Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Rockies Rumors

Rangers Rumors: Blalock, Blake, Catchers

By | at

Next up we’ll dig into the latest Rangers rumors, courtesy of Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

  • The Rangers are expected to pick up their $6.2MM option on Hank Blalock today.  It doesn’t seem that Blalock will spend much time at third base if he’s with the Rangers in 2009.  Instead, he’d play first and DH.  Of course, a trade is possible.
  • The Rangers may look at outside options for third base, and they’ve been in touch with Casey Blake’s agent.  The Rangers have an eye on defense, which might rule out Garrett Atkins.  Grant finds Joe Crede questionable, though he might be a decent fit given his glovework.
  • The focus of the GM meetings for Texas has been shopping catching for pitching.  The main suitors are the Red Sox and Marlins, with the Tigers a fallback.  Names in the mix could include Scott Olsen, Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden, and Justin Masterson.  Over at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Jeff Wilson profiles the Rangers’ four catchers.

Hideki Matsui-Mariners Rumor

By | at

From Yahoo’s Tim Brown:

One source mentioned a potential three-way deal that would send outfielder Hideki Matsui from the New York Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for a pitching prospect, perhaps Ryan Rowland-Smith. The Yankees would package the prospect with second baseman Robinson Cano and another young player to the Rockies for Matt Holliday.

Matsui has a full no-trade clause.  He’s owed $13MM next year, the last of his deal.  He hit .294/.370/.424 this year in 378 plate appearances, missing much of the season with knee problems.  He now has two surgically repaired knees, so he’s questionable to play the outfield.

At any rate, it doesn’t seem like the Yankees would seriously explore a Holliday trade unless Mark Teixeira signs elsewhere first.  And does it make sense for the Mariners to give up a young pitcher and take on a risky DH like Matsui?

Mets Prioritize Pitching

By | at

9:15pm: Michael Schmidt has a look at the amusing binder the Boras Corporation compiled to sell Oliver Perez.

6:31pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya commented on Manny Ramirez, indicating that he plans to invest in pitching instead.

2:34pm: The Mets expressed preliminary interest in Jon Garland and Ryan Dempster, according to Ken Davidoff.  Dempster’s agent made it clear that he won’t be re-signing with the Cubs soon.

1:23pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote in his blog this morning that the Mets are probably not willing to go past three years for Francisco Rodriguez or any reliever.

10:03am: More Mets chatter from Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He says the Mets and Rays have had preliminary discussions about Edwin Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine.  The Rays have some interest in Aaron Heilman, though the Mets would need to give more.

Sherman believes the Mets’ interest in Ibanez is minor, and Carlos Delgado or Ryan Church would have to be dealt first.

9:45am: The Mets are prioritizing pitching this winter, based on articles by Mike Puma of the New York Post, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, and Ken Davidoff of Newsday.  Let’s dig in!

  • Puma says the Mets have Scott Boras clients Oliver Perez and Derek Lowe on the radar.  Perez offers the benefit of familiarity, though he’s not likely to sign quickly.  Ken Rosenthal says the Mets would probably do $12MM a year for Perez, but Boras will want more.  Rubin notes that Lowe is doubly attractive to the Mets for his closing experience.
  • Rubin lists the Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, and D’Backs as potential trade destinations for Aaron Heilman.  The Rays have also been connected to Heilman.
  • Davidoff mentions Omar Minaya’s Javier Vazquez connection.  ESPN’s Keith Law says the Vazquez to the Mets rumor "appears to have originated in the Chicago camp, and the White Sox are keen to move him." 
  • ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Mets inquired on Rays pitcher Edwin Jackson.
  • Davidoff also points out the Mets’ interest in Raul Ibanez despite their emphasis on pitching.  The Royals and Cubs are also in on Ibanez so far.

White Sox Shopping Vazquez, Swisher?

By | at

8:43pm: Ken Davidoff says the Yankees had "extremely preliminary" talks with the Sox regarding Swisher.  Something to keep an eye on if the Yanks don’t sign Mark Teixeira.  Additionally, Davidoff says the White Sox are not anxious to unload Vazquez.

9:42am: According to Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune, the White Sox are aggressively shopping Javier Vazquez and Nick Swisher.  Additionally, the Sox reportedly have interest in Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras.

GM Ken Williams didn’t offer much info regarding possible trade talks.  Van Dyck speculates on names like Luis Castillo or Julio Lugo for Vazquez, seemingly suggesting Vazquez has a terrible contract too.  Hard to figure out, as he remains a useful mid-rotation starter. Sox Machine wants the abuse of logic to stop. 

Van Dyck wonders whether the A’s or Red Sox would have interest in Swisher, based on some tenuous Moneyball connection.  Joel Sherman believes Swisher could be a fit for the Yankees due to his versatility.  Williams replied in the negative when asked whether Swisher would play center field for the ’09 White Sox, which could be interpreted multiple ways.

Van Dyck says the Rockies wouldn’t have interest in Vazquez or Swisher, but rather a young pitcher like Lance Broadway for Taveras.

Matt Holliday Rumors: Wednesday

By | at

8:40pm: Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd says he is "completely open-minded to anything" in a Holliday deal – a premium starter is not a requirement.

