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The Latest On The Mets & R.A. Dickey

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The Mets are planning to offer R.A. Dickey a two-year contract extension according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Meanwhile, Andy Martino of The New York Daily News heard that the team already made a two-year offer two weeks ago and the two sides have been negotiating since (Twitter link).

The team knows Dickey will take a two-year deal according to Martino, and ESPN's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter) that the knuckleballer seeks at least $10MM annually. Martino says (on Twitter) that it's been clear during talks that Dickey is willing to sign a deal comparable to Jake Peavy's two-year, $29MM pact with the White Sox. The 38-year-old right-hander pitched to a 2.73 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in a league-leading 233 2/3 innings this year, good enough to win the Cy Young Award.

The Mets exercised Dickey's $5MM option for 2013 after the season and although the two sides have been discussing an extension, the team has also gauged his trade value in case things don't work out. GM Sandy Alderson said yesterday that they need "a little more clarity" on the contract situations with both Dickey and David Wright prior to the Winter Meetings in early-December.

Free Agent Faceoff: Michael Bourn vs. B.J. Upton

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If you’re a team looking for a center fielder this offseason, you’re in luck. Two of the game’s best center fielders are on the free agent market, as Michael Bourn and B.J. Upton rank third and fifth on Tim Dierkes’ Top 50 Free Agents List, respectively. Both players offer speed and play a premium position, but the similarities stop there.

Bourn, a 29-year-old left-handed hitter, is a true leadoff hitter who posted a .274/.348/.391 batting line in 624 plate appearances for the Braves this season. He also stole 42 bases (fifth time over 40 in the last six years) and hit a career-high nine homers. According to UZR, Bourn has been baseball’s best defensive outfielder over the last three seasons (+35.3).

Upton, a 28-year-old right-handed hitter, is more of a middle of the order bat who put up a .246/.298/.454 line in 633 plate appearances for the Rays this year. He stole 31 bases (fifth straight year of 30+) and hit a career-high 28 homers. His walk rate, however, dipped to a career-low 7.1% (10.6% career). UZR has rated him as an average defender in center over the last three seasons (+0.4).

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Blockbuster, Upton, Dodgers

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It was a busy week at MLBTR as the Blue Jays and Marlins agreed to a landscape-altering, 12-player blockbuster trade that still has yet to be made official. Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria is catching major heat from fans and fellow owners while the Blue Jays are suddenly right in the thick of the AL East race. Here's the best of the week that was.

The Blockbuster

The Rest of Baseball

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here. Only one email per week, please.

Cubs Sign Dioner Navarro

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The Cubs announced that they have signed catcher Dioner Navarro to a one-year contract. Navarro will earn a base salary of $1.75MM, reports CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman (on Twitter). The deal includes $250K in performance bonuses, MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat reports (on Twitter).

Navarro, 28, hit .290/.306/.449 with two homers in 73 plate appearances for the Reds this year. He also hit .319/.382/.449 in 240 Triple-A plate appearances before being recalled. Cincinnati had some interest in re-signing Navarro, who did not crack Tim Dierkes' Top 50 Free Agents List. Navarro's agency, MDR Sports Management, first announced the agreement (on Twitter).

The Latest On The Marlins-Blue Jays Blockbuster

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The baseball world is still reeling from the Blue Jays–Marlins blockbuster, which still has yet to be made official. A total of 12 players will change hands once things are finalized. Here's the latest on the trade…

  • It has taken some time to collect all 12 players for their physicals, which is why Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) reports the trade won't be completed until Friday or Saturday.  Rosenthal notes that Jose Reyes was on vacation in Dubai at the time of the deal and is just returning to Miami tonight.
  • Commissioner Bud Selig told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that the trade is currently being reviewed (Twitter link). Selig said he is "not happy," but so far doesn't he see a reason to disallow the deal according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
  • Selig has heard a lot of grumbling from other owners about the trade, writes Ken Davidoff of The New York Post. Clubs from the AL East, NL West, and NL Central are not happy with the on-field ramifications of the swap.
  • "A couple of years from now we might look back on this as a warning sign," said an official to ESPN's Buster Olney (Insider required). There is concern within the game that the latest collective bargaining agreement hurt small market clubs and that similar blockbuster sell-offs may become more frequent.
  • The Marlins plan to start Adeiny Hechavarria at shortstop with Yunel Escobar playing third base, Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports. However, the Marlins haven't ruled out flipping Escobar to a third team.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports notes (on Twitter) that the Marlins will receive a combined 32 years of team control over the players in the trade. The Blue Jays, however, will receive just 12 years of control.

Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post.

