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Nats, Mets, Yanks Interested In Prior

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UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 12:47pm: The Phillies are one team that does not have interest in Prior.

UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 8:48am: Ed Price adds that the Yankees and Mets have both shown preliminary interest in Prior.  Apparently he is throwing on flat ground and could be ready by May.  Translation: he may return by the second half. Price believes roughly a dozen clubs are interested in Prior.

FROM 12-14-07 at 11:53pm:

The Nationals are looking in the bargain bin for a veteran starting pitcher.  Two options they’re considering are Mark Prior and Jason Jennings, according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson.  The Nats first touched base with Jennings’ agent around November 6th.  Prior is a new name for them though.

Jennings has the Royals, Rangers, Rockies, and Mets on his trail as well.  As for Prior, the Astros, Reds, Rangers, Phillies, and Padres may be the most interested clubs.

Jenkins Will Choose Phillies Or Padres

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According to Ken Rosenthal, both the Phillies and Padres are vying for the services of Geoff Jenkins.  He’s expected to choose one of the two clubs.  The Rays are now out of the mix, having signed Cliff Floyd.

Both opportunities in Philly and San Diego would probably be platoon situations.  Jenkins seems decent at one-year, $5MM, but I wonder if he’ll require two years.

Padres Rumors: Iguchi, Prior, Cameron

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Padres rumor guru Tom Krasovic checks in with the latest.

  • Why does Tadahito Iguchi love San Diego so much?  He passed on far superior offers (and hitter’s parks) from the Rockies and Phillies.  The Padres have definitely developed a competitive advantage over the years in that guys will make concessions to play there.
  • Nine teams have expressed interest in Mark Prior, according to his agent.  The Astros are confirmed.  The Reds, Rangers, and Phillies are other possibilities.  The Padres haven’t checked in yet but they are expected to.
  • Talks are still ongoing between Mike Cameron and the Padres.

Phillies Interested In Otsuka?

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UPDATE, 12-14-07 at 10:09am: Ah, now the true story comes out on Otsuka.  MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers were going to send him to the White Sox for Chris Carter but the Sox nixed the deal after looking at Otsuka’s medical reports.  No surprise the Rangers non-tendered him, now.  Hat tip to Rangerfans.com.

FROM 12-14-07 at 8:47am:

Reliever Akinori Otsuka hit the free agent market on Wednesday; he turns 36 in January.  With a career ERA of 2.44 in 232 innings, it’s surprising the Rangers chose to non-tender him.  Otsuka earned $3MM in 2007, and even with a raise he’d have been a decent play on a one-year deal.

Unless, of course, the Rangers believes something is still wrong with Otsuka’s elbow.  I think that has to be the case, despite a trickle of positive reports recently.  The Phillies are the latest team to express interest in Otsuka.  Also, Tom Krasovic suggested a few days ago that the Padres might look to bring him back.

Back to the Phillies for a moment – Steve King notes that they have no interest in free agent Morgan Ensberg.  Also, they’re still planning to watch Kris Benson throw next week.

Odds and Ends: Mench, Kent, Durbin, Wang

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Rounding up this morning’s Odds and Ends, to be updated periodically…

Phillies Have Mild Interest In Mussina

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The Yankees’ rotation currently consists of Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, and Ian Kennedy.  That leaves both Mike Mussina (owed $11MM in ’08, no-trade protection) and Kei Igawa (owed $16MM over 2008-11) without starting jobs.  It wouldn’t be a bad move to just keep the depth, if you consider it depth.  After all, the three kids aren’t going to combine for 600 innings.  But Mussina and Igawa might be available.

Bob Matthews of the Times-Union Democrat and Chronicle (yes we’re really digging for rumors) notes today that the Phillies have "mild interest" in Mussina.  The 39 year-old Pennsylvania native may not want to leave New York, but it might not be a bad career move.  He’s got 250 wins; 300 would be a grind.  280 seems within reach though.  What could the Phils offer the Yanks for Mussina?  $11MM off their books and some kind of low-level prospect, I’d imagine.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Figgins, Helms, Affeldt

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Ken Rosenthal has a new column up.

