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Mets, Diamondbacks Discussed Upton, Kubel

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The Mets talked to the Diamondbacks about potential trades involving outfielders Justin Upton and Jason Kubel, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). However, Arizona’s asking price is too high on Upton and Kubel isn’t a perfect fit for New York, according to Heyman. This suggests the Diamondbacks won’t be sending one of their surplus outfielders to the Mets, who continue seeking outfield depth.

The Padres, Braves, Mariners and Rangers have expressed some interest in trading for Upton this offseason. The right fielder can block trades to certain teams, including the Blue Jays and Mariners. Meanwhile, Kubel has also drawn trade interest from teams such as the Orioles. 

In a recent poll of more than 13,000 MLBTR readers, voters were split on whether Upton or Kubel would be dealt. There’s an expectation that GM Kevin Towers will make a trade since Arizona has numerous internal options including Cody Ross, Gerardo Parra and prospects Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollock.

The Mets have been eyeing outfielders all offseason, but Andrew Brown and Collin Cowgill have been their highest profile additions to date. If the season opened today, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Lucas Duda and Mike Baxter would be among the leading candidates for regular playing time in New York.

Upton, 25, will earn $38.5MM through 2015, including a $9.75MM salary in 2013. Kubel, 30, has one more guaranteed year on his contract, which includes a 2014 team option. He'll earn $7.5MM this coming season.

Quick Hits: Rangers, Red Sox, Mets

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With Justin Verlander on his way to Lakeland, FL to prepare for the start of spring training, the countdown to the 2013 season has begun as we enter the first full week of the new year. Let's catch up on the latest stories and rumors from around the league…

  • The Rangers aren't finished building their roster for next season even after adding Lance Berkman to the mix at designated hitter, tweets CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman. Look for Texas to pursue Kyle Lohse, Justin Upton and Michael Bourn, among others. 
  • While the Red Sox failed to live up to lofty expectations in 2012, the Providence Journal's Tim Britton reflects upon both the lowlights and rare highlights of the team's season. 
  • The Mets have quite a bit more money left to spend this winter, reports Heyman (via Twitter), and will look to upgrade a variety of aspects of the roster. Heyman suggests New York would stand to benefit from adding pieces to the outfield, rotation and bullpen. Chris Young has been mentioned as a viable option for the Mets and could easily find himself playing at Citi Field next season given his experience there.

Quick Hits: Posey, McCann, Berkman, Mets, Yankees

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In today's column, Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) writes that it would make sense for the Giants to look into a Joey Votto-type deal for catcher Buster Posey.  The Reds locked Votto up on a ten-year contract extension in April of last year, keeping him in Cincinnati through 2023.  In the meantime, the Giants have a fascinating arbitration case on their hands when it comes to Posey and Matt Swartz broke it all down with some interesting comparables last week.  Here's more from around baseball..

  • Braves GM Frank Wren told Jim Duquette (Twitter link) and Jim Bowden of SiriusXM that the team and catcher Brian McCann have agreed to table contract talks until the end of the year.  McCann is entering the final year of his contract and will earn $12MM.  Wren also told the duo that the club hasn't closed the door on free agent Michael Bourn.
  • Olney also writes that some rival officials were surprised by the $10MM deal Lance Berkman signed with the Rangers.  However, Texas likely reasoned that in an offseason where Mike Napoli got $13MM per season (assuming his deal goes through) and David Ortiz got a two-year deal for $26MM, Berkman at $10MM isn't an overpay.
  • Several unresolved questions linger for the Mets and Yankees at this stage of the offseason, writes Ken Davidoff of the New York Post.  The Mets are in the market for pitching and outfield help and they're more likely to get a notable name in the former than the latter.  The Yankees are also in search of some extra pieces but GM Brian Cashman hasn't had any trouble finding gems in mid-to-late winter before.

Mets Sign Omar Quintanilla

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SATURDAY: The Mets have officially announced the signing (on Twitter).

THURSDAY: The Mets are set to sign infielder Omar Quintanilla to a minor league deal with a spring training invite, a baseball source told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.  The MVP Sports Group client spent the first half of 2012 with the Mets before he was traded to the Orioles in July for cash considerations.

In 65 total games for Baltimore and New York, Quintanilla hit .243/.312/.361 with four homers.  The Mets traded the 31-year-old after they were forced to designate him for assignment to create roster space for Jason Bay.  Rubin writes that the Mets didn't want to trade Quintanilla but felt compelled to since he would have been claimed off of waivers otherwise.

Quintanilla will vie with Brandon Hicks for a backup middle infield role out of spring training, but Hicks may have a leg up since he is on the 40-man and the Mets gave the A's cash for him in late November.  The Mets have yet to sign a free agent to a major league deal.

