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Miguel Cabrera Trade Rumors

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For up for auction: two years of Miguel Cabrera.  Who’s going to place a bid?  The latest buzz from Joe Capozzi is that the Dodgers, Angels, Giants, Yankees, Red Sox, and White Sox are all after him.  A deal could happen at the Winter Meetings from December 3-6.  The needs for the Marlins are starting pitching, third base, catcher, and center field.  They want three players.

  • Dodgers: Capozzi’s source says they’re "making a big push" for Cabrera, after calling about him last summer.  This could even involve a package deal with Dontrelle Willis.  The names being thrown around: Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Andy LaRoche, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw, Scott Elbert, and Jonathan Meloan.  I can’t see the Dodgers trading Billingsley; he’s integral to the 2008 team.  Dodgers side note: Bill Shaikin names Kosuke Fukudome as someone the Dodgers are monitoring.
  • Angels: Capozzi says Cabrera could be the Angels’ alternative if they fail to sign Alex Rodriguez.  Bill Shaikin speculates on Brandon Wood, Nick Adenhart, and Mike Napoli/Jeff Mathis/Hank Conger.  I’d make that deal.  However, Ken Rosenthal says Howie Kendrick would be a requirement. 
  • Giants: Cabrera could be their new Face of the Franchise, but it’s tough to see this happening without Tim Lincecum or Matt Cain.
  • Yankees: Joe Girardi managed him with the Marlins and speaks highly of him.  The Yanks have already touched base about Cabrera with the Fish.  It sounds like the Yankees will trade Melky Cabrera, but are very reluctant to trade Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, or Ian Kennedy.  I could see them relenting on Kennedy.  Capozzi mentions their second tier of prospects – Alan Horne, Humberto Sanchez, Ross Ohlendorf, and Jose Tabata.  Nah.
  • Red Sox: Any big name, the Yankees and Red Sox have to at least check in.  If the Sox somehow don’t retain Mike Lowell, they could move on to Cabrera.  The price is said to be Jacoby Ellsbury plus Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz.  I don’t see the Red Sox doing it.
  • White Sox: Ozzie Guillen is friends with Cabrera and sure, the White Sox love him.  Any package would have to start with Josh Fields, but I’m still not sure they have the goods even if they add Lance Broadway and Gio Gonzalez to the package.
  • Indians: Capozzi doesn’t mention them, but Paul Hoynes says they’ll inquire.  The Tribe has some expendable guys but a deal might have to start with Adam Miller.

Heyman’s Latest: Cabrera, Blalock, Bonds

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Rumor-man Jon Heyman has some good info from the GM meetings.

  • Miguel Cabrera is officially available, as the Marlins have made calls to selected teams describing what they’d want in return.  The main contenders for Cabrera are the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, and Angels.  Also, Paul Hoynes suggested this morning that the Indians could be in the mix.  You know the drill – it takes 2-3 top flight prospects, at least one of them a blue chip pitcher.  Heyman even says Cabrera could be combined with Dontrelle Willis to create the mother of all blockbusters.  This package will exceed the one Texas got for Mark Teixeira.  Cabrera has two full years left before free agency.
  • Heyman names 12 other trade candidates, most of which we’ve discussed before.  He mentions under Hank Blalock that the Dodgers and Red Sox have called.  Suddenly there are tons of third basemen available.
  • Mariano Rivera received a three-year, $39MM offer from the Yankees, about what we expected.  He hasn’t responded; he has all the leverage as the best free agent closer.
  • The Rangers aren’t interested in Barry Bonds, according to Jon Daniels.

Hiroki Kuroda Interests Phillies, Dodgers

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It’s tough to decide who the best available free agent starter is now that Curt Schilling is off the market.  One could make a legitimate case it’s Hiroki Kuroda, who could dazzle in his first few months in MLB.

While Kuroda prefers to play on the West Coast, he’s on the Phillies’ radar.  Paul Hagen notes that Pat Gillick previously ventured into the Japanese market to snag Ichiro several years back.  Kuroda has filed for free agency.  So far the Mariners, Rangers, and Cubs have shown interest.  He could earn north of $8MM per season over three or four years.  According to Tony Jackson, the Dodgers are also expected to make a bid.  Expect this list to grow.

Hagen’s article names former Phils Jon Lieber, Randy Wolf, and Kyle Lohse as other possibilities for Gillick.  A trade for Jon Garland remains an option as well.  Also, Adam Eaton recently had an MRI.  If he needs some kind of surgery, the Phils could import two starters. 

In other Phillies news, Gold Glover Aaron Rowand is still partial to the Phillies and hopes to come back.  Don’t count on it.  He also indicated that his other former team, the White Sox, have an advantage. 

Odds and Ends: Glavine, Kent, Kuroda

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Picking up some rumors and tidbits that haven’t been otherwise posted during this busy day…

Heyman’s Latest: A-Rod, Atkins, Gagne

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up.  Let’s discuss.

  • Alex Rodriguez’s five possible destinations: Angels, Red Sox, Mets, Giants, Dodgers.  That sounds about right.  Heyman notes that the Dodgers do not have an advantage because of Joe Torre; he says star players don’t consider managers as a criteria when deciding where to sign.
  • Though not mentioned as one of A-Rod’s five potential landing spots, Heyman says the buzz is growing that Mike Ilitch and the Tigers could go after him.
  • Heyman says the Rockies will hang on to Garrett Atkins and follow through with the plan to try Ian Stewart at second base.  That could mean the end of Kaz Matsui in Colorado.
  • How about Eric Gagne to the Tigers?  If they are interested, that bodes well for me getting at least 1 of 50 right.
  • Johnny Damon for Joe Crede first mentioned in the Chicago Tribune??!!  That trade speculation, sir, is MLBTR’s baby.  Anyway, Heyman’s source thinks the Yankees could do better for Damon.

