Tim Dierkes | MLB Trade Rumors

D’Backs Rumors: Barajas, Nakajima, Young Pitchers

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 11:13pm CDT

The Diamondbacks are all over the news on Day 2 of the Winter Meetings in Nashville, with inquiries fielded on outfielders Justin Upton and Jason Kubel, plus the Eric Hinske signing. More on the club:

The D'Backs have an offer on the table for Barajas, reports MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.

Earlier updates:

GM Kevin Towers expects to leave Nashville with a backup catcher, according to the team's Twitter feed. He's got multiple offers out right now to free agents. Keep an eye on Rod Barajas, tweets MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.
Hiroyuki Nakajima remains on the Diamondbacks' radar, Towers told reporters including Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.
Teams are asking the D'Backs about young starters Trevor Bauer and Tyler Skaggs, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Skaggs is believed to be an Indians target in Asdrubal Cabrera trade talks.

Rays Acquire Yunel Escobar

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 10:05pm CDT

The Rays have acquired a new shortstop, getting Yunel Escobar from the Marlins for middle infield prospect Derek Dietrich today, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

Escobar, a 30-year-old Cuban, hit .253/.300/.344 in 608 plate appearances for the Blue Jays this year. In September, he was suspended for three games by the Blue Jays after displaying an "unacceptable message" on his eye black. He was shipped to the Marlins as part of the November Jose Reyes–Josh Johnson–Mark Buehrle blockbuster, and the Rays appear to be buying low as they often do. Escobar is owed $5MM in 2013 and has $5MM club options for each of the following seasons, on a deal signed in June of 2011. His ability to play an acceptable shortstop generally makes him worth a couple of wins. The Athletics, Yankees, and Cubs had also reportedly shown interest.

The Rays had a need at the position after using Elliot Johnson, Ben Zobrist, and Sean Rodriguez there in 2012. The Marlins prefer to use Adeiny Hechavarria as their shortstop after acquiring from Toronto in the same blockbuster deal. With the trade, Ricky Nolasco becomes the only Marlin earning more than $1.75MM in 2013.

Dietrich, 23, hit .279/.338/.457 in 563 plate appearances across High-A and Double-A this year, playing shortstop and second base. The Rays drafted him in the second round in 2010. Baseball America sees him as a second or third baseman long-term, and given above-average power, suggested prior to the season he had a chance at becoming an above-average big league regular.

Danny Knobler of CBS Sports first reported the deal was close. Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.

Rockies Acquire Wilton Lopez

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 9:56pm CDT

The Rockies added a late-inning reliever today, acquiring Wilton Lopez and a player to be named later or cash from the Astros for starter Alex White and minor leaguer Alex Gillingham, the teams announced.

Lopez, 29, very nearly joined the Phillies last month before they called the trade off, perhaps over health concerns. The Rockies are comfortable with Lopez's health, explained director of baseball operations Bill Geivett to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. The arbitration eligible righty posted a 2.17 ERA, 7.3 K/9, 1.1 BB/9, 0.54 HR/9, and 55% groundball rate in 66 1/3 innings this year and was projected to close for the Astros in 2013. Lopez will be under the Rockies' control through 2015; he joins Rafael Betancourt, Rex Brothers, and Matt Belisle at the back end of Colorado's bullpen.

Astros GM Jeff Luhnow has not been afraid to trade his best relievers, which paid off a year ago when he acquired Jed Lowrie from Boston in the Mark Melancon trade. White, 24, spent most of his big league time this year in the Rockies' rotation. He struggled, posting a 5.51 ERA, 5.9 K/9, 4.7 BB/9, 1.19 HR/9, and 54.1% groundball rate in 98 innings. He pitched another 60 2/3 innings at Triple-A. White, who was drafted 15th overall in 2009, joined the Rockies in July 2011 as part of the Ubaldo Jimenez deal with Cleveland. Prior to that season, Baseball America said White had the potential to become a number three starter or better. Gillingham, 23, posted a 3.66 ERA, 6.1 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, and 0.4 HR/9 in A ball this year.

Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post first reported the deal was close. Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.

