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Heyman’s Latest: Cabrera, Pudge, Pedro, Halladay

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Already linked to this article from Jon Heyman in the Manny piece, but it should have its own post as well, as the second half of it covers completely different material. Let’s take a look…

  • Orlando Cabrera and the A’s still face a gap in the numbers. The A’s would like to sign him for $2MM-$3MM, but Cabrera is holding out for more. The hit his reputation took based on problems with his former White Sox teammates is unlikely to be helping matters.
  • Heyman points out that the Dodgers did an excellent job of using Cabrera’s availability to drive down Orlando Hudson’s price tag.
  • Heyman says Pudge Rodriguez’s reputation also took a hit toward the end of his tenure in Detroit. Could that be playing a factor in the lack of interest toward Pudge? Heyman names the Marlins and Astros as good fits. Pudge will use the WBC as an audition to try to prove he’s better than he was with the Yankees (.580 OPS through 33 games).
  • Pedro Martinez will also use the WBC as an audition, but other than the Pirates, there’s not much of a market for him. That could change with a solid showing in March, however. The Indians made a run at Pedro early on, and the Dodgers could become a possibility.
  • Heyman speculates that with Vernon Wells’ health issues and declining production, the stars may aligning for a Roy Halladay trade mid-season. Wells will miss the next month with a hamstring injury.

What’s everyone else think? Is Cabrera being stubborn or are the A’s? Where will Pudge and Pedro end up? Are Halladay’s Toronto days numbered?

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Monday

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9:11pm: Jon Heyman sounds in, noting that both sides are being a bit stubborn. Ramirez isn’t going to get the four years or $100MM he initially wanted, and the Dodgers are probably going to have to up their offerings of 1/$25MM and 2/$45MM.

Heyman says the two sides might be closer to getting a deal done, but that doesn’t make them close.

7:36pm: Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times heard something yesterday about a deal being close (two years plus a third-year vesting option), but he wasn’t able to confirm the information.

7:33pm: MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick says that Ned Colletti has refuted today’s rumors:

"’Nothing’s changed in 48 hours,’ said Colletti, who on Saturday said negotiations between him and agent Scott Boras had increased in frequency and duration during the previous week, but would not characterize the progress made."

Colletti does say, however, that negotiations have not taken a step backwards.

5:26pm: Danny Knobler at CBS Sports adds in that there’s no real competition for the Dodgers.

The Giants, thought to be the only other serious bidders for Manny’s services, currently have Manny on the "back burner," according to General Manager Brian Sabean.

Knobler also points out other signs that the Giants aren’t seriously in it:

"Could the Giants be bluffing? Sure, although as their other winter moves suggest, they’re more a strike-fast team when they really want a player.

Why wouldn’t the Giants, 29th in baseball in runs scored in 2008 and dead-last in home runs, jump at adding Ramirez?"

Knobler suggests that unless things fizzle with the Dodgers, and Manny accepts a one-year, $20MM-ish deal from San Francisco, Manny won’t be a Giant in 2009.

4:38pm: Vic "The Brick" Jacobs of KLAC 570 says Manny Ramirez "should be a Dodger later this week."  Jacobs says it will be "two-year fixed, third-year incentive-laced."  Click here to visit KLAC 570’s website.

Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News, however, does not believe there is any breaking Manny Ramirez news at this time. 

Orlando Hudson’s Contract Details

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Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News has the breakdown of Orlando Hudson’s recent contract with the Dodgers:

  • Hudson’s base salary will be $3MM.
  • $380K signing bonus that has been deferred, without interest, to an unspecified time.
  • $150K for both 150 and 175 plate appearances.
  • $200K for 200, 225, 250, 275, and 300 plate appearances.
  • $250K for 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, 500, 525, 550, and 575 plate appearances.
  • $10K for every single plate appearance from 576-632, totalling 57 plate appearances and $570K.
  • Beginning at 550 plate appearances, all incentives are also deferred, without interest, to an unspecified time.
  • Hudson is contractually required to donate $25K to the Dodgers Dream Foundation.

Is it any wonder Jackson was ready for some Advil by the end of writing this up?

