Mets Targeting Livan Hernandez?
Ben Shpigel of the New York Times has some new Mets info for us today.
- Surprisingly, Shpigel believes the one free agent starter the Mets will seriously consider is Livan Hernandez. That is odd because I had read Livan wasn’t high on Omar Minaya’s list. We’ve seen the Mets connected to free agents Byung-Hyun Kim, Carlos Silva, Hiroki Kuroda, Kyle Lohse, and Jason Jennings so far this offseason.
- As far as some unsung trade opportunities, my Mets guy says Ervin Santana, Chris Capuano, Claudio Vargas, and Noah Lowry are being considered.
- According to Shpigel, the Mets hope to re-sign Ramon Castro as their backup catcher. I don’t see that happening, as he’ll probably be able to snag a starting job elsewhere. Options the Mets are considering to start at catcher include Yorvit Torrealba, Ramon Hernandez, Ronny Paulino, Gerald Laird, and Paul Lo Duca. A source tells me the D’Backs’ Miguel Montero may also be on the radar.
- Shpigel says Luis Castillo might command a four-year deal. Say what? The Mets may yet re-sign Castillo but want to see what the trade market offers first. Shpigel names Orlando Hudson, while I’ve also heard Alberto Callaspo.
Marlins Interested In Torrealba, Barrett, Maroth
Joe Capozzi checks in with a look at the Marlins’ approach toward free agency this winter.
It sounds like the Fish are willing to spend a few bucks to upgrade on Miguel Olivo in the catcher spot. Do they go for the defensive-minded Yorvit Torrealba, or the typically offensive-minded Michael Barrett? So far the Marlins are leaning toward Torrealba, but would have to beat the Rockies’ two-year, $6MM offer. And the Mets’ level of interest probably just increased with Jorge Posada staying with the Yankees.
Barrett has a Jeffrey Loria connection, but might seek a two-year deal for $8MM or so. The Padres might roll the dice and offer him arbitration. If they do he declines then the price for another team to sign him increases signficantly – a first or second round draft pick. The Marlins #6 overall pick is protected, as is the Devil Rays’ #1 overall pick. In contrast, teams like the Brewers, Blue Jays, Mets, and Rockies risk losing first round picks if they sign Type A free agents who declined arbitration. Another way to lose those picks would be to sign Type A guys before December 2nd.
Capozzi says the Fish could also look at Paul Lo Duca, Damian Miller, or Rod Barajas if the first two choices fall through.
The Marlins will surf the bargain bin for one veteran starter, and they’re currently targeting Mike Maroth. I like it. He’s an Orlando native who could bounce back and win ten games in ’08. Capozzi also says the Marlins are in touch with Aaron Boone‘s agent, but will have competition from the Nationals.
Odds and Ends: Hot Stove Hysteria
Anyone else ready for the Winter Meetings? It’s going to be a crazy four days. I’ll be blogging all of it nonstop. Here are some links to consider in the meantime.
- Play MLBTR’s Hot Stove Hysteria contest! Right now the prizes in my holding include a Carlos Zambrano biography and a Big Dawg Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit. If your company would like to join in on the sponsorship of the contest, email me. The deadline to enter in the contest is midnight CST tonight. If you’ve already entered but want to change yours, just make another comment with the updated list. (Please don’t email me your entry – put it in the comments of the Hot Stove Hysteria post linked above).
- U.S.S Mariner gives its take on some of the early hot stove moves.
- Yorvit Torrealba plans to test the market, with the Marlins, Mets, Brewers, and Devil Rays as possible suitors. Torrealba will give the Rockies the chance to match any offer though.
- Phil Rogers thinks Johnny Estrada might be non-tendered.
Healey’s Latest: Shoppach, Lee, Crawford
Some more submissions from Mark Healey at Gotham Baseball Magazine that I’d like to sift through:
- The first is the Yanks and Mets mutual interest in Indians catching prospect Kelly Shoppach. According to Mark, scouts around the league view Shoppach as "one of the best up-and-coming prospects" in baseball. Says Mark, "The Mets’ needs are more immediate, as their interest in Yankees’ backstop Jorge Posada are a bit ‘overblown’ said one agent." The report goes on to note that GM Mark Shapiro is not looking to deal Shoppach but would listen if Aaron Heilman or Mike Pelfrey. I simply don’t see Shoppach, an already 27-year-old, as having displayed enough to merit a deal for either of them. Dealing a to-date backup catcher for pitching with upside is not common practice…
- In the same report, Mark Healey mentions Omar Minaya’s interest is primarily for starter Cliff Lee, an intriguing starter to imagine in the NL.
- Finally, Gotham Baseball reports on the Brewers’ serious interest in Carl Crawford. The Dev… sorry, The Rays obviously have no interest in trade pieces Ben Sheets or Chris Capuano, both too "pricey", says Healey. Meanwhile, the Yanks have reportedly expressed interest in both, so the Brewers and Rays will be trying to get the Yankees involved. If nothing else, this is a fun one to imagine.