Giants Rumors: Ichiro, Theriot, Swisher, Ben Francisco

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 9:47pm CDT

The Giants picked up 2014 options on manager Bruce Bochy and GM Brian Sabean today, and they're working to bring second baseman Marco Scutaro back. More on the team:

The Giants have discussed Ichiro Suzuki this offseason, admitted Bochy to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.
The Giants are talking with Ryan Theriot about a utility role, tweets Andrew Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com. Theriot is a free agent after spending 2012 with San Francisco.
The Giants view Nick Swisher as a big-ticket item and won't engage seriously with him, tweets Baggarly.
Agent John Boggs spoke with the Giants about free agent outfielder Ben Francisco, tweets John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Rangers Rumors: Hamilton, Greinke

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 9:46pm CDT

The Rangers have been connected to all the biggest names so far at the Winter Meetings: Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke, R.A. Dickey, and Justin Upton. The latest on the team:

It will be an upset if the Rangers don't sign Hamilton or Greinke, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels feels "very strong" that shortstop Elvis Andrus will be a Ranger in 2013, he told reporters including Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.
The Rangers finalized their two-year, $8MM deal with reliever Joakim Soria today. ESPN's Keith Law sees this as "a good deal for Texas that could turn out to be outstanding."
The Rangers signed outfielder Chih-Hsien Chang to a minor league deal, tweets Anthony Andro of FOX Sports Southwest. Chang, 24, hit .249/.281/.363 in 479 plate appearances across the Mariners' Double and Triple-A affiliates, spending most of his time at the outfield corners.

Dodgers Rumors: Schumaker, Ryu

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 7:48pm CDT

The Dodgers are the favorite for Zack Greinke, which may be why they're shopping starters Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano. They're also fishing around for a player to pair with Hanley Ramirez on the left side of the infield. Other rumors around the team:

The Dodgers are interested in Cardinals infielder Skip Schumaker, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.
The Dodgers' offer to Ryu Hyun-jin "fell a tad short," GM Ned Colletti told reporters including Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times. Agent Scott Boras suggested Ryu could make the jump from South Korea to Japan if the Dodgers can't get a deal done, which Hernandez finds far-fetched since it is unprecedented. At any rate, Boras said he's presented the Dodgers with a counter-offer and negotiations continue.

Red Sox Rumors: Chavez, Ellsbury

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 7:32pm CDT

The Red Sox are interested in corner infielder Eric Chavez, reports WEEI's Alex Speier. Chavez could add balance to Boston's lineup and fit GM Ben Cherington's stated need: a versatile, left-handed hitting first baseman. But as Speier notes, Chavez could potentially find more playing time with the Yankees.

Elsewhere in the Red Sox rumor-verse, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe says the team is open to the idea of trading Jacoby Ellsbury, playing the newly-signed Shane Victorino in center field, and signing Cody Ross or another right fielder. Rival executives believe the Red Sox are laying the groundwork for a trade of Ellsbury for pitching, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.

Latest On Nick Swisher

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 7:21pm CDT

The Nick Swisher market is heating up, tweets Yahoo's Tim Brown. Agent Dan Lozano met with four teams, and Swisher spoke directly to two managers. With the Red Sox seemingly out on Swisher and the Giants not terribly interested, the Mariners seem to be the favorite in my opinion. The latest:

The Orioles met today with Swisher's representatives, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.

Latest On The Yankees

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 7:00pm CDT

The Yankees have been eerily quiet so far at the 2013 Winter Meetings. Still, here's the latest from GM Brian Cashman's media briefing.

Cashman confirmed he's talked to the representatives for Kevin Youkilis, A.J. Pierzynski, Eric Chavez, Raul Ibanez, and Ichiro Suzuki (MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reporting).
It's still probable that the Yankees' catcher is already on the roster, and the team is focused on a corner outfield replacement for Nick Swisher as well as left side infield depth (Joel Sherman of the New York Post reporting).
Cashman described the third base market as "a very limited sandbox to play in."

Rangers Sign Joakim Soria

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2012 at 6:10pm CDT

Despite ranking as one of the best closers in baseball from 2007-10, Joakim Soria will try his hand at setting up Joe Nathan in 2013. Soria, 28, officially signed a two-year, $8MM deal with the Rangers today. The contract includes a club option for 2015. The longtime Royals closer had Tommy John surgery in April, and the team declined his $8MM club option. Soria is represented by Oscar Suarez.

Soria owns a 2.40 ERA, 9.7 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, 0.68 HR/9, and 160 saves in 315 1/3 career innings. The Royals picked him up in the 2006 Rule 5 draft, and he ranks third among franchise saves leaders. The Rangers had a need for a late-inning addition, having lost Mike Adams and Koji Uehara to free agency and Alexi Ogando to the rotation.

The Angels, Reds, and Red Sox are among the other teams that expressed interest in Soria, who ranked 37th on MLBTR's top 50 free agents list.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports and Jon Heyman of CBS Sports initially broke the story. Photo courtesy of U.S. Presswire.

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