Athletics Rumors

A’s Sign Russ Springer

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 30, 2009 at 8:48am CDT

FRIDAY: Slusser says Springer will earn $3.3MM plus another possible $300K for games pitched.

THURSDAY: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says the Springer deal is official and is worth more than $3MM plus incentives.

WEDNESDAY: Springer apparently took his physical today, though his deal with the A’s is not yet official. The A’s told reliever Andrew Brown they’re releasing him to make room for Springer, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

MONDAY: The AP says the A’s are "close to finalizing" the Springer deal, with the physical the final step remaining. Not sure why they didn’t say an agreement has been reached, then.

SATURDAY: According to Ken Rosenthal, the A’s are "closing in on" a deal with Russ Springer. Rosenthal’s source says the A’s and Springer are "making progress, but not done." They’re working towards a contract worth about $3MM plus incentives.

Rosenthal adds that the A’s are ready to make a strong attempt to sign Orlando Cabrera if his asing price isn’t too high.

Unlike Cabrera, Springer wasn’t offered arbitration, so the A’s won’t have to surrender a draft pick to the Cardinals if the deal becomes official, despite Springer’s status as a Type A free agent.

Rosenthal On Abreu, Garland, Glavine, Sisco

By Tim Dierkes | January 29, 2009 at 9:14am CDT

The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

The Mariners and Giants are interested in Bobby Abreu, if the price is right. Yesterday Buster Olney suggested that Abreu is willing to take a one-year deal. The A’s and Nationals have other targets, while the Mets, White Sox, and Braves are seen as long shots.
Rosenthal examines the nuances of Jon Garland’s December 7th decision to reject arbitration, saying that it wasn’t an obvious mistake at the time.
Tom Glavine’s agent Gregg Clifton did not attend yesterday’s meeting with Frank Wren; it was a health update and not a contract negotiation. Rosenthal says Glavine figures to seek a Freddy Garcia-like deal. The Braves need to save money to add an outfielder, with Nick Swisher atop their list. The Yankees’ goal in moving Swisher or Xavier Nady would be to recoup prospects.
The Brewers are not interested in projects such as Kris Benson, Jason Jennings, Mark Redman, and Victor Zambrano. They’re just lukewarm on Mark Mulder. Benson is drawing interest from the Dodgers, Rangers, and Cardinals; one exec reviewed his audition as "so-so."
Rosenthal doesn’t seem to buy the idea that Jason Varitek and Scott Boras feared the Red Sox could cut him if he accepted arbitration, noting that Boras client Travis Lee was advised to accept years ago.
The Braves have reservations about re-signing Andruw Jones, who could be a Spring Training cut.
The A’s deal for Russ Springer will be worth more than $3MM plus incentives. They’re also eyeing Brian Shouse and Andrew Sisco as possible pen additions. Sisco, recovering from Tommy John, has also auditioned for the Rockies and Giants.

Odds and Ends: Yamarin, Eaton, Atkins, Ohman

By Tim Dierkes | January 26, 2009 at 2:02pm CDT

Links for Monday…

Yankees and Red Sox fans are dreaming of Joe Mauer, whose contract is up after the 2010 season.
Updated June draft order, courtesy of Baseball America.
The Braves signed a Japanese amateur pitcher named Yoshinori Yamarin to a minor league deal.
Adam Eaton is not a candidate for the Phillies’ fifth starter job, and they’ll probably release him and eat his contract if they can’t trade him.
MLB.com made a nice addition in Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki.
Arbitration hearing dates are set for Paul Maholm and Nate McLouth.
Jim Salisbury writes about Tal Smith, who prepares arbitration cases for clubs.
Garrett Atkins comments on his arbitration request and his future with the Rockies.
The Reds voided the contract of 16 year-old Venezuelan pitcher Ismael Guillon and re-signed him for less due to a problem found during his physical.
Athletics Nation talked to MLB.com beat writer Mychael Urban.
David O’Brien chatted with unsigned reliever Will Ohman.
Orioles infielder Oscar Salazar cleared waivers.

A’s, Duchscherer Avoid Arb

By Alex Walsh | January 24, 2009 at 3:03pm CDT

The A’s have signed Justin Duchscherer to a one-year, $3.9MM contract to avoid arbitration, according to ESPN.com.

