Koji Uehara Coming To MLB
Koji Uehara is officially coming to MLB, according to NPB Tracker. The free agent hurler hired SFX to represent him.
Based on Japanese reports, Newman says the Mets and Angels are eyeing Uehara as a reliever, while the Orioles like him as a starter. Newman likes him with the Cardinals as a swingman. Uehara, a 33 year-old control pitcher, was profiled here.
Angels Rumors: K-Rod, Teixeira, Figgins
Randy Youngman of the Orange County Register has some Angels rumors.
Youngman heard that Angels owner Arte Moreno has already decided against bringing back Francisco Rodriguez. If the Angels don’t re-sign K-Rod, they could give the closer’s job to Jose Arredondo, the 24-year-old reliever who had a 1.62 ERA in 61 innings as a rookie this year. The Angels were one of four teams who asked to see reliever Chad Cordero‘s medical records this week.
Youngman expects the Angels to make Mark Teixeira an offer before their exclusive rights to him expire Thursday. He predicts a six or seven year offer for about $20MM per season. Earlier in the week, Buster Olney expected a similar offer.
If the Angels trade for Garrett Atkins, Youngman suggests that Chone Figgins could move to left field and replace Garret Anderson.
Odds and Ends, Prospects Edition: Kendry Morales, Dayan Viciedo, Logan Morrison
Some news from the winter leagues and beyond:
- Kendry Morales homered and doubled in Dominican Winter League play yesterday. "Morales is 9-for-23 and has homered in four of his six games in the Dominican Republic," reports Rotoworld. "He’s trying to force the Angels to open up either first base or DH for him next year." Of course, if the Angels can’t re-sign Mark Teixeira, Morales may not have to do much forcing (as the Angels have known all along).
- Seen as the future "Babe Ruth of Cuba" until he defected, Dayan Viciedo has been cleared by MLB to be a free agent. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has the White Sox ready to snap up the third-base prospect, who is still just 19.
- First-baseman Justin Smoak, the Rangers’ first-round pick this year, is hitting .389 in the Arizona Fall League. The AFL is quite a ways from MLB, but even so, I can’t help but think that the last thing the Rangers really need in their pipeline is more offense…
- Another first-base prospect, the Marlins’ Logan Morrison, is leading the AFL in batting average (.457), currently has a 12-game hit streak and has 5 homers through 17 games. Morrison was a 22nd-round pick in 2005, but has come a long way, writes ESPN.com’s Jason Grey, who sees in him the man to anchor Florida’s ‘initial sack’ in the future.
- A little more on those two Indian pitching prospects, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel — 19 years old, they pitched in front of 30 scouts in Arizona on Thursday. Patel hit 90 mph on the radar gun during a 30-pitch session, Singh 84 mph. The two former javelin throwers managed a few breaking balls, as well, and agent Jeff Borris said he expected "multiple offers." No word on whether those offers have come in.
Odds And Ends: Guerrero, Blue Jays, Reds
Links for Saturday…
- J.P. Ricciardi has begun "exploring other things" in case the Jays can’t bring back A.J. Burnett.
- The Angels aren’t discussing a contract extension with Vladimir Guerrero yet.
- Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto are off-limits according to Walk Jocketty.
- The White Sox are interested in a 19-year-old Cuban third base prospect, Dayan Viciedo. Ken Williams, who has a history of acquiring Cuban players, may have the inside track on signing Viciedo.
- The Astros signed a young international player of their own, Chia-Jen Lo. They announced Friday that they signed the 22-year-old Taiwanese righty to a minor league contract.
- The Rockies added a 16-year-old Venezuelan pitcher, Alving Mejias.
Four Teams Eyeing Chad Cordero
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Angels, Mets, Rangers, and Tigers have asked to look at Chad Cordero‘s medical records. The Nationals are not in the mix. Cordero, 26, had shoulder surgery in July.
