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Craig Gentry Drawing Trade Interest

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The Rangers have been getting calls about center fielder Craig Gentry, though the team isn't interested in moving him, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports (via Twitter).  The Yankees are not one of the teams who have contacted Texas.  

Gentry, 29, is currently penciled in for at least a share of the Rangers' center field job, platooning with the left-handed hitting Leonys Martin.  Gentry hit .304/.367/.392 in 269 PA for the Rangers in 2012 (including an .859 OPS against left-handed pitching) but most of his value has come from his glove — the 29-year-old has posted 29.9 UZR/150 ratings in each of the last two seasons, making him one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball.

Gentry and Nelson Cruz are the Rangers' only two right-handed hitting outfielders, and as Rosenthal notes, Gentry could be an important future piece for Texas given that Cruz and David Murphy are both scheduled to become free agents after the 2013 season.  Gentry will be arbitration eligible for the first time next offseason and is under team control through 2016.

AL East Notes: Yankees, Happ, Thole

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The Red Sox and Yankees are among the teams that will take a look at recently released outfielder Brennan Boesch. The left-handed hitter could provide power in a complementary role for a club like Boston or New York. Here are the latest AL East notes…

  • Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera are beloved members of the Yankees organization but, more importantly, they're playing significant roles on the 2013 team, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. “We have always felt the same responsibility, that never changes,” Jeter said.
  • Though J.A. Happ would draw some trade interest, the Blue Jays prefer to keep him in the organization, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News notes. The 30-year-old left-hander adds more value as injury insurance than he would bring in a trade. The Blue Jays will keep him, even though that could mean stashing him at Triple-A for a while.
  • The Blue Jays expect catcher Josh Thole to contribute over the next few years, according to Martino. Even so, Thole could start the season at Triple-A Buffalo with Henry Blanco catching at the MLB level.

Brennan Boesch Rumors: Wednesday

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Seven teams have called agent Scott Boras about recently-released outfielder Brennan Boesch, George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press reports (on Twitter). Here are the latest Boesch-related rumors…

  • The Mets' interest in Boesch is "marginal," Mike Puma of the New York Post reports (on Twitter). Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier that the Mets appear to have some interest in Boesch (on Twitter). Anthony DiComo of MLB.com doesn't get the sense that GM Sandy Alderson will pursue Boesch (Twitterlinks). However, DiComo points out that it's too early to dismiss the possibility.
  • The Red Sox are talking internally about Boesch, Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter).
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post has been told the Yankees will at least look into the possibility of signing Boesch (Twitter link). The depth of the New York outfield has been tested in the aftermath of Curtis Granderson's injury.
  • The Astros will take a look at Boesch, MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports (on Twitter). Like the Mets, the Astros have a relatively young outfield.

Yankees Notes: Rivera, Chamberlain, Cooper

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While it’s possible to replace Mariano Rivera for a day or even for a season, replacing him for 15 to 20 years represents another challenge altogether, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post points out. “You are replacing someone who has done things in the game that may never be done again,” Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild told Sherman. “You are replacing someone who is basically irreplaceable.” Rivera will retire following the 2013 season.

Here are more Yankees-related notes…

West Notes: Giants, Pill, Lowrie, A’s, Mariners

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Earlier today, we learned that there's sentiment in the Rangers organization that Nolan Ryan will stay with the club.  It's still possible that Ryan could jump ship over his altered role, but it won't be to bolt for the newest member of the AL West, the Astros.  Here's more out of the Western divisions..

  • Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Sulia) has been asked a possible deal sending the Giants' Brett Pill to the Yankees.  While Schulman has learned that the Yankees are not scouting Pill right now, a trade is not the craziest idea given the club's depth at first base.  So far, there is no indication that San Francisco is discussing such a deal with any team now.
  • When the A's first traded for Jed Lowrie, they didn't have a full-time position for him to play.   Now, Oakland has a new problem in that they aren't sure which spot to use him in since they are less-than-thrilled with Hiroyuki Nakajima at shortstop and Scott Sizemore at second base, writes Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.  The A's inked Nakajima to a two-year, $6.5MM deal this winter.
  • Thanks in part to the July trades of Ichiro Suzuki and Brandon League, the Mariners managed to turn a $5.8MM profit in 2012, writes MLB.com's Greg Johns.  

