Rockies Rumors

Denny Bautista To Tigers For Jose Capellan

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2007 at 10:38am CDT

Jon Paul Morosi has the scoop – the Tigers and Rockies are close to completing a swap of relievers. The Tigers would send Jose Capellan to the Rockies for Denny Bautista.

Bautista, 25, was acquired by the Rockies from the Royals in the Jeremy Affeldt swap at the 2006 trading deadline. He’d been a starter for much of his career. He was promising in Triple A in ’07 but control problems persisted.

You may recall there was a Jose Capellan derby last summer after the Brewers demoted him to Triple A. The Rockies were interested then, too. He turns 27 in January and didn’t do much this year. Perhaps the Rockies will be more inclined to let LaTroy Hawkins leave now.

Odds and Ends: Guillen, Patterson, Clark, Andruw

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2007 at 8:31am CDT

Let’s keep things rolling along with a morning Odds and Ends collection.

U.S.S. Mariner is not amused with the Ms’ decision not to offer arbitration to Jose Guillen.
Andruw Jones hasn’t been getting much player, and his camp initiated contact with the Royals yesterday. The mutual interest may have been what pushed Guillen to sign.
With the David Riske to Milwaukee signing not official, the Orioles apparently had talks with his agent yesterday. He’ll be too pricey for them, anyway. By the way, the Cubs checked in on Brian Roberts, but nothing is really stirring right now on that front.
Corey Patterson seems a little down, as he’s no one’s first choice in center field. The Orioles are apparently moving on. Patterson wouldn’t say whether he’d take a one-year deal. As a Scott Boras client, I imagine he won’t.
Summing up the Rockies’ external second base candidates: Chris Burke, Marcus Giles, and Mark Loretta. The agents for both Giles and Loretta have contacted the Rockies, and Loretta would play there at a discount.
Evan Grant has his Rangers column up, but we already hit upon most of the points yesterday (he was the source then, too). One new note is that the Rangers don’t want to give Tony Clark anything more than one year plus an option, while Clark wants a two-year deal. The Rays, Dodgers, and Twins are said to like Clark.

Pirates Rumors: Bay, McLouth, Morris

By Tim Dierkes | December 3, 2007 at 11:18pm CDT

MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch jumps into the fray with her own set of Pirates rumors.

Jason Bay rumors are flying around. Langosch mentions Steve Phillips’ rumor at ESPN: Kelly Shoppach and Cliff Lee for Bay. Andy Marte could be involved as well.
The Rangers have decided they desire a corner outfielder, and moved from Nate McLouth to Bay accordingly. Langosch suggests the Rangers would send relievers over to Pittsburgh – now that would be a bad trade for the Bucs.
McLouth, by the way, is drawing interest from the Giants and Padres. He’s also been linked to the Marlins.
The Rockies may have some interest in Matt Morris.
Dealing Morris might allow the Bucs to give Brett Tomko what he wants – an opportunity to start. The Pirates will meet with Tomko’s agent this week.

Rockies, Mariners Interested In Marcus Giles

By Tim Dierkes | December 3, 2007 at 5:46pm CDT

Second baseman Marcus Giles was awful this year, hitting .229/.304/.317 in 420 ABs. You don’t hear statheads talking him up quite as much these days. Nonetheless ESPN’s Jayson Stark reports that the Rockies and Mariners have interest. Apparently one other NL team is interested as well.

For the Rox, Giles would be a fallback option if they can’t sign Mark Loretta. The Mariners are trying to find someone to challenge or replace Jose Lopez. Giles made $3.75MM this year and doesn’t figure to get much more on the open market.

Odds and Ends: Loretta, Pettitte, Affeldt

By Tim Dierkes | December 3, 2007 at 3:05pm CDT

Random Winter Meetings rumors…

Doug Melvin confirms that the Nats offered Chad Cordero for Rickie Weeks. Melvin is adamant that he won’t be trading Weeks or J.J. Hardy for a closer.
Mike Timlin for $3MM, done.
Mark Loretta would like to return to San Diego but the Padres will pass. The Rockies may yet sign him.
Rob Biertempfel thinks the Pirates could send a reliever to the Rockies for Jamey Carroll, if the Rockies would eat some of Carroll’s salary. That’s right, a Jamey Carroll trade rumor. For a man of his abilities Carroll is a tad pricey at $2.3MM.
Andy Pettitte deal is official at $16MM with no option year.
Jeremy Affeldt might be looking for four years, $16MM. Say whaaaat? The Rox offered him a mere $4MM over two years.

Brown’s Latest: Erstad, Livan, Tomko

By Tim Dierkes | December 3, 2007 at 2:26pm CDT

Yahoo’s Tim Brown checks in with his own set of rumors after working the floor a bit.

