Royals Rumors

Bradley To Rays Or Royals?

By Tim Dierkes | December 8, 2008 at 11:20pm CDT

11:20pm: Dayton Moore shot down the Bradley rumor this evening. The KC Star’s Bob Dutton says the Royals still like Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson, but they’d need to free up money first. They’d be willing to trade Jose Guillen if there was a taker, but don’t want to move Gil Meche.

9:05pm: Ken Rosenthal spoke to a Rangers official who expects Milton Bradley to move on (at least they’ll snag a supplemental pick). This official believes the Rays and, surprisingly, the Royals are the leading suitors for Bradley. The Rays came away impressed after their lunch date with Bradley, who was in town for Eddie Guardado’s poker tournament.

Royals Considering Farnsworth, Springer, Lyon

By Tim Dierkes | December 8, 2008 at 10:28pm CDT

10:28pm: Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star adds Russ Springer to the mix for the Royals. They’d have to find room in the payroll before signing a veteran reliever.

5:32pm: According to MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel, the Royals will hear from the agent for Brandon Lyon, Kyle Farnsworth, and Craig Counsell this week. Lyon and Farnsworth make sense, as the Royals are known to be looking for righthanded relief help. They’ve been linked to The Farnz before. And there was recent word they might look at veteran infielders to replace Mark Grudzielanek.

Astros Claim Fulchino

By Tim Dierkes | December 8, 2008 at 4:56pm CDT

I first heard about this via Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News a few hours ago; trying to find time to mention it. The Astros claimed righty Jeff Fulchino off waivers from the Royals.

Odds and Ends: Teahen, Mastny, Clement

By Tim Dierkes | December 8, 2008 at 12:03am CDT

Sunday evening links…I will add to this post as needed.

Dejan Kovacevic describes what it’s like for a reporter at the Winter Meetings.
The Royals do not want to trade Mark Teahen. They’ve received inquiries on Teahen, David DeJesus, Jose Guillen, and Billy Butler. They mainly seem willing to move Guillen, which Jayson Stark reported earlier.
Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along nuggets on Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara. He says the Angels contacted Kawakami’s agent, while the Tigers and Giants have been in touch with Uehara’s.
Newman also says the Yokohama BayStars acquired reliever Tom Mastny from the Indians.
Free agent infielder Nick Punto admitted to LEN3 that it’d be hard to leave the Twins.
John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus says the Pirates are "willing to take a flyer on free-agent local boy Matt Clement." Clement may also consider Cleveland if they’ll have him.
Other teams are pulling ahead of the Rockies in the pursuit for free agent lefty Joe Beimel. Nothing against Beimel, but it seems that every year one free agent lefty reliever is elevated beyond his true value. It might be Beimel this year.
Jon Paul Morosi discusses trading Dontrelle Willis.
The Marlins figure to hang on to Dan Uggla.
Roch Kubatko says Orioles exec Mike Flanagan won’t be attending the Meetings, sparking speculation about his future with the team.

Grudzielanek Declines Arb Offer

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2008 at 11:48pm CDT

According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, Type B free agent Mark Grudzielanek declined the Royals’ offer of arbitration as expected. The Royals will get a supplemental pick if he signs elsewhere. Grudz is looking to play for a contender.

Stark’s Latest: Dye, Greinke, Teixeira

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2008 at 9:53pm CDT

Jayson Stark’s Winter Meetings preview is up; let’s take a look.

Stark sees "just about zero chance" the Padres trade Jake Peavy at the Meetings. The Cubs will need at least a few weeks to settle their ownership situation before they can make a trade and take on his contract. Plus, a Stark source says it makes sense for the Padres to wait until the top free agent starters are off the board.
The Braves, Reds, Royals, Rays, and possibly Mets have shown interest in Jermaine Dye. Dye played for the Royals from 1997-2001 before he was traded for Neifi Perez. The White Sox are willing to trade Paul Konerko and Jim Thome too.
The Mariners would listen on "pretty much anybody." But given the surplus of closers on the market, it seems unlikely that Jack Zduriencik will be bowled over with an offer for J.J. Putz.
The Royals really don’t want to trade Zack Greinke, but they’ll at least discuss him. The price would be massive. It doesn’t look like they want to trade David DeJesus or Mark Teahen either, but Jose Guillen can be had.
The Marlins have been pushing Jorge Cantu over Jeremy Hermida, though Hermida’s drawn plenty of interest. Nick Cafardo named the Rays, Reds, and Giants earlier today.
The Angels figure to attach a two or three-day deadline to their eventual Mark Teixeira offer.
Stark sees Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake as the two free agents most likely to sign this week. Most execs Stark surveyed see Teixeira and Manny Ramirez signing in January.

