Odds and Ends: Guillen, Crede, Hamilton, Boone
Rounding up some of the day’s random rumors and tidbits…
- Jose Guillen might get a light suspension for his exploits.
- There was a report that the Brewers were close to obtaining Joe Crede, but it was published last night.
- The BBWAA approved a new resolution for 2013. Any player with a contract provision linked to a major award of theirs will not be considered for that award. Makes sense – to repeat Curt Schilling’s situation. Curt Schilling could get a million bucks by netting one Cy Young vote in 2008. The BBWAA would rather preserve its right to have members make off-the-wall votes on occasion without bribery being accused.
- The Reds traded Buck Coats to the Jays. They also released Jorge Cantu. They now have an open spot on the 40-man roster.
- Could the Rays re-acquire Josh Hamilton? There’s speculation on the topic in Nashville.
- Buster Olney says Aaron Boone interests the Giants, Nationals, and Brewers.
Cardinals Rumors: Rolen, Fogg, Lee, Millwood
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 1:55pm: Heyman says the impasse between the Cards and Brewers in the Rolen talks was the second player coming over with Chris Capuano. He thinks the two teams will revisit these discussions in the future.
FROM 12-5-07 at 7:29am:
As usual, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has all the insight into the Cardinals’ situation.
- It doesn’t look like Scott Rolen is going anywhere before the Meetings end, and GM John Mozeliak may have to start the season with him. The talks with the Brewers were disheartening, apparently. The Cards don’t think there should be a discount. There is a glimmer of hope in that Mozeliak may talk again with the Dodgers about Rolen today.
- On the starting pitching front, the Cardinals are being realistic. That means they’re looking into signing Josh Fogg. Fogg will probably get a three-year, $21MM deal or so. Other starters on the radar include Cliff Lee and a new name, Kevin Millwood. Millwood will earn $8.5MM in ’08, $11MM in ’09, and $12MM in ’10. He has a limited no-trade clause, and the club may be able to void the deal after ’09 if he misses certain innings targets.
- Seems odd that the Cards are pursuing guys like the above but are willing to deal Anthony Reyes. As we learned yesterday, the Indians and Padres like the young hurler. The Phillies have coveted him for a while as well.
Dodgers Inquire On Bill Hall
According to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers asked the Brewers about Bill Hall. Hall, who turns 28 soon, is owed $4.8MM in ’08, $6.8MM in ’09, and $8.4MM in ’10. He could play third base for the Dodgers.
You may also recall that the Dodgers called the Brewers about Ben Sheets recently. We also know that the Brewers have discussed trading for Andy LaRoche. Can Ned Colletti and Doug Melvin find a match?
Hernandez’s article also mentions that Troy Glaus could be an option for the Dodgers, but that may just be speculation.
Brewers Sign David Riske
It’s official: the Brewers have signed 31 year-old reliever David Riske to a three year, $13MM deal. Incentives based on closing could bring the total to $20MM, and there’s a 2011 option at $4.75MM.
This is the going rate for a guy like Riske. He wasn’t particularly popular when the 2006 season ended, but had a well-timed fine year in ’07. I don’t hate the deal, but it certainly lacks creativity.
Rockies Interested In Iguchi
According to Troy Renck and Patrick Saunders, the Rockies met with Tadahito Iguchi‘s agent yesterday to discuss their second base opening. Iguchi prefers the idea of second base, and is looking for a two-year deal. Other teams interested in Iguchi are the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, and Brewers.
Other second basemen on Colorado’s radar include Chris Burke and Mark Loretta.
Kuroda Wants Four Years
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 6:28pm: Tony Jackson dug up some info on this situation. He says the Mariners’ three-year offer worth $30-33MM is tops so far, despite other reports. He doesn’t believe the Mariners are at 4/44. The Ms and Dodgers, as expected, are the leaders for Kuroda.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:55pm: First Heyman suggested 3/45 for Kuroda. Now Jeff Passan is saying 5/50! Passan throws the Giants into the mix for him, which is a new one.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 3:29pm: Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News confirms that the Dodgers have an offer out to Kuroda, probably in the 3/30 range. He says that the Ms are reportedly already at four years and more than $40MM.
FROM 12-4-07 at 1:26pm:
Previous reports floating about had the Mariners offering four years, $44MM to Hiroki Kuroda. Not so, according to MLB.com’s Jim Street. Street says the Mariners, Dodgers, and D’Backs have all made offers in the three-year, $30MM range. None of the three clubs wants to go to four years on soon-to-be 33 year-old pitcher with no MLB experience.
