Will Rockies Trade Atkins?
Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post sat down with Rockies infielder Garrett Atkins, who may be traded this winter. Atkins is comfortable going year to year, even if it increases the chances of a trade. He’s under team control through 2010.
Renck mentions the Indians and Twins as suitors for Atkins. Tracy Ringolsby believes Michael Cuddyer is on the Rockies’ radar (Cuddyer is signed through ’10 with an option for ’11).
Fellow trade target Matt Holliday says Atkins can hit anywhere, though Atkins hit just .244/.303/.415 on the road over the last two seasons.
Phils, Cards Battle For Holliday
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Phillies and Cardinals are the top suitors for Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday.
The Phillies discussed Holliday and Brian Fuentes with the Rockies during the season. The Rockies have an eye on Carlos Carrasco, J.A. Happ, and Shane Victorino. Todd Zolecki believes Jayson Werth could be in the mix.
The Cardinals have been aggressive, and Ryan Ludwick is their bargaining chip. Joe Strauss says the Cardinals would like to try to sign Holliday to an extension, but may not have the leverage to require a window. The Cards would like to get something done soon. Ludwick alone seems a pretty solid return for Holliday, since the Rockies would have him for three years. Strauss adds that the Mets are also in the running for Holliday.
Mets Rumors: Fuentes, Cordero, Delgado
5:18pm: More on the Mets: Ken Davidoff says they’re shopping Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis, and Pedro Feliciano. The A’s, Rays, and Rangers are fans of Heilman. The Rockies, Cardinals, Cubs, and D’Backs were also tossed into the mix by Adam Rubin, though the D’Backs haven’t had recent talks. The Mets would be willing to pick up some of the $3.6MM owed to Schoeneweis next year.
4:58pm: Brian Fuentes‘ agent Rick Thurman calls the below rumor of an offer to the Mets a "total fabrication."
10:56am: Checking in on the Mets…
- Tracy Ringolsby says Brian Fuentes‘ agents proposed a four-year, $44MM deal to the Mets. Ringolsby heard the Indians and Cardinals don’t want to go beyond two years. The Mets also met with Francisco Rodriguez‘s agent.
- The Mets are considering free agent Chad Cordero, who is coming off July shoulder surgery.
- GM Omar Minaya seems willing to spend big money on a closer and one starter, and then fill the other starting spot cheaply. The Mets could, say, sign Derek Lowe and trade for the affordable Edwin Jackson. The Mets haven’t exchanged names yet for Jackson.
- Ryan Dempster and Jon Garland may be on the radar, as Minaya met with their agent yesterday. Dempster’s agent said he can handle New York.
- Carlos Delgado approached the Mets late in the season about an extension for 2010, but they decided to pass. Delgado wasn’t bothered by this.
- Ken Davidoff adds that the Mets have let scout/former Bulls GM Jerry Krause go.
Matt Holliday Rumors: Thursday
5:10pm: Joe Strauss says the Cards are in on Holliday; Ryan Ludwick could be part of the package. Strauss says the Cardinals would have interest in signing Holliday to an extension. Tracy Ringolsby says the Cardinals have taken an aggressive approach, and also mentions Ludwick. He adds that GM John Mozeliak would need ownership approval to acquire Holliday.
4:53pm: The latest on Matt Holliday: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Phillies are the most aggressive suitor. The Phils do have the goods to get it done, especially with the suggestion this morning that the Rockies might be willing to take a bit less.
Meanwhile, Troy E. Renck continues to suggest the Phillies and A’s are the most likely suitors for Holliday. He reiterates that the Rockies are open-minded on the return.
Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Taveras, Atkins
4:54pm: More Rockies chatter from Troy Renck. The Rockies intend to sort out the Holliday/Atkins trade situations before moving on to other concerns such as the bullpen. They do like the idea of bringing Jeremy Affeldt back, though. Renck has the Twins and Indians kicking the tires on Atkins, while Tracy Ringolsby believes Michael Cuddyer could be a fit for Colorado.
11:18am: The latest Rockies buzz…
- Buster Olney says the Rockies are very motivated to move Matt Holliday. Olney wonders if the Rox might end up taking a bit less than expected for him. Troy Renck says various execs see the A’s and Phillies as the most likely matches for Holliday. The Rays are another possibility. GM Dan O’Dowd will be open-minded about the return.
- Renck also says the White Sox have contacted the Rockies about Willy Taveras.
- Renck talked to the agent for Doug Brocail, Brandon Lyon, and Kyle Farnsworth. All three are open to pitching in Colorado.
- Tracy Ringolsby says the Rockies have had "initial talks" with the Twins regarding Garrett Atkins. He wonders if the Angels could jump in later.
- Ringolsby suggests Brad Penny would be an interesting candidate for the Rockies.
Rangers Rumors: Blalock, Blake, Catchers
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
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
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?
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
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.