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Tigers Could Lose Rogers, Move On To Silva

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Leave it to Scott Boras to be unsatisfied with Kenny Rogers’ declarations that he will either play for the Tigers or retire.  Boras told Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski yesterday that Rogers wanted to explore the open market. 

The Tigers remain Rogers’ first choice, but Boras wants to be make sure the the 43-year old southpaw is paid at a level commensurate with his peers.  To Boras that would be the Maddux-Schilling-Glavine range, which is roughly $10MM.  Rogers earned $8MM in 2007, and is probably a tad less appealing than that trio.  According to Jon Paul Morosi (linked above), the Mariners and Rangers would be in the mix if the Tigers couldn’t get something done. 

Dombrowski won’t let the Rogers wrinkle stop him from pursuing other pitchers.  Morosi says the Tigers have already expressed interest in Carlos Silva.  Wow, that list is growing rapidly.

The team’s other focus is relief pitching, given Joel Zumaya’s injury.  They still want to re-sign Todd Jones, and Matt Mantei is a mildly interesting wild card.  Morosi added today that the Tigers have talked to the Rockies about Brian Fuentes.  Morosi says relievers from the Cubs and Pirates could also be available – I’m guessing Ryan Dempster, Will Ohman, Damaso Marte, and Salomon Torres.  An intriguing trade option: Jose Valverde.

Hitoki Iwase, Carlos Silva On Cubs’ Wish List

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According to Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Cubs’ plans this winter involve a heavy focus on Japan.  As you already know, they’re all over Kosuke Fukudome, Hiroki Kuroda, and Kaz Matsui.

Another name to add to the list: lefty closer Hitoki Iwase.  The Cubs have reportedly heavily scouted Iwase and Kuroda.  The Cubs’ closer situation is wide open, with Ryan Dempster moving to the starting rotation.

De Luca also reports that the Cubs will inquire on head of the class free agent starter Carlos Silva.  Silva shares an agent with Carlos Zambrano.  No one expects Silva to come cheaper than four years, $40MM.  The Cubs showed last year that they were willing to invest that kind of money in starting pitching.  Their efforts may be bolstered by their success in importing Ted Lilly from the AL. 

Also, a possible trade could be developing with the Rays.  Tampa Bay is looking to add a shortstop, but the free agent crop is already down to just David Eckstein, Cesar Izturis, and the wild card Alexei Ramirez.  Eckstein isn’t the defensive-minded the guy the Rays covet, and he’d be too expensive anyway.  Marc Topkin names four possible trade targets for the Rays: Erick Aybar, Ronny Cedeno, Chin-Ling Hu, and Brent Lillibridge.  The Cubs are known to have interest in Carl Crawford.  The two parties might have a starting point in Cedeno, but quality pitching like Rich Hill and/or Carlos Marmol would have to be added to the package.    

Latest Rockies Rumors: Matsui, Torrealba, Holliday

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As usual, the Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck has the scoop on all things Rockies.

  • The Rockies have made a two year offer to Kaz Matsui in the neighborhood of $6MM total.  That’s fair; we all know his home/road splits.  The Cubs and Padres were named as other interested parties yesterday, but the Padres have decided to go with internal options at second base.  Why the Cubs would add a second baseman is still beyond me.  They already have Ryan Theriot, Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, and Eric Patterson.  The Cubs’ plan to add speed concerns me.
  • The Rox have also put in a two-year offer to Yorvit Torrealba, for roughly the same $6MM amount.  It sounds like Torrealba will wait to field offers from other teams, chiefly the Mets.  His agent says the Mets’ offer would have to dwarf the Rockies’ for him to consider it.  Renck names Jose Molina, Paul Lo Duca, Jason Kendall, and Ramon Castro as backup options at catcher.  I like the idea of Molina.
  • Scott Boras client Matt Holliday is under Colorado’s control for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, though he’ll start getting quite expensive in arbitration.  The Rockies will make an offer to lock him up for 2008-11 for roughly $60MM.  It’s fair, but with Boras talking in Holliday’s ear he’ll probably wait for free agency in the winter of 2009-10.  They’ll pay lip service to the idea that he wants to stay in Colorado but ultimately he’ll take a seven year, $150MM offer from some other club.  That’s how I see it unfolding, at least.
  • Brian Fuentes is indeed on the market; expect many teams in the mix for him.  While Garrett Atkins won’t be offered a multiyear contract, the Rockies won’t trade him this winter.
  • Finally, the Rockies have an eye on Brett Tomko to fill a swingman role.