Rosenthal On Cabrera, Cruz, Nady, Swisher

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Let’s take a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • The A’s are offering more at-bats to Nomar Garciaparra than the Phillies.  If the A’s sign Nomar, that wouldn’t stop them from adding Orlando Cabrera.  However, Rosenthal’s source says Cabrera and the A’s "are not even close" in terms of his value.
  • Nothing is close with the Juan Cruz situation; "New teams entered the mix after the sign-and-trade option became more realistic."  Rosenthal says it’s still possible that a team will simply sign Cruz and give up a draft pick.  La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says the Twins have made an offer to Cruz, but did not speak to his agent yesterday.
  • Even with the Orlando Hudson signing, Blake DeWitt still has a role with the Dodgers pitching in at second base, third base, and even shortstop.
  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman "didn’t particularly like" any of the offers he’s received for Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady.
  • Rosenthal leaves the door slightly ajar for the Astros and Pudge: "the team continues to indicate that it cannot afford free agent Ivan Rodriguez unless his price drops significantly."  Astros GM Ed Wade said on Wednesday: "We’re not signing Pudge.  Put that one to rest. We have no expectation to sign Pudge."

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Sunday

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9:36am: Another interesting note from Jonathan Abrams of the San Francisco Chronicle: the Dodgers are saving a locker for Manny.

9:26am: Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times says that talks are intensifying between Ned Colletti and Manny Ramirez. Discussions over the past week have been more frequent than in any other one week period since November.

However, the report should be taken with a grain of salt. Writes Hernandez, "[Colletti] wouldn’t say if the increased dialogue is a sign of progress."

Hudson Passes Physical, Manny Talks Heat Up

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Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News reports that Orlando Hudson passed his physical, making his one-year deal official. He also notes that Hudson’s base salary is $3MM, with a $380,000 signing bonus and incentives which max out at $4.62MM.

Jackson also has some tantalizing quotes from Dodgers GM Ned Colletti about the Manny Ramirez negotiations. Colletti said that he has had more conversations with Scott Boras "in the past seven days than in the past few months. The conversations are more frequent and longer."

Jackson writes, "it sure sounds like they are getting closer to a deal — not that ’closer’ means ’close.’"

Dodgers, Orlando Hudson Agree To Terms

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9:36pm: ESPN’s Keith Law calls Hudson’s contract "easily one of the biggest bargains of the offseason." He does say that the Dodgers will miss the draft pick they lost and closes by saying, "the big question here is where the Mets were in all of this."

1:49pm: According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, Hudson gets $3.4MM guaranteed with another $4.6MM in incentives.  Nice bargain for the Dodgers, though the draft pick loss hurts.  ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the Royals were offering a $4.6MM base salary, so it looks like they were willing to stretch the payroll for Hudson.

1:36pm: Sirius XM’s MLB Home Plate is reporting Orlando Hudson has agreed in principle with the Dodgers, pending a physical.

The Diamondbacks lose their second baseman to a division rival, but also receive L.A.’s #17 pick in the June draft plus a supplemental pick.

Heyman On Bay, Papelbon, Manny, Braves

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The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

  • Red Sox GM Theo Epstein says he’s had "casual conversations" about a contract extension with Jason Bay.  We learned a few days ago that Bay is open to an extension but doesn’t consider it the "end-all, be-all."
  • Jonathan Papelbon says he’s a "gambling man," and he prefers to go year-to-year rather than sign long-term.  Boston’s offer was far off his expectations, and he wants to set the market for closers.  Papelbon is under team control through 2011, and will earn $6.25MM in his first arb year.
  • Heyman says there’s "some indication Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is about to become involved in the Manny Ramirez negotiations."  Maybe that’ll get things moving.
  • Heyman says the Braves will look at Garret Anderson, Jim Edmonds, and Luis Gonzalez, though ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has indicated the Braves aren’t interested in the veteran free agents.
  • The Orioles’ acquisition of Felix Pie cost Edmonds a chance to sign with the team.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Friday

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What’s Manny Ramirez up to as his peers report to Spring Training?  Scott Boras says he’s spending his weekdays working out in Florida, but that a delicious cake like Manny "takes little frosting."  Boras also explained to Bob Nightengale of USA Today how the Dodgers will be screwed if they don’t sign his client:

"Manny is now the face of that franchise. So it comes down to a choice of winning or losing. Dodgers fans know what life was like without him. And they know what life was like with him. The truth of the matter is that he makes that much of a difference."

The Dodgers’ one-year, $25MM offer remains on the table.

Dodgers Eyeing Orlando Cabrera

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According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers have begun talks with free agent infielder Orlando Cabrera.

Cabrera, normally a shortstop, told the club that he’d be willing to make the move to second base.  Gurnick writes that the Dodgers are "uncertain they can work a deal for second baseman Orlando Hudson," and believe Cabrera would be a viable fit.  The 34-year-old hit .281/.334/.371 with eight home runs and 57 RBI last season for the White Sox.  He also stole 19 bases.  The White Sox would love it if the Dodgers signed Cabrera, as they’d be given L.A.’s #17 pick in the June draft as part of the compensation.

The A’s have also shown interest in Cabrera this offseason, but haven’t been pleased with his asking price.

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