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Kyle Lohse Rumors: Wednesday

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The Nationals don't presently have interest in Kyle Lohse, the Cardinals don't expect to add starting pitching, and the Indians don't appear to have interest in Lohse. In other words the market for the Scott Boras client remains unclear even as Spring Training gets started. Here’s the latest with the most recent rumors up top…

Earlier Updates:

  • While the Brewers might seem like a fit for Lohse, GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he hasn't had any conversations with Scott Boras. "We aren't talking to him," Melvin said. The GM acknowledged that Boras has spoken with owner Mark Attanasio but said "there's nothing going on" there.
  • Agent Scott Boras has repeatedly tried to engage the Angels about Lohse, but so far the club has passed, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd).  The Angels have already sacrificed a top draft pick to sign Josh Hamilton. Their rotation currently consists of Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson, Joe Blanton, Tommy Hanson and Jason Vargas.
  • Nationals GM Mike Rizzo told reporters today that Gio Gonzalez's connections with the Biogenesis clinic in Miami did not "intensify" the team's search for a starting pitcher, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports (on Twitter).

Zach Links contributed to this post.

AL East Notes: Yankees, Carp, Rodney, Orioles

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The 2013 Yankees don't project to have as much depth as recent New York teams, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. This could make the club vulnerable, though the possibility of a championship still exists given the talent in place. Here are some more notes from the AL East…

  • The Red Sox might be interested in Mike Carp, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe writes (on Twitter). Carp, who was recently designated for assignment by the Mariners, is a left-handed hitter with a career batting line of .255/.327/.413. The Red Sox have discussed Carp internally without deciding whether to pursue him, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).
  • Tampa Bay closer Fernando Rodney said he has not had extension talks with the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Rodney, who is set to hit free agency this coming offseason, said he would be open to a new deal with the Rays. He indicated multiple times this winter that he was nearing a deal with the Rays, but said today that his previous comments were mis-interpreted.
  • While the Orioles considered trades for offense, they were reluctant to part with arms in potential deals, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports. “I'd rather hold on to our young pitchers,'' executive VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette said. Though the Orioles didn't make headlines this winter, Heyman notes that Duquette earned the benefit of the doubt with Baltimore's strong showing in 2012.

Red Sox Notes: Pedroia, Henry, Overbay

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Red Sox principal owner John Henry spoke with the media yesterday, looking back at a disappointing 2012 season and forward to 2013. Here's more on Henry and the Red Sox as Spring Training continues in Fort Myers…

  • While Henry prefers to avoid unnecessarily long contracts, it’s possible Dustin Pedroia could be an exception, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports. Henry said Pedroia is “everything you want in a player,” but noted the sides haven’t started extension talks just yet. Pedroia prefers to focus on the present, telling Bradford the contract will take care of itself. “The Red Sox, they know how I feel about them, and I know how they feel about me,” he said. Pedroia's contract covers the 2013-14 seasons with a club option for 2015.
  • Before buying the Red Sox, Henry learned a lot about running a baseball team as a part-owner of the Yankees, Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal reports. Henry even has the four World Series rings from his years with the Yankees.
  • Though Lyle Overbay had a minor league offer from the Brewers, he felt he would have been a “quick fix” in Milwaukee, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports (on Twitter). The Red Sox have spoken with Overbay about the possibility of using him in the outfield, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).

Red Sox Notes: Henry, James, Valentine

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Red Sox principal owner John Henry met with the media today and discussed a variety of topics related to the team. Here are some highlights via various Boston media members…

  • Henry emphatically told reporters that he’s not selling the team, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).
  • Henry said the Red Sox may not be done making moves to improve the team, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).
  • Henry downplayed the notion that the Red Sox are prioritizing profit over performance, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports (on Twitter). "I know people can say that we're revenue-oriented, but the fact is that we're wins and losses-oriented,” the owner said.
  • Henry said the Red Sox will use Bill James more in their front office decision making, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports (on Twitter).
  • Henry said Bobby Valentine could be a great manager again under the right circumstances, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reports (on Twitter). The Red Sox dismissed Valentine following a disappointing 2012 season.

