Red Sox, Rangers Discussing Trades
The Rangers met with the Red Sox this morning, reports MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. The Sox have interest in Rangers relievers Koji Uehara and Mark Lowe, while the Rangers like infielder Jed Lowrie. Uehara and Lowe are both eligible for free agency after the 2012 season, while Lowrie is under team control through 2014.
The Orioles and other teams are interested in Uehara as well, but the Rangers still hold him in high regard despite his struggles late in the year for them.
Cubs, Rockies Still Discussing Ian Stewart
1:37pm: The Rockies and Cubs are discussing Stewart for Colvin, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
12:44pm: The Cubs and Rockies have continued to discuss third baseman Ian Stewart over the last week, reports ESPNChicago's Bruce Levine. Cubs players Blake DeWitt, DJ LeMahieu, and Tyler Colvin have been discussed.
The Cubs are also looking at the Padres' Chase Headley, notes Levine.
Mets Will Get Marlins’ Second-Round Pick For Reyes
WEDNESDAY: The Mets have been told they'll receive the Marlins' second-round pick for Reyes, tweets Ken Davidoff of Newsday. For losing Bell, the Padres will get an extra pick right before the Mets' second-round compensation pick (plus a supplemental round pick). I presume the Mets' pick from the Marlins can still be downgraded if the Marlins sign Pujols or Wilson.
MONDAY: The Mets will receive the Marlins' third-round pick as compensation for Jose Reyes, based on an article three days ago from ESPNNewYork's Adam Rubin. The Mets will also receive an earlier, supplemental round pick in the 2012 draft. Reyes agreed to a six-year, $106MM contract with the Marlins last night.
One might think that since the Marlins did not have to surrender a pick to the Padres to sign Heath Bell, the Mets would get the Marlins' second-rounder. However, an MLB official told Rubin that Bell's higher Elias ranking still pushes the Mets' Reyes pick to the Marlins' third-rounder. We'll have to see if Mets GM Sandy Alderson confirms, or even if MLB will make an exception given this strange situation.
At 77.249, Reyes was a lower Type A free agent, and the Mets' pick from the Marlins could be pushed back an additional round if the Marlins also add a higher-ranked Type A such as C.J. Wilson, Prince Fielder, or Albert Pujols.
Five Teams In On Hiroki Kuroda
The Cubs, Rockies, Diamondbacks, and others are trying for Hiroki Kuroda, tweets MLB Network's Jon Heyman, though he could still return to Japan. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick adds the Yankees and Red Sox to the list of suitors.
The Rockies also remain interested in the Reds' Edinson Volquez, tweets Troy Renck.
Brewers Intensify Pursuit Of LaTroy Hawkins
The Brewers intensified their pursuit of free agent reliever LaTroy Hawkins yesterday, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Discussions with his agents are expected to continue today. Since Hawkins lives in Dallas, he attended the first two days of the Meetings.
The Brewers have maintained contact with Takashi Saito's agent Nez Balelo, adds McCalvy. ESPN's Jim Bowden expects a one-year deal.
Red Sox Remain Interested In Ryan Madson
The latest on the Red Sox…
- The Red Sox do not seem enthused about Carlos Beltran, tweets Jon Heyman.
- The Red Sox remain interested in free agent reliever Ryan Madson, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, but they won't give him "crazy money" in the words of a team official. The Scott Boras has to be concerned as closer jobs continue to be filled.
- Elsewhere on the Red Sox front, Cafardo says they've received a fair amount of interest in Marco Scutaro but aren't ready to commit to Jose Iglesias at shortstop.
Furcal Unlikely To Sign With Brewers
Rafael Furcal is likely headed for a team other than the Brewers, tweets Tom Haudricourt, increasing the chances of them re-signing Yuniesky Betancourt.
Yankees Willing To Assume $8MM In Burnett Trade
The Yankees will listen to offers for starter A.J. Burnett, reports George A. King III of the New York Post, and they're willing to assume $8MM of the $33MM owed to him for 2012-13.
I don't think teams will be lining up to pay Burnett $25MM over two years, however, so the Yankees will probably have to do better to move him. Burnett, 34, posted a 5.15 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, 1.47 HR/9, and 49.2% groundball rate in 190 1/3 innings this year. A change of scenery might help.
Rockies Express Interest In Jair Jurrjens
The Rockies contacted the Braves to express interest in righty Jair Jurrjens, tweets MLB.com's Thomas Harding. With today's Huston Street trade, the Rockies freed up the better part of $8MM to pursue a starting pitcher. MLBTR projects Jurrjens to earn $5.1MM in 2012; the 25-year-old is under team control through 2013 as an arbitration eligible player. Eight to ten teams have shown real interest in Jurrjens this winter, reported Danny Knobler of CBS Sports last night.
The Rockies' unloading of Street is also expected to kickstart their pursuit of free agent reliever Brad Lidge, a Denver-area native, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Pirates Sign Jose Morales
The Pirates announced today they've signed catcher Jose Morales to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first tweeted the near-agreement last night.
Morales, 28, has a .289/.365/.344 career batting line in 252 big league plate appearances for the Twins and Rockies. This year at Triple-A he hit .264/.350/.380 in 295 plate appearances.