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Rangers Want Pitcher For Catcher

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The Rangers are seeking to deal one of their three catchers – Gerald Laird, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, or Max Ramirez – for pitching, says Evan Grant of the Dallas News. Grant notes that they would still have Taylor Teagarden, who they’re also open to dealing if "the return is great enough."

Grant discusses potential matches in the Giants, Red Sox, Brewers, Reds, and Tigers:

"San Francisco has pitching depth, and the Rangers love the Giants’ arms, but San Francisco has a more pressing need for a corner infielder than a catcher because Bengie Molina is signed for 2009. Getting a pitcher such as Matt Cain might require the Rangers to discuss trading Chris Davis. Boston, Milwaukee and Cincinnati, however, may be the best fits for a catcher-for-pitcher deal. Detroit also needs a catcher, but the Tigers’ system is quite thin at pitcher."

MLBTR discussed this on Friday, including Hank Blalock in the discussion as well as the Rangers’ interest in Scott Olsen.

Red Sox Exercise Wakefield’s Option

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1:48pm: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe says it’s official, Wakefield will be back with Boston in ’09.

8:42am: According to Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald, the Red Sox are expected to exercise Tim Wakefield’s 2009 option today.  Wakefield recently completed his year-end physical and MRI.

Wakefield, 42, posted a 4.13 ERA in 181 innings this year.  In an unmatched show of loyalty to the Sox, the knuckleballer gave the team a perpetual $4MM option.  Once again it was an easy decision to exercise.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Ordonez, Yankees, Red Sox

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A look at what is being written around the Blogosphere…

  • MetsBlog says Magglio Ordonez may not be the best option but could be a good backup plan should other scenarios not play out (ie. Manny Ramirez).
  • Talking Chop thinks Ordonez is a good fit for the Braves noting that the team has significant money to spend this offseason.
  • River Ave. Blues is not excited about the possibility of Ordonez in the Yankees’ outfield, noting that it makes more sense to re-sign Bobby Abreu for less money.
  • Was Watching wonders if the Yankees would have to sign C.C. Sabathia in order to trade for Matt Holliday.  They feel it would be strange for the Yankees to go after Holliday one year after bowing out of the Johan Santana sweepstakes.
  • Over The Monster takes a look at whether the Red Sox should re-sign Jason Varitek and what other options are available.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

White Sox Looking To Trade Vazquez?

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The latest on the White Sox…

  • GM Ken Williams wants a younger, more athletic club, but still expects to compete in 2009.  Players such as Chris Getz, Josh Fields, Jayson Nix, Jerry Owens, Brian Anderson, and Clayton Richard could play prominent roles on next year’s team.  Sox Machine offers their take on Williams’ comments.
  • Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times lists Brian Roberts, Coco Crisp, Chone Figgins, and Orlando Hudson as potential Sox targets.  Williams didn’t talk much about his wish list yesterday, suggesting that last year’s openness hindered his progress.  If the Sox sign Hudson, they’ll give their #24 pick in next year’s draft to the D’Backs.
  • Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times says trading starter Javier Vazquez is Williams’ top offseason priority.  Cowley believes Williams could look for an infielder in return.  Vazquez will earn $23MM over the next two seasons, and has a limited no-trade clause to block trades to NL and AL West teams.
  • Also in Cowley’s article – free agent catcher Toby Hall seems likely to re-sign.

Burnett Decision Due Monday Before GM Meetings

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ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick talked to A.J. Burnett’s agent Darek Braunecker, who says his client will make his opt-out decision prior to the start of Monday’s GM meetings.  We all know Burnett is opting out, of course.

Crasnick believes Burnett and Derek Lowe will seek salaries of at least $16MM per year.  He names the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Red Sox, Orioles and Nationals as potential suitors for Burnett.  The Blue Jays will remain in the mix as well.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Sabathia, Teixeira, Peavy

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Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports posted a new column yesterday; let’s take a look.

  • Rosenthal says the "expectation in some baseball circles" is that the Brewers will offer a four-year, $100MM contract to C.C. Sabathia.  However, between the Yankees, Angels, and Dodgers he could probably do significantly better.
  • Mark Teixeira should draw interest from the Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels.  Rosenthal adds that Mike Lowell does not have a no-trade clause (I believe I wrote earlier that he did).
  • The Padres and Braves are at an impasse in the Jake Peavy talks, with the Padres seeking five players.  The Braves don’t want to surrender Tommy Hanson, as Tom Krasovic reported Saturday.
  • Scott Boras is reportedly pitching Jason Varitek as the Tigers’ next catcher.
  • Rosenthal suggests that Manny Ramirez’s defense may keep NL teams away.

Odds and Ends: Myers, Crede, Giants

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Links for Wednesday…

Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Holliday, Griffey

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up; let’s take a look.

  • "The prevailing opinion around baseball" is that C.C. Sabathia will sign with the Yankees, and C.C.’s friend Jimmy Rollins agrees.
  • Matt Holliday "definitely intrigues" the Yankees.  But they’d have to give up a lot to get him for one year, and they seem full at the outfield corners.
  • Heyman, perhaps sensing a divide that does not exist, says Pat Gillick has relied on scouts rather than stats to make his decisions.  Heyman also speaks of "a new hesitancy on the part of some to go for another young Ivy League stat man" at the general manager position.
  • Heyman echoes the commonly held sentiment that the White Sox will not re-sign Ken Griffey Jr.
  • The Mets are prioritizing catcher, bullpen, rotation, and outfield over second base.  They’ve talked about Giants backstop Bengie Molina, owed $6MM in the last year of his deal.
  • Heyman believes Boston’s chances of trading Mike Lowell are "practically nil" due to his hip surgery.  His sources won’t rule out a run at Mark Teixeira though.  In other Boston buzz, Heyman sees Coco Crisp on the trading block and a two-year offer for Jason Varitek.

Odds and Ends: Rivera, Floyd, Peavy

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Links for Tuesday…

Odds and Ends: Hughes, Tigers, Affeldt

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Links for Monday…

  • I’m working on this year’s Top 50 Free Agents list, with predicted destinations.  It’s always a tough puzzle to assemble.  Anyone have educated guesses on where Ben Sheets, Oliver Perez, Braden Looper, and Jon Garland might sign?
  • MLB.com’s Mychael Urban believes Mark Mulder would like to return to the A’s, but the team may not be interested.  Plus, Mulder isn’t even considering destinations until he is healthy.
  • Japanese free agent pitcher Kenshin Kawakami hired American agent Tony Attanasio.  The Red Sox may be interested.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post takes the Yankees to task for their unwillingness to include Phil Hughes in a Johan Santana package.
  • Tigers officials are meeting in Detroit for four days to discuss trade possibilities.
  • MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel explains why a Luis Castillo for Jose Guillen swap is unlikely.
  • Dave Cameron considers Jeremy Affeldt a possible free agent bargain.  He could be underrated, but not a bargain if he renews last year’s desire for a four or five-year deal.
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