Odds and Ends: Fukudome, Burrell, Furcal, Rolen

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Two of my favorite local blogs have good hot stove posts for us today as part of Odds and Ends.

Cafardo’s Latest: Drew, Pettitte, Lincecum

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo works his way through all the teams in anticipation of Monday’s GM meetings.  Here are some of the rumors we haven’t seen much before.

  • The Rays want a defensive-minded shortstop and veteran starter.  Maybe they’ll make a play for Cesar Izturis or Omar Vizquel.  A rehab guy like Freddy Garcia or Randy Wolf could be interesting.
  • The Indians are looking for a power bat for left field.  Haven’t seen them mentioned with Barry Bonds at all, could that work?
  • Cafardo proposes the idea of the Cubs acquiring J.D. Drew as their OBP-minded right field acquisition.  Drew has a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block two unknown teams.  I imagine the Red Sox would have to eat some salary.
  • Cafardo also speculates that Andy Pettitte could follow Joe Torre to L.A.  Pettitte has previously talked about a Yankees or retirement stance.
  • The idea of the Giants trading Tim Lincecum seemed crazy at first, right?  Cafardo says they may be willing to do so for a "stud outfielder."  How about Delmon Young? 
  • Scott Boras is already busting out mystery teams with A-Rod, who apparently would love to play for the Red Sox.

Giants Rumors: A-Rod, Vizquel, Feliz

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Brian Sabean acknowledged today that he’ll kick the tires on Alex Rodriguez but admitted that it could hamstring the team financially.  That’s right – he’s considering tying up half of the Giants’ payroll in two players.  Signing with the Giants would be A-Rod embracing his mercenary reputation – the team has no chance of competing next year.

Additionally, Sabean mentioned that the Giants hope to re-sign Omar Vizquel and Pedro Feliz for the left side of their infield.  Discussions have begun with Vizquel regarding a one-year pact with a vesting option.  It’s a very solid defensive tandem, but neither can hit much these days.  They don’t make much sense for a rebuilding team, unless the angle is to build confidence for the young pitchers.

Sabean also implies that he’ll seek to upgrade the Giants by shopping Noah Lowry or Jonathan Sanchez.  Shopping Lowry for a solid controllable position player actually seems reasonable.

One other tidbit is that Ned Colletti admitted that the Dodgers are also considering A-Rod, though signing him is just one of many scenarios.

Latest Alex Rodriguez Rumors

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Ah, your daily dose of Alex Rodriguez rumors.  What would you do without it?

  • Rob Bradford asked Red Sox captain Jason Varitek whether Alex Rodriguez would fit in with the Red Sox clubhouse.  Varitek, you may recall, had a little face-shoving scuffle with A-Rod back in 2004.  Varitek said he had no idea whether Rodriguez would fit in with the current team, but that he knows Mike Lowell does.  It’s pretty obvious where Varitek’s allegiance lies given the "Re-sign Lowell" sign and all.
  • Gwen Knapp doesn’t see the Dodgers getting A-Rod for a couple of reasons.  First, of course, there’s the price.  Second, there’s a possibly shaky relationship with Scott Boras given last year’s unexpected opt-out by J.D. Drew.
  • Mark Feinsand disagrees – his L.A. source says the Dodgers will make a push for him.  The expected hiring of Joe Torre will basically be a non-factor in Rodriguez’s decision.  Plan B for the Dodgers might be to sign Torii Hunter or Andruw Jones.  That leaves Juan Pierre in left field or traded.  Hey, it was a dumb signing at the time.
  • Feinsand also has a source indicating that Rodriguez is hoping the Yankees will entertain the possibility of bringing him back.  The Yankees, of course, are scarred by the Texas money lost and have pledged repeatedly that they will not be involved.  We’ve seen this a million times – teams love fresh faces.  Say A-Rod had played out his Texas contract to this point – do you think the Yankees would be in the mix for him then?  If the Yankees don’t want A-Rod because he’s simply too expensive, that’s reasonable.  But if they simply feel scorned by the opt-out, that’s emotion.
  • Omar Minaya said on a conference call yesterday that he planned on discussing the team’s interest in A-Rod with David Wright, since Wright would have to move to second base to accomodate him.
  • A new team is going after A-Rod aggressively.

Schilling Names Targets

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UPDATE, 10-31-07: Gordon Edes and Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe spoke to a Red Sox source who does not expect Schilling to return to the team.  The Red Sox will offer an incentive-based contract.  The source added that Tim Wakefield’s option is likely to be exercised.

FROM 10/30/07:

Interesting.  After Boston, Curt Schilling has 12 teams he’d consider pitching for in 2008.  Here they are:

Indians
Tigers
Angels
Mets
Phillies
Braves
Dodgers
Padres
Diamondbacks
Cubs
Cardinals
Brewers

Schilling had talked about the idea of going somewhere he could tutor young pitchers, like Tampa Bay.  But it sounds like that idea is out and he wants to play for a contender.  Not that the Rays can’t contend in ’08.  I’m curious as to why the White Sox and Rockies were excluded, but who knows.

That’s a nice extensive list, so it should be fun if Boston passes.  At a reasonable one-year commitment, any of the dozen should have interest no matter what their rotation looks like.

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