Cubs Targeting Teahen
9:51pm: MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel has a source saying Dayton Moore and Jim Hendry have not discussed a deal for Teahen or David DeJesus. Moore wouldn’t comment publicly on the rumor, while Teahen and his agent are unaware of any trade talks. Still, check out Rany Jazayerli’s thoughts on the rumor.
5:02pm: More fallout from the Ryan Dempster signing. The Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton is reporting the Cubs are once again targeting Mark Teahen to fill their right field vacancy. Dutton says discussions to acquire Teahen "stalled earlier this month, in part, because the Cubs’ wanted to hold onto several young players while discussing a possible trade with San Diego for pitcher Jake Peavy if Dempster signed elsewhere."
Now that Dempster is on board, acquiring a left handed hitting outfield bat is the Cubs’ highest priority. But who would the Cubs trade for Teahen?
The Cubs want to move Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome, but that’s a tough sell — to any team, not just the Royals — because he slumped badly last season over the closing months and is owed $38 million over the next three years.
A more-likely possibility is Felix Pie, a 23-year-old once viewed as a can’t-miss prospect. Pie batted just .223 in 260 at-bats with the Cubs over the last two years after posting strong minor-league numbers.
[snip]
The Cubs can also offer shortstop Ronny Cedeno or second baseman Mike Fontenot if the Royals prefer to acquire a middle-infield partner for Mike Aviles.
Pie is also out of options and the Cubs seem to have run out of patience, so he is a likely trade candidate. Teahen, meanwhile, has yet to live up to the hype that surrounded his promotion to the big leagues, but he could blossom hitting against weaker NL pitching. Teahen, you might remember, was one of the featured players in the book "Moneyball" and was described as a future Jason Giambi.
Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com and can be reached here.
Odds and Ends: Mussina, Proefrock, Cuban
Links for Monday…
- Pitcher Kelvin Jimenez was claimed off waivers by the White Sox. The Blue Jays had claimed him from the Cardinals previously.
- The Yankees hope Mike Mussina decides whether he’s retiring soon. He says it might be this week.
- Aaron Gleeman runs through the more affordable middle relief options.
- Roch Kubatko had the scoop yesterday – Scott Proefrock, formerly of the Orioles, is the new assistant GM for the Phillies.
- Trey Hillman is familiar with Kenshin Kawakami, but it’s not known whether the Royals are interested.
- Peter Abraham is wary of five free agents the Yankees might consider.
- Mark Cuban is in hot water for alleged insider trading.
- Ben Davis is apparently pitching these days, and he’ll try to crack the Reds’ Double A rotation.
Odds and Ends: Perez, Torres, Beimel
Links for Friday, with an unplanned emphasis on relievers…
- The Tigers and Trevor Hoffman may be a match. Hoffman’s agent closed the door on the Padres.
- The Royals brought Mike Arbuckle aboard, formerly of the Phillies.
- The Nationals have interest in re-signing Aaron Boone and Odalis Perez. MLB.com’s Bill Ladson gives it a 50-50 chance. The Nats re-signed infielder Pete Orr, who could earn $600K.
- The Brewers picked up Salomon Torres‘ 2009 option, more of a procedural move than anything.
- The Marlins have an eye on minor league free agent Zach McClellan.
- Ken Davidoff makes contract and destination predictions for top free agents. K-Rod, Juan Cruz, and Russ Springer to the Cardinals for a combined $73MM?
- The Rockies have Joe Beimel and Jeremy Affeldt on the radar, among others.
- The New York Daily News has a cool free agent tracker.
Ibanez May Be Too Pricey For Royals
According to Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star, Royals officials view Raul Ibanez as the best free agent fit for them. However, they’re not likely to give him a three-year deal in the $10-12MM range. They’re also reluctant to surrender their second-round pick to the Mariners.
Dutton says the Royals are "taking a hard look" at Rafael Furcal, who is the best available shortstop and doesn’t cost a draft pick. However, Dutton doesn’t see the Royals as the high bidder for Furcal either. The Giants, A’s, and Braves are eyeing Furcal, among others. Dutton sees the Royals adding a cheaper free agent, someone of the Nick Punto/David Eckstein variety.
Also on the Royals front, Jesse Spector talks to GM Dayton Moore. Moore denied reports that he’s down on Billy Butler.
Odds and Ends: Holliday, Takahashi, Lincecum
Links for Wednesday…
- Richard Justice says the Astros should offer Andy Pettitte $7-8MM to come back.
- Joe Christensen doesn’t see Huston Street landing in Minnesota.
- Larry Beinfest dismissed a "cyberspace rumor" that the Marlins are planning a run at Manny Ramirez.
- Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs could fit both Jake Peavy and Ryan Dempster into the payroll, and that the Peavy situation will be resolved first.
- Today is the deadline for MLB.com’s Free Agent Frenzy. You have until 4pm CST to submit your picks for 15 free agents. Here are my predictions from November 3rd…I would change the Furcal and Sheets ones for starters.
- Who had the Matt Holliday scoop? SI.com’s Jon Heyman broke the story, while Yahoo’s Tim Brown was the first to name the players involved.