Darin Erstad is popular – the Padres, Mariners, Astros, and Rays have inquired. His mystique lives on.
The Phillies appear to have a serious interest in Livan Hernandez, though he doesn’t seem to be what they need.
Brett Tomko’s agent met with the Rockies today. Brown says the Pirates, Nationals, Marlins, Reds, and Rangers are after him too. Separately it’s been said that the Astros are in on him too. The Padres made a weak $1.5MM offer to Tomko.

Rockies Eyeing Burke, Ohman, Capuano

By Tim Dierkes | December 3, 2007 at 7:16am CDT

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News has a list of available players the Rockies like. He names Chris Burke, Mark Redman, Steve Trachsel, Will Ohman, and Chris Capuano as the targets.

Trachsel and Redman we know about; they are two among a slew of starters the Rockies are considering. Capuano is new to the list, however. They’ll have some competition from the Cardinals on him.

Burke is an option for second base and a player the Rox liked a year ago for the Jason Jennings deal. Now he’ll come ultra-cheap. Mark Loretta is considered a long shot.

The Rockies like Ohman, who the Cubs consider expendable. It’s strange, though, because the Rockies are currently shopping a better southpaw reliever in Brian Fuentes. Fuentes wants to close, so Dan O’Down will listen to offers. But it doesn’t make sense that a team would surrender a young, eighth-inning ready reliever for Fuentes.

Tomko Not Close To Signing With Padres

By Tim Dierkes | December 2, 2007 at 11:46pm CDT

The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Tom Krasovic reported today that Padres GM Kevin Towers expects to sign Brett Tomko for a relief role. Tomko was quoted as saying "Of course, we’re interested."

To clear things up, ESPN’s Amy Nelson spoke to Tomko today. He’s not close to signing with the Padres. In an ideal world he’d get a multiyear deal and a chance to start. The Padres offered one year and a bullpen job. Said Tomko: "It’s not like I’m looking to be the highest-paid 4-12 pitcher ever. But I don’t feel like I’m desperate. I’m willing to wait for a couple of other guys to sign." Nelson adds that more than six teams have inquired on Tomko, including the Nationals, Rockies, Astros, and Marlins. He’s an intriguing bargain buy.

But this begs the question: who was the highest paid 4-12 pitcher ever? Tomko made $4.1MM this year, $5.1MM if you count his buyout. Since 1901, 27 pitchers have gone 4-12. Since 1990, only Tomko, Mark Gubicza, and Darryl Kile have done it. Gubicza earned $1.6MM in ’96, while Kile earned $1.272MM in ’95. So Tomko technically already is the highest paid 4-12 pitcher ever.

Odds and Ends: Colon, Clark, Gagne

By Tim Dierkes | December 2, 2007 at 9:44am CDT

Random rumors, let’s round ’em up.

How about Bartolo Colon to the Mets? David Lennon notes that Omar Minaya sold the farm to acquire him in 2002 as the Expos’ GM.
Scott Lauber says Aaron Rowand is insisting on a five-year deal. He adds that the Phils have interest in Geoff Jenkins but he might be too expensive.
Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller are considered untouchable, so don’t look for the Tigers to make any big trades.
Patrick Saunders runs down some free agents the Rockies may consider for the back end of their rotation: Tony Armas, Matt Clement, Steve Trachsel, Josh Fogg, Jason Jennings, Jon Lieber, Mark Redman, Brett Tomko, and Kip Wells.
The Rays may go after Tony Clark, in large part because they’re seeking leadership. Marc Topkin agrees, and also rattles off Geoff Jenkins, Brad Wilkerson, Cliff Floyd, Mike Lamb, Mark Sweeney, Corey Koskie, and Greg Nortion as other possibilities.
It’s expected that Eric Gagne will not accept Boston’s offer of arbitration, because he wants to close. One place he could do so is Texas, who like him if he’ll take one year.
The Marlins’ new marketing materials exclude Miguel Cabrera.
The Rangers have interest in Sean Casey and Mike Lamb.

Yankees Not Close With Loretta

By Tim Dierkes | December 1, 2007 at 1:03pm CDT

UPDATE, 12-01-07 at 1pm: Olney now says the Yanks don’t have any serious interest in Loretta, and haven’t spoken to him in over a month.

UPDATE, 11-30-07 at 10am: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post has more on this situation. The Rockies got in touch with Loretta’s agent recently but weren’t optimistic on getting a deal done. While Loretta is close with the Yanks, he will let the Rockies’ second base situation play out before signing because Colorado is his first choice.

FROM 11-30-07 at 8:40am:

Ryne Crabb of The Transaction Guy writes of a Buster Olney radio report wherein the Yankees were said to be close to signing Mark Loretta.

Before we punch Robinson Cano’s ticket to Minnesota, remember that the Yanks have liked Loretta in the past as a first base and/or backup infield option. It may be as simple as that. To his credit, Loretta posted a .352 OBP last year (though he was awful after the break).

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