Tim Dierkes | MLB Trade Rumors

NL Central Notes: Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 8:56pm CDT

Today in NL Central news, the Cardinals reached a three-year agreement with lefty reliever Randy Choate, the Pirates traded for wild power lefty Andy Oliver, and the Cubs signed right fielder Nate Schierholtz to a one-year deal. The latest from the division:

Speaking of lefties, the Brewers are in the market for one, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Haudricourt can see Tom Gorzelanny as a fit, since the recently non-tendered 30-year-old can retire righties as well as lefties. Gorzelanny, though, has been some combination of wild and homer-prone against righties the last few years.
J.P. Howell is a name to watch for the Brewers, as MLB.com's Adam McCalvy notes that GM Doug Melvin met with agent Greg Genske today at the Winter Meetings. Genske's agency also represents free agents Edwin Jackson, Francisco Liriano, Brad Penny, and Joe Saunders.
"I don’t see this being one of our more active years at this point," Melvin told Haudricourt today.
The Cubs were in on Jeff Keppinger and Eric Chavez before they signed with the White Sox and Diamondbacks, respectively, GM Jed Hoyer told reporters. The Cubs are seeking someone who can help at the hot corner.
The Cardinals want to upgrade with a utility infielder, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. They've discussed free agent Alex Gonzalez and trade options Chris Getz of the Royals and Steve Lombardozzi of the Nationals.

Orioles Notes: Conor Jackson, Swisher, Novak

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 8:05pm CDT

The latest on the Orioles:

The Orioles signed Conor Jackson to a minor league deal, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com and other reporters. Jackson, 30, spent 2012 with the Triple-A affiliate of the White Sox, hitting .277/.363/.434 in 366 plate appearances while playing the outfield corners and third base.
Though executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette would like to add a power bat, he dismissed Nick Swisher as a possibility.
The Orioles announced they've signed 18-year-old lefty Jan Novak from the Czech Republic. I'm told Novak is tall and athletic southpaw who sits in the high 80s with the makings of a change-up and slider. He's understandably a bit raw.

NL West Notes: Brian Wilson, Dodgers, D’Backs

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 7:49pm CDT

The NL West saw a few free agent signings today, as the Diamondbacks inked Eric Chavez and Wil Nieves and the Rockies re-signed Jeff Francis. The latest from around the division:

Although he hasn't talked to Brian Wilson's agents at the Winter Meetings, Giants vice president of baseball operations Bobby Evans told Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com there is an understanding to stay in touch. Wilson's agent Dan Lozano told John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle seven teams have expressed interest in his client, either as a closer or setup man.
Ichiro Suzuki is not a fit for the Giants in left field because he's too much like Gregor Blanco, tweets Shea.
Shea has the financial breakdown on Marco Scutaro's new three-year, $20MM contract with the Giants.
The Dodgers are in the market for a left-handed reliever now that Randy Choate has agreed to a three-year deal with the Cardinals, tweets Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
The Dodgers would like to add one or maybe two backup-type catchers to compete with Tim Federowicz, tweets Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles.
The Chavez signing gives the Diamondbacks an extra infielder, but GM Kevin Towers said he might wait until Spring Training to make a trade (Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reporting).
The Padres' Andrew Cashner is not expected to be ready for Opening Day after suffering a lacerated tendon in his right thumb last week, an injury suffered at the hand of a hunting buddy as the two were dressing meat (MLB.com's Corey Brock reporting).

Nationals Remain Confident On LaRoche

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 7:10pm CDT

7:10pm: Multiple Nats officials are telling Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post (Twitter link) that the team has an informal Christmas deadline to resolve LaRoche's situation. The Nats remain optimistic he'll sign, though Jim Bowden tweets that the team has resolved not to go past two years.

6:49pm: The Nationals have been telling people they hope to get LaRoche signed by week's end, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark, but they still don't want to guarantee more than two years.

4:36pm: The Nationals remain confident they'll re-sign first baseman Adam LaRoche, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. He says that might lead to the Nationals sending Mike Morse to the Mariners, who have "big interest" in getting him back.

We heard yesterday that the Nationals are holding firm at a two-year offer with no option for LaRoche. LaRoche remains on Baltimore's radar, reports Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, who also have interest in Morse.

