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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Tigers, Braves, Red Sox, Pirates

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Today is free agent Orlando Hudson’s 31st birthday and the 29th birthday of Garrett Atkins, the subject of many recent trade rumors.

Also, on this date 10 years ago, Kevin Brown became the first player to sign a contract worth at least $100MM, when he signed a seven-year/$105MM contract with the Dodgers. The deal came when Brown was 34, one season after going 18-7 with a 2.38 ERA. Brown’s first two seasons with the Dodgers (18-9, 3.00 and 13-6, 2.58) were solid, but he would only make 29 starts in years three and four combined. Since then, two pitchers have signed deals for at least six years. Mike Hampton and Barry Zito. That doesn’t bode well for C.C. Sabathia, but it’s a small sample size…With the winter meetings now wrapped up, let’s take a look at what is being said in the Blogosphere…

  • Take 75 North feels the Tigers are going to regret acquiring Edwin Jackson and lament the loss of Matt Joyce.
  • The Detroit Tigers Weblog does not get the Edwin Jackson/Matt Joyce deal noting that at least Joyce has shown signs of being a very good player.
  • When Sid Slid weighs the merits of acquiring Jake Peavy or A.J. Burnett and sees Burnett as the better option.
  • Infield Chatter warns the Red Sox about signing Mark Teixeira, feeling Theo Epstein should be more concerned with acquiring a pitcher and noting the Red Sox have Lars Anderson waiting in the minors.
  • Pirate Revolution feels the Pirates need to move Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Jack Wilson and John Grabow to unblock the paths of younger players.
  • DraftInfo has a Q&A with Max Stassi, a high school catcher that is projected to be selected in the first round.
  • Fire Brand of the American League takes a look at the impact C.C. Sabathia will have on the AL East.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Jack Wilson Rumors: Thursday

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Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes about Jack Wilson:

Only the Minnesota Twins are known to be interested, but the Los Angeles Dodgers could come back if their bid to re-sign free agent Rafael Furcal falls short.

Ken Rosenthal chimes in that the Astros could become an option if they first overcome the "extremely slim" odds against trading Miguel Tejada.  Kovacevic adds that in the Pirates’ final Wilson proposal to the Tigers a few days ago they sought shortstop prospect Danny Worth and one of the team’s top pitching prospects.

Phillies Acquire Ronny Paulino

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8:13pm: Lauber has the deal: the Phils receive catcher Ronny Paulino from the Pirates for Triple A backstop in Jason Jaramillo.

7:24pm: Scott Lauber talked to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who has agreed to a small trade a notch above the Greg Golson/John Mayberry swap.  The players traded are on 40-man rosters though.  They’re awaiting physicals.

The Pirates could have a small trade in the works as well.

Pirates Discussing Trade For Robert Andino

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6:52pm: Frisaro says Pirates shortstop Brian Bixler is a name that has surfaced as a possible return for Andino.

6:20pm: Kovacevic says this trade "looks as if it might not advance past the talking stage."

11:51am: Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald notes that Andino is out of options and Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez has publicly admired Paulino.

11:33am: Related note from MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro:

There has been talks at the Winter Meetings about Florida showing interest in catcher Ronny Paulino. But according to a National League source, there didn’t seem to be any discussions about sending the catcher to the Marlins.

11:08am: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pirates are discussing a trade with the Marlins for shortstop Robert Andino.  It’s not known who else is being discussed, but Kovacevic notes the Marlins’ earlier interest in catcher Ronny Paulino.

Andino, 24 in April, has a .549 OPS in his brief Major League career.  He did show a little potential in his second stint at Triple A though. Baseball America wrote in their 2007 Handbook that Andino plays "exemplary defense."

Pirates Rumors: McLouth, Maholm, Doumit

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WEDNESDAY, 6:22pm: Kovacevic says Doumit’s agent will meet with the Pirates later tonight to discuss their offer.  Rob Biertempfel says the Pirates did make offers to all three and want to finalize deals within six to eight weeks.

TUESDAY, 11:28pm: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers up the latest information on the Pirates.

