Athletics Rumors

Rosenthal On Hudson, Pudge, Cabrera, Edmonds

By Tim Dierkes | February 17, 2009 at 8:49am CDT

Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Orlando Hudson would like to play for the Royals, but currently they cannot afford him even at a likely salary under $5MM. They could free up most of the cash by releasing Mark Teahen, but Rosenthal’s source says the Royals are "unwilling to make such a move." Rany Jazayerli discusses the Royals-Hudson idea in this blog post. The Dodgers are the only other known suitor, though the fit there is questionable in my opinion.
The Mets aren’t serious about signing Ivan Rodriguez, though they have discussed it. The Mets already have $7.4MM committed to their current catching tandem. Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post goes further, saying the Mets "aren’t interested" in Rodriguez.
Currently the A’s are unwilling to meet Orlando Cabrera’s asking price. They are willing to sacrifice their second-round pick for him if they get their price.
Jim Edmonds is "attracting virtually no interest." Edmonds can still hit righties, so you’d think someone would make an offer.

Heyman On Manny, Pudge, Cabrera, Howard

By Tim Dierkes | February 12, 2009 at 3:23pm CDT

The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

Heyman says "most in the know seem to still believe [Dodgers owner Frank] McCourt will bend on Manny Ramirez and go to three years."
The Nationals’ offer to Adam Dunn was on the table for weeks until he realized no team was going to beat or approach it. There were rumors months ago that Dunn sought a $100MM deal heading into free agency.
The Astros and Marlins are looking at Ivan Rodriguez. There’s even an El Nuevo Dia report suggesting the Astros offered $2.5MM+ to Pudge, but that seems out of their price range to me. In today’s mailbag, MLB.com’s Alyson Footer opines that the Astros wouldn’t go to $3MM for a catcher.
The A’s "want to spend no more than $5MM, and probably closer to $3MM" for Orlando Cabrera. He should take that if it’s offered.
The Angels had been eyeing Joe Crede but may be done after signing Bobby Abreu. The Giants and Twins remain the likeliest suitors for Crede.
The Phillies hoped to lock up Ryan Howard beyond his arbitration years, and Ruben Amaro Jr. disputed the notion that he is after Teixeira money.

Johnson Wants To Play, Would Accept A Trade

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 11, 2009 at 11:02pm CDT

According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, Nick Johnson will not accept a bench role with the Nationals, who will "most likely look to trade" him. Johnson said he "would rather play every day" than accept a role as a reserve. Now that the Nats added Adam Dunn, Johnson doesn’t fit as a starter so he said if the Nationals choose to trade him "that’s fine."

Ladson writes that the A’s, who have had interest in Johnson, aren’t near a deal with the Nats. Oakland doesn’t have a clear spot for him either, though.

Rosenthal On Lefty Relievers, Bobby Crosby

By Tim Dierkes | February 11, 2009 at 3:27pm CDT

New information from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

The top free agent lefty relievers may sign this week. Will Ohman received three offers in recent days and four total; he could sign today or tomorrow. Back on February 5th, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick linked the Mets and Phillies to Ohman after talking to his agent. Rosenthal does not indicate which clubs made the offers, however. The Dodgers are in on Joe Beimel, who they declined to offer arbitration to in December. Dennys Reyes continues to draw interest from the Dodgers and A’s.

Rosenthal adds that the A’s want to save their money for Orlando Cabrera, who would replace Bobby Crosby at shortstop. The Padres would not have interest in Crosby.

A’s Still In On Orlando Cabrera?

By | February 10, 2009 at 5:13pm CDT

It was reported last week that the A’s might take a shot at free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera. MLB.com’s Mychael Urban tried to confirm the rumor Tuesday, but received little response from either side.

Urban notes that "for the A’s, that’s hardly a shocker. General manager Billy Beane has long had a policy against discussing free agents, and he stuck to it Tuesday via text." It is a bit strange that a player’s agent would refuse to discuss interest in his client, however.

The silence can be looked at in a few different ways. Maybe Cabrera’s agent feels that he’s close to a deal and doesn’t want to spoil anything with the normally-mum Beane. Or maybe all is as it seems, and there’s simply nothing going on.

