Astros Tejada Trade Not Close, But Possible
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 5:01pm: MLB.com’s Alyson Footer checks in with some detail. She notes that no deal is close but it is possible. Hunter Pence, J.R. Towles, and Felipe Paulino are considered off-limits.
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 3:02pm: Still listening to 790…the message is now that the talks are in an "advanced stage" and they do not know the names involved. There’s also a question of whether Tejada would waive his no-trade. Ken Rosenthal checks in – the teams have had significant discussions and may have been on the verge at some point. But nothing is imminent.
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 1:33pm: ESPN’s Jayson Stark says Andy MacPhail has left Nashville without a deal in place. But talks about Tejada and Brian Roberts are on the frontburner. Hopefully Jeff Zrebiec will weigh in soon…
FROM 12-6-07 at 12:39pm:
790 The Sports Animal, a Houston radio station, is reporting that the Astros are close to a deal to acquire Miguel Tejada. The reported package: Adam Everett, Chris Burke, and a pitcher. Heard them saying this myself by listening online; they’re talking about it now.
The package sounds light, but maybe better if Troy Patton is the pitcher. More when I have it.
Heyman’s Latest: Santana, Gagne, Kuroda
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has penned (or typed I guess) a new column with some hot stove banter.
- The Mets are offering Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, and others for Santana. Joel Sherman thinks the offer is at least viable, and that Aaron Heilman may interest Minnesota.. The Yankees offered Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and Jeff Marquez. The Red Sox proposed Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, and Justin Masterson. The Mariners have offered Adam Jones and Brandon Morrow. Seems to me the Red Sox still have the advantage, at least slightly.
- Heyman says the Brewers and Astros are in the mix for Eric Gagne (if he doesn’t accept arbitration). Regarding the Brewers, though, Doug Melvin said today that they already have a closer in Derrick Turnbow.
- Heyman says offers for Hiroki Kuroda are expected to approach $15MM per year. Damn, for him?
Rays Rumors: Pena, Floyd, Scott
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 2:17pm: Molony confirms that the Rays have talked to the Astros about Scott, though the Padres are still the frontrunner.
FROM 12-6-07 at 8:29am:
A few minor Rays nuggets (hat tip Drays Bay)…
- Marc Lancaster talked to Scott Boras about the possibility of Carlos Pena signing a long-term deal with the Rays. Pena is eligible for free agency after the 2009 season. Boras indicated that Pena would go year to year. If 2008 and 2009 are in the stratosphere of what Pena did in ’08, he’s looking at four years, $60MM easily in my opinion.
- Adam Rubin reports that the Rays are eyeing Cliff Floyd, a name we’ve seen linked to them before.
- Marc Topkin considers Luke Scott a realistic possibility for the Rays, Luis Gonzalez and Josh Hamilton not so much. Topkin suggests Andre Ethier could be a good match, in a separate post.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Bradley, Haren
Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest buzz.
- The Astros might be "on the verge of a major deal." Rosenthal notes the availability of Chris Burke and Luke Scott plus the team’s interest in Damaso Marte. He also says some clubs are after Houston’s young pitching. Ed Wade spoke of two-way, three-way, and even four-way discussions before he hit the hay last night, but nothing seemed imminent.
- Rosenthal says the Padres might have a better chance of re-signing Milton Bradley than Mike Cameron. He also implies that the Friars could reach a one-year agreement with Michael Barrett and then shop him.
- Despite Hank’s proclamations, Rosenthal says the Yanks are "lurking" on Dan Haren. Sounds creepy.
Rockies Rumors: Iguchi, Grudzielanek, Rusch, Fukumori
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:20am: Troy Renck says that if the Rox do acquire a second baseman, Dan O’Dowd is ready to trade both Clint Barmes and Jamey Carroll. The Cardinals, Marlins, and Indians would be suitors for those two.
FROM 12-5-07 at 10:09pm:
MLB.com’s Thomas Harding checks in with a slew of new Rockies rumors.
- The Rockies have their eye on Tadahito Iguchi and could offer him a two-year deal. However, Iguchi is craving a contract similar to Kaz Matsui’s three-year, $16.5MM pact. Should one bad contract beget another one?
- Mark Grudzielanek can be had, but the Rox aren’t interested.
- The Rockies will take a gander at the suddenly popular Glendon Rusch.
- The Rox will pass on Kazuo Fukumori – they’re worried about his elbow.
The Mahay Market
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 5:25pm: The Braves will at least have a discussion with Mahay as a courtesy. They won’t sign him unless his price comes down. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says the Yankees are the frontrunner, in contrast to Sherman’s note below.
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 9:45am: Joel Sherman says the Yankees don’t like the price for Mahay and are considering alternatives such as Damaso Marte or John Grabow.
FROM 12-5-07 at 7:55am:
According to Marc Lancaster, the Rays are "firmly in the mix" for popular 36 year-old lefty reliever Ron Mahay. Four other teams are involved – the Yankees, Royals, Giants, and Astros.
I still haven’t heard San Francisco’s rationale to entertaining a three-year, $12MM pact for a 36 year-old reliever. The Royals being in the mix is a tad perplexing as well.
Royals, Astros, and Reds Interested In Lieber
According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, free agent hurler Jon Lieber is garnering interest from the Royals, Astros, Reds, Mets, and Rangers. Liebs is expected to be ready for Spring Training after a foot injury.
Stark had previously reported that the Astros were not interested.
Reds, Astros, Cards Interested In Rusch
Glendon Rusch is attempting a comeback, and the Reds, Astros, and Cardinals are interested. Rusch played under the Reds’ Dusty Baker in Chicago.
This morning Tom Krasovic said the Padres were close to terms with Rusch, so I guess we’ll see. The Royals are another club that has been linked to him.
Rockies Interested In Iguchi
According to Troy Renck and Patrick Saunders, the Rockies met with Tadahito Iguchi‘s agent yesterday to discuss their second base opening. Iguchi prefers the idea of second base, and is looking for a two-year deal. Other teams interested in Iguchi are the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, and Brewers.
Other second basemen on Colorado’s radar include Chris Burke and Mark Loretta.
Astros Pushed For Pettitte
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 7:47am: I missed an interesting note from Ken Davidoff’s blog yesterday. Apparently the Astros made a hard push to get Pettitte for ’08.
FROM 12-4-07 at 3:39pm:
From near-retirement to playing until age 45. Andy Pettitte is all over the place. Pettitte told a Houston TV station his arm would allow him to get guys out for another ten years, though he didn’t specifically say he wanted to play that long. He did, however, express interest in being around for the Yanks’ new stadium in 2009.