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Poll: Which Team Will Sign Hiroki Kuroda?

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As we approach the New Year, Hiroki Kuroda stands as one of the most attractive starters remaining on the open market.  The possibilities for Kuroda seemed to be rather limited when the offseason began but are now wide open. 

The hurler’s stated preference for remaining in Los Angeles led to him blocking deals that would have shipped him to a contender over the summer.  Even though Kuroda wanted to work out a new deal with the Dodgers, their financial restrictions led them to spend elsewhere and sign Chris Capuano to a highly back loaded deal.

Now, Kuroda is reportedly willing to listen to offers from all suitors, though it seems that he would prefer to remain on the West Coast.  The right-hander is after a $12-$13MM annual salary and at his age (37 in February), he won’t be seeking a long-term commitment. 

The Yankees and Red Sox, two teams who were pushing for him in July, are said to be in the mix.  The Diamondbacks and Rockies would each like to keep him in the NL West, though both clubs are budget-conscious as they look for a starter.  Kuroda was reportedly close to signing somewhere last week but all of the aforementioned teams plus the Rangers and Mariners said that it wasn’t with them.  Of course, there’s always the possibility that he’ll make his long-rumored return to the Hiroshima Carp.  So, where do you see Kuroda landing?

Poll: Which Team Will Sign Edwin Jackson?

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Despite the perpetual demand for quality starting pitching around the league, Edwin Jackson’s market has been relatively quiet this winter. If you sort through our archive, you’ll see just a handful of items involving the right-hander dating back to October. That’s not typical for a Scott Boras client.

With Gio Gonzalez and Mat Latos both traded, C.J. Wilson signed, and the Yu Darvish bidding complete, Jackson’s market figures to pick up some steam soon. Big spenders like the Yankees and Red Sox need pitching help, and mid-range revenue clubs like the Blue Jays and Rockies have made it known that they’d like to add a starter. Even the Marlins continue to look for high-end pitching despite landing Mark Buehrle earlier this offseason.

Jackson, 28, is one of the few remaining free agent innings eaters left on the market. His last three seasons have been very comparable to John Danks’, who just landed a five-year, $65MM contract extension from the White Sox. Jackson could reasonably ask for a similar contract on the open market, but who will give it to him?

Poll: Which Team Won The Gio Gonzalez Trade?

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Once again, the A's have traded away one of their top starters in exchange for a package of prospects.  Two weeks after shipping Trevor Cahill to Arizona, Oakland sent Gio Gonzalez and pitcher Robert Gilliam to the Nationals for right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, left-hander Tom Milone, and catcher Derek Norris.

Billy Beane & Co. parted ways with Cahill and Gonzalez with an eye on building a team that can compete in a brand new stadium in a few years.  Most seem to agree that the A's got a considerable haul by landing three high-level pitching prospects with Cole having the highest ceiling of the trio.

The Nationals were reluctant to part with both Peacock and Milone in the swap but ultimately decided that Gonzalez was worth the price.  The bidding for the left-hander was understandably high as the Red Sox, Rangers, Marlins, Yankees, Blue Jays, Tigers, and Mariners were all linked to the 26-year-old this winter. 

While the benefits of the deal are clear for both sides, who do you feel got the better end of the swap?

 

Poll: Which Team Won The Mat Latos Trade?

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On Friday, it was reported that Gio Gonzalez, Mat Latos and Jair Jurrjens were among the pitchers on the Reds’ wish list.  Less than 24 hours later, the Reds turned their wish list into reality when they sent Yonder Alonso, Edinson Volquez, Yasmani Grandal, and Brad Boxberger to San Diego for Latos.  The Padres have been willing to listen on deals for Latos this winter and according to GM Josh Byrnes, the Reds' offer was selected over three others that were similarly built.

It seems that several baseball executives were quick to declare the Padres the winners of the deal as they received a great mix of young talent in return for their 24-year-old ace.  It's also worth noting that while Latos' upside is undeniable, some in the Pads organization had concerns about the hurler's maturity.  However, as Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports pointed out, acquiring a potential No. 1 starter who is four years away from free agency will always cost a great deal.

Now, we want to hear your take on the trade..

 

How Many Years Will Prince Fielder Get?