Mike Axisa contributed to this post.

Mets Notes: Outfield, Young, Recker

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The Mets have been consistent for the past four seasons, but not in the way they'd like. They've finished fourth in the NL East every season since 2009, never winning fewer than 70 games or more than 79. Here’s the latest on the 2013 edition of the club…

  • One Mets insider told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com yesterday that the team’s outfield could already be set. However, a second official told Rubin today that the club continues shopping for outfield help.
  • The Mets continue seeking a starting pitcher to replace R.A. Dickey, Rubin reports. Free agent right-hander Chris Young remains a “viable option” for the Mets.
  • The club also continues seeking bullpen depth, and could make a trade to address its needs.
  • The Mets don’t seem anxious to add a catcher, Rubin reports. This suggests a level of comfort with Anthony Recker as a potential backup, at least for part of the season. John Buck figures to be New York’s starting catcher and 23-year-old prospect Travis d’Arnaud looms as a likely 2013 contributor.
  • Yahoo's Jeff Passan recently discussed the state of the Mets, praising GM Sandy Alderson for his handling of the Dickey trade talks, but pointing out that the New York roster includes a number of potential weaknesses.

Mets Sign Andrew Brown

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The Mets announced that they signed outfielder Andrew Brown to a minor league contract that includes an invitation to MLB Spring Training (Twitter link).

Brown made his MLB with the 2011 Cardinals before the Rockies claimed him off of waivers from St. Louis. The 28-year-old spent part of the 2012 season with the Rockies, appearing in 46 games as a corner outfielder. Brown, a right-handed hitter, posted a .232/.302/.429 batting line with five home runs in 126 plate appearances with the Rockies this past season. He also appeared in 100 games at Triple-A, posting a .308/.364/.597 batting line with 24 home runs and 33 doubles. However, Colorado granted him free agency in November.

Quick Hits: Royals, Stanton, Draft, Mets, Nationals

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Earlier tonight, the Royals announced the signing of Miguel Tejada to a minor league contract. Whether or not the deal includes an invitation to Spring Training will be announced at a later date, the Royals said in a release. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star tweeted the addition of Tejada could make Tony Abreu or Irving Falu expendable. Dutton added Falu has options remaining while Abreu doesn't (Twitter link). As the East Coast drops the ball on 2013, let's enjoy another round of MLB news and notes: 

  • Dutton projects the Royals' payroll to be in neighborhood of $83MM and it's hard for him to see it go much higher (via Twitter). The Royals could free up some salary by moving Luke Hochevar or Bruce Chen, but Dutton doesn't sense any urgency from the club to move either one. Another possibility, although less likely, is Chris Getz (Twitter links).
  • The Mariners have contacted the Marlins about Giancarlo Stanton, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com. However, one source Morosi spoke with doubts a trade will occur. 
  • Baseball America's Jim Callis has updated the 2013 amateur draft order. There are four potential compensation free agents remaining on the market (Michael Bourn, Adam LaRoche, Kyle Lohse, and Rafael Soriano). If they change addresses, their former club will get a pick at the end of the first round and their new team will forfeit their top choice (unless it's one of the top 10 overall).
  • Within the same piece, Callis remains surprised the Mets were able to obtain Noah Syndergaard from the Blue Jays in the R.A. Dickey trade. By adding Travis d'Arnaud and Syndergaard, which Callis projects as the Mets' second and third best prospects, the club has boosted their farm system into the top 20.
  • Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post listed the Nationals posting the best record in baseball as the club's top storyline in 2012.

Quick Hits: Red Sox, Indians, Perez, Eaton

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It was on this day 40 years ago that the baseball world lost one of its greatest stars.  Following a massive earthquake that devastated the country of Nicaragua, Roberto Clemente helped organize a relief effort for victims of the disaster and accompanied one of the aid packages on its flight on New Year's Eve 1972 to ensure that the goods reached the proper hands.  Tragically, Clemente's flight crashed off the shore of Puerto Rico, costing the Pirates superstar his life at the age of 38.  Clemente was posthumously honored with the Presidential Citizens Medal and a Congressional Gold Medal by then-president Richard Nixon and the U.S. Congress, and given immediate entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame, as the BBWAA waived its usual five-year waiting period.

