Adrian Gonzalez Rumors: Saturday
9:04pm: This morning, ESPN's Jayson Stark told WJAB Radio in Portland, Maine that he was told by sources all throughout the winter meetings not to buy into any talk of Adrian Gonzalez being dealt this winter.
4:20pm: While GM Jed Hoyer and the Padres "won't never say never" to the possibility of an Adrian Gonzalez deal, Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter) says not to count on it, as it would take a monster deal to pry him away.
For months now, we've been hearing rumors of a Gonzalez-to-Boston trade. Earlier this week it was reported that the Mariners and Orioles have interest, while one source close to the player told Jorge Arangure that he believes he will be dealt to the Red Sox rather soon.
Do you believe that the Padres are intent on keeping Gonzalez or are they merely trying to see how high the bidding can get for the star first baseman?
Odds & Ends: Bedard, Phillies, Yankees
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but these links are so delightful…
- Don't count on Erik Bedard signing anytime soon, says Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times. Until teams get a better handle on when he will be healthy enough to pitch again, you won't see money being thrown his way. When he does sign, Baker expects his deal to be heavily loaded with incentives – even more so than the contract given to Rich Harden by the Rangers.
- With Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero recovering from elbow surgeries, the Phillies are turning their attention to the bullpen, writes Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. While common sense dictates that GM Ruben Amaro would sign two relievers to fill the void, he says that the team might just ink one and let their younger pitchers take the remaining jobs. Zolecki floats the names of three potential free agent targets: Bob Howry, Miguel Batista, and Kiko Calero, adding that the club has liked Howry and Batista in the past.
- The Cubs are in need of a center fielder after the trade of Milton Bradley, but they are not leaning towards any particular candidate, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. According to sources, Marlon Byrd and Scott Podsednik are the strongest options on the open market. However, the duo writes that GM Jim Hendry may also look into striking a deal with the Yankees for Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera if they become available.
- Speaking of Bradley, Steve Henson of Yahoo Sports says that the Mariners will come to regret dealing for the troubled outfielder.
Molina Key To Catching Market
A "person in the industry" tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that once Bengie Molina signs with a club, the rest of catchers on the open market are going to be scooped up quickly.
While the Mets are known to be pursuing Molina, the two sides are not close, according to one source. As a result, free agent catchers Rod Barajas, Jose Molina, and Yorvit Torrealba are still waiting by the phone. Torrealba is drawing interest from the Mariners, Rockies, Rangers, Mets, and Giants.
Reportedly, Molina is seeking a three-year deal worth roughly $20MM. Do you think he will continue to hold out for that type of money, or will he ease up on his demands and sign with a team relatively soon?
White Sox Claim Freddy Dolsi
The White Sox have claimed former Tigers reliever Freddy Dolsi off of waivers, tweets Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Merkin adds that the trade of Jon Link to the Dodgers has allowed the club to add Dolsi to the 40-man roster.
In the last two seasons with the Tigers, Dolsi has posted a 3.55 ERA over 58.1 innings of work. In that period of time his fastball was clocked at an average of 94.8 miles per hour.
Jason Bay Rumors: Tuesday
2:35pm: Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News hears that the Yankees have no interest in signing Bay long-term. They don't have confidence in his ability to play the outfield in a few years. Another source tells ESPN.com's Buster Olney that there's no chance the Yankees bid on Bay or Matt Holliday.
12:42pm: Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports report that the Yankees did contact Bay's representatives. However, one source says the team isn't seriously interested in Bay right now.
Across town, the Mets are willing to offer a fifth year or increase their initial four-year offer. The Giants, Mariners and Angels have also shown interest in Bay according to FOX's sources.
8:38am: The Red Sox "officially" cut ties with Bay yesterday, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.
12:44am: The Yankees have reached out to Jason Bay's representatives, a source tells Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. While the Mets, Angels, and Mariners are said to be the frontrunners for his services, the article says that the Bombers are "lurking in the weeds."
Silverman stresses that the Yanks are not believed to have made an offer at this point and their level of interest is currently unclear.
Also, while it appears unlikely that there is a place for Bay in Boston, it should be noted that the club has yet to inform him that he is no longer in their plans.
As for the Yankees, do you think they're legitimately interested in Bay or just doing their due diligence?
Cards Offer Most Lucrative Deal In Team History To Holliday
1:30pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that the Cardinals don't believe many teams are competing for Holliday on the level they are. Olney says the Cards intend to stand by a five-year offer – that's considerably short of the eight-year deal hinted at yesterday.
The Yankees have no intention of bidding on Holliday, according to Olney's sources.
TUESDAY, 11:19am: A source familiar with the talks tells ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick that "nothing is imminent." The source says Boras and Holliday "are still looking for something that they're not finding."
