Brewers Rumors

Francisco Rodriguez Accepts Arbitration

By Luke Adams 2 | December 7, 2011 at 11:03pm CDT

11:03pm: Rodriguez has accepted arbitration, tweets McCalvy.

9:45pm: Agent Scott Boras says his client is still mulling his decision, tweets MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Rodriguez has 75 minutes until the deadline.

9:29pm: Francisco Rodriguez will likely accept the Brewers' arbitration offer, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (via Twitter). Marcos Grunfield was first to report that the reliever is expected to accept (Twitter link).

Milwaukee's decision to offer arbitration to Rodriguez was somewhat surprising, considering the right-hander earned $13.5MM last year and the team could only offer him a setup role. Given the dwindling number of teams who appear to be interested in spending big bucks on a closer, the market for K-Rod may have been limited.

Prince Fielder Rumors: Wednesday

By Steve Adams | December 7, 2011 at 10:01pm CDT

The latest on slugger Prince Fielder…

Agent Scott Boras says he has a number of contract offers to take back to Fielder, including many from teams that surprised him, tweets Haudricourt.
According to two Marlins beat writers, Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post and Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the Marlins are definitely not in on Fielder (Twitter links).
A friend of Fielder's told Newsday's Ken Davidoff that the first baseman is very interested in the Cubs (Twitter link).
GM Doug Melvin says the Brewers "have to consider moving on" from Fielder, tweets Haudricourt.
Despite signing Mark Buehrle, the Marlins are still talking to Fielder, tweets Heyman. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter) confirms the Fish will take a run at Fielder, and hears from a source with knowledge of the Mariners' plans that Seattle will make a "strong effort" to sign the slugger.
The Cubs' pursuit of Fielder has probably been overblown, GM Jed Hoyer told MLB.com TV.
The Marlins' interest in Fielder has been exaggerated, a good source tells Tom Haudricourt.
The Marlins are already in pursuit of Fielder, tweets Jon Heyman of MLB Network, as signs indicate the Cardinals will re-sign Albert Pujols.
The Rangers are not in on Fielder, president Nolan Ryan told reporters.

Tim Dierkes and Luke Adams contributed to this post.

NL Central Notes: Brewers, Betemit, Wood, Young

By Mark Polishuk | December 7, 2011 at 4:26pm CDT

Some tidbits from the NL Central….

Brewers owner Mark Attanasio, GM Doug Melvin and agent Scott Boras (who represents Prince Fielder) had a meeting late last night that Melvin tells Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel was unplanned and more of a check-in session. "Scott just said he wanted to give us an update," Melvin said. "You never really close the door on anything because you don't know what's going to happen. You can't really read anything into it."
Haudricourt doesn't think the meeting is a sign that the Brewers could re-sign Fielder, believing that "Boras basically was giving them a chance to jump in and make an offer that he could shop around to other clubs….More likely, [the team] gave an indication of what they might be willing to do if Fielder decided he wanted to seriously entertain the possibility of staying in Milwaukee."
Boras also represents Francisco Rodriguez, and Haudricourt reports the Brewers "got the feeling" in speaking to the agent that Rodriguez will reject the club's arbitration offer today.
The Pirates are no longer pursuing Wilson Betemit, reports Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link). Biertempfel reported yesterday that the Bucs were close to deals with both Betemit and Nate McLouth, and the club agreed to terms on McLouth's contract today.
Kerry Wood wants to return to the Cubs but wants a raise, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Wood has said he will either pitch for Chicago next season or retire, and last winter signed a one-year, $1.5MM contract with the Cubs that was well below what other teams offered him.
The Reds have spoken to the un-retired Dmitri Young, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). Young, 38, has lost 70 pounds and is looking to make a comeback in either the Major Leagues or Japan. Young played in Cincinnati from 1998-2001.
The Astros are looking at Marlins assistant GM Dan Jennings as a candidate for their open general manager's job, reports Jon Heyman of MLB Network (Twitter link). Jennings' name has been connected to several GM openings in recent years but the Marlins have turned down at least four clubs' requests for interviews. Jennings is under contract to Miami for four more years.

Brewers Intensify Pursuit Of LaTroy Hawkins

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2011 at 11:46am CDT

The Brewers intensified their pursuit of free agent reliever LaTroy Hawkins yesterday, reports MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Discussions with his agents are expected to continue today. Since Hawkins lives in Dallas, he attended the first two days of the Meetings.

The Brewers have maintained contact with Takashi Saito's agent Nez Balelo, adds McCalvy. ESPN's Jim Bowden expects a one-year deal.

