Tigers Bullpen Rumors
9:15pm: Jon Paul Morosi says Beimel still tops the Tigers’ list among lefties, but they’ve also expressed interest in John Parrish.
2:23pm: MLB.com’s Jason Beck says the Tigers talked to Joe Beimel‘s agent at the Meetings. They intend to sort out their closer situation first though. The Reds also like Beimel.
2:28am: For roughly $4MM in ’09 salaries, the Tigers filled two needs Monday with defensive-minded pickups Gerald Laird and Adam Everett. Now Dave Dombrowski will set his sights on a closer.
Jon Paul Morosi maintains that the Tigers are most interested in J.J. Putz and Kerry Wood. It may come down to how they’d prefer to pay – in prospects or in dollars. Morosi notes that Marcus Thames, expected to earn $2MM+ in ’09, could be shipped out to save additional cash.
Ramon Hernandez Traded For Ryan Freel
7:52pm: Scott Miller says the Orioles are sending $3MM to the Reds, not $1MM as previously reported. Kubatko says it’s $2MM.
4:34pm: MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon adds that the Orioles will receive prospects Brandon Waring and Justin Turner and will send $1MM to the Reds.
2:39pm: Rosenthal says an agreement has been reached to send Hernandez to Cincy for Freel and two prospects. The Orioles are sending over $1MM, so the deal requires approval of the commissioner’s office. I can see how this might work out for both clubs; each player had worn out his welcome.
By the way, Tom Haudricourt rejects the idea that the Brewers were interested.
2:29pm: The Orioles would send cash to Cincy to offset Hernandez’s salary. This deal might be announced soon. Walt Jocketty said "we’ll have something" later when questioned.
1:56pm: John Perrotto believes a Hernandez for Freel deal will be announced today.
TUESDAY, 12:30pm: Seems that a deal for Hernandez is close, though Roch Kubatko says the Brewers jumped into the mix. Kubatko still thinks Hernandez will be traded to the Reds.
MONDAY, 9:37pm: Walt Jocketty slyly lifted his eyebrows when asked about this rumor, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon.
7:11pm: Rosenthal says the Reds would also kick in a prospect in this deal, but want the O’s to pay a significant portion of Hernandez’s salary.
6:01pm: John Fay of the Cincy Enquirer says he’s heard the Hernandez for Freel rumor from both sides.
12:21pm: According to Roch Kubatko of MASN Online, one of the teams interested in catcher Ramon Hernandez would like to swap contracts. The team would send the Orioles a utility guy who can play the infield and outfield.
Kubatko goes on to note that the Reds and Astros are looking for catching. Connecting the dots, Kubatko may have been talking about Ryan Freel above. Hernandez has $9MM left on his contract, while Freel has $4MM.
Livan Hernandez Did Not Sign
4:20pm: Erroneous report, Hernandez has not signed.
4:03pm: According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, the Reds signed Livan Hernandez.
Giants Rumors: Burrell, Turnbow, Sanchez
9:22pm: Baggarly says Brian Sabean touched base with 25 teams today. Baggarly does not buy recent rumors connecting the Giants to Cantu, Encarnacion, and Hank Blalock.
6:08pm: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News provides the Giants rumors…
- Pat Burrell would love to play for the Giants, but he’s far down on the team’s list due to defensive concerns.
- The Giants offered Derrick Turnbow a non-guaranteed contract. The Pirates are another team eyeing Turnbow.
- Jonathan Sanchez is a popular name in trade talks. Baggarly doesn’t foresee a Sanchez for Edwin Encarnacion or Jorge Cantu straight up type deal.
Bailey-Dye Trade Report Shot Down
9:06pm: Ken Williams speaks. No Dye trade, but plenty of interest.
6:26pm: Dusty Baker spoke about the Dye trade talks today, saying he thought they were "kind of off because of economics and because everybody wants your young players."
MONDAY, 4:24pm: McCoy talks more about the rumor he originated. He said a reliable White Sox insider told him the Dye deal was in place and wonders if Ken Williams changed his mind.
SUNDAY, 10:06pm: Walt Jocketty on the report: "Wrong. It’s not even close." The Reds haven’t had talks with the Sox since before Thanksgiving.
9:32pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick adds that Dye and his agent "haven’t heard a word" about a trade. Reds assistant GM Bob Miller rejected the report, adding, "We haven’t talked to White Sox since we got here."