Phillies Rumors: Will Ohman, Dennys Reyes

By Tim Dierkes | February 10, 2009 at 10:50am CDT

Cameron Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the latest on the Phillies’ pursuit of a reliever.

Will Ohman’s agent Page Odle spoke of a "real good positive conversation" with the Phillies over the past week, but GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the dollars would have to be "extremely modest." Odle said Ohman is open to a one-year deal with a contender. The Mets are the other main suitor, but they are also in bargain mode.

Smith spoke to Dennys Reyes, who said his agent has been talking to the Dodgers and A’s. But Reyes did talk to the Phillies back in December. He is also focused on signing with a contender.

The Phils do have in-house options, plus Amaro suggested he could find a righthanded reliever with the ability to retire lefties.

Athletics Sign Edgar Gonzalez

By Tim Dierkes | February 9, 2009 at 4:46pm CDT

According to the AP, the Athletics signed pitcher Edgar Gonzalez to a minor league deal today. Gonzalez, 26 in a few weeks, posted a 6.00 ERA in 48 innings for Arizona last year. A strained elbow ended his season in July. On the plus side, he’s flashed superb control in many recent stints.

Odds and Ends: Wigginton, Prior, Andruw

By Tim Dierkes | February 9, 2009 at 1:42pm CDT

Links for Monday…

Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun says the Orioles are "bringing Ty Wigginton back for further examination this week."
Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune snagged this Mark Prior quote: "If Kurt Warner can disappear for five years, I can disappear for three."
Dave Cameron of FanGraphs points out that a Jermaine Dye career path is Andruw Jones’ best case scenario.
Baseball America has a run-down of all the minor league transactions between January 31 and February 6.
Athletics Nation wonders if the A’s could bring Mark Mulder in to fill a lefty reliever role.
I did a Q&A with We Should Be GMs.

Odds and Ends: Hudson, Twins, Sisco, Dunn

By Tim Dierkes | February 6, 2009 at 1:50pm CDT

Links for Friday…

Tim Hudson wants the Braves to pick up his 2010 option for $12MM, though he has the right to void it if they do.
Indians GM Mark Shapiro has no regrets about signing Kerry Wood for $20.5MM in early December.
Twins CEO Jim Pohlad says the team is not done, in talking to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. He believes signing Joe Crede makes sense, but his baseball people have the final decision.
Michael Fleming of Variety says Brad Pitt continues to "circle" the Moneyball movie, in which he could play Billy Beane.
Athletics Nation takes a good look at free agent lefty Andy Sisco.
Austin Kearns commented on his friend Adam Dunn, in talking with Chico Harlan of the Washington Post.
An amusing "25 facts about 25 random Yankees" from Tyler Kepner of the New York Times.
The Rays signed pitcher Winston Abreu to a minor league deal; he spent last year in Japan.
RotoAuthority ranks the shortstops for fantasy baseball.
Deals for Jason Varitek, Brad Wilkerson, and Ken Takahashi were finalized today. Jeff Bailey was shuffled to Triple A to make room for Varitek, says Dan Barbarisi.

Odds and Ends: Sisco, Murton, Thigpen

By Tim Dierkes | February 5, 2009 at 12:31pm CDT

Links for Thursday…

Lot of people tossing around the number of unsigned free agents…I have it at about 80, at least if we draw the line at players that are remotely useful. Here’s my list.
Joe Pawlikowski of River Ave. Blues would like to see the Yankees sign Mark Grudzielanek.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says the A’s will attend Andy Sisco’s Friday workout.
Scott Miller of CBSSports.com takes a stab at the All-Free Agent team.
The Rockies did not acquire Matt Murton as a precursor to another deal, Troy Renck learned.
The Blue Jays designated catcher Curtis Thigpen for assignment to make room for Brian Burres.
Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star shows that MLB has done a nice job of keeping player salaries at 40-45% of the game’s revenue in recent years (as opposed to 62% in the NFL).
RotoAuthority looks at how you can combine a Rich Harden type with a Randy Wolf type to create a top ten fantasy baseball starting pitcher.

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