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Minor Moves: Spoone, Tolleson, Socolovich

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Here is a recap of today's minor league moves…

  • The Red Sox have signed right-hander Chorye Spoone to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, reports Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com. The deal is pending a physical. The Orioles designated the 26-year-old for assignment in July, and he pitched to a 4.50 ERA in 122 innings this season.
  • The Orioles have signed Steven Tolleson, reports Dan Connolly of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The 28-year-old infielder hit .275/.358/.394 in 557 plate appearances in the Athletics' and Padres' farm systems in 2011.
  • Within the same link, Connolly also reports that the Orioles signed Miguel Socolovich. The 25-year-old righty struck out 11.1 batters per nine innings in the White Sox's system this year, posting a 3.44 ERA in 55 relief innings.

Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search

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Red Sox GM Ben Cherington met with managerial candidate Bobby Valentine today. Here’s the latest on Boston’s search for a new manager: 

  • The Red Sox ruled out Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. as a managerial candidate, according to multiple reporters, including Rob Bradford of WEEI.com (on Twitter).
  • The Red Sox will bring Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont in for another interview, according to Alex Speier of WEEI.com (Twitter link). Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo is still under consideration, but the Red Sox haven't scheduled a second interview for him yet.
  • Valentine “looks like the sudden favorite” for the position, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
  • Cherington must have the most say in the decision, Bradford writes at WEEI.com. The ownership group and president and CEO Larry Lucchino will have some say in the decision, but Bradford suggests the Red Sox should give Cherington ample space to make his own call.
  • Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com says the Red Sox should not name a new manager until they are completely sure the Blue Jays won’t part with manager John Farrell. The Blue Jays announced less than a month ago that they “will not grant permission for lateral moves,” so there doesn’t appear to be any chance Farrell returns to Boston this offseason.

Red Sox Notes: Cherington, Valentine, Lamont

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A few items of note out of Beantown …

  • Some have presumed that Red Sox GM Ben Cherington wanted to hire Dale Sveum as manager — and that ownership quashed it — but a source tells Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald that Cherington has relative autonomy: “I don’t think he would’ve taken the job if that would be an issue,” the source said.
  • As rumored earlier on Sunday, the Red Sox will interview Bobby Valentine for the managerial vacancy on Monday, according to Ian Browne of MLB.com. Valentine hasn't managed since 2002 but is the most experienced among the remaining candidates: Torey Lovullo, Sandy Alomar Jr., and Gene Lamont.
  • Lamont, however, may be the best fit for the job, writes John Tomase of the Boston Herald, as he represents a compromise between ownership, which seems to prefer a candidate with experience, and Cherington, who apparently seeks someone who will be willing to work closely with the player development department.

Quick Hits: Infielders, Young Jr., Scott, Red Sox

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On this day in 2006, the Cubs signed Alfonso Soriano to an eight-year, $136MM deal.  In five seasons with Chicago, Soriano has a slash line of .266/.320/.498 and has averaged 129 games per year.  Here are some links for Sunday afternoon..

  • Mark Townsend of Yahoo! Sports is surprised at what teams are paying for sure-handed middle infielders. Specifically, he says the Twins and Dodgers paid role players like final pieces to the puzzle and are counting on them for too much (referring to Jamey Carroll and Mark Ellis, respectively).
  • Eric Young Jr. decided to play in Venezuela this offseason in order to gain more experience playing second base, writes Rafael Rojas Cremonesi for the Denver Post. Young played second base just seven times for the Rockies last season, and is 6-for-20 with three steals in his first six games.
  • Luke Scott would be open to negotiating a new deal with the Orioles if he's non-tendered, writes Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com.  Scott is projected to earn $6MM in arbitration.
  • Bobby Valentine expects to meet with Red Sox GM Ben Cherington on Monday and could emerge as the favorite for the job if his meeting goes well, a source tells Jeff Passan of Yahoo (via Twitter).
  • Astros owner Jim Crane is prepared to make a swift decision on the futures of president Tal Smith and GM Ed Wade, writes Steve Campbell of the Houston Chronicle.
  • There are team executives who are furious with aspects of the new labor agreement, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney.  Some believe that MLB's new draft structure hurts the league's small-market and mid-market clubs.  One GM told Olney that the changes don't solve any problems and actually make some worse.

