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Jose Reyes

Marlins To Meet With Mark Buehrle

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The Marlins, who already obtained manager Ozzie Guillen from the White Sox this offseason, are now pursuing the most dependable starter the skipper had in Chicago, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Marlins will meet with free agent left-hander Mark Buehrle tomorrow.

Rosenthal reported earlier today that adding left-handed starting pitching is the Marlins' top offseason priority. C.J. Wilson, another free agent left-hander, concerns the Marlins because of his postseason control issues, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney.

The Marlins aren't shying away from other top free agents. They have Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols on their radar and, according to Rosenthal, will meet with Jose Reyes Wednesday and Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes Thursday. Pujols, Fielder, Reyes and Wilson are Type A free agents, while Buehrle qualifies as a Type B. He wouldn't cost the Marlins a 2012 draft pick and neither would Cespedes.

Heyman On Pagan, Braves, Pujols, Madson

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Terry Ryan is officially the interim general manager of the Twins, but Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that the longtime GM is recharged and may stay a while (Twitter link). Here are the rest of Heyman’s rumors from SI.com:

  • The Mets have discussed Angel Pagan as a non-tender candidate, but they intend to offer him arbitration, according to Heyman (on Twitter). MLBTR projects a $4.7MM salary for the center fielder in 2012.
  • Meanwhile, Chris Capuano is looking for a two-year deal, but the Mets prefer one-year bargains (Twitter link).
  • The Braves are looking for a Zack Greinke-like return in a deal for Jair Jurrjens, according to Heyman (on Twitter). The Royals obtained Jake Odorizzi, Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar and Jeremy Jeffress for Greinke and Yuniesky Betancourt last offseason.
  • Twins executive Mike Radcliff and Yankees scouting director Damon Oppenheimer weren’t that interested in the Orioles’ GM job, according to Heyman. The Orioles requested permission to interview them both, but the Twins denied the request and the Orioles hired Dan Duquette before setting anything up with Oppenheimer.
  • It's believed that Blue Jays assistant GM Tony LaCava got a raise to stay in Toronto, according to Heyman.
  • It’s hard to tell Boston’s list of managerial candidates apart from the one the Cubs have, as Heyman explains.
  • It doesn’t appear that the Cardinals will be able to boost their nine-year, $200MM offer to Albert Pujols by much.
  • Ryan Madson is drawing lots of interest and the Red Sox, Phillies, Nationals, Rangers and Marlins are believed to be interested.
  • C.J. Wilson, Edwin Jackson, Mark Buehrle and Roy Oswalt are drawing lots of interest, as expected.
  • Heyman hears that Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen is pushing for Prince Fielder or Pujols. The Marlins have also expressed early interest in Jose Reyes.

Jose Reyes To Meet With Marlins

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3:47pm: The Marlins contacted Reyes one minute into the free agent signing period, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. A group of Marlins executives went to New York this week and it appears they were going to visit Reyes’ agent, Peter Greenberg.

2:38pm: Free agent shortstop Jose Reyes is scheduled to meet with the Marlins, according to WFAN's Mike Francesa (Twitter link).  The tweet says that Reyes has received an offer, but my guess is nothing has been formally presented at this early stage.

The Marlins' interest in Reyes is real, so what would become of Hanley Ramirez if they sign Reyes?  Marlins president David Samson told MLB.com's Joe Frisaro there have been no conversations about moving Ramirez to another position, but I'd be surprised if the Fish haven't discussed the possibility internally.  A trade could be another option.

Major free agents typically sign in December or January, so much remains to be seen about the composition of Reyes' market.