  • The Angels are telling teams they will only consider trading Chone Figgins if they find a third baseman.  If Figgins does hit the market, figure on the Cubs getting involved.
  • The Marlins offered Scott Nestor to the Phillies for Wes Helms, if the Phils paid $1.8MM of the $2.9MM owed to the third baseman.  The Phils passed. 
  • Jeremy Affeldt already has a four-year offer in hand, so he’s now looking for five years.  Jeez.  Teams known to be in on Affeldt: the Yankees, Rays, and Astros.  Affeldt’s agent has contacted the Mariners, trying to sell him as a starter.  He grew up in Washington state.
  • The Mets like the Pirates’ Damaso Marte, if the Pirates lessen their demands. The Yankees, Phillies, Braves, and Astros are interested as well.

Dontrelle For Josh Hamilton Was Discussed

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UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 2:47am: More excitement…throw Abraham Nunez into the mix of Marlins third base targets.  This team is going places.

FROM 12-7-07 at 11:27am:

MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro posted a new column last night full of good Marlins hot stove chatter.

  • The most interesting note is that the Marlins talked to the Reds about swapping Dontrelle Willis for Josh Hamilton, prior to the blockbuster with Detroit. 
  • With Miguel Cabrera, the White Sox and Rangers were involved during the Meetings before the Tigers jumped in.  The Rangers backed out when they couldn’t get an extension window for Cabrera.  The Tigers wanted the same but obviously it wasn’t the dealbreaker.  The Angels, Dodgers, and Giants were involved before the Meetings, with the Giants offering Noah Lowry.
  • Frisaro says there are "strong indications the Marlins will sign Jorge Cantu.  He’ll be in the mix at third base.
  • The Fish are offering the Phils Scott Nestor for Wes Helms, who’d also compete at the hot corner.
  • The Mets have some interest in Alfredo Amezaga, though the Marlins are inclined to keep him.
  • Miguel Olivo will be released soon, so throw him into the catcher market with Michael Barrett. 

Arbitration Decisions

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Free agents’ decisions on whether to accept their teams’ offers of arbitration are rolling in.

  • Eric Gagne told the Red Sox that he won’t their offer of arbitration.  The Boras camp had sent signals otherwise, but it was an idle threat.  He wants that multiyear deal or at least a chance to close.  The Red Sox get a delicious sandwich pick for their dalliance with Gagne.  Could’ve been more, if Gagne was lights out for them and snagged Type A status.
  • Mark Loretta accepted; Trever Miller declined.  Loretta should make $3MM+ to take on a utility role.  The Astros could always still trade him to a team looking for second base help.  As for Miller, he could still return.  The Astros will get a sandwich pick if he leaves.
  • Ron Mahay declined the Braves’ offer.  No surprise since he’s looking for three years.  You have to consider their sandwich pick as an added benefit of the Teixeira trade.
  • Aaron Rowand is expected to decline, which is a formality since he’s going to get at least three years.  As a Type A, the Phils probably hope he ends up with the Yankees somehow.

Phillies, Dodgers Not Interested In Inge

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According to Jayson Stark yesterday, the Tigers are indeed shopping ousted 29 year-old third baseman Brandon Inge.  He says the Dodgers and Phillies have already said no.  My guess at the rationale: the Dodgers will go internal and are less concerned with the position, and the Phils want a good hitter at the position.

Inge seemingly peaked in ’06, hitting 27 HRs with fine defense.  That earned him a four-year, $24MM extension.  He’s got three years and $19.1MM left.  His stock is down after posting a .688 OPS last year.  Inge was a catcher as recently as 2004, so maybe he can don the tools of ignorance once again.  There, his offense wouldn’t look nearly as poor.  Still, it’s hard to figure out a team that would pursue him.

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