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Curt Schilling

Cubs Rumors: Wood, Schilling

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Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times has a Cubs update for us this morning.

Let’s start with Kerry Wood, who would garner plenty of interest on the open market.  Despite rumors that Wood might look elsewhere for a chance to start, he’s likely to stay with the Cubs as a starter.

The Cubs are on Curt Schilling’s list, and they’ll be in the mix for him if his price is reasonable.  I take that to mean not much more than $12-13MM.  A cheaper option might be Hiroki Kuroda, though that could take a three-year commitment.  So, perhaps a larger cash outlay. 

The Cubs will probably pass on Alex Rodriguez, though he would’ve been a nice fit at shortstop in my opinion. 

Options: the Cubs exercised Daryle Ward’s for $1.2MM.  They passed on Steve Trachsel’s $4.75MM option, which is a relief since there had been rumors of exercising it.  Cliff Floyd is probably gone as well.

Odds and Ends: Lincecum, Wakefield, Schilling

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More random rumors.  You know you love it.

Astros Contact Schilling

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Ed Wade saw Curt Schilling’s list on 38pitches.com, and the Astros weren’t on it.  He said he felt compelled to call Schilling yesterday anyway.

Schilling pitched for the Astros in ’91 as a 24 year-old, but was traded to the Phillies for Jason Grimsley.  Yes, that Jason Grimsley.  Nice move, Bill Wood!

Does this mean teams outside of Schilling’s dirty dozen are in play?  Who knows…someone offers $17MM, he would have to listen.

Brewers To Call Schilling

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According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Brewers GM Doug Melvin will place a call to Curt Schilling’s agent.  Wait – I thought Schilling represented himself? 

Schilling and/or his agent made contact with three teams today, and none of them were the Red Sox.  He told the three teams that he still wanted to remain in Boston if possible and he still wants only a one-year deal.  Any guesses as to which three teams talked to Schilling today?  How about the Phillies, Mets, and Cardinals?

The Brewers could fit Schilling into the budget, if they let Cordero and Linebrink walk.  Extra incentive to let the pair of relievers depart is that they’re Type As.  Then again, so is Schilling. 

Odds and Ends: Cabrera, Schilling, Stewart

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Your daily collection of random rumors and links…

  • MLB.com’s Free Agent Frenzy has begun.  You can win Opening Day tickets by closely predicting where 15 free agents will land.  A good strategic move would be to wait until deadline day, November 15th, before submitting.  That way you’ll have more info (keep your browser right here for all the latest free agent info).  By the way, my Top 50 Free Agents list should be ready around Monday.
  • Fielding Bible has their 2007 awards (click the Winners tab).  So much for those who say Andruw is slipping!
  • Miguel Cabrera is available, according to Peter Gammons.  Gammons thinks any package would have to begin with a top pitching prospect such as Phil Hughes, Clay Buchholz, or Clayton Kershaw.
  • Sounds like the Rockies want to keep the 2007 club mostly intact by bringing back free agents (Kaz Matsui, Yorvit Torrealba, Matt Herges, LaTroy Hawkins).  However Josh Fogg and Jeremy Affeldt may be allowed to leave.
  • Though they’re on his list, it doesn’t sound like the D’Backs can afford Curt Schilling.
  • The A’s are talking about re-signing Shannon Stewart, but I don’t see it.  That would have to cost at least $3-4MM.  Meanwhile, Mike Piazza might retire.  Susan Slusser talks about how the A’s would receive compensation for Stewart and Piazza, both Type B free agents.  But that’s only if they offer them arbitration, which is questionable.
  • Comeback time!  Matt Mantei is all surgically repaired and wants to get back into action.  He feels great!  He’d take a minor league contract and/or play for the minimum.  Can’t wait til spring, when we can hear about all the guys who are in the best shape of their careers.  The Tigers might need him with Joel Zumaya’s new, odd injury.
  • A couple of 40+ southpaws will pitch in ’08 – Tom Glavine and David Wells.
  • The O’s will pass on Kris Benson at $7.5MM next year, no surprise.  He had rotator cuff surgery last March.
  • U.S.S. Mariner’s "reasonable" offseason plan.

Schilling Names Targets

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UPDATE, 10-31-07: Gordon Edes and Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe spoke to a Red Sox source who does not expect Schilling to return to the team.  The Red Sox will offer an incentive-based contract.  The source added that Tim Wakefield’s option is likely to be exercised.

FROM 10/30/07:

Interesting.  After Boston, Curt Schilling has 12 teams he’d consider pitching for in 2008.  Here they are:

Indians
Tigers
Angels
Mets
Phillies
Braves
Dodgers
Padres
Diamondbacks
Cubs
Cardinals
Brewers

Schilling had talked about the idea of going somewhere he could tutor young pitchers, like Tampa Bay.  But it sounds like that idea is out and he wants to play for a contender.  Not that the Rays can’t contend in ’08.  I’m curious as to why the White Sox and Rockies were excluded, but who knows.

