Carl Pavano’s comments today won’t exactly patch up his relationship with New Yorkers:
"When you’re down, you expect your organization to pick you up, not kick you when you’re down. I’ve had to pick myself up quite a few times the last four years."
Yankees Rumors
Odds and Ends: Bradley, Roberts, Cruz, Smoltz
Links for Friday…
- David Chase looks at fantasy baseball’s top strikeout pitchers.
- The third year of Milton Bradley’s contract turns into a club option if he has serious health problems this year.
- Two players expected to attend the Brewers’ open tryout this month: Randall Simon and Mark Bellhorn.
- Dave Cameron looks at the premium teams pay for proven closers.
- Bobby Valentine comments on the Orioles’ Koji Uehara signing in Dan Connolly’s article. Within that article Connolly suggests the trade market for Brian Roberts may be suffering because of Orlando Hudson’s availability on the free agent market.
- The D’Backs wouldn’t be thrilled, but the Yankees could sign Juan Cruz and only surrender a fourth-round pick.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington said the team is looking at some comeback-type free agent outfielders. Dejan Kovacevic guesses that Emil Brown, Craig Monroe, or Jonny Gomes could fit the bill.
- The Red Sox designated knuckleballer Charlie Zink for assignment.
- J.C. Bradbury believes the Braves were misleading with the public regarding their offer to John Smoltz.
Rosenthal On Fielder, Buchholz, Edmonds
The latest from Ken Rosenthal…
- Rosenthal suggests the Brewers trade Prince Fielder for "premium pitching" and then sign Adam Dunn to replace him. Which begs the question, why wouldn’t the team giving up this premium pitching just sign Dunn instead?
- Despite signing John Smoltz, the Red Sox still are not willing to trade Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The Sox may be willing to move Michael Bowden or especially Daniel Bard for Salty.
- The Yankees’ interest in Mike Cameron "seems to be waning."
- Despite Jon Heyman’s report, the Phillies, Angels, and Brewers deny interest in Derek Lowe. Rosenthal says the market for Oliver Perez is even worse.
- Rosenthal suggests veterans such as Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas, and Jim Edmonds could go the Kenny Lofton route. Lofton, a capable player, sat out the 2008 season when his salary demands weren’t met. As I mentioned yesterday, we’ll soon see which former stars are willing to play for a pittance (if you consider more than $500K a pittance).
- The Orioles have Edmonds on the radar as a first base candidate.
- Suitors for lefty reliever Dennys Reyes: the A’s, Mets, and Dodgers. The Tigers and Rangers are also known to be on the lookout for a southpaw in the pen.
Yankees Want To Trade Nady
FRIDAY: Ken Davidoff of Newsday says Yankees GM Brian Cashman has received more requests for Swisher than Nady, but agrees the Yanks would prefer to move Nady. (Chris Haft likes Swisher for the Giants). Davidoff says the Mets had interest in Nady at last year’s trade deadline but are currently focused on their rotation.
THURSDAY: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle heard from a good source that Yankees GM Brian Cashman wants to keep Nick Swisher and trade Xavier Nady. Would Nady make sense for the Giants at first base? Schulman doesn’t think so, as the Nady hasn’t played the position much and is unlikely to sign an extension with Scott Boras as his agent. Nady will be eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.
Braves, Orioles Eyeing Kenshin Kawakami
11:14pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown says the Braves were aggressive on Kawakami even before John Smoltz left, so the Japanese pitcher is in a good position. Brown’s list of Kawakami suitors includes some new clubs. He names the Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox, Twins, Pirates, Orioles, and possibly Yankees.
A Nikkan Sports article about Kawakami (in Japanese) has been making the rounds lately. I asked Patrick Newman about it; apparently it says Kawakami has advanced to final negotiations with the Braves. My guess is that this report jumped the gun.
8:34pm: Steve Melewski of MASN reports that the Orioles are still in the hunt for Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami.
"The O’s remain in the mix, no question," a source told MASN. "They’ve showed a strong pursuit of Kawakami." Baltimore has already signed another Japanese import, Koji Uehara, but are looking for more starting pitching depth. Kawakami, 34, has a career record of 106-62 and a 3.17 ERA in Japan. The O’s extended an offer to him at the end of December, but he’s obviously keeping his options open. The Braves, Twins and Cardinals are also believed to have interest.
Pirates Talk Nady, Swisher With Yankees
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates have had trade talks with the Yankees regarding outfielders Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady.
Kovacevic, however, goes on to say that there is "little cause to expect a deal involving either coming to Pittsburgh," noting that Swisher is due $22MM over the next three years and hit just .219 last season. A Nady deal is even less likely because the Yankees will demand top young talent; and the Pirates should be in full rebuilding mode.
Pettitte Return To Houston Is Unlikely
Astros GM Ed Wade admitted Thursday that an Andy Pettitte return to Houston is highly unlikely. Alyson Footer filed the report for MLB.com.
"We haven’t had any discussion with Andy or his representatives and we don’t see a scenario where he would fit into our payroll scenario at this time," Wade said. Most experts in the baseball industry believe Pettitte will eventually return to the Yankees. But he may now have to settle for less than the one-year, $10MM offer that the Yanks extended to him previously this offseason.
Andy Pettitte Open To Astros?
According to Newsday’s Ken Davidoff, free agent lefty Andy Pettitte "might be softening his opposition to rejoining the Astros." Davidoff believes a deal with the Yankees is in jeopardy, though the sides continue to talk. Davidoff says Xavier Nady "figures to be dealt now" as another way to trim payroll.
Pettitte may be amenable to a Houston return, but it takes two to tango. So far this winter the Astros have already pulled their offer to Randy Wolf and non-tendered their starting third baseman Ty Wigginton.
Orioles Rumors: Roberts, Uehara, Zaun, Pudge
10:46pm: Roch Kubatko says Zaun wants a two-year deal but the Orioles prefer one year. The O’s are also talking with Ivan Rodriguez. Kubatko adds that Kenshin Kawakami was seeking a three-year deal. In another post, Kubatko says the O’s have no interest in Shelley Duncan, but Richie Sexson and Ty Wigginton are possibilities for first base. Peter Schmuck adds Nick Swisher, Ryan Garko, Billy Butler, and Ryan Shealy as trade possibilities.
Dan Connolly says the Orioles offered Brian Roberts a multiyear extension at about $10MM per, but the two sides have not made progress and Roberts doesn’t want talks dragging into the season. Andy MacPhail said he hasn’t had trade talks for Roberts for at least a month. As for Nick Markakis, the sides were about $10MM apart on a possible six-year extension.
11:31am: Orioles notes…
- As you know, the Orioles reached an agreement with their first-ever Japanese player, Koji Uehara. It’s a two-year deal worth $10MM guaranteed, with another $6MM in incentives and bonuses. Patrick Newman offers commentary on the signing, which is not getting a ton of press in the Japanese media. Keith Law wonders if Baltimore was a wise choice for Uehara.
- Dan Connolly says the Orioles’ immediate priority is now to add a catcher, with Gregg Zaun and Ivan Rodriguez the candidates.
- Peter Schmuck says the O’s are looking for a reserve infielder as well. They’ve talked to Chris Gomez’s agent and Willie Bloomquist "might be another possibility."
Heyman’s Latest: Yankees
Jon Heyman chimes in with a few notes on the Yankees…
- Heyman confirms that the Yankees are accepting trade offers for Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher.
- The Yankees have "no way to trade" Hideki Matsui, noting that he is coming off a knee surgery and has a full no-trade clause.
- Heyman also says the Yankees will not trade Johnny Damon saying the team needs him to leadoff and play center field.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