Latest Cubs Rumors: Crawford, Crisp, Ibanez

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Cubs rumors abound today.  Some sensible, some not.  Let’s catch up. 

  • According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs want to re-sign Kerry Wood and possibly give him the closer job.  Ryan Dempster could be pushed down the reliever totem pole or traded (he makes $5.5MM in the last year of his deal).  Dempster has expressed a desire to start in the past, but the Cubs don’t seem keen on it.  UPDATE: The Cubs are keen on Dempster as a starter, as Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 reported today that he will be switched to that role in ’08.  Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, or Kerry Wood will close.
  • Rogers also notes that the Cubs will bring Mark Prior back on the condition that he’ll accept an option for the 2009 season.  That way they won’t get burned if he does have a useful 2008.
  • Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald says the Cubs have interest in trading for Carl Crawford.  Problem is, that would require a king’s ransom in young players.  Miles adds that the Cubs are serious about Kosuke Fukudome, and signing him would leave the team with plenty of outfielders.  Phil Rogers echoes the Fukudome interest, also mentioning that the Rangers and Giants like him.
  • Michael Silverman says the Cubs are among several teams interested in Coco Crisp.  Within this piece Silverman says the Rangers are in on Crisp and the Red Sox like expendable catcher Gerald Laird. 
  • Another name on the Cubs’ radar: Raul Ibanez.  He makes $5.5MM in the last year of his deal, though he’s a liability in left field.  And the Cubs have Alfonso Soriano there already.  Larry LaRue also says the Tigers and Indians like Ibanez; the Tribe could offer Aaron Laffey.
  • Not sure why, but the Cubs are also interested in free agent second baseman Kaz Matsui.  Would the plan be to use him at shortstop?  The Padres also have an eye on Matsui.

Rosenthal’s Latest: A-Rod, Posada, Cameron

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Ken Rosenthal is back with a column loaded with rumory goodness.  Rosenthal’s column is like a drug.

  • Rosenthal doesn’t think the Red Sox will just ignore the availability of Alex Rodriguez, especially if someone lures Mike Lowell away with a five-year offer.  Rosenthal suggests a shorter term of five-years, $150MM with option years and opt-outs so that A-Rod could have one more payday as he theoretically approaches Hank Aaron’s record.
  • Jorge Posada will receive a "monster offer" from the Mets.  While the Mets can’t move him to DH down the road, they can put him at first base.  I’ve been saying 4/56, but 5/70 isn’t out of the question apparently.  Posada wants a four-year deal, and won’t sign with the Yanks without fielding other offers first.  Apparently the Marlins and Blue Jays are also in on him.
  • The Nationals may be kicking the tires on big names Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, but Jim Bowden is also a big Mike Cameron fan.  The Nats do seem a reasonable fit.
  • The Cubs are also in on Cameron, in addition to Kosuke Fukudome.  Rosenthal suggests the Cubs could put Felix Pie in left if they get Cameron.
  • Scott Boras client Kyle Lohse is looking for 4-5 years, $10-11MM annually.  No surprise there.
  • The Royals are looking to add a starter and a reliever, and maybe a closer if they decide to put Joakim Soria in the rotation.

Odds and Ends: Fukudome, Burrell, Furcal, Rolen

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Two of my favorite local blogs have good hot stove posts for us today as part of Odds and Ends.

Silva Rises To Top Of Free Agent Starter Market

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About a year ago, the Twins were seriously debating whether to exercise Carlos Silva’s $4MM option for 2007.  After all, he’d posted a ghastly 5.94 ERA in 180 innings in 2006.  His 246 hits allowed was among the highest totals in baseball that year.

What difference a year makes.  Silva posted a solid 4.19 ERA in 202 innings, a performance more in line with his career marks.  As a result he’s arguably the best available free agent starter this winter and stands to snag a contract of at least four years and $40MM (with no cost in draft picks).  La Velle E. Neal III says the Twins want him back, and Bill Smith is already talking about the intangibles the team offers for him. The Twins may balk at even $8MM annually.

Neal notes that the Diamondbacks, Braves, Cubs, Mets, and Phillies had interest in trading for Silva this summer.  That pretty well sums it up.  We can probably add the Reds to the mix.  Looking at Nick Cafardo’s recent summary, the Devil Rays, Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros, Cardinals, and Dodgers all seek to add veteran starting pitching.  Silva typically ranks in the top 20 for groundball rate, so he may try to avoid stadiums with artificial turf. 

