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Odds And Ends: Cordero, Torrealba, Koskie, Clement

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Just browsing the web this morning:

  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post speculates that the Mets deal with Yorvit Torrealba might have fallen apart because of the catcher’s shoulder issues. This is based on Torrealba having missed time in 2006 with two shoulder injuries. The deal fell apart when it was thought to be complete, with only the physical remaining.
  • The Rockies have also inquired on Matt Clement. Renck mentions the Diamondbacks as also having interest in the 33-year-old righty, adding them to the aforementioned Padres and Royals. Clement has thrown just 65.1 innings in the past two years.
  • The Yankees have identified Francisco Cordero as their Plan B closer, should talks with Mariano Rivera fall apart. It should be moot, though, as Rivera is expected to sign this week. Cordero has not made any significant strides in talks with the Brewers.
  • The Twins, who could use an upgrade at third base, aren’t interested in Corey Koskie, who was drafted by the team in 1994 and played with them until he reached free agency after the 2004 season. Koskie missed 2006 with symptoms related to post-concussion syndrome.
  • It is unclear whether the Marlins are still interested in Yorvit Torrealba, writes Joe Capozzi. The price tag could be prohibitive. If the Marlins gave Torrealba the same three-year, $14.4 million deal he was to get with the Mets, he would become their second highest paid player. A catcher was the Marlins highest paid player last year, but they look to be severing ties with Miguel Olivo. I’m not sure Torrealba is much of an upgrade, though. At least Olivo has some pop, having hit 16 homers in each of the last two years.

    Remember, Torrealba hit just .212/.292/.326 away from Coors Field. Then again, Olivo had some pretty severe home/road splits: .247/.277/.493 at home, .228/.249/.325 on the road. You can decide for yourself what that could mean.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues.

Brewers, Padres, Angels, Rockies, Astros After Iguchi

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In some ways, Tadahito Iguchi might be a better buy at second base than Luis Castillo.  He’s getting half the press, but that doesn’t mean he’s getting half the interest.  Iguchi’s agent said today that the Astros, Brewers, Padres, Angels, and Rockies have expressed interest. Keep in mind that the Phillies asked Iguchi about playing third base several weeks ago and he said he’d rather sign elsewhere at a second baseman.

I wonder if Iguchi may have relaxed that stance.  The Brewers and Angels have third base vacancies.  They have Rickie Weeks and Howie Kendrick at second base, respectively.  Weeks could be an interesting option in center, and Kendrick has been rumored as part of a Miguel Cabrera package.  So Iguchi could theoretically still play second for either club.

The Padres and Rockies just have good old-fashioned vacancies at second base.  Both clubs could still fill the spot internally – the Padres with Matt Antonelli and the Rockies with Ian Stewart.

As for the ’Stros, well, Ed Wade has contacted half the free agent class.   

Latest On Torrealba/Castro Situation

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UPDATE, 11-16-07: As expected, Torrealba has inked a three-year deal with the Mets.  Newsday reports the deal is worth $14.4MM.  Since Torrealba was a Type B free agent, the Rockies will get a supplemental pick for their loss.

FROM 11-15-07:

One half of Omar Minaya’s desired catching tandem seems set: Ramon Castro has signed a two-year, $4MM contract.  It’ll be announced after he has a physical.  Honestly I thought Castro could’ve done better and marketing himself as a starter, but I guess he’s happy in New York.

The other part is waiting to see if Yorvit Torrealba will accept the Mets’ aggressive three-year, $15MM offer.  Adam Rubin’s source speculates that the Mets could even make it four years with an option for 2012.  How is Torrealba such a hot commodity?  David Lennon and Ken Davidoff say Torrealba is now also mulling a three-year offer from the Rockies.  We should know one way or another today.

Torrealba and Castro don’t make for an ideal platoon; the idea is more to keep each well-rested.  Over the last three years Castro has significantly better numbers against both lefties and righties than Torrealba, but he’s the backup.  It sounds like the Mets want Torrealba for less tangible reasons – his passion and his gamecalling.

The Rockies, by the way, may turn to Paul Lo Duca.  They don’t expect to retain Torrealba.

Odds and Ends: Kendrick, Uggla, Haren

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Another random collection of rumorage…

  • The Braves have "many millions more" to spend on players this winter.  One emailer suggested that maybe the Braves will offer arbitration to Andruw Jones and he’ll accept. 
  • Corey Patterson and the Nationals have mutual interest.  Baseball Prospectus’ Joe Sheehan considers him a possible bargain, noting that he is only 28.
  • We figured the Padres and Matt Clement had mutual interest.  Now it’s official.  Clement wants a one-year deal with incentives.
  • Tracy Ringolsby confirms that Yorvit Torrealba wants a three-year deal.  He says the Rockies are at two years, $7MM, the Marlins are in the same range, and the Mets are at two years, $9MM.  UPDATE: The Denver Post says Torrealba will have a decision Thursday.
  • Interesting Miguel Cabrera stuff from the L.A. Times.  Howie Kendrick is not considered untouchable, but the Marlins might have to include Dan Uggla.  Basically if the Marlins are to get four players back, they’ll have to add Uggla or Dontrelle Willis to the deal.   
  • Our friends at Gotham Baseball say if the Mets were to acquire Dan Haren, the package would start with Billy Beane favorite John Maine.  Mark Healey figures Lastings Milledge and Aaron Heilman would have to go also.
  • Ken Rosenthal thinks a one-year, $8MM offer from Atlanta would be enough to secure Tom Glavine.
  • The D’Backs’ main trading chip is outfielder Carlos Gonzalez.  It appears that the team explored what they could get for Conor Jackson and decided to keep him.

