According to Diamond Leung, the Dodgers signed Hector Luna to a minor league deal (hat tip to Drunk Jays Fans).
Four Teams Inquire On Michael Young
12:51pm: Joel Sherman agrees that the Mets inquired on Young. He says the Rangers are under no pressure to move big contracts though.
12:38pm: Young is not as pricey as we thought – Ken Rosenthal says he’s already been paid $20MM in bonus money from his new deal, leaving $60MM or so over five years (Heyman said something similar). But, Rosenthal says the Rangers are unlikely to seriously consider trading him.
11:16am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals inquired on Young. He says the Rangers are not shopping Young but will listen. The Mets might have to move Luis Castillo before they could slot Young in at second base.
12:00am: Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to an AL exec whose team is in the market for a shortstop, and learned that the Rangers are quietly shopping Michael Young. Young’s five-year, $80MM extension will begin next year. He’s got no-trade protection to deal with. The Rangers would want young pitching back for Young. It will be hard to find a team willing to take on that contract.
Cardinals Rumors: Downs, Gonzalez, Boyer
12:41pm: Marc Topkin heard chatter that the Rays and Cardinals are talking. Perhaps Ankiel or Ludwick could interest Tampa Bay.
Meanwhile Scott Lauber says the Cards may be interested in Madson as a potential closer.
8:36am: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals remain focused on short-term deals for starters. Possible names include Oliver Perez, Andy Pettitte, Brad Penny, and Randy Wolf. They’ll meet with Wolf’s agent by tomorrow afternoon.
John Mozeliak now seems open to a two or three-year deal for a reliever. He could trade an outfielder like Ryan Ludwick for a top guy, but shot down the idea of Ryan Madson. Makes no sense, Madson is only under team control for one more year. Schumaker and Chris Duncan are trade bait for Mozeliak.
8:28am: Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says the Cards have interest in Blue Jays lefty Scott Downs. Downs is owed $7.75MM over the next two seasons.
8:01am: We know the Cardinals chatted with the Braves about Mike Gonzalez and Blaine Boyer. Gerry Fraley says they also had trade talks with the Phillies, hoping to trade an outfielder for a reliever. Rick Ankiel and Skip Schumaker are apparently popular with other teams.
Lamb Re-Signs With Brewers
12:33pm: MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy says the deal with Lamb has been finalized, with the Brewers on the hook for something close to the league minimum for ’09.
TUESDAY, 10:58am: Tom Haudricourt says Lamb’s signing will be announced today. Haudricourt rejects the Rosenthal/Price report about the Lamb signing paving the way for a Hall trade.
MONDAY, 8:07pm: Rosenthal and Ed Price say the Lamb signing could prompt the Brewers to trade Bill Hall. Hall interests the Yankees, but he has almost $16MM left on his deal. Rosenthal notes that Yankees targets Hall and Mike Cameron are friends of C.C. Sabathia.
4:52pm: According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, the Brewers are "closing in on a deal to re-sign free agent third baseman Mike Lamb." GM Doug Melvin will continue discussions with Lamb’s agent later today.
Blagojevich Corruption Charges
Illinois govenor Rod Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges today. Cubs-related passage:
Blagojevich and [chief of staff John] Harris conspired to demand the firing of Chicago Tribune editorial board members responsible for editorials critical of Blagojevich in exchange for state help with the sale of Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs baseball stadium owned by Tribune Co.
Blue Jays, Indians, Dodgers Interested In Kris Benson
Roch Kubatko of MASN Online ran into Kris Benson, who says he’s fully recovered from rotator cuff surgery. The Blue Jays, Indians, and Dodgers have expressed interest.
Milton Bradley Rumors: Tuesday
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Cubs are in "intense discussions" with Milton Bradley. The Cubs are known to have met with Bradley Sunday; the Rays lunched with him yesterday.
Rick Ankiel Rumors
Joel Sherman of the New York Post says Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel is popular, with at least five interested teams. He adds the Yankees, Rays, and Giants to the previously known Braves. With the lack of center fielders on the market, the interest makes sense. Sherman says the Cardinals seek a closer and/or a starter, and have some interest in Ian Kennedy.
Odds and Ends: Laird, Mitsui, Snyder
Links for Tuesday…
- Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald describes a casino alert regarding potential inside information due to the Winter Meetings.
- ESPN’s Keith Law isn’t thrilled with the Tigers’ acquisition of Gerald Laird.
- Michael S. Schmidt gives a peek at the Boras Book for Greg Maddux. One client for which exaggeration is unnecessary.
- Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker says the Seibu Lions will post 35 year-old lefty reliever Koji Mitsui. Another southpaw option to consider; he’s not expected to cost much.
- Newman also says the Orioles may offer two-year, $10MM contracts to both Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara.
- Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the D’Backs have had brief, preliminary talks on an extension for Chris Snyder and they’ll resume soon.
Phillies Starting Pitching Rumors
2:20pm: Dan Graziano says the Phillies expressed interest in Andy Pettitte.
8:47am: Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Inquirer says that as the Phillies’ talks with Jamie Moyer drag on, they’re looking at alternatives. They seem to have some kind of offer out to Derek Lowe. Hagen adds that they have some interest in Braden Looper while Randy Wolf is unclear.