Here are some news items as we pay tribute to Clemente and look ahead to 2013…

  • Counting arbitration raises and the $13MM they have tentatively agreed to pay Mike Napoli, the Red Sox 2013 payroll will almost exactly match the club's 2012 payroll, writes Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
  • Speaking of arb raises, you can follow all of the arbitration cases and settlements on MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker, which has now been updated with the salaries of players who have already come to agreements.
  • The Indians have "liked" Jason Kubel dating back to his days with the Twins, so Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer figures the Tribe probably discussed Kubel in their previous negotiations with the Diamondbacks this winter.  Hoynes doesn't think the Indians should deal Asdrubal Cabrera for Kubel (a reader's suggestion) but he agrees that Cleveland could use Kubel's power.
  • Also from Hoynes' reader mail piece, he thinks the Indians will take care of other business before considering re-signing Travis Hafner, and that Chris Perez will return in 2013 unless the Tribe gets "a big return" in a trade for the closer.
  • Kubel isn't a fit for the Mets and the team doesn't have the prospect depth to get Justin Upton, but Michael Baron of Metsblog.com wonders if the Mets could make a play for another Diamondbacks outfielder in Adam Eaton.  While I agree that Eaton would be a good fit for the Amazins, it would take a lot to convince Arizona to part such a talented, controllable player.
  • Peter Moylan appears to have little chance of returning to the Braves, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, as GM Frank Wren said the team's bullpen was set after trading for Jordan Walden.  Moylan has a career 2.59 ERA over seven seasons with Atlanta but has appeared in just 21 games over the last two seasons due to a lower back injury and rotator cuff surgery.  The right-hander was non-tendered by the Braves in October.
  • FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi lists the Padres, Orioles, Yankees and seven other teams who still have significant roster holes to fill in January.  In a seperate list, Morosi names his top 10 baseball newsmakers of the past year.

NL East Notes: Nationals, Howell, Harper, Mets

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Links out of the National League East..

  • The Brewers' signing of pitcher Mike Gonzalez will have a direct bearing on whatever kind of deal fellow left-hander J.P. Howell is going to get, whether it's from the Nationals or another club, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd).  Washington has been heavily linked to Howell and are said to have him as their top choice among free agent lefties.
  • The Nationals' decision to promote Bryce Harper this season wasn't an easy one, but it was the right call, writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.  The Nats promoted Harper on April 28th, triggering the start of his service clock.  However, they waited long enough to postpone his free agency by a full year and will control him through 2018.  Harper was just 19-years-old when he got the call and won the NL Rookie of the Year award with a .270/.340/.477 slash line and 22 homers.
  • Brian Joura of Mets 360 believes that minor league pickup Greg Burke has a good chance of making the Mets big league roster out of spring training.  The Mets still haven't signed a free agent to a major league contract this winter.

NL East Notes: Howell, LaRoche, Crisp, Marlins

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Happy 60th birthday to former Mets third baseman Ray Knight, whose World Series MVP performance in 1986 helped lift the Amazins to their most recent championship.  Here's the latest from the NL East…

  • J.P. Howell is still the Nationals' top choice amongst available left-handed relievers, reports Dan Kolko of MASNsports.com.  Several other teams are known to have interest in Howell besides the Nats, who missed out on another southpaw bullpen option when Mike Gonzalez agreed to sign with the Brewers today.
  • The Nationals and Adam LaRoche are no closer to an agreement, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson.  LaRoche appears to be insistent on a three-year deal while the Nats aren't willing to offer him more than two years.  The Red Sox have also shown interest in LaRoche but not for three years.
  • The Mets showed some interest in Athletics outfielder Coco Crisp, Ken Davidoff of the New York Post tweeted last week, though the "sense is that [Oakland] will keep him." Crisp, 33, hit .259/.325/.418 in 508 PAs with the A's in 2012 and was also 39-for-43 in stolen base attempts.  Crisp is set to earn $7MM in 2013 and the A's have a $7.5MM option on him for 2014 that can be bought out for $1MM, plus he'd receive a $250K bonus if he's traded.
  • The Marlins have spent much of the winter looking for center field help but haven't found a fit, leaving Justin Ruggiano as the favorite to win the job, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro writes as part of a reader mailbag.  Frisaro believes Miami hasn't been too ardent in looking for a center fielder since prospect Christian Yelich could be ready for the majors by 2014 or even late next season.
  • Also from Frisaro, the Marlins plan to keep Ricky Nolasco "at least for much of the first half of the season."  Nolasco is entering the last year of his contract and has already said he'd prefer a trade out of Miami, so the right-hander is a good bet to be moved before the trade deadline.  The Marlins told teams during the Winter Meetings that Nolasco wasn't available.
  • Even though the Marlins aren't shopping Giancarlo Stanton, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki thinks it's a moot point for the Phillies, who don't have the minor league depth necessary to acquire the slugger even if the Fish did make him available.  I'd also add that the Marlins are unlikely to deal Stanton to another NL East team, though the Fish have been known to deal stars (such as Dan Uggla) within their division if the price is right.
  • From earlier today on MLBTR, the Mets were looking for relief pitching and the Marlins had only very mild interest in Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez.
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