Ken Davidoff relays some interesting comments from Angels owner Arte Moreno, who appeared on the Sports Lodge radio show. Moreno explained that the Angels made about six different offers to Francisco Rodriguez at various times, and thought they had him signed at one point last year. Moreno says he’s "probably turning the page" on K-Rod.
Angels Rumors
The Trevor Hoffman Situation
In a post on his blog, Padres exec Paul DePodesta outlines the progression of the Trevor Hoffman negotiations (and also explains why exercising Brian Giles’ option was an easy call). Tom Krasovic also provides details, including quotes from Hoffman’s agent Rick Thurman.
- Thurman believes the $4MM offer for ’09 (with a club option at the same salary for ’10) was insincere. He feels the Padres never intended to sign Hoffman and calls the chances of a deal "miniscule." Hoffman is also upset that owner John Moores did not want to meet with him. Plus, Thurman seems annoyed that Towers contacted Hoffman directly regarding the Moores meeting.
- On the Padres’ side, CEO Sandy Alderson notes that the offer was not of the "take it or leave it" variety and it is not common let an offer sit for a prolonged period of time. Thurman did not a make a counteroffer, and the Padres never wanted these negotiations to be public.
- This is not a black and white situation. While the Padres’ initial offer was low, the two sides could’ve kept things private and met in the middle in the $5.75MM range. I also think Moores should’ve been willing to meet with Hoffman, as this is not a normal player negotiation.
- If Hoffman does leave, Thurman considers the Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Mets, Indians, Angels, and Rangers potential suitors. Why no mention of the Tigers? Jim Baumbach likes Hoffman for the Mets.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Hardy, Flowers, Wolf
Another day, another column from Ken Rosenthal.
- With multiple vacancies in the rotation and bullpen, the Brewers may need to see what kind of pitching Mike Cameron and/or J.J. Hardy can bring in return. GM Doug Melvin is not ready to shop Hardy. He’s received interest, but most teams have not given names (one team suggested swapping him for a pitcher Melvin termed, "a fifth starter.")
- The Padres have asked the Braves to substitute catcher Tyler Flowers for center fielder Gorkys Hernandez in their Jake Peavy offer. Dave O’Brien sees this as unlikely.
- If they can’t sign Mark Teixeira, the Angels are ready to shift gears to C.C. Sabathia, Francisco Rodriguez, or other players. The idea of a Manny Ramirez pursuit was "tabled rather quickly."
- The Cardinals plan to add one or two lefthanded relievers, probably free agents.
- In his quest for righthanded power, Reds GM Walt Jocketty inquired on Matt Holliday and Josh Willingham before they were traded. Purely speculative – Jermaine Dye could be a nice fit.
- At least half a dozen teams have expressed interest in free agent starter Randy Wolf.
Rockies Talking Trade With Reds
8:50pm: Reds GM Walt Jocketty says nothing is close with the Rockies; he’s talked to a lot of clubs. His snide remark: "They all didn’t allow it to get out."
Jocketty talked to the Rockies about Matt Holliday, but it was a short discussion.
7:37pm: Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News says the Reds have definite interest in Atkins, but not Torrealba or Taveras. The Reds like the idea of adding Atkins’ righthanded bat. They don’t like Torrealba’s price and Taveras’ inability to get on base. Ringolsby says the Phillies, Angels, and Twins are also after Atkins.
3:28pm: Troy Renck confirms Rosenthal’s report, and also speaks of speculation that the Red Sox will make a run at Chris Iannetta. A long shot to be sure.
Other Rockies notes: Renck says the Rox told people close to Manny Corpas that he’s still the closer, meaning Street might be on the outs. Additionally, the Rockies have expressed interest in Carl Pavano.
1:17pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Rockies aren’t done dealing – they’re talking trade with the Reds and other clubs. The Reds like Willy Taveras, Yorvit Torrealba, and Garrett Atkins, with a "definite interest" in Taveras.
Meanwhile the Indians like newly acquired Huston Street and the Nationals are one club eyeing Carlos Gonzalez. Rosenthal says the Rockies figure to hang on to Greg Smith.
It seems we can’t yet judge the Holliday trade for the Rockies. It did seem odd that they would acquire a closer and a young center fielder, two positions at which they already had solid options.
Angels Hold Off On Teixeira Bid
Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times describes the Angels’ strategy regarding free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. He says that since Tex will test the open market regardless, the Halos will not make an offer within their exclusive negotiation period. So much for resolving the situation quickly.
