Rosenthal On Hudson, Pudge, Cabrera, Edmonds
Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Orlando Hudson would like to play for the Royals, but currently they cannot afford him even at a likely salary under $5MM. They could free up most of the cash by releasing Mark Teahen, but Rosenthal’s source says the Royals are "unwilling to make such a move." Rany Jazayerli discusses the Royals-Hudson idea in this blog post. The Dodgers are the only other known suitor, though the fit there is questionable in my opinion.
- The Mets aren’t serious about signing Ivan Rodriguez, though they have discussed it. The Mets already have $7.4MM committed to their current catching tandem. Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post goes further, saying the Mets "aren’t interested" in Rodriguez.
- Currently the A’s are unwilling to meet Orlando Cabrera‘s asking price. They are willing to sacrifice their second-round pick for him if they get their price.
- Jim Edmonds is "attracting virtually no interest." Edmonds can still hit righties, so you’d think someone would make an offer.
Hudson To Royals A Long Shot
Yesterday, Buster Olney cited the Royals’ interest in Orlando Hudson. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star followed that up today with his perspective: "It still looks like a long shot."
To replace Mark Grudzielanek, the Royals signed Willie Bloomquist to provide competition for Alberto Callaspo and Esteban German, while also allowing Mark Teahen to work out at second base. And while Dayton Moore has still expressed an openness to sign Hudson, he’s also shown confidence in his options as they stand. Dutton writes,
"Signing Hudson, a Type A free agent, would force the Royals to surrender their second-round pick in the June draft to the Diamondbacks as compensation. Club officials indicate that would be acceptable depending on Hudson’s contract — but declined to speculate on those parameters."
Royals Considering Orlando Hudson
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney heard the Royals are looking for ways to fit Orlando Hudson into their budget. Olney calls this a "terrific idea" that would likely give the Royals a "greatly improved lineup and a better defense."
Earlier in the week, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reported the Royals’ interest in signing a free agent before the season begins. Hudson would cost the Royals their second-round pick.
Royals Monitoring Free Agent Market
The Royals are leaving the door ajar for a free agent addition or midseason move, says Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. Team owner David Glass had this to say:
"Being as candid as I can, we’re close to where we’re going to have to be on payroll. But you still can make some moves. One thing that I want to make sure we do is have the flexibility where at midseason, if we’re in this thing, we have the opportunity to improve this team."
Royals GM Dayton Moore on the topic:
"We’ll continue to look at names, and we’re monitoring how things are unfolding with some of the remaining players. But if we add (payroll), we’re going to have to subtract."
The salary of new first baseman Mike Jacobs remains undetermined, with the team submitting $2.75MM and Jacobs at $3.8MM. Aside from Jacobs, the Royals added about $16MM in ’09 salaries this winter by bringing in Coco Crisp, Kyle Farnsworth, Miguel Olivo, Horacio Ramirez, Doug Waechter, and Willie Bloomquist.
Dutton notes that the Royals had previous interest in Orlando Hudson and Orlando Cabrera, but remain reluctant to lose their second-round pick even if the middle infielders come at bargain prices.
Royals, Jamey Wright Agree To Terms
According to a press release, the Royals signed right-hander Jamey Wright to a minor league contract.
Wright’s deal comes with an invitation to spring training. The 34-year-old posted a 5.12 ERA in 75 relief appearances with the Rangers last season. He’s a 13-year MLB veteran, and went 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA in four starts for the Royals back in 2003.
Royals Interested In Chad Cordero
Word from a source around the Royals’ mini-camp in Arizona is that the team is taking a long look at free agent reliever Chad Cordero. Cordero will be conducting a showcase on February 18th.
The Royals join a long list of teams connected to the rehabbing righty this winter. Teams rumored to have interest at various points: the Brewers, Marlins, Dodgers, Twins, Angels, Mets, Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Nationals, and Tigers. A few of those clubs may have since spent their bullpen budgets. Cordero, 27 in March, had surgery to fix tears in his labrum and biceps tendon in July of 2008. On Monday, Cordero will throw his first private bullpen session (off a mound).
Royals Avoid Arb With Teahen
The Royals have agreed to a one-year, $3.575MM contract with Mark Teahen, according to the AP.
Teahen, 27, played in 149 games last year and posted a .255/.313/.402 line. He earned $2.337MM last season, and had asked for $3.85MM in arbitration heading into the 2009 campaign.
Royals Avoid Arb With Brian Bannister
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Royals have agreed to terms with Brain Bannister on a one-year, $1.7MM contract.
Bannister can earn another $25K if he reaches 200 innings or makes the All-Star team. The 27-year-old right-hander asked for $2MM when arbitration figures were due and the Royals countered with $1.45MM. It seems they’ve found a middle ground. Bannister went 9-16 last season with a 5.76 ERA.
Orioles Close To Deal With Cubs For Hill
9:41pm: Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun has more on the Orioles trading for Cubs pitcher Rich Hill.
The deal would be for a player to be named later, Zrebiec writes, and it could be announced as early as Monday.
Hill will be reunited with pitching coach Rick Kranitz and bullpen coach Alan Dunn, who worked with him in the Cubs’ organization, Zrebiec notes.
Hill is out of options, so he’ll have to make the Orioles’ Opening Day roster or they could lose him. … Hill will be given an opportunity to win a spot in the rotation, which currently has three vacancies behind Jeremy Guthrie and Koji Uehara.
6:12pm: Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun believes the Baltimore Orioles will complete a trade for Cubs left-handed pitcher Rich Hill by Tuesday — if the Orioles will do the deal at all.
Schmuck writes that now other organizations are aware that Hill could be made available, additional teams — including the Royals and Mariners — could make an offer.
Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail might be waiting to see if he can sign free agent right-handed pitcher Braden Looper, Schmuck adds.
They might be willing to acquire both pitchers, but there is the small matter of moving players off the 40-man roster to make room, so maybe Andy is just going to take one or the other.
Hill, 29 in March, is 18-17 in 57 starts with a 4.37 ERA during a short four-season career. He spend much of 2008 in Triple-A.
Looper, 34, went 12-14 in 33 starts with a 4.16 ERA with the St. Louis Cardinals last season.
Odds and Ends: Mets Payroll, Reds, Rangers
Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone. Some Odds & Ends:
- Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star thinks the Royals should trade for Rich Hill.
- Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News estimates the Mets payroll to be $135MM this season, before Freddy Garcia or the $2.25MM owed to Willy Randolph.
- River Ave. Blues has a nice write up on the non-guaranteed nature of arbitration and the process of declining arbitration to free agents.
- The Dallas Morning News’ Anthony Andro peers into the future of the Rangers, ranked atop Baseball America’s organizational rankings. Writes Andro, "Since the magazine began rankings in 1984, a playoff appearance has followed within six years all but twice for the No. 1 club."
- Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald lists some of the quirkier signing bonuses and perks in the MLB, including Roy Oswalt’s bulldozer.