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Furcal To Hit The Open Market?

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Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times have the scoop on free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.

Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer met with Dodgers GM Ned Colletti recently, and they didn’t see eye to eye.  Kinzer doesn’t want to compromise much on the term despite Furcal missing most of ’08 due to back surgery.  Furcal wants to return to the Dodgers, but may be "forced" to hit the open market to find the four-year deal he craves.  At least seven teams have expressed interest, the Cubs, Giants, and Blue Jays among them.  The Royals, Orioles, Cardinals, Indians, Tigers, and Twins also make sense.

Brown’s Latest: Teixeira, Crede, Friedman

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Yahoo’s Tim Brown filed a column late last night; let’s take a look.

  • Scott Boras doesn’t know of any kind of contingency where the Dodgers would have to unload Andruw Jones’ contract before signing Manny Ramirez.
  • The Angels have not yet made an offer to Mark Teixeira, but they’ll deal with that situation before moving on to other needs.  Boras is suggesting Teixeira pays for himself.
  • Boras compared Joe Crede to Magglio Ordonez.  I think he is implying that he may seek big money for Crede but allow a team to opt out after a year if he hits the DL for back problems.
  • Ken Williams spoke up manufacturing runs, while Billy Beane still prefers walks and homers.
  • Rays GM Andrew Friedman doesn’t have a contract, but he isn’t concerned.

Russell Martin Available?

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WEDNESDAY: ESPN’s Keith Law says Dodgers GM Ned Colletti was asked whether Martin is available and replied, "No."

TUESDAY: According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons:

Some Dodger officials have spread the word that Russell Martin will either be traded or moved to third base, with a Jason Varitek signing a possibility. Whether or not it actually happens will be interesting to see, but teams looking for catching, like the Red Sox, will do a headfirst dive to get in on Martin, who turns 26 in February.

Martin would have immense value on the trade market as one of the game’s best catchers.  I imagine the Dodgers would ask for Clay Buchholz or Jed Lowrie from the Red Sox.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Tex, Furcal, Johnson, Lofton

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

  • If they are to sign Mark Teixeira, the Angels would like to do it quickly.  However, it’s Scott Boras’ custom to let the market develop until late December or so.  It’s possible the Angels change gears on November 14th.  There are other big names to pursue, though none fit as perfectly as Tex.
  • Rosenthal’s worst case scenario for the Yankees: C.C. Sabathia goes to a West Coast team while A.J. Burnett re-signs with Toronto.  The Jays truly are in the mix for Burnett.  ESPN’s Keith Law says Burnett expects to receive multiple five-year offers.
  • The Orioles plan to make serious offers to Teixeira and Burnett.  Still, both are considered long shots for Baltimore.  Another note: the Orioles were one of the teams the Yankees outbid for Sergio Mitre.
  • The Dodgers are considered "a good bet" to re-sign Rafael Furcal.  The Giants have their eye on him if he hits the open market.
  • About ten teams have inquired on Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson.  We had a Cardinals rumor yesterday.
  • The Rangers figure to trade one or two of their catchers, with Gerald Laird a strong candidate to be traded.  The Red Sox and Marlins are looking for catching, though the Rangers are wary of Florida’s Scott Olsen.
  • Rosenthal wonders if Brandon Webb could leave the D’Backs after the 2010 season.
  • Kenny Lofton wants to play in 2009.

Odds and Ends: El Duque, Tazawa, Ausmus

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Links for Tuesday.  Be sure to check back on Odds and Ends posts, as I update them throughout the day with minor links.

Indians Interested In Blake

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According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Indians have expressed interest in bringing third baseman Casey Blake back to Cleveland.  Blake stands out in a weak free agent market at the hot corner.  The Dodgers are also interested, but they may view other needs as a higher priority.  At the least, they should offer him arbitration as a Type B free agent.

Blake’s agent anticipates offers ranging from one to three years.  Blake brings the added benefit of versatility, as he can play first base and right field as well.

In other Indians news, agent Rick Thurman plans to meet with the Tribe to discuss his clients.  He has Brian Fuentes, Trevor Hoffman, and Jason Isringhausen.  The Indians almost signed Hoffman a few years ago.

Latest Dodgers Info

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Alex Speier of WEEI has the latest Dodgers chatter, as GM Ned Colletti held court this evening.  Ned wasn’t in a very revealing mood.

  • Colletti reiterated that no offer has been made to Manny Ramirez.  He hasn’t met with Scott Boras yet.  Since the Dodgers have so many needs, Colletti would like to resolve the Manny situation quickly.  In Jerry Crasnick’s survey of 15 executives, 10 chose the Dodgers as Manny’s destination.  It’s unlikely that the Dodgers are able to sign Ramirez and C.C. Sabathia.
  • Those other needs include shortstop, third base, the bullpen, and the rotation.
  • Colletti was not sure whether Jeff Kent and/or Nomar Garciaparra will retire.

Jake Peavy Rumors: Monday

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12:08pm: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says Towers still considers the Braves the best match for a Peavy trade.  Cafardo says the Braves appear willing to trade shortstop Yunel Escobar.  He adds that the Red Sox haven’t been ruled out but they’re far down the list.

9:35am: Padres GM Kevin Towers arrived early at the GM meetings, with trading Jake Peavy high on his to-do list.  The latest from Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune:

  • Towers is "focused on three" teams.  Krasovic believes these to be the Cubs, Dodgers, and Braves.  He’s matched up with Jim Hendry and Ned Colletti before, and has known Frank Wren for many years.  It is believed that Towers would charge the Dodgers a premium for being in their division.  The Braves do not want to include top prospects such as Tommy Hanson and Jason Heyward.
  • Towers isn’t opposed to a three-team deal, but he’s never done one.  He’d prefer to make a normal direct trade. 
  • Towers wants quality over quantity, saying the right two or three players could get it done.

Andruw Wants To Return To Atlanta

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Jennifer Brett of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution talked to Dodgers outfielder Andruw Jones, who says he’d like to come back and play for the Braves again.  It’s unclear from his quote whether Jones is campaigning to return to the Braves in 2009 or after that.  It takes two to tango, however, and the Braves are probably looking for an outfielder who is not coming off a historically bad season.  The Braves didn’t even offer Jones arbitration last year.

A few weeks ago, Jones said, "I’m an everyday guy or I need to move out."  However, he hasn’t formally requested a trade from the Dodgers.  The 31 year-old is set to earn a $15MM salary next year.  He’ll also receive $2.1MM of his signing bonus in ’09 and another $5MM in ’10.

Odds and Ends: Jacobs, Howard, Renteria

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Links for Friday…

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