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Odds & Ends: Astros, Athletics, Blue Jays

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With baseball dark until Wednesday, let MLBTradeRumors.com light the way for you…

  • Rob Neyer has a must-read piece about the Astros refusing to give Manny Acta a three-year contract offer. As Neyer writes, "If you think it's silly to give a manager a three-year contract but don't mind throwing $100 million of your ill-gotten gains at Carlos Lee, you probably need to have your head examined (though of course something similar might be said of half the owners in the majors)."
  • MLB.com A's beat reporter Mychael Urban explains why Oakland dealt Matt Holliday, Jason Giambi and Orlando Cabrera– but kept Nomar Garciaparra around.
  • Toronto added a pair of senior baseball men, both named Mel, to the front office.

Odds & Ends: Ricciardi, Sabathia, Chapman

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Links for Monday…

  • Former Padres GM Kevin Towers told Bill Madden of the New York Daily News recently "it's just a matter of when" the team trades first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
  • The Astros claimed outfielder Jason Bourgeois off waivers from the Brewers, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart via Twitter.  Bourgeois, 28 in January, hit .316/.354/.401 in Triple A while playing all three outfield positions.  In other Brewers-related news, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the team retained Mike Burns and Adam Stern on minor league deals.
  • Don Mattingly is discussing his future with the Dodgers, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.
  • I missed this October 5th article from Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.  Elliott talked to former Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey, who was frank in his opinions of ex-GM J.P. Ricciardi.
  • Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times says the Angels bid $140MM for C.C. Sabathia last winter, but Olney says "the Angels bid a firm $100MM and discussed increasing their offer to $120MM."
  • Andy Pettitte admitted to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times, "I think everybody knows I wasn't real happy with the contract.  But I wanted to take it and come back here and have a chance to do this."  Pettitte ended up earning about $10MM in 2009, but only $5.5MM was guaranteed.
  • ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. says on Twitter that Aroldis Chapman "had good conversations" with Yankees GM Brian Cashman and other team execs at yesterday's game.  Meanwhile, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos finds signing Chapman unrealistic for his club.  Logically, the Chapman bidding should heat up after the World Series.  The 21-year-old lefty is meeting with the Cardinals, Orioles, and Red Sox this week.
  • Aaron Gleeman says it's reasonable for fans to call for Twins closer Joe Nathan to be traded, but not because he allowed a postseason home run to Alex Rodriguez.
  • NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman says reliever Scott Atchison hopes to return to MLB in 2009.  Atchison, 34 in March, elected free agency in November of 2007 after posting a 4.11 ERA in 30.6 relief innings for the Giants.
  • Jim Seip of the York Daily Record writes about the beginning of Ken Rosenthal's career.
  • John Bonnes attempted to extract info about Joe Mauer's future with the Twins, talking to GM Bill Smith.

Odds & Ends: Astros, Acta, Soria

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Let's take one final look around the web as the Yankees and Angels battle in the Bronx:

  • Astros General Manager Ed Wade confirmed to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart that the club made an offer to Manny Acta to become their next skipper before he took the same position with the Indians.  Sources tell McTaggart that Houston offered two years plus a one-year option whereas Cleveland was willing to give Acta three years in addition to a one-year option.  
  • Striking out on Acta makes this a very bad day for the Astros according to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle.
  • Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer isn't so sure that the Indians made the right move in tabbing the former Nats skipper as their new manager.
  • Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star implores the Royals to put emotion aside and consider dealing closer Joakim Soria.  This past season the 25-year-old posted an ERA of 2.21 with 11.7 K/9.

Odds & Ends: Astros, Giants, Nationals

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Let's take a look at some early evening links:

  • After striking out on Manny Acta, the Astros must continue their search for a skipper.  MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports that the search is now focused on three candidates: former Astros manager Phil Garner, BoSox bench coach Brad Mills and interim manager Dave Clark.  One source told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that Mills would get the nod and that it would be a "surprise" if Garner were brought back.  Another source said that Clark remains a possibility.  Houston would like to reach a decision before the start of the World Series (Wednesday), but may even expand their search beyond these three choices.
  • Matt Holliday and Jason Bay are both too pricey for the Giants, writes Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Holliday is represented by Scott Boras, who compared him to Mark Teixeira in hopes of fetching a deal similar to the eight-year, $180MM contract the first baseman received from the Yankees.
  • Johnny Holliday of MASN Sports writes that the Nationals will announce the identity of their manager for 2010 "any day now."  Interim skipper Jim Riggleman remains a candidate.
  • Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan is likely to return in 2010, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Duncan has said that his decision will be dependent on the return of Tony La Russa, who has reportedly agreed to an extension.

