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Rangers Seeking Turnbow and Others

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T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com fills us in on the Rangers’ ongoing search for bullpen help:

  • Derrick Turnbow is at the top of the list with pitching coach Mike Maddux leading the charge.  The two worked together a few years ago in Milwaukee.  The Marlins and Pirates are also thought to have interest.
  • The Rangers are also investigating closers Chad Cordero and Jason Isringhausen, both free agents.  As Sullivan points out, the Rangers like to target low-cost, high-reward relievers.  Some would call them reclamation projects.
  • Right-hander Guillermo Mota is also on the team’s list.  The 35-year-old had a 4.11 ERA for the Brewers last year.

Three Finalists For Turnbow

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TUESDAY, 8:31am: The Marlins are one of the three finalists, according to Juan C. Rodriguez. Turnbow may sign this week.

MONDAY, 2:02pm: According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the field of suitors for free agent reliever Derrick Turnbow has narrowed from five to three teams.  The Pirates are one of the three; the Rockies are not.

Other teams linked to Turnbow: the Tigers, Marlins, Rays, Rangers, Phillies, and Giants.

Marlins Still Shopping Andino

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You may recall one of the many rumors from December 10th – the Marlins discussed trading shortstop Robert Andino to the Pirates, perhaps for Brian Bixler.  Andino is out of options.

According to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, the Marlins continue to discuss trading Andino.  He says the Pirates remain the most viable match, even with Jack Wilson seemingly staying put.

Pirates Pursuing Rocco Baldelli

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Pirates rumors from the tireless Dejan Kovacevic…

  • Kovacevic says the Pirates are in pursuit of free agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli.  The Bucs are serious about him, having spoken to his agents several times.  The Reds, Phillies, Red Sox, and Yankees are considered other suitors.
  • The team’s interest in Ty Wigginton has dropped off.
  • Doug Mientkiewicz remains on the radar, but no offer has been made.
  • Nothing cooking on the Jack Wilson front; he’s likely to remain the Pirates’ shortstop.
  • The Pirates offered slightly more than the $2.6MM Daniel Cabrera signed for with the Nationals.  D-Cab wanted to remain in the area.  The Pirates may choose not to pursue any other free agent starters.
  • We knew extension talks with Nate McLouth had fizzled; turns out nothing is close with Paul Maholm either.  Pirates president Frank Coonelly described the disconnect at Ryan Doumit’s press conference.

Pirates Sign Bootcheck, Bautista

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According to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

The Pirates today agreed to terms with six players on minor league contracts and an invitation to spring training: relievers Chris Bootcheck, Denny Bautista and Juan Mateo; infielders Garrett Jones and Andy Phillips; and outfielder Jeff Salazar.

I’m curious to see if Bootcheck is still represented by Scott Boras.  You may recall that the Pirates non-tendered Bautista earlier this month.

Doumit Signs Three-Year Extension

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MONDAY, 1:12pm: Kovacevic says Doumit is guaranteed $11.5MM with a maximum value of about $27MM.  His three arb years were bought out for $10.7MM.  He has further details at his blog.

SUNDAY, 11:21pm: Dejan Kovacevic says the Doumit contract has a one-time trigger for the option on his two free agency years.  Talks with Paul Maholm are in progress, but talks with Nate McLouth broke down.

7:31pm: Crasnick has the financials: it could be worth $20MM over four years or $30MM over five years.

4:42pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick is reporting that the Pirates have reached an agreement on a three-year extension for Ryan Doumit, buying out his arbitration years.

Doumit, 27, hit .318/.357/.501 in 465 plate appearances in 2008. His .858 OPS ranks him alongside catchers such as Joe Mauer and Geovany Soto. Not bad company there.

The terms of the deal haven’t been released yet, but Crasnick says there is a club option for a fourth year as well. The Pirates will announce the deal in a press conference tomorrow.

Crasnick also says the Pirates are still working to sign Nate McLouth to an extension, but those efforts have reached a stalemate for now.

Brewers Not Close To Looper Deal

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5:41pm: Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed interest in Looper but denied that they’re close to a deal.  Melvin would not say whether the Brewers made an offer, but suggested Looper and the Brewers’ other targets want multiyear deals.

10:28am: In the "Etc." section of his Sunday update, Nick Cafardo has some updated information on a few free agents, as well as some potential trades.

  • Updating a key part of the back-of-the-rotation market, Cafardo says Braden Looper is "close to signing with the Brewers."
  • The Diamondbacks and Red Sox may soon revisit the possibility of an Eric Byrnes trade. Such a deal would likely be made more enticing for the Sox if Miguel Montero were somehow included.
  • The Red Sox would really rather not move Clay Buchholz for a catcher, even if that catcher were Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Taylor Teagarden of the Texas Rangers. However, Daniel Bard may be in play for a potential deal with Texas.
  • The Reds, Indians, Pirates and Giants are all in the mix for Ty Wigginton. Back on Dec. 18, we had a Wigginton update in an Odds and Ends post that said the player was not interested in returning to Pittsburgh.

Other topics of note (found on page 5 of Cafardo’s article) include the Tampa Bay Rays’ plan for a DH upgrade, as well as some notes on Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexander.walsh@gmail.com.

Nationals Sign Daniel Cabrera

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10:26pm: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports the contract for Daniel Cabrera is a one-year deal worth $2.6 million, about a million less than he’d have been owed after arbitration.

1:24pm: According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals signed Daniel Cabrera to a one-year deal (pending a physical).  One of Ladson’s sources says the Nats beat out the Mets and Pirates for him.  So far this offseason the Nationals have added Cabrera and Scott Olsen to their rotation.

Cabrera, 28 in May, made 30 starts for the Orioles in 2008 with a 5.25 ERA.  His walks remained high, while his strikeout rate was way down and he lost 1.7mph off his average fastball.  Cabrera’s season ended in September with an elbow sprain, which did not require surgery.

Odds and Ends: Wilson, Bautista, Hairston

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Linkage for Friday…

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Teixeira, Giants, Braves, Bradley, Pirates

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On this date 17 years ago, the Blue Jays signed 40-year old future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield to a one-year, $2.3MM contract. The signing was a good one as Winfield helped the Jays to their first title in 1992. That year he hit .290-26-108 with a .377 OBP and 137 OPS+, including what would prove to be the series-winning two-run double in the top of the 11th of game 6 of the World Series. Did I mention he was 40? With this year’s crop of free agents playing euchre as they patiently wait for Mark Teixeira to make up his mind, let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Sully Baseball is not worried about the Red Sox possibly losing out on Mark Teixeira feeling the money may be better spent on pitching.
  • The Bottom Line wonders if the Red Sox are better off waiting a year and going after Matt Holliday to replace Jason Bay.
  • El Lefty Malo projects the Giants offense for next season and shows that one more big bat would give them a league-average offense.
  • Braves Blast laments the Braves inability to land a starting pitcher so far this off-season and wonders what options are left.
  • The Launching Pad does not see any of the remaining free agent pitchers as an upgrade for the Braves over what is already on the roster.
  • Goat Riders of the Apocalypse is aggravated by the lack of big moves from the Cubs and while they would like Milton Bradley as a Cub, they think it is unlikely.
  • Baseball Handyman offers grades for the free agent signings to date, with only the Francisco Rodriguez contract earning an ’A’.
  • The ’Burgh Blues takes a look at the Pirates inability to find pitchers that can find the strike zone.

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

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