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Rosenthal’s Latest: Thames, Konerko, Ellis, Atkins

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up; let’s take a look.

  • Rosenthal dissects the outfield options for the Mets, many of the names we’ve been speculating.  He notes that the Mets’ talks for Marcus Thames fizzled during the Winter Meetings.
  • He says Paul Konerko "remains quietly available," and expresses the opinion that the Mets or Yankees could both use him.  Rosenthal believes Chicago’s biggest need is starting pitching.
  • Rosenthal speculates that six years at $18MM per might be the Rockies’ limit for Matt Holliday.  Will the Scott Boras client demand full market value?  Also, Colorado doesn’t seem to have any plans to lock up Garrett Atkins.
  • Signing Mark Ellis to an extension rather than trading him is a possibility for the A’s.  Three or four years at $5MM per would be the going rate.
  • Though Dylan Hernandez wrote that the Dodgers "don’t appear to be interested in Brandon Inge," Rosenthal says they’re "indeed intrigued."

A’s Not Interested In Pierre

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11:50am: Slusser says A’s sources are thoroughly denying this rumor.  It was fun while it lasted!  She is also skeptical of the Mark Ellis rumblings.

8:01am: There’s a headline I didn’t expect to write, given that the Dodgers’ Juan Pierre comes with a $36.5MM commitment over the next four years.  Susan Slusser reports that the Athletics have inquired on him, proof that they may be looking to acquire a veteran center fielder.

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense on the surface.  Either the A’s would want the Dodgers to absorb a significant portion of the money, or they’d like to pass back their own questionable contract.  Front row center would be Eric Chavez, owed $37MM over the next three seasons.  Chavez’s ten and five no-trade rights haven’t kicked in yet, and the Dodgers aren’t among the teams on his current limited clause.   The oft-injured Chavez isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Dodgers Not Interested In Inge?

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TODAY: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times shoots this one down, citing the large amount of money owed to Inge.

SATURDAY: The Dodgers put in a call to the Tigers asking about Brandon Inge, according to Danny Knobler. Both Joe Torre and Larry Bowa are pushing for Inge, who would play third base in LA.

Nomar Garciaparra and Andy LaRoche have been jockeying for the position but the Dodgers aren’t sold on either as a solution just yet.  Inge is set to earn $19.1MM over the next three seasons.  The Dodgers definitely have salary dump candidates in Nomar, Juan Pierre, and Esteban Loaiza, but I’m not sure if there’s a fit.

By Big Mike Glab and Tim Dierkes

Derek Lowe Enters Contract Year

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Dodgers righty Derek Lowe is entering a contract year again, and he feels much less pressure than he did entering the ’04 season.  Lowe posted a 5.42 ERA but still snagged a four-year, $36MM deal from Paul DePodesta.  I believe the deal was panned by many but it turned out phenomenally for L.A.  There’s a decent chance he makes over 130 starts during the life of the contract.  He’s been first or second in the league in groundball rate during each Dodger season.

Lowe turns 35 in June, and could be primed for $12MM a year if he has a typical ’08.  He may be able to find a team willing to go to three years, if Scott Boras is on his game.  Looking at the 2008-09 free agent class, Lowe may be accompanied by A.J. Burnett, Jon Garland, Pedro Martinez, C.C. Sabathia, and Ben Sheets.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Lohse, Furcal, Lofton

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FOX’s Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest buzz from Spring Training.

  • The Mets, Cardinals, and Orioles are listed as possibilities for Kyle Lohse.  However, the Mets may deem him unnecessary, reports are conflicting on the Cards’ interest, and the Orioles are wary of the price.
  • Rosenthal says Rafael Furcal’s agent met with Ned Colletti a few days ago, but the Dodgers would likely want to see Furcal return to form before entertaining an extension.  Click here to see the other shortstops eligible for free agency after the ’08 season.  The Dodgers may have a viable replacement for Furcal in defensive whiz Chin-Lung Hu.
  • Rosenthal notes that the Yankees, in search of a right-handed outfielder, considered Shannon Stewart and Mike Cameron this winter.
  • Kenny Lofton’s chances of a getting the big league deal he wants with the Reds or Twins look slim. 
  • The rumor going around for Corey Patterson is the Marlins, if the price is right.
  • Rosenthal confirms two additions for our 2008 Out Of Options list – Gabe Gross and Clint Barmes.
  • Rosenthal says the Mets need a right-handed hitter who can play left field and first base.  Here are some names I came up with: Ryan Ludwick, Xavier Nady, Matt Murton, Franklin Gutierrez, and Kevin Millar.  Granted, not all those guys know their way around first base.