The Angels do not want Scott Boras shopping around their offer to the Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, and Nationals and driving up the price. Just a guess, maybe the Nats consider Josh Willingham their cleanup hitter acquisition and will back out of the Teixeira derby.
DiGiovanna adds that the Angels "plan a serious run" at C.C. Sabathia and could bid on A.J. Burnett. He also describes their stance on their own free agents aside from Teixeira:
The team will look to re-sign reliever Darren Oliver, is open to retaining closer Francisco Rodriguez and outfielder Juan Rivera, and seems lukewarm to the idea of retaining pitcher Jon Garland and outfielder Garret Anderson.
Koji Uehara Coming To MLB
Koji Uehara is officially coming to MLB, according to NPB Tracker. The free agent hurler hired SFX to represent him.
Based on Japanese reports, Newman says the Mets and Angels are eyeing Uehara as a reliever, while the Orioles like him as a starter. Newman likes him with the Cardinals as a swingman. Uehara, a 33 year-old control pitcher, was profiled here.
Angels Rumors: K-Rod, Teixeira, Figgins
Randy Youngman of the Orange County Register has some Angels rumors.
Youngman heard that Angels owner Arte Moreno has already decided against bringing back Francisco Rodriguez. If the Angels don’t re-sign K-Rod, they could give the closer’s job to Jose Arredondo, the 24-year-old reliever who had a 1.62 ERA in 61 innings as a rookie this year. The Angels were one of four teams who asked to see reliever Chad Cordero’s medical records this week.
Youngman expects the Angels to make Mark Teixeira an offer before their exclusive rights to him expire Thursday. He predicts a six or seven year offer for about $20MM per season. Earlier in the week, Buster Olney expected a similar offer.
If the Angels trade for Garrett Atkins, Youngman suggests that Chone Figgins could move to left field and replace Garret Anderson.
Odds and Ends, Prospects Edition: Kendry Morales, Dayan Viciedo, Logan Morrison
Some news from the winter leagues and beyond:
- Kendry Morales homered and doubled in Dominican Winter League play yesterday. "Morales is 9-for-23 and has homered in four of his six games in the Dominican Republic," reports Rotoworld. "He’s trying to force the Angels to open up either first base or DH for him next year." Of course, if the Angels can’t re-sign Mark Teixeira, Morales may not have to do much forcing (as the Angels have known all along).
- Seen as the future "Babe Ruth of Cuba" until he defected, Dayan Viciedo has been cleared by MLB to be a free agent. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has the White Sox ready to snap up the third-base prospect, who is still just 19.
- First-baseman Justin Smoak, the Rangers’ first-round pick this year, is hitting .389 in the Arizona Fall League. The AFL is quite a ways from MLB, but even so, I can’t help but think that the last thing the Rangers really need in their pipeline is more offense…
- Another first-base prospect, the Marlins’ Logan Morrison, is leading the AFL in batting average (.457), currently has a 12-game hit streak and has 5 homers through 17 games. Morrison was a 22nd-round pick in 2005, but has come a long way, writes ESPN.com’s Jason Grey, who sees in him the man to anchor Florida’s ’initial sack’ in the future.
- A little more on those two Indian pitching prospects, Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel — 19 years old, they pitched in front of 30 scouts in Arizona on Thursday. Patel hit 90 mph on the radar gun during a 30-pitch session, Singh 84 mph. The two former javelin throwers managed a few breaking balls, as well, and agent Jeff Borris said he expected "multiple offers." No word on whether those offers have come in.
Odds And Ends: Guerrero, Blue Jays, Reds
Links for Saturday…
- J.P. Ricciardi has begun "exploring other things" in case the Jays can’t bring back A.J. Burnett.
- The Angels aren’t discussing a contract extension with Vladimir Guerrero yet.
- Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto are off-limits according to Walk Jocketty.
- The White Sox are interested in a 19-year-old Cuban third base prospect, Dayan Viciedo. Ken Williams, who has a history of acquiring Cuban players, may have the inside track on signing Viciedo.
- The Astros signed a young international player of their own, Chia-Jen Lo. They announced Friday that they signed the 22-year-old Taiwanese righty to a minor league contract.
- The Rockies added a 16-year-old Venezuelan pitcher, Alving Mejias.
Four Teams Eyeing Chad Cordero
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Angels, Mets, Rangers, and Tigers have asked to look at Chad Cordero’s medical records. The Nationals are not in the mix. Cordero, 26, had shoulder surgery in July.
Ladson says Cordero’s first choice is the Angels, as he’s from Anaheim. After that would come the Mets due to the Omar Minaya connection from Montreal.
