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Russell Martin Hopes To Discuss Extension

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According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, Dodgers catcher Russell Martin hopes to discuss a long-term extension with the team this winter.  Martin changed agents this offseason. He’s arbitration-eligible for the first time, so his salary will jump up from $500K to several million.  Said Martin:

"I just want to get treated fairly.  I’m not trying to steal the bank."

Martin had a private lunch with the McCourts yesterday at the Dodgers’ new spring home, but they did not discuss a contract.  Brian McCann will be paid $15.5MM for his three arb years, $8.5MM for his first free agent year, and has a $12MM club option for another.  That deal was signed almost two years ago, however.  Also, Martin is a Super Two player and under team control through 2012.

In other Dodgers’ notes, Shaikin adds that they’ve backed off on Juan Cruz.  Jon Garland, Braden Looper, Randy Wolf, Andy Pettitte, Luis Ayala, and Dennys Reyes remain on the radar to varying degrees.

Rockies Rumors: Redding, Taveras, Penny

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2:47am: MLB.com’s Thomas Harding digs further.  He says Taveras did not fail a physical, and the other player in the trade was hard-throwing righty Juan Morillo (who is out of options).

12:50am: Troy Renck says the Tim Redding–Willy Taveras deal is on life support.  An upgrade from dead, I suppose.  He says:

A potential deal died late Tuesday over apparent concerns about Willy Taveras’ left leg stress fracture. However, a Natonals’ source said that the bigger issue was a medical issue with a pitcher Washington was to receive as part of the deal. That leaves the lingering possibility that something could get done Thursday following the Rule 5 draft.

Both players remain non-tender candidates for Friday.  Thomas Harding says the Rockies have slim hope of a deal for Taveras.

Other notes from Harding:  The Rockies decided against making an offer to Brad Penny and they’re waiting to hear back on a minor league offer to Glendon Rusch.  Renck says they do have interest in Luis Ayala.

Mets Likely To Pass On K-Rod?

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Newsday’s Ken Davidoff spoke to a "person informed of the Mets’ thinking," and learned that they will not be signing free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez.  This is not because of the $10.5MM owed to Billy Wagner next year – that’s a sunk cost.  It’s just that the Mets would rather try internal options than hand out another record-breaking contract.  Davidoff does not expect the Mets to pursue Brian Fuentes either.  He sees the Mets re-signing Luis Ayala and then focusing on starting pitching.

Davidoff examines the likelihood of the Angels, Cardinals, or Tigers signing Rodriguez.  He seems to consider the Cards the favorite.  The Cardinals may entertain re-signing Jason Isringhausen, but that wouldn’t take them out of the market for a closer. 

A closer vacancy and a ton of money…not many teams fit that description.  Will K-Rod have a disappointing winter?

Mets Acquire Luis Ayala

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The Washington Times is reporting that the Nationals have traded relief pitcher Luis Ayala to the Mets for Anderson Hernandez.

Ayala, who will be a eligible for free agency for the first time this offseason, has a 5.77 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 22 walks in 57.2 innings this season. He is making $1.7MM.  The Mets will have to try to fix him quickly; his control worsened this year.  The Phillies and Marlins chose not to make a claim on Ayala, apparently.  The reliever had been requesting a trade throughout the year.

Hernandez, a middle infielder, is hitting .203/.262/.307 in Triple A.  He has limited big league experience, having appeared in 35 games for the Mets.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here .

Mets Interested In Luis Ayala

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2:28pm: Joel Sherman says the Mets have an outside chance of snagging Ayala, a Minaya favorite.

1:12pm: According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Mets are discussing reliever Luis Ayala with the Nationals.  Omar Minaya "badly wants a reliever." 

The 30 year-old carries a 5.54 ERA in 50.1 innings, though he’s pitched better than that.

Tigers Eyeing Chad Cordero?

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Matt Palmer and John Keim of the Washington Examiner write that the Nationals and Tigers discussed Chad Cordero this spring.  Their source believes the Tigers’ interest will heighten if their bullpen struggles early on.  The article doesn’t cover suggest it, but the Tigers could also consider relievers Jon Rauch or Luis Ayala.  A look at the three:

  • Cordero, 26, earns $6.8MM in ’08.  He’ll be a free agent after the ’09 season.  Cordero hasn’t pitched yet this season due to shoulder tendinitis, and he wasn’t at his typical velocity in spring.  His control was off in ’07 and he was more hittable than ever. Jim Bowden won’t get full value if he trades Cordero soon.
  • Rauch, 29, earns $1.2MM in ’08, $2MM in ’09, and has a $2.9MM club option for ’10.  He showed the best control of his career in ’07, and he’s second in line for saves in Washington.  He has more trade value than Cordero – he’s completely healthy and signed cheaply.
  • