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Jose Guillen

Royals, Orioles In Lead For Jose Guillen

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According to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, the Royals and Orioles are the frontrunners to sign free agent outfielder Jose Guillen.  That link is in Spanish so feel free to correct me if my translation is off.  The article was published on November 18th.

Rojas reports that eight teams have shown interest in signing Guillen to a multiyear deal.  We knew the Royals were dead set on Guillen; the Orioles part is new to me.  The O’s already have Nick Markakis in right, so perhaps Guillen would be used in left.  Sounds like he’s pretty popular despite the steroid revelations.  Maybe he’ll get that three-year, $30MM deal after all.

There have been some reports floating around that a contract with the Royals was imminent, but that does not appear to be accurate based on the conversations I’ve had.  Nonetheless the Royals figure to win this thing; Guillen is their top priority now that Torii Hunter is off the board.

Royals Pursue Guillen, Reportedly Set With Yabuta

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The Royals were in on the Torii Hunter sweepstakes, having offered five years and $70 million, with every intention of going higher if necessary. Now that the Angels have locked him up, Jose Guillen has become the "indisputable No. 1 on the Royals’ list of off-season targets."

“Obviously, our objective remains the same,” general manager Dayton Moore said. “We do want to acquire a right-handed bat to hit in the middle of our order, and we’ll keep working through every opportunity imaginable.”

Bob Dutton thinks that losing out on Hunter could have added benefits. In addition to acquiring the cheaper Guillen, the Royals could use the Hunter money to pursue RHPs Hiroki Kuroda or Carlos Silva.
Each is seeking a four-year, $40 million deal. Added with Guillen’s asking price of three years, $30 million (though that could come down with his steroid allegations), that’s the $70 million they were offering Hunter.

Dutton also reports that the Royals have a deal in place for RHP Yasuhiko Yabuta on a two-year deal for between $5 and $6 million, with a club option for 2010. The deal should be announced once Yabuta makes his way to the States for his physical.

Joe Pawlikowski is co-author of River Ave. Blues.

Odds and Ends: Garcia, Greene, DeJesus

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With so many rumors, there’s a need for a daily Odds and Ends post to catch ’em all.

  • Buster Olney talked to Freddy Garcia’s agent.  He’s looking at a June return from shoulder surgery.
  • Indians GM Mark Shapiro made an offer on Brad Lidge.  The Astros didn’t even reply.  They did hear back from the Marlins on their Miguel Cabrera inquiry.  The price is seemingly too high for talks to continue.  Peter Gammons says that before the Astros got Michael Bourn, the White Sox pushed for a Chad Qualls for Ryan Sweeney swap.
  • Evan Grant notes that the Rangers have discussed trading shortstop Joaquin Arias to the Royals for Joey Gathright.  They’ve also talked to the Brewers about Tony Gwynn Jr.  GM Jon Daniels needs to have options if he can’t afford Torii Hunter or the other free agents.  Grant adds that the Rangers have already been in touch with Kerry Wood.
  • Jose Guillen declined his $5MM option with the Mariners – that’s no surprise.  So far the Royals have expressed interest.
  • Khalil Greene is under the Padres’ control through 2009, but his salary is going to jump significantly in arbitration for the ’08 and ’09 seasons.  The Padres want to sign him to a multiyear deal, perhaps buying out one year of free agency.  GM Kevin Towers is also posturing that he might use Scott Hairston as the regular center fielder next year, which seems a stretch.  Also, Geoff Jenkins is on Towers’ radar.
  • Ed Wade and the Astros have asked the Marlins about Dontrelle Willis.  However the ’Stros probably do not have the goods.’
  • One way or another, the Marlins will ditch Miguel Olivo.  They hope to bring Yorvit Torrealba aboard, which would take an offer better than two years, $6MM.  The Mets, Brewers, and Blue Jays also like Torrealba.  The Marlins are serious about upgrading behind the plate and will spend some money to do so.
  • Jorge Posada seems set on testing the market, which never bodes well for the incumbent team.
  • David DeJesus is a hot commodity as an affordable center fielder, but Dayton Moore expects to hang onto him.  Maybe he’ll change his mind once some big names are off the board.

Royals Rumors: Cordero, Silva, Guillen

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Some good info surfacing regarding the Royals, as usual courtesy of the KC Star’s Bob Dutton.

  • While Joakim Soria will remain in the pen, the Royals want to add more relief help.  They could re-sign David Riske, and even plan to contact Francisco Cordero’s agent (Bean Stringfellow).  Bringing back Octavio Dotel is also being considered, though Soria would remain the closer.
  • Ron Mahay is on the radar.  It’s thought that he’ll require something close to a three-year, $12MM deal as one of the better southpaw relievers out there.  Riske wants a deal like that too.  Dayton, just take the draft pick.
  • I’ve yet to mention here Dayton Moore’s quotes.  Basically, steroid allegations won’t affect the team’s pursuit of any player, meaning they still like Jose Guillen.  It’s not surprising to see GMs moving in this direction.
  • Japan presents options such as Hitoki Iwase, Kazuo Fukumori, and Yashuhiko Yabuta.  New manager Trey Hillman observed Iwase up close this year.
  • What about more starting pitching?  The Royals like Carlos Silva, Hiroki Kuroda, Kris Benson, Matt Clement, and Jason Jennings.  Something useful could come out of that.
  • By the way, the Royals saw Glendon Rusch work out recently.  The swingman came up as a Royal before being traded to the Mets in ’99.

