: Matsui, Damon, Cano

By Luke Adams 2 | November 7, 2009 at 7:11pm CDT

As if dominating the playoffs wasn't enough, the New York Yankees are now dominating much of the hot stove discussion as well. We took a look at some rumors from the Bronx earlier today. Now John Harper of the New York Daily News offers ten suggestions for building the 2010 Yankees. A few of his ideas….

Harper suggests offering Hideki Matsui a one-year deal, rather than just letting him walk. He thinks that, after a relatively healthy 2009, the Yankees could use the offensive depth, in case they aren't so lucky in 2010.
He also would like the team to sign Johnny Damon to a one- or two-year deal, if they can.
Harper wants to see Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes (or both) in the bullpen, with the team pursuing a free agent starter to fill out the back end of the rotation.
He believes that the Yankees "shouldn't rule out" dealing Robinson Cano, if the right offer arises.
Harper doesn't expect the team to pursue a starting pitcher as expensive as John Lackey this winter, naming Randy Wolf as a potential target instead. In a separate piece, the NY Daily News's Bill Madden agrees that Lackey is unlikely to become a Yankee. Madden thinks the team could look to the trade market for a starter instead, perhaps making catching prospect Jesus Montero available.

Discussion: J.J. Putz

By Luke Adams 2 | November 7, 2009 at 6:01pm CDT

We learned this week that, as expected, the New York Mets declined J.J. Putz's pricey 2010 option. Now that the righty has filed for free agency, tonight's discussion topic focuses on where he might land.

Putz last signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners, following a strong 2006 campaign as the team's closer. The deal was for $13.1MM over three years (plus incentives), and it looked like the club might have themselves a bargain when Putz posted a 1.38 ERA and 40 saves in 2007. Unfortunately, the next two seasons, one with the Mariners and one with the Mets, were marred by injuries, raising doubts about Putz's current worth.

Given his health problems, it would be very surprising to see Putz regain his 2007 form. However, his value has taken such a hit that teams could view the former closer as a less expensive gamble this offseason.

The Detroit Tigers might be a good fit. They pursued Putz aggressively a year ago and are faced with decisions on whether to bring back Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney. If Putz wanted to stay in the NL East, the Philadelphia Phillies will probably be looking for bullpen options. It's easy to imagine either team, or a handful of others, attempting to sign the 32-year-old to an inexpensive (but incentive-laden) short-term deal.

Where do you see Putz playing in 2010, and what kind of contract do you expect him to sign?

Odds & Ends: Giants, Bay, Rockies, Padres

By Luke Adams 2 | November 1, 2009 at 12:34pm CDT

Here are a few Sunday links to browse, as a huge sports day in Philadelphia begins….

John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if the "desperate-for-pop" San Francisco Giants will try to top the Boston Red Sox rumored four-year offer to Jason Bay (we heard some speculation about this yesterday too). If not, Shea names Garrett Atkins as a cheaper potential target for the Giants.
SI.com's Jon Heyman discusses Bay and Matt Holliday in his latest column. Heyman points out that although Bay's agent, Joe Urbon, refers to him as the market's "most complete" player, Urbon keeps tying Bay's value to Holliday's. Scott Boras is avoiding doing the same thing for his client, instead comparing Holliday to the $180MM man, Mark Teixeira.
Within the same column, Heyman mentions progress being made on contracts for Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy, suggesting something could be announced after the World Series.
New San Diego GM Jed Hoyer has reportedly offered Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen the Padres' assistant GM position, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
Baseball Prospectus's John Perrotto reports (via Twitter) that there's no chance Pittsburgh Pirates prospects Pedro Alvarez and Brad Lincoln will be called up to the majors before at least June of next year.
DRays Bay looks ahead to this winter's free agent reliever market. If you missed it, check out MLBTR's analysis of the market for closers, as well as for both lefty and righty relievers.
Casey Kelly and the Red Sox have to decide soon whether the 20-year-old prospect will continue his career as a pitcher or shortstop, according to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald. Given Kelly's minor league numbers to date, it seems like a no-brainer that the team will want to move him back to the mound.
Roch Kubatko of MASN.com tries to sort out the Baltimore Orioles' 40-man roster.

Cafardo On Pujols, Mauer, Holliday, Damon

By Luke Adams 2 | November 1, 2009 at 10:56am CDT

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a new column up, and he addresses a few topics of interest from around the majors. Some highlights….

