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Bartlett Only Available In Major Deal

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According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Rays are telling inquiring teams that shortstop Jason Bartlett would only be available in a "major deal."  Stark wonders if Jeremy Hermida would qualify.  A bit of a tough match in that Hanley Ramirez is entrenched at short in Florida.

Stark is also hearing that the Rays would never take Delmon Young back.

Odds and Ends: Shelton, Laird, Baldelli

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Links for Monday – Winter Meetings, Day 1.

  • Check out the minor league signings for the week at Baseball America.  Hey, Jerome Williams to the A’s!  Also, Chris Shelton signed with the Mariners.
  • Funny quote from Scott Boras: "There can be a lot of late-night meetings where you’re in a room and people are falling asleep.  And you’ll have some late-night GMs who want you to drink. I’ll allow them to do it, but I won’t do it. I do have some interesting things written on napkins over the years."
  • Dave Cameron likes the Tigers’ acquisition of Gerald Laird.
  • Buster Olney talked to some agents who believe "the stated concern about the economy is providing a nice cover for Major League Baseball to roll back salaries."  Another note from Olney, he’d be "shocked" if Rocco Baldelli doesn’t sign with Boston.
  • Tony Massarotti makes five recommendations for the Red Sox.
  • David Murphy asks ten questions about the Phillies.

Brewers Sign Todd Coffey

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According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Brewers signed reliever Todd Coffey to a one-year, $800K deal with $200K in incentives.  He had been arbitration-eligible.  Coffey, 28, tossed 7.1 scoreless innings after joining the Brewers after they claimed him off waivers in September.  The Brewers added Jorge Julio to their pen a few days ago.

Renck also reports the Rockies signed catcher Paul Phillips to a minor league deal to add depth.

Red Sox Rumors: Bloomquist, Lugo, Varitek

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Red Sox linkage…

  • Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald says the name of Willie Bloomquist continues to be associated with the Red Sox.
  • Silverman says the Sox have been floating around Julio Lugo’s name; no interest yet.
  • Silverman sees the Tigers, Marlins, and maybe Yankees as potential suitors for Jason Varitek.  Scott Boras would have a hard time getting two years, $20MM from any of those teams.  The Marlins or Yanks would have to give up their first-round pick, too.

Cards Switch Focus To Free Agency

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According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak recently shifted his focus from trades to free agency in regards to his pitching staff.  They briefly mulled the idea of jumping in on Jake Peavy but decided against it.

Strauss suggests four free agent starters the Cardinals might consider signing for the short-term: Oliver Perez, Andy Pettitte, Randy Wolf, and Brad Penny.  The Cards have about $15-17MM to work with, but they won’t be chasing the big fish free agent starters.

Straus adds that it now looks like the Cardinals will retain second baseman Adam Kennedy.

Tigers Acquire Gerald Laird

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1:21am: Morosi says the second pitching prospect is indeed Melo.

12:12am: Morosi says an agreement has been reached, and the second prospect is a pitcher.  There’s speculation that prospect could be Carlos Melo, as he fits Rosenthal’s description.

11:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Tigers acquired Laird for Moscoso and a second prospect.  The second prospect "is a 17-year-old who spent last season in the Dominican Summer League."  Could it be shortstops Samuel Ortiz or Domingo Gonzales?  Pitchers Rayni Guichardo or Carlos Melo?  The deal will be announced Monday.  Laird, a Scott Boras client, is under team control through 2010. 

Rosenthal adds that the Tigers are considering Adam Everett and Nick Punto as shortstop options.

9:26pm: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "The Tigers and Texas Rangers have made significant progress toward a trade that would send catcher Gerald Laird to Detroit and pitching prospect Guillermo Moscoso to the Rangers."  It’s not known whether the Tigers would include anyone else.

Baseball America ranks Moscoso tenth among Tigers prospects, noting shoulder woes but suggesting a high ceiling.  They say he could end up a #3 or #4 starter.  He’s drawn some comparisons to Jair Jurrjens.

Only Oliver, Weathers Accept Arb Offers

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman says relievers Darren Oliver and David Weathers were the only two players of the 24 who accepted offers of arbitration.  That means Juan Cruz, Orlando Hudson, Mark Teixeira, Francisco Rodriguez, and Jon Garland declined in addition to those we’ve already reported.

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