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Tigers Could Lose Rogers, Move On To Silva

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Leave it to Scott Boras to be unsatisfied with Kenny Rogers’ declarations that he will either play for the Tigers or retire.  Boras told Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski yesterday that Rogers wanted to explore the open market. 

The Tigers remain Rogers’ first choice, but Boras wants to be make sure the the 43-year old southpaw is paid at a level commensurate with his peers.  To Boras that would be the Maddux-Schilling-Glavine range, which is roughly $10MM.  Rogers earned $8MM in 2007, and is probably a tad less appealing than that trio.  According to Jon Paul Morosi (linked above), the Mariners and Rangers would be in the mix if the Tigers couldn’t get something done. 

Dombrowski won’t let the Rogers wrinkle stop him from pursuing other pitchers.  Morosi says the Tigers have already expressed interest in Carlos Silva.  Wow, that list is growing rapidly.

The team’s other focus is relief pitching, given Joel Zumaya’s injury.  They still want to re-sign Todd Jones, and Matt Mantei is a mildly interesting wild card.  Morosi added today that the Tigers have talked to the Rockies about Brian Fuentes.  Morosi says relievers from the Cubs and Pirates could also be available – I’m guessing Ryan Dempster, Will Ohman, Damaso Marte, and Salomon Torres.  An intriguing trade option: Jose Valverde.

Latest Rockies Rumors: Matsui, Torrealba, Holliday

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As usual, the Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck has the scoop on all things Rockies.

  • The Rockies have made a two year offer to Kaz Matsui in the neighborhood of $6MM total.  That’s fair; we all know his home/road splits.  The Cubs and Padres were named as other interested parties yesterday, but the Padres have decided to go with internal options at second base.  Why the Cubs would add a second baseman is still beyond me.  They already have Ryan Theriot, Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, and Eric Patterson.  The Cubs’ plan to add speed concerns me.
  • The Rox have also put in a two-year offer to Yorvit Torrealba, for roughly the same $6MM amount.  It sounds like Torrealba will wait to field offers from other teams, chiefly the Mets.  His agent says the Mets’ offer would have to dwarf the Rockies’ for him to consider it.  Renck names Jose Molina, Paul Lo Duca, Jason Kendall, and Ramon Castro as backup options at catcher.  I like the idea of Molina.
  • Scott Boras client Matt Holliday is under Colorado’s control for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, though he’ll start getting quite expensive in arbitration.  The Rockies will make an offer to lock him up for 2008-11 for roughly $60MM.  It’s fair, but with Boras talking in Holliday’s ear he’ll probably wait for free agency in the winter of 2009-10.  They’ll pay lip service to the idea that he wants to stay in Colorado but ultimately he’ll take a seven year, $150MM offer from some other club.  That’s how I see it unfolding, at least.
  • Brian Fuentes is indeed on the market; expect many teams in the mix for him.  While Garrett Atkins won’t be offered a multiyear contract, the Rockies won’t trade him this winter.
  • Finally, the Rockies have an eye on Brett Tomko to fill a swingman role.

Odds and Ends: Glavine, Kent, Kuroda

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Picking up some rumors and tidbits that haven’t been otherwise posted during this busy day…

Latest Mets Rumors: A-Rod, Silva, Blanton

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Plenty of action around the Mets lately; Omar Minaya has his work cut out for him.  Hat tip to MetsBlog for several of the links.

  • The sensational storyline here is that Minaya will meet with Scott Boras to discuss Alex Rodriguez.  However, Boras and Minaya might spend more time discussing Kyle Lohse and Eric Gagne than A-Rod – the Mets’ focus is pitching.
  • Newsday’s Ken Davidoff reminds us of past trade talks regarding Joe Blanton, Jose Contreras, and Jon Garland.  Those talks may be re-opened, though Davidoff notes that the White Sox aren’t enamored of Lastings Milledge.  Additionally, the Mets will meet with Carlos Silva’s people this week.
  • Buster Olney discusses the Mets’ pursuit for pitching today in his blog.  They need a horse, somebody who can chew up innings.  Aside from the aforementioned Silva and Blanton, Olney names Roy Oswalt, Dan Haren, Scott Kazmir, and Dontrelle Willis as possible targets (though Marc Lancaster considers the declaration of Kazmir’s availability to be "dubious at best."  Meanwhile one exec thinks the Rays would only make him available if "his arm is about to blow.")  Olney’s guess is that the Mets will acquire Blanton.  The Mets have some combination of Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber, Lastings Milledge, Carlos Gomez, and Aaron Heilman to offer.  There are pros and cons to dealing each.
  • There are other concerns besides pitching: second base and catcher.  Besides the forthcoming monster offer to Jorge Posada, the Mets are considering Paul Lo Duca and Yorvit Torrealba as fallbacks.  Ramon Castro is looking for a two-year deal, and hopes it’s with the Mets.  However, the Rockies have their eye on him. 
  • Pedro Martinez expects to pitch beyond 2008.  Whether that will be for the Mets or someone else, who knows.
  • Marlon Anderson’s two-year deal will be announced today, according to Adam Rubin.  The Mets will pass on Jose Valentin and Brian Lawrence’s options.   

Yankees Aiming Higher Than Crede

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According to Ken Davidoff of Newsday, the Yankees aren’t likely to trade for Joe Crede.  They’re aiming for bigger fish like Mike Lowell, Adrian Beltre, Miguel Cabrera, and Scott Rolen.  Garrett Atkins has been deemed unavailable.  Additionally, Kenny Williams hopes to deal Crede relatively quickly and the Yankees are in no rush to fill their third base vacancy.  Maybe the Phillies will jump into the fray for Crede.

