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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Rolen, Sweeney, Twins

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On this date in 1990, the Tigers signed free agent Cecil Fielder after he hit 38 homers as a member of the Hanshin Tigers the year before. Fielder went on to lead the league with 130 HR and 389 RBI over the next three years, landing a five-year, $36MM contract that made him the then-second-highest paid player in baseball history behind Barry Bonds. Believe it or not, Prince is already more than halfway to his father's career total of 319 homers despite having fewer than half as many plate appearances.

Let's see what's being written around the baseball blogosphere…

  • The Phrontiersman goes back in time to see how things would have played out for the Phillies if Scott Rolen signed a contract extension and was never traded away.
  • DRays Bay wonders if Matt Sweeney could take over first base for the Rays if Carlos Pena leaves as a free agent after 2010. Sweeney was acquired in the Scott Kazmir trade.
  • Fack Youk compares Vladimir Guerrero to Hideki Matsui to Nick Johnson, the three biggest DH signings of the offseason.
  • Lookout Landing says the Mariners did just fine to acquire Casey Kotchman, even though Adam LaRoche agreed to a relatively cheap deal yesterday.
  • Meanwhile, Jorge Says No! thinks the Mets may have made a mistake by not signing LaRoche.
  • Nick's Twins Blog wonders if Michael Cuddyer or Joe Nathan could be expendable as Minnesota's estimated payroll will approach nine-figures in 2011.
  • AdamAdkins.net thinks the Tigers will regret signing Jose Valverde.
  • Pinstripes Published takes a look at the market for Johnny Damon, or lack thereof.
  • TurnTwo looks at all the movement going on with the Giants' defensive alignment.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Matsui, Mariners, Callapso

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On Christmas Day way back in 2001, Hideki Matsui became the highest paid player in Japanese baseball history, agreeing to a one-year contract worth $4.7MM with the Yomiuri Giants. In his seven-year (and counting) Major League Baseball career, Matsui has never earned less than $6MM annually.

Let's see what's being written around the blogosphere…

  • River Ave. Blues takes a look at the economic impact of Matsui leaving the World Champs for the Angels.
  • U.S.S. Mariner runs down some potential first base options for the Mariners, covering players available through trades, free agency, and those already in-house.
  • It's About The Money, Stupid! compares Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson to the two guys they're replacing, Johnny Damon and Matsui.
  • South Side Sox provides some thoughts on Kenny Williams' busy offseason.
  • Royals Authority says Kansas City needs an outfielder, and proposes a few deals centered around Alberto Callaspo.
  • Viva El Birdos has some concerns about signing Matt Holliday to a long-term contract.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

Yankees Rumors: DeRosa, Damon, Matsui

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Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News hears that Scott Boras and Johnny Damon talked with the Yankees yesterday and would have considered a two-year deal.  The New York Times' Tyler Kepner says he would've taken $20MM, while Newsday's Ken Davidoff says the Yanks' best offer was $14MM (both links via Twitter).  Now it appears that Damon's tenure with the Bombers is over. Damon will have other suitors, but leaving the Yankees behind won't be easy.

"I know there are some teams interested," Damon told Feinsand. "But the Yankees are the best organization I've been a part of so far in my career."

One source suggests to Feinsand that Damon could land in San Francisco. Nick Johnson was a rumored Giants target until it became apparent that the Yanks were nearing a deal with him. Johnson will make less than Matsui next year, but Feinsand says the Yanks' decision to let Matsui walk has more to do with the DH's knees than his salary demands.

The Yankees' next moves?  Starting pitching and a look at Mark DeRosa, according to ESPN's Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  For now, the Yankees are unwilling to meet DeRosa's $18-21MM asking price over three years (understandably).  Rosenthal says the Giants, Cardinals, and possibly Braves are other suitors.