Furcal Unlikely To Sign With Brewers

By Tim Dierkes | December 7, 2011 at 11:38am CDT

Rafael Furcal is likely headed for a team other than the Brewers, tweets Tom Haudricourt, increasing the chances of them re-signing Yuniesky Betancourt.

Brewers A Favorite For Aramis Ramirez

By Luke Adams 2 | December 6, 2011 at 11:59pm CDT

Here are today's Aramis Ramirez rumors, with the newest updates on top:

The Angels' early offers to Ramirez have been "on the low side," tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, who wonders if that signals a lack of money or interest focused elsewhere.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network says the Brewers have been the most aggressive suitor for Ramirez. Meanwhile, the Phillies' interest appears to be fading, but the Angels are still involved, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links).
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel spoke to Ramirez's agent, Paul Kinzer, who said he considers the Brewers a "favorite" to sign his client. There are three teams with serious interest, according to Kinzer, so presumably the Brewers and Phillies are two of the three.
The Brewers haven't made Ramirez an official offer yet, but the third baseman is definitely interested in Milwaukee, says Kinzer: "He likes that team. He wants to go to a team that has pitching and gives him a chance to win a ring. He thinks the Brewers can do that."

NL Central Rumors: Astros, Reds, Saito, Bedard

By Luke Adams 2 | December 6, 2011 at 11:30pm CDT

Tuesday night updates out of the NL Central, as MLBTR's 24-hour coverage of the Winter Meetings continues….

Rival executives view Rockies assistant GM Bill Geivett as the favorite for the Astros' GM job, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.
Stephen Goff of the Houston Examiner hears (Twitter link) that the Astros may select a reliever with the first pick of Thursday's Rule 5 draft.
Reds GM Walt Jocketty talked about the team's search for pitching, and MLB.com's Mark Sheldon has the quotes. Jocketty also said Edgar Renteria's reps had contacted him, but the Reds probably aren't interested in signing him.
All signs are pointing to the Brewers bringing back Takashi Saito on a one-year deal, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Erik Bedard is drawing interest from the Pirates, tweets Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

Closer Rumors: Madson, K-Rod, League, Street, Soria

By Tim Dierkes | December 6, 2011 at 7:20pm CDT

The Blue Jays, Twins, and Marlins added closers in recent days, and it's not clear whether the remaining teams with ninth inning openings are willing to spend big. The latest on several closers…

There is "no interest" from Madson or Rodriguez in accepting arbitration, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB Network. However, one agent believes that if the Red Sox trade for Andrew Bailey, which is a "real possibility," Madson and K-Rod could be in trouble, tweets ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
The Angels are interested in trading for Seattle's Brandon League, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Angels have also expressed interest in free agents Todd Coffey and Jason Isringhausen, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, but they probably won't move on a reliever until C.J. Wilson decides what to do.
There's lots of buzz that Ryan Madson and Francisco Rodriguez could accept arbitration with the Phillies and Brewers, respectively, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark. I still think Scott Boras will advise both to decline tomorrow night.
The Rockies are willing to eat all of Huston Street's $8MM salary for prospects, tweets Stark. He says the Padres are a possibility. Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link) hears the Rockies would take on some "but not all" of Street's salary.
Stark confirms yesterday's rumor that the Royals will listen on Joakim Soria, but they want a front-line starter in return.

Jimmy Rollins Rumors: Tuesday

By Tim Dierkes | December 6, 2011 at 4:37pm CDT

The latest on free agent shortstop Jimmy Rollins…

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he thinks there's a "big chance" Rollins returns to the Phillies, tweets Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.
Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he met with Rollins' agent Dan Lozano at the start of the Winter Meetings, but no proposal was made.
The Phillies met late into the night with Lozano on Rollins, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. No meeting is expected between the two parties today, but Lozano is a busy man with Albert Pujols and Carlos Beltran as clients.

NL Central Notes: Lee, Betancourt, Melvin, Darvish

By Luke Adams 2 | December 6, 2011 at 4:04pm CDT

Tuesday afternoon's NL Central items:

Carlos Lee's limited no-trade clause supersedes his ten-and-five rights, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart (on Twitter). The Astros have reportedly been telling teams they'll eat half of Lee's salary in a trade.
The Brewers have talked to Yuniesky Betancourt's agent about bringing the shortstop back, but haven't made an offer, tweets Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
In a piece for Baseball America, Haudricourt explains why Brewers GM Doug Melvin was baseball's top executive in 2011.
Manager Dale Sveum says the Cubs haven't talked about bidding on Yu Darvish, tweets Yahoo's Steve Henson.

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