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Rockies Shopping Holliday, Atkins, Taveras

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9:11pm: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves are not interested in Taveras after all.

10:47am: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post and Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, the Rockies are shopping Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, and Willy Taveras.

Holliday, a Scott Boras client, is set to earn $13.5MM in 2009 before reaching free agency.  Ringolsby says the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Mets, and Phillies have shown interest. Renck has the Cardinals as a lurker.  The Nats may also be interested.  The Rockies will target young pitching in return.

Atkins is under team control for 2009 and 2010.  Ringolsby has the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Mets, Phillies, White Sox, and Twins as interested parties.  Renck sees the Indians as another possibility.

Taveras is also under team control through 2010.  Ringolsby says the Royals, Yankees, White Sox, and Braves are in on him, while Renck adds the Nationals.

Rockies Won’t Re-Sign Fuentes

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According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies will not be re-signing free agent closer Brian Fuentes.  Fuentes’ likely price tag – three years, $36MM+ – is just too high.  Renck believes Fuentes may even be able to snag four years given the poor market for closers after Francisco Rodriguez.

Fuentes’ agent listed the Mets, Cardinals, and Angels as interested teams.  A meeting with the Mets should come soon.  The best case for the Rockies would be the Cardinals, as the Rockies would receive their #19 pick in next year’s draft.

Phillies’ Offseason Agenda

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12:47pm: Scott Lauber has the latest from the Amaro press conference. 

  • Manny Ramirez seems unlikely as a left field solution.  Execs surveyed by Jerry Crasnick felt the same.
  • Burrell switched to a Philly-based agent, and talks will begin soon with the Phillies.
  • Pat Gillick will remain with the Phillies as a paid consultant.

11:13am: The Phillies locked up Ruben Amaro Jr. as their GM through 2011.  Items on his to-do list:

  • Left fielder Pat Burrell could be back if he accepts a two-year deal.  Otherwise, the Phils will kick the tires on Manny Ramirez, Matt Holliday, and Magglio Ordonez.  Jim Salisbury also notes that the Phillies have long liked Rocco Baldelli.  They’ve also been linked to Garrett Atkins.
  • Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard are in for large raises through arbitration; Amaro may attempt to sign them long-term.
  • Salisbury sees free agent lefties Jamie Moyer and Scott Eyre re-signing.  Scott Lauber suggests the Phils don’t want to go beyond one year for Moyer, though.
  • The team had a $104MM payroll in ’08, and that is expected to increase.
  • The Phillies (along with the Tigers and Nationals) have interest in free agent utility man Pete Orr.

Nationals Looking For Cleanup Hitter

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According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals are looking for a cleanup hitter.  Their targets: Adam Dunn, Prince Fielder, Matt Holliday, and Mark Teixeira.

The Nats probably do not have the depth to pull off a trade for Fielder or Holliday.  Teixeira will command a contract in the $150MM range.  Of the four, Dunn makes the most sense.  He can be had for less than $100MM, and GM Jim Bowden has a history with him.

Will Rockies Trade Taveras?

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Rockies center fielder Willy Taveras hit .251/.308/.296 in 538 plate appearances this year, a major drain on the team’s offense.  Defensively, Taveras had a big year in 2006 but has been below average since.  Quad and knee injuries may be the culprit, though Taveras has been able to steal bases.

Taveras wants to play every day, but it probably won’t be for the Rockies.  Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post fully expects him to be traded this winter.  Taveras was claimed off waivers in August, possibly by the Nationals, Phillies, or Mets (obviously no trade agreement was reached).  Taveras is arbitration-eligible, and there’s been no indication the Rockies are considering non-tendering him.

Today Renck suggested Taveras for Ian Kennedy is "not a longshot."  River Ave. Blues hates the idea, noting that the Yankees already have two superior center fielders on the roster.

Heyman’s Latest: Sabathia, Holliday, Griffey

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up; let’s take a look.

  • "The prevailing opinion around baseball" is that C.C. Sabathia will sign with the Yankees, and C.C.’s friend Jimmy Rollins agrees.
  • Matt Holliday "definitely intrigues" the Yankees.  But they’d have to give up a lot to get him for one year, and they seem full at the outfield corners.
  • Heyman, perhaps sensing a divide that does not exist, says Pat Gillick has relied on scouts rather than stats to make his decisions.  Heyman also speaks of "a new hesitancy on the part of some to go for another young Ivy League stat man" at the general manager position.
  • Heyman echoes the commonly held sentiment that the White Sox will not re-sign Ken Griffey Jr.
  • The Mets are prioritizing catcher, bullpen, rotation, and outfield over second base.  They’ve talked about Giants backstop Bengie Molina, owed $6MM in the last year of his deal.
  • Heyman believes Boston’s chances of trading Mike Lowell are "practically nil" due to his hip surgery.  His sources won’t rule out a run at Mark Teixeira though.  In other Boston buzz, Heyman sees Coco Crisp on the trading block and a two-year offer for Jason Varitek.