Cafardo On Red Sox, Ortiz, Saunders, Oswalt

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The Red Sox need a manager with some backbone, background, and one with plenty of experience, writes Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe.  Because the team lacked discipline last season, he writes, Boston isn't the place for a young manager at this time.  Here's more from Cafardo..

  • Orioles GM Dan Duquette met with Fern Cuza, David Ortiz’s agent, at the GM meetings.  Duquette and Cuza have been close over the years and worked together on deals for Cuza client Pedro Martinez.  Cafardo writes that Ortiz would be an intriguing figure at Camden Yards but in a radio interview over the weekend, Duquette said that he was wary of signing a high-priced DH.
  • Whether the Diamondbacks tender Joe Saunders a contract or not, he becomes an interesting possibility for the Red Sox as a back-of-the-rotation starter.  MLBTR projects that Saunders is in line for $8.7MM in arbitration this year and readers' opinions were split on whether or not the hurler would be tendered.
  • Cubs GM Theo Epstein will listen to offers on Matt Garza and just about anyone on his team in order to replentish his farm system.
  • Roy Oswalt’s agent, Bob Garber, spoke to Red Sox GM Ben Cherington last Wednesday.  The Sox could use his leadership in the rotation but the veteran's price could be prohibitive.
  • One scout who watched Yoenis Cespedes work out last week said that the Cuban outfielder has great power but has concerns that he could be prone to striking out frequently.
  • As the Red Sox look for a pitching coach, Dave Wallace is an interesting name to keep in mind.  Wallace served as Boston’s pitching coach before John Farrell.  Minor league pitching coordinator Bob McClure could also be an option, depending on who the team's next manager is.
  • Cafardo opines that the Cubs should give up outfielder Tyler Colvin to the Red Sox to wrap up their Theo Epstein compensation talks.

Quick Hits: Mills, Madson, Twins, Danks, Prado

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On a day when the Blue Jays adopted a familiar-looking "new" logo, here are some news items to carry us into the weekend….

  • If the Astros fire Brad Mills, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports believes Mills could reunite with Terry Francona as the latter's bench coach for a future managing vacancy.  Morosi also lists Rangers executives A.J. Preller and Thad Levine and Rays executives Andrew Friedman and Gerry Hunsicker as wish list candidates for Jim Crane if he removes Ed Wade as Houston's general manager.  It would be the second stint as Astros' GM for Hunsicker, who ran the team from 1996-2004.
  • Ryan Madson could be one of several free agents to lose his Type A status under the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement, tweets Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.  Such an adjustment would help Madson, as clubs with unprotected first-round draft picks currently have to give up that pick in order to sign the closer.
  • Twins GM Terry Ryan tells Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that Denard Span and Ben Revere won't be traded this winter.  Minnesota could lose both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel to free agency this offseason.
  • The White Sox didn't add Jordan Danks to their 40-man roster, and Jim Margalus of the South Side Sox speculates that this could be a hint that Chicago is preparing to part ways with John Danks.  The elder Danks brother has drawn strong interest on the trade market.
  • The Braves "seem to undervalue [Martin Prado's] skills," writes Fangraphs' Jason Roberts, who thinks Atlanta may not get proper market value in exchange for the utilityman in a deal. 
  • Right-hander Darrell Rasner has signed a new contract with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, reports NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman.  Matt Sosnick, Rasner's agent, tells Newman the contract is worth $1.5MM plus performance bonuses.  Rasner last appeared in the majors as a Yankee in 2008 and has pitched for Rakuten ever since.
  • The Blue Jays, Cardinals, Mariners, Red Sox and Twins are all listed as possible suitors for Kelly Shoppach by ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (Twitter link).

