Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Twins Rumors

Odds and Ends: Teixeira, Dickey, Takahashi

By | at

Links for Friday…

  • In the aftermath of the Yankees’ spending, Joe Posnanski reminds us that two thirds of MLB teams have won the World Series in the last 30 years.
  • UmpBump doesn’t like the idea of a salary cap.
  • FanGraphs now shows a hitter’s wins over replacement level, as well as the player’s dollar value.  You don’t need to be a stathead to enjoy this.  For example, here’s the Carlos Pena page.  Scroll to the bottom.  Value Wins shows he was worth 6.0 wins over replacement level in 2007.  That made him worth $24.6MM, but he earned just $800K.
  • If you are a stathead, you’ll like this 1981 SI article on Bill James.
  • A look at the only five players who should be considered within the first five picks of a fantasy baseball draft next year.
  • Mark Teixeira leftovers…Murray Chass says Tex and his wife didn’t want to live in Boston, while Kat O’Brien details the hard stance the Yankees took with Scott Boras.  The Nationals did everything they could to sign Teixeira, but he wanted to win now.
  • ESPN’s Keith Law explains why the draft pick compensation system is broken.  Brewers GM Doug Melvin had interesting comments on this in a recent Buster Olney blog.
  • The New York Times Company is trying to sell its stake in the Red Sox.
  • La Velle E. Neal III tries to figure out the Twins’ signing of knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
  • Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker takes a closer look at lefty reliever Ken Takahashi.

Dickey Picks Twins

By | at

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey has chosen to pitch for the Minnesota Twins over returning to the Seattle Mariners, Kirby Arnold of The (Everett, Wash.) Daily Herald reported.

Dickey told Arnold that he likes his chances of playing at the major-league level with the Twins, despite a larger amount of money offered by the Mariners. Arnold writes that he agreed to a “split minor-major league contract.” I’m guessing Dickey signed a minor-league deal that will pay more if he makes the 25-man roster.

The Mets and Brewers also had interest, Arnold writes.

UPDATE: MLB.com’s Kelly Thesier has it posted now. It is a minor-league deal.

Walters On Joe Mauer

By | at

Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press wrote yesterday about Joe Mauer, whose contract runs through 2010.  He says the Red Sox are "already salivating over Mauer."  I’m sure many teams are.  The Twins have yet to talk to Mauer about another extension.  Since Mauer is just 26 in April and his next contract will cover only free agent years, the deal could be record-setting (for a catcher) if he stays healthy.

Twins Rumors: Lyon, Wigginton, DeRosa

By | at

La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has the latest on the Twins.

  • The Twins are one of several teams in on free agent reliever Brandon Lyon.
  • It does not seem that the Twins are pursuing Ty Wigginton.
  • Nothing new on the Twins’ rumored interest in Mark DeRosa; the two teams don’t match up well (the Twins are not willing to trade Jason Kubel).
  • Neal likes the match between the Twins and Brewers, but J.J. Hardy has not been discussed.

Twins Interested In Kawakami, Uehara

By | at

According to Joe Christensen and La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins have expressed interest in Japanese pitchers Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara.  The authors suggest Kawakami could allow the Twins to trade a starter, while Uehara may enter the Majors as a reliever.  The Twins’ interest in Kawakami first surfaced back on Tuesday.  Teams such as the Orioles, Cardinals, Braves, Red Sox, Mets, and Giants have also been linked to him.

Another note from Christensen: the Twins have expressed interest in Brett Tomko.

Twins Still Exploring Shortstop Options

By | at

According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins are still exploring shortstop options despite signing Nick Punto.

Two of the team’s targets do not seem available – J.J. Hardy and Yunel Escobar.  The Braves were hard-pressed to discuss Escobar even when they thought they had Rafael Furcal, though the Twins inquired.  And Doug Melvin is sticking to his stance on Hardy.

We talked about other failed Twins infield pursuits yesterday.

Wigginton Too Pricey For Twins?

By | at

According to Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

The Twins like Ty Wigginton but believe he’s looking for a bigger contract than the three-year, $17.5 million deal the Los Angeles Dodgers gave Casey Blake. So the Twins have had little to no dialogue with Wigginton’s agent, Dan Lozano.

I had Wigginton pegged for two years and $12MM or so, but he is four years younger than Blake and outhit him in 2008 (though he had 172 fewer plate appearances and was largely aided by Minute Maid Park).  If Wiggy can really get a better contract than Blake, it would’ve made sense for the Astros to tender him a contract and then trade him.

Christensen adds that the Twins still have hope for acquiring Mark DeRosa, but talks for Garrett Atkins and Adrian Beltre hit dead ends.  Also, Jon Heyman tosses the Twins into the mix for Michael Young.  We’d previously heard about the Mets, Angels, Dodgers, and Royals discussing him.  Heyman did not find evidence talks for Young got serious with any team, though, and he wonders if Young would approve a trade to Minnesota.

In other Twins news, Christensen notes that the Twins expressed interest in free agent reliever Brandon Lyon, who seems to be waiting until Brian Fuentes signs.

Orioles Interested In Redding, Looper, Kawakami

By | at

9:55pm: Peter Schmuck agrees – Pavano is not on Baltimore’s radar.  Instead, they like Redding, Braden Looper, and Kenshin Kawakami.  He says they’ve extended an offer to Kawakami.  Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker learned of two new Kawakami suitors today via a Sponichi report: the Twins and Giants.  Interesting to see the Twins linked; signing Kawakami could give them the depth to make a trade.

3:07pm: MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro says the Orioles’ main focus is Redding rather than Pavano.

1:36pm: According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Orioles have been talking to agent Tom O’Connell, who represents free agent starters Tim Redding and Carl Pavano.  Crasnick notes that the Padres have no interest in either pitcher.  The Orioles are looking into tons of mid-rotation types.

Redding has drawn interest from the Mets and Rockies since being non-tendered Friday.  Pavano has been linked to the Blue Jays, Marlins, and Red Sox.

Four Teams Interested In Wigginton

By | at

According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Indians, Giants, Pirates, and Reds have expressed interest in new free agent Ty Wigginton.  Dejan Kovacevic confirms Pittsburgh’s interest.  Neal says the Twins have admired Wiggy for years as well.  He adds that Wigginton was nearly dealt to the Giants before being non-tendered.  Ken Davidoff thinks the Mets should look into it.

What will it take to sign Wigginton?  Casey Blake’s three-year, $17.5MM deal might be optimistic, but Neal figures Wigginton could get a similar average annual salary.  Still might take two years to sign Wigginton though.  Beyond Joe Crede, there’s not much else out there for third base.

Pirates Sign Ramon Vazquez

By | at

FRIDAY, 1:51pm: Kovacevic says the Vazquez signing is official at two years and $4MM.

THURSDAY, 11:37pm: Dejan Kovacevic says the Pirates have agreed to the framework of a contract with Vazquez.  The contract is not signed yet, and Vazquez needs to take a physical.  Another note: the Twins’ signing of Nick Punto reduces the already-weak market for Jack Wilson.  Kovacevic says the Dodgers have leverage if they want to go after Wilson as a Rafael Furcal fallback.

12:32am: Vazquez’s agent told Kovacevic they’re "very, very close" but not done.  Neal Huntington also said it’s not done.

10:51am: Dejan Kovacevic phrases it as "trying to sign" Vazquez.

10:12am: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Pirates are on the verge of a two-year, $4MM deal with infielder Ramon Vazquez.  Vazquez should be able to step in at either middle infield position if the Bucs manager to trade Freddy Sanchez or Jack Wilson.  He needs to sit against lefties though.

Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top