Angels To Sign Joe Blanton

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 6:55pm CDT

The Angels agreed to terms with righty Joe Blanton on a two-year, $15MM deal, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The deal includes a third-year option, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). Blanton is represented by CAA Sports.

Blanton, 31, posted a 4.71 ERA, 7.8 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 1.37 HR/9, and 44.6% groundball rate in 191 innings for the Phillies and Dodgers this year. The signing raises the question as to whether the Angels' rotation is set, with Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Tommy Hanson, Blanton, and Garrett Richards, and without Zack Greinke. As Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweeted earlier today, the Angels could be considering signing two starters for less than what it would have cost to make a competitive bid for Greinke.

Earlier today, the Angels fortified their bullpen by adding lefty Sean Burnett on a two-year, $8MM deal.

Blanton hadn't been the subject of a ton of rumors so far in the offseason, but the Twins were another team known to have interest, and were said to be eyeing the right-hander as a "prime target" in Nashville.

Joe McDonnell of FOX Sports and Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times first reported a deal was close. Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.

Red Sox Notes: Ellsbury, Starting Pitching, Hamilton

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 5:45pm CDT

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington held court with reporters today; here's the latest:

Trading center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury "is not our intent," Cherington said. The GM sees Ellsbury as a big part of the 2013 team. There's been recent speculation about Ellsbury as a trade candidate given Shane Victorino's ability to play center field and Ellsbury's impending walk year.
The starting pitching market is starting to move a bit, and Cherington says it's his top priority now. It's known that the Red Sox made an offer for Dan Haren before he signed with the Nationals, and they've shown some interest in Ryan Dempster and Carl Pavano.
Cherington is open-minded about outfielder Cody Ross, but the team has not been in contact with him since news of the Victorino agreement broke.
Cherington acknowledged meeting with a player this week, who Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston believes was Josh Hamilton. The Sox indeed met with Hamilton before he left Nashville, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

Michael Bourn Rumors: Wednesday

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 5:32pm CDT

Michael Bourn is "by far the best defensive center fielder in the game," agent Scott Boras told reporters today, and you know Boras never exaggerates about his clients. The latest:

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is past the tire-kicking stage on Bourn, tweets Yahoo's Jeff Passan, and is trying to gauge price. Boras needs the Phillies more than they need Bourn, in my opinion, because the Phils still have plenty of ways to stock their outfield.
Boras told Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times he met with the Mariners already, and plans to continue talks in the days and weeks to come.

Latest On Mike Pelfrey

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 5:28pm CDT

Free agent righty Mike Pelfrey is getting a lot of play, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, with the Mariners, Indians, Twins, and others in the mix. The Pirates were connected to Pelfrey earlier.

Pelfrey, 29 in January, had Tommy John surgery in early May and was non-tendered by the Mets last week.

Indians Looking At Stephen Drew

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 5:17pm CDT

The Indians are looking at Stephen Drew as a potential replacement if they trade shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The D'Backs are still in on Cabrera. We heard earlier that the Indians are also considering the Dodgers' Dee Gordon as a Cabrera replacement.

Agent Scott Boras told reporters today the market for Drew is "ever-growing," and he met with A's GM Billy Beane twice in the last two days.

Angels To Sign Sean Burnett

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2012 at 5:10pm CDT

The Angels reinforced their bullpen with another free agent today, reaching an agreement with lefty Sean Burnett on a two-year deal with a club option, according to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez. The deal is worth $8MM, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, and includes a $4.5MM vesting option for 2015 with a $500K buyout. Burnett is represented by Jim Munsey.

Burnett, 30, had been drawing strong interest as one of the best free agent lefty relievers available this offseason. He posted a 2.38 ERA, 9.1 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, 0.64 HR/9, and 57.4% groundball rate in 56 2/3 innings for the Nationals in 2012.

The Angels signed righty Ryan Madson last month, though they also subtracted Jordan Walden in the Tommy Hanson deal.

Earlier today, the Cardinals reached an agreement with lefty Randy Choate on a three-year, $7.5MM deal. Last month, the Giants re-signed southpaw Jeremy Affeldt to a three-year, $18MM contract.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported a deal was close. Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.

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