Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Rockies Rumors

Odds and Ends: Cabrera, Schilling, Stewart

By | at

Your daily collection of random rumors and links…

  • MLB.com’s Free Agent Frenzy has begun.  You can win Opening Day tickets by closely predicting where 15 free agents will land.  A good strategic move would be to wait until deadline day, November 15th, before submitting.  That way you’ll have more info (keep your browser right here for all the latest free agent info).  By the way, my Top 50 Free Agents list should be ready around Monday.
  • Fielding Bible has their 2007 awards (click the Winners tab).  So much for those who say Andruw is slipping!
  • Miguel Cabrera is available, according to Peter Gammons.  Gammons thinks any package would have to begin with a top pitching prospect such as Phil Hughes, Clay Buchholz, or Clayton Kershaw.
  • Sounds like the Rockies want to keep the 2007 club mostly intact by bringing back free agents (Kaz Matsui, Yorvit Torrealba, Matt Herges, LaTroy Hawkins).  However Josh Fogg and Jeremy Affeldt may be allowed to leave.
  • Though they’re on his list, it doesn’t sound like the D’Backs can afford Curt Schilling.
  • The A’s are talking about re-signing Shannon Stewart, but I don’t see it.  That would have to cost at least $3-4MM.  Meanwhile, Mike Piazza might retire.  Susan Slusser talks about how the A’s would receive compensation for Stewart and Piazza, both Type B free agents.  But that’s only if they offer them arbitration, which is questionable.
  • Comeback time!  Matt Mantei is all surgically repaired and wants to get back into action.  He feels great!  He’d take a minor league contract and/or play for the minimum.  Can’t wait til spring, when we can hear about all the guys who are in the best shape of their careers.  The Tigers might need him with Joel Zumaya’s new, odd injury.
  • A couple of 40+ southpaws will pitch in ’08 – Tom Glavine and David Wells.
  • The O’s will pass on Kris Benson at $7.5MM next year, no surprise.  He had rotator cuff surgery last March.
  • U.S.S. Mariner’s "reasonable" offseason plan.

Odds and Ends: Cook, Benoit, Griffey, Riske

By | at

Some random tidbits that didn’t get their own posts today…

Rockies Hope To Lock Up Holliday, Cook

By | at

Their season over, Rockies fans are already worrying about Matt Holliday’s future.  Troy E. Renck notes that the Rockies owner insisted they’ll try to sign him long-term.  As it is, Holliday’s $4.4MM salary will jump to $9-10MM in ’08.  He reaches free agency after the 2009 season, but in 2008 I could see him earning $13-15MM.  Oh, and one more thing – Holliday is represented by Scott Boras.

Holliday has a .364/.425/.662 career line at home and a .273/.333/.448 career line on the road.  Todd Helton at least was a .900 OPS guy even on the road, but Holliday basically turns into Jacque Jones when he’s not at Coors.  Nonetheless Boras is going to be talking $20MM annually for eight years if Holliday reaches free agency at age 30.

Fortunately for the Rockies, Cook is not represented by Boras.  He has a certain $4.5MM option for ’08, and then he’ll be eligible for free agency.  Cook’s agent Joe Bick expects extension conversations within a few weeks.  I could see the two sides settling around the three-year, $33MM pact given to Jake Westbrook.   

Mets, Marlins Interested In Torrealba

By | at

According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Mets and Marlins have interest in free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba.  The Rockies would like to bring him back, but otherwise they’ll look at Paul Lo Duca or Michael Barrett.

The 29 year-old Torrealba hit .255/.323/.376 in 396 ABs this year.  Typically he hits for a touch more power.  Meanwhile the average NL catcher hit .257/.318/.394 in 2007, so Torrealba’s bat is tolerable.

Torrealba was lousy at throwing out baserunners this year, checking in at just 19.7% caught stealing.  Only Jason Kendall and Johnny Estrada were worse among qualifiers.  Oddly Torrealba threw out 40.4% of baserunners in 2006 and 35.7% the year before.  The reason for the decline is most likely a strained shoulder that lingered into the season.

Torrealba earned $1.075MM in ’07, and he might be looking for $3MM or more in ’08.  Regarding the Marlins, they’re also interested in Barrett, Kendall, and Ramon Castro if they don’t keep Miguel Olivo.

Rockies Pursuing Ian Snell?