Jose Guillen Busted For Steroids

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Say it ain’t so, Jose.  Free agent right fielder Jose Guillen just saw his stock plummet, as the Game of Shadows guys nailed him for prolonged HGH and steroid use.  Well, at least for purchasing almost $20K worth of various performance-enhancers from May 2002 to June 2005.  He actually had steroids shipped to him at the Oakland Coliseum.  Matt Williams and Ismael Valdez were also implicated, sadly.  All three used the same dentist Paul Byrd did, calling his story into question a bit.   

Guillen spoke out against steroid use earlier this year, saying he "never considered" using them.  He might be back to where he was a year ago, finding an incentive-laden contract guaranteeing around $5MM.  So much for three years, $30MM guaranteed.  Guillen was already known as a mercurial character, and this just compounds the concerns. 

Royals Interested In Guillen, Jenkins, Hunter

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I was waiting for someone to name a few players of interest to the Royals, and Bob Dutton came through tonight with some names.

Specifically, the team is after a run-producer, ideally a right-handed hitter.  That puts Jose Guillen atop their list.  Dayton Moore might need to go a little north of three years, $30MM to get him.

Failing that, the left-handed hitting Geoff Jenkins is on the radar.  He’d probably go for a one-year, $6-7MM contract in my estimation.

Dutton notes that the Royals have interest in Torii Hunter, but he’s likely to be priced out of their range.

Dutton also hints that Sammy Sosa could be a consideration for the Royals, as he does have pop if nothing else.  They are one of a handful of teams with an open DH spot. 

Mariners Decline Option On Jose Guillen

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UPDATE, 11-3-07:  There had been conflicting reports of this, but Cot’s Baseball Contracts had it right.  Guillen’s player option is for $5MM, and he’s already said he’s declining it.  The Mariners pretty much wasted $500K in declining the club option.   

FROM 11-2-07:

The Mariners are saying they put the ball in Jose Guillen’s court, but they really didn’t.  They declined his one-year, $9MM option.  Now Guillen can choose to exercise an option for 2008 for $5MM or elect for free agency.  Seems pretty clear he’ll pass on that.

It figured to be this way from the start; the $9MM team option really meant nothing because if they exercised it that would mean Guillen was worth more than that on the open market.  The $5MM player option only had value if Guillen was hurt or terrible in ’07 and wanted to get paid anyway.

You have to figure it’ll take three years, $30MM to even get in the door on a new contract for Guillen.  He wants to stay, but admits the Mariners have to make a choice.  That choice would apparently have to be benching Jose Vidro, shifting Raul Ibanez to DH, and using Adam Jones in left.  Bringing Guillen back doesn’t seem likely, especially with Wladimir Balentien already sitting on the sidelines.

The Ms also officially ended the Chris Reitsma experiment.

Odds and Ends: Lincecum, Wakefield, Schilling

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More random rumors.  You know you love it.

Odds and Ends: Hunter, A-Rod, Bedard

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Sunday morning minor rumor collection…

  • There’s always some skepticism from readers regarding Charley Walters rumors.  Nonetheless I’ll report that he names the Nationals, White Sox, Braves, Yankees, and Dodgers as teams that will bid for Torii Hunter.  I don’t see the Braves getting involved at $15MM per.  And are the Dodgers ready to move Juan Pierre to left field already?  The other clubs named seem reasonable.
  • As expected, the Cardinals interviewed Chris Antonetti for their open GM position.  No doubt it’s an attractive position but you have to wonder what kind of autonomy he’d have with Tony La Russa around.
  • Larry LaRue makes the case for the Mariners tendering a contract to Horacio Ramirez.  He also notes that Jose Guillen is as good as gone and the Ms won’t consider A-Rod.
  • Speaking of that guy, Bill Price suggests the Mets should sign him and move David Wright to first base.  Carlos Delgado I suppose would be a very expensive pinch-hitter in 2008. 
  • Nick Cafardo expects the Orioles to shop Miguel Tejada this winter, which would surprise no one.  But he’s also hearing that Erik Bedard could be available.  Trades of either might be unpopular with the fanbase.  The trade market for starters could be hopping if Johan Santana, Bedard, and C.C. Sabathia are made available.
  • Joel Sherman says Koji Uehara is a free agent, but we have heard differently.  Anyway, the success of Hideki Okajima may create a minor bidding war for Hitoki Iwase.

Mariners Hot Stove Chatter

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John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer discusses the Mariners’ offseason situation in today’s column.  Let’s summarize.

  • Jose Guillen will probably decline his $9MM option for ’08, no surprise there.  An "inside source" of Hickey’s doesn’t expect him back with Seattle.  That puts Ichiro in center and Adam Jones in right, which hopefully makes up for the unpleasantness of Raul Ibanez in left.
  • Hickey sees the Mariners having about $15MM to spend this winter.  If $10MM of that went to Guillen the Ms would be severely limited in pitching acquisitions.  Instead they should and probably will just spend all of it to get at least two hurlers.
  • As you know, Hiroki Kuroda is on the radar.  I can’t figure out what kind of contract to expect for Kuroda.  I’m guessing two or three years at at least $5MM per.  I can’t think of a good comparable, as Matsuzaka and Igawa were not free agents.
  • U.S.S. Mariner believes Bartolo Colon is the "hidden gem of free agent pitchers," and officially endorses signing him.  They suggest he could net a one-year, $9MM deal or maybe two years, $16MM.  That sounds fair and I agree that Bart looks like a possible bargain.  Scour the free agent list – who’s your #1 bargain among starters?  Viva El Birdos likes Jon Lieber.  I’ll cast a vote for Brett Tomko.   
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