Duchscherer had asked for $4.6MM, while the team offered $3MM, so this is just about right in the middle. There’s also a $150K bonus if Duchscherer makes 32 starts.

Olney On Mulder, Benson, Peavy, David Wells

By Tim Dierkes | January 23, 2009 at 11:52am CDT

A few notes from Buster Olney’s latest blog post…

Free agent starter Mark Mulder is likely to throw for scouts during the first week of February. Olney says he figures to be popular if the audition goes well.
We already knew the Dodgers, Rangers, Padres, D’Backs, Rockies, Indians, and Cardinals will watch Kris Benson throw this weekend; Olney adds the Brewers and A’s.
Olney says "there have been no recent conversations between the Padres and Cubs about Jake Peavy," but he believes talks could be restarted quickly given the Cubs’ selection yesterday of the Thomas Ricketts group as the potential new owner.
David Wells never filed retirement papers and would be open to a minor league deal if one was offered.

A’s, Twins, Dodgers Eyeing Russ Springer

By Tim Dierkes | January 22, 2009 at 3:45pm CDT

According to Ken Rosenthal, the A’s, Twins, and Dodgers are pursuing Russ Springer. Rosenthal adds that the Twins prefer Springer to Eric Gagne. The Twins’ interest in Springer was first reported by Seth Stohs, while Buster Olney mentioned the A’s a few days ago. Ken Gurnick had the Springer-Dodgers connection back in December.

Athletics Interested In Russ Springer

By Tim Dierkes | January 20, 2009 at 9:54am CDT

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney:

Heard this: Oakland is among the teams talking with free agent pitcher Russ Springer.

Springer, 40, had another fine year out of the Cardinals’ pen in ’08 (2.32 ERA). He seems worthy of a one-year deal in the $2-3MM range.

Odds and Ends: Cordero, Varitek, Hudson

By Tim Dierkes | January 19, 2009 at 2:12pm CDT

Links for Monday…

The Twins watched Chad Cordero’s recent long-toss session. As you know, they’re also eyeing Brandon Lyon and Eric Gagne.
Baseball America has the minor league transactions. Charlie Zink stays with Boston and the Cubs signed Ken Kadokura, among other deals.
Sean McAdam breaks down the Jason Varitek situation, saying his value isn’t much higher than Gregg Zaun. Zaun signed for $2MM.
Athletics Nation asks: how about Orlando Hudson at shortstop?
RotoAuthority finds some upside starters for fantasy drafts.
Rob Bradford of WEEI explains why signing Jonathan Papelbon long-term will be more difficult than Dustin Pedroia or Kevin Youkilis.

Cardinals Outfielders Speak

By Tim Dierkes | January 18, 2009 at 7:32pm CDT

A few Cardinals notes this evening coming out of the team’s Winter Warmup.

Before Matt Holliday was traded to the A’s, Cards outfielder Skip Schumaker thought he’d wind up in Colorado as part of the rumored Holliday-Ryan Ludwick deal. Schumaker said, "I thought that was a done deal, and from everything I heard and from pretty good sources I thought I was definitely out of here."
Ludwick and Rick Ankiel are two of the team’s prominent arbitration cases. Ludwick said the Cards have not opened up extension talks. Ankiel, a Scott Boras client, is eligible for free agency after the season. Ankiel’s quote about the future: "Absolutely, I’ve told [Boras] I want to work in St. Louis. But for me, it’s just focusing on having a healthy year. If you don’t play, nobody’s going to want you."
The cheapest autograph at the Warmup: $5 for Adam Kennedy. Kennedy drew Tony La Russa’s ire for not attending last year.

Nick Johnson Trade Talks With Oakland Resume

By Tim Dierkes | January 15, 2009 at 12:45pm CDT

12:45pm: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson talked to a source who said nothing is imminent in these talks and they haven’t really heated up.

10:48am: According to Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post, the Nationals and A’s have revived trade talks for first baseman Nick Johnson. Sheinin notes that the Nats have previously shown interest in Daric Barton, though that might be a high price to pay for one year of the injury-prone Johnson. Another wrinkle is the A’s addition of Jason Giambi, but there would be ways to make it work.

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