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R.A. Dickey Rumors: Tuesday

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The Mets reportedly met with eight teams on Monday in Nashville to discuss potential R.A. Dickey deals, as we heard in yesterday's round-up of Dickey rumors. New York still hasn't made a final decision on whether to trade the Cy Young winner or extend him, but one report yesterday suggested the team was getting "serious" about finding a deal, so the focus appears to be on a trade for now. Here are Tuesday's updates on the knuckleballer, with the latest notes added to the top of the page throughout the day:

Earlier updates:

  • The Mets remain undecided on trading Dickey, tweets Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.  But if he is dealt, Martino's source says to keep a close eye on the Rangers, the team that drafted Dickey in '96 and had him for the first decade of his career.
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who made that draft pick for Texas back in the day, told reporterstoday he spoke to the Mets about Dickey but "it doesn't appear to be a match."  Names were not exchanged.
  • Dollars, not years, are the stumbling block in extension talks between Dickey and the Mets, Dickey's agent tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.  Said agent Bo McKinnis, "There is something longer term that would appeal to us and something shorter term.
  • Dickey's agent Bo McKinnis says little progress has been made with the Mets in extension talks, according to Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal (via Twitter). "We're just talking in different neighborhoods in terms of dollars," McKinnis said.
  • McKinnis wouldn't be surprised if Dickey is traded, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com
  • The Mets are telling teams that they won't go the "Carlos Beltran route" with Dickey and just trade him for one prospect, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Because suitors would have Dickey for a full year rather than a half-season and would have a better chance of extending Dickey, the Mets are seeking multiple prospects (Twitterlinks).
  • Extension negotiations between Dickey and the Mets are currently at a standstill, which is increasing expectations that the right-hander will be dealt, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and SiriusXM (via Twitter).
  • The Mets continue to aim high in their talks with the Royals, pushing for top prospect Wil Myers, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Rubin doesn't specify who would be going to the Royals in this hypothetical deal, but I assume it'd be either Dickey or fellow trade candidate Jonathon Niese.
  • Andy Martino hears from a very good source that he thinks Dickey will remain with the Mets (Twitter link). However, the Daily News scribe cautions that there are a lot of balls in the air and things could change quickly.
  • Although Alderson and the Mets would like to resolve the Dickey situation as soon as possible, they may still spend the week weighing trade offers and make a decision after returning to New York, tweets Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.
  • Following up on yesterday's report that the Mets have spoken to at least eight teams about Dickey, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com lists the Royals, Orioles, Rangers, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Nationals as clubs in the mix. According to Heyman, the Nats are the least likely of those suitors to land Dickey, since the Mets would prefer not to trade within the division.
  • One Mets insider predicted to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that the team will hang on to Dickey this winter, with a deal only likely if another club decides to "seriously overpay." Rubin also hears that, in extension talks, Dickey is seeking three years after 2013, rather than two
  • Mets GM Sandy Alderson is targeting a "difference maker" in Dickey negotiations, as Mike Puma of the New York Post writes. "It doesn’t have to be a catcher, it doesn’t have to be an outfielder, it doesn’t have to be anything," Alderson said. "But it has to be a difference maker, because R.A. is a difference maker.
  • Addressing the notion that the asking price for Dickey is sky-high, one Mets source tells Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), "It should be. He won the Cy Young."

Trade Rumors: Harang, Capuano, Phillies

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Let's round up a few rumblings from Nashville on players who might be on the trade block…

Earlier updates:

  • There have been "no conversations" about trading Andre Ethier, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly tells Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times (Twitter link).
  • One rival executive thinks the Royals will eventually make a deal for Rays starter James Shields, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Within his piece, Knobler explains why the Royals are more inclined to trade Wil Myers than Billy Butler.
  • The return the Twins received for Denard Span has somewhat hampered the Indians' efforts to trade Shin-Soo Choo, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports explains in a pair of Twitterlinks.
  • Ramon Santiago's name has surfaced at the Winter Meetings as a potential trade candidate, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck (via Twitter). While Beck isn't sure if the Tigers would move him, he says the utility infielder could draw interest.
  • The Dodgers are "aggressively shopping" Juan Uribe in Nashville, but predictably aren't receiving much interest, writes Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times tweets that when he asked an MLB official if the Yankees could have interest in Uribe with Alex Rodriguez out, he was met with a chuckle.