  • The Pirates have initiated extension talks with Nate McLouth, Ryan Doumit, and Paul Maholm.  The Braves inquired on McLouth and Maholm, but the Pirates’ demands were "way high" according to an Atlanta official.  Kovacevic mentions Jordan Schafer as someone who could be offered.
  • The Pirates had conversations with David Eckstein’s agent, but not negotiations.  The Bucs would probably have to trade a middle infielder for it to make sense.  They never made a formal offer to Mark Loretta, who signed with the Dodgers today.
  • The Jack Wilson market is tepid – the Twins have mild interest, the Dodgers have moved on to Rafael Furcal.
  • While the Pirates have gotten inquiries on John Grabow, teams apparently want to look at free agent options first.
  • John Perrotto says Jason Davis will refuse the Pirates’ Triple A assignment and head to Japan.

Cardinals Reliever Rumors

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5:57pm: K-Rod’s agent Paul Kinzer said the Cardinals did not offer his client a similar contract.

9:08am: According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals made a bid for Francisco Rodriguez in the neighborhood of the Mets’ successful three-year, $37MM bid.  The search continues.  Strauss says the Cards plan to explore trades before escalating talks with Brian Fuentes.  Potential trade targets: J.J. Putz, Matt Capps, and Jon Rauch.  Talks for Jose Valverde "stalled abruptly earlier in the week."  The trade bait will probably be on of the Cardinals’ outfielders.

Strauss adds that GM John Mozeliak met with Scott Boras yesterday, possibly to discuss Oliver Perez.

Mets Bullpen Rumors

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The Mets signed Francisco Rodriguez yesterday, but GM Omar Minaya is not done tinkering with his bullpen.  SI.com’s Jon Heyman says Matt Capps, Huston Street, and others are on the radar as setup possibilities.  However, teams are asking for Jon Niese and the Mets don’t want to give him up.  Heyman adds that the Mets have talked to the Mariners and Cubs about relief help as well.

Twins Rumors: Kouzmanoff, Wigginton, Cantu

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6:38pm: Phil Miller says the Twins’ young pitching is quite popular at the Meetings.

12:04pm: The latest from La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

  • The Twins have discussed Kevin Kouzmanoff, Ty Wigginton, and Jorge Cantu internally.  It’s not known whether they’ve actually inquired.
  • Jack Wilson is still on the Twins’ radar.
  • Several teams have asked about Boof Bonser.

Red Sox Rumors: Payton, Taguchi, Bard, Paulino

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Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald has a few new Red Sox rumors:

  • The Sox are not interested in Jay Payton or any Craig Landis client (he also reps Jon Garland).  They’re also not in on So Taguchi.
  • Josh Bard could be a Plan B or C at catcher.  Ronny Paulino has also been discussed.

Pirates Rumors: Eckstein, Wilson, Turnbow

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5:29pm: A handful of teams have expressed interest in Doug Mientkiewicz, reports Jenifer Langosch.  He expects to sign within a few weeks, and his agent will meet with the Pirates this week.

4:56pm: Kovacevic confirmed that the Pirates are in negotiations with Eckstein.  The Orioles and Padres are also said to be in on him.  As for Wilson: the Dodgers are said to be exasperated by the Pirates’ asking price.

12:10am: Let’s check in with Dejan Kovacevic and Rob Biertempfel for the latest on the Pirates.

  • Kovacevic on Jack Wilson: the Tigers are out, the Dodgers are quiet lately, and the Twins are in.  Biertempfel says the Orioles continue to watch from afar.  Wilson’s contract is a sticking point for all suitors.
  • Kovacevic believes the Pirates have at least not ruled out the idea of pursuing Pedro Martinez.
  • Derrick Turnbow will throw for scouts in mid-January, so he probably won’t sign until then.  The Pirates and Giants are among eight teams that have expressed interest.
  • The Pirates seem likely to make a Rule 5 pick this year.
  • With Pirates target Mark Loretta signing with the Dodgers, Biertempfel wonders if the Bucs may pursue David Eckstein or Craig Counsell.
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