Kuroda may make his decision early next week, after his agents meet with the interested parties.
Street adds that the Ms plan to meet with the Orioles today to discuss Erik Bedard possibilities. Also, he mentions the rumor that the Mariners inquired on Ben Sheets. Maybe it was both the Dodgers and Mariners.
Mets Rumors: Kuroda, Livan, Estrada, Colon
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 5:49pm: Jayson Stark says the Mets haven’t talked to the the A’s or Orioles at all in Nashville, meaning no talks for Haren or Bedard as of yet.
FROM 12-4-07 at 8:05am:
What’s cooking with the Mets? Let’s round ’em up.
- Mark Hale reports that the Mets have advanced to "Round 2" of the bidding process for Hiroki Kuroda. They did this by indicating a ballpark of what they might offer but without actually making an offer. Hale says 8-10 teams are in on Kuroda, including the Royals, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Mariners. The Ms reportedly have some kind of offer out to him, either 3/30 or 4/44. The Phils are said to have an offer out as well. Hale doesn’t name the Dodgers but it’s been said they’re getting aggressive on him too. The Cubs and Rangers are other teams that have been connected to Kuroda.
- The Mets appear to have mild interest in Livan Hernandez, perhaps as a fallback innings-eater option. The Phillies, Cardinals, Nationals, and Astros are other known suitors for Livan.
- The big fish are still out there in Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, and Dan Haren. The Mets won’t include Jose Reyes, David Wright, or Carlos Beltran in any deal. It’s been said that a Carlos Gomez/Aaron Heilman/Philip Humber package was offered for Bedard and rejected.
- Dan Graziano says the Mets also inquired on Dontrelle Willis, Ben Sheets, and Roy Oswalt and were told none of the three are available. Graziano adds that the Mets are looking into signing Bartolo Colon.
- Omar Minaya will meet with the agents for Octavio Dotel and Shawn Chacon today.
- Minaya disputes Ken Rosenthal’s report that he sought an extension from the Mets and didn’t get one. Ownership told him he’ll be there "a long time."
- Though they didn’t want him in the Lastings Milledge deal, the Nationals are interested in acquiring Johnny Estrada for their catcher vacancy. Damian Miller is also known to be a target of Jim Bowden’s.
Brewers Rolen Talks Cool
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 4:18pm: Haudricourt says the Brewers-Rolen deal croaked over something, but not the intra-division part. Didn’t make sense in the first place. Also, Doug Melvin expressed his disinterest in Pedro Feliz.
FROM 12-4-07 at 2:45pm:
You don’t need Insider to read this one. ESPN’s Jayson Stark says the Brewers talks with the Cards about Scott Rolen have cooled. The Cards are hesitant about trading Rolen within the division. It’s weird because it’s not like that’s a new development, the intra-division factor.
The Brewers had already worked who was paying what and agreed to send Chris Capuano and a "top prospect" over. Stark’s source says that most likely, the deal won’t happen.
The Giants and Dodgers are in on Rolen, however.
Brewers Considering Crede, Blalock, Feliz, LaRoche, Tejada
What, you thought the Brewers were dead set on Scott Rolen? Not so, according to Tom Haudricourt. They’re considering the following options at third base, mostly because the left field options are worse.
- Joe Crede – I can see this one happening, Doug Melvin and Kenny Williams get along. And Kenny really has nowhere to play Crede.
- Hank Blalock – Trading Blalock now is generally seen as selling low, so this seems unlikely.
- Pedro Feliz – I’m going to disagree with Haudricourt that Feliz is intriguing.
- Andy LaRoche – Now this one is intriguing, hitting the Dodgers up for LaRoche. I imagine Colletti may want to include LaRoche in other, bigger deals though.
- Miguel Tejada – He’s been discussed, but all the well-known warts make this unlikely.
Heyman’s Latest: Andruw, Bedard, Kuroda
Here’s a link to Jon Heyman’s latest column at SI.com. The new stuff is below.
- Extreme longshot, but the Brewers could peek their head in on Andruw Jones. Who would’ve thought Andruw would be so unpopular this winter? Another bigtime longshot is the Mets…but they haven’t been ruled out either. Someone would have to swallow his ego and play right field, probably Jones.
- The Orioles are expected to take their time finding the best offer for Erik Bedard, if they even trade him.
- Heyman throws out three years, $45MM for Hiroki Kuroda as a possibility. Say whaaaat?