Odds & Ends: Carroll, Crisp, Cameron, Hermida

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Links for Wednesday…

  • The Tigers signed lefty Brad Thomas out of Korea, and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that they paid $1MM.
  • Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirmed our report of the Pirates' interest in Kelly Johnson, explaining that the Pirates view him as a corner outfield option.
  • FanGraphs' Dave Cameron wonders why teams seem to undervalue Cliff Lee.  In a related story, Lee's agent Darek Braunecker believes their position has been mischaracterized. 
  • ESPN's Buster Olney expects Jamey Carroll to choose between two-year offers from the A's and Dodgers, probably today (I mistakenly wrote the Angels earlier).
  • Mentioned first on Twitter: I've heard that Coco Crisp would prefer a one-year deal with the Padres or A's.
  • Boston's Mike Cameron signing was officially announced today.  Michael Silverman and John Tomase of the Boston Herald have details on the two-year, $15.5MM contract.  John Lackey's deal was also announced.
  • WEEI's Alex Speier says the Red Sox told Jeremy Hermida they'd trade him if they re-signed Jason Bay.  Speier wonders if the Cameron signing will prompt a Hermida deal.
  • The Angels' one-year, $6.5MM deal with Hideki Matsui was also announced, as was John Buck's one-year, $2MM deal with Toronto and Ross Gload's two-year, $2.6MM deal with the Phillies.
  • The Royals put out word they've re-signed outfielder Shane Costa to a minor league deal.  Costa, 28, missed almost the entire '09 season with a leg injury.
  • USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweets details on LaTroy Hawkins' two-year, $7.5MM deal with the Brewers.
  • Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker examines the reports about reliever Ryota Igarashi, who might be headed to the Red Sox or Mets.
  • The Mariners signed 19-year-old shortstop Pedro Okuda to a minor league deal, according to a team press release.  Okuda was born and raised in Brazil but attended high school in Japan.

Odds & Ends: Torrealba, Rangers, Damon

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Some evening links…

  • Yorvit Torrealba's pending grievance hearing against the Mets will take place Wednesday, writes Jon Heyman of SI.com.  Torrealba contends that back when he was a free agent in 2007, the club falsely created the impression that he was an injury risk.  Interestingly, the article notes that despite this, the Mets could still sign Torrealba this time around if they are unable to sign Bengie Molina.
  • The Texas Rangers could sell for as much as $530MM, according to Maury Brown of BizOfBaseball.  Brown indicates that the group led by Jim Crane holds the highest bid at the moment.
  • Ken Davidoff of Newsday tweeted earlier today that the signings of Mike Cameron and Hideki Matsui could improve the chances of Johnny Damon returning to the Bronx.  Not just a good point but one that many of us have probably overlooked in the chaos of today.
  • All of the player movement of today puts a great deal of pressure on Mets GM Omar Minaya, writes Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.
  • With Lackey and Halladay seemingly off the market, the Yankees can now focus on whittling down a list of available second-tier starters, writes Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger.  Carig suggests that Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer are possibilities.
  • Steve Gilbert of MLB.com has a list of possible non-tenders who could land with the D'Backs.  We've heard the other names already, but Gilbert suggests Ryan Church as a fit, noting that Arizona has an uncertain interest level. 
  • A person familiar with the Mets' thinking tells Marty Noble of MLB.com that the team has interest in two pitchers: starter Chien-Ming Wang and a lower-profile name in reliever Mike MacDougal.

Angels, Hideki Matsui Reach Agreement

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7:15pm: The contract is worth "about" $6.5MM, tweets Feinsand.

6:32pm: It's a one-year deal, tweets Jon Heyman.

6:20pm: Meanwhile, both Ken Davidoff of Newsday (via Twitter) and Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) tried to get a confirmation out of Matsui's agent, but he wouldn't Tell-em anything. 

6:12pm: Tyler Kepner of the New York Times has received confirmation that the two sides have reached an agreement (via Twitter).

1:21pm: The Angels are in serious discussions with Hideki Matsui for a DH role, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.  Stark's colleague Buster Olney tweeted that he's heard Matsui's one-year deal with the Angels is for about $6.5MM.  Olney clarified to me via email that the Angels and Matsui are "on the verge" of an agreement.