Billy Butler Rumors: Tuesday

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Yesterday there was quite a bit of speculation regarding interest from both the Orioles and Mariners in Billy Butler. We'll keep track of any new rumors regarding Country Breakfast right here, with the latest info on top…

  • Although he cautions that the Royals aren't actively looking to move Wil Myers, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweets that Kansas City is "definitely" more open to the idea of moving Myers than Butler.
  • ESPN's Jerry Crasnick spoke with two sources familiar with the talks that told him speculation about a possible Butler-to-Seattle deal is "significantly overblown" (Twitter link).

Quick Hits: Young, Chacin, Floyd, Royals

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Here are a few of the latest updates out of 2012's Winter Meetings:

  • Officials with two separate clubs tell Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that the Rangers have spoken to them about offering Michael Young in a trade.
  • Despite some buzz that the Rockies may consider moving Jhoulys Chacin, a team source tells Troy Renck of the Denver Post that's not something the club is considering at the moment.
  • Trade interest in Gavin Floyd is high, tweets Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.
  • Besides seeking starting pitching, the Royals are also looking to add a utility infielder, according to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star.
  • Carlos Marmol will meet with Cubs president Theo Epstein today to discuss his future in Chicago, reports Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune. Marmol had agreed to waive his no-trade clause when the Cubs reached an agreement to trade him for Dan Haren, but after that deal fell through, it may be more difficult for the right-hander to waive his rights again.
  • Agent Scott Boras says that Japan is a "very viable option" for Hyun-Jin Ryu next season if he doesn't reach an agreement with the Dodgers, according to Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers bid $25.7MM last month for the right to exclusively negotiate with the South Korean southpaw, and have until Sunday to work out a deal. At the moment, the two sides appear to be far apart, says Hernandez.

Six Teams In On Anibal Sanchez

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Yesterday, we heard that the Tigers remain in contact with Anibal Sanchez, while the Angels and Royals are among the other teams considering the right-hander. We'll track today's Sanchez updates here, with the latest news up top:

  • The Mystery Team has finally showed up in Nashville! Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports (via Twitter) that, in addition to the Tigers, Angels, Royals, Dodgers, and Red Sox, a mystery team is in the mix for Sanchez.
  • Although the Red Sox have interest in Sanchez, the price might be too high for their liking, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Boston may look at Kyle Lohse as an alternative, though the club is focused on adding offense for now.

A’s Discussing Escobar With Marlins

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Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the A's are indeed engaged in ongoing discussions with the Marlins regarding Yunel Escobar, as was previously speculated. Slusser's piece contains plenty of A's material, so here's the latest on the reigning AL West Champs…

  • Not surprisingly the Escobar discusssions aren't believed to be centered around anyone on the Athletics' Major League roster.
  • Slusser reports that the A's have heavy competition for Brandon McCarthy, as the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Royals, Red Sox, White Sox and Twins have already met with the right-hander, and the Angels and Rangers are expected to join the fray.
  • McCarthy would consider a one-year deal to prove that he has successfully recovered from his frightening head injury and brain surgery late in the 2012 season.
  • Hiroyuki Nakajima is more concerned with playing time than salary, according to Slusser, which could increase Oakland's appeal to the Japanese shortstop.