Shawn Green Retires

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According to Mark Hale of the New York Post, outfielder Shawn Green has decided to retire.  He had interest from a half-dozen clubs, but apparently nothing close enough to his California home.  Green retires at 35 with about $100MM earned in his career.  That’d be kind of nice, wouldn’t it?

Green finishes with a line of .283/.355/.494 and 328 home runs.  He topped 40 HR in three different seasons.

Pierre A Trade Possibility

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The idea that Juan Pierre could take away at-bats from Matt Kemp and/or Andre Ethier seems absurd to me.  If he was making $400K instead of $8MM, would this even be a consideration?  Tony Jackson believes Pierre will be the main left fielder while Kemp and Ethier platoon in right.

Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times notes that Pierre seems willing to waive his five-team no-trade protection.  It’s generally assumed that the Dodgers would have to eat some of his remaining $36.5MM over the next four years to move Pierre.

It seemed like the White Sox could’ve been interested in Pierre, but their outfield now seems set with Carlos Quentin, Nick Swisher, and Jermaine Dye.  Is there even one team for which for years of Pierre at, say, $24MM, would make sense?  Following the whole Corey Patterson/Kenny Lofton theme, maybe the Reds would have interest at the right price. 

Four Teams Considering Trot Nixon

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MONDAY: The Jays will pass on Nixon.  The D’Backs liked what they saw.

SUNDAY: According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, four teams watched 33 year-old outfielder Trot Nixon audition in Tucson today: the D’Backs, Blue Jays, Mariners, and Dodgers.  Nixon earned $4MM in ’07 while hitting .251/.342/.336 for the Tribe in 354 plate appearances.  He was pretty much injury-free.

Nixon’s calling card had typically been his ability to rake right-handed pitching.  He hit .256/.352/.345 against righties in ’07, drawing plenty of walks but displaying no power.  Rather than a platoon he seems in line for a bench job this year.

Odds and Ends: Kelly Johnson, Nathan, Crede

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Time for some early Monday odds and ends.

  • Remember how White Sox GM Ron Schueler embarrassed Cubs GM Ed Lynch in 1998 by acquiring Jon Garland for Matt Karchner?  Rany Jazayerli sees a parallel to that heist with the Royals’ acquisition of Daniel Cortes as part of the July ’06 Mike MacDougal trade.
  • Mike Berardino’s blog continues to entertain; this time with a Dan Miceli story.  Ah, knife fights with siblings.  Who among us can say they haven’t had one or two?
  • Buster Olney learned from Braves GM Frank Wren that Kelly Johnson has been the team’s most asked-for player in trade talks this winter.
  • The look on Kyle Kendrick’s face is priceless.
  • Extension talks with the Twins and Joe Nathan have gone dormant.  Nathan still thinks the gap can be bridged but wants it done before the season begins.
  • Andy Marte and Shin-Soo Choo are both out of options; when Choo comes back from elbow surgery a month into the season one of them could be traded.
  • Henry Schulman says the White Sox may accept prospects from the Giants for Joe Crede.
  • Derek Lowe is entering his walk year, and he hasn’t had any extension talks with the Dodgers yet.

Four Teams Considering Trot Nixon

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According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, four teams watched 33 year-old outfielder Trot Nixon audition in Tucson today: the D’Backs, Blue Jays, Mariners, and Dodgers.  Nixon earned $4MM in ’07 while hitting .251/.342/.336 for the Tribe in 354 plate appearances.  He was pretty much injury-free.

Nixon’s calling card had typically been his ability to rake right-handed pitching.  He hit .256/.352/.345 against righties in ’07, drawing plenty of walks but displaying no power.  Rather than a platoon he seems in line for a bench job this year.

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