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Odds & Ends: Smoltz, Cubs, Melky, Lima

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Links for Monday…

Odds & Ends: Twins, Rockies, Yankees

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Ed Price at FanHouse.com has some Odds & Ends of his own in the Overheard and Understood section of his column.

  • The Twins are looking for a setup man who can provide good control. Internally, it's a big deal for them.
  • The Rockies could wind up dumping contracts midseason if they find themselves out of contention. Price quotes one exec saying, "Unless they move ($3.5-million salaried backup catcher Yorvit) Torrealba, they're not taking on any money."
  • The Mariners say no player is untouchable. The M's are seeking "athletes" says Price.
  • Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill will get the last two spots in Oakland's rotation.
  • The Padres are "dying for pitching" and "will claim anybody" on waivers, says Price.
  • If Cody Ransom gets exposed by playing on a daily basis, then the Yankees may need a stopgap to fill third base until Alex Rodriguez's mid-may return.

Odds & Ends: Cardinals, Yankees, Young, Barfield

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Your Saturday night links, with more to come…

  • Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com takes a look at the Cardinals' third base race.  Brian Barden appears doubtful to win the job, however temporary it may be, despite a .344 spring record.
  • Yankees manager Joe Girardi could decide to start the season without a designated long reliever, according to Peter Abraham of The Journal News.  Alfredo Aceves, Dan Giese and Brett Tomko would be the casualties of that decision.
  • Dmitri Young told Chico Harlan of the Washington Post that he plans to be on the Nationals' 25-man roster when the team heads north.
  • Josh Barfield has claimed the Indians' final roster spot.  His versatility apparently won him the job.
  • Can't get enough of MLBTR?  Follow the action on Twitter.  And if you're feeling really adventurous, why not add me, your good friend Drew Silva?

Mark Teixeira: In His Own Words

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Mark Teixeira appeared on New York-based radio station WFAN this morning and spoke, among other things, about why he decided to sign with the Yankees over other interested teams.  Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times has transcribed a few of the more interesting quotes:

"I always had the Yankees in my sights, and one thing my agent and I had asked every single team is, we're not going to negotiate through the media, and we ask you not to," Teixeira said.  "The Yankees were really the only team that did that. The other teams went out and told everybody their offers, told everybody that they talked to me, that they made this call, made that trip. The Yankees kept quiet. We talked all winter. When they were ready to make their final offer, it was a great offer, and my wife and I were excited about going to New York."

Asked specifically about the Red Sox, who made their December 18 visit to his home in Texas public knowledge, Teixeira admitted to being bothered: "I think in the end, it probably worked against them a little bit, because everyone thought the Red Sox were my No. 1 choice. … The Yankees had a leg up all along."

Twins Strike Deal To Keep Jason Jones

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According to Phil Miller of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Twins traded right-hander Charles Nolte on Friday night for the rights to Rule 5 pick Jason Jones.  Miller explains the odd circumstances:

The right-hander (Jones) was the Twins' lone selection in last winter's Rule 5 draft, but the Yankees were allowed to reclaim the pitcher if he didn't remain on the Twins' 25-man roster all season. Rather than exercise that right, since Jones is not expected to break camp with Minnesota, the Yankees agreed to take Nolte instead.

Jones, 26, has posted a 2.70 ERA in seven appearances this spring and will join Triple-A Rochester once the season begins.  Nolte, 23, went 4-3 with a 2.05 ERA in relief for Single-A Beloit last season.  He was drafted by the Twins in the 24th round two years ago.

If you need a refresher, Bart Given of Inside the Majors has a great article on the Rule 5 Draft return process.  Given was once the assistant general manager of the Blue Jays.

White Sox Likely To Stay In-House For Center Field

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On Wednesday Ken Rosenthal said available Yankees center fielder Melky Cabrera "would be a perfect fit for the White Sox."  Rosenthal originally had the Sox interested in Gary Matthews Jr., but updated his column saying that a source refuted the item.

Manager Ozzie Guillen wants to stay in-house for center field, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune:

"No, we're not going (outside the organization).  I don't want that to happen. I don't like that to happen. If we have to go outside the organization right now, gosh, I'm not going to say we're in trouble. But as a ballclub, we have enough guys here to resolve that problem."

Currently the contenders are Jerry Owens, Brian Anderson, and DeWayne Wise.

