Nats, Mets, Yanks Interested In Prior
UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 12:47pm: The Phillies are one team that does not have interest in Prior.
UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 8:48am: Ed Price adds that the Yankees and Mets have both shown preliminary interest in Prior. Apparently he is throwing on flat ground and could be ready by May. Translation: he may return by the second half. Price believes roughly a dozen clubs are interested in Prior.
FROM 12-14-07 at 11:53pm:
The Nationals are looking in the bargain bin for a veteran starting pitcher. Two options they’re considering are Mark Prior and Jason Jennings, according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. The Nats first touched base with Jennings’ agent around November 6th. Prior is a new name for them though.
Jennings has the Royals, Rangers, Rockies, and Mets on his trail as well. As for Prior, the Astros, Reds, Rangers, Phillies, and Padres may be the most interested clubs.
Yankees Still Discussing Santana
Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger spoke to Yankees senior VP Hank Steinbrenner yesterday. He learned what we all suspected – the Yankees aren’t truly out of the running for Johan Santana, and have even spoken to the Twins recently about him.
Price’s Twins source indicated that the Yankees want to move Hideki Matsui‘s $26MM before they get heavily involved for Santana. Another option might be to ditch Mike Mussina and his $11MM salary for ’08. He and Matsui both have no-trade protection though.
Odds and Ends: Rowand, A-Rod, Calero, Clemens
Some odds and ends floating about…
- Andrew Baggarly has the structure of Aaron Rowand‘s new deal. It’s quite backloaded and has partial no-trade protection after the first year.
- The Yankees made A-Rod’s ten-year deal official.
- The A’s quickly moved to sign Kiko Calero to a one-year deal the day after non-tendering him. I mentioned here that he was a solid reliever for four years prior to 2007.
- The Rocket denies the steroid allegations. Thoughts?
The Mitchell Report
1:06pm: Jon Heyman names a slew of guys in the report. The Mitchell Report itself is available here. Start reading! Wow, this thing is loaded with surprises. Kind of cool to see the emails Mitchell was able to collect among front office guys.
11:11am: More on last night’s cut n’ paste misspelled list – WNBC talked to a "high-ranking MLB official" who refuted several names on it.
10:51am: This is odd, WNBC/CNBC is rolling with the same cut n’ pasted misspelled list. Hey look, Troy Glaus is in there twice! MetsBlog checks in with buzz that the Klapisch note about the Mets being safe may not be true.
10:25am: A list with a bunch of fairly believable names (many of them misspelled) in the form of one big paragraph has been passed around the Internet since at least last night. There’s no indication it has any legitimacy (no need to email it to me). Deadspin has published said list.
10:04am: The New York Daily News is also saying Pettitte is in the report. But those Grimsley names were revealed in October of last year so I’m not sure what the hubbub is about.
9:20am: ESPN is reporting Roger Clemens is in the report. Clemens was named in the Jason Grimsley affidavit, anyway. So were Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts, Jay Gibbons, and David Segui.
9:09am: The latest is from Bob Klapisch, who reports that no Mets on the current 40-man roster are in the report. So people can stop randomly throwing Carlos Delgado‘s name about. Klapisch is on board with my tip that the Yanks will be hit hard.
The Mitchell Report Is Coming
The big story of today will undoubtedly be the Mitchell Report this afternoon. Dozens of current and former players are expected to be named, and they won’t all be scrubs.
As you know, the focus of MLBTR is trades and free agent signings, hot stove stuff. I don’t consider steroid rumors a big part of it. So I’ll probably cover a little of it, focusing how the current hot stove landscape may be altered.
I did receive one tip on this topic – my guy says the Yankees are in for a bad day (but Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are not in the report).
Odds and Ends: Mench, Kent, Durbin, Wang
Rounding up this morning’s Odds and Ends, to be updated periodically…
- The Pirates are talking to the Tigers about acquiring Chad Durbin. The arbitration-eligible Durbin doesn’t have a place in Detroit’s rotation, but could be useful for the Bucs.
- Chien-Ming Wang would like a three or four-year deal with the Yanks.
- The Phillies will pass on Kevin Mench, though they’ve still got their eye on Nate McLouth. The Royals’ disinterest in Mench was noted yesterday.
- We’ve assumed it for a while, but Jeff Kent playing in 2008 is now official.
- The Twins may have non-tendered Jason Tyner.
Odds and Ends: Mench, Patterson
Some random rumors for this evening…
- The Royals, once fans of Kevin Mench, have no interest in him now. He’ll be a free agent soon.
- Missed this tidbit – the Yankees have interest in Corey Patterson. They’d almost have to trade an outfielder for that to make sense. George King says they also have minimal interest in Kris Benson.
Latest Johan Santana Rumors
UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 2:54pm: Jon Heyman puts the Red Sox, Yankees, and Mets as the three leading suitors for Johan. Matthew Cerrone, however, believes the Rangers, rather than the Yanks, are the third leading suitor.
FROM 12-11-07 at 8:52am:
Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has the latest buzz surrounding the Johan Santana trade talks.
The Red Sox and Twins talked yesterday, and the Twins are leading toward Jacoby Ellsbury rather than Jon Lester. Jed Lowrie and Justin Masterson would also be included, and the sides are trying to figure out a fourth player.
The Yanks and Twins haven’t talked much lately, but apparently Kei Igawa‘s name has come up in the talks. He can’t have much trade value in the Twins’ eyes.
Christensen implies that the Mets might be trying to finish second here, staying involved for the sake of PR.
Christensen also notes that the Twins are fond of Jered Weaver, and the Angels could jump in if they decide to use their trade chips on another starter.
Also, the idea of the Twins including another player on their end has come up. In the past Joe Nathan has been mentioned, but Christensen is referring more to Twins’ prospects. They don’t have much in the system though.
Odds and Ends: Inge, Greene, Pavano
A few tidbits this morning as we wait to hear more on Fukudome…
- The Tigers and Pirates have had talks about Brandon Inge. Not sure how he fits in with that club, but OK.
- Yesterday Barry Svrluga wrote of a failed Padres-Nats trade worth noting. The Nats would’ve sent Jon Rauch or Chad Cordero plus Felipe Lopez to the Padres for Khalil Greene. The talks fizzled; it never sounded like something the Padres would be interested in. They usually grow their own relievers. Tom Krasovic over at the San Diego Union-Tribune elaborates a little more on Jim Bowden’s love for Greene.
- Carl Pavano, the American Idle, is deciding whether to take a minor league contract with the Yanks. Peter Abraham says the Yankees are offering this to make sure they can collect on insurance.
- Xavier Nady will be tendered a contract, officially putting the rumors to rest.
- The Brewers inked Eric Munson to be their possible backup catcher.
Phillies Have Mild Interest In Mussina
The Yankees’ rotation currently consists of Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, and Ian Kennedy. That leaves both Mike Mussina (owed $11MM in ’08, no-trade protection) and Kei Igawa (owed $16MM over 2008-11) without starting jobs. It wouldn’t be a bad move to just keep the depth, if you consider it depth. After all, the three kids aren’t going to combine for 600 innings. But Mussina and Igawa might be available.
Bob Matthews of the Times-Union Democrat and Chronicle (yes we’re really digging for rumors) notes today that the Phillies have "mild interest" in Mussina. The 39 year-old Pennsylvania native may not want to leave New York, but it might not be a bad career move. He’s got 250 wins; 300 would be a grind. 280 seems within reach though. What could the Phils offer the Yanks for Mussina? $11MM off their books and some kind of low-level prospect, I’d imagine.