West Notes: Soler, Padres, Arenado, Mariners

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Let's look at some news from both the AL and NL West….

  • The Rangers have scouted 19-year-old Cuban defector Jorge Soler, reports MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  Texas is one of a few teams who have interest in Soler, who Sullivan says "might have more offensive upside" than the heavily-scouted Yoenis Cespedes.
  • Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Adrian Gonzalez has been lobbying the Red Sox to check in on several Padres, including Heath Bell and strength/conditioning coach Jim Malone.  Boston is known to have an interest in Bell as a possible replacement for Jonathan Papelbon in the Red Sox bullpen.  Center also discusses San Diego's own closing situation among other topics as part of his weekly online chat with Padres fans.
  • Rockies third base prospect Nolan Arenado has hired Scott Boras as his agent, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.  Arenado was represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council when Colorado picked him in the second round of the 2009 draft.  Arenado, 20, has enjoyed a strong start to his pro career, compiling an .829 OPS in his first three seasons ranging from rookie league to high-A ball.
  • The Mariners can afford Prince Fielder, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times and "aversion to risk is how mediocre teams stay bad a long, long time."  Baker figures that if the Mariners "eat most of the remaining cash on the Chone Figgins contract" and deal Jason Vargas or Brandon League, the club can afford the slugging first baseman.  MLBTR's Tim Dierkes picked Seattle as Fielder's landing spot in his top 50 free agent predictions.

Added To 40-Man Roster: Giants, Dodgers, Pirates

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Today is the deadline for teams to add players to the 40-man roster to protect them from next month's Rule 5 draft. Here's more on which players need to be protected and here are the details on which players have had their contracts selected to the 40-man roster:

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Latest On Boston’s Managerial Search

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Yesterday we learned that the Red Sox have spoken with former MLB manager Bobby Valentine about managing again. It doesn’t appear that the Red Sox are close to announcing a new skipper, but here’s the latest on the subject as we await a decision…

  • With Ben Cherington in the Dominican Republic on a scouting trip, the Red Sox will hold off any further talks with Valentine, reports Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston.
  • "Hiring Valentine would give the appearance of a power play by ownership over" Cherington, writes Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.  Cherington was rumored to prefer new Cubs manager Dale Sveum or "a similar low-volume candidate."
  • There’s at least one unknown yet serious candidate for the job, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald.
  • Blue Jays first base coach Torey Lovullo, Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont all are expected to interview again, according to Silverman. 
  • The Red Sox have nothing to show for their search, but Joel Sherman can’t remember an offseason “in which a franchise seemed more scattershot and fractured than the Yankees between the 1995-96 seasons.” The Yankees won four of the next five World Series from that point on. More recently, the Red Sox didn’t hire Terry Francona until December of 2003 and won a pair of World Series.
  • Earlier today, Jon Heyman of SI.com explained the dynamics between GM Ben Cherington and his bosses.

Cordero Says Reds, Five Other Teams Still In “Hunt”

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In an interview with Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio, Francisco Cordero said that unless the Reds increase their most recent contract offer, he will leave Cincinnati.  The Reds are still in the "hunt," however, along with other teams who have shown interest in the free agent closer: the Angels, Blue Jays, Rangers, Rays and Red Sox (all Twitter links).

The Rays and Rangers are new additions to a busy market for Cordero that also includes the Dodgers, Marlins and Mets.  As a Type A free agent, Cordero would cost his new team a first round draft pick as compensation to the Reds if that new team didn't have a protected pick.  This presumes, of course, that Cordero turns down the Reds' offer of arbitration and that the Type A compensation rules aren't changed by the new collective bargaining agreement. 

Of Cordero's known suitors, the Angels, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Rangers, Rays and Red Sox all have unprotected picks, though the Jays and Sox each currently have two picks in the first round of next year's draft.  Toronto's extra pick is compensation for not signing Tyler Beede last year, while Boston currently possesses the Phillies' first round pick (31st overall) as compensation for Philadelphia's signing of Jonathan Papelbon.

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