By | at

I hate to tap from the same well twice in a row, but I felt the rumor at the bottom of Jake from Bucco Blog’s post deserved it’s own mention.  Jake writes,

"Lastly, are the Rockies going to go after Ian Snell? One NL exec thinks so.. and hard.

I was surprised when I heard this one knowing the Rockies have a pretty solid core of young pitchers in their farm, but if Dave Holliday does come to work as player development or scouting director, well…"

A lot of teams come off World Series trips with a truckload of veterans and the need to rebuild.  The Rockies are not one of those teams.  In fact, with the added confidence of a pennant (and World Series?), I wouldn’t be surprised if these now-seasoned youngsters kept competitive with the Diamondbacks up-and-coming talent over the next few years; however, they will need more starting pitching to do so (’07 starters had a 4.58 team ERA), especially if the Diamondbacks are focusing on upgrading a rotation consisting of Brandon Webb.  So let’s look at Ian Snell as a fit.

Snell can dominate.  He was arguably the Pirates best starter this year (3.76 ERA, 177 K in 208 IP), edging out Tom Gorzelanny in everything except Wins.  He will turn 26 this Tuesday and just completed his second tour of duty.  He is slated to make near-minimum in ’08, and becomes arbitration eligible in ’09-’11.  Free agency is 5 years away.  For that reason, it seems unlikely a rebuilding franchise would trade this cornerstone.  Still, Jake from Bucco Blog doesn’t consider him untouchable.

And now let’s speculate on the Rockies:  They have one of the deepest farm systems in the game, a key that will keep them competitive in the NL West.  Troy Tulowitzki has got to be untouchable.  But Ubaldo Jimenez and Manny Corpas may be at their respective pinnacles of value.  Chris Ianetta, a promising catching prospect, Ian Stewart, Franklin Morales, Jeff Baker… the list of major league ready prospects goes on.  If one team could persuade the Bucs to deal Snell, perhaps it’s the Rockies.  Thoughts?

Odds and Ends: Abreu, Beckett, Helton, Schilling

By | at

Friday afternoon rumor tidbits…

  • The Indians will probably let Kenny Lofton leave while exercising Joe Borowski’s $4MM option.  No big surprise there.
  • Nor is it a surprise that the Yankees are heavily leaning towards exercising Bobby Abreu’s $16MM option.
  • From the what might’ve been department: Red Sox owner John Henry was in favor of signing A.J. Burnett instead of trading for Josh Beckett.  One could make a solid argument that the Red Sox would be better off if Henry had gotten his wish.  Beckett and Julio Lugo combined for 8.6 wins at $14MM this year while Burnett and Hanley Ramirez combined for 14.8 wins at $12.4MM (according to WARP).
  • From that same department – Tom Gage notes that the Tigers once nearly acquired Todd Helton for Tony Clark.  There were many Clark rumors from 1999-2001 before the Red Sox claimed him off waivers.  I heard Buck and McCarver talking recently about how Helton is not a product of his home park.  For the record Helton has hit .368/.474/.668 at home in his career and .304/.409/.515 on the road.  He probably belongs in the Hall but it would be a lot tighter if his career OPS was .924 instead of 1.014.
  • Nick Cafardo makes his case for the Red Sox to re-sign Curt Schilling.
  • A scouting look at Hiroki Kuroda, plus other Japanese pitchers who may come over (hat tip to MetsBlog).  Jason Churchill estimates a three-year deal for Kuroda at $9-11MM per.
  • How would you like to face a 125 mph fastball?

Odds and Ends

By | at

More random rumors and reading material!

  • Baseball Prospectus’ Nate Silver discusses Ryan Braun’s undeniably terrible defense at third base, suggesting some interesting trade and signing permutations to get him into right field.  Also note that Kevin Kouzmanoff is a butcher at third; maybe the Friars will be in the market for Mike Lowell this winter (a player they’ve expressed interest in in the past).
  • Awesome headline for this Garrett Atkins article.  Steve King discusses how the Phillies would be a fine fit for a trade, throwing the Dodgers, Twins, Angels, and Astros into the mix as well.  Note that Atkins has a career line of .269/.344/.437 on the road and .336/.399/.528 at Coors.
  • Sid Hartman is hearing that Walt Jocketty could end up in Baltimore.
  • The Daily Herald’s Scot Gregor proposes some kind of Jon Garland for Bill Hall swap, or even a Carl Crawford acquisition by the White Sox.  I don’t think the Sox and Rays match up too well for that. 
  • I thought he’d stay, but Joe Torre has turned down a one-year, $5MM offer from the Yankees.  The proposal had another $3MM in incentives and a vesting option for 2009 if the Yanks won the ’08 World Series.
  • It’s Hiroshima or MLB for Hiroki Kuroda.  Apparently the Ms already have their eye on him.  Paul Sullivan also said recently that the Cubs will be in the mix.

