Nationals Rumors: Young, Swisher
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post has a few notes on the Nationals.
- The Nationals and Rangers have had basic discussions about Michael Young, but Harlan says the Nationals will not be players for him.
- So far the Nationals haven’t offered enough for Nick Swisher, but at the least he provides leverage to use on the team’s free agent targets.
- Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson remain of interest. Harlan considers recent stories about their high prices to be posturing by the Nationals.
Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Dunn, Fielder
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has lots of rumors in his latest article:
- Apparently the Giants were willing to offer Manny Ramirez a four year deal in the form of a one year deal with three option years. No more details are known, except that the Giants remain interested in Manny.
- Brad Ausmus has had ongoing talks with the Padres and Dodgers, according to Cafardo’s sources. The Red Sox aren’t interested.
- The Angels, Giants and Mets are possible suitors for Xavier Nady.
- Cafardo’s heard other clubs talking about the Red Sox and Rockies restarting the Todd Helton for Mike Lowell trade talk, but hasn’t heard anything similar from the Red Sox.
- At least one of Cafardo’s sources thinks Prince Fielder would make a lot of sense in Boston. Clay Buchholz could be a starting point if these talks were to start.
- Ben Sheets is becoming a bargain, so the Braves or Rangers could jump in and sign him affordably.
- Cafardo calls Atlanta an "emerging" destination for Adam Dunn.
Brewers Rumors: Sheets, Cameron, Swisher
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the latest from Brewers GM Doug Melvin on the team’s plans:
- We already knew Melvin doesn’t anticipate signing a free agent starter.
- Derek Lowe isn’t an option for the Brewers, who haven’t even talked to Scott Boras.
- The Brewers will monitor the trade market and consider dealing for a starter.
- The team could make an exception for Ben Sheets. Melvin said he’d have to consider signing the pitcher if he wanted to return to Milwaukee.
- Before signing Trevor Hoffman, the Brewers were looking into Juan Cruz, a Type A free agent, but didn’t like the idea of giving up a first rounder, especially now that they’ll only get a second round pick for losing C.C. Sabathia.
- The Yankees still have interest in Mike Cameron and floated the idea of a Nick Swisher for Cameron swap.
- Melvin likes Cameron’s defense though, so he’s "not motivated to move him."
- After they’re done with their six arbitration cases, the Brewers payroll will approach $80MM.
Nationals Showing Interest In Nady, Swisher
Bill Ladson of MLB.com says the Nationals are calling the Yankees about Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher. Nationals GM Jim Bowden’s alleged interest in these reportedly available outfielders should not surprise anyone.
Ladson says Nady has been a Washington target since last summer, as a potential stabilizing force at first base. The Nationals have indeed been frustrated with Nick Johnson‘s lack of durability. Now Swisher is reportedly a possibility for the first base job, while Nady is seen as an upgrade in right field.
Also, confirming what many had suspected, Ladson notes that free agents Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson "have exceeded the team’s price range."
Pirates Rumors: Pearce, Swisher, Nady
Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette turned up a few more Pirates rumors:
- Though the Pirates would like to sign a right-handed power-hitting outfielder, GM Neal Huntington says Steve Pearce is a "viable option."
- It doesn’t look like the talks between the Yankees and Pirates about Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher are going to amount to anything.
- The Pirates would like to add a major league starter, but they are more likely to strengthen pitching in the upper levels of the minor leagues.
Derek Lowe Rumors: Friday
7:45pm: Mark Bowman reports that the Braves are actually readying their first offer for Lowe, which they plan to make on Monday or Tuesday. More from Bowman here.
3:40pm: O’Brien has details on the Braves’ five-hour meeting with Lowe and Boras. He says the Braves’ offer is expected today and they want Lowe badly. It may require a four-year commitment.
As far as Kenshin Kawakami – the Braves are among the four finalists. On the offensive side O’Brien suggests Adam Dunn or Xavier Nady could be targets.
9:26am: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves met with Derek Lowe and Scott Boras for several hours yesterday. O’Brien says the Braves’ offer was unknown, implying that they did make an offer.
O’Brien also reiterated that Boras said the Mets’ widely reported three-year, $36MM offer was never made and would’ve been far too low anyway. O’Brien mentions the Phillies, Brewers, and Angels as other Lowe suitors, but Ken Rosenthal said those three clubs denied interest. Brewers GM Doug Melvin said Tuesday in regard to Lowe: "We’re not in on him."
Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, M’s, Cards, Mets, Manny
On this date eight years ago, Juan Gonzalez signed a one-year deal for $10MM with the Indians. The contract is significant because Gonzalez had turned down an eight-year, $143MM deal from the Tigers less than a year earlier. Four years later on this same date, Carlos Beltran would not turn down a seven-year, $119MM offer from the Mets, becoming the tenth $100MM player in Major League history. With C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira already spoken for this year, there are no more $100MM players available, but there are still plenty of signings being made and many players still looking for work. Let’s gander at what is being written in the Blogosphere…
- The Bottom Line takes a look at which prospects the Red Sox should be willing to part with in order to acquire a catcher.
- In Mo We Trust wonders if the Yankees would be better suited to keep both Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher.
- When Sid Slid wonders if Kenshin Kawakami is a good fit for the Braves and feels the money would be better spent on Derek Lowe.
- Bleeding Blue and Teal asks if the Mariners are better suited looking at a player like Eric Hinske.
- C70 At The Bat contemplates the Cardinals’ payroll and wonders how the team can consider keeping all six of their outfielders.
- Mets Geek breaks down the Mets’ offseason and wonders if Omar Minaya miscalculated the market.
- El Lefty Malo is warming to the idea of the Giants signing Manny Ramirez.
- Feeling Dodger Blue says Manny is a "must," outlining why he is worth more than just the offense he will provide.
- We Should Be GMs chronicles the Phillie’s history of signing the "wrong brother."
- Midwest Sports Fans breaks down the Twins’ roster and payroll and looks at who the Twins should bring in and who should be moved, arguing that the team should keep Delmon Young.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.
Carl Pavano’s Comments
Carl Pavano‘s comments today won’t exactly patch up his relationship with New Yorkers:
"When you’re down, you expect your organization to pick you up, not kick you when you’re down. I’ve had to pick myself up quite a few times the last four years."
Odds and Ends: Bradley, Roberts, Cruz, Smoltz
Links for Friday…
- David Chase looks at fantasy baseball’s top strikeout pitchers.
- The third year of Milton Bradley‘s contract turns into a club option if he has serious health problems this year.
- Two players expected to attend the Brewers’ open tryout this month: Randall Simon and Mark Bellhorn.
- Dave Cameron looks at the premium teams pay for proven closers.
- Bobby Valentine comments on the Orioles’ Koji Uehara signing in Dan Connolly’s article. Within that article Connolly suggests the trade market for Brian Roberts may be suffering because of Orlando Hudson‘s availability on the free agent market.
- The D’Backs wouldn’t be thrilled, but the Yankees could sign Juan Cruz and only surrender a fourth-round pick.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington said the team is looking at some comeback-type free agent outfielders. Dejan Kovacevic guesses that Emil Brown, Craig Monroe, or Jonny Gomes could fit the bill.
- The Red Sox designated knuckleballer Charlie Zink for assignment.
- J.C. Bradbury believes the Braves were misleading with the public regarding their offer to John Smoltz.
Rosenthal On Fielder, Buchholz, Edmonds
The latest from Ken Rosenthal…
- Rosenthal suggests the Brewers trade Prince Fielder for "premium pitching" and then sign Adam Dunn to replace him. Which begs the question, why wouldn’t the team giving up this premium pitching just sign Dunn instead?
- Despite signing John Smoltz, the Red Sox still are not willing to trade Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia. The Sox may be willing to move Michael Bowden or especially Daniel Bard for Salty.
- The Yankees’ interest in Mike Cameron "seems to be waning."
- Despite Jon Heyman’s report, the Phillies, Angels, and Brewers deny interest in Derek Lowe. Rosenthal says the market for Oliver Perez is even worse.
- Rosenthal suggests veterans such as Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas, and Jim Edmonds could go the Kenny Lofton route. Lofton, a capable player, sat out the 2008 season when his salary demands weren’t met. As I mentioned yesterday, we’ll soon see which former stars are willing to play for a pittance (if you consider more than $500K a pittance).
- The Orioles have Edmonds on the radar as a first base candidate.
- Suitors for lefty reliever Dennys Reyes: the A’s, Mets, and Dodgers. The Tigers and Rangers are also known to be on the lookout for a southpaw in the pen.