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Kubatko’s Latest: Jones, Dotel, Barajas

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Roch Kubatko of the Baltimore Sun has a blog update with plenty of new hot stove info.

  • Adam Jones never left Venezuela, and has been cleared to play in tonight’s winter league game.  Does this means something changed in the Erik Bedard talks?  We can only speculate.
  • The Orioles have been talking to the agents for free agents Octavio Dotel and Rod Barajas.  The Dotel talks were recent.  However, Kubatko says "late inning relief isn’t a top priority."  Maybe Andy MacPhail just wants to see if he can get Dotel on a nice one-year deal for $6MM or so.
  • MacPhail told Kubatko, "We haven’t closed any doors" in response to a question about supposedly dead talks with the Cubs.  Nothing seems imminent but perhaps the two sides are still discussing Brian Roberts after all.

Brian Roberts Deal Dead?

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A trusted emailer wrote in to tell me about a report today from Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio 1000.  According to Levine, Brian Roberts is no longer available.  The Orioles were apparently asking for Tyler Colvin or Felix Pie plus multiple pitchers, and the Cubs wouldn’t do it.

Levine says the Cubs may turn their attention to the Rangers’ Marlon Byrd or free agent Jon Lieber.

Brewers, Yankees Interested In Mike Cameron

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UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 11:58pm: Ken Rosenthal checks in, adding that the Cubs and Twins are on the fringes for Cameron.  However he expects Cameron to end up with the Yankees or Brewers, before anything is determined with Johan Santana.  The Yanks could always just keep Melky Cabrera or spin him off for prospects.  The Braves and Pirates have expressed interest in him in the past.

UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 9:04pm: Haudricourt says the Yankees’ are the Brewers’ main competition for Cameron, in the event they trade Melky Cabrera.  It’s known that A-Rod has been "privately endorsing" him. 

UPDATE, 1-10-08 at 10:23am: Haudricourt adds that the Brewers could be considering trading Hall, rather than changing his position again.  He says the fact that Doug Melvin didn’t return his calls may indicate something is going on.

FROM 1-09-08 at 9:20pm:

Both Ken Rosenthal and Tom Haudricourt are saying this evening that the Brewers are interested in free agent center fielder Mike Cameron.

Haudricourt is surprised, since the Brewers were supposedly targeting a left-handed hitting left fielder like Kenny Lofton or Luis Gonzalez.  Instead, they could shift Bill Hall to third base and Ryan Braun to left to make room for Cameron.

Rosenthal calls it "serious interest," but notes that moving Hall again might be a "delicate situation."  I’m sure Hall would understand if the signing made the team better.  Rosenthal says Cameron is drawing interest from at least two other clubs, which could include the Reds.

Brian Roberts Cubs Rumors

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UPDATE, 1-9-08 at 6:06pm: WGN Radio’s Dave Kaplan checked in on this situation on his blog.  He has "great sources" saying the price for Roberts is much higher than was previously reported.  The Orioles want Rich Hill, Felix Pie, or Tyler Colvin.  Hill is known to be off-limits.

UPDATE, 1-9-08 at 10:58am: Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune believes this deal "is almost certainly going to happen."  He expects it to be for the same players Orioles Hangout mentioned.  However, an Orioles official contacted Orioles Hangout to tell them their report was inaccurate.

UPDATE, 1-9-08 at 9:22am: Roch Kubatko (via a team spokesman) and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun talked to Andy MacPhail and report that nothing has changed since last night on the Roberts talks and no deal is done.

FROM 1-9-08 at 7:53am:

Orioles Hangout is reporting that the trade of Brian Roberts to the Cubs is final.  They’re saying it’s for Sean Gallagher, Sean Marshall, and Ronny Cedeno.  I’ll update the post as info comes along.

Orioles Could Re-Sign Corey Patterson

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It seemed the Orioles had no interest in retaining Scott Boras client Corey Patterson.  However, Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles have renewed their interest in the 28 year-old center fielder.

My guess is that the Orioles backed off when Boras told them his initial demands for Patterson (three years, $24MM maybe?)  But now Patterson is still hanging around and no teams seem to be actively pursuing him. Connolly mentions the Cardinals, Braves, Twins, and Pirates as possible fits, but admits they’re long shots.  Patterson was born in Atlanta.

