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Cubs Looking At Hamilton, McLouth

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The Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan has a new column up discussing a couple of outfielders in the Cubs’ sights aside from Kosuke Fukudome.  Apparently they’re after someone who can handle center field in case Felix Pie falters.

  • Those Josh Hamilton rumors are real – and the Reds are asking for Sean Marshall.  I think the Cubs would pull the trigger on that one.  Jerry Crasnick first suggested this match about five hours ago.  He thought Marshall wouldn’t be enough and I agreed.  Guess we’ll see.  Sullivan notes that Lou Piniella had some contact with Hamilton back when he managed the Devil Rays.
  • The Cubs are also in talks regarding Nate McLouth.  Sullivan thinks McLouth would come cheap – for a reliever like Carmen Pignatiello, Neal Cotts, or Will Ohman.  Damn, that’s cheap.  We learned today that the Giants, Padres, and Marlins like McLouth; Sullivan adds the Braves to the mix as well.

Tigers Willing To Trade Miller In Haren Deal?

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A short note from Yahoo’s Tim Brown: the Tigers were apparently willing to put stud starter Andrew Miller in a deal for Dan Haren.  It’s interesting to hear that the Tigers inquired on Haren.  You have to figure Miller or Cameron Maybin would be a requirement.

Meanwhile Brown reiterates that the D’Backs checked in on both Haren and Joe Blanton.  Arizona may have also checked in on Ian Snell, if you believe lobby fodder.

Pirates Rumors: Bay, McLouth, Morris

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MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch jumps into the fray with her own set of Pirates rumors.

  • Jason Bay rumors are flying around.  Langosch mentions Steve Phillips’ rumor at ESPN: Kelly Shoppach and Cliff Lee for Bay. Andy Marte could be involved as well.
  • The Rangers have decided they desire a corner outfielder, and moved from Nate McLouth to Bay accordingly.  Langosch suggests the Rangers would send relievers over to Pittsburgh – now that would be a bad trade for the Bucs.
  • McLouth, by the way, is drawing interest from the Giants and Padres.  He’s also been linked to the Marlins.
  • The Rockies may have some interest in Matt Morris.
  • Dealing Morris might allow the Bucs to give Brett Tomko what he wants – an opportunity to start.  The Pirates will meet with Tomko’s agent this week.

Rangers Rumors: Bay, Gagne, Fukudome

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T.R. Sullivan has the Rangers goods for us this evening.  Wow, did MLB.com send 30+ reporters out to Nashville?

  • The Rangers are still pursuing Eric Gagne to return as their closer (and then maybe they’d flip him again).  The interest is mutual. 
  • The team is also considering LaTroy Hawkins, Shawn Chacon, Luis Vizcaino, Trever Miller, and Octavio Dotel.  Basically, most of the relief market.  Problem is, the Rangers don’t want to give more than one year to any of these guys.
  • The Rangers are moving toward filling center field internally after exploring options.  Carlos Gomez, Felix Pie, and Carlos Gonzalez proved unavailable or too pricey (though if all the Mets wanted for Gomez was Gerald Laird, Daniels should’ve pounced).
  • Daniels has shifted gears to a corner outfielder.  Kosuke Fukudome remains on the radar.
  • The Rangers had a preliminary conversation with the Bucs about Jason Bay. 
  • The team isn’t focused on getting pitching for once, but Daniels is still perusing medical reports on Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, and Jason Jennings.   
  • Daniels said he’s not shopping Hank Blalock.

O’Brien’s Latest: Andruw, Marte, James

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The AJC’s David O’Brien has a rumor update on his blog.  Let’s summarize.