Quick Hits: Mariners, Ryan Lavarnway, Red Sox

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On this day in 2000, the Reds acquired Ken Griffey Jr. from the Mariners in exchange for pitchers Brett Tomko and Jake Meyer, center fielder Mike Cameron and infielder Antonio Perez. Griffey would sign the largest contract in MLB history at the time to the tune of a nine-year, $116.5MM deal. Let's catch up on the latest news and stories making headlines from around the big leagues.

  • The Mariners enter Spring Training with more than just a handful of outfielders competing for four or five spots on the roster, writes Ryan Divish of The News Tribune. Casper Wells, gifted defensively but lacking a consistent bat, may be lost on waivers if he is designated for assignment as he is out of options. 
  • Ryan Lavarnway's chances of making the Opening Day roster for the Red Sox may be beyond his control given the presence of Jarrod Saltalamacchia and David Ross as well as his option, says Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. “For me, I want to win the World Series,” Lavarnway said. "It doesn’t matter if I’m there for however long. We play this game to win and if you’re not playing this game to win then I don’t know why you’re playing. However I can help."
  • The Red Sox made a series of offseason acquisitions which has to raise the question of how will all of the new players fit in to the culture of the clubhouse, wonders Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. Abraham says GM Ben Cherington wants to field a squad that looks new in 2013 and hopes the additions made in the offseason will foster a different vibe in the clubhouse. 

Cafardo On Nationals, Vazquez, Sizemore, Norris

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Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Michael Weiner has been an inspiration to everyone that works in his office, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.  Weiner, who is living with an inoperable brain tumor, handed his role of general counsel to David Prouty last week.  “Mike has handled this whole situation with incredible grace and incredible humor, too,” Prouty said. “That’s the way he’s handled everything. So in a way, we’ve all been inspired by him. More generally, Mike is always an inspiration to be around in terms of being a colleague and an executive director who cares about players and about the game.”  Here's more from today's column..

  • The Nationals and others continue to keep an eye Javier Vazquez, who is recovering from minor knee surgery. Washington’s interest may be piqued by Gio Gonzalez’s alleged link to the Miami PED clinic. The Nationals have faith in Ross Detwiler, but Vazquez would give them depth.
  • There was thought that a team would sign Grady Sizemore and wait until he recovers from his latest knee surgery, but so far, they are staying away.  “It’s hard to take the risk, even if it’s minimal,” said one exec whose team needs outfield help. “At this point, I think you wait until he feels he’s ready and then you look. If someone beats you to it, so be it.”
  • Bud Norris is one of the last remaining assets on the Astros and should become one of the most sought-after pitchers before the season or at the trading deadline. The Astros haven’t said they’d deal him, but they didn't indicate they would move Jed Lowrie either before he was sent to the A's.  The Cardinals and Orioles are two teams to watch on Norris.
  • The Red Sox were willing to part ways with Kelly Shoppach in part because of his attitude.
  • One scout thinks one of the best under-the-radar moves this winter was the Rays obtaining Yunel Escobar, who was traded twice this winter. 

AL East Notes: Red Sox, Rays, Jacoby Ellsbury

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The Yankees enter the 2013 season with a sense of uncertainty surrounding its aging roster in a division that could see all five teams make a run at the playoffs. New York does have a handful of minor league pitchers that may be of service to the squad in the near future including Mark Montgomery, a hard-throwing right-hander viewed as a potential successor to Mariano Rivera, according to Bill Madden of the New York Daily News. 