Patterson has a chance to be a mild bargain if he rediscovers his power stroke.  He’s striking out less and less, which could mean an improvement in batting average.  The offensive bar is pretty low for center field if you play good defense.

The Orioles are still entertaining possible trades that could bring them a center fielder and take them out of the mix for Patterson.  They could get Adam Jones in an Erik Bedard trade, or a "Chicago Cubs outfield prospect" in a Brian Roberts deal.  I doubt this would be Felix Pie.

Cubs Eyeing Lieber?

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Here’s a rumor of mild interest.  1060West relays a Bruce Levine radio report in which Jon Lieber is mentioned as a possible target for the Cubs.  Lieber won 20 games for the Cubs in 2001, but went down with Tommy John surgery the following year.  Getting Lieber from the Pirates for Brant Brown in ’98 was a nice move by Ed Lynch.

At the right price I think Lieber could be a capable fifth starter for a lot of National League clubs.  I wouldn’t expect him to demand two years, but you never know.  The Mets, Reds, Royals, and Rangers may also be considering Lieber.

White Sox Sign Alexei Ramirez

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UPDATE, 12-22-07 at 6:00pm: Ramirez can earn another $3.25MM in incentives.

UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 10:57pm: Ramirez gets a mere $4.75MM over the four-year pact.  That’s an excellent move right there, in my opinion.  Dirt cheap – low risk, decent reward.

FROM 12-21-07 at 5:35pm:

The White Sox made an interesting move today, signing Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez to a four-year contract.  The presence of Jose Contreras should be helpful for him.  Ramirez probably profiles as Chicago’s center fielder, though he could also play second base.  Here’s what Baseball America had to say about him a few months ago.

It’s tough to judge this signing until we hear the money involved.  He was apparently highly sought after, as ESPN says he worked out for the Red Sox, Indians, Reds, Cubs, Mets, Yankees, Twins, and A’s too.  Ramirez is apparently 26 years old.  I think he’s going to need some time in the minors, as Clay Davenport has equated Cuban baseball with our short season A ball.

As a means of comparison, Yuniesky Betancourt signed for four years and $2.826MM in January of 2005.  Kendry Morales signed a four-year deal worth around $10MM in December of 2004.

The Mark Prior Derby

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Let’s do a recap on the Mark Prior Derby, which is getting more confusing each day.  Jerry Crasnick has added some good info this afternoon.  Prior wants a one-year deal and hopes to be on a big league mound before the end of May.

  • Yankees – They’ll probably pass, per Hank Steinbrenner.
  • Red Sox – Named only by Jayson Stark.
  • White Sox – Named only by Stark.
  • Mariners – Named by Stark, denied by Jim Street.
  • Mets – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Ken Rosenthal, Ed Price
  • Cardinals – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Rosenthal, Matthew Leach
  • Padres – Named by many, made an offer according to Crasnick. Prior went to USC but would have to take less money to play in San Diego
  • Astros – Named by many, made an offer according to Alyson Footer
  • Giants – Named only by Stark
  • Reds – Named by Stark, Crasnick. Prior previously played under Dusty Baker
  • Nationals – Named by Stark, Crasnick, Bill Ladson
  • Rangers – Named by Crasnick but not Stark, aggressively pursuing according to Rosenthal
  • Marlins – Named only by Crasnick
  • Indians – Named only by Crasnick

One more and we’re at half of all baseball teams linked at some point.  The Phillies and Pirates are not interested, and it’s probably safe to count the Cubs out.

Nothing Imminent With Orioles

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Sean Welsh of the Baltimore Examiner spoke to Orioles’ president Andy MacPhail, clearing up some rumors that had been buzzing around.  MacPhail would be "very surprised" if the Orioles strike deals for Erik Bedard or Brian Roberts before year’s end.

Welsh says the Cubs are focused on Roberts, while the Reds are still on Bedard’s trail.

Cubs Considering So Taguchi?

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Trusted reader Alex writes in with a George Ofman report on 670 The Score out of Chicago.  Apparently the Cubs are considering signing free agent outfielder So Taguchi, which may be related to the Kosuke Fukudome signing.  The is much less damaging than signing Kaz Matsui would’ve been, at least.  But it could lead to Matt Murton being traded for less than he’s worth.

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