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Quick Hits: Soriano, Astros, Dickey, Grilli

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On the most recent edition of the Rosters & Rumblings podcast, MLBTR’s Ben Nicholson-Smith and Jason Martinez of MLB Depth Charts discussed the Rays–Royals trade, Zack Greinke’s deal with the Dodgers and the most recent rumors from around MLB.  Here's more from around baseball to cap off a busy Tuesday evening..

  • The Cubs previously shopped Alfonso Soriano to the Astros as a possible DH, but Houston doesn't have enough money even with Chicago picking up the bulk of what is owed to him, tweets Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com.  Earlier today we learned that the Phillies have talked with the Cubs about a deal for Soriano.
  • Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner wonders if the Mariners should now make a play for the Mets' R.A. Dickey.  Cameron argues that it's something to think about if Justin Upton stays put in Arizona, Josh Hamilton returns to Texas, and if Nick Swisher passes on Seattle's offer.
  • Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter) notes that Jason Grilli's new contract with the Pirates doesn't include performance incentives for games finished.  A bonus for games finished might have given an indication of his role in the bullpen going forward.
  • Kevin Youkilis now joins Johnny Damon, Mark Bellhorn, Doug Mientkiewicz, Derek Lowe, Mike Myers, and Alan Embree as members of the 2004 Red Sox to later play for the Yankees, tweets Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
  • Josh Johnson told Barry Davis of Sportsnet (video link) that he first found out about being traded to the Blue Jays via MLBTradeRumors' mobile app.  If you haven't already, you can pick up the iPhone MLBTR app right here.
  • The Red Sox appointed Gary DiSarcina as manager of Triple-A Pawtucket, according to Maureen Mullen of CSNNE.com (via Twitter).  DiSarcina just recently agreed to serve as a special assistant to Angels GM Jerry Dipoto.

Yankees Likely To Re-Sign Ichiro

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TUESDAY, 5:28pm: With Kevin Youkilis in the fold, the Yankees will next look to finalize a deal with Ichiro Suzuki, a source tells Jack Curry of the YES Network (via Twitter).  The pact could happen in the next 48 hours.

MONDAY, 3:47pm: The Yankees are moving closer to a deal with Ichiro and the sides are expected to agree to terms within the next few days, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter).

10:08am: The Yankees will likely re-sign Ichiro Suzuki, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported last night. The Yankees are showing strong interest in the free agent outfielder, Rosenthal writes. “They are all over him,” one person told FOX Sports.

If the sides complete a deal, Ichiro would join two other left-handed hitters in New York’s outfield: Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner. The team is exploring the idea of adding a right-handed complement to the group, according to Rosenthal. However, bringing Ichiro back wouldn’t prevent the Yankees from re-signing the left-handed hitting Raul Ibanez.

Ichiro, a client of agent Tony Attanasio, would likely obtain a one-year deal from the Yankees, Rosenthal reports. A one-year deal would suit the Yankees, since they are aiming to avoid the $189MM luxury tax threshold by 2014. Ichiro ranked 40th on MLBTR’s list of top 50 free agents.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported on Friday that the Yankees continue to talk with Ichiro, who is now 39 years old.

Youkilis Seriously Considering Yankees

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3:19pm: Youkilis is on the "backburner" for the Dodgers, so the Yankees have a good shot at signing him, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter). The Rangers could also be in the mix for Youkilis.

1:09pm: Joe Bick, the agent for Kevin Youkilis, told Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com that the free agent infielder is “seriously considering” a “very legitimate” contract offer from the Yankees. In need infield depth following Alex Rodriguez’s hip injury, the Yankees are pursuing Youkilis, the longtime Red Sox star.

The Yankees made Youkilis a one-year, $12MM offer MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reported last week. The Indians have also been linked to Youkilis, though he’s less of a fit now that Cleveland has agreed to sign Mark Reynolds. The free-spending Dodgers could be another suitor for Youkilis should they seek a more established option than Luis Cruz at third base.

Youkilis ranked 27th on MLBTR's list of top 50 free agents this offseason. In 509 plate appearances for the Red Sox and White Sox this past season the 33-year-old posted a .235/.336/.409 batting line with 19 home runs.

Heyman On Hamilton, Yankees, Youkilis, Dodgers

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Here's a look at the latest from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com..

  • The Yankees aren't involved with Josh Hamilton at this stage and would only consider it if he fell into their laps at a low number, Heyman tweets.  In short, Heyman says it's not happening.  The Yankees reportedly had people other than GM Brian Cashman running background checks on Hamilton.
  • The Dodgers will consider a shortstop or third baseman but don't appear to be in on Kevin Youkilis at the moment, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  Heyman (via Twitter) also says not to be surprised if the Dodgers go after Anibal Sanchez or Kyle Lohse regardless of what happens with Hyun-Jin Ryu.
  • In today's conference call, Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels said (via Twitter) that he hasn't had a "final conversation" with the free agent slugger.  Last week, manager Ron Washington revealed that Hamilton told the club that he will give them a chance to make a final offer before signing with another team.

East Notes: Phillies, Yankees, Youkilis, Pierzynski

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Links out of the AL and NL East..