Winter Meetings Previews

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2008 at 6:28pm CDT

We’ve added a few new Winter Meetings preview to the collection…

Yahoo’s Tim Brown runs through plans for all of the American and National League teams.
Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post says the Rockies are all about left-handed relief help. They’ve got several trade chips to work with.
Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the Phillies covered. You know the plan: starting pitcher, outfielder.
Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reminds us of the Cardinals’ wish list: starter, closer, lefthanded reliever. Arthur Rhodes would fit, but he’s leaning toward the Reds. Strauss wonders if John Mozeliak can match up with the Blue Jays to find relief help.
The Twins still want to add a shortstop or third baseman according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, though several options have already been eliminated. Neal summarizes the players on the radar. The Twins are also looking for bullpen help.
Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune discusses the Padres. Kevin Towers will keep the Jake Peavy talks going with the Cubs while also searching for a shortstop and veteran catcher.
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reminds us that Peavy and a left-handed hitting outfielder are on the Cubs’ wish list. The bat comes first, says Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star says Dayton Moore has already accomplished his main goals, and now looks to replenish his right-handed relief. The Royals would also like to add a proven middle infielder and seem to have a glut of corner/DH types.
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic and Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune analyze the Diamondbacks. Josh Byrnes seeks a second baseman, left-handed reliever, and pitching in general. Miguel Montero is the top trade chip. They have about $10MM to spend, less if Brandon Lyon accepts arbitration.
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News says the Rangers could trade Gerald Laird, Hank Blalock, Kevin Millwood, or Vicente Padilla.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Doug Melvin about C.C. Sabathia, who still hasn’t reacted to their offer. If Sabathia and Ben Sheets leave, Melvin could add two starters. Melvin also said it’d be too risky to trade J.J. Hardy and start Alcides Escobar at short. Rickie Weeks has drawn interest, but Melvin would require "a pretty good hitter" in return. Mike Cameron is a more likely trade chip. As for the team’s closer search, Melvin doesn’t expect to be in on the big names.
Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post says the Marlins probably won’t steal headlines at these Winter Meetings as they did in ’07. Still, Jorge Cantu, Matt Treanor, and Jeremy Hermida may be dealt. The Fish have been "actively shopping" Treanor and Hermida. The Marlins have mild interest in free agents Ivan Rodriguez and Carl Pavano.
Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says Ken Williams has asked the Reds about Homer Bailey. Could the Reds match up for Jermaine Dye? The White Sox hope to add more MLB-ready starting pitching and maybe a backup catcher.
The Orioles need starting pitching, with a slew of names under consideration according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun: A.J. Burnett, Paul Byrd, Jon Garland, Mark Hendrickson, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Kenshin Kawakami, Koji Uehara, Bartolo Colon, and Matt Clement. The O’s also hope to extend Brian Roberts, trade Ramon Hernandez, and find a shortstop. They have interest in Adam Everett.
Roch Kubatko of MASN Online explains what it’s like for a reporter at the Meetings.

Odds and Ends: Rays, Greene, Wigginton

By Tim Dierkes | December 5, 2008 at 5:54pm CDT

Links for Friday…

The Rays signed three to minor league deals: Jason Childers, Jeremy Cummings, and Chris Richard.
I chatted on the phone with Jesse Spector of the New York Daily News yesterday.
ESPN’s Keith Law suggests the best fits for the top five free agents.
Dave Cameron thinks the Cardinals did well on the Khalil Greene trade. Viva El Birdos also likes it.
Richard Justice feels the Astros will trade Ty Wigginton. Maybe the Twins could be a match. By the way, the Astros signed Matt Kata to a minor league deal.
Rany Jazayerli is happy with Royals owner David Glass.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Johnson, Cano, Peavy

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2008 at 4:54pm CDT

4:54pm: The Big Unit is open to the Giants or A’s, not a big surprise. Johnson’s agent says about ten teams have expressed interest, Giants included.

11:49am: Ken Rosenthal is working overtime; here’s his latest.

The A’s remain the frontrunners for Rafael Furcal. Also, they’re targeting starter Randy Johnson to add a veteran presence to their rotation. Rosenthal adds that the A’s may prefer Nick Johnson over Jason Giambi.
The Phillies made an offer to Derek Lowe, who seems to be their backup plan if they can’t sign Jamie Moyer. Rosenthal speculates that the Dodgers could consider Moyer. If the Phils sign Lowe, they may have to go cheap in left field.
Oliver Perez and Randy Wolf are on the Yankees’ radar.
The Braves haven’t ruled out five guaranteed years for A.J. Burnett. Rosenthal agrees with Mark Bowman that the Braves actually have little interest in Adam Dunn. He adds that Raul Ibanez might be out of their price range. Instead, the Braves could choose to trade Kelly Johnson for an outfielder.
Rosenthal believes the Dodgers will renew talks for Robinson Cano at the Winter Meetings, and the Yankees will again ask for Matt Kemp.
The Cubs are speaking daily to the Padres about Jake Peavy. Rosenthal says the Orioles do not seem to be the third team at this time.
Rosenthal believes the Royals could make a run at Kyle Farnsworth.

Royals Rumors: Greinke, Francoeur

By Tim Dierkes | December 4, 2008 at 2:55pm CDT

2:55pm: There was one other Greinke rumor; we missed it in ESPN’s Rumor Central. Jayson Stark said the Braves inquired but didn’t get far. He added at the time that the Royals may at least listen on him during the Winter Meetings.

1:12pm: Yesterday, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick said the Nationals explored trading for Royals starter Zack Greinke. Of course, that could’ve just been a phone call inquiry from Jim Bowden to Dayton Moore that went nowhere. That’s pretty much the only Greinke rumor we’ve heard in recent weeks.

Today Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com wrote that Moore has grown more fond of Greinke, and is more likely to sign him to an extension than trade him. We know that’s Moore’s preference, but Greinke is comfortable going year to year. He’s under team control for two more seasons.

Knobler adds that Moore’s interest in Jeff Francoeur has waned, as the Royals already have a crowded outfield.

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