Matsui, 35, hit .274/.367/.509 in 526 plate appearances for the Yankees this year, spending no time in the field.  He earned $13MM in the last year of a deal signed in November of '05.

Stark notes that a Matsui signing would mark the end of Vladimir Guerrero's Angels career.  The Halos ended up paying $77MM for six years of Vlad.

Olney On Damon, Halladay, Molina, Carroll

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ESPN's Buster Olney kicks off his latest blog post with a poignant look at his relationship with Peter Gammons.  As for the rumors…

  • Olney says the Yankees and Johnny Damon appear to be far apart in early contract negotiations.  Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News believes the Yanks will turn to Hideki Matsui, Mike Cameron, or Mark DeRosa if Damon won't take a two-year offer within two weeks or so.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says Damon seeks three or four years at $13MM annually, while the Yanks are at two years, $19MM (Bobby Abreu's contract). 
  • Olney heard the Blue Jays' asking price of the Phillies for Roy Halladay "is about the same" as it was in July.  That doesn't seem logical, but we are talking about two different GMs here.  Olney was able to confirm the reported Halladay demands the Jays made of the Yankees: Jesus Montero, Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes, and more.
  • The Mets' initial offer to catcher Bengie Molina contains a vesting option.  Olney doesn't speculate, but do you think the Mets were willing to guarantee the first two years? 
  • The Dodgers, Indians, and A's are among the teams eyeing Jamey Carroll, who seeks a two-year deal.  Carroll may look at Craig Counsell's yet-unsigned deal as a precedent.

Twitter Rumors: Smoltz, Damon, Mulder, Felix, Counsell

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Twitter madness…

  • Surprisingly, Ken Davidoff of Newsday writes of an "increasing expectation around MLB" that the Yankees will eventually re-sign Hideki Matsui.
  • Crasnick talked to one exec who says Scott Boras wants three years and big money for outfielder Rick Ankiel.
  • The Royals talked to the Dodgers about Juan Pierre, writes ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, but the Dodgers would have to eat too much money to make it work.
  • ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Phillies are now looking hard at John Smoltz as a possible "back-of-the-bullpen weapon."  Smoltz's agent apparently told the Phils that the pitcher has no problem with Citizens Bank Park.
  • ESPN's Buster Olney heard "the Yankees are in the process of negotiating with Johnny Damon's camp."  He adds that the Yanks "intend to use market forces to pressure Damon to make a decision quickly."  I'm sure Scott Boras will love that.
  • Brewers GM Doug Melvin plans to visit free agent lefty Mark Mulder in January to discuss a possible contract, says Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports says there have been no Felix Hernandez negotiations this week after an initial four-year offer from the Mariners.
  • Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times that they'll tender contracts to all of their arbitration-eligible players.  No big surprise, though it's a large group of players.
  • Scott Lauber of the News Journal talked to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr., who said Astros GM Ed Wade stole Brandon Lyon from the Phillies.  The Astros committed three years and $15MM to Lyon despite holes at shortstop and third base.
  • MLB.com's Adam McCalvy says the Brewers upped their offer to Craig Counsell this morning and GM Doug Melvin is confident they'll get it done.  The Reds are still in the mix for Counsell, says MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. 
  • La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune heard last night that Twins infielder Alexi Casilla is available.

Odds & Ends: Livan, Cameron, Matsui, Mulder

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Time for another round of links…

White Sox, Angels Interested In Hideki Matsui

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2:44pm: Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald talked to White Sox GM Kenny Williams, who hasn't had any recent discussions for Matsui and suggested the team's interest has been overstated.  Williams did not ask for a medical report on Matsui; he says he already understands what he's dealing with.

WEDNESDAY, 1:00pm: Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets that the Sox could go to California next week to meet with Matsui and check out his knee.

TUESDAY, 3:18pm: The White Sox "have emerged as a serious contender for Hideki Matsui," writes Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.  He notes that the Angels also confirmed their interest.

I'm not convinced in either regard.  Angels GM Tony Reagins said, "He's a person we've talked about," while White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen suggested Matsui would have to be able to play the outfield.

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