Marlins Interested In Luis Gonzalez
A new suitor has emerged for free agent left fielder Luis Gonzalez: the Marlins. According to Ken Rosenthal, they like the idea of bringing him aboard as a mentor and using him at first base and in left field. Gonzo will have to choose between playing time or a contending team.
Rosenthal notes the Brewers and Mariners as other possibilities. The Giants and Twins could also consider him. Gonzalez hit .278/.359/.433 for the Dodgers in ’07, earning $7.35MM. Rosenthal notes that he’s 498 hits shy of 3,000, but that would take four seasons of semi-regular playing time at the least.
Brewers Rumors: DeJesus, Lofton
Tom Haudricourt recently spoke with Brewers’ GM Doug Melvin.
He learned that Melvin spoke with the Royals about David DeJesus at the Winter Meetings, but the Royals have backed off on those talks after signing Jose Guillen. Melvin doesn’t expect DeJesus to be traded. I talked to the Kansas City Star’s Bob Dutton recently about DeJesus’ trade value, if you’re interested.
Meanwhile the Brewers are still considering Kenny Lofton. They’re just debating whether they want to use him in left or move Bill Hall, neither of which appeals to them.
Brewers Considering Luis Gonzalez, Kenny Lofton
The Brewers are in the hunt for a left-handed hitting left fielder. Luis Gonzalez and Kenny Lofton remain under consideration. With Gonzo, the interest is mutual.
I’m thinking Gonzalez would be happy with $4MM or so, maybe some incentives too. I think he just wants to get 400+ ABs somewhere. He could only play left field, which would seemingly lock Ryan Braun in at third.
Lofton could play left and Braun could stay at third. Or, Lofton could shift to center, Bill Hall to third, and Braun to left. I’m not sure which alignment is optimal. Thoughts?
Brewers Like Lofton?
UPDATE, 12-21-07 at 10:50am: Brewers GM Doug Melvin says he hasn’t spoken to Lofton’s agent for weeks.
FROM 12-20-07 at 11:51am:
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that the Brewers have their eye on free agent center fielder Kenny Lofton. Such a signing would allow them to shift Bill Hall to third base and Ryan Braun to left field. How much of a defensive gain would they get from this? One reader suggested to me that the Crew might instead just use Lofton in left and leave Hall and Braun where they are.
Lofton is terrible against southpaws, so the Brewers would need to find a platoon partner. Corey Hart could be that guy but that would open up right field. The Brewers’ interest in Lofton dates back to July, according to Evan Grant.
Crasnick says the Brewers are also considering Luis Gonzalez, if they decide not to move Braun. Previously we’ve heard the Giants, Rangers, Twins, and White Sox could be interested.
Odds and Ends: Santana, Cabrera, Kapler
A few good reads that I didn’t know how to fit elsewhere.
- LENIII does a Johan Q&A. I can’t say much has changed but he does dissect the situation well.
- Mike DiGiovanna also does a mailbag, with tidbits about Howie Kendrick, Miguel Cabrera, Paul Konerko, and many others.
- I know I said I like to skip minor signings, but it’s interesting to see Gabe Kapler out of retirement, signing with the Brewers.
Odds and Ends: Giles, Chacon, Durbin
Here are today’s random rumor tidbits.
- The Rox are interested in Marcus Giles for their second base opening. Giles was awful last year, they should just try something internal. Other Rockies notes: contracts with Kip Wells and Luis Vizcaino aren’t quite finalized, and they may ink Victor Zambrano to a minor league deal. UPDATE: Wells, plus Mark Redman, are done deals.
- The Pirates still have their eye on Shawn Chacon and Chad Durbin. That”ll put butts in the seats. Also, Jake of Bucco Blog weighs in on a new Pirates hire.
- Speaking of Durbin, did he comment on this blog and suggest he’s headed to the NL? I’m not sure.
- Drays Bay talked to Gerry Hunsicker. Seth Speaks talked to Pat Neshek.
- New prize added to our Hot Stove Hysteria contest – three months free of Scout.com access.