Garner, Acta, Mills Or Clark Will Manage Astros

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12:55pm: MLB.com's Brian McTaggart says the Astros are still considering Dave Clark.

11:41am: Phil Garner, Manny Acta or Brad Mills will be the next Astros manager, according to Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle. Astros owner Drayton McLane says he expects a decision early next week; for now the club is doing final reference checks for Acta and Mills (none are required for Garner, who already managed the Astros). McLane doesn't expect to interview any more candidates at this point.

This means Jim Fregosi, Bob Melvin, Bobby Valentine and others are no longer in the mix for the job. Acta, who was fired by the Nats this summer, is also a candidate to manage in Cleveland. 

Odds & Ends: Mets, Cameron, Valentine

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A few news items to think about while we get ready for Game Five of the NLCS….

  • MLB.com's Marty Noble agrees with a reader e-mail that a defensively-sound first baseman would do wonders for the Mets' infield defense and overall performance.
  • From that same piece, Noble thinks that Mike Cameron would be a good fit with the Mets due to his ability to cover the vast expanses of Citi Field's outfield.  Noble isn't as keen on Chone Figgins since he doesn't fit New York's needs.
  • MLB.com's Noah Coslov tweets that the Indians will interview Bobby Valentine on Thursday.
  • If Manny Acta isn't hired in Cleveland or Houston, The Globe & Mail's Jeff Blair thinks he could land in Toronto.
  • Canadian Business Online looks at the best and worst free agent signings from last year and examines which teams got the most value from their rosters in 2009.

Odds & Ends: Yankees, Cardinals, Astros

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Here are some links to take you through the end of your workday, instead of, you know, working.

  • The Yankees aren't satisfied to simply win the 2009 World Series. They are concurrently planning to take 2010 as well, with Jon Heyman reporting that they are atop Matt Holliday's preferred list of teams, and Lohud.com's Chad Jennings writing that the Yankees should be meeting with Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman soon, though GM Brian Cashman wouldn't confirm it.
  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Jason LaRue would be a good fit for the Cardinals in 2010, and breaks down the other catching candidates as well.
  • Manny Acta had his second interview for the Astros' managing job, while Bobby Valentine and Bob Melvin are candidates to take Acta's former position as skipper for Washington.
  • Tim Wakefield had successful back surgery for the Red Sox, who have a number of 2010 contract options to consider, include Wakefield's. Alex Speier of WEEI.com runs it down nicely.
  • The Rays hired Derek Shelton as their new hitting coach. Shelton had been the hitting coach for Cleveland.
  • Former Mets' first base coach Tom Nieto is the new manager for Rochester, Minnesota's Triple-A farm team, among other minor-league hires.

Odds & Ends: Towers, Kikuchi, Marlins, Astros

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Some links before the playoff baseball begins…

  • Yahoo's Tim Brown reports that Kevin Towers is at the ALCS. The former Padres GM isn't working yet; instead, he's paddleboarding, golfing and doing pilates.
  • The Dodgers don't appear to be going all out for Yusei Kikuchi at this point, but other teams are intensifying their efforts to sign the Japanese teen. As MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports, Derek Holland is helping the Rangers pursue Kikuchi.
  • Former Marlins pitching coach Mark Wiley tells Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post that he was surprised to be fired, but not as surprised as he was when the Indians fired him after their 1998 ALCS appearance.
  • Astros icon Jose Cruz will return to the work for the club's community relations department next year, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
  • MLB players will have more time than expected to file a collusion grievance over last year's free agent market, according to the AP (via ESPN).

Odds & Ends: Johjima, Rockies, Kikuchi

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Links for Tuesday…

Odds & Ends: Pirates, Rockies, Brewers

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What, two playoff games isn't enough baseball for you? Us either…

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