Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Angels Rumors

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Wednesday

By | at

2:15pm: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun talked to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who reminded that the Orioles have flexibility with their offer.

10:46am: Nick Cafardo talked to a GM for one of the five teams in the Teixeira bidding who believes the Red Sox are in the lead.  So…was it Andy MacPhail, Jim Bowden, Brian Cashman, or Tony Reagins?

9:54am: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Orioles have not improved their initial offer to Mark Teixeira.  The Red Sox, Angels, and Nationals have higher bids on the table.  Olney’s source believes Teixeira would have to "really, really want to play there" to take Baltimore’s offer.

Based on the most recent reports, the Red Sox appear to be at eight years, the Nationals at eight years, $160MM, and Angels at eight years and at least $160MM, and the Orioles at seven years in the $140-150MM range.  I’m guessing a ninth year and an opt-out clause will be two of the biggest factors when it’s all said and done.

Cardinals Rumors: Fuentes, Saito, Kawakami, Uehara

By | at

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the latest on the Cardinals’ hunt for pitching.

GM John Mozeliak is getting impatient with Brian Fuentes’ agents, who are waiting for the market to develop.  They might be waiting for the Angels to jump in, but that won’t happen until the Mark Teixeira situation is resolved.  Strauss says the Cardinals have offered two years and $16-18MM, and the ball is in Fuentes’ court.  Fuentes, of course, wants three years and more than $30MM.  The Cardinals are reluctant to give him the third year.

Strauss says the Cards "may investigate the availability" of Takashi Saito, though the Dodgers hope to re-sign him.  Strauss also learned that Mozeliak met with the agents for Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara at the Winter Meetings.

Derek Lowe Rumors: Tuesday

By | at

SI.com’s Jon Heyman has the latest on the market for free agent starter Derek Lowe.  Heyman says "some baseball people think" the Cubs might get in on Lowe, since his price tag may be similar to the four years and $63MM left on Jake Peavy’s contract.

Heyman believes the Yankees will resume discussions with Lowe if they fail to sign Andy Pettitte.  However, he says they expect Pettitte to accept their $10MM offer.

Heyman indicates the Braves, Red Sox, Mets and Angels are also on Lowe’s radar. 

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday

By | at

SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Yankees aren’t optimistic about signing Mark Teixeira, and "seem ready to pounce for Manny Ramirez."  He says the Yankees "love the idea of Manny."

Heyman notes that Teixeira signing with the Red Sox would be ideal for Manny and Scott Boras, since Boston is not a possibility for Ramirez.  The Angels might have heightened interest in Manny if they are unable to sign Tex.

Phillies Sign Raul Ibanez

By | at

TUESDAY: The Phillies’ three-year, $31.5MM deal with Ibanez is official.

FRIDAY, 12:45pm: Geoff Baker offers commentary on the signing.  He says the Cubs cooled on Ibanez over defensive concerns while the Angels remained in a Mark Teixeira holding pattern.

7:56am: Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Phillies have signed Raul Ibanez to a three-year deal. Rosenthal says the contract is worth $30MM. The deal is pending a physical.

As a type A free agent, the Mariners will receive the Phillies’ first round pick next year (#28) and a supplemental pick between the first and second round.  With Ibanez now the everyday left fielder, Jayson Stark says the Phillies will cut ties with Pat Burrell.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Multiple Offers For Kawakami?

By | at

Patrick at NPB Tracker writes that Kenshin Kawakami’s agent says he’s received official offers from "more than one team."

It’s not known which teams offered contracts, but the Braves are interested and Patrick lists the Orioles, Red Sox, Angels, Giants, and Brewers as other possible suitors.

Here’s the link to the Hochi Sports article in Japanese.

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Monday

By | at

Some Mark Teixeira nuggets have surfaced around the web…

  • The Angels “appear to have abandoned their usual quick-deadline strategy” according to Jon Heyman. They’ve been known to offer contracts with deadlines, but this year they’re making an exception.
  • Ken Rosenthal writes that the Angels could be “bracing for the loss” of Teixeira to another club.
  • Still, the Red Sox still consider the Angels “a more serious competitor” than the Orioles or Nationals according to New York Times writer Jack Curry.
  • Red Sox GM Theo Epstein didn’t deny that the his team is a “super power financially,” but he told Curry that Boston spends “99%” of its resources on scouting and development. With good reason, Curry suggests that they might be spending more than 1% of their energy on signing Tex.

Scioscia Asked Francona About Manny

By | at

Newsday’s Ken Davidoff passes along a report from The Sports Lodge radio show.  According to Davidoff:

The skipper [Mike Scioscia] disputed the idea that he wouldn’t want Manny Ramirez on his team, and he said that the Angels have reached out to Red Sox manager Terry Francona to get a feel for what it’s like to have Manny on your team. I wonder how that conversation went?

Ken Rosenthal has quotes from Scioscia.  Scott Boras is going to have to play a few teams off each other if he’s going to get three guaranteed years for Ramirez.

Davidoff also has a quote from Scioscia suggesting Jake Peavy "would be a good fit" for the Angels (and vice versa).  Meanwhile, SI.com’s Jon Heyman explains why the Angels are still players for Mark Teixeira.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Yankees, Teixeira, Bradley, Furcal

By | at

Ken Rosenthal has his latest article up. Let’s go through it.

  • Milton Bradley is weighing his options with the Cubs and Rays. Joe Maddon and the Rays may be a better fit than Lou Piniella and the Cubs. And spending time at DH would allow him to "protect his oft-injured body." But will the Rays meet Bradley’s asking price when they can turn to Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Garret Anderson, or Pat Burrell instead?  Rosenthal adds that the Reds, Angels, and Nationals are also interested in Bradley.
  • Rosenthal says the Yankees are aiming to keep their payroll lower than last season. Despite gorging this holiday season, they’re shedding more than they’re putting on.
  • With regards to Mark Teixeira, Rosenthal reports one general manager says there is a lot of bluffing going on right now to get the Red Sox to go higher.
  • Ty Wigginton has received calls from four teams since being non-tendered by the Astros. His replacement in Houston has yet to be established. Chris Johnson, the team’s third base prospect, had a .539 OPS in Triple A last season.
  • Jerry Hairston Jr. is receiving interest from the Reds and three AL clubs, the Mariners likely being one of them. Says Rosenthal, "Hairston, 32, plays six positions and was a favorite of new M’s manager Don Wakamatsu when both were with the Rangers."  Not sure where the Phillies fit in, but Jay Bruce said Hairston was considering them.  And John Perrotto has the Pirates in the mix for Hairston.
  • The reason Rafael Furcal rejected the A’s offer was that he wants to stay with the Dodgers, so says "one agent." Meanwhile the Dodgers appear to be daring Furcal to leave for a lesser club before making an offer.

Braves Interested In Kawakami

By | at

Having lost out on A.J. Burnett, the Atlanta Braves are shifting their attention to a different candidate to fill out their starting rotation–33-year old Japanese veteran Kenshin Kawakami.

Dave O’Brien at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Braves are serious contenders for Kawakami’s services. While teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels and Orioles are also in on Kawakami, "the Braves are particularly motivated to improve their rotation," O’Brien says.

Failing to sign Burnett is certainly one motivating factor, but O’Brien also mentions the increasing chance that John Smoltz does not return to the Braves in 2009.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top