  • A lack of continuity at the shortstop position has been an issue for the Red Sox ever since the team traded away Nomar Garciaparra during the summer of 2004, but that trend may be about to change, writes Tim Britton of the Providence Journal. Boston will count on Stephen Drew to start at shortstop for the 2013 season, but will look to eventually turn the job over to Jose Iglesias, Xander Bogaerts or Deven Marrero, its top prospects at the position.
  • The Rays will enter the 2013 season with a different look after the team made a series of trades and signings that impacted all aspects of the squad, says Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The moves allowed the Rays to keep their payroll in check as well as reload on young talent that will be able to help the team over the long haul. 
  • Jacoby Ellsbury's tenure with the Red Sox may come to an end next offseason as he is set to become a free agent along with the fact that Scott Boras is his agent, writes Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. “Ellsbury is a very talented player and we know what he can do on the field when he’s feeling good physically,” Red Sox GM Ben Cherington said. “We’re obviously a better team when he’s on the field and we’d love for him to be a Red Sox for a long time."

Red Sox Notes: Cherington, Pedroia, Lavarnway

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There has been a lot of talk this offseason about what John Farrell can do for the Red Sox pitching staff as manager, but GM Ben Cherington reminded reporters today that he is charged with doing a lot more than working with a few hurlers, writes Tim Britton of The Providence Journal.  Here's a look at the highlights from Cherington's chat with the press out of Fort Myers, Florida and other news on the BoSox..

  • Cherington said the team hasn’t started extension talks with any players but it is expected that the Red Sox will open conversations with Dustin Pedroia at some point this spring, writes Alex Speier of WEEI.com.  “I can’t rule it out, but I can’t rule it in, either,” said the GM regarding extensions.
  • As of right now, Jarrod Saltalamacchia and David Ross are being viewed as the major league catchers, leaving Ryan Lavarnway as the odd man out, Speier writes.  With a glut of backstops, Lavarnway will remain a trade candidate as we enter spring training.
  • Cherington accepted the blame for a lack of depth in the starting rotation in 2012, according to Speier.  However, he feels more confident about the team’s pitching heading into this season.  The Red Sox will be stretching out Alfredo Aceves and Franklin Morales as starters in spring training in support of the projected rotation of Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey, Ryan Dempster, and Felix Doubront.

AL East Notes: Yankees, Red Sox, Lester, Bailey

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Here's a look at the American League East..

  • Jon Lester knows that after a down year in 2012, teams will likely try to buy low on him, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com writes.  The Red Sox left-hander is entering the final guaranteed season of his five-year, $30MM deal and Boston holds a $13MM option for 2014.  So far, the two sides have yet to engage in extension talks.
  • In his address to reporters in Tampa, Florida, Yankees co-owner Hal Steinbrenner explained that the club's much talked about plan to get under $189MM by 2014 isn't set in stone, writes Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger.  “Everybody keeps talking about the $189MM…Is that our goal next year? Yes, to be at that number, that’s our goal. But as I’ve said from the beginning, that depends on some of our young players stepping up and getting the job done. That has to happen. Or it’s going to be difficult," Steinbrenner said.
  • Andrew Bailey is happy to have Joel Hanrahan in the mix, but he says that he eventually wants to return to being a closer and he wants to make it happen with the Red Sox, writes Tim Britton of the Providence Journal.

No Extension Talks For Red Sox, Lester

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Left-hander Jon Lester could hit free agency less than a year from now, but the Red Sox don’t seem anxious to negotiate a new contract at this time. Lester said the team has not approached him about a contract extension, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports (on Twitter).

Lester will earn $11.625MM this coming season in the last guaranteed year of the five-year, $30MM contract he signed in the spring of 2009. The deal includes a $13MM team option for 2014, which means Lester will only hit the open market if the Red Sox decline the option. ACES represents Lester, who drew some trade interest earlier in the offseason.

Though Lester started 33 games and completed 205 1/3 innings last year, he didn't pitch as well as usual, posting a 4.82 ERA with 7.3 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 and a 49.2% ground ball rate. His fastball averaged 92.6 mph — right around his career mark.

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