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Reds Sign Willy Taveras To Two-Year Deal

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WEDNESDAY: Taveras’ deal with the Reds is worth $6.25MM over two years.

SATURDAY: The Reds have signed Willy Taveras to a two-year contract according to Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News. The terms of the deal aren’t yet known.

The 27-year-old figures to play center field and lead off for the Reds. He’s stolen at least 30 bases in each of the last four years, including 2008 when he set a career high with 68 steals in spite of a .308 OBP.

Cafardo’s Latest: Pettitte, Kotsay, Red Sox

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a number of items to cover in today’s Sunday paper:

  • While the Mets are front-runners in the Derek Lowe sweepstakes, the Red Sox have a lot of money to play with having lost out on Mark Teixeira and could make a strong play to outbid competition.
  • The Dodgers and Rangers are interested in Andy Pettitte if he doesn’t accept the Yankees reduced $10MM offer.
  • Don’t rule out a return to the Red Sox for Mark Kotsay as a fourth outfielder and added infield depth.
  • Cafardo reports a source close to the talks says Teixeira was "very concerned" with Mike Lowell’s fate should he sign with Boston, but that financial matters and the negotiations process removed that "awkward situation."
  • Jose Fernandez can play first and third base. He’s 34 and just completed seven years in Japan, hitting 20+ HR every year. He could be an interesting right handed-hitting option for teams looking to add depth to their infield and DH.
  • The Red Sox, Orioles, Braves, Reds, and Cardinals remain interested in Kenshin Kawakami.
  • Now that Teixeira is gone, Jim Bowden is not interested in Manny Ramirez. Perhaps Adam Dunn?
  • The Sox are still unwilling to deal Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

More Jocketty Talk On The Reds

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C. Trent Rosecrans of TheLotD.com also talked with Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty today. Here are some conversation highlights:

  • The Reds are still talking to Jerry Hairston Jr. to play left field. “We’re still trying to get Hairston,” Jocketty told Rosecrans. “We’ll have a different look on our club, but we still have guys like (Joey) Votto, (Jay) Bruce, (Brandon) Phillips, (Edwin) Encarnacion and even (Ramon) Hernandez with power.”
  • Jocketty hasn’t spoken with Pat Burrell in awhile. They are holding back on that one right now.
  • Health remains a serious issue with Rocco Baldelli, Jocketty said.
  • The Reds have been in discussion with the New York Yankees about their extra outfielders, but no deals are close.
  • No Barry Bonds; no Sammy Sosa.

No Sammy In Miami, Texas Or Cincy?

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The MLB Hot Stove Blog is reporting that free-agent veteran Sammy Sosa won’t be playing for the Florida Marlins.

Joe Frisaro believes the Marlins want to go into Spring Training with a younger group of outfielders, in particular John Raynor and Scott Cousins, competing for a major-league job.

Raynor is a speedster and played for Double-A Carolina Mudcats in 2008. He hit .312 over 452 plate appearances, and he stole 48 bases. He can play left field or center field.

Cousins split 2008 between Carolina and High-A Jupiter. He hit .304 with the Jupiter squad and dropped to .264 with the Double-A club. He primarily saw time at right field and center field.

Frisaro wrote that Jeremy Hermida will switch from right field to left field, and Cody Ross will be in right field.

Rangers beat writer Anthony Andro of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes that the Texas Rangers don’t want Sosa’s services, either. “I don’t think we’ll pursue Sammy,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels wrote.

C. Trent Rosecrans of TheLotD.com, and formerly of the Cincinnati Post, spoke with Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty about Sosa. “I don’t think so,” Jocketty told Rosecrans.

Jocketty On Taveras, Hairston, Baldelli

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John Fay has a quick update following a discussion with Walt Jocketty, providing us with some interesting quotes from the Reds GM.

Regarding Willy Taveras, Jocketty likes his solid defensive ability in center field, as well as his potential to lead off. That "potential" depends on Tavares’ ability to replicate his 2007 offensive numbers, featuring an on-base percentage of .367, as opposed to a repeat of 2008, in which he posted a .308 OBP.

Jerry Hairston Jr. remains a possibility for the Reds. Says Jocketty: "He could end up being the left fielder if we can’t get that RBI man, which might be hard to do at this point."

