Dodgers Rumors

Odds & Ends: Boras, Cordero, NCAA Agents

By Steve Adams | February 19, 2009 at 9:51pm CDT

Some links for your Thursday night viewing pleasure…

Diamond Leung has some Dodgers notes, including a particularly interesting one regarding Scott Boras. Earlier, Peter Gammons reported that the Dodgers scouting department wouldn’t be touching any Boras clients in the June draft. Leung refutes that, citing Dodgers Assistant General Manager of Scouting Logan White’s statement that the Dodgers will consider Boras clients because "talent comes first."
The Nationals have been watching Chad Cordero’s auditions, according to Dave Sheinin. Cordero threw 40 pitches "at 70-75 percent effort" the other day. Cordero’s agent, Larry Reynolds, says that he’s on pace to be ready for Opening Day.
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News has a good article highlighting Okalahome State University lefty Andy Oliver and his victory in a lawsuit against the NCAA. Oliver challenged the rule that athletes cannot have attorneys participate in direct negotiations with Major League teams prior to being drafted. Oliver was suspended prior to an NCAA Regional in 2008.
Ringolsby also notes, in the same article, that the Braves have interest in Garret Anderson.
Tim Hudson got into a heated exchange with a reporter in the clubhouse, regarding the recent Ken Griffey Jr. drama, and had to be separated by a team official, according to the AP.
Speaking of Griffey, the Mariners will hold a press conference for him this Saturday, Geoff Baker reports.
Anthony Castrovince reports that Edward Salcedo, a top Dominican prospect who had been tied to the Indians last year, had an investigation launched surrounding his age. There were doubts that he was really 16, which obviously quieted talks.

Orlando Hudson Rumors: Thursday

By Tim Dierkes | February 19, 2009 at 8:13am CDT

Yesterday we learned from MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has ongoing talks for free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. Today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Dodgers appear to be the front-runner for Hudson. Signing him wouldn’t affect their chances of locking up Manny Ramirez. MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick says Colletti has also not ruled out relief help from guys like Joe Beimel, Dennys Reyes, or Jason Isringhausen.

Even as divisional rivals the D’Backs may be rooting for the Dodgers to sign Hudson, since they’d receive L.A.’s #17 pick in the June draft as part of the compensation. Rosenthal says the Royals and other unknown clubs remain in the mix for him, with the White Sox, Cardinals, Yankees, and Mets seemingly not seriously involved. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star discusses the Royals angle in a column today.

Orlando Hudson Rumors: Wednesday

By Tim Dierkes | February 18, 2009 at 1:13pm CDT

MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick spoke to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said talks are ongoing with Orlando Hudson’s agent. Colletti has the flexibility to sign both Hudson and Manny Ramirez. He also said he doesn’t lack confidence in Blake DeWitt despite the Hudson pursuit. Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News learned the same.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote yesterday that Hudson likes the Royals, but they probably do not have the payroll flexibility to sign him.

Odds and Ends: Pirates, Royals, Gagne

By Tim Dierkes | February 18, 2009 at 12:08pm CDT

Links for Wednesday…

Joe Torre plans to retire as a manager after the 2010 season, learned MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick.
Braves blog Talking Chop talked to ESPN’s Keith Law about the farm system.
Baseball America’s Jim Callis spoke to one assistant GM who believes teams will cut back in the international market, partially because they can do so without a major backlash from fans. Callis also has the ’09 draft order at that link.
Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball looks at the $69MM+ teams spent on first-round draft picks last year.
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the Pirates have anywhere from $41.75-$75.15MM tied up in Nate McLouth, Paul Maholm, and Ryan Doumit, all of whom were signed this winter. In a blog post, Kovacevic notes how the McLouth talks did a 180 when Frank Coonelly stepped in.
Alex Speier of WEEI talked to Red Sox execs John Henry and Larry Lucchino about the salary cap idea as well as the team’s offseason.
Aubrey Huff, a free agent after the season, isn’t worried about the future according to Roch Kubatko of MASN.
Chris Forsberg of the Boston Globe relays quotes from Jonathan Papelbon about the long-term deal that did not materialize this winter.
Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star discusses the idea of releasing Mark Teahen and John Buck to sign Orlando Hudson, which some Royals fans are pushing for.
Pitcher Kevin Correia turned down better deals to sign with his hometown Padres, according to MLB.com’s Corey Brock.
Newly signed Brewers reliever Eric Gagne hopes to atone for his 2008 season, says Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Brewers Not Interested In Izzy

By | February 17, 2009 at 5:35pm CDT

According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, the Brewers are not interested in free agent reliever Jason Isringhausen.