Rumor Roundup: Colon, Barrett, Clement, Monroe

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Rounding up some of today’s rumors…

Marlins Interested In Torrealba, Barrett, Maroth

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Joe Capozzi checks in with a look at the Marlins’ approach toward free agency this winter.

It sounds like the Fish are willing to spend a few bucks to upgrade on Miguel Olivo in the catcher spot.  Do they go for the defensive-minded Yorvit Torrealba, or the typically offensive-minded Michael Barrett?  So far the Marlins are leaning toward Torrealba, but would have to beat the Rockies’ two-year, $6MM offer.  And the Mets’ level of interest probably just increased with Jorge Posada staying with the Yankees. 

Barrett has a Jeffrey Loria connection, but might seek a two-year deal for $8MM or so.  The Padres might roll the dice and offer him arbitration.  If they do he declines then the price for another team to sign him increases signficantly – a first or second round draft pick.  The Marlins #6 overall pick is protected, as is the Devil Rays’ #1 overall pick.  In contrast, teams like the Brewers, Blue Jays, Mets, and Rockies risk losing first round picks if they sign Type A free agents who declined arbitration.  Another way to lose those picks would be to sign Type A guys before December 2nd.

Capozzi says the Fish could also look at Paul Lo Duca, Damian Miller, or Rod Barajas if the first two choices fall through. 

The Marlins will surf the bargain bin for one veteran starter, and they’re currently targeting Mike Maroth.  I like it.  He’s an Orlando native who could bounce back and win ten games in ’08.  Capozzi also says the Marlins are in touch with Aaron Boone’s agent, but will have competition from the Nationals.

Odds and Ends: Hot Stove Hysteria

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Anyone else ready for the Winter Meetings?  It’s going to be a crazy four days.  I’ll be blogging all of it nonstop.  Here are some links to consider in the meantime.

Odds and Ends: Rolen, Silva, Capps

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Here are some hot stove links to digest this evening.

Rockies Rumors: Helton, Holliday, Matsui

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Troy E. Renck is at it again, with another column updating us on the Rockies’ hot stove situation.

  • Todd Helton isn’t going anywhere, for multiple reasons.  His current $16.6MM salary is less frightening due to playoff revenue, and he’d be unlikely to approve a trade since his current team is already a winner.
  • As Renck reported earlier this week, the Rox will offer Matt Holliday a four-year, $60MM deal to buy out two years of free agency.  Holliday, a Scott Boras client, seems unlikely to accept anything like that.
  • Why would the Cubs be willing to overpay for Kaz Matsui with a three-year deal?  Surely the Cubs know Matsui has hit .256/.305/.370 away from Coors since joining the Rockies?  I don’t buy the speed angle – promote Eric Patterson, then.  I don’t buy the "make Fukudome comfortable angle" – sign a Japanese reliever, then.  The Rockies are fine moving on from Matsui and Yorvit Torrealba if their offers are beat.
  • Renck says Michael Barrett has drawn interest from six clubs so far, the Rockies one of them perhaps.  The Marlins could be another.
  • The Phillies won’t be going after Brian Fuentes now that they have Brad Lidge, but they weren’t pursuing him before Lidge anyway.  After the dust settles on Francisco Cordero and Mariano Rivera, the Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees are expected to look at Fuentes.  The Rockies’ demand is aggressive for one year of the closer – a #3 starter and a decent reliever.
  • Matt Herges will look for a two-year deal; otherwise he’ll accept the Rockies one-year offer.
  • Javy Lopez is attempting a comeback!

Rockies Rumors: Atkins, Barrett, Fukumori

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What are the Rockies up to as they plot to defend their NL pennant?  Tracy Ringolsby and Troy E. Renck have the latest.

  • Ringolsby says Garrett Atkins is staying put, which should help the third baseman relax a little bit.  This echoes Renck’s sentiments yesterday.  Renck also noted that the Rox won’t be offering Atkins a multiyear deal anytime soon.
  • Yesterday Renck said that after Yorvit Torrealba, the Rockies were considering Jose Molina, Paul Lo Duca, Jason Kendall, and Ramon Castro for catcher.  However Ringolsby says today that Michael Barrett and Kendall are the main targets.  Renck has come on board with that today, noting that Dan O’Dowd has contacted the agents for Barrett, Kendall, and Lo Duca.
  • Ringolsby adds that the Rockies are exploring the Japanese reliever market, namely Hitoki Iwase and Kazuo Fukumori.  Fukumori might appeal as the cheaper of the two.
  • Meanwhile the Indians, Brewers, Phillies, and Mets like Brian Fuentes.  We’ve also read about the Tigers’ interest.  The Rockies’ willingness to trade him may depend on the progress of 2007 top draft pick Casey Weathers.
  • Jason Jennings might be leaning toward signing with the Padres.  This echoes an obscure article we found back in July.
  • Renck says that if the Rockies don’t hear by Tuesday about their offers to Kaz Matsui, Matt Herges, LaTroy Hawkins, and Torrealba, they’ll start looking at other options. 
  • Renck adds that the Rockies have checked in with Ron Mahay’s people.  He’s getting popular.
  • The Rockies are out on Jon Garland – they can’t fit his $12MM salary into the 2008 budget.  Matsui moving on would clear $3MM though.
  • The idea of locking up Troy Tulowitzki long-term is being entertained.  It probably wouldn’t happen until after the 2008 season though.

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