- Things are mostly quiet with the Brewers, but this Tom Haudricourt blog post notes tepid discussions for Scott Rolen, Hank Blalock, and Andre Ethier.
Odds and Ends: Johan, Hudson, A-Rod, Dallas
Collection o’ links…
- LENIII has a Johan Santana update…nothing groundbreaking going on, pretty much looks like the Yanks and Red Sox are still both involved.
- The Brewers were apparently pretty deep in discussions for Miguel Tejada during the Winter Meetings.
- After a year out of baseball Javy Lopez is back with the Braves on a minor-league deal. Remember when he slugged .687 with 43 home runs in 457 ABs? Good times.
- Nick Piecoro has some chatter about Orlando Hudson, who hits free agency after the ’08 season. The most interesting part is that Hudson refers to Bob Melvin as "Bo-Mel." It’s the same story with Hudson – he’d like an extension, the D’Backs are noncommittal. You never know – I certainly didn’t expect them to re-up Eric Byrnes. But as of right now it seems like Hudson will walk.
- Alex Rodriguez is not on speaking terms with Scott Boras…let’s all hope they reconcile, they were a great couple.
- Barry Jackson says the Marlins have their eye on Dallas McPherson. The Giants are known to be interested as well.
- Mike Sweeney‘s agent has been in touch with the Royals as well as two other clubs. I think he might have to accept a bench role this year.
Luis Vizcaino Signs With Rockies
UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 10:16pm: Tracy Ringolsby reported (several hours ago actually) that the Rockies have an agreement with the Viz.
UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 9:41pm: Here we go…MLB.com’s Thomas Harding says Vizcaino is close with the Rox.
UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 3:21pm: Definitely not the Brewers, we know that much.
UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 2:30pm: Readers are emailing in that WFAN is reporting the Rockies signed Vizcaino.
FROM 12-14-07 at 2:11pm:
Per Peter Abraham, Luis Vizcaino signed somewhere in the NL. Brewers, Rockies? Not sure yet. The URL string, though, says Milwaukee. The deal was for two years and $7MM despite the talk about Vizcaino looking for Linebrink money.
Wise DFA’d, Brewers Look At Blalock
UPDATE, 12-11-07 at 1:56pm: It’s official, Wise has been DFA’d. If the Brewers aren’t able to trade him then he’ll hook on somewhere as a free agent.
FROM 12-10-07 at 10:20pm:
Tom Haudricourt has some quality stuff tonight, aside from the aforementioned return of Salomon.
- 32 year-old reliever Matt Wise is looking like a non-tender candidate for Wednesday. Eric Gagne took his uniform number. Wise hasn’t been too bad while eating up relief innings the past few years. He only made a million bucks in ’07. The Brewers tended to use him in low-leverage situations in 2007.
- Some other non-tender candidates are listed here.
- Haudricourt is "starting to get some vibes" that the Brewers have their eye on Hank Blalock. The 27 year-old third baseman hit .293/.358/.543 in limited duty this year. He’s locked up affordably – $5.95MM in ’08 and a $6.2MM club option for ’09. Would Dave Bush and a decent pitching prospect cut it?
Odds and Ends: Inge, Greene, Pavano
A few tidbits this morning as we wait to hear more on Fukudome…
- The Tigers and Pirates have had talks about Brandon Inge. Not sure how he fits in with that club, but OK.
- Yesterday Barry Svrluga wrote of a failed Padres-Nats trade worth noting. The Nats would’ve sent Jon Rauch or Chad Cordero plus Felipe Lopez to the Padres for Khalil Greene. The talks fizzled; it never sounded like something the Padres would be interested in. They usually grow their own relievers. Tom Krasovic over at the San Diego Union-Tribune elaborates a little more on Jim Bowden’s love for Greene.
- Carl Pavano, the American Idle, is deciding whether to take a minor league contract with the Yanks. Peter Abraham says the Yankees are offering this to make sure they can collect on insurance.
- Xavier Nady will be tendered a contract, officially putting the rumors to rest.
- The Brewers inked Eric Munson to be their possible backup catcher.