Reagins Clears Things Up
Angels GM Tony Reagins recently held court with the media to debunk most of the Angels rumors swirling about recently.
- The Angels are not currently in the mix for Johan Santana. Reagins spoke to Bill Smith last night, but not about Johan.
- The Angels haven’t met with the Orioles, so there haven’t been discussions about Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada at the Meetings.
- Reagins wasn’t involved much with Miguel Cabrera before the Tigers snagged him.
- On the less boring front, Reagins said "some interesting and exciting things have surfaced" with surprising new teams. Get your speculating caps on.
Kuroda Wants Four Years
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 6:28pm: Tony Jackson dug up some info on this situation. He says the Mariners’ three-year offer worth $30-33MM is tops so far, despite other reports. He doesn’t believe the Mariners are at 4/44. The Ms and Dodgers, as expected, are the leaders for Kuroda.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:55pm: First Heyman suggested 3/45 for Kuroda. Now Jeff Passan is saying 5/50! Passan throws the Giants into the mix for him, which is a new one.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:29pm: Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News confirms that the Dodgers have an offer out to Kuroda, probably in the 3/30 range. He says that the Ms are reportedly already at four years and more than $40MM.
FROM 12-4-07 at 1:26pm:
Previous reports floating about had the Mariners offering four years, $44MM to Hiroki Kuroda. Not so, according to MLB.com’s Jim Street. Street says the Mariners, Dodgers, and D’Backs have all made offers in the three-year, $30MM range. None of the three clubs wants to go to four years on soon-to-be 33 year-old pitcher with no MLB experience.
Kuroda may make his decision early next week, after his agents meet with the interested parties.
Street adds that the Ms plan to meet with the Orioles today to discuss Erik Bedard possibilities. Also, he mentions the rumor that the Mariners inquired on Ben Sheets. Maybe it was both the Dodgers and Mariners.
Mets Rumors: Kuroda, Livan, Estrada, Colon
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 5:49pm: Jayson Stark says the Mets haven’t talked to the the A’s or Orioles at all in Nashville, meaning no talks for Haren or Bedard as of yet.
FROM 12-4-07 at 8:05am:
What’s cooking with the Mets? Let’s round ’em up.
- Mark Hale reports that the Mets have advanced to "Round 2" of the bidding process for Hiroki Kuroda. They did this by indicating a ballpark of what they might offer but without actually making an offer. Hale says 8-10 teams are in on Kuroda, including the Royals, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Mariners. The Ms reportedly have some kind of offer out to him, either 3/30 or 4/44. The Phils are said to have an offer out as well. Hale doesn’t name the Dodgers but it’s been said they’re getting aggressive on him too. The Cubs and Rangers are other teams that have been connected to Kuroda.
- The Mets appear to have mild interest in Livan Hernandez, perhaps as a fallback innings-eater option. The Phillies, Cardinals, Nationals, and Astros are other known suitors for Livan.
- The big fish are still out there in Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, and Dan Haren. The Mets won’t include Jose Reyes, David Wright, or Carlos Beltran in any deal. It’s been said that a Carlos Gomez/Aaron Heilman/Philip Humber package was offered for Bedard and rejected.
- Dan Graziano says the Mets also inquired on Dontrelle Willis, Ben Sheets, and Roy Oswalt and were told none of the three are available. Graziano adds that the Mets are looking into signing Bartolo Colon.
- Omar Minaya will meet with the agents for Octavio Dotel and Shawn Chacon today.
- Minaya disputes Ken Rosenthal’s report that he sought an extension from the Mets and didn’t get one. Ownership told him he’ll be there "a long time."
- Though they didn’t want him in the Lastings Milledge deal, the Nationals are interested in acquiring Johnny Estrada for their catcher vacancy. Damian Miller is also known to be a target of Jim Bowden’s.
Brewers Considering Crede, Blalock, Feliz, LaRoche, Tejada
What, you thought the Brewers were dead set on Scott Rolen? Not so, according to Tom Haudricourt. They’re considering the following options at third base, mostly because the left field options are worse.
- Joe Crede – I can see this one happening, Doug Melvin and Kenny Williams get along. And Kenny really has nowhere to play Crede.
- Hank Blalock – Trading Blalock now is generally seen as selling low, so this seems unlikely.
- Pedro Feliz – I’m going to disagree with Haudricourt that Feliz is intriguing.
- Andy LaRoche – Now this one is intriguing, hitting the Dodgers up for LaRoche. I imagine Colletti may want to include LaRoche in other, bigger deals though.
- Miguel Tejada – He’s been discussed, but all the well-known warts make this unlikely.
Heyman’s Latest: Andruw, Bedard, Kuroda
Here’s a link to Jon Heyman’s latest column at SI.com. The new stuff is below.
- Extreme longshot, but the Brewers could peek their head in on Andruw Jones. Who would’ve thought Andruw would be so unpopular this winter? Another bigtime longshot is the Mets…but they haven’t been ruled out either. Someone would have to swallow his ego and play right field, probably Jones.
- The Orioles are expected to take their time finding the best offer for Erik Bedard, if they even trade him.
- Heyman throws out three years, $45MM for Hiroki Kuroda as a possibility. Say whaaaat?