MONDAY, 11:10pm: The Cardinals have offered Matt Holliday a deal which would pay him $16MM per year and could extend through eight seasons, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It's unclear at this point how many of the seasons are option years – if any. As St. Louis is anxious to reach a resolution, those familiar with the talks believe it possible that Holliday could reach a verdict before Christmas.
This proposal dwarfs the average value of the 7-year, $100MM contract Albert Pujols inked in the winter of 2004. Of course, the average value of Pujols' next contract will likely overshadow the pitch made to Holliday.
Strauss writes that the Yankees may be the most dangerous variable to the Cardinals, despite their insistance that they are not pursuing Holliday. With Jason Bay pointed towards signing with the Mets and the Red Sox inking Mike Cameron, two potential suitors are presumably off the chase.
Do you believe that the Yanks are seriously considering throwing their pinstriped hat into the Holliday ring? Could Scott Boras be overplaying his hand on what seems to be a titanic offer? Let's hear your thoughts in the comments section.
Odds & Ends: Torrealba, Rangers, Damon
Some evening links…
- Yorvit Torrealba's pending grievance hearing against the Mets will take place Wednesday, writes Jon Heyman of SI.com. Torrealba contends that back when he was a free agent in 2007, the club falsely created the impression that he was an injury risk. Interestingly, the article notes that despite this, the Mets could still sign Torrealba this time around if they are unable to sign Bengie Molina.
- The Texas Rangers could sell for as much as $530MM, according to Maury Brown of BizOfBaseball. Brown indicates that the group led by Jim Crane holds the highest bid at the moment.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweeted earlier today that the signings of Mike Cameron and Hideki Matsui could improve the chances of Johnny Damon returning to the Bronx. Not just a good point but one that many of us have probably overlooked in the chaos of today.
- All of the player movement of today puts a great deal of pressure on Mets GM Omar Minaya, writes Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.
- With Lackey and Halladay seemingly off the market, the Yankees can now focus on whittling down a list of available second-tier starters, writes Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger. Carig suggests that Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer are possibilities.
- Steve Gilbert of MLB.com has a list of possible non-tenders who could land with the D'Backs. We've heard the other names already, but Gilbert suggests Ryan Church as a fit, noting that Arizona has an uncertain interest level.
- A person familiar with the Mets' thinking tells Marty Noble of MLB.com that the team has interest in two pitchers: starter Chien-Ming Wang and a lower-profile name in reliever Mike MacDougal.
Mike Cameron Agrees To Deal With Boston
7:58pm: The deal is in the range of $15.5MM for two years, tweets Ken Rosenthal.
7:53pm: Mike Cameron has agreed to sign a two-year deal with Boston, the AP reports.
6:38pm: It is "believed" that Cameron would play left field for the BoSox, with Jacoby Ellsbury in center and J.D. Drew in right, writes Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com. This would make recently-acquired Jeremy Hermida the team's fourth outfielder.
The Cubs and Mariners both had interest in Cameron, but shied away for different reasons. The Cubbies were waiting on a taker for Milton Bradley while the M's continue to focus on Jason Bay. The Braves also had interest, but it now it sounds as though Boston has the inside track.
Speaking of Bay, Crasnick wonders aloud (via Twitter) if this is the "final nail" in the free agent's chances of returning to Fenway.
5:40pm: Free agent outfielder Mike Cameron is in "serious talks" with the Red Sox, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The two sides are reportedly discussing a two-year pact.
Rosenthal adds that it is unclear whether the BoSox would place Cameron in left field or center field.
Blue Jays Sign Ramon Castro
The Blue Jays have signed catcher Ramon Castro to a one-year deal worth nearly $1MM, sources tell Jorge Arangure of ESPN.com (via Twitter). In 57 games split between the Mets and White Sox in '09, the 33-year-old hit .219/.292/.406 with 7 HRs.
One has to wonder why the Jays have decided to ink three catchers in the last week, having already signed John Buck and re-signed Raul Chavez.
Braves Waiting To Deal Lowe
MONDAY, 6:06pm: The wait may be nearing its end. Now that they have lost Lackey to Boston and appear to have missed out on landing Cliff Lee, the Angels have a pitching void to fill. This now means that the Angels are "among the favorites" to acquire the Lowe from the Braves, according to an update in Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi's blockbuster deal story.
The Halos could offer outfielder Juan Rivera, who the FOX Sports duo says is the type of right-handed run producer Atlanta is seeking.
SATURDAY, 11:37pm: According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, the Braves are waiting until starting pitching on the open market becomes more scarce to deal starter Derek Lowe. Specifically, John Lackey signing with a club would, arguably, make Lowe more attractive than any other free agent starter.
Morosi mentions two possible teams for the 36-year-old – the Angels and Mariners. We've heard in recent weeks that the M's are still looking to spend even after committing major money to Chone Figgins. What destination makes the most sense to you?