  • The Phillies recognize that the newly acquired Michael Young isn't a perfect option at third base but they didn't have any viable alternatives, tweets Jayson Stark of ESPN.com.  The club hopes that 22-year-old Cody Asche will be ready in a year but the jury is still out on him.
  • Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (via Twitter) says that it would be at least be a mild surprise if Kevin Youkilis turns down the Yankees' offer.  Youkilis is deciding between a two-year, $18MM offer from the Indians and a one-year, $12MM deal from the Bombers.
  • The Yankees are hesitating on A.J. Pierzynski because they only view him as an average defender, Heyman tweets.  The catcher is coming off of a big year but the market for him remains a mystery.  General Manager Brian Cashman confirmed earlier this week that he has checked in with Pierzynski's representatives.
  • Next up for the Phillies will be finding a setup man and more outfield help, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. 

Cano Will Not Give Yankees A Hometown Discount

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Robinson Cano is due to hit free agency after next season, and Mark Feinsand and Christian Red of The New York Daily News hear the second baseman will not give the Yankees a hometown discount. One source said Cano could seek a contract in line with Alex Rodriguez's.

"He’s not giving them a hometown discount, and they seem to be more interested in keeping their payroll down than winning," said one source while another added: “He knows he’s the best player on the Yankees … There’s no reason for him not to be paid that way.”

Cano, 30, hit .313/.379/.550 with a career-high 33 home runs this past season and has produced a .314/.365/.534 line with 115 homers over the last four seasons. He's also proven to be extremely durable, playing in no less than 159 games in each of the last six seasons.

The Yankees will have paid Cano a total of $57MM through next season as part of the extension he signed prior to 2008. They have upwards of $80MM slated to come off the books after 2013 but are trying to get under the $189MM luxury tax threshold in 2014 and don't figure to reinvest all of that into the team. Cano hired Scott Boras prior to 2011 and told the Daily News he would "love" to remain a Yankee, but added: "I know this is a business … It’s up to them."

I looked at Cano as an extension candidate back in April. Joel Sherman of The New York Post first reported last month that the second baseman would look for a market value deal after already signing one team-friendly contract.

Minor Moves: Rockies, Jayson Nix, Travis Webb

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Here are some minor transactions from around baseball…

Free Agent Rumors: Dempster, Ichiro, Jackson, Tejada

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Approximately half of the free agents on MLBTR’s top 50 list remain unsigned, which means there will be lots of action in the next few weeks. Here are the latest free agent updates from around MLB…

  • The Brewers, Red Sox and Royals are the "three main teams" looking at Ryan Dempster, reports Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).  This would seem to eliminate the Cubs, who we recently heard weren't negotiating with Dempster.
  • The Yankees are still talking to Ichiro Suzuki as they continue waiting to hear from Kevin Youkilis, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Youkilis is weighing multiple offers and the Indians are also bidding for his services.
  • The Royals and other teams seem “very cool” to Edwin Jackson, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports (on Twitter). In other words they aren't overly eager to spend aggressively on him.
  • Braves GM Frank Wren said he has interest in certain outfielders as one-year stopgaps, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports (on Twitter). The Braves need another outfielder, even after signing B.J. Upton.
  • The Diamondbacks are very interested in Miguel Tejada, Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com reports (on Twitter, in Spanish). The team offered Tejada a minor league deal, but he’d like a guaranteed contract.
  • The Marlins are only interested in Carl Pavano if he’ll accept a low base salary of $3MM or so plus incentives, Phil Mackey of ESPN 1500 reports (on Twitter). Pavano’s agent met with the Twins yesterday,  Mackey adds.

Yankees, Brett Gardner Avoid Arbitration

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2:22pm: It's a $2.85MM contract, the Associated Press reports (via the Boston Herald). The deal also includes $150K in performance bonuses. 

1:09pm: The Yankees announced that they avoided arbitration with Brett Gardner, Chad Jennings of the Journal News reports. Gardner, a client of Pro Star Management, Inc., agreed to a one-year deal for the 2013 season.

The 29-year-old had a projected salary of $2.8MM, according to MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz. That's the amount Gardner earned in 2012, when he was limited to 16 games because of an elbow injury. As MLBTR's Arbitration Tracker shows, the Yankees now have four unsigned arbitration eligible players: Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Boone Logan and David Robertson.

Josh Hamilton Rumors: Friday

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The Winter Meetings are over and the top free agent position player remains unsigned. Josh Hamilton has drawn serious interest from the Mariners and Rangers, and the Red Sox continue checking in on the outfielder. Here's the latest…

  • The Phillies have shown very little interest in Hamilton and they seem wary of him, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports (on Twitter).
  • One GM wondered to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com why teams would make Hamilton offers if the outfielder will take the offers to Texas and provide the Rangers with the chance to match (Twitter link).
  • As Joel Sherman of the New York Post explains, much would have to fall into place for the Yankees to sign Hamilton. At this point the chances of him joining the Yankees seem slim at best.

Earlier updates:

  • Baseball people suggest Hamilton and agent Michael Moye are still holding out for a six or seven-year contract worth $25MM or so per season, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports.
  • A rival general manager says Yankees people other than GM Brian Cashman are quietly running a background check on Hamilton, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports (on Twitter). Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio recently suggested the Yankees should be viewed as a potential destination for Hamilton. However, the team aims to lower payroll below $189MM by 2014, so some creativity would be required to add a premium player such as Hamilton.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post"will only believe the Yankees are truly out" on Hamilton when he's at a press conference wearing another team's jersey. While GM Brian Cashman has discussed the importance of remaining patient, Sherman senses that the Yankees are "incredibly touchy" to recent criticism and could pursue the slugging outfielder.
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