Marlins/Tigers Cabrera/Willis Blockbuster
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 2:41pm: Joe Capozzi agrees – separate deals if anything.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 1:29pm: MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro has a source indicating that the Tigers are interested in Willis or Cabrera and not necessarily both.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 12:23pm: According to Danny Knobler, the Tigers feel they’re being used by the Marlins to jack up the price for other teams like the Angels. The trade talks between Detroit and Florida are characterized as discussions rather than trade negotiations. Knobler says Dombrowski doesn’t want to trade Maybin, but I can’t see this happening otherwise.
FROM 12-4-07 at 11:02am:
Ken Rosenthal has an update with a whopper of a trade rumor.
- The Marlins and Tigers are talking about a monster deal that would send Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis over to the Tigers for Andrew Miller, Cameron Maybin, and others. Dave Dombrowski has always worked well with the Marlins, his former team.
- Rosenthal confirms Bob Dutton’s assertion – the Royals signing Jose Guillen may not stop them from getting Andruw Jones too.
- The O’s are trying to move Ramon Hernandez. They could sign Michael Barrett if they move him, or else get Jeff Mathis or Mike Napoli from L.A. in a Tejada deal.
- The Tribe hasn’t decided whether to trade Cliff Lee, though there’s been plenty of buzz so far.
Giants Rumors: Lincecum, Tejada, Sexson
Andrew Baggarly gives his take on the Giants hot stove buzz.
- One Reds official think the Giants almost have to trade Tim Lincecum to build an offensive core. It seems the Mariners and Reds in particular are pushing for Lincecum. The Ms could offer Adam Jones; the Reds have Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, and Josh Hamilton. The Mariners could’ve had Lincecum with the fifth overall pick in 2006, but opted for Brandon Morrow instead. The Reds could’ve had him too but went for Drew Stubbs.
- The Giants and Orioles discussed Miguel Tejada, and the O’s like players such as Jonathan Sanchez, Brad Hennessey, Fred Lewis, and Guillermo Rodriguez. Outside of Sanchez those guys don’t seem like what the Orioles would ask for to me. No deal is close.
- Baggarly talks of the rumored Richie Sexson for Ray Durham or Rich Aurilia swap, though Larry LaRue says it’s bogus.
- The one team inquiring on Bengie Molina was the Mets, and that was before they got Brian Schneider.
ESPN’s Latest: Lamb, Bedard, Tejada, Loretta
ESPN’s Amy Nelson and Buster Olney recently checked in with a few new rumors.
- The Red Sox checked in on Mike Lamb – they’re looking for a corner infield backup. Lamb had good numbers in ’07 so he may prefer to look for a starting job. Meanwhile, Evan Grant says the Rangers are in the lead for Lamb. They’d give him that starting gig.
- The Orioles apparently have four teams already offering impressive packages for Erik Bedard.
- The Dodgers and O’s talked Miguel Tejada last night but they couldn’t find a match.
- The Mariners like Mark Loretta as a backup and challenger to Jose Lopez; they may offer around $2MM.
Cardinals Rumors: Rolen, Tejada, Edmonds
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 9:38am: Tom Haudricourt confirms that the Brewers will have access to Rolen’s medical records. That the Brewers will take a look indicates they are probably serious about Rolen.
FROM 12-4-07 at 12:14am:
Joe Strauss has a new one in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, presumably for the Tuesday morning edition.
- The Cards have already met twice with the Brewers to talk about Scott Rolen. They’re providing medical information to the Brewers, and appear flexible on the amount of salary they need to cover. Teams interested in Rolen can speak directly to the third baseman’s doctor and surgeon. Strauss confirms the Rangers and Giants as two other interested parties.
- The Rolen deal may hinge on Miguel Cabrera being traded first. The Cards poked their head in but wouldn’t part with Colby Rasmus.
- The Cards are likely to create a third base vacancy, so they’ve been talking to the Orioles about Miguel Tejada.
- As you know, the Cards met with the Padres to discuss Jim Edmonds. The Friars also have their eye on Anthony Reyes. Maybe the Cards can pry Kevin Kouzmanoff loose?
- Aside from the aforementioned Brewers, Orioles, and Padres, John Mozeliak also met with the Mariners today.
Phillies Rumors: Rowand, Benson, Colon, Reyes, Tavarez
A few articles on the Phillies have surfaced this morning; let’s see what’s cooking on the hot stove.
- The Phils would pay extra to get Aaron Rowand to take a three-year deal. Jim Salisbury quotes Rowand’s agent as saying ten clubs are after him. Salisbury names the usual suspects but throws in the Twins, Royals, Rangers, and Orioles depending on the term.
- Todd Zolecki confirms the Phillies’ interest in Kris Benson. He’ll be throwing for teams a few weeks from now.
- The Phils like Benson best among the rehab project group, now that Randy Wolf is signed. They’ve also contacted Bartolo Colon‘s agent and may be in on Jason Jennings. Zolecki also names Anthony Reyes and Julian Tavarez as two possible trade targets.
- Despite what was said yesterday, Zolecki says Livan Hernandez is not high on Pat Gillick’s list. They remain in the mix for Hiroki Kuroda.