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Cafardo’s Latest: Lowe, Maddux, Peavy

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Here’s a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

  • Interestingly, the Red Sox are reportedly Derek Lowe’s preferred destination.  It’s unknown whether the Sox intend to add a starter this winter, but they may lose free agent Paul Byrd (and will have to decide on Tim Wakefield’s $4MM option).  Cafardo names a dozen other clubs interested in Lowe: the Yankees, Mets, Tigers, Indians, Cardinals, Cubs, Angels, Braves, Phillies, Rangers, Astros, and Blue Jays.
  • Bill Mueller, 38 in March, admits he’d like to play again.  Medically, it’s a long shot because he’d need to regrow cartilage in his knees.
  • One of Greg Maddux’s teammates feels he’ll retire. Maddux could return to the Padres as a player/coach (specifically, he’d prefer a bench coach gig).
  • The Brewers as a sleeper for Jake Peavy?  They’re not on his list, but he’s named other midwest clubs.
  • Cafardo believes catchers Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez will be available this winter.  Makes sense, given the weak free agent market at the position.

Sherman’s Latest: Gonzalez, Guillen, Castillo, Martin

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Let’s take a little break from Peavy-mania and look at some other situations around the big leagues, courtesy of Joel Sherman.

  • Padres GM Kevin Towers can’t see any circumstances under which he’d trade first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.  He’s signed cheaply, and the Padres already have offensive problems.
  • Sherman knows that it will be extremely difficult for the Mets to move Luis Castillo this offseason, but offers one scenario that has been discussed before: Trade Castillo to the Royals for perennial hothead Jose Guillen. Guillen would bring the Mets a power bat and arm to put in left field, while Castillo would bring the Royals some much-needed OBP and a replacement for free agent Mark Grudzielanek. The difference would be the Royals saving $6MM over Castillo’s remaining three seasons, with the Mets taking on $6MM more, but only having two years of a bad contract. Personally, I think this move could make a lot of sense for both teams, although I’d prefer to have Guillen over Castillo. Also, the Mets apparently have no interest in an Eric Byrnes/Castillo swap.
  • The Phillies may be looking for a way to replace Pat Burrell cheaply in order to pursue a free agent starter. One proposed method would be to move Greg Dobbs to left field. Sherman notes that there wouldn’t be much difference in range between Burrell and Dobbs. Dobbs posted an .824 OPS this season in 226 ABs, but the alarming thing is that 217 of those ABs came against right-handed pitching. Dobbs was just 1 for 9 against lefties in 2008, and has just 52 career ABs against LHP, in which he’s posted a .579 OPS. A plattoon with Eric Brutnlett could work, but if I were a Philadelphia fan, I’d be hoping for an alternative solution. Sherman reminds us that the Phils were players for Manny Ramirez in July…
  • This one surprised me, but Sherman throws a new name as a possibility on the trade market: Russell Martin. Sherman cites rival executives in saying that the Dodgers aren’t "enamored with his makeup" and that with frontline catchers being hot commodities, the Dodgers could explore the market to see what Martin could bring in return. Personally, I think moving Martin would be a mistake, but I have to admit, Martin would indeed fetch a very nice return.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Manny, Mussina, Cano, Lowe

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Ken Rosenthal’s latest column at FOX Sports is jam-packed with rumors.

  • Manny Ramirez will generate plenty of interest on the free agent market; he wants at least four years.  There was a report earlier this month that Scott Boras expected to get five years.  The term will be a crucial factor.  Rosenthal names the Phillies, Mets, and Yankees as three teams that may pursue Manny.
  • The Mariners’ rebuilding effort will likely be spearheaded by a first-time GM, not an ideal scenario in the opinion of some baseball people.
  • The Dodgers lost Shane Victorino twice in the Rule 5 draft.  Tony Jackson had more details on that history a few days ago.
  • Rosenthal talked to friends of Mike Mussina who remain convinced he will retire.  Buster Olney got a different vibe recently.
  • Rosenthal notes that the Dodgers’ interest in Robinson Cano is "sincere," but it’s unknown what they’d give up for him.
  • Derek Lowe’s teammates say he has little interest in playing for the Mets or Yankees.
  • Back in ’07, Blake DeWitt was considered a possible throw-in in a proposed Joe Blanton to the Dodgers deal.  Rumor was the A’s wanted three frontline prospects from the Dodgers, DeWitt not among them.