AL East Notes: Yankees, Huff, Ortiz

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Earlier today we checked in on the Yankees’ search for position players and found that GM Brian Cashman views Ben Francisco as a bench player. As for the possibility of signing a free agent corner infielder, the Yankees continue weighing their options, including some familiar names. Here’s the latest from the AL East…

Yankees Notes: Ben Francisco, Chipper Jones

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The Yankees acknowledged yesterday that they're interested in Derrek Lee, Chipper Jones and Scott Rolen. However, none of those veteran free agents seem particularly likely to sign with the Bronx Bombers at this point. Here's the latest from New York, starting with a player the Yankees actually did sign…

  • GM Brian Cashman said the Yankees signed Ben Francisco to a minor league deal in the hopes that he can compete for an extra outfield role and a spot on the Yankees' bench, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports (via Sulia). “I think he’s definitely worthy for competition, so that’s what we’re going to take a look at," Cashman said.
  • Longtime owner George Steinbrenner would have loved the Yankees' unexpected and public pursuit of Jones, Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes. As farfetched as the idea of signing Jones was, some long shots have worked out for Cashman over the years.

AL East Notes: Ortiz, Yankees, Blue Jays

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Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg recently told reporters that Tampa Bay executives haven't thought about trading David Price. "There’s been speculation but we haven’t had those thoughts at all," Sternberg said, adding that the Rays can accommodate a major contract for Price. Here are some more AL East-related notes…

  • The Boston Globe's Peter Abraham points out that David Ortiz's heel could cost him $4MM if he opens the season on the DL. The Red Sox slugger has an $11MM base salary in 2014 that jumps to $15MM if he spends 20 or fewer days on the disabled list in 2013 due to his pre-existing Achilles injury.
  • The Yankees have many weaknesses entering the 2013 season, but Alex Anthopoulos says it’s far too early to count the reigning AL East winners out. The Blue Jays GM pointed out to Joel Sherman of the New York Post that the Yankees won 95 games last year while dealing with significant injuries and suggested that they’ll be a contender again in 2013. “Just look at their rotation,” Anthopoulos said. “You might not want it in five years, but I think just about any team would take their rotation in 2013. Tampa has shown in this division what you can do with a strong rotation.”
  • Though Colby Rasmus appreciates the backing of Anthopoulos and the Blue Jays' front office, he generally prefers to work by himself, Mike Rutsey of the Toronto Sun writes. "I already had that fire in me. I just kind of needed to be like, left alone," Rasmus said of his minor league development.
  • Tim Britton of the Providence Journal outlines some of the ways the Red Sox could get by without David Ortiz should the designated hitter's heel injury force him to the disabled list for the beginning of the season. The Red Sox could rely on internal options such as Daniel Nava, Ryan Sweeney, Mike Carp, Lyle Overbay and Ryan Lavarnway. Alternatively, they could start Jackie Bradley Jr.'s service clock and add him to the 25-man roster. In Britton’s view it would be “foolish” to rush Bradley to the MLB level.

Steve Adams also contributed to this post.

Yankees Sign Ben Francisco

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The Yankees have signed outfielder Ben Francisco, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports (on Twitter). The Indians released the John Boggs client earlier today, making him a free agent.

Francisco is on his way to Florida, where he'll join the Yankees and compete for an outfield job, Sherman reports. The 31-year-old played for the Blue Jays, Astros and Rays in 2012. He began the year in Toronto and joined the Astros in a July trade before being dealt to Tampa Bay in August. In total he posted a .240/.285/.385 batting line with four home runs in 207 total plate appearances, playing both corner outfield positions. Francisco, a right-handed hitter, has a career line of .252/.329/.414 against left-handed pitching.

The Mets had some preliminary interest in Francisco, Mike Puma of the New York Post reported today (Twitter link).

Cashman Eyeing Derrek Lee, Chipper Jones, Rolen

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It’s no secret that the Yankees are searching for corner infield depth following Mark Teixeira’s wrist injury. GM Brian Cashman updated reporters on the team’s search earlier today, detailing interest in some veteran players. All links courtesy of Jack Curry of the YES Network and Joel Sherman of the New York Post on Twitter, unless noted otherwise..

  • Jones got a "good chuckle" upon learning of the Yankees' interest in him, agent B.B. Abbott told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). 
  • Cashman called Derrek Lee a Yankees type because of his approach and makeup, Curry reports. The Yankees recently reached out to Lee to see if he’d come out of retirement to play in New York. Asked about the chances of completing a deal, Cashman noted that Lee isn’t with the Yankees now. The GM is not currently optimistic about signing Lee, according to Sherman.
  • Cashman said he’d sign Chipper Jones if the third baseman were willing to come out of retirement, Sherman reports. The GM said his interest in Jones was serious and that he intended to call his agent, Curry notes. However, B.B. Abbott told Sherman that he can’t see his client coming out of retirement. "I don't think [playing for the Yankees] is something he would consider, but he would be flattered,” Abbott said.
  • Cashman also investigated the possibility of signing free agent third baseman Scott Rolen, Curry reports. The GM hinted that Rolen wants a guarantee of playing time and/or money, however.
  • The Dodgers and Reds both offered Rolen $4MM only to have him turn the proposals down, according to Sherman, who has heard that Rolen would only play for a guaranteed salary.
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