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Reds Have Preliminary Discussions About Blanton

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We’ve heard the rumblings for some time.  Now there’s word from the Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay that the Reds have "had some preliminary discussions with Oakland about right-hander Joe Blanton."  The Reds also made some kind of offer for Erik Bedard, but Fay admits that neither trade is likely to occur.  That’s because the Reds won’t trade Jay Bruce and only want to part with one of Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, and Joey Votto (though all three are very good prospects).  Note that Billy Beane reportedly wanted Cueto in a Dan Haren deal.

Instead, the Reds are entertaining all sorts of second tier free agents.  Wayne Krivsky runs a tight ship, so it’s tough to narrow down who the Reds have actually talked to.  Fay implies that Livan Hernandez or Jon Lieber could be possibilities.  We do know from previous reports that the Reds have shown interest in Lieber, Runelvys Hernandez, Brett Tomko, Josh Fogg, and David Wells. 

Mets Pitching Plans

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Many readers have written me asking what the Mets are going to do to upgrade their starting rotation.  Matthew Cerrone as a man in the know, and he’s written a summary over at MetsBlog.

  • Cerrone senses nothing much cooking on the Johan Santana front, yet the Mets remain "oddly confident."
  • Cerrone believes the Mets will probably sign one rehabber – Freddy Garcia or Bartolo Colon.  He says reviews on Colon in the Dominican Winter League have been positive.  Omar Minaya knows Colon well, having traded the farm for him as GM of the Expos.  Garcia may be ready to pitch around June.  Coming off a frayed rotator cuff and labrum he may not contribute much in 2008.
  • Bullpen wise, Cerrone says Octavio Dotel is on the radar, especially if Aaron Heilman is traded.
  • There’s a lack of buzz with the Mets for Kyle Lohse, Livan Hernandez, and Joe Blanton currently.

Odds and Ends: Villarreal, Cano, Rowand

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Alright let’s round ’em up.

  • This was one I was going to pass on posting, but it’s pretty dead right now.  The Astros signed newly acquired reliever Oscar Villarreal to a two-year deal.  He was already under team control through 2008.  The MLB.com article adds that Ed Wade’s interest in Livan Hernandez and Bartolo Colon is low, and talks with Jon Lieber pretty much died.
  • The Yankees pulled Robinson Cano out of Winter Ball.  The word is that he doesn’t want to aggravate a calf injury.  You could read into it and speculate he’s a part of trade talks.  Seems like a stretch though.  I believe the Yanks also pulled Melky Cabrera from Winter Ball; we know he’s in trade talks.
  • R.J. Anderson’s book about the Devil Rays and Chuck LaMar is now available for free download.
  • J.C. Bradbury says the Aaron Rowand signing is the best free agent signing of the offseason.  Personally, I don’t hate it.  I don’t like it too much either though.

Phillies, Mets Made Offers To Lohse?

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UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 11:14am: Todd Zolecki says there’s nothing to the report that the Phils made a four-year offer to Lohse.  So, Zolecki and Davidoff do not agree with Tim Brown.

UPDATE, 12-19-07 at 9:24am: Ken Davidoff wrote this morning that the Mets "do not seem particularly interested" in Lohse, Carlos Silva, or Livan Hernandez at the current prices.

FROM 12-17-07 at 1:58pm:

Yahoo’s Tim Brown indicates that the Mets and Phillies both have offers out to free agent starter Kyle Lohse, though it’s not the lead of his story (hat tip to MetsBlog).

There hasn’t been a ton of buzz around Lohse yet.  It seems that other aspects of the pitching market may have to settle first.  Lohse could be a Plan B for the Mariners.  He could be an option for St. Louis as well.  It’s been said that Scott Boras, Lohse’s agent, may try to get five years for him.  As Jerry Crasnick says, Boras is "willing to wait for teams to get desperate."  You can check out Boras’ spin on Lohse here.

Cardinals Turn To Free Agent Market

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The Cardinals want to add at least one starting pitcher.  Once thought to be interested in Carlos Silva and Kyle Lohse – the "premium" options – John Mozeliak is already digging through the bargain bin.  Matthew Leach and Joe Strauss have the latest.

  • Mozeliak has talked to Bartolo Colon’s agent and the Cards will take a look at his medical records.  It’s been suggested that Colon will not take a one-year deal.
  • Livan Hernandez is under consideration, but Mozeliak says he’s "not yet" a fit.
  • Josh Fogg is on the radar too.
  • The Cardinals have marginal interest in Kris Benson, and they’ll attend his workout on the 17th.
  • Interesting non-pitcher note from Mozeliak: the Cards have expressed interest in Aaron Rowand.

Mets Rumors: Kuroda, Livan, Estrada, Colon

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UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 5:49pm: Jayson Stark says the Mets haven’t talked to the the A’s or Orioles at all in Nashville, meaning no talks for Haren or Bedard as of yet.

FROM 12-4-07 at 8:05am:

What’s cooking with the Mets?  Let’s round ’em up.

  • Mark Hale reports that the Mets have advanced to "Round 2" of the bidding process for Hiroki Kuroda.  They did this by indicating a ballpark of what they might offer but without actually making an offer.  Hale says 8-10 teams are in on Kuroda, including the Royals, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Mariners.  The Ms reportedly have some kind of offer out to him, either 3/30 or 4/44.  The Phils are said to have an offer out as well.  Hale doesn’t name the Dodgers but it’s been said they’re getting aggressive on him too.  The Cubs and Rangers are other teams that have been connected to Kuroda. 
  • The Mets appear to have mild interest in Livan Hernandez, perhaps as a fallback innings-eater option.  The Phillies, Cardinals, Nationals, and Astros are other known suitors for Livan.
  • The big fish are still out there in Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, and Dan Haren.  The Mets won’t include Jose Reyes, David Wright, or Carlos Beltran in any deal.  It’s been said that a Carlos Gomez/Aaron Heilman/Philip Humber package was offered for Bedard and rejected.
  • Dan Graziano says the Mets also inquired on Dontrelle Willis, Ben Sheets, and Roy Oswalt and were told none of the three are available.  Graziano adds that the Mets are looking into signing Bartolo Colon.
  • Omar Minaya will meet with the agents for Octavio Dotel and Shawn Chacon today.
  • Minaya disputes Ken Rosenthal’s report that he sought an extension from the Mets and didn’t get one.  Ownership told him he’ll be there "a long time."
  • Though they didn’t want him in the Lastings Milledge deal, the Nationals are interested in acquiring Johnny Estrada for their catcher vacancy.  Damian Miller is also known to be a target of Jim Bowden’s.

Odds and Ends: Jose Lopez, Green, Silva, Fukumori

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Let’s round a few more rumors up, because they just don’t stop coming.

  • Says Jim Molony: no less than 10 teams have expressed interest in Carlos Silva.  Weak – 11 have expressed interest in Bedard, loser.
  • Other guys in the 10 interested teams club – Livan Hernandez and Kazuo Fukumori.  At least, that’s where their agents would like everyone to think.
  • The Padres can only afford one of Mike Cameron and Kosuke Fukudome.  They think Fukudome can play an adequate center.  Kevin Towers is still in talks with Cameron.
  • The Mariners are shopping Jose Lopez, who Jeff Passan names as a possible non-tender.  However Lopez already is already all tendered up through 2010 on a long-term pact.  So to ditch him the Ms would have to trade him or else cut him and eat the money, Russ Ortiz style.
  • Passan suggests the Rays might prefer to go with Shawn Green for their right field vacancy, as Geoff Jenkins and Brad Wilkerson want multiyear deals.  The Giants also like Green, for some reason.  Nick Cafardo suggests Trot Nixon could be the guy behind the guy for the Rays.

Phillies Rumors: Rowand, Benson, Colon, Reyes, Tavarez

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A few articles on the Phillies have surfaced this morning; let’s see what’s cooking on the hot stove.

  • The Phils would pay extra to get Aaron Rowand to take a three-year deal.  Jim Salisbury quotes Rowand’s agent as saying ten clubs are after him.  Salisbury names the usual suspects but throws in the Twins, Royals, Rangers, and Orioles depending on the term.
  • Todd Zolecki confirms the Phillies’ interest in Kris Benson.  He’ll be throwing for teams a few weeks from now.
  • The Phils like Benson best among the rehab project group, now that Randy Wolf is signed.  They’ve also contacted Bartolo Colon’s agent and may be in on Jason Jennings.  Zolecki also names Anthony Reyes and Julian Tavarez as two possible trade targets.
  • Despite what was said yesterday, Zolecki says Livan Hernandez is not high on Pat Gillick’s list.  They remain in the mix for Hiroki Kuroda. 

Brown’s Latest: Erstad, Livan, Tomko

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Yahoo’s Tim Brown checks in with his own set of rumors after working the floor a bit.

  • Darin Erstad is popular – the Padres, Mariners, Astros, and Rays have inquired.  His mystique lives on.
  • The Phillies appear to have a serious interest in Livan Hernandez, though he doesn’t seem to be what they need.
  • Brett Tomko’s agent met with the Rockies today.  Brown says the Pirates, Nationals, Marlins, Reds, and Rangers are after him too.  Separately it’s been said that the Astros are in on him too.  The Padres made a weak $1.5MM offer to Tomko.

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