The Yomiuri Giants are set to acquire second baseman Edgar Gonzalez, reports Kyodo News. Adrian's older brother hit .216/.278/.373 in 169 plate appearances this year for the Padres, missing time with a concussion and a shoulder injury. Gonzalez was planning to elect free agency after the Padres outrighted him in November.
Edgar Gonzalez
Olney On Holliday, Bay, DeRosa
Hot stove nuggets from ESPN's Buster Olney…
- Olney doesn't see Jacoby Ellsbury as a great fit for the Padres in a potential Adrian Gonzalez deal, in that Ellsbury will be arbitration-eligible a year from now and is represented by Scott Boras.
- Olney heard the Red Sox would be interested in signing Matt Holliday at less than the current Cardinals offer. Here's the question: what exactly did the Cardinals offer to Holliday in guaranteed money and years? $15-16MM a year for up to eight years is pretty vague. Is it just a five-year offer, as Olney suggested a few days ago?
- Jose Valverde is in a bad place, writes Olney, as there's no clear suitor looking to spend $8-10MM for a closer and give up a draft pick. If Valverde lingers on the market into February he could be a bargain.
- Olney heard that the Mets' "five-year concept" for Jason Bay is heavily backloaded, so much that the true value is similar to Boston's rejected four-year, $60MM offer.
- Righty Edgar Gonzalez might be Japan-bound. He spent this year in the Oakland organization.
- Mark DeRosa's asking price appears to have come down – Olney says it's in the three-year, $18MM range. Still seems too pricey, but it's a step in the right direction.
Edgar Gonzalez: Free Agent
According to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune, infielder Edgar Gonzalez intends to opt for free agency once the World Series ends.
“I think this is the end of my run here,” Gonzalez said Wednesday after the Padres dropped him from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to Triple-A Portland. “I love San Diego. And the Padres gave me an opportunity that I'm thankful for. But my future is probably elsewhere.”
Gonzalez, 31, batted .216/.278/.373 with four homers and 18 RBI in 169 plate appearances this season with the Padres. He is a .255/.312/.381 career hitter and made $407K in '09. Oh, and he's also Adrian Gonzalez's brother.
Athletics Sign Edgar Gonzalez
According to the AP, the Athletics signed pitcher Edgar Gonzalez to a minor league deal today. Gonzalez, 26 in a few weeks, posted a 6.00 ERA in 48 innings for Arizona last year. A strained elbow ended his season in July. On the plus side, he’s flashed superb control in many recent stints.
Odds and Ends: Garland, Linden, A-Rod
Time to round up various tidbits and rumors.
- Jon Garland says that unless his agent kept him in the dark, a long-term deal was never discussed with the White Sox. But in the unlikely event the Sox pursue Garland this winter, he’ll listen. Here’s a look others who will be free agents after this season and under 30 years old for ’09.
- We’ve heard the Brandon Inge/Joe Crede rumors regarding the Dodgers. Tony Jackson speculates that Wes Helms or Jeff Cirillo could also be options.
- Paul Sullivan says Aaron Rowand was the Cubs’ Plan B to Kosuke Fukudome.
- ShysterBall can’t figure out why the Cubs would go after Coco Crisp.
- Todd Linden is mashing so far this spring, but he gets the feeling he won’t make the A’s. The 27 year-old switch-hitter has a Major League line of .231/.303/.335 in 502 ABs.
- Jon Heyman has an inside look at Alex Rodriguez’s offseason adventure.
- In addition to the aforementioned Brandon Medders and Dustin Nippert, Arizona’s Edgar Gonzalez is out of options and has drawn interest.