Padres Rumors: Crisp, Pie, Andruw, Eckstein

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Tom Krasovic continues to set the standard for Padres inside information.  Today’s column is especially delicious for rumor junkies, with tons of new material to chew on.

  • Kevin Towers expects to fill his center field vacancy via trade.  He may first want to wait to see if Mike Cameron accepts the team’s upcoming offer of arbitration.  Cameron is a Type B free agent.  Remember that he will be limited to 137 games in ’07. 
  • As for trade candidates, Coco Crisp is on the radar but the Padres smartly won’t part with Chase Headley. 
  • Krasovic notes that Bud Black’s connection with Angels manager Mike Scioscia could play a role now that Trader Bill Stoneman isn’t the GM.  Reggie Willits or Nathan Haynes might be in play for the Padres.
  • The Padres really seem to like Felix Pie, and could re-open talks that would include Khalil Greene.  They’ve asked about Tony Gwynn Jr. of the Brewers in the past.  And it does sound like the Royals are willing to talk about David DeJesus.
  • Sounds like the Padres will offer Andruw Jones $14-16MM on a one-year contract.  Scott Boras hasn’t seemed open to this with Jones, but time will tell.
  • The Tigers will have competition from the Padres for Geoff Jenkins.  Krasovic envisions a Jenkins/Scott Hairston platoon in left and expects the Friars to make an offer.
  • Two starters will be acquired even after Greg Maddux is retained.  Rehabbing former Mark Prior and Matt Clement would both like to play in San Diego.  There has to be some sort of cosmic rule about having three ex-Cubs in the rotation.  That is not recommended.  Plus the Padres were on Curt Schilling’s list.  And don’t forget the team’s previous trade interest in Josh Towers, who seems likely to be non-tendered and could be solid in PETCO.
  • The Padres could pursue David Eckstein as a second baseman and leadoff man.  But that would seemingly block Matt Antonelli for longer than necessary.  Plus such a switch wouldn’t be in Eckstein’s best interests financially.
  • Towers likes Jason Kendall, perhaps as a backup, but faces opposition in the organization.
  • In another article, Towers lends credence to the theory that the Marlins could sign Alex Rodriguez. 

Cafardo’s Latest: Drew, Pettitte, Lincecum

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo works his way through all the teams in anticipation of Monday’s GM meetings.  Here are some of the rumors we haven’t seen much before.

  • The Rays want a defensive-minded shortstop and veteran starter.  Maybe they’ll make a play for Cesar Izturis or Omar Vizquel.  A rehab guy like Freddy Garcia or Randy Wolf could be interesting.
  • The Indians are looking for a power bat for left field.  Haven’t seen them mentioned with Barry Bonds at all, could that work?
  • Cafardo proposes the idea of the Cubs acquiring J.D. Drew as their OBP-minded right field acquisition.  Drew has a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block two unknown teams.  I imagine the Red Sox would have to eat some salary.
  • Cafardo also speculates that Andy Pettitte could follow Joe Torre to L.A.  Pettitte has previously talked about a Yankees or retirement stance.
  • The idea of the Giants trading Tim Lincecum seemed crazy at first, right?  Cafardo says they may be willing to do so for a "stud outfielder."  How about Delmon Young? 
  • Scott Boras is already busting out mystery teams with A-Rod, who apparently would love to play for the Red Sox.

Cubs Rumors: Wood, Schilling

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Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times has a Cubs update for us this morning.

Let’s start with Kerry Wood, who would garner plenty of interest on the open market.  Despite rumors that Wood might look elsewhere for a chance to start, he’s likely to stay with the Cubs as a starter.

The Cubs are on Curt Schilling’s list, and they’ll be in the mix for him if his price is reasonable.  I take that to mean not much more than $12-13MM.  A cheaper option might be Hiroki Kuroda, though that could take a three-year commitment.  So, perhaps a larger cash outlay. 

The Cubs will probably pass on Alex Rodriguez, though he would’ve been a nice fit at shortstop in my opinion. 

Options: the Cubs exercised Daryle Ward’s for $1.2MM.  They passed on Steve Trachsel’s $4.75MM option, which is a relief since there had been rumors of exercising it.  Cliff Floyd is probably gone as well.

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