  • The White Sox are very reluctant to go after Andruw Jones, because of Scott Boras.  They’d offer three years and less than $30MM, which would result in a dial tone.  Unless it was a cell phone.
  • The Braves need a lefty reliever, and might turn to the Pirates for Damaso Marte.  That’d be easier to pull off if the Yankees opt to sign Ron Mahay or Jeremy Affeldt for their lefty reliever.
  • O’Brien suggests the Braves have collected a starting pitching surplus, which is a dangerous thought.  What do you want to bet there’d be no surplus six months from now, if the current group is maintained?  O’Brien believes some team might push hard for Chuck James, anyway.
  • Matt Diaz may be available, if Brandon Jones proves MLB-ready.  First baseman Scott Thorman may also be on the market.

Odds and Ends: Loretta, Pettitte, Affeldt

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Random Winter Meetings rumors…

Brown’s Latest: Erstad, Livan, Tomko

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Yahoo’s Tim Brown checks in with his own set of rumors after working the floor a bit.

  • Darin Erstad is popular – the Padres, Mariners, Astros, and Rays have inquired.  His mystique lives on.
  • The Phillies appear to have a serious interest in Livan Hernandez, though he doesn’t seem to be what they need.
  • Brett Tomko’s agent met with the Rockies today.  Brown says the Pirates, Nationals, Marlins, Reds, and Rangers are after him too.  Separately it’s been said that the Astros are in on him too.  The Padres made a weak $1.5MM offer to Tomko.

Pirates Rumors: Bay, Morris, McLouth, Nady

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Dejan Kovacevic and John Perrotto have the latest on the plans of Neal Huntington’s Pirates.

  • Both beat writers are saying not to expect Jason Bay to be traded at the Meetings.  It would be a sell-low move with bad PR.
  • Both also agree that Matt Morris staying put.  Kovacevic spins it as if the Pirates should actually want to keep Morris, while Perrotto’s sources suggest the Bucs would have to eat more than 70% of Morris’ contract to ditch him.
  • Kovacevic also suggests that the Pirates need Jack Wilson, and that’s why he won’t be going anywhere.
  • Relievers Salomon Torres, Damaso Marte, and John Grabow are available and drawing some interest.  Marte in particular interests the Yankees.
  • Chris Duffy can be had; the Braves and Marlins have previously expressed interest.  Maybe they’ll renew that with center field vacancies and a new Pirates GM.  Duffy will start in Triple A if he’s not dealt.
  • The Pirates are still talking to Shawn Chacon about returning.
  • Perrotto notes that interest in center fielder Nate McLouth is picking up, with the Padres and Marlins interested.
  • Xavier Nady won’t be non-tendered, contrary to previous reports.

Pirates Looking To Ditch Nady

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29 year-old outfielder Xavier Nady .278/.330/.476 as the Pirates’ right fielder, knocking 20 home runs.  However, he’s a Scott Boras client and definitely doesn’t fit into the team’s long-term plans.  He’s arbitration-eligible, but his salary will still be reasonable after that.  If Neal Huntington can’t find a trade partner for Nady, he may even non-tender him.

It probably won’t come to that, as Nady is a solid .800 OPS guy at a reasonable price.  There’s bound to be trade interest.  Nady can handle first base or the outfield corners.  If he was left-handed, he’d be a good target for the Rays.

Kovacevic also notes that Jose Castillo is "a virtual lock to be non-tendered."  So add him to the second base market, if you think he’s capable.

Pirates, Indians Talking Bay

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We’ve known for a while now that the Pirates have outfielder Jason Bay on the block.  A big deal for Bay could put new Pirates GM Neal Huntington on the map.  According to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, the Indians are engaged in talks for Bay.  This isn’t a big surprise, since Huntington came from the Cleveland organization.

Trading Bay now seems like a sell-low move, unless the Bucs feel Bay won’t bounce back in 2008.  Andy Marte, Cliff Lee, and Jeremy Sowers could be available from the Tribe.  Silverman notes that Indians’ backup catcher Kelly Shoppach has been mentioned in the talks with Pittsburgh.  Shoppach would be a capable starter for most teams.  The Indians could also part with an outfielder, perhaps Shin-Soo Choo or Ben Francisco. 

While the White Sox have also been linked to Bay, Dejan Kovacevic says there’s nothing cooking right now.

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