Rocco Baldelli is also on the Reds’ radar. "We’re looking into the medical a little more," Jocketty said.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexwalshatmlbtr@gmail.com

Rosenthal’s Latest: Bradley, Burrell, Dunn

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Ken Rosenthal filed a new column earlier today.

  • The Angels are lukewarm on Manny Ramirez, and for now are talking about filling their lineup with internal candidates.
  • Kevin Towers says that if the Jake Peavy sweepstakes heats back up, "nobody is going to know it."  Rosenthal discusses the chances of the Angels or Cubs.
  • Mark Teixeira is "almost certain" to get an escape clause in his deal.
  • The Cubs are confident about signing Milton Bradley, but the Rays, Yankees, and Nationals are interested too.
  • Rosenthal looks at possibilities for Pat Burrell, discussing the Rays, Mariners, Rangers, and Reds.
  • The Brewers expressed interest in Adam Dunn as they were mulling a Mike Cameron trade (Corey Hart would’ve played center).
  • Bobby Abreu "remains in touch with the Yankees."  Surprisingly to hear, as the two sides reportedly had not spoken for quite a while.
  • The Rangers would like to move some salary, with Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, and Hank Blalock the candidates.
  • The Royals like Jerry Hairston Jr., but don’t have the money to sign him.

Odds and Ends: Boras, Wigginton, Burrell

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Tuesday linkage…

  • Changed my mind on the chat…we will not be holding it at 2pm today.  The time/day of the chat is TBD.
  • Here’s a list of the largest contracts in baseball history.  You can see why Scott Boras would want Teixeira to reach $190MM.
  • Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times notes that aside from Felipe Lopez, all of Boras’ free agent clients are unsigned.
  • Peter Abraham explains the Yankees’ large luxury tax.
  • The Reds have yet to open talks with Aaron Miles, Ty Wigginton, and Pat Burrell.  Talks are ongoing with Jerry Hairston Jr. and Willy Taveras, though Walt Jocketty is not making much progress with Rocco Baldelli.

How Will The Angels Spend Their Money?

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12:02pm: Boras gave a prepared statement regarding the Angels and Tex, saying that the player’s interest has been sincere.  Boras left the door open for the Angels, but why wouldn’t he?

11:28am: So the Angels are out of the running for Mark Teixeira.  Now what?  They’ve re-signed Juan Rivera, making Manny Ramirez a "reach" according to Jerry Crasnick’s source.  Mike DiGiovanna has suggestions:

The Angels…could also look to bolster their offense by pursuing a free-agent outfielder such as Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn, or, possibly, Manny.  Or, they could look to trade for a hitter such as Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, Garrett Atkins or Joey Votto.  They will probably use some of the money budgeted for Teixeira to sign closer Brian Fuentes, who is seeking a three-year, $30-million deal and has said that the Angels are his first choice.

Votto seems a long shot to be traded.  Acquiring Dye or Atkins would require young pitching the Halos may not be able to spare.  Adding another outfielder would not be ideal, with Vladimir Guerrero, Torii Hunter, Rivera, and Gary Matthews Jr. in the mix for those three spots and the DH spot.  Still, it could be done.  Burrell or Dunn can at least play some first base.  The Konerko idea seems reasonable, if he’d approve the trade.

Brewers Not Close To Looper Deal

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5:41pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed interest in Looper but denied that they’re close to a deal.  Melvin would not say whether the Brewers made an offer, but suggested Looper and the Brewers’ other targets want multiyear deals.

10:28am: In the "Etc." section of his Sunday update, Nick Cafardo has some updated information on a few free agents, as well as some potential trades.

  • Updating a key part of the back-of-the-rotation market, Cafardo says Braden Looper is "close to signing with the Brewers."
  • The Diamondbacks and Red Sox may soon revisit the possibility of an Eric Byrnes trade. Such a deal would likely be made more enticing for the Sox if Miguel Montero were somehow included.
  • The Red Sox would really rather not move Clay Buchholz for a catcher, even if that catcher were Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden of the Texas Rangers. However, Daniel Bard may be in play for a potential deal with Texas.
  • The Reds, Indians, Pirates and Giants are all in the mix for Ty Wigginton. Back on Dec. 18, we had a Wigginton update in an Odds and Ends post that said the player was not interested in returning to Pittsburgh.

Other topics of note (found on page 5 of Cafardo’s article) include the Tampa Bay Rays’ plan for a DH upgrade, as well as some notes on Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com.

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