Rosenthal On Andruw, Nady, Lyon, Madson
The latest from Ken Rosenthal…
- The Braves are pulling back for the moment in their search for an outfield bat. They’ll hope for a free agent bargain or the right trade. Rosenthal says they’re torn about Andruw Jones. The Braves seek a right-handed hitter but aren’t dead set on it. They were unwilling to meet the Yankees’ demands for Xavier Nady.
- Brandon Lyon‘s agent is telling teams he has a two-year, $9MM offer in hand (Kyle Farnsworth money). The Tigers or Twins are possibilities there, while the Cardinals may have offered one year. Jon Paul Morosi confirms Detroit’s interest, but says they’ve yet to make an offer. Morosi believes the Tigers have about $5MM left in their budget.
- Ryan Madson turned down a three-year, $12MM extension from the Phillies. The Scott Boras client is eligible for free agency after the season.
- Execs have all kinds of concerns with Oliver Perez: his flyball tendencies, frequent walks, and inability to reach 200 innings.
- The Yankees have little interest in Ben Sheets and Freddy Garcia. The Rangers, Mets, and White Sox remain in the mix for Garcia.
- The Brewers and other teams are in on Braden Looper, while the Orioles and Dodgers have backed off.
- Edgardo Alfonzo is playing well in the Venezuelan Winter League and could make a comeback.
Garcia Considering Return To White Sox
FRIDAY: Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times believes the Colon signing "all but ends" the chance the Sox will pursue Garcia.
THURSDAY: According to Scot Gregor of the Chicago Daily Herald, Freddy Garcia is "strongly considering returning to the White Sox." Gregor says we shouldn’t be surprised to see Garcia sign a deal similar to Bartolo Colon‘s within the next couple days.
When Kenny Williams was asked if his rotation’s set, he said "we’ll see," which Gregor believes is "code for no."
White Sox Agree To Terms With Bartolo Colon
THURSDAY: According to the AP, Colon gets $1MM plus another possible $2MM based on innings pitched.
WEDNESDAY: FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the White Sox have added veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon on a one-year deal.
Rosenthal believes Colon will compete for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, along with Aaron Poreda. The 35-year-old Colon started seven games for the Red Sox last season, posting a 3.92 ERA and record of 4-2. Colon was a workhorse for the 2003 White Sox, tossing 242 innings.
Odds and Ends: Smoltz, Cordero, Colon, Byrd
Links for Thursday…
- John Smoltz told Dan Patrick that the Yankees and Dodgers also courted him.
- KNBR had interviews with Scott Boras and Ned Colletti yesterday.
- The Dodgers are "only monitoring" Kris Benson and Chad Cordero.
- The Phillies have "kept tabs" on Cordero and Eric Milton.
- Baseball America ranked the Rangers’ farm system as the best in baseball.
- Andy MacPhail says the Orioles don’t necessarily have to add a first baseman.
- South Side Sox and Sox Machine on the Bartolo Colon signing.
- Jon Paul Morosi says Jason Isringhausen is a "natural fit" for the Tigers.
- The Red Sox will only get a supplemental pick for Paul Byrd if he signs before the June draft.
- Barry Bloom gathers responses from baseball execs on the salary cap issue.
- Eddie Bajek made a breakthrough in his attempt to crack the Elias code.
- Richard Justice has an interesting story involving new Astro Russ Ortiz.
- Rickey Henderson says he’s still available to play. Asked about the WBC, he responded, ""What is [the WBC], wrestling?"
- Transcript of an interview with Red Sox owner John Henry.
Williams Annoyed With Dye Rumors
Scot Gregor snagged a funny quote from from irritated White Sox GM Ken Williams on this winter’s Jermaine Dye trade rumors:
"Can’t even imagine what the rumor is. I’m tired of responding to every blogger’s idea."
This offseason, Dye has been mentioned in rumors by venerable journalists Hal McCoy, Jayson Stark, Danny Knobler, Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, Bruce Levine, and Joe Cowley.
Freddy Garcia May Sign Soon
According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, free agent starter Freddy Garcia "is expected to make a deal in coming days." Heyman says the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, and White Sox are interested.
About a month ago, Jason Beck reported that an MRI on Garcia’s arm revealed shoulder tightness but no structural damage.
Rosenthal On Lackey, Dunn, Young, Isringhausen
Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.
- John Lackey is due up for extension talks with the Angels, as he’ll be eligible for free agency after the ’09 season. He’d easily be the best available starter. Rosenthal says talks with the Angels should occur before the beginning of the season, but the Halos may not be willing to offer A.J. Burnett money (five years, $82.5MM). In November, Jayson Stark said Lackey had been telling friends he expects to have an extension by Opening Day. That came after Lackey’s confirmation he’d wait to see the Angels’ offensive plans before re-signing.
- The Braves paid $60MM for Derek Lowe, though no one else made a comparable offer. This is a testament to Scott Boras (and perhaps the Braves’ desperation), though Boras has more challenging work ahead in Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek.
