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Odds & Ends: Torre, Figgins, Mora

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A few links to browse while we continue the countdown to the GM meetings….

Kurkjian’s Latest: Yankees, Dodgers, Chapman

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Tim Kurkjian runs through some of the top storylines to watch this offseason for his latest article on ESPN.com.  Here's a breakdown of some of the topics discussed…

  • Kurkjian believes the Yankees will let Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui walk this winter and will "consider" free agents Jason Bay and Matt Holliday.
  • Kurkjian also thinks Holliday is "perfect for Fenway Park," and someone who will be pursued if the Red Sox aren't able to reach an agreement with Bay.
  • The McCourts' divorce could have a serious impact on the way Los Angeles does business this offseason.  As Kurkjian writes, "The Dodgers need to acquire at least one topflight starting pitcher, but there is already speculation that they will not have enough money to re-sign left-hander Randy Wolf."
  • The Cubs won't be able to trade Milton Bradley without picking up most of the two years, $20MM left on his contact.
  • The Yanks are likely to re-sign Andy Pettitte for at least one year.
  • Kurkjian spoke to one MLB general manager who thinks Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman has "a ways to go before he's ready to pitch in the major leagues, phyiscally and emotionally."
  • The Angels are expected to be aggressive in trying to re-sign Chone Figgins, but he'll have plenty of other suitors.  Kurkjian lists the White Sox and Orioles as possibilities.  We've heard the Cubs might also have interest.

Odds & Ends: Myers, Lackey, Hardy, Holliday

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Here's some Thursday links…

  • Brett Myers said it would be "upsetting" to leave Philadelphia, according to FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi. It would make sense for Myers to market himself as a starter this offseason, but Morosi points out that the Phillies already have five starters returning in 2010.
  • Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com doesn't see the Orioles opening their wallet for John Lackey. He points out that Jeremy Guthrie's numbers are on par wth Lackey's over the last few years.
  • Charley Walters of The Pioneer Press says it wouldn't be surprising to see the Twins pursue J.J. Hardy if Orlando Cabrera departs via free agency. He says Glen Perkins "would seem a likely bet to be included if there were an offer to the Brewers."
  • Matt Cerrone at MetsBlog.com wonders if Matt Holliday is worth $17MM per season for six years.
  • Tom Singer of MLB.com previews this year's free agent class.

Baez Back In Baltimore?

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According to MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez, right-handed reliever Danys Baez is interested in returning to the Orioles.

It's not yet clear if the feeling is mutual.

The 32-year-old Baez posted a 4.02 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 40/22 K/BB ratio in 71 2/3 innings this season.  He served as an effective workhorse for the O's and was especially dominant against right-handed hitters, holding them to a .197 batting average and .565 OPS.  He also had a robust 60.9% groundball rate.  Baez told the Baltimore Sun back in September that he hoped to resume his career on the East Coast:

"I'd like to stay in the East. I like pitching [in the division], and the East is more convenient for me and my family," said Baez, whose family lives in Miami. "I would love to be on a contending team and get into the playoffs. But I have to wait until the offseason and free agency and talk to my agent."

The Orioles signed Baez to a three-year, $16MM deal in November of 2006.  He will get another crack at free agency once the World Series concludes.

Discussion: Rich Hill

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Rich Hill was a late bloomer for the Cubs.  The lefty with the Bugs Bunny curveball always had big strikeout rates in the minors, but started to get a handle on his control in '05 at age 25.  That year he whiffed 194 against 35 walks in 130.6 innings across three levels.  Hill's Triple A dominance continued the following year, when he struck out 135 and walked 21 in 100 innings.  He was promoted to the bigs and showed promise in 16 starts, aside from some ill-advised comments in May.  2007 was Hill's breakout season – he made 32 starts and struck out 183 in 195 innings.

The wheels fell off in 2008, as Hill struggled in Spring Training and then opened the season with 15 walks in 19.6 innings across five starts.  Hill's control problems seemed to be at least partially mental, and Lou Piniella didn't have much patience.  He was demoted to Triple A in May, and the control issues persisted in the minors.  Hill insisted his problems stemmed from a back injury and not Steve Blass Disease.

Like he did with Felix Pie, Cubs GM Jim Hendry gave up on Hill that winter and shipped him to Baltimore.  The Cubs received cash considerations for Hill.  He was out of options, so he needed to land with a team that could let him take his lumps in the Majors.  Hill's control issues continued in his 13 starts, and elbow and shoulder injuries cut his season short.  He had labrum surgery in August, and last night became a free agent after the Orioles outrighted him.  The O's have interest in re-signing him to a minor league deal, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun.

If he doesn't re-sign with Baltimore, where might Hill land as he rehabs his shoulder and attempts to recapture the 2006-07 magic?  San Diego is a nice low-pressure environment for pitchers.  The Mariners had interest in Hill a year ago, and Seattle would be another smart landing spot.  Hill was born in Boston, and Theo Epstein likes his reclamation projects, but getting out of the AL East might be a good thing.  What kind of future do you see for Hill?

