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Pirates Rumors: Eckstein, Wilson, Turnbow

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5:29pm: A handful of teams have expressed interest in Doug Mientkiewicz, reports Jenifer Langosch.  He expects to sign within a few weeks, and his agent will meet with the Pirates this week.

4:56pm: Kovacevic confirmed that the Pirates are in negotiations with Eckstein.  The Orioles and Padres are also said to be in on him.  As for Wilson: the Dodgers are said to be exasperated by the Pirates’ asking price.

12:10am: Let’s check in with Dejan Kovacevic and Rob Biertempfel for the latest on the Pirates.

  • Kovacevic on Jack Wilson: the Tigers are out, the Dodgers are quiet lately, and the Twins are in.  Biertempfel says the Orioles continue to watch from afar.  Wilson’s contract is a sticking point for all suitors.
  • Kovacevic believes the Pirates have at least not ruled out the idea of pursuing Pedro Martinez.
  • Derrick Turnbow will throw for scouts in mid-January, so he probably won’t sign until then.  The Pirates and Giants are among eight teams that have expressed interest.
  • The Pirates seem likely to make a Rule 5 pick this year.
  • With Pirates target Mark Loretta signing with the Dodgers, Biertempfel wonders if the Bucs may pursue David Eckstein or Craig Counsell.

Odds and Ends: Laird, Mitsui, Snyder

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Links for Tuesday…

Jason Varitek Rumors: Tuesday

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Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald talked to Scott Boras, who said the Tigers’ acquisition of Gerald Laird actually improves Jason Varitek’s prospects.  Perhaps Boras is implying that the Rangers are now less likely to deal an additional catcher.  But it’s still hard to figure out which team would be willing to give Varitek a decent-sized multiyear deal and surrender a draft pick.

Silverman runs through a slew of catchers the Red Sox like.  Jack Magruder says they could be a serious player for Arizona’s Miguel Montero.

Tigers Sign Adam Everett, Twins Like Wilson

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9:42pm: Contrary to Kovacevic’s report below, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch says the Twins are not pursuing Wilson.  Still, LEN3 sides with Kovacevic on this one.

2:31pm: Rosenthal confirms it.  The Tigers reached a one-year agreement with Everett for $1MM plus incentives.  The deal is pending a physical.

1:44pm: According to Dejan Kovacevic, the Tigers are set to sign free agent shortstop Adam Everett.  Kovacevic says this takes them out of the running for Jack Wilson.  The Twins have emerged as a suitor for Wilson.

Tigers Targeting Wood, Putz

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6:13pm: Yahoo’s Gordon Edes says the Tigers made overtures to Wood, while the Red Sox like the idea of signing him as a setup man.

4:36pm: Geoff Baker says Tigers prospect Jeff Larish has attracted interest from the Mariners in the past.

On the Kerry Wood topic, a thought – now that the Tigers spent only a million bucks on their shortstop, maybe they have more cash to work with for their closer.

1:29pm: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers are targeting Kerry Wood and J.J. Putz for their closer vacancy.  The Mets are also competing for both relievers.

Also, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick notes that the Tigers considered trading for Angels catcher Mike Napoli before they acquired Laird.  The price for Napoli was too high.  WEEI reports that the Tigers also inquired on Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden.  The Tigers decided against Jason Varitek after he was offered arbitration, plus they liked Laird more anyway.  According to WEEI’s Lou Merloni, Varitek continues to seek a multiyear deal and a starting gig. 

Odds and Ends: Shelton, Laird, Baldelli

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Links for Monday – Winter Meetings, Day 1.

  • Check out the minor league signings for the week at Baseball America.  Hey, Jerome Williams to the A’s!  Also, Chris Shelton signed with the Mariners.
  • Funny quote from Scott Boras: "There can be a lot of late-night meetings where you’re in a room and people are falling asleep.  And you’ll have some late-night GMs who want you to drink. I’ll allow them to do it, but I won’t do it. I do have some interesting things written on napkins over the years."
  • Dave Cameron likes the Tigers’ acquisition of Gerald Laird.
  • Buster Olney talked to some agents who believe "the stated concern about the economy is providing a nice cover for Major League Baseball to roll back salaries."  Another note from Olney, he’d be "shocked" if Rocco Baldelli doesn’t sign with Boston.
  • Tony Massarotti makes five recommendations for the Red Sox.
  • David Murphy asks ten questions about the Phillies.

Red Sox Rumors: Bloomquist, Lugo, Varitek

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Red Sox linkage…

  • Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald says the name of Willie Bloomquist continues to be associated with the Red Sox.
  • Silverman says the Sox have been floating around Julio Lugo’s name; no interest yet.
  • Silverman sees the Tigers, Marlins, and maybe Yankees as potential suitors for Jason Varitek.  Scott Boras would have a hard time getting two years, $20MM from any of those teams.  The Marlins or Yanks would have to give up their first-round pick, too.

Tigers Acquire Gerald Laird

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1:21am: Morosi says the second pitching prospect is indeed Melo.

12:12am: Morosi says an agreement has been reached, and the second prospect is a pitcher.  There’s speculation that prospect could be Carlos Melo, as he fits Rosenthal’s description.

11:27pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Tigers acquired Laird for Moscoso and a second prospect.  The second prospect "is a 17-year-old who spent last season in the Dominican Summer League."  Could it be shortstops Samuel Ortiz or Domingo Gonzales?  Pitchers Rayni Guichardo or Carlos Melo?  The deal will be announced Monday.  Laird, a Scott Boras client, is under team control through 2010. 

Rosenthal adds that the Tigers are considering Adam Everett and Nick Punto as shortstop options.

9:26pm: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "The Tigers and Texas Rangers have made significant progress toward a trade that would send catcher Gerald Laird to Detroit and pitching prospect Guillermo Moscoso to the Rangers."  It’s not known whether the Tigers would include anyone else.

Baseball America ranks Moscoso tenth among Tigers prospects, noting shoulder woes but suggesting a high ceiling.  They say he could end up a #3 or #4 starter.  He’s drawn some comparisons to Jair Jurrjens.

Pirates Rumors: Wilson, Millar, Bautista

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette checks in from Vegas with the latest Pirates rumors.

  • At some point during the Meetings, the Pirates and Tigers will meet to discuss Jack Wilson.  It has been suggested that the Tigers are backing off on Wilson; they worked out Adam Everett last week.  The Dodgers are also in the mix, with recent discussions involving the possible restructuring of Wilson’s contract.
  • Other trade candidates: John Grabow, Ronny Paulino, Freddy Sanchez, and Adam LaRoche.
  • The Pirates’ "power bat" addition could be Kevin Millar, muses Kovacevic.
  • Reliever Denny Bautista is a non-tender candidate.  We’ll add him to the list.
  • The Pirates have not yet made extension offers to Ryan Doumit, Nate McLouth, or Paul Maholm.
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