Latest Phillies Rumors: Lowell, Rivera, Schilling

By | at

Let’s catch up on the rumors and minor moves involving the Phillies recently.

One offseason objective is, of course, third base.  Abraham Nunez was an easy buyout decision; Pat Gillick will import a new third baseman this winter one way or another.  Phils fans can stop dreaming up A-Rod scenarios; Gillick won’t pursue him.  Mike Lowell is the one free agent 3B on the Phils’ radar.  While Lowell wouldn’t mind playing in Philly, he made it clear yesterday that Boston remains his first choice.  So there’s a good chance Gillick will have to get his man via trade.  Scott Lauber names Garrett Atkins and Joe Crede (free agent after ’08, Boras client) as possible targets.  We all know how Gillick loves dealing with Kenny Williams (and the Sox can use Josh Fields at third base).

Rod Barajas won’t be retained; Chris Coste will serve as the backup to Carlos Ruiz.  A nice, cheap catching tandem.

How about pitching?  Randy Miller has a source saying the Phils are targeting a couple of AL East stalwarts – Curt Schilling and Mariano Rivera.  To sign Rivera at $12MM per and use Brett Myers in setup seems like a misallocation of resources to me.  As for Schilling, Miller says he’s expressed interest in coming back to Philly to finish his career.  I like the fit.

Miller also has some very interesting info on Aaron Rowand – he’s looking for a six-year, $84MM contract!  Does that mean he ends up with a five-year, $60MM deal?  Pretty hefty for a guy coming off a career year.  Miller says the Phils won’t go for big-name replacements like Andruw Jones or Torii Hunter.

Finally, Pat Burrell has surfaced as a solid trading chip.  He’s left with a reasonable one-year, $14MM commitment, albeit with a full-no trade clause that would require more compensation.  How about Burrell to the White Sox for Crede?  Phils kick in a couple mil, the White Sox get much-needed OBP for ’08 plus draft picks when Burrell leaves.

Jon Garland For Brian Fuentes?

By | at

As you know, Kenny Williams is looking for two relievers (one proven) for starter Jon Garland.  Part of the motivation is moving Garland’s $12MM salary in his last year before free agency.  You may also recall that the Rockies inquired on Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, and Garland this summer.  Talks stalled when the White Sox insisted on southpaw starter Franklin Morales or third baseman Ian Stewart.

According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the teams could re-engage in talks involving Garland.  The discussion would begin with lefty veteran reliever Brian Fuentes.  Renck believes Fuentes will make about $7MM in ’08, his last year before free agency.  So the White Sox would trim roughly $5MM from the payroll with such a move.  Perhaps Williams would ask for 23 year-old reliever Juan Morillo to complete the deal.  Morillo fits the "young reliever with closer potential" mold and was reportedly clocked at 104 mph a few years back (per Baseball America).

Renck’s Latest Rockie Rumors

By | at

Rockies beat reporter Troy E. Renck had the scoop on all kinds of Rockie rumors yesterday; I’m just now getting to it.  Let’s look at some highlights from his column.

  • Renck suggests the Rox take a look at Bob Wickman.  Meanwhile, the Phillies actually inquired but aren’t expected to work out a deal.  The Indians will take a pass.
  • Renck mentions that the Rockies have "long coveted" catcher Paul Lo Duca.  Lo Duca should be there for the signing this winter.
  • The Rockies will have around $45MM tied up in Todd Helton, Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, Brian Fuentes, and Aaron Cook for 2008.  Even if the team raises its $55MM payroll, someone has to go.  By the way, locking up Holliday long-term will cost a king’s ransom.  He’s a Scott Boras client.
  • Given the burden of Todd Helton’s contract and his no-trade clause, he may be immovable.  But a .400 OBP is still valuable any way you slice it, so perhaps the Red Sox or Angels will get re-engaged.  Renck believes Atkins and Fuentes are the main trading chips to clear payroll though.  The Angels and Twins could still use Atkins while the Phils, Red Sox, and Yankees have inquired on Fuentes in the past.  Atkins for a Kevin Slowey or Scott Baker just makes too much sense.
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top