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Chad Cordero

Rangers Sign Eddie Guardado

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4:13pm: The Rangers’ minor league deal with Guardado is official, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan.

TUESDAY, 7:48am: Wilson says Guardado "has agreed to return to the Rangers on a non-roster deal."  Final details remain, and the deal could be worth up to $3MM.

MONDAY, 5:21pm: Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram spoke with Rangers GM Jon Daniels, who confirmed that a deal could be finalized for Guardado "within the next few days."

2:05pm: According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers are close to a deal to bring lefty reliever Eddie Guardado back to Texas.  It may be completed in the next few days.  Adding Guardado could help soften the blow of losing Joaquin Benoit to rotator cuff surgery.

Sullivan adds that the Rangers continue to look for pitching help beyond Guardado, with names like Jason Jennings, Kris Benson, and Chad Cordero in the mix.

Odds and Ends: Cordero, Varitek, Hudson

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Links for Monday…

Brewers Still Considering Cordero

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Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says the Brewers are maintaining interest in Chad Cordero, even after signing Trevor Hoffman to close. Writes Haudricourt,

"[Brewers assistant GM Gordon] Ash said the Brewers were still discussing whether to put in an offer to the agent of former Washington closer Chad Cordero, who held a throwing session in California last week for interested clubs. Cordero is coming off shoulder surgery and is not expected to be ready to pitch until a month or two into the season. ’It’s a risk decision,’ said Ash. "It’s a matter of how much (financial) risk you want to take. His agent has let it be known he’s going to sign somewhere.’"

Cordero auditioned 10 days ago for 7 teams, one of which was Milwaukee. The Marlins and Dodgers have since expressed interest. Also potentially interested: the Angels, Mets, Cardinals, D’Backs, Rangers, Twins, Nats, and Tigers.

Odds and Ends: Smoltz, Cordero, Colon, Byrd

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Links for Thursday…

Heyman On Young, Pettitte, Dye, Cordero

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The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

  • It’s more likely that Michael Young will give in and move to third base than be traded.  Heyman runs through six (long shot) "potential contenders."  Most were addressed here, but Heyman adds the Yankees.
  • Yankees people believe there is less than a 50% chance of the team re-signing Andy Pettitte.  He could instead retire or sign with the Dodgers or Astros.
  • Heyman suggests Bobby Abreu or Garret Anderson for the Reds, noting that Abreu is probably too expensive.
  • The White Sox want "top pitching prospects" for Jermaine Dye, not necessarily big league-ready ones.
  • The Dodgers were among 12 teams who watched Chad Cordero throw on Friday.  The Mets, Twins, Brewers, Rangers, Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Nationals are among the other known attendees.

Cardinals Looking In-House For Closer

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A week ago, John Perrotto mentioned Tony La Russa was considering using Chris Carpenter as a closer. Today, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports Cardinals GM John Mozeliak is comfortable turning toward internal options to fill the closer role.

Chris Perez and Jason Motte, as well as Ryan Franklin are listed as most likely options. Franklin had 17 saves last season for St. Louis. Leach mentions the Cardinals could attempt to work out a deal for Brandon Lyon or Juan Cruz, as well as the possibility of signing free agent Chad Cordero, to add depth and expand their options in the ninth inning. Interest in Cordero is more curiosity than anything, says Leach.

What about Carpenter? Said Mozeliak, "The right-hander will only pitch out of the bullpen if there is a compelling medical reason to use him there rather than in the rotation." Tony La Russa expressed similar sentiments on Monday, according to Leach, despite Perrotto’s report last week.

Returning Adam Wainwright to the closer role has not been discussed.

Chad Cordero To Audition Friday

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THURSDAY: Count the Mets in on the Cordero session.  Twins too.

WEDNESDAY: MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy says Cordero will throw Friday, and the Brewers will be in attendance. They’ve already seen him throw once.  The Rangers will also be there.

TUESDAY, 9:57pm: MLB.com’s Jason Beck says the Tigers are also expected to watch Cordero throw.

1:37pm: Nick Piecoro says the D’Backs will be one of the teams in attendance at Cordero’s audition.  Chico Harlan says the Nationals will also attend.

8:38am: According to a baseball source, free agent reliever Chad Cordero is ahead of schedule and teams will watch him throw this week.  The Nationals had said he wouldn’t be able to throw until June due to last summer’s labrum/biceps surgery.

Teams known to be interested based on reports: the Angels, Mets, Cardinals, D’Backs, Rangers, and Tigers.

Cardinals Rumors: Smoltz, Carpenter, Lyon

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11:53pm: More from Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Strauss suggests GM John Mozeliak hopes to swap an outfielder for a closer-quality arm.  Any suggestions?

Strauss adds that the Cardinals inquired on John Smoltz.  At least seven teams have shown some level of interest in Smoltz, who most expect to return to Atlanta.

8:20pm: The Associated Press has a slightly different take on the Cardinals’ approach to a closer. La Russa told the AP that Chris Carpenter could return to the bullpen if the club deems that move will be the best scenario for both parties:

"We want Chris pitching for us, and if I was told he couldn’t be healthy throwing 100 pitches every five days and he could be a reliever, I’d take him as a reliever."

6:36pm: St. Louis Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa told Matthew Leach of MLB.com that the Cardinals will likely look at Chris Perez or Jason Motte to close games in 2009, but La Russa also hinted that the team could sign a starter with the thoughts of moving the addition to a ninth-inning role.

La Russa said he’d like to give Perez and Motte more time to mature in the minor leagues before moving them into the role of closer for the Cardinals.

La Russa also mentioned that the list of starters who could be converted into a closer’s role is short, Leach writes. La Russa noted that the Cardinals do not want to convert one of their current starters into the closer.

La Russa said that Jason Isringhausen will not probably return to the Cardinals.  The Cardinals could sign a free-agent reliever such as Juan Cruz or Brandon Lyon.  Cruz is unlikely due to his Type A status, however. The Cards remain cool to the possibility of signing Trevor Hoffman.

La Russa did not shut the door on a closer with health issues, such as Takashi Saito or Chad Cordero. Leach also noted that club’s front office has expressed significant reservations about signing any players who are health risks.

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