That’s a nice extensive list, so it should be fun if Boston passes.  At a reasonable one-year commitment, any of the dozen should have interest no matter what their rotation looks like.

Boston Globe Notes: Schilling, Kuroda

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A few notes from recent Boston Globe articles…

  • Curt Schilling recently posted at Sons of Sam Horn regarding his future.  Nothing has changed – he’d still like a one-year deal from the Red Sox but failing that he wants to join a winner or play for a team with young pitchers to tutor.  He mentions that "dollars will be a significant factor" if he leaves Boston.  The SOSH threads can be found here and here.
  • Sounds like the Cubs were more than just interested in Hiroki Kuroda last winter – they may have made an offer.  He considered a deal with the Cubs but stayed in Japan for personal reasons.  The Cubs and Mariners are considered the top contenders for him this winter.

Odds and Ends: Abreu, Beckett, Helton, Schilling

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Friday afternoon rumor tidbits…

  • The Indians will probably let Kenny Lofton leave while exercising Joe Borowski’s $4MM option.  No big surprise there.
  • Nor is it a surprise that the Yankees are heavily leaning towards exercising Bobby Abreu’s $16MM option.
  • From the what might’ve been department: Red Sox owner John Henry was in favor of signing A.J. Burnett instead of trading for Josh Beckett.  One could make a solid argument that the Red Sox would be better off if Henry had gotten his wish.  Beckett and Julio Lugo combined for 8.6 wins at $14MM this year while Burnett and Hanley Ramirez combined for 14.8 wins at $12.4MM (according to WARP).
  • From that same department – Tom Gage notes that the Tigers once nearly acquired Todd Helton for Tony Clark.  There were many Clark rumors from 1999-2001 before the Red Sox claimed him off waivers.  I heard Buck and McCarver talking recently about how Helton is not a product of his home park.  For the record Helton has hit .368/.474/.668 at home in his career and .304/.409/.515 on the road.  He probably belongs in the Hall but it would be a lot tighter if his career OPS was .924 instead of 1.014.
  • Nick Cafardo makes his case for the Red Sox to re-sign Curt Schilling.
  • A scouting look at Hiroki Kuroda, plus other Japanese pitchers who may come over (hat tip to MetsBlog).  Jason Churchill estimates a three-year deal for Kuroda at $9-11MM per.
  • How would you like to face a 125 mph fastball?

Red Sox Rumors

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The Boston Globe’s Gordon Edes has some mild hot stove chatter today.

  • Tim Wakefield’s $4MM option is likely to be exercised. There was some speculation a week ago that it could be declined, but no one really believed it.  It’s still a bargain.
  • Julian Tavarez’s $3.85MM option is a borderline call, and Edes seems to think it will be declined.
  • Nothing new with Mike Lowell – he wants to return, but the door’s open for the Phillies or Yankees if the Red Sox won’t pony up enough years.
  • Most folks expect Curt Schilling to leave.  But if he’s still up for one year and $13MM the Sox should do it.
  • Mike Timlin will pitch again but it might be elsewhere.  Timlin hasn’t been with another club since ’02, when he pitched for the Cardinals and Phillies.
  • Matt Clement will depart.  If his tryouts and MRIs come up clean and he can hit 90 mph there will definitely be teams offering him incentivized contracts.  Here’s one I missed from a few weeks ago: the Padres may make a play for him.  Tom Krasovic also throws Mark Prior into the mix for the Friars in that article.  Back in December of ’04, Clement talked with the Angels, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Indians, and Blue Jays before signing with Boston.

Schilling Open To Phillies

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We learned yesterday that the Phillies have already had internal discussions about bringing in Curt Schilling.  Schilling was asked about the possibility yesterday, and confirmed that Philly is on his "short list" assuming they’d want him back.

Schilling might be one of the few free agent buys this winter that actually works out.  He turns 41 soon, so health is obviously a concern.  With a 4.4 K/BB in 151 innings, his command is as amazing as ever.  The commitment would be low-risk, probably one year at $15-16MM.  And switching from the AL East to the NL – what pitcher wouldn’t love that?  Just ask Ted Lilly.  If Schilling and Cole Hamels could combine for 360 innings next year, the Phils would be in great shape.

Here’s the problem: the Phillies supposedly have $20MM to burn.  Give a minimum $13MM of it to Schilling, and you fall short on Mike Lowell by at least $4MM.  If the budget is truly that strict, perhaps this can be solved with backloading for Lowell.  Keep in mind that both players’ first choice is still Boston. 

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