- The Red Sox have shown interest in Adam Dunn, one rival exec tells Rosenthal. Rosenthal considers the possibility a longshot – "a square peg in a round hole." The Sox could always make a midseason deal if their offense isn’t cutting it.
- A Rangers official put Michael Young‘s chances of being with the team on Opening Day at at least 90%. The Rangers aren’t interested in moving Ian Kinsler to left field and Young to second base.
- Rosenthal believes Xavier Nady is likely to garner Type A status when he becomes a free agent after the ’09 season, but half of the equation (his 2009 stats) is missing.
- Jason Isringhausen is considering four teams, and he’d have a shot to close for those clubs. The Dodgers aren’t terribly interested, while the Cardinals and Tigers are possibilities.
- Should the Mets sign Andy Pettitte as well as Randy Wolf or Oliver Perez? One rival exec suggested the idea.
- The Astros apparently made a three-year, $28.5MM offer to Wolf before pulling it back. Looks like he’ll be settling for less.
- Rosenthal says a Rangers trade for Jermaine Dye is "not happening." They’ll go with Hank Blalock‘s left-handed offense rather than sign an aging veteran. Blalock is headed into a contract year.
- If Todd Helton has a healthy spring, the Rockies could shop Garrett Atkins.
- The Red Sox and D’Backs are not close to a deal involving catcher Miguel Montero. Arizona will need to add a capable backup catcher if they do find a deal for Montero.
Angels Do Not Have Interest In Dye
WEDNESDAY: Bill Shaikin talked to Angels GM Tony Reagins, who shot down Cowley’s Dye rumor. Reagins said, "No truth to that rumor." Reagins apparently hasn’t talked to the White Sox for a while, though Shaikin’s source indicated the Angels did express interest in Dye before they re-signed Juan Rivera.
MONDAY: The Los Angeles Angels have interest in Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
According to a major-league scout, the Angels are the latest team to express interest in acquiring Dye now that the Mark Teixeira ship has set sail to New York. Unlike the talks with the Cincinnati Reds that stalled during the Winter Meetings, the Sox and Angels actually have a fit, Cowley wrote.
Cowley speculates that the White Sox would want Chone Figgins in return. Figgins could play third base and lead off for Chicago.
Cowley also notes that the Angels have a surplus of outfielders, but the Angels want to add protection in the lineup for Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter.
Cowley’s source also said the Angels do not like the rest of the free-agent outfield market and do not want to be pawns in the on-going Manny Ramirez saga.
The Angels are not one of the teams listed on Dye’s no-trade list, Cowley writes.
Michael Young Requested Trade From Rangers
9:41pm: More from Sullivan – he has quotes from Jon Daniels on Young tonight:
"We’re not looking to trade him and have no plans to. We plan on him being a big part of our ballclub going forward."
5:22pm: Another interesting update from T.R. Sullivan at MLB.com regarding the Michael Young situation.
The article focuses on Elvis Andrus‘ official invitation to Spring Training. Sullivan makes a point to clarify that the starting shortstop job is not Andrus’. Sullivan writes:
"It is also not guaranteed that Andrus will be the Opening Day shortstop. The Rangers still have Joaquin Arias as an alternative."
Wouldn’t Young, not Arias, be the next alternative? Just further affirmation of how serious the Rangers are about moving Young over to third.
2:20pm: T.R. Sullivan has new quotes from Jon Daniels. Daniels says he’s still preparing as if Young will play third base for the 2009 Rangers. Sullivan says no trade is imminent.
MONDAY, 8:35am: More on the topic of Young asking for a trade. Young is upset that he wasn’t given a choice about the position switch, saying, "My hand’s been forced with this one." He says he’s "adamant" about not playing third base. Young has given the Rangers a list of teams to which he’ll accept a trade, according to the Dallas Morning News. He’d consider a move back to second base for a new team. Young is owed $62MM over the next five seasons.
SUNDAY, 9:25pm: FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that Rangers shortstop Michael Young asked for a trade back in December when club officials requested that he play third base in the upcoming season.
According to Rosenthal, Young was "absolutely livid" that the Rangers would request such a move just months after he was awarded his first Gold Glove (the award was not supported by his advanced statistics). The team was hoping to clear a spot for top prospect Elvis Andrus, but now they’ve got a real problem on their hands.
GM Jon Daniels is expected to explore trade opportunities, but a deal seems unlikely at this point. White Sox GM Ken Williams has already said that he "would not waste time" discussing the possibility. The asking price would be far too high for most clubs. Other teams that have popped up in rumors this winter: the Twins, Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals.
Odds and Ends: Smoltz, Young, Cameron
Links for Tuesday…
- Lyle Spencer doesn’t think Michael Young and Jermaine Dye make sense for the Angels.
- Joel Sherman speculates on some possible matches Young trades.
- The Marlins’ recent minor league signings, including John Koronka and Jay Gibbons.
- The Red Sox officially announced the John Smoltz signing today. Here’s the transcript, and here are the contract terms.
- Buster Olney debunks the Mike Cameron for Nick Swisher rumor, saying the teams haven’t talked trade since the Winter Meetings.
- With the ninth pick in a fantasy draft, this is the team I’d put together.