R.A. Dickey Rumors: Monday

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A reigning Cy Young winner is on the trade block, and we've got all of today's updates on R.A. Dickey right here, with the newest items added to the top throughout the day:

Earlier updates:

  • The Dodgers have talked to the Mets about Dickey, reports MLB.com's Ken Gurnick.  Gurnick notes that Dickey could be a fallback for Zack Greinke, or maybe the team will just sign both to have three Cy Young winners on the staff.  The question is whether the Dodgers have the right players to pull off a deal.
  • Talks for Dickey between the Mets and Red Sox were "very preliminary," a Major League source tells WEEI's Alex Speier, and a deal is extremely unlikely.
  • There has been strong interest in Dickey today, tweets Andy Martino of the New York Daily News, but he's heard the Mets did not ask the Red Sox for specific players.
  • The Mets met with eight teams today about Dickey, according to Adam Rubin and Joe McDonald of ESPN.  The Red Sox were one of those teams, and the Mets wanted Xander Bogaerts andJackie Bradley Jr. in return. We heard earlier that the Sox didn't have interest in Dickey, so perhaps the Mets' exorbitant asking price is playing a part in that lack of interest.
  • GM Sandy Alderson acknowledged that he's had "preliminary talks" with multiple teams about Dickey and other players, tweets Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. According to Alderson, there have been more conversations about Dickey than Niese, though that could change (Twitter link).
  • Fair or not, Dickey's age and repertoire is making teams reluctant to give up significant talent for him, tweets Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Of course, as Martino adds in a second tweet, it just takes one club to step up and change that. Still, for now, Jonathon Niese is viewed as the more appealing Mets arm, according to Martino.
  • Although the Mets are "more than willing" to discuss Dickey, the Red Sox haven't shown any interest, says Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com, noting that the Mets could do better than Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Twitterlinks).
  • The Mets have gotten "serious" about trading ace knuckleballer Dickey as soon as this week, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark after hearing from a source.  Stark says the Rangers and Royals are seen as the most logical fits.
  • Earlier today, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News tweeted that he believes the Mets "genuinely don't know right now if they'll sign or trade" the NL Cy Young winner.  The 38-year-old can become a free agent after the 2013 season.

Mariners, O’s Displaying Strong Interest In Butler

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9:32pm: Royals officials "seemed to characterize Seattle as a fall-back option," writes Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, because Kansas City seeks a difference-maker rather than unproven prospects.  Dutton suggests the Orioles are "an even tougher match."  

5:47pm: The Mariners and Royals have had recent talks on Butler, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

12:17pm: Although a report last week suggested that Billy Butler was close to untouchable, that hasn't stopped teams from showing interest in the Royals slugger. According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter), the Mariners and Orioles are showing "strong interest" in Butler.

We had previously heard about both teams' interest in Butler, with the Mariners in particular said to be "coveting" the 26-year-old. Dutton views the M's as a more logical fit for the Royals than the Orioles, given the young pitchers Seattle could offer in a deal.

Dutton noted earlier today that the Rays' agreement with James Loney may mean they're no longer a fit for a Butler trade.

Teams Calling On Bud Norris

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Teams are calling the Astros on Bud Norris, tweets Yahoo's Jeff Passan, and Houston is listening.  The Royals reached out to the Astros on Norris, and they've also got interest in free agent Shaun Marcum, writes Passan.

As a first time arbitration eligible player, the inconsistent Norris is under team control for three more years and projects to earn $2.9MM in 2013.  Norris, 28 in March, posted a 4.65 ERA, 8.8 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 1.23 HR/9, and 39.2% groundball rate in 168 1/3 innings this year, struggling mightily away from Minute Maid Park.  The Astros have another asset in shortstop Jed Lowrie.  GM Jeff Luhnow told reporters today he's getting offers on Lowrie, but a trade is unlikely.

The Royals added some decent-sized commitments for Ervin Santana and Jeremy Guthrie this year, and they also tendered a contract to Luke Hochevar.  Still, as GM Dayton Moore told Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star today about their search for a front-rotation starter, "We’re trying to upgrade with guys who will make a major difference to our team. How many opportunities do you get to do that? Not many."

Free Agent Rumors: Oswalt, Delmon, Sizemore, Ross, Ludwick

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Here's the latest from the Winter Meetings on a handful of free agents:

Earlier updates:

Show all

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