Rosenthal On Butler, Sizemore, Orioles

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • The Phillies have serious interest in free agent Michael Cuddyer, although Rosenthal is skeptical of them adding a player who turns 33 in March.  Rosenthal says other left fielders are in the mix, but none are ideal.  One player Rosenthal did not mention is Josh Willingham, who I can see the Phillies considering.  As for a splash at shortstop, Rosenthal says Jose Reyes' leg problems scare the Phillies.
  • The Orioles were desperate to find a new GM and Dan Duquette was desperate to be a GM again, writes Rosenthal.  A press conference is expected this week to announce Duquette's three-year deal.
  • The Royals view Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer as their 3-4 hitters long-term, so don't look for Butler on the trade market this winter.  The 25-year-old is potentially under team control through 2015 on an extension signed in January.
  • Rosenthal sees Grady Sizemore landing with a high-revenue team for an amount close to the $9MM option Cleveland passed on.  I'd be surprised if he tops $7MM guaranteed.  Sizemore's agent Joe Urbon said his client prefers to play center field, but is open to a corner spot.
  • The Orioles are trying to add pitching depth via the six-year minor league free agent market.  Here's the list of minor league free agents from Matt Eddy of Baseball America.
  • Rosenthal says to look for Ryne Sandberg to be promoted to Phillies bench coach of Pete Mackanin is hired by the Cubs or Red Sox.  He also thinks recently-fired Cubs manager Mike Quade would then be a possibility to manage the Phillies' Triple-A club.

Mets Notes: Reyes, Wright, Payroll, Backman

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There's lots of chatter around the Mets regarding free agent Jose Reyes and the possibility of trading third baseman David Wright.  Here's more on that and other items concerning the Metropolitans..

  • ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter) doesn''t know where Reyes will land, but thinks that the Brewers would be an excellent fit for the shortstop.  The Brewers should have the money to spend on a big-ticket free agent such as Reyes this summer.  MLBTR's Tim Dierkes ranked Reyes third on his top 50 free agents list, predicting Milwaukee as his destination.  Make your picks for Reyes the other 49 top free agents in MLBTR's contest — less than three hours remain to enter!
  • Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter) makes an educated guess and sees the Mets with a $95MM payroll on Opening Day.  During the season, GM Sandy Alderson said that the payroll could grow into the $100-$110MM range, but that figure includes amateur signing bonuses.  Rubin (via Twitter) figures the Mets have about $18MM to spend this winter on a closer, set-up man, center fielder, a starting pitcher, and more bullpen arms.
  • Wright could be moved next summer under the right circumstances, but it's highly unlikely that he'll be traded this winter, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) has been told.
  • Wally Backman will accept the Mets’ offer to manage their Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, with the hope that he’s next in line after Terry Collins, writes Bob Klapisch of The Bergen Record.  Meanwhile, friends of Alderson say that he has no intention of a long-run as GM and eventually, Paul DePodesta will run the day-to-day operations of the franchise.  One NL talent evaluator told Klapisch that it would take four-to-five years to develop the talent to become competitive again in the division if the Mets do not retain Reyes.

Olney On Reyes, Wright, Cuddyer, Prado

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In his Sunday column, ESPN.com's Buster Olney weighs-in on David Wright and other stories from around baseball.  Here are some highlights..

  • This morning we learned that the Mets will listen on offers for David Wright.  With a $15MM salary next year and a $16MM option (which Wright can void if dealt) for 2013, Olney writes that the club's best chance to get value in return for him is to deal him now.  Wright will turn 30 next year and while he has been a good solider, he could eventually ask to be sent to a contending team.  Instead, the Mets can deal him now and get players to help them win in 2014 or 2015. 
  • There is sentiment within the Mets' organization that the timing isn't right to build around Jose Reyes, tweets Buster Olney of ESPN.com.  There are concerns that he's not a fit between his leg injuries and their own timetable for contending.
  • One official told Olney that the Phillies' interest in Michael Cuddyer is so ardent that if wants to play with the Phillies, the deal is inevitable as the club will make it happen.  The expectation within the industry is that the veteran will get at least a three-year deal.
  • The Braves are open to trading Martin Prado this winter and given the attention currently being lavished on Michael Cuddyer in the free agent market, Prado figures to be quite popular.  An AL official told Olney that Prado is like a younger version of Cuddyer and might be a better hitter.
  • The Diamondbacks continue to negotiate with second baseman Aaron Hill, and there appears to be some momentum toward getting a deal done.
  • Dan Duquette is on the verge of becoming the Orioles' next GM but as recently as five days ago, the club had no plans to interview him.