Cherington Talks Payroll, Hamilton, Youkilis

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Red Sox GM Ben Cherington appeared on WEEI's Dennis & Callahan Show this morning to discuss a number of topics about his team. WEEI.com's Alex Speier has a transcript, and here are the noteworthy items…

  • "I think we’re going to make moves that are going to improve the team. It’s hard to say whether they’ll be defined as splashy moves or not," said the GM, who acknowledged that the club will have a large payroll next year even if he doesn't know the final number.
  • The Red Sox have talked to Josh Hamilton's agent, but Cherington called it "due diligence." Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com suggests keeping an eye on Boston in the Hamilton chase.
  • Cherington acknowledged talking to the representatives for Kevin Youkilis, but they've "talked about just about every free agent." He wouldn't handicap the chances of bringing Youkilis back next year.
  • First base, starting pitching, and corner outfield help are all on the shopping list, but one doesn't necessarily take priority over the others.
  • Cherington said he wasn't surprised by some of the names involved in the Blue Jays-Marlins blockbuster, but was surprised by the magnitude of the trade. Yesterday we heard that the deal would not impact Boston's offseason plan.

Angels Interested In Hiroki Kuroda

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3:16pm: The Angels are interested in Kuroda but only as a fall-back option in case they're unable to re-sign Zack Greinke, reports MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. They probably can't afford to sign both right-handers.

12:02pm: The Angels have joined the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox as teams with interest in Hiroki Kuroda, reports Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. The Yankees are still negotiating and hope to bring him back for 2013 before he finishes his career in Japan, which the right-hander says he will do.

Kuroda, 37, pitched to a 3.32 ERA in a career-high 219 2/3 innings for New York this season. He's open to signing another one-year contract so he can remain flexible and return to Japan after the season, if he chooses. The Yankees made Kuroda a qualifying offer and would receive draft pick compensation if he signs with another team.

Tim Dierkes ranked Kuroda as the ninth best free agent in his Top 50 Free Agents List, predicting he would re-sign with New York.

Socolovich, Dickson Heading To Japan

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Right-handers Miguel Socolovich and Brandon Dickson will pitch in Japan next season. The Kyodo News reports that Socolovich has an agreement in place with the Hiroshima Carp while B.J. Rains of FOXSportsMidwest.com says (on Twitter) the Cardinals will soon remove Dickson from their 40-man roster so he can sign with the Orix Buffaloes.

Socolovich, 26, allowed 11 runs in 16 1/3 innings for the Orioles and Cubs this season, his big league debut. Chicago claimed him off waivers from Baltimore after they designated him for assignment in August. Socolovich pitched to a 2.11 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 55 1/3 relief innings in Triple-A this season. He became a minor league free agent after the Cubs outrighted him at the end of the year.

Dickson, 28, has allowed ten runs in 14 2/3 career innings with the Cardinals over the last two seasons. He posted a 3.63 ERA with 6.6 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in 23 starts and 141 1/3 innings in Triple-A this year, his third consecutive season at the level.

Jay Bruce Interested In Contract Extension

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Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is already signed through 2016, but he's hoping to add another six years to his current contract. MLB.com's Mark Sheldon heard from agent Matt Sosnick that Bruce wants to be with Cincinnati for the rest of his career.

"[Bruce] made it clear that he wants to be a Red his entire career," said Sosnick. "Jay asked me to approach the team and see if something is there … If the Reds are interested in talking, we would be interested in exploring it. If not, we'll take no message from it and have no hard feelings. We're in no hurry to sign a contract extension. It was a thought that Jay had because he loves the Reds and Cincinnati."

Sosnick acknowledged informally broaching the subject of a new contract with GM Walt Jocketty, but wouldn't discuss financials with Sheldon. Jocketty said a contract extension is "something that has not been discussed at this point."

Bruce, 25, hit .252/.327/.514 with 34 homers in 633 plate appearances this season. He signed a six-year, $51MM contract prior to 2011 that bought out two free agent years. As our Extension Tracker shows, the Reds have a history of signing their players to long-term contracts, most notably locked up Joey Votto's for ten years and $225MM last winter.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Royals, Butler, Myers, Rays, Astros

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears that Royals GM Dayton Moore is "feeling the heat," in the sense that many want the team to use their prospect base to acquire veterans who can help them win now like the Blue Jays did with their recent blockbuster. Here's more from Rosenthal on Kansas City…

  • Even after acquiring Ervin Santana, the Royals can still fit a free agent like Jeremy Guthrie into their payroll on a back-loaded, multiyear contract.
  • The Mariners covet Billy Butler and would conceivably part with young, high-end pitching to acquire him. Butler is under contract through 2014 with a club option for 2015, though the Royals are unsure if they have enough offense to move him right now.
  • The Rays like top prospect Wil Myers, though the Royals are conflicted about moving him even for a pitcher like Jeremy Hellickson or Matt Moore.
  • The Astros could be another trade partner for Kansas City since the price to acquire Bud Norris or Lucas Harrell would be lower than it would be for Hellickson or Moore. The impact would be less too, however.
  • Moore is under contract through 2014 and does not appear to be in danger of losing his job, says Rosenthal.

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