Makes for great speculation.
Odds and Ends: Garcia, Greene, DeJesus
With so many rumors, there’s a need for a daily Odds and Ends post to catch ’em all.
- Buster Olney talked to Freddy Garcia‘s agent. He’s looking at a June return from shoulder surgery.
- Indians GM Mark Shapiro made an offer on Brad Lidge. The Astros didn’t even reply. They did hear back from the Marlins on their Miguel Cabrera inquiry. The price is seemingly too high for talks to continue. Peter Gammons says that before the Astros got Michael Bourn, the White Sox pushed for a Chad Qualls for Ryan Sweeney swap.
- Evan Grant notes that the Rangers have discussed trading shortstop Joaquin Arias to the Royals for Joey Gathright. They’ve also talked to the Brewers about Tony Gwynn Jr. GM Jon Daniels needs to have options if he can’t afford Torii Hunter or the other free agents. Grant adds that the Rangers have already been in touch with Kerry Wood.
- Jose Guillen declined his $5MM option with the Mariners – that’s no surprise. So far the Royals have expressed interest.
- Khalil Greene is under the Padres’ control through 2009, but his salary is going to jump significantly in arbitration for the ’08 and ’09 seasons. The Padres want to sign him to a multiyear deal, perhaps buying out one year of free agency. GM Kevin Towers is also posturing that he might use Scott Hairston as the regular center fielder next year, which seems a stretch. Also, Geoff Jenkins is on Towers’ radar.
- Ed Wade and the Astros have asked the Marlins about Dontrelle Willis. However the ‘Stros probably do not have the goods.’
- One way or another, the Marlins will ditch Miguel Olivo. They hope to bring Yorvit Torrealba aboard, which would take an offer better than two years, $6MM. The Mets, Brewers, and Blue Jays also like Torrealba. The Marlins are serious about upgrading behind the plate and will spend some money to do so.
- Jorge Posada seems set on testing the market, which never bodes well for the incumbent team.
- David DeJesus is a hot commodity as an affordable center fielder, but Dayton Moore expects to hang onto him. Maybe he’ll change his mind once some big names are off the board.
Rockies Rumors: Helton, Holliday, Matsui
Troy E. Renck is at it again, with another column updating us on the Rockies’ hot stove situation.
- Todd Helton isn’t going anywhere, for multiple reasons. His current $16.6MM salary is less frightening due to playoff revenue, and he’d be unlikely to approve a trade since his current team is already a winner.
- As Renck reported earlier this week, the Rox will offer Matt Holliday a four-year, $60MM deal to buy out two years of free agency. Holliday, a Scott Boras client, seems unlikely to accept anything like that.
- Why would the Cubs be willing to overpay for Kaz Matsui with a three-year deal? Surely the Cubs know Matsui has hit .256/.305/.370 away from Coors since joining the Rockies? I don’t buy the speed angle – promote Eric Patterson, then. I don’t buy the "make Fukudome comfortable angle" – sign a Japanese reliever, then. The Rockies are fine moving on from Matsui and Yorvit Torrealba if their offers are beat.
- Renck says Michael Barrett has drawn interest from six clubs so far, the Rockies one of them perhaps. The Marlins could be another.
- The Phillies won’t be going after Brian Fuentes now that they have Brad Lidge, but they weren’t pursuing him before Lidge anyway. After the dust settles on Francisco Cordero and Mariano Rivera, the Tigers, Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees are expected to look at Fuentes. The Rockies’ demand is aggressive for one year of the closer – a #3 starter and a decent reliever.
- Matt Herges will look for a two-year deal; otherwise he’ll accept the Rockies one-year offer.
- Javy Lopez is attempting a comeback!
Johan Santana Rumors
Let’s check in on Johan Santana. It’s kind of a big deal when the best pitcher in baseball becomes available.
- Ken Davidoff spoke to an NL official who believes the Twins will hold onto Santana and try to win with him in 2008. Re-signing him long-term seems unlikely. Davidoff believes every team in baseball would be interested, but the Mets would have to part with Jose Reyes to get him. Nonetheless Don Burke says the Mets will "pounce" on Santana if he becomes available.
- Joe Christensen spoke to Twins people who believe re-signing Santana is almost impossible. The Twins won’t go to five years on an offer for him, and may lowball him the way they did Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva. The offer would at least pave the way for an intense auction during the Winter Meetings. A midseason trade is always a consideration too. Keep in mind that Santana does have a limited no-trade clause allowing him to block trades to 12 teams. He may use that as leverage.
- Christensen adds that the Yankees may covet Santana more than they do Miguel Cabrera. It’s still believed that they won’t part with Joba, Phil, or Ian though.
- Phillies GM Pat Gillick believes Santana "will be moved for sure."