Sherman On Wright, Reyes

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The latest from Joel Sherman of the New York Post…

  • "We will listen on [David] Wright for sure," a Mets official told Sherman last week.  The official added, "We know we are not going to win it all in 2012. We have to hope the Phillies get old and we are in position to take advantage of that in 2013-14, and we have to figure out ways to speed the process to get there."  Sherman says the Mets crave a "young, defensive-oriented center fielder plus an arm or two" for Wright.  He says they are focusing most on the Angels, and Peter Bourjos is a possibility.
  • Sherman was hearing similar thoughts about Wright from a Mets official back on October 21st.  Around then, an official told him, "We'll explore Wright's market.  I think considering where we are as an organization, it would be foolish not to at least look at it. However, I expect actually pulling the trigger is a long shot."  GM Sandy Alderson said on on October 31st that he thinks Wright will be a Met in 2012.  Andy Martino of the New York Daily News heard a few days later that Alderson will be "strongly disinclined to deal" Wright.  Though some of these reports have different themes, I don't consider them conflicting.  I think the Mets are being careful not to be seen as "shopping" Wright, as that's considered a dirty word in terms of leverage.  Wright seems far from off-limits, but with his value at a low point the Mets might prefer to wait.
  • Sherman questions why the Mets weren't more proactive in trading Jose Reyes in July, a theme of my offseason outlook a few weeks ago.  But I did note, "In Alderson's defense, Reyes spent half of July on the disabled list, perhaps cutting down his trade value to the point that two draft picks wasn't much worse."
  • Sherman spoke to one American League talent evaluator who thinks the Phillies will be in on Reyes.  It's true that they'll have the need and the money if Jimmy Rollins signs elsewhere.  

Mets’ Hopes Of Retaining Reyes Fading

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Though the Mets maintain some interest in Jose Reyes and might be prepared to offer a four-year deal in the $60-70MM range, they don’t expect the shortstop to return, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Reyes, a Type A free agent who officially hit the market yesterday, is one of the top available players of the offseason.

One Mets official expects Reyes to “be blown away” by another team. Another official agrees that the team’s chances of retaining the shortstop aren’t good: “my instinct is no shot.”

Sherman explains that Reyes may wait for Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder to sign before agreeing to a deal of his own. The Mets don't expect Reyes to sign before the Winter Meetings, but his agent, Peter Greenberg says there's no timetable set for the shortstop, according to Dan Martin of the Post. As Sherman points out, the Cardinals, Brewers, Nationals, Marlins and Phillies are among the teams that could express interest in the 28-year-old.

Jose Reyes Rumors: Thursday

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We've already heard today that the Reds are likely out of the Jose Reyes sweepstakes, as Cincinnati will instead go with rookie Zack Cozart at shortstop next year.  Here are some more items and speculation about where Reyes will play in 2012…

  • Adam Rubin of ESPN New York asked eight beat writers about Reyes' future, and none of the eight (covering the Angels, Brewers, Giants, Marlins, Nationals, Phillies, Tigers and Yankees) seemed optimistic about Reyes signing with their team.
  • From that poll, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that one of the reasons why the Giants won't go after Reyes is because "they believe he's going to sign with the Mets and don't want to be Reyes' stalking horse for his negotiations with Sandy Alderson."  We heard last week that the Mets were going to let other teams set the market for Reyes for making their own offer.
  • Though Dave Dombrowski seemed to rule out the possibility of acquiring another major free agent earlier in the week, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com thinks Reyes would be perfect for the Tigers.  Knobler also thinks the Giants won't be in the running for not only Reyes, but also Jimmy Rollins, as San Francisco will instead target a center fielder.
  • Former Mets general managers Steve Phillips and Jim Duquette don't think Reyes will give the Mets a hometown discount, reports Andrew Keh of the New York Times.  "The New York teams rarely get hometown discounts because there’s always been an assumption that the New York teams don’t need hometown discounts to keep a player," Phillips said.

NL Central Notes: Pirates: Cardinals, Reyes

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Links from the NL Central on the first day that Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder can sign with new teams…

  • The Pirates have holes at catcher, first base, shortstop and in the starting rotation, as Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explains. Tim Dierkes looked ahead to the Pirates' offseason last month.
  • Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Cardinals should hire Terry Francona if he wants to manage in St. Louis. Francona is a candidate for the position, as Joe Strauss reported last night. The Cardinals begin the interview process today.
  • One team that inquired about Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo heard that he was next in line behind Tony La Russa, according to Peter Gammons of MLB Network (on Twitter).
  • The Reds don’t figure to pursue Jose Reyes, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Shortstop Zack Cozart is rehabbing his injured left elbow and should be ready by Opening Day.
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