Jacque Jones Traded For Omar Infante
UPDATE: The deal is done; the Tigers also get cash considerations.
According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers and Cubs are finalizing a Jacque Jones for Omar Infante swap. ESPN 1000’s Bruce Levine called this one when no one else had it.
The Tigers would use Jones in left field, maybe sitting him against lefties in favor of Ryan Raburn. Jones played pretty solid center field defense for the Cubs last year; his ability to play that position was actually making him look like an asset at $5MM in ’08. The Cubs may be ready to try Felix Pie in center next year, though they have been connected to Mike Cameron. Many consider the trade of Jones to be a salary dump. When the Cubs tried to trade him to the Marlins they were set to pay almost all of Jones’ salary.
Infante has shown flashes of offensive ability with the Tigers, but hasn’t hit for the most part. It would be interesting if the Cubs tried the 26 year-old at shortstop. He was once a top prospect, beginning 2003 as the Tigers’ starting shortstop at age 21. He wasn’t up to the task, getting benched by Alan Trammell for lack of hustle before being sent down. His arm strength as a shortstop has been questioned, and he’s battled through shoulder and other injuries. Infante may be able to dabble in center field, aside from second base and shortstop. Or the Cubs could flip him to another team.
In other Tigers news, Danny Knobler says the team has stepped up their efforts to re-sign Todd Jones before midnight. At that point Jones would be able to negotiate with other teams.
Jacques Jones for Omar Infante?
An MLBTR reader passed on this tidbit he heard on ESPN 1000‘s coverage of the GM meetings. The rumor would be the Cubs sending Jacques Jones to Detroit for Omar Infante. The report mentioned both sides are staying in touch on the matter. It’s not major news, but if it’s whispered…
Infante’s listed as an infielder, spending most of his time at 2B. He made $1.3MM in 2007 and he’ll be 27 next season. The Tigers have a bit of a logjam in their infield as is and despite being regarded as a utility-guy, Infante has potential starter value that the Tigers could shop. Jones, the established outfielder, makes $5MM in his final contract year next season and will be 32. Trading Jones would open up the Cubs OF for Kosuke Fukudome, should they pursue him.
Rockies Rumors: Helton, Holliday, Matsui
Troy E. Renck is at it again, with another column updating us on the Rockies’ hot stove situation.
- Todd Helton isn’t going anywhere, for multiple reasons. His current $16.6MM salary is less frightening due to playoff revenue, and he’d be unlikely to approve a trade since his current team is already a winner.
- As Renck reported earlier this week, the Rox will offer Matt Holliday a four-year, $60MM deal to buy out two years of free agency. Holliday, a Scott Boras client, seems unlikely to accept anything like that.
- Why would the Cubs be willing to overpay for Kaz Matsui with a three-year deal? Surely the Cubs know Matsui has hit .256/.305/.370 away from Coors since joining the Rockies? I don’t buy the speed angle – promote Eric Patterson, then. I don’t buy the "make Fukudome comfortable angle" – sign a Japanese reliever, then. The Rockies are fine moving on from Matsui and Yorvit Torrealba if their offers are beat.
- Renck says Michael Barrett has drawn interest from six clubs so far, the Rockies one of them perhaps. The Marlins could be another.
- The Phillies won’t be going after Brian Fuentes now that they have Brad Lidge, but they weren’t pursuing him before Lidge anyway. After the dust settles on Francisco Cordero and Mariano Rivera, the Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees are expected to look at Fuentes. The Rockies’ demand is aggressive for one year of the closer – a #3 starter and a decent reliever.
- Matt Herges will look for a two-year deal; otherwise he’ll accept the Rockies one-year offer.
- Javy Lopez is attempting a comeback!
Tigers Could Lose Rogers, Move On To Silva
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
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
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
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
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
Two of my favorite local blogs have good hot stove posts for us today as part of Odds and Ends.
- Bleed Cubbie Blue has a Cubs source indicating the Cubs are serious about both Hiroki Kuroda and Kosuke Fukudome. They could be signed quickly and fill team needs. This info jives with the recent info from Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald. While Kuroda recently filed for free agency, he’s open to offers from MLB and Hiroshima.
- South Side Sox has their suggested offseason plan up for the White Sox. I like the idea of acquiring Pat Burrell and/or Rafael Furcal with Type A draft pick compensation in mind.
- Curt Schilling was in Philly to watch the Eagles last night.
- It seems possible that the Nationals could sign Corey Patterson for center field if they can’t get one of the big names.
- La Velle E. Neal III says the Twins and Red Sox have touched base about Coco Crisp. He adds that the Twins and Rays have been having conversations, perhaps in reference to Rocco Baldelli.
- Mike Lieberthal may be on the radar for the Blue Jays.
- Scott Rolen is said to be open to waiving his no-trade clause, but the three years and $36MM on his contract will be a problem.
Silva Rises To Top Of Free Agent Starter Market
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.