Odds and Ends: Hoyer, Denker, Manny

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Links for Monday…

Odds and Ends: Beltran, Brewers, Padres

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Links for Friday…

Heyman’s Latest: Yankees, K-Rod, Moyer

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Notes from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

  • The Yankees apparently want to sign two free agent starters out of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Derek Lowe.  If Sabathia is one of them they’d be looking at a total outlay of $200MM or more.  Ken Davidoff of Newsday notes that Sabathia might feel pressure from the players union to take the highest offer.
  • Heyman believes the nation’s struggling economy might temper spending, but not in the Yankees’ case.
  • Heyman doesn’t see the Angels as terribly gung-ho about retaining closer Francisco Rodriguez.
  • People close to Jamie Moyer say he wants to pitch until he’s 50.  Moyer didn’t rule it out when asked in August.

Odds and Ends: Hudson, Cano, Mariners GM

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Links for Wednesday…

  • ESPN’s Jayson Stark reminds us that Manny Ramirez could’ve been traded to the Phillies in July.  But the Phils wouldn’t offer Lou Marson, didn’t like the idea of Manny in right field, and were concerned about Ramirez’s hustle.
  • Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog gives his early sense of the team’s offseason approach.  He doesn’t seem them splurging on one of the big free agent names.
  • MLB.com’s Marty Noble heard Orlando Hudson "yearns to play for the Mets" (hat tip to MetsBlog).
  • Jamey Newberg believes in the Rangers’ plan.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post doesn’t believe Robinson Cano will be traded, because the Yankees are valuing him as if 2008 did not occur.  He names Fausto Carmona as an example of a pitcher the Yanks would not accept for Cano.
  • Sherman also notes that Bobby Abreu and the ivy-covered brick wall at Wrigley might not be the best match.
  • The Mariners will interview five people for their GM vacancy this week: Peter Woodfork (D’Backs), Jerry DiPoto (D’Backs), Tony Bernazard (Mets), Kim Ng (Dodgers), and Tony LaCava (Blue Jays).
  • The Angels signed Korean pitcher Jang Pil-Joong, who just finished serving in the army.
  • I did a couple of interviews recently: over the phone with MLB Interviews and over email with Pinstripes Published.

Don’t Expect Ryan Howard Trade

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ESPN’s Buster Olney talked to a "well-placed source," who stated unequivocally that the Phillies will not trade Ryan Howard this winter.  There’s been Howard trade chatter since February, when he set a record with a $10MM first-year arbitration award.  This time around he might get $14-15MM.

Howard, 29 in November, hit .251/.339/.543 in 700 plate appearances this year.  It was a respectable season, ranking tenth among first basemen.  Howard ranked fourth last year.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Vlad, Cano, Peavy, Hardy

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Today we have a fresh column from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • Vladimir Guerrero’s $15MM option for ’09 is a lock, but perhaps the Angels will reconsider extending him beyond that.  Some of the money could be used to make Mark Teixeira the next franchise player.
  • Rosenthal says "virtually every club with a need at the position" has shown interest in second baseman Robinson Cano.  If you give Cano a mulligan for April, he hit .297/.326/.448 in 2008.  That seems like a reasonable American League projection going forward.  Cano, 26 in a few weeks, is signed through 2011 with two club options beyond that.  The Yankees would look for a starting pitcher in return.
  • Rosenthal agrees the Padres will explore the trade market for ace Jake Peavy.  He expects Kevin Towers to wait until the big-name free agent starters sign, which will accentuate the relative affordability of Peavy’s contract (basically four years, $63MM).
  • Rosenthal says Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy knows he is likely to be traded to make room for prospect Alcides Escobar.  It’d be a reasonable move, but only if Escobar proves he is a capable replacement.
  • Pat Gillick told Rosenthal he will not be returning as Phillies GM next year, despite recent speculation.

Odds and Ends: Cabrera, Sabathia, Gillick

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Your hot stove links for Thursday…

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