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Kenny Williams Ready To Deal

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This is going to be an incredible offseason, I just know it.  This is going to be a hot stove season for the ages.  White Sox GM Kenny Williams seems ready to dive right in, starting with the GM meetings on Monday.

Interesting notes from the above-linked Mark Gonzales article:

  • Josh Fields’ position for 2008 will be revealed shortly, which seems to indicate a trade of Joe Crede on the horizon.  Fields will end up at third base or left field next year.
  • Outfielders Brian Anderson and Ryan Sweeney may be shopped.  Anderson is doing a nice job talking his way out of Chicago, and Williams notes that Anderson must be "disappointed over the opportunities he hasn’t maximized."  Ouch.  Maybe the Marlins will take a flier.
  • Gonzales throws down the Crede for Johnny Damon idea I’ve been pushing here repeatedly.  This idea is spreading!

Fukudome, Kuroda, Kobayashi Rumors

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Here’s a link chock full of rumors involving Japanese ballplayers who might come over to MLB.  It’s also loaded with links most of you will not be able to read.

  • Masahide Kobayashi, the 33 year-old righthanded closer, will be represented by SFX.  Fellow free agents Kerry Wood and Jorge Julio are also using that agency, as far as I can tell.
  • Hiroki Kuroda is expected to fill for free agency on Monday.  Since there’s no posting fee involved, some have speculated his salary could exceed Daisuke Matsuzaka’s.  Matsuzaka will earn an average of $8.66MM per season during his six-year deal, and he also has a full no-trade clause.  The idea of Kuroda earning around $10MM per year jives with earlier remarks from Jason Churchill of Prospect Insider.
  • The deadline to fill for free agency in Japan is November 12th.  Kosuke Fukudome is still undecided about whether to jump over to MLB.  He’ll meet with his current team, the Chunichi Dragons, on Monday.  They’re expected to make him an offer.  The Hanshin Tigers may also make a play at $20MM over four years, using the money they received from posting Kei Igawa.
  • Some reports indicate that the Yankees may be interested in acquiring Kaz Matsui to play second base if they move Robinson Cano to third.  Doesn’t seem likely.   

Special thanks to Tak Iwanaga for translating.

Rangers Rumors: DeJesus, Lamb, Millar

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Evan Grant writes for the Dallas Morning News, but he posted this column at night.  Go figure.  He’s got some new info regarding the Rangers.

  • As you know, the Rangers have had difficulty finding a long-term center fielder.  That’s the main focus of this offseason.  The team has already shown interest in Torii Hunter and Aaron Rowand, the top center fielders available.  Other free agents such as Andruw Jones and Mike Cameron appear to be in play as well.  Grant’s trade candidates: Coco Crisp, David DeJesus, Mark Kotsay, and Carlos Beltran.  We’ve speculated on DeJesus to Atlanta in the past.  With DeJesus signed cheaply through 2011 and the market at the position robust this winter, it might make sense for Dayton Moore to wait a year to shop him aggressively.
  • Grant adds that Jon Daniels is considering some affordable options for first base.  They’ve already talked to Mike Lamb’s agent and like Kevin Millar as well.  Lamb came up through the Rangers’ system but was traded to the Yankees in ’04.  Millar is under contract for ’08 but it’s in the $3-4MM range and the Orioles should be open to a trade.  Grant says Ben Broussard could pique the Rangers’ interest if he’s non-tendered.
  • Grant concludes with five Rangers whose names will be bandied about in trade talks: Gerald Laird, Vicente Padilla, Joaquin Arias, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Nelson Cruz.  Salty’s not being shopped but Grant expects teams to ask.  He proposes some kind of bad contract swap for Padilla – Jason Giambi, Richie Sexson, or Adam Eaton are named.  I still think it’s funny the way Padilla crawled away from the brawl he started this year. 

Odds and Ends: Lincecum, Wakefield, Schilling

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More random rumors.  You know you love it.

$350MM Just To Meet With A-Rod

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Buster Olney has the scoop: Scott Boras told the Yankees that just to get in the door with Alex Rodriguez, they’d have to extend his current contract to reach $350MM over ten years.

It sounds like Boras placed a premium on the Yankees getting exclusive negotiating rights with his superstar.  Or maybe Rodriguez truly had no desire to return and they set the bar incredibly high for that reason.  It’s fair now to say that the Yankees’ decision not to have further talks with Rodriguez was much more financial than emotional.

I can almost see the final result being a ten-year, $350MM deal, but as a starting point for negotiation?  That seems unreasonable.  We’re still trying to stomach the idea of a $30MM player.  But it was heroic of A-Rod to save us from a dull October (MLBTR’s own Nat Boyle was sort of quoted in this article!)

Olney also has a source indicating that the Dodgers will probably pass on Rodriguez.

Yankees Exercise Abreu’s Option For ’08

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As expected, the Yankees have exercised Bobby Abreu’s $16MM option for 2008.  While it’s a little pricey, the cost certainty and one-year commitment made it an easy decision.