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One team tells Scott Miller of CBS Sports Prince Fielder is looking for a ten-year deal.  As Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports writes, isn't Fielder entitled to an Albert Pujols-like contract, as a 27-year-old coming off a monster season?

The problem is the marketplace, however, writes Morosi.  The teams with the biggest payrolls don't appear to be fits for Fielder.  Over 38,000 MLBTR readers responded to our poll last week about Fielder's destination.  While the Cubs led with 24% of the vote, they almost seem to be the default pick for Fielder since there is no obvious favorite.

I doubt the Cubs would do an eight, nine, or ten-year deal for Fielder.  I'm having trouble finding any team that would do so, assuming an average annual value around $25MM is required.  It's time for Scott Boras to work his magic.  That brings us to today's poll question: how many years will Fielder get?

Poll: Which Team Will Win The Rights To Darvish?

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MLB teams have less than 24 hours to submit bids for Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish, who's available via the posting system. The Nationals, Yankees, A's, Rangers, Red Sox and Blue Jays have been linked to Darvish this month and other interested clubs may be lurking. MLB agents told MLBTR that they expect Darvish to require a financial commitment in excess of $100MM, including the posting fee and contract.

Many teams could use Darvish atop their respective rotations, but which one will win the bidding for him? By the way, if you're unsure, you're in good company — MLB teams don't know the answer to this question, either.

Poll: Where Will Prince Fielder Sign?

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With Albert Pujols now off the market, Prince Fielder is the biggest free agent still available.  It's been a hard market to gauge for Fielder — a quick look at the big man's MLBTR page shows several teams with an interest, but seemingly just as many posts arguing why those same teams are seemingly shying away from giving Fielder the eight- or nine-year, $200MM contract he and Scott Boras are trying to find.

Boras' recent statements about his client are, unsurprisingly, a best-case scenario about Fielder's ability and what he can bring to a new team, as MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith observed.  Is there a team willing to look past Fielder's weight, defensive shortcomings and likelihood of a decline in the latter years of a long-term contract and instead focus on the fact that he's one of the game's very best sluggers?  Where do you think Fielder will play in 2012?

Poll: Next Big Name Free Agent To Sign

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Two big name free agents came off the board within the first three weeks of the offseason, as CC Sabathia signed an extension with the Yankees and Jonathan Papelbon joined the Phillies. The two power-hitting first baseman are still on the market (Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder), as are the high-end shortstops (Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes) and left-handed starters (Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson). Looking for pure offense? There’s also Carlos Beltran and David Ortiz.

The Thanksgiving weekend has traditionally been a slow few days for the baseball hot stove, but think of it as the calm before the storm. The winter meetings are just over a week away, and clubs want to start patching the major holes on their rosters before the calendar flips to January. A full list of unsigned free agents can be found with our Free Agent Tracker, but only a select few qualify as big names. Which of those guys do you think will be the next to sign?

Poll: Who Will Be The Next Red Sox Manager?

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Had the Red Sox offered Dale Sveum a managerial post before the Cubs did, one wonders if Sveum would've returned to Fenway Park rather than taking the Chicago job.  Though Boston's list of candidates seems to be gradually decreasing, the recent inclusion of Bobby Valentine into the mix has created questions about if Valentine really is "the sudden favorite" or if it means the Red Sox are still expanding their search.  Valentine's emergence and the fact that the Sox were trying to get permission from the Blue Jays to make an offer to John Farrell would seem to hint that they're not satisfied with the current short list.

Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and Phillies third base coach Pete Mackanin have been dropped from consideration.  As it stands now, Boston is looking at Valentine, Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont (who will be interviewing for the second time within the next few days) and Jays first base coach (and former Red Sox Triple-A manager) Torey Lovullo.  Will one of this trio be Terry Francona's successor, or will someone else emerge to take the job?

 

Poll: Which Team Will Sign C.J. Wilson?

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At the beginning of the offseason, C.J. Wilson said there was a "great chance" that he would re-sign in Texas. Much has changed in the ensuing weeks. Wilson has drawn interest from a third of MLB teams and the Rangers have decided to shift Neftali Feliz to the rotation. Texas' need for starting pitching has diminished since the offseason began, so the Rangers may balk at Wilson's reported asking price of $120MM. 

But some team will happily sign Wilson, even if the Rangers don't. Who will it be…

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