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Olney On Rollins, Fielder, Red Sox

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Between his ESPN.com blog and his Twitter feed, Buster Olney has a few hot stove notes to share this morning. Let's check them out….

  • Jimmy Rollins, who turns 33 today, is seeking a five-year deal this winter, and the Phillies may have to commit that many years if they want to bring their longtime shortstop back. "I'm not sure if Rollins will get five years," said an NL evaluator. "But he's a safer bet for me than any starting pitcher on the free agent market — and some of those (or at least C.J. Wilson) will get five years…. He will get paid. The only question is whether it will be four years or five years."
  • An AL evaluator believes that, "while he's not the force at the plate that he used to be," Rollins is one of the more underrated defensive shortstops in the game.
  • Olney tweets that neither Prince Fielder nor Albert Pujols is an ideal long-term target for the Cubs, noting that Fielder makes the most sense for an AL club that could move him to DH for the back half of a long-term contract.
  • The Red Sox have narrowed their managerial search to two finalists, Bobby Valentine and Gene Lamont. Olney says some of GM Ben Cherington's peers (with other teams) are wondering if Cherington prefers Lamont while his bosses prefer Valentine, and, if so, whether it's worth it for the GM to fight ownership for his choice.

Cafardo On Lowrie, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Marlins

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In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe gives a list of suggestions for the Red Sox's offseason.  As they look for a solution in right field, Cafardo feels that the club should go after Michael Cuddyer with Carlos Beltran as a Plan B.  The BoSox are also looking for a pair of affordable starters and two interesting names that could be had in deals are Joe Saunders of the Diamondbacks and Francisco Liriano of the Twins.  Here's more from Cafardo..

  • There were many scouts and GMs in the Dominican Republic recently and Jed Lowrie came up often as a possible shortstop/third base candidate.  Teams like his offense and are skeptical about his defense, but are more worried about his mental toughness and his ability to play through injury.  The 27-year-old may become a chip for the Red Sox in a deal.
  • The Astros are getting more and more inquiries about the availability of Wandy Rodriguez.  The Red Sox are one of the teams that have asked.
  • Scouts and GMs believe that the Athletics would deal left-hander Gio Gonzalez for the right price.  An NL talent evaluator noted that the 26-year-old would be at the top of a lot of teams' lists.
  • Baseball people we talked to seem to think that if the Marlins are thinking big, Jose Reyes is the most logical signing for them, with Hanley Ramirez shifting over to third.  Cafardo also wonders if the Brewers would explore signing with the likelihood of losing Prince Fielder.
  • Free agent David Ortiz is still very much in play with the Orioles.  O's GM Dan Duquette met with Ortiz’s agent, Fern Cuza, at the GM meetings.
  • Cafardo could envision Jason Varitek backing up Matt Wieters in Baltimore
  • The BoSox have considered former Mets GM Omar Minaya for a front office role, but nothing is official yet.

East Notes: Valentine, Red Sox, Nationals, Phillies

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Here's a look at a few items out of the AL and NL East..

  • It would be interesting to see if Bobby Valentine's style would be any different after not managing in the Major Leagues since 2002, writes Ian Browne of MLB.com.   The 61-year-old Valentine is a finalist for the Red Sox's managerial opening along with Gene Lamont.
  • The new collective bargaining agreement will undoubtedly change the way the Nationals conduct business.  Seven of the Nats' top ten prospects have been picked in the last two drafts and all seven of those players signed hours before the deadline for teams to lock up their picks, notes Ben Goessling of MASNsports.com.  All seven of those players, including Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon, got bonuses or deals well over their slot recommendations.
  • In an article for ESPN.com, Doug Glanville gives a unique take on Jimmy Rollins' free agency.  The longtime Phillies outfielder signed with the Rangers after the 2002 season only to be traded back to Philadelphia in July of 2003.

Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search

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The Red Sox's search for Terry Francona's replacement is drawing to a close, though yesterday we heard that the team won't make a final decision over the weekend. They don't plan on conducting any further interviews. Here's the latest on Boston's managerial search…

  • The team is expected to announce Valentine or Lamont as its next manager within the next week, a major league source told Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com.
  • The search is down to two finalists according to John Tomase of The Boston Herald: Bobby Valentine and Tigers' third base coach Gene Lamont. Blue Jays' first base coach Torey Lovullo is out of the running.

Red Sox, Rays Have Checked In On Luis Ayala

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The Yankees got solid work out of several players they signed to minor league contracts last season, including reliever Luis Ayala. Now, a pair of their division rivals have interest in the right-hander. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter) that the Red Sox and Rays have checked in on Ayala this offseason.

Ayala, 34 in January, posted a 2.09 ERA in 56 innings for the Yankees last year, getting a ground ball 50% of the time. He struck out 6.27 batters for every nine innings pitched and walked 3.21 per nine. Ayala did not appear in the big leagues at all in 2010, and in 2009 he pitched to an ugly 5.63 ERA in 40 innings for the Twins and Marlins. His performance in New York figures to land him a guaranteed Major League contract this winter.

Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search

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The Red Sox interviewed Bobby Valentine for their managerial opening earlier in the week and Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont and Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo remain in the mix for the position. Here's the latest on Boston's search:

  • The team won't settle anything today or over the weekend, according to Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe. Abraham reports that Lamont met with ownership earlier this week. Meanwhile, Valentine is "really excited" about the idea of managing in Boston, but hasn't communicated with the team since Monday, according to Abraham.
  • The Red Sox don't have plans to conduct further interviews with Lovullo or other candidates, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com. It appears that Lamont and Valentine are the finalists for the position.
  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney suggests Red Sox president Larry Lucchino has more sway with GM Ben Cherington than he did with Theo Epstein. Lucchino is Valentine's "patron saint" in the Red Sox organization, Olney writes.
  • More than 70% of respondents expect Valentine to manage in Boston, according to a recent MLBTR poll.

Poll: Who Will Be The Next Red Sox Manager?

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Had the Red Sox offered Dale Sveum a managerial post before the Cubs did, one wonders if Sveum would've returned to Fenway Park rather than taking the Chicago job.  Though Boston's list of candidates seems to be gradually decreasing, the recent inclusion of Bobby Valentine into the mix has created questions about if Valentine really is "the sudden favorite" or if it means the Red Sox are still expanding their search.  Valentine's emergence and the fact that the Sox were trying to get permission from the Blue Jays to make an offer to John Farrell would seem to hint that they're not satisfied with the current short list.

Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and Phillies third base coach Pete Mackanin have been dropped from consideration.  As it stands now, Boston is looking at Valentine, Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont (who will be interviewing for the second time within the next few days) and Jays first base coach (and former Red Sox Triple-A manager) Torey Lovullo.  Will one of this trio be Terry Francona's successor, or will someone else emerge to take the job?

 

Who Will Be The Next Red Sox Manager?
Bobby Valentine 71.49% (10,397 votes)
Gene Lamont 12.16% (1,769 votes)
Other 10.12% (1,472 votes)
Torey Lovullo 6.23% (906 votes)
Total Votes: 14,544

AL East Notes: Gio, Jones, Buchholz, Garcia

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Here's the latest from the AL East…

  • "Gio Gonzalez has been a name widely discussed internally" by the Red Sox, reports Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston.  The Sox are "extremely high" on the Athletics left-hander.  We've also heard the Yankees and Marlins are interested in Gonzalez, though the A's haven't yet begun seriously discussing possible trades.
  • The Orioles don't have to pursue an extension with Adam Jones this winter, opines MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli.  She believes if Baltimore's young pitchers don't show signs of improvement next season, the O's will have to enter yet another rebuilding process, and only then will the team decide if Jones is a long-term answer.  If the Orioles rebuild, Jones would command a heavy price on the trade market.  MLBTR's Tim Dierkes looked at Jones as an extension candidate in August.
  • We recently heard from FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal that the Red Sox asked the Blue Jays about Toronto manager (and former Sox pitching coach) John Farrell.  According to David Waldstein of the New York Times (Twitter link), the Jays asked for Clay Buchholz in return.  As Rosenthal wrote, "the Sox never considered it likely that the Jays would engage in serious discussions about Farrell, and the conversations failed to progress," which isn't at all surprising if Buchholz was the asking price.
  • Freddy Garcia could have found a two-year deal elsewhere but wanted to return to the Yankees, tweets Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.  The Red Sox were the only other team known to have an interest in Garcia, who agreed to terms today on a one-year, $5MM deal with New York.

Red Sox Notes: Ortiz, Valentine, Wilson

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Major League Baseball's new collective bargaining agreement will make it harder for teams to spend big on amateur talent, which leaves them looking for new ways to build a competitive advantage. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports suggests clubs should invest in scouting to ensure that the money they do spend impacts the Major League roster. Here's more from Morosi on the Boston Red Sox:

  • Morosi says it's more likely than not that David Ortiz will return to Boston for another season. The Red Sox offered the free agent DH arbitration in a climate that no longer rewards one-dimensional sluggers as generously as it once did.
  • Bobby Valentine remains the favorite to be named Boston's next manager, according to Morosi. Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont and Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo remain in the mix as well.
  • The Red Sox continue pursuing C.J. Wilson, according to Morosi. Many other clubs, including the Yankees and Blue Jays also have some interest in the free agent left-hander.

Heyman On Ortiz, Rodriguez, Nathan

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Now that this year's arbitration offers are officially in, the free agent market has become that much easier to read. Jon Heyman of SI.com examines some of last night’s decisions and provides more notes from around the league (all Twitter links): 

  • One agent predicts David Ortiz could get $16MM if he accepts Boston’s offer of arbitration. Heyman suggests a two-year deal in the $25-28MM range could also work for both sides.
  • Though the Brewers took on some risk by offering Francisco Rodriguez arbitration, the right-hander seeks a multiyear deal and a closing job, so he’ll decline Milwaukee’s offer. The Brewers already have John Axford in place, so for Rodriguez to close games he’ll have to move on.
  • The Twins offered Joe Nathan a two-year deal that would have guaranteed him a bit less than the $14.75MM contract he signed in Texas. However, one AL executive told Heyman that Nathan "wanted to go to Texas."
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