Ladson says Cordero’s first choice is the Angels, as he’s from Anaheim. After that would come the Mets due to the Omar Minaya connection from Montreal.
Dodgers’ Offer To Manny: Two Years, $45 Million
According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Dodgers’ offer to Manny Ramirez is for about two years, $45MM. Ned Colletti was able to say this is a higher average annual value than Johan Santana because of deferred money in Johan’s deal.
Heyman says Manny is thinking seriously about other options now, because the Dodgers’ offer is so far below his range. Scott Boras is still talking about six years. Heyman’s source believes "fan response" could push the Dodgers to three years, though they may already be willing to up the salary a bit. The offer is apparently a backloaded deal with a third-year option.
Heyman likes the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Yankees as other suitors, though the Orioles are already pretty much out and Manny is not a priority for the Yanks.
Tons of Scott Boras quotes on the Manny topic, here and here.
Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Taveras, Atkins
4:54pm: More Rockies chatter from Troy Renck. The Rockies intend to sort out the Holliday/Atkins trade situations before moving on to other concerns such as the bullpen. They do like the idea of bringing Jeremy Affeldt back, though. Renck has the Twins and Indians kicking the tires on Atkins, while Tracy Ringolsby believes Michael Cuddyer could be a fit for Colorado.
11:18am: The latest Rockies buzz…
- Buster Olney says the Rockies are very motivated to move Matt Holliday. Olney wonders if the Rox might end up taking a bit less than expected for him. Troy Renck says various execs see the A’s and Phillies as the most likely matches for Holliday. The Rays are another possibility. GM Dan O’Dowd will be open-minded about the return.
- Renck also says the White Sox have contacted the Rockies about Willy Taveras.
- Renck talked to the agent for Doug Brocail, Brandon Lyon, and Kyle Farnsworth. All three are open to pitching in Colorado.
- Tracy Ringolsby says the Rockies have had "initial talks" with the Twins regarding Garrett Atkins. He wonders if the Angels could jump in later.
- Ringolsby suggests Brad Penny would be an interesting candidate for the Rockies.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Thursday
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Nationals are preparing to make a significant offer to Mark Teixeira. Olney believes the Angels will make an offer in the $100-120MM range, but that offer will expire soon. If and when Scott Boras passes on that proposal, it might be the Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, and Orioles competing for Tex.
Garret Anderson Tries Free Agency
MLB.com’s Lyle Spencer talked to outfielder Garret Anderson, who is set to test free agency for the first time in his 14-year career. Anderson was "a little surprised and disappointed" the Angels didn’t pick up his $11MM option for 2009. The 36 year-old hit .293/.325/.433 in 593 plate appearances while playing average defense when he was in left field.
Anderson told Spencer the $3MM the Angels will pay him in January was not a buyout, but rather part of the original contract that would’ve been paid no matter what. So, it was not an $8MM decision for the Halos.
The Angels would like to bring Anderson back, but they haven’t talked money yet. Anderson thought $11MM was a fair price for his services.
Tigers Rumors: Gregg, Putz, Ordonez
Tigers beat writer Jon Paul Morosi has been doing a fine job, with new articles here, here, and here. Let’s discuss.
- Morosi reasons that the Tigers’ 2009 closer will come from outside of the organization, probably via trade. His top three candidates: Kevin Gregg, Huston Street, and J.J. Putz. As a free agent after ’09, Gregg would fit nicely with the Tigers’ long-term plans. The Tigers and Marlins have matched up often on trades. However, Morosi notes that Gregg had critical words for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, who would become his teammates again.
- Putz would make for a great story, as he grew up in Michigan.
- As you know, Scott Boras doesn’t see a Magglio Ordonez trade as likely. Still, Morosi notes that the Angels would be a fine fit if Mark Teixeira leaves – they could fill all of the Tigers’ needs. Surely Boras would ask for concessions to waive Ordonez’s no-trade clause.