Cafardo examines the crossroads that superstars Albert Pujols and Joe Mauer will soon face with their current clubs. He passes on this quote from one baseball official: "I think Mauer has a better chance of staying in Minnesota than Pujols in St. Louis. Mauer is from Minnesota, while you have to give Pujols an A-Rod type contract and I’m not sure the Cardinals would do it."
His source thinks that the best way for the Cardinals to keep Pujols in St. Louis is to continue showing him they're committed to going after championships by making moves like this year's Matt Holliday acquisition.
Cafardo sees "no downside" to the idea of Holliday patrolling left field in Fenway next season. From an on-field standpoint, that statement could apply to virtually every team in the league, but the Red Sox are probably one of the few clubs that could absorb the financial blow.
Johnny Damon could be a good fit in the south side of Chicago, according to Cafardo. The White Sox will be looking for a leadoff hitter, and it's still unclear whether or not Damon will be back in New York.
Casey Kotchman may not fit into Boston's plans next year, but Cafardo thinks he could also be a solid addition to the White Sox — especially if Chicago doesn't retain Mark Kotsay.
Cafardo wonders why a power-hitting right-hander, like the New York Mets covet, would want to play in Citi Field, which he calls a "death valley" for righties.

Indians Notes: Nakamura, Sizemore, Acta

By Luke Adams 2 | November 1, 2009 at 9:44am CDT

A few Cleveland Indians-related links to sort through this morning. Let's take a look….

The Indians will sign Japanese right-hander Takafumi Nakamura to a minor-league deal, according to Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker. Newman suggests that the Chuo University pitcher isn't one of the more "high-profile" draft prospects, but that he has shown he can strike out college hitters. An official contract should come sometime soon.
Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer answers fans' questions in a Tribe-centric mailbag. One reader asks about the possibility of the Indians dealing Grady Sizemore to the Chicago Cubs. Hoynes opines that if the team's trading patterns stay consistent, after the way they dealt with Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez, then they probably wouldn't consider moving Sizemore until 2011.
Within a mostly football-focused piece, Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer shares a few thoughts on the Indians as well. He thinks that Terry Francona would be a good role model for Manny Acta, given that Francona made appropriate adjustments after an unsuccessful initial managerial stint. Pluto also writes that one of Acta's main goals will be to get a bounce-back season out of Jhonny Peralta in 2010.

A Look Back At November 2008

By Luke Adams 2 | October 31, 2009 at 8:50pm CDT

With the World Series set to finish up this week, the month of November promises plenty of hot stove activity. As October comes to a close, let's turn back the calendar a year and take a look at November 2008 to get an idea of what kind of action we can expect in 2009.

Tim kicked off the month by posting MLBTR's top 50 free agents of the offseason. Scrolling through the list with the benefit of hindsight, it's easy to spot plenty of surprises. And who knew then that the Yankees would end up with three of our top five free agents?
A.J. Burnett opted out of his contract with the Blue Jays early in November, but had yet to sign by the end of the month. He was waiting on a five-year offer that he eventually got from the Yankees.
It looked like the St. Louis Cardinals were the frontrunners to acquire Matt Holliday, but, in a surprise move, it was the Oakland A's that dealt for the outfielder. Of course, it was a brief stay in Oakland for Holliday, who ended up in St. Louis a few months later.
The Houston Astros signed LaTroy Hawkins, who turned out to be a key piece in their bullpen. He cut his 2008 ERA nearly in half in 2009. Jeremy Affeldt did the same thing for the San Francisco Giants, who signed him to a two-year deal in November.
The Yankees acquired Nick Swisher from the White Sox, in a deal that looked lopsided then and looks even more lopsided a year later.
The Florida Marlins made a few moves, including trading Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham to the Nationals. They also dealt Kevin Gregg to the Cubs, signaling the end of the Kerry Wood era in Chicago.
Mike Mussina announced his retirement, while Greg Maddux looked likely to call it quits too. Maddux officially announced his retirement in early December, and I have to admit that I missed watching him pitch this season.
The Yankees made a big offer to C.C. Sabathia, but not as big as the one he later accepted from them. By the end of the month, the Angels had emerged as players for C.C. as well. It's easy to forget that the Angels were heavily involved in both the Mark Teixeira and Sabathia talks, before losing out on both to New York.
After winning the World Series, the Philadelphia Phillies got some bad news, learning that Chase Utley would miss 4-6 months following hip surgery. Utley ended up making a speedy recovery from the surgery, returning for Opening Day 2009.
The Kansas City Royals acquired outfielder Coco Crisp from the Boston Red Sox.
Rumors that didn't pan out? There were quite a few, including Casey Blake to the Twins, Mark Teahen to the Cubs, and Andy Pettitte to the Dodgers.

Any early predictions for what we might see this November?

« Previous Page

Load More Posts

Headlines

Navigation

MLBTR INFO

Connect