Ben Sheets Could Be Traded
Ken Davidoff has a lot of new info in today’s column. One especially intriguing tidbit: an NL official he spoke to believes the Brewers "could seriously contemplate" trading Ben Sheets.
Sheets, 29, has averaged about 135 innings over the last three seasons. This year it was a sprained finger sidelining him rather than shoulder woes. At $11MM in 2008, Sheets is the Brewers’ highest paid player. His limited no-trade clause allows him to be dealt to only 8 clubs without his permission. He’s likely to leave the Brewers via free agency after the season, and they do have decent pitching depth. Doug Melvin will have to weigh any offers against the possibility of getting two draft picks for Sheets.
Davidoff mentions Sheets as one of several frontline pitchers who could be on the Mets’ radar.
Rockies Rumors: Atkins, Barrett, Fukumori
What are the Rockies up to as they plot to defend their NL pennant? Tracy Ringolsby and Troy E. Renck have the latest.
- Ringolsby says Garrett Atkins is staying put, which should help the third baseman relax a little bit. This echoes Renck’s sentiments yesterday. Renck also noted that the Rox won’t be offering Atkins a multiyear deal anytime soon.
- Yesterday Renck said that after Yorvit Torrealba, the Rockies were considering Jose Molina, Paul Lo Duca, Jason Kendall, and Ramon Castro for catcher. However Ringolsby says today that Michael Barrett and Kendall are the main targets. Renck has come on board with that today, noting that Dan O’Dowd has contacted the agents for Barrett, Kendall, and Lo Duca.
- Ringolsby adds that the Rockies are exploring the Japanese reliever market, namely Hitoki Iwase and Kazuo Fukumori. Fukumori might appeal as the cheaper of the two.
- Meanwhile the Indians, Brewers, Phillies, and Mets like Brian Fuentes. We’ve also read about the Tigers’ interest. The Rockies’ willingness to trade him may depend on the progress of 2007 top draft pick Casey Weathers.
- Jason Jennings might be leaning toward signing with the Padres. This echoes an obscure article we found back in July.
- Renck says that if the Rockies don’t hear by Tuesday about their offers to Kaz Matsui, Matt Herges, LaTroy Hawkins, and Torrealba, they’ll start looking at other options.
- Renck adds that the Rockies have checked in with Ron Mahay‘s people. He’s getting popular.
- The Rockies are out on Jon Garland – they can’t fit his $12MM salary into the 2008 budget. Matsui moving on would clear $3MM though.
- The idea of locking up Troy Tulowitzki long-term is being entertained. It probably wouldn’t happen until after the 2008 season though.
Odds and Ends: Lowell, Sabathia, Polanco
I’m going to start up a catch-all Odds and Ends post for smaller rumors and notes today. Refresh to see it grow.
- A reader emailed me to tell me that Buster Olney said on XM Radio recently that there are talks of the Twins going after Scott Rolen. These reports can be tough to confirm, but there you go. UPDATE: Joe Christensen squashes this one.
- Mark Feinsand doesn’t think Epstein is keen on giving Mike Lowell even a three-year contract. He might get five on the open market. UPDATE: The Red Sox apparently have a three-year offer out to him, and he’s still mulling it over.
- The White Sox inquired about Bill Hall, but Kenny Williams and Doug Melvin couldn’t find a match.
- Baseball America weighs in on the Brad Lidge trade. BP’s Nate Silver gives his opinion here and here. He thinks the Phillies made a mistake.
- The Astros have contacted Jeremy Affeldt‘s agent. Also, Jim Molony speculates in this piece that speedy Josh Anderson could be expendable because of the Michael Bourn addition.
- Back to where it all began: the Dodgers have signed Chan Ho Park. No need for more starters now!
- Andy Pettitte hopes to tell the Yankees whether he’ll play by the New Year. Also, Ken Davidoff notes that the Yanks would prefer to trade Hideki Matsui over Johnny Damon, but Godzilla’s full no-trade clause would be the problem.
- Theo Epstein let Scott Boras pitch his entire client list last night, A-Rod included. There’s a very slight chance the Red Sox sign Eric Gagne, and a contract extension for Jason Varitek may have been discussed. Also I hear Boras did the hard sell on Bruce Chen. Just kidding. UPDATE: That slight chance for Gagne just went away, as he’ll be closing according to Boras.
- Mark Shapiro is preparing a contract extension offer for C.C. Sabathia; he’ll have to run it by the Dolans first. No surprise there. Paul Hoynes notes that Sabathia gets an extra $2MM for ’08 if he wins the ’07 Cy Young. Shapiro, by the way, would listen to offers on any player. I get the feeling the Indians could come from out of nowhere and do something big this winter.
- Could the Tigers send Placido Polanco to the Mets? Mark Healey suggests it.
- The Giants included a vesting option for 2009 in Omar Vizquel‘s deal. McCovey Chronicles weighs in.