Lowell at least won’t involve giving up young talent.  But there are some questions about how he’d hit away from Fenway.  And we’re talking four or even five years to lure him.  Beltre would be a fine acquisition and is affordable, though I don’t know why the Mariners would part with him.  And the Ms would want at least one blue-chipper, I’d imagine.  The Yanks would have to mortgage tons of young talent for Cabrera.  Davidoff’s dark horse, Rolen, suddenly makes the most sense.  It would be a salary dump and a health risk, but 3/36 isn’t that scary for the Yanks.  And it’s less than Lowell would sign for.

Davidoff has a tidbit at the end of his column, a one-liner, that the Yanks are likely to re-sign Mariano Rivera at three years, $40MM soon.  I’m surprised Newsday didn’t call more attention to that part. 

Heyman’s Latest: A-Rod, Atkins, Gagne

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up.  Let’s discuss.

  • Alex Rodriguez’s five possible destinations: Angels, Red Sox, Mets, Giants, Dodgers.  That sounds about right.  Heyman notes that the Dodgers do not have an advantage because of Joe Torre; he says star players don’t consider managers as a criteria when deciding where to sign.
  • Though not mentioned as one of A-Rod’s five potential landing spots, Heyman says the buzz is growing that Mike Ilitch and the Tigers could go after him.
  • Heyman says the Rockies will hang on to Garrett Atkins and follow through with the plan to try Ian Stewart at second base.  That could mean the end of Kaz Matsui in Colorado.
  • How about Eric Gagne to the Tigers?  If they are interested, that bodes well for me getting at least 1 of 50 right.
  • Johnny Damon for Joe Crede first mentioned in the Chicago Tribune??!!  That trade speculation, sir, is MLBTR’s baby.  Anyway, Heyman’s source thinks the Yankees could do better for Damon.

Rockies Expect A Quiet Offseason

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Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus recently wrote in reference to the Rockies:

Teams that overachieve expectations tend to keep everything in place, and in fact that’s exactly what Charlie Monfort is saying. This is likely to be one of the bigger misplays of the offseason.

Indeed, no one is expecting any kind of shake-up or blockbuster.  That said, Tracy Ringolsby indicates that teams will inquire on Brian Fuentes and Garrett Atkins over the next few months.  The free agent market for closers and third basemen isn’t robust.

Ringoslby notes that Josh Fogg may seek the Jason Marquis special – three years, $21MM.  The Rockies will pass, instead entertaining bringing Jason Jennings back.

The Rockies are also expected to sign a veteran catcher to help Chris Iannetta along.  Ringolsby names Yorvit Torrealba, Jason Kendall, and Paul Lo Duca as the options.  Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post names the same trio.

Renck adds that the Rockies will attempt to re-sign Kaz Matsui and Matt Herges soon as well.  Renck mentions that the team has also gotten in touch with Shawn Chacon’s agent.  Chacon came up through the Rockies system but was traded to the Yankees in July of 2005. 

What do you think about this plan?  Should the Rockies make a major free agent strike or trade instead?

Astros Hope To Sign Luis Castillo

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According to Ken Rosenthal, the Astros are looking to inject some OBP into their leadoff spot by signing second baseman Luis Castillo.  He adds that not many teams are looking to fill second base via free agency, so the Mets might be the only team battling for Castillo.

Rosenthal rates Kaz Matsui and David Eckstein as the best second base alternatives behind Castillo.  The Rockies are prepared to offer a two-year deal to Matsui but will move on if he wants too much.  They can’t be thinking about offering more than $8MM, wouldn’t you say?  Rosenthal says Matsui is not on the Mets’ radar because, well, they already gave him a shot.

As for Eckstein – his best bet financially may be to market himself as a shortstop.  His estimated take is $6-7MM over two or three years, a figure that would be deemed pricey for second base.

Odds and Ends: Lincecum, Wakefield, Schilling

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More random rumors.  You know you love it.

Rockies Have Jennings On The Radar

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Jason Jennings had a nice Rockies career.  He won the NL ROY in 2002 and posted a fine 3.78 ERA in 212 innings as their ace in 2006.  2007 was his last year before free agency, but he couldn’t come to an agreement on an extension with Dan O’Dowd.  Naturally, the Rockies shopped him in the winter of 2006-07.  Interest was extensive, with the Mets, D’Backs, Astros, Phillies, Cardinals, Cubs, and Twins getting involved.  Ultimately the Rockies scored big by getting Willy Taveras, Jason Hirsh, and Taylor Buchholz for one year of Jennings.

The aggressive move didn’t work out for the Astros, as Jennings was never healthy in 2007.  He did battle, however (Troy E. Renck called Jennings the toughest player he ever covered).  Jennings finally got the surgery he needed, having a torn flexor tendon repaired.  He expects to be ready for Spring Training, and will explore his options as a free agent.  The ’07 injury was not entirely out of nowhere – he made a 90 inning jump from 2005 to 2006.

The Rockies are looking to add one starter, and they’ve got interest in bringing Jennings back.  He says he won’t hold a grudge over the failed extension talks and trade.  He will, however, explore the open market.  A return to the Astros is a possibility.  I’m thinking Mark Mulder’s deal might be the standard for guys like Jennings.  Two years, $13MM guaranteed, but another $10MM or so based on games started.  That’s just a guess though.  Maybe Jennings or Freddy Garcia would prefer a simple one year, $8MM deal to re-establish value.  Jennings would’ve been in line for a massive payday to the tune of five years and $65MM if he’d been healthy and effective in ’07.

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