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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.

Odds and Ends: Bonds, Rusch, Iguchi, Nathan

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The Winter Meetings are over and I have a nice case of carpal tunnel.  Let’s round up some odds and ends anyway, I can always type with my toes.

  • In a chat today, Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus said the only team besides the A’s with a modicum of interest in Barry Bonds is the Cardinals (a week ago).
  • Couple of Phils notes per Scott Lauber.  Glendon Rusch asked for a big league deal and a rotation spot, neither of which the Phils are keen on.  Also that Tadahito Iguchi waiver?  No chance.
  • Joel Sherman noted today that the Twins and Yankees briefly discussed expanding the Johan Santana talks to include Joe Nathan.  I heard this one at the beginning of the Meetings but I was skeptical.  I wonder if including Nathan ever came up with the Red Sox?  Maybe that would compel them to put both Ellsbury and Lester in the deal.

ESPN’s Latest: Barrett, Ensberg, Mahay

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Who said the Meetings are over?  ESPN’s Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, and Jerry Crasnick are still running down rumors.

  • The Rays want Michael Barrett, according to Gammons.
  • Looks like Kevin Mench will be non-tendered.
  • Crasnick says the Marlins may go after Morgan Ensberg, who is also likely to be non-tendered.  The Phillies aren’t much interested in him.
  • Gammons says Ron Mahay is down to the Yanks or Royals.
  • He also says the Padres’ Milton Bradley signing won’t get in the way of their Kosuke Fukudome pursuit.
  • Olney backs up the rumor about the Giants’ interest in Hideki Matsui.

Phillies Not Getting Bedard

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 11:44am: Scott Lauber says the Phils and O’s haven’t discussed Bedard at the Meeings.  However, he seems to indicate that at some point prior the O’s told the Phils they don’t have the players to get it done.  Joel Sherman of the New York Post wrote on Tuesday that the Phillies were initially told they didn’t match up but were still trying to get involved.

UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 11:04am: Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer shoots this one down, writing that the Phils and Orioles have not discussed Bedard.

FROM 12-6-07 at 9:33am:

According to Joe Haggerty of the Metro out of Philadelphia, the Phillies offered Kyle Kendrick, Shane Victorino, and two unknown prospects to the Orioles for Erik Bedard and were turned down.  It’s generally believed that the Phillies don’t have the young available talent Andy MacPhail seeks, but it never hurts to ask.

Marlins Considering Helms, Cantu

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MLB.com’s Jim Molony reports that the Marlins are considering Wes Helms and Jorge Cantu as candidates for their now-vacant third base job.

Helms had a career year in 2006 for the Marlins, hitting .329/.390/.575 while seeing a disproportionate amount of southpaws.  The Phils then wishcasted him as a starter and gave him two years and $5.45MM.  Helms has $2.15MM left on his contract plus a $750K buyout.

Cantu was recently cut by the Reds; his claim to fame is driving in 117 runs for the 2005 Devil Rays.  He turns 26 in January; perhaps his career can be revived in Florida.

Phillies Rumors: Iguchi, Inge, Silva, Ensberg

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Sounds like there’s a whole lot of ’nothin’ going on with the Phillies.

  • As you know, the Phils are out on Hiroki Kuroda.
  • Yesterday the Phillies made an offer and a second improved offer to Tadahito Iguchi.  Iguchi is looking for a three-year deal for around the $16.5MM Kaz Matsui received.
  • Todd Zolecki says the Phils have "kicked around" Brandon Inge’s name; he’s definitely available. The general sentiment is that the Tigers would have to eat some of the $19.1MM owed to Inge over the next three seasons.  Plus, the Phillies already tried the defense-first idea at third base.
  • Talks with Mike Cameron went nowhere, as the Phillies didn’t want to consider a multiyear deal. Aaron Rowand is also a long shot.  Not a very exciting Meetings for Phillies fans.
  • Scott Lauber checks in this morning and says Carlos Silva would like to return to the Phillies.  The interest isn’t mutual, however, if Silva continues to ask for four or five years.
  • Lauber suggests Morgan Ensberg is a strong non-tender candidate and someone the Phils should look at.

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