8:51pm: Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says "a source familiar with the talks" rejected the report below. The Sox want more than just Bailey. Gonzales’ source adds that talks with the Mets for Bobby Jenks fell apart over Omar Minaya’s unwillingness to include Bobby Parnell.
7:46pm: According to Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, a Major League source told him a Homer Bailey for Jermaine Dye trade "is done and will be announced this week."
It’d essentially be six years of Bailey for one of Dye (plus possible draft pick compensation), as Dye has a mutual option for 2010 at $12MM. Those almost never get fully exercised – if one side wants it, the other doesn’t. It would be interesting to see what the White Sox could do with Bailey given their recent success developing young pitchers.
Orioles Met With Teixeira In D.C.
Roch Kubatko and Peter Schmuck report today that Andy MacPhail acknowledged a face-to-face meeting with Mark Teixeira and Scott Boras in Washington D.C. earlier this week. The O’s haven’t made an offer yet.
MacPhail did not deny trade talks with the Reds for Ramon Hernandez, nor did Walt Jocketty. Schmuck says Gregg Zaun could be on Baltimore’s radar as a backup catcher.
Also, Kubatko finds it clear that the Orioles are fading out of contention for A.J. Burnett.
Phillies Interested In Delmon Young?
7:05pm: LEN3 says the Twins would want more than Donald for Young, but it’s a moot point because the Phillies don’t want to trade Donald. The teams haven’t spoken lately and don’t have plans to meet in the near future.
Neal also says there’s nothing going on between the Twins and Giants.
4:20pm: LEN3 says the Twins do like Donald. Neal also believes the rumor about the Giants being interested in Young.
One other fresh note from Neal’s blog post – Dennys Reyes "might be on the Reds’ radar."
1:26pm: According to Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News, the Phillies have inquired on Twins outfielder Delmon Young. Hagen believes the Twins would want shortstop prospect Jason Donald in return.
Rangers Could Still Trade Another Catcher
3:58pm: Both Peter Gammons and Ken Rosenthal are saying the Rangers could still trade another catcher (for a young starter). Gammons cites Salty specifically.
10:48am: WEEI’s Alex Speier takes a look at the market for catching.
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti is on record saying he’s "probably not" interested in Jason Varitek.
- The Red Sox, Reds, Marlins, and Astros continue to hunt for catching.
- Speier talked to an official who believes the Rangers would have to be overwhelmed to trade a second catcher. Keeping in mind that Max Ramirez may have to move out from behind the plate, it may make sense to just let Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden compete for the job.
- The Red Sox have talked to the Indians about Kelly Shoppach; the Reds like him as well. The Indians would want a big league second baseman, third baseman, or closer back for Shoppach. The Indians have not entertained offers for Victor Martinez.
- The D’Backs would like a second baseman or pitching for Miguel Montero or Chris Snyder.
Weathers Accepts Arb Offer
According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, reliever David Weathers accepted the Reds’ offer of arbitration. He’s Reds property for ’09 now, and he’ll get a raise beyond this year’s $2.75MM salary.
Stark’s Latest: Dye, Greinke, Teixeira
Jayson Stark’s Winter Meetings preview is up; let’s take a look.
- Stark sees "just about zero chance" the Padres trade Jake Peavy at the Meetings. The Cubs will need at least a few weeks to settle their ownership situation before they can make a trade and take on his contract. Plus, a Stark source says it makes sense for the Padres to wait until the top free agent starters are off the board.
- The Braves, Reds, Royals, Rays, and possibly Mets have shown interest in Jermaine Dye. Dye played for the Royals from 1997-2001 before he was traded for Neifi Perez. The White Sox are willing to trade Paul Konerko and Jim Thome too.
- The Mariners would listen on "pretty much anybody." But given the surplus of closers on the market, it seems unlikely that Jack Zduriencik will be bowled over with an offer for J.J. Putz.
- The Royals really don’t want to trade Zack Greinke, but they’ll at least discuss him. The price would be massive. It doesn’t look like they want to trade David DeJesus or Mark Teahen either, but Jose Guillen can be had.
- The Marlins have been pushing Jorge Cantu over Jeremy Hermida, though Hermida’s drawn plenty of interest. Nick Cafardo named the Rays, Reds, and Giants earlier today.
- The Angels figure to attach a two or three-day deadline to their eventual Mark Teixeira offer.
- Stark sees Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake as the two free agents most likely to sign this week. Most execs Stark surveyed see Teixeira and Manny Ramirez signing in January.