Redding, Rockies Have Mutual Interest
Not surprisingly, the Rockies will pursue Tim Redding, who became a free agent after being non-tendered by the Nats.
According to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding, Redding’s agent Tom O’Connell said he and Redding have “significant interest in Colorado.”
Willy Taveras Will Be Non-Tendered
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says to expect outfielder Willy Taveras to join the free agent market:
The Nationals’ unwillingness to take Taveras and Juan Morillo for Tim Redding — a deal Colorado thought was done — will lead the Rockies to non-tender the center fielder today, making him a free agent.
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News agrees he’ll be non-tendered, noting the Yankees, Red Sox, Reds, Marlins, and White Sox also had trade discussions for Taveras.
Renck adds that Glendon Rusch has a minor league offer for $750K in hand, and is weighing offers from four other clubs. Rusch would be the Rockies’ second lefty behind newly signed Alan Embree.
A few more notes: the Rockies have mild interest in bringing back Josh Fogg…they’re the favorite for Redding if he’s non-tendered too…the Rox will make a non-guaranteed offer to Scott Podsednik…Joey Gathright would be of interest if non-tendered.
Rockies Wanted Carlos Carrasco For Atkins
According to Scott Lauber, the Rockies told the Phillies Garrett Atkins is available – if they’re willing to surrender top pitching prospect Carlos Carrasco. Lauber says the Phils are "positively unwilling" to trade Carrasco, however.
Odds and Ends: Giambi, Saberhagen, Chacon
Today’s stray Winter Meetings links as everyone heads home…
- Jason Giambi maintains hopes of returning to the Yankees; he may be willing to take a discount.
- Dave Cameron believes the Rays won the Edwin Jackson–Matt Joyce swap, handily.
- Brett Saberhagen was hired as an agent for Dan Evans’ firm. He’ll focus on pitchers.
- Shawn Chacon‘s agent is trying to find his client a job. Troy Renck also notes that the Rockies’ offer to Glendon Rusch is a $750K minor league deal.
- Kevin Kaduk relays his first Winter Meetings experience.
Rockies Reach Agreement With Embree
THURSDAY: Renck now says Embree’s deal is for $2.225MM with a mutual option for ’10. It may be announced tomorrow.
WEDNESDAY: Following up – Renck says the Rockies have an agreement in principle with Embree one a one-year deal worth around $2.5MM. The deal will be announced Thursday after the Rule 5 draft. Embree was a Type B free agent, but the A’s will not receive draft pick compensation because they did not offer arbitration.
TUESDAY: According to Troy Renck, the Rockies are nearing a one-year agreement with free agent lefty Alan Embree. The deal would be finalized later this week.
Rockies Rumors: Redding, Taveras, Penny
2:47am: MLB.com’s Thomas Harding digs further. He says Taveras did not fail a physical, and the other player in the trade was hard-throwing righty Juan Morillo (who is out of options).
12:50am: Troy Renck says the Tim Redding–Willy Taveras deal is on life support. An upgrade from dead, I suppose. He says:
A potential deal died late Tuesday over apparent concerns about Willy Taveras’ left leg stress fracture. However, a Natonals’ source said that the bigger issue was a medical issue with a pitcher Washington was to receive as part of the deal. That leaves the lingering possibility that something could get done Thursday following the Rule 5 draft.
Both players remain non-tender candidates for Friday. Thomas Harding says the Rockies have slim hope of a deal for Taveras.
Other notes from Harding: The Rockies decided against making an offer to Brad Penny and they’re waiting to hear back on a minor league offer to Glendon Rusch. Renck says they do have interest in Luis Ayala.
Redding For Taveras Trade Is Off
5:14pm: Troy Renck says a source close to Redding said he did not fail his physical. So if his report and Rojas’ report are both true, Taveras failed his.
WEDNESDAY, 4:08pm: ESPN’s Enrique Rojas says a Taveras for Redding swap fell apart when one of the players failed a physical.
TUESDAY, 10:28pm: Bill Ladson talked to a source who said Taveras was not part of the talks with the Rockies today.
10:21pm: Sheinin says the Nats are apparently the ones who balked at the Redding-Taveras swap.
9:45pm: Troy Renck says this trade is dead for now. Joe Koshansky was discussed at one point, he notes.
9:28pm: Tracy Ringolsby says (story has been removed) a Tim Redding for Willy Taveras swap is close but some details still need to be worked out. Dave Sheinin considers it an exchange of non-tender candidates.
Mets Bullpen Rumors
The Mets signed Francisco Rodriguez yesterday, but GM Omar Minaya is not done tinkering with his bullpen. SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Matt Capps, Huston Street, and others are on the radar as setup possibilities. However, teams are asking for Jon Niese and the Mets don’t want to give him up. Heyman adds that the Mets have talked to the Mariners and Cubs about relief help as well.
Rockies Rumors: Redding, Gonzalez, Turnbow, Blanco
8:40pm: Rosenthal says the Rockies and Nats are discussing a Redding for Taveras swap.
4:06pm: Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says the Rockies have had internal discussions about Henry Blanco. I imagine they’d have to ship out Yorvit Torrealba first.
3:17pm: Troy Renck learned from team sources that the Rockies will not trade Gonzalez this winter.
1:25pm: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson says the Nats and Rockies met for a half hour yesterday, talking about Redding and Carlos Gonzalez. At the trade deadline, the Nationals wanted Dexter Fowler for Redding. Really?
1:57am: Rockies rumors for Tuesday…
- According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have discussed trading for Nationals starter Tim Redding. Redding is under team control for two more years. On one hand the last thing the Nationals can spare is pitching, but on the other Redding is getting pricey and is a back-end guy anyway.
- Renck contends that the Nationals maintain some interest in Willy Taveras. Ken Rosenthal wrote recently that the Nats "aren’t terribly enamored" of the speedy outfielder.
- The Rockies are one of three teams confirmed to be in on Derrick Turnbow, who will work out for teams in January. The Pirates and Giants have also expressed interest.
- Sometime in January, the Rockies will look into a long-term extension for starter Ubaldo Jimenez.
Delmon Young Rumors
8:22pm: Doesn’t sound like the Rays will acquire Delmon Young, but Aaron Gleeman does believe the Twins will move him.
5:49pm: Renck said below that the Rockies had not spoken to teams about Atkins, though LEN3 says they’ve talked to the Twins about him. Seems that the price is too high for the Twins, anyway.
4:40pm: MLB.com’s Kelly Thesier talked to a source who said it’s highly unlikely the Rays reacquire Young.
3:18pm: Troy Renck says the Rockies have not spoken to teams about Atkins. But it should be noted that Stark has only speculating with the Rockies portion of the below rumor.
10:53am: ESPN’s Jayson Stark is now speaking of "indications Monday night that Tampa Bay was still talking to the Twins about a deal that would bring outfielder Delmon Young back to the Rays." Stark speculates that it could be a three-team deal where the Rays ship out Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson, maybe to Colorado as a means of getting Garrett Atkins to Minnesota. Stark had a source yesterday saying the Rays would "never" take Young back, but that has apparently changed.
Yesterday, there was quite a bit of chatter about the Phillies doing their homework on Young. And keep in mind the Rockies had interest too.