2:38pm: Renck says the Rockies have talked to the Rays about Holliday, as the Rays have an abundance of pitching.  He also believes the Rays might be willing to give up Carl Crawford for Holliday.

9:54am: According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, there is too much momentum toward a Matt Holliday trade for the Rockies to turn back now.  Sherman figures a deal could go down in December.  He notes the Rockies’ appreciation of Yankees pitcher Ian Kennedy, though he wouldn’t be the centerpiece of a trade.

Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post did an exclusive interview with Holliday, who questioned the Rockies’ ability to contend every year.  Holliday disputed the notion that his contract talks with the Rockies were a distraction to the team.

Odds and Ends: Twins, Big Unit, Rockies

By | at

Links and tidbits for Wednesday.  Remember to check back on this post for updates!

Heyman’s Latest: Holliday, Bradley, Hudson

By | at

SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports from the GM meetings…

  • Matt Holliday showed up at the GM meetings to talk to Scott Boras, sparking trade speculation by reporters.
  • The Rangers failed to reach an agreement with Milton Bradley, and he’ll seek a four-year deal worth more than $10MM per.  Good luck with that.
  • Heyman says the Nationals are interested in Mark Teixeira and Matt Holliday, which MLB.com’s Bill Ladson first reported yesterday.  It does not seem that the Nats have the goods to acquire Holliday.  Heyman adds A.J. Burnett as a possibility, though Ken Rosenthal said to scratch them from the running this morning.  Adam Dunn is a more realistic name for the Nats.
  • The Angels haven’t ruled out signing Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia, though it’d be tough to fit both in the payroll.
  • The Yankees are eyeing Orlando Hudson, and could even ask him to play center field.  Nick Piecoro figures this would require an absurd offer from the Yanks.

Mets Rumors: Wolf, Fuentes, K-Rod, Street, Pedro

By | at

11:37am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets are eyeing Randy Wolf, in addition to Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.

Heyman adds that some Mets people are concerned about their catching, but others aren’t thrilled with the free agent options.

9:20am: All kinds of Mets rumors this morning.

  • Let’s begin with the closer situation.  The Mets are interested in Brian Fuentes, but Omar Minaya will not rule out Francisco Rodriguez. He makes a great point: contract numbers are tossed around early, but the player often fails to reach that amount. 
  • Joel Sherman says the Mets also want to speak to the A’s about Huston Street.  However, his sources say the A’s feel they match up better with the Indians, Rockies, and Brewers (all interested parties).  Rosenthal has Kerry Wood and Joe Beimel in the Mets’ sights as well.  Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog believes J.J. Putz could be a trade target, with interest on the Mariners’ side. 
  • Ken Davidoff explains how the Mets could end up signing K-Rod – the Fuentes market blows up, while Rodriguez settles for less.  I’m on board with that.
  • The Javier Vazquez rumors were addressed in this post.  Elsewhere on the starting pitching front – Minaya will talk to Pedro Martinez’s agent, but he’s unlikely to return.  Aaron Heilman won’t be moving to the rotation.
  • We’ve heard about the Mets’ interest in Raul Ibanez, but Minaya does not seem to consider the offense a problem.  He even spoke optimistically about a Luis Castillo rebound (though he did not give Castillo a ringing endorsement).

Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Atkins, Podsednik

By | at

Let’s check in on the Rockies next.

  • Matt Holliday may be selling his Denver-area home, not that it means anything.  Tracy Ringolsby has the Nationals, Rays, Cardinals, and Mets as teams interested in Holliday.  Meanwhile, Troy E. Renck explores a Yankees scenario.
  • Renck can’t see the Rox trading both Holliday and Garrett Atkins.  Ringolsby says the Angels are more interested in Atkins than Holliday.  Renck has the Indians and Twins as suitors for Atkins.
  • Scott Podsednik is open to returning to the Rockies, and they could have a place for him if Willy Taveras is dealt.
  • Renck expects the Rockies to be in on Carl Pavano if the Yankees don’t re-sign him.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Fielder, Beimel, Eckstein

By | at

Ken Rosenthal is on the scene at the GM meetings, and as usual has all kinds of new info.

  • The Brewers are unlikely to trade Prince Fielder, and reluctant to trade J.J. Hardy or Alcides Escobar.  It’d be smart to retain those three players.
  • Rosenthal still likes the Braves as the favorite for Jake Peavy, but wonders if the Cubs or another team could incorporate a third team to get it done.
  • The Cubs will need to spend much of their available money on pitching, which may leave little payroll room for an outfielder like Bobby Abreu.  They could backload contracts and move some of Jason Marquis’ salary though.
  • The Mets are interested in lefty reliever Joe Beimel, as well as usual suspects Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, and Kerry Wood.  They also like Raul Ibanez.
  • The Cardinals could move forward with a Ryan Ludwick/Colby Rasmus/Rick Ankiel outfield, or trade one of them.  Ankiel, entering his contract year, seems most likely to go if Rasmus is ready.
  • David Eckstein is marketing himself as a second baseman for 2009.
  • Don’t look for the Phillies to move Shane Victorino in a Matt Holliday deal.
  • The Cardinals and Nationals are not contenders for A.J. Burnett.  Still no word on Burnett’s opt-out.
  • The Marlins may wait until some of the top free agent starters sign before shopping Scott Olsen.
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top