- Holliday figures to be a three to six month rental for the A’s. Over at FanGraphs, Dave Cameron takes a closer look at Carlos Gonzalez and Greg Smith. ESPN’s Keith Law says the Rockies received a "fair return" for Holliday.
- Athletics Nation suggests the A’s sign Derek Lowe.
- Ken Davidoff looks at the Yankees’ seesawing philosophy.
- Japanese southpaw Ken Takahashi intends to sign with an MLB club, and the Mets may be interested. Nikkan Sports says the Cubs, Padres, and Giants are also in on him.
- River Ave. Blues looks ahead to Derek Jeter‘s next contract.
- Andrew Baggarly reminds us that Tim Lincecum intends to go year to year.
- ESPN’s Buster Olney talked to one GM who expects "a whole lot of bargains" in late January, given the nation’s economy.
- Rany Jazayerli didn’t like the Royals’ acquisition of Mike Jacobs, but doesn’t think it’s the end of the world.
- Braves GM Frank Wren on Jeff Francoeur: "We haven’t talked about him at all. It’s not to say that we wouldn’t."
Royals Payroll Could Reach $70 Million
Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City talked to Royals GM Dayton Moore recently.
- Moore hopes to sign Zack Greinke long-term. Greinke, however, is comfortable going year to year to maximize his earnings.
- Moore named three free agent bats he ranked above Mike Jacobs: Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and Bobby Abreu. He implied those three are out of the Royals’ price range. Moore feels that Jacobs will continue to improve.
- Moore says he has flexibility to extend payroll toward $70MM or even higher. He notes that last year the Royals tried to sign Jose Guillen and Torii Hunter, which would’ve pushed payroll to that range.
- Moore lists his needs as speed, OBP, a starting pitcher, and bullpen help.
- Mike Aviles could be shifted to second base if the Royals can acquire a "proven everyday shortstop." Royals Authority says: don’t move him!
Odds and Ends: Burrell, Atkins, Ohmura
Links for Monday…
- Even after signing LaTroy Hawkins, the Astros would like to re-sign Doug Brocail. They already chose a $250K buyout over his $3.25MM option. Further complicating matters, Brocail is a Type A free agent.
- The Royals signed pitcher Brandon Duckworth and then outrighted him to Triple A.
- Yahoo’s Jeff Passan ranks all the free agents, from C.C. Sabathia at #1 to Vance Wilson at #183.
- The Giants seem likely to hit the free agent market for a reliever.
- Pat Burrell hasn’t heard from the Phillies yet.
- John Brattain battles Scott Boras on his Manny Ramirez claims.
- Aaron Gleeman suggests the Twins would be better off platooning Brian Buscher and Brendan Harris at third base than acquiring Garrett Atkins.
- Joe Posnanski continues to find the Royals’ Mike Jacobs acquisition baffling. Jacobs seems to be aiming for a .320 OBP.
- Free agent pitcher Kenshin Kawakami still hasn’t decided whether to jump over to MLB.
- Outfielder Saburo Ohmura seems to have changed his mind – he’s likely to remain in Japan.
Odds And Ends: Saltalamacchia, White Sox, Ludwick
Links for Sunday…
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia says playing with Jason Varitek for the Red Sox would be a "dream come true."
- Ken Davidoff writes that the White Sox would like to trade Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko or Jim Thome.
- Bernie Miklasz asks whether the Cardinals believe in Ryan Ludwick.
- According to the Chicago Tribune, 19-year-old Cuban prospect Dayan Viciedo has raw tools and questionable commitment. Yesterday, the Chicago Sun-Times suggested the Sox were interested.
- Mike Jacobs doesn’t expect to walk more than he did last year.
- Tim Cowlishaw thinks the Rangers should try to sign Manny Ramirez.
- Phil Rogers says that the Cubs could sign Ryan Dempster by Thursday. Rogers doesn’t expect Manny Ramirez or C.C. Sabathia to sign soon.
Latest On Rafael Furcal
According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers have a two-year deal in mind for free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. SI.com’s Jon Heyman recently said their offer was in the two-year, $25-30MM range. His agent is looking for four years, and says ten other teams have expressed interest.
Heyman believes the Orioles and Royals may be suitors, though Furcal may be out of the Royals’ price range. The Tigers are out, but the Cubs, Giants, Blue Jays, and A’s are in.
Odds And Ends: White Sox, Royals, Jays, Crede, Hosmer
A few notes from the MLBiverse…
- Ken Williams says the White Sox are in a position where they could either add more young players to develop or add some veteran pieces to the group. Williams says whichever road they choose, the team is "in a pretty good position."
- Joe Posnanski, on his blog, takes a look at some recent rumors surrounding the Royals. He feels that is the rumors have any truth to them, they are scary, noting that it would lead to an OBP-deprived lineup. Posnanski feels Dayton Moore is a "smart baseball man" and won’t make the moves being rumored.
- Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star looks at the Jays roster and dreams about the free agents that could fill in the holes.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says Joe Crede will not return to the White Sox.
- DraftInfo talked to Eric Hosmer about his first year as a pro. Hosmer discussed the Pedro Alvarez situation, noting that he was never worried with Scott Boras as his agent.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.