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Minor Moves: McClung, Bootcheck, Romero

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Here's where we'll keep track of today's minor moves…

  • The Brewers signed Seth McClung to a minor league deal, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports. The 30-year-old right-hander hasn't appeared in the Major Leagues since 2009, but he spent three seasons with the Brewers, posting a 4.32 ERA, 6.9 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 in 92 appearances from 2007-09. McClung signed a minor league deal with the Rangers last offseason and they released him in July.
  • The Tigers announced that they signed right-hander Chris Bootcheck to a minor league deal and invited him to Spring Training. Bootcheck, 33, signed a minor league deal with Tampa Bay last February and they granted him his release in July. He hasn't appeared in the Major Leagues since he suited up for the 2009 Pirates, but he owns a 6.54 ERA with 6.4 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9 in six MLB seasons.
  • The Tigers also signed Niuman Romero to a minor league deal, MLB.com's Jason Beck reports. The 26-year-old has MLB experience with the Indians and Red Sox, but spent the 2011 season playing for four minor league clubs. He posted a .231/.294/.261 line in 273 total plate appearances.

Latest On Kerry Wood

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10:38am: The Cubs offered Wood a "substantial" raise, GM Jed Hoyer told reporters today.  Wood had a below-market base salary of $1.5MM in 2011.

9:34am: Kerry Wood's "days as a Cub appear all but over," writes Dave Kaplan of CSNChicago.com after talking to a source with knowledge of the reliever's negotiations with the team.  Kaplan quotes his source:

"Woody wanted to be here despite the rebuilding process but while the Cubs were saying they wanted him back they were unwilling to pay him the market value for a solid set up man.  He has heard from a number of teams that are World Series contenders and they are all willing to pay him a very fair salary to strengthen their bullpen. The Cubs expected him to pitch for another hometown discount. He has already done that for them a couple of times before. There is no reason that he should have to do that again."

Wood told Kaplan last night on WGN Sports Radio that his family plans on staying in the Chicago area for a long time whether or not he finishes his career with the Cubs.  Last week Cubs president Theo Epstein said he was "actively involved in negotations" to bring Wood back, noting, "I think this one should work out."  If Epstein and Wood fail to find common ground, Kaplan says the Tigers, Phillies, Reds, Angels, and others are interested.

Central Links: Pirates, Padilla, Tigers, Cubs

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Earlier today we learned that two Central teams were having trade talks about Matt Garza, as the Tigers are attempting to acquire the Cubs right-hander. Here's the latest from baseball's two Central divisions…

Cubs, Tigers Talking Matt Garza

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7:41pm: On Twitter, Kaplan clarifies that "down the road" means trade talks between the two teams have progressed "far beyond" the initial stages. Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus hears that the Tigers are willing to talk about Turner, but they are far more reticent when it comes to third base prospect Nick Castellanos (Twitter link).

5:52pm: The Cubs and Tigers are “down the road” in talks about a deal that would sent Matt Garza to Detroit for a package of prospects, according to David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com. The Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays have also expressed serious interest in Garza, Kaplan writes. However, the Yankees aren’t comfortable with the Cubs’ asking price despite their “tremendous” interest in the right-hander. 

The Tigers appear to be willing to meet the Cubs’ asking price of multiple highly-regarded prospects, according to Kaplan. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported last week that the Tigers could move right-handed pitching prospect Jacob Turner in the right deal.

The Cubs are nearing a deal with free agent left-hander Paul Maholm. Ryan Dempster, Chris Volstad, Travis Wood and Randy Wells could fill the team’s rotation out and make Garza available. He’s under team control through 2013 and figures to earn $9MM or so in 2012 through arbitration.

Quick Hits: Rhodes, Kuroda, Ludwick, Padres

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Let's jump into the weekend with one last batch of news items….

Yoenis Cespedes Rumors: Friday

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Here's the latest on Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes…

  • A source says Cespedes' eventual contract will be in the range of four years and $32MM, writes MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.  "Several teams have backed away" from Cespedes' original goal of an eight-year, $60MM contract.  Frisaro says the Marlins are among the teams still very interested in the Cuban prospect.
  • Also from Frisaro, Cespedes is tentatively expected to establish residency in the Dominican Republic on January 15, and then the outfielder will petition Major League Baseball for free agent status.
  • The Tigers have been relatively quiet this offseason, "intensifying speculation" that the team is waiting on Cespedes to become available, reports James Schmehl of MLive.com.  With Delmon Young, Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch pencilled in as Detroit's starting outfield, the Tigers could have to make another move should they sign Cespedes, or just give him limited playing time to ease his transition to the Major Leagues.

Porcello Opts Out Of Contract, Becomes Arb-Eligible

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Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello has opted out of his contract and is now eligible for salary arbitration, reports James Schmehl of MLive.com.  The 27th overall pick of the 2007 draft, Porcello signed a four-year, $7.285MM pact (plus club options for 2011 and 2012) as his first Major League contract.  Porcello, however, had the right to opt out of the final year of that contract and in doing so, the Tigers are spared the no-brainer decision of exercising their $1.344MM option on Porcello for next season.  Detroit still has the righty under team control through the 2015 season.