Odds & Ends: Orioles, Rangers, Nationals

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Let us entertain you between World Series games…

  • Pitcher Rich Hill, outfielder Jeff Fiorentino and catcher Guillermo Rodriguez all rejected a minor league assignment by the Orioles and elected free agency instead. Alfredo Simon, who was also removed from the 40-man roster last week, accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Hill could draw some interest this winter.
  • MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports that former Colorado manager Clint Hurdle is likely to be the next hitting coach of the Rangers.
  • Don Mattingly passed on a chance to interview for Washington's managerial opening, according to Alden Gonzalez and Ken Gurnick of MLB.com.

Odds & Ends: Giants, Bay, Rockies, Padres

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Here are a few Sunday links to browse, as a huge sports day in Philadelphia begins….

  • John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if the "desperate-for-pop" San Francisco Giants will try to top the Boston Red Sox rumored four-year offer to Jason Bay (we heard some speculation about this yesterday too). If not, Shea names Garrett Atkins as a cheaper potential target for the Giants.
  • SI.com's Jon Heyman discusses Bay and Matt Holliday in his latest column. Heyman points out that although Bay's agent, Joe Urbon, refers to him as the market's "most complete" player, Urbon keeps tying Bay's value to Holliday's. Scott Boras is avoiding doing the same thing for his client, instead comparing Holliday to the $180MM man, Mark Teixeira.
  • Within the same column, Heyman mentions progress being made on contracts for Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd and manager Jim Tracy, suggesting something could be announced after the World Series.
  • New San Diego GM Jed Hoyer has reportedly offered Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen the Padres' assistant GM position, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
  • Baseball Prospectus's John Perrotto reports (via Twitter) that there's no chance Pittsburgh Pirates prospects Pedro Alvarez and Brad Lincoln will be called up to the majors before at least June of next year.
  • DRays Bay looks ahead to this winter's free agent reliever market. If you missed it, check out MLBTR's analysis of the market for closers, as well as for both lefty and righty relievers.
  • Casey Kelly and the Red Sox have to decide soon whether the 20-year-old prospect will continue his career as a pitcher or shortstop, according to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald. Given Kelly's minor league numbers to date, it seems like a no-brainer that the team will want to move him back to the mound.
  • Roch Kubatko of MASN.com tries to sort out the Baltimore Orioles' 40-man roster.

The Orioles And Aroldis Chapman

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Free agent left-hander Aroldis Chapman is quickly racking up face time with MLB clubs, meeting with several different teams in the past few days and drumming up interest all over the league.  On Friday, he chatted with Orioles international scouting director John Stockstill in New York about the possibility of beginning his professional career in Baltimore.

Are the Orioles to be taken seriously as possible suitors for Chapman?  It depends on who you ask.  Stockstill said Friday, after his meeting in NYC with the highly touted 21-year-old, that there is some mutual interest.  "He's willing and interested to come and visit Baltimore," Stockstill said, while also telling MASN's Roch Kubatko, "I think we have an offer in mind."

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean the club is truly prepared to buck up, especially if the price is in the $40-$60MM range.  As Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun points out, the O's passed on Dominican shortstop Miguel Angel Sano earlier this month, and he signed with the Twins for only $3.15MM.  "If they would balk at Sano at that price," Schmuck writes, "what makes anybody think they'll be a real player at $40 million for Chapman?"

"I'm sure a lot of people would like to see the Orioles boldly go where they haven't gone before and pony up the big money it will take to sign Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman," Schmuck continues, "but I wouldn't hold your breath."

Odds & Ends: Hawkins, Uribe, Hill, Hazen

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Here's a few links to end the night…

  • MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tweets that Astros GM Ed Wade said the team "is talking with LaTroy Hawkins, who wanted to see who the manager was going to be first." Hawkins will be a free agent this offseason for the fourth time in as many years.
  • Juan Uribe has informed the Giants that he plans to test the market, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News.
  • MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko reports that the Orioles outrighted three players off their 40-man roster, including southpaw Rich Hill. Meanwhile, MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says the Indians outrighted three players as well.
  • Tom Krasovic reports that Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen interviewed for a front office position with the Padres. Hazen has held the position with Boston since 2006, and used to play in San Diego's minor league system.
  • Here's this week's edition of Baseball America's minor league transactions. Lots of new names hitting the free agent pool, including Jack Taschner and Edgar Gonzalez.

Hendrickson Hopes To Re-Sign With O’s Quickly

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Once the World Series ends, teams get an exclusive 15-day window to negotiate with their own free agents before they truly hit the open market, and as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun notes, lefthander Mark Hendrickson hopes the Orioles take advantage of that window.

"We won't wait just for the purpose of waiting," said Joe Urbon of CAA Sports. "They have an exclusive window to talk and try to get something done and I would hope that they'd use it because I know that's what Mark would like.

"There has been indications and a vibe that there is an interest in the Orioles in having him back and Mark has made it clear that he has an interest in staying. It has to work on both sides. That includes fit and role and economics. I don't see any reason that all three things can't be accomplished."

The former Philadelphia 76er, Sacramento King, New Jersey Net, and Cleveland Cavalier pitched to a 4.37 ERA in 105 innings this season, mostly out of the bullpen for the O's. He earned $1.5MM in 2009, but FanGraphs values his performance at $2.2MM. It was also the fourth straight year Hendrickson's value has declined.

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