The Yankees may have an outfielder to spare, with Abreu, Melky Cabrera, Johnny Damon, and Hideki Matsui all under contract for 2008.  Of course since the DH and 1B spots aren’t both tied up by Jason Giambi, Joe Girardi could definitely work with his current roster and get everyone the necessary ABs.

By my calculation the Yankees will have roughly $135MM worth of contracts for 2008 if Andy Pettitte exercises his option.  They’re typically in the $190-210MM range.  Another $28MM for Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera and they still have at least $37MM to spend.  They’ll throw the bank at Mike Lowell if they get the chance.  Even then there’s $25MM left over.  I could see a Francisco Cordero signing for lack of a better way to spend the cash.  How do you see the Yankees spending $25MM? 

Cashman Tells Cano The Score, Playfully

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Robinson Cano said publicly a few days ago that he did not want to play third base.  As I noted at the time, it’s not really up to him.  If he wants to get paid, he’ll play where the Yankees want him to.  Another thought is that taking Cano out of the 3B mix could hurt the Yankees’ negotiating position slightly.  Brian Cashman would rather have teams and agents think he’s fully willing to move Cano to third or use Wilson Betemit.    It does ring a bit hollow, kind of like when Cashman was saying they’d use Bubba Crosby as the team’s center fielder a few years back.

Anyway, Cashman "playfully" informed Cano today that third base was indeed an option for him.  He made a point to appear lighthearted here, perhaps to avoid public conflict if he does move Cano.  I actually like the idea if the Yanks can make a reasonable deal for Orlando Hudson. 

Yanks Dragging Feet With Posada, Discussing Crede

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Mark Feinsand has really been on top of the Yankee rumors in this young offseason.  Bill Madden helps him on this one.  The Yankees still haven’t made an offer to Jorge Posada, and baseball insiders can’t figure out why.  The Yanks are said to be prepared to offer 3/40, which most perceive as only a starting point in the negotiations.

The Mets hope to lure Posada away, but it could take four or even a ridiculous five years.  Like I’ve said…4/56.  The Yankees will pay up.  But if the Mets do get the Posada prize, the Yankees at least get the Mets’ #22 overall pick in ’08 as consolation.  In past years that could’ve represented Joba Chamberlain, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza, Colby Rasmus, Travis Buck, Clay Buchholz, Phil Hughes, or Huston Street.

Regarding their third base vacancy, the Yanks have already touched base with Kenny Williams about Joe Crede.  Given the uncertainty, Crede’s pending free agency after ’08, and his Boras association, his trade value can’t be very high right now.  My best guess remains some kind of Johnny Damon swap where the Yanks eat money.  A year of Crede doesn’t seem worth four or five of any decent youngster.

Also, the deadline on Bobby Abreu’s $16MM option is tomorrow.  The Yanks will probably exercise it.

Latest Alex Rodriguez Rumors

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Ah, your daily dose of Alex Rodriguez rumors.  What would you do without it?

  • Rob Bradford asked Red Sox captain Jason Varitek whether Alex Rodriguez would fit in with the Red Sox clubhouse.  Varitek, you may recall, had a little face-shoving scuffle with A-Rod back in 2004.  Varitek said he had no idea whether Rodriguez would fit in with the current team, but that he knows Mike Lowell does.  It’s pretty obvious where Varitek’s allegiance lies given the "Re-sign Lowell" sign and all.
  • Gwen Knapp doesn’t see the Dodgers getting A-Rod for a couple of reasons.  First, of course, there’s the price.  Second, there’s a possibly shaky relationship with Scott Boras given last year’s unexpected opt-out by J.D. Drew.
  • Mark Feinsand disagrees – his L.A. source says the Dodgers will make a push for him.  The expected hiring of Joe Torre will basically be a non-factor in Rodriguez’s decision.  Plan B for the Dodgers might be to sign Torii Hunter or Andruw Jones.  That leaves Juan Pierre in left field or traded.  Hey, it was a dumb signing at the time.
  • Feinsand also has a source indicating that Rodriguez is hoping the Yankees will entertain the possibility of bringing him back.  The Yankees, of course, are scarred by the Texas money lost and have pledged repeatedly that they will not be involved.  We’ve seen this a million times – teams love fresh faces.  Say A-Rod had played out his Texas contract to this point – do you think the Yankees would be in the mix for him then?  If the Yankees don’t want A-Rod because he’s simply too expensive, that’s reasonable.  But if they simply feel scorned by the opt-out, that’s emotion.
  • Omar Minaya said on a conference call yesterday that he planned on discussing the team’s interest in A-Rod with David Wright, since Wright would have to move to second base to accomodate him.
  • A new team is going after A-Rod aggressively.

Mets Targeting Jorge Posada

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We’ve seen the connection made many times already, but now consider the interest official.  The Mets are targeting Jorge Posada.  The Yankees are expected to offer a three-year, $40MM type deal to him soon.  That’s all well and good but I can see him getting four years and $56MM given the season he had.  Perhaps the Yanks will extend themselves to that range though.

The Mets are playing the field, as they’ve given Paul Lo Duca’s agent an impression that they’ll be making an offer.  I like the idea of the Mets overpaying for Posada, as catcher is a clear position they can upgrade via free agency. 

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