This move was widely expected and became even more of a sure thing once Porcello qualified for Super Two status and gained an extra year of arbitration eligibility.  Matt Swartz's MLBTR-exclusive arbitration model projects Porcello to earn a $4.2MM salary through arbitration this winter.  Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said he hadn't exchanged figures with Porcello's representatives about a 2012 contract.

Porcello, who turned 23 last week, has a 4.54 ERA, a 2.04 K/BB rate and a 51.9% ground ball rate in 89 career Major League starts.  He has also proven himself to have a durable arm, averaging 172 innings pitched over his three seasons.

Rosenthal On Garza, Turner, Madson, Lee

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The Cubs have traded Sean Marshall, Carlos Zambrano and Andrew Cashner in recent weeks. Could Matt Garza be next? Ken Rosenthal of FOX breaks down the market for Garza and offers more rumors from around the league:

  • Cubs execs Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are alarmed by the lack of minor league talent in their own system, so trading Garza might appeal to them. The Yankees, one possible suitor for the right-hander, have had concerns about Garza’s ability to handle New York in the past, Rosenthal reports.
  • Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has said he’s not looking to trade Jacob Turner, but Rosenthal hears the young right-hander is available in the right deal.
  • A contender like the Cardinals could make a surprise play for Ryan Madson, but the market for the free agent closer currently looks thin. Agent Scott Boras may wait until Spring Training to find a deal, as he has done in the past.
  • Free agent first baseman Derrek Lee expects to land a full-time job, Rosenthal reports. I examined the first base market yesterday.
  • The Mariners, who added Hisashi Iwakuma yesterday, are open to signing a veteran at the right price, Rosenthal tweets.

Minor Moves: Jacobs, Gaudin, Delaney, Fields, Mather

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We'll keep track of today's minor moves right here..

  • The Pirates announced that they signed right-hander Logan Kensing to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training.  The 29-year-old spent the 2011 campaign with the Yankees' top affiliate after recovering from elbow surgery in 2010.
  • The Reds signed catchers Brian Esposito and Brian Peacock to minor league deals, tweets Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
  • The Tigers signed utility player Eric Patterson to a minor league deal, tweets Eddy.
  • The Mets signed right-hander Jeff Stevens and utility player Corey Wimberly to minor league deals, tweets Eddy.
  • The A's signed right-handers Travis Schlichting and Merkin Valdez and left-hander Fabio Castro to minor league deals, Eddy tweets.
  • The Yankees signed right-hander Adam Miller and outfielders Cole Garner and Dewayne Wise to minor league deals, Eddy tweets.
  • The Diamondbacks signed first baseman Mike Jacobs to a minor league deal, tweets Eddy.  Before playing, Jacobs still must serve a 50-game suspension for positive a HGH test in August.  He was cut by the Rockies following the test.
  • The Marlins picked up right-handers Chad Gaudin and Rob Delaney on minor league deals, Eddy tweets.  In nine big league seasons, Gaudin has a 4.63 ERA with 7.1 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9.  Delaney spent most of 2011 with the Rays' Triple-A affiliate, posting a 1.86 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9.
  • The Dodgers signed third baseman Josh Fields, according to Goldstein (via Twitter).
  • The Cubs signed Joe Mather as Triple-A outfield insurance, according to Goldstein (via Twitter).  Mather spent 36 games on the Braves' major league roster in 2011.
  • The Nationals have signed right-hander Dan Cortes, according to Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus (via Twitter).
  • Speaking of the Braves, Atlanta released former Rangers draftee Marcus Lemon, Goldstein tweets.  Lemon was acquired in a March trade for a PTBNL.
  • P.J. Phillips, the younger brother of Brandon Phillips, agreed to a deal with the Reds, tweets Goldstein.  The younger Phillips' career never got going due to plate discipline issues.
  • The Blue Jays signed former Angels/Braves relief prospect Stephen Marek, Goldstein tweets.  The right-hander was outrighted by Atlanta in November and underwent Tommy John surgery in May.
  • The White Sox signed 2000 first-round pick Corey Smith, Goldstein tweets.  The 29-year-old has never reached the Majors.

Tigers Not Looking To Trade Jacob Turner

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The Tigers are not looking to trade top pitching prospect Jacob Turner, GM Dave Dombrowski told Lynn Henning of the Detroit News.  Dombrowski said he did not offer Turner for Matt Garza.  The GM admitted to actively pursuing Gio Gonzalez, but added, "I don't think there is another call we've made in pursuing another starting pitcher."  There are no ongoing trade talks for starting pitching, Dombrowski told MLB.com's Jason Beck.  Instead, the Tigers are open to adding a swingman type of pitcher.

Four days ago, Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote that the Tigers "have quietly pursued starting pitchers throughout the offseason" and were involved on Garza.  The following day, ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted that the Tigers "have made it known to other teams that they are willing to trade Jacob Turner in a deal for the right pitcher."  Dombrowski told Henning, "There's been a lot of things written in recent weeks that have been totally incorrect," speculating that rumors came "probably from a strategic point of bargaining."

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