That could have something to do with their signing of Eric Gagne earlier today. At the start of this week, the Cardinals, Brewers and Dodgers were the only teams known to have interest in the 36-year-old former closer. With the Cards and Brew Crew out, let’s see what the Dodgers do now.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday

By Tim Dierkes | February 17, 2009 at 3:07pm CDT

3:07pm: A little bit of info from Colletti, by way of Tony Jackson:

Specifically, I asked him if the club has made any offers beyond the two we already know about…He said no more offers had been made. Dylan Hernandez from the Times then asked, "Has there been a counteroffer?’" and Ned said, "Sort of.” He wouldn’t comment beyond that, but it’s clear he was talking about a proposal that was so far out of the Dodgers’ range as to be unrealistic.

On the Giants side, Henry Schulman makes a clarification:

At the end of this post, I write the Giants "are waiting to see what happens," but I am told that they, too, are continuing a dialog with agent Scott Boras on Manny — on the good ’ol telephone.

9:34am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, who said:

"We continue to talk. I wouldn’t say we’ve made progress. Hopefully, the conversations will lead to progress."

8:13am: A rumor made the rounds last night that Giants president Larry Baer was to meet with Scott Boras and/or Manny Ramirez in San Francisco. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle checked into it, and it was bogus. They did not meet.

The truth is less exciting:

So calm down, folks. Nothing has changed. The Dodgers and Boras continue to talk, often, while the Giants are waiting to see what happens.

Odds and Ends: Penny, Koskie, Lowell

By Tim Dierkes | February 17, 2009 at 12:29pm CDT

Links for Tuesday…

Chat today, 2pm CST.
RotoAuthority looks at the pitchers involved in the WBC.
ESPN’s Keith Law weighs in on the Andy Oliver case.
Brad Penny talked to Yahoo’s Tim Brown about his last season in L.A. UPDATE: Bowa’s amusing reaction to Penny’s comments.
Corey Koskie is healthy and hopes to sign somewhere, says La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Josh Willingham’s arbitration hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Ryan Zimmerman’s for Saturday.
WEEI’s Alex Speier talked to Mike Lowell about Boston’s pursuit of Mark Teixeira.
The Sports Business talked to former Dodgers GM Fred Claire.

Dodgers, Andre Ethier Avoid Arb

By Tim Dierkes | February 17, 2009 at 12:06pm CDT

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Dodgers avoided arbitration with outfielder Andre Ethier by signing him at $3.1MM for ’09. He can earn another $100K in incentives. If Ethier gets those incentives he’ll be at the midpoint of the two submissions. Perhaps the deal will help Corey Hart and Josh Willingham come to terms. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the Brewers have had extensive discussions with Hart’s agent this morning.

Will Ohman Has Three Offers

By Tim Dierkes | February 17, 2009 at 11:46am CDT

TUESDAY: MLB.com’s Corey Brock talked to a Padres source who considers an Ohman signing a long shot. We learned earlier today that the same goes for the Phillies.

MONDAY: According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick:

Will Ohman, one of the top relievers left on baseball’s free agent market, has major league offers in hand from the Pirates, Marlins and Padres, but plans to continue discussions with three contending teams before making a decision on his destination for 2009, his agent said Monday. The Phillies, Mets and Dodgers have all stayed in touch with Ohman, but their interest has yet to progress beyond the talking stage.

Crasnick doesn’t believe the Pirates, Marlins, or Padres would be willing to go past $1MM on a one-year deal. Joe Beimel and Dennys Reyes also remain unsigned.

Orlando Hudson Rumors: Tuesday

By Tim Dierkes | February 17, 2009 at 10:32am CDT

We learned from Ken Rosenthal earlier today that the Dodgers remain interested in free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. Rosenthal also said that the Royals like Hudson but don’t have the financial flexibility to fit him in.

SI.com’s Jon Heyman has more on Hudson, learning that Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has "had a conversation or two" with the player’s agent since Adam Dunn signed. Colletti also implied that the Dodgers could afford Hudson and Manny Ramirez, if they choose to pursue both. Heyman adds that the White Sox are not a player for Hudson.

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