White Sox Offseason Possibilities

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I did a White Sox Offseason Outlook earlier this month, rattling off available speedy players and also suggesting a Bobby Jenks trade be explored.  Today, Chicago Tribune beat writer Mark Gonzales offers his take on the Sox.

Gonzales sees Juan Uribe and Toby Hall as two players the White Sox hope to re-sign, with Hall at a lower salary than his $2.25MM option.  Orlando Cabrera, Ken Griffey Jr., and Joe Crede will be gone.  Cabrera is good for two draft picks if the Sox offer arbitration and he signs elsewhere.

Gonzales wonders if a Paul Konerko for Chone Figgins trade could take shape, but only if the White Sox add players.  Konerko is owed $24MM for 2009-10, with full no-trade rights. Figgins should earn $5MM+ in ’09 before he hits free agency for the first time.  It may be hard to get the Angels interested – Figgins fits their club, and they’ll try to re-sign Mark Teixeira.  Kendry Morales may be the backup plan at first.

Gonzales sees the Rockies as another potential trade partner for Sox GM Ken Williams, naming Garrett Atkins and Willy Taveras as potential matches. Taveras may be had for a song, but Atkins should require young pitching.

A few free agents to consider: Orlando Hudson, Dennys Reyes, and Alex Cora.

Holliday Derby Begins

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According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have made it known to rival executives that left fielder Matt Holliday is available.  Renck names the Red Sox, Phillies, Angels, Mets, Royals, and Nationals as potential suitors.  I still find the oft-mentioned Red Sox idea to be far-fetched.

The Rockies would prefer to move corner infielder Garrett Atkins, however.  The Angels, Twins, and Red Sox are cited as potential fits.  However, other teams are surely aware of Atkins’ defensive struggles at third base and questionable hitting away from Coors Field.  Renck says the Angels’ interest will depend on their ability to re-sign Mark Teixeira.

Starting pitching seems to be the Rockies’ target return for either player.  They’d be giving up one year of Holliday and two of Atkins, plus the likely draft pick compensation.

Heyman’s Latest: Manny, Holliday, Peavy

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new rumor-packed article up.

  • Heyman suggests the battle for the three elite free agents – Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and C.C. Sabathia – will mostly be fought by the New York and Los Angeles clubs.  Heyman talked to one GM who believes the country’s economic situation will not affect the big names but could be bad for the lower-tier guys.
  • Heyman’s potential Manny suitors: the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Phillies.  The Phillies’ interest will depend on whether Pat Burrell stays.  I’m not sure why the Orioles would be in the mix.
  • The Rockies are "very likely" to trade Matt Holliday. The Rox would be willing to sign Holliday for five years and $100MM, but that won’t cut it.  The team’s focus in a trade will be a young starter.  Heyman echoes a Ken Rosenthal thought from a few months ago: surprising small-market teams may enter the Holliday bidding.
  • Heyman has the Mets, Rangers, and Indians as teams looking at Brian Fuentes.  The Mets are the favorite to sign him in the three-year, $36MM range.
  • Jake Peavy has already turned down one American League team.  Heyman believes hes particularly opposed to the Rangers and has mixed feelings about the Yankees.  Peavy is reeling from the Padres’ decision to shop him. 
  • Heyman has unkind words for Luis Gonzalez, who may not be welcomed back to the D’Backs based on his "uneasy relationship" with Stephen Drew and Chris Young.
  • Heyman does not think MLB has any evidence against Nationals GM Jim Bowden in the scout skimming scandal.
  • Heyman gives Ruben Amaro a slight edge over Mike Arbuckle to replace Pat Gillick as Phillies GM.
  • George W. Bush as baseball’s next commissioner?  "Many have long believed" that Bush would like to be Bud Selig’s successor.

Ringolsby’s Latest: Fuentes, Atkins, Holliday

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Let’s take a look at the latest column from Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News.

  • Rockies "closer of the future" Casey Weathers will miss the ’09 season due to elbow surgery.  However, the Rox are still not likely to re-sign Brian Fuentes.  Joel Sherman expects Fuentes to sign for three years, $36-39MM.  Brad Lidge signed for three years, $37.5MM in July, but that was not on the open market.  The Mets will be in on Fuentes.
  • The Rockies are expected to trade one of Garrett Atkins or Matt Holliday this winter.  The Phillies will inquire on both (they tried to acquire Holliday this summer).  Ringolsby says the Red Sox have discussed Holliday internally and considers the Angels a match for Atkins.  The Red Sox, however, are set at the corners with Jason Bay and J.D. Drew.
  • Brothers Jayson and Laynce Nix are both free agents.  Jayson, 26, hit .303/.373/.591 in Triple A.  Laynce, 28, hit .284/.348/.539.  Jayson plays second base, Laynce plays outfield.
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