Rosenthal On Melky, Matthews, Pedro, Ohman

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As usual, good stuff from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • Rosenthal says the Yankees are open to moving Melky Cabrera, and opines that the White Sox would be a perfect fit.  Trading Cabrera would open up the Yankees' outfield picture for sure, but leave them shakier in center with Brett Gardner and Nick Swisher.  Rosenthal also says the White Sox have expressed some interest in a deal to acquire Gary Matthews Jr., assuming the Angels pay "the vast majority of the $33MM remaining on the final three years of his contract."
  • Pedro Martinez reached out to the Royals before they signed Sidney Ponson, but KC couldn't afford him.  Would Pedro have been a better signing than Horacio Ramirez and Willie Bloomquist?  Martinez's friends are telling him his $5MM asking price is unrealistic.  Rosenthal says that if Pedro drops it down to $1-2MM, he can probably get the Dodgers and other teams involved.
  • The Marlins are looking for relief help.  They like Will Ohman but not his $2MM asking price.
  • The A's thought they were close to a $1.7MM deal for Joe Beimel before he went to the Nats for $300K more.
  • Catcher Ronny Paulino, acquired by the Phillies from the Pirates in December, is available.  Rosenthal considers the Marlins a possible fit.

The Future Of Chien-Ming Wang

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In a blog post this morning, Joel Sherman of the New York Post discussed the future of Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang. Sherman says the Yankees are not positive about offering Wang an elite free agent contract after the 2010 season (note: I believe Wang may not be free agent-eligible until after 2011).  This uncertainty has caused the Yanks to "weigh trade scenarios in the past involving Wang."  Sherman adds, "I have yet to talk to a Yankee official who is fully committed to keeping him long-term."

There was a time back in December of '07 when Wang was said to be open to a three or four-year deal, but Kat O'Brien of Newsday said talks fizzled when the Yankees requested Wang's agent Alan Nero make the opening offer.  In a display of the distance between the two parties, the Yanks went to an arbitration hearing with Wang in February of '08 over a difference of $600K (Wang lost).

Rosenthal On White Sox, Pedro, Baker

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • The White Sox are still trying to figure out their center field situation, but they are not involved on pricey veterans such as Juan Pierre and Gary Matthews Jr.
  • Fantasy alert: Rosenthal names David Aardsma as the likely leader for the Mariners closer job, with Chad Cordero and Brandon Morrow lingering.
  • The Dodgers "continue to balk at Pedro Martinez's $5MM asking price."
  • Rockies utility man Jeff Baker, who is out of options, is drawing interest from the Phillies, Astros, and Pirates.  Rosenthal suggests recently-demoted Kyle Kendrick as a possible target for Colorado, assuming the Phils can move Geoff Jenkins or Matt Stairs to clear a spot.  Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post says the Yankees are unlikely to acquire Baker.
  • The Blue Jays have been scouting shortstops Chin-Lung Hu, Juan Castro, and others in hopes of finding someone they can stash at Triple A for insurance.
  • Was Willy Taveras a bad move for the Reds?  Rosenthal says rival executives think so.

Gammons On Matthews, Teahen, Harang, Peavy

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12:07pm: John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer asked Reds GM Walt Jocketty about Gammons' Harang note.  Jocketty said, "I'm not going to comment on something when he doesn't know what he's talking about."

9:19am: ESPN's Peter Gammons had a new blog post yesterday discussing available players.

  • Gammons names Geoff Jenkins ($8MM remaining, limited no-trade), Brian Giles ($9MM remaining, full no-trade), Gary Matthews Jr. ($33.5MM remaining, full no-trade), Marcus Thames ($2.275MM salary), Nick Johnson ($5.5MM salary), Jason Repko, and Jeff Baker as players being dangled.  Gammons links Matthews to the Yankees but admits his contract will be an issue.
  • Mark Teahen has drawn interest from the Astros, Red Sox, and Yankees.
  • Gammons says the Reds "have let teams know that they will wait and see whether they need to move Aaron Harang during the season."  It'd be a shame to see the Reds break up that rotation.  Harang has about $36MM coming to him over the next three seasons if his 2011 option is exercised.
  • Brewers third baseman Bill Hall expects his team to pursue Padres ace Jake Peavy if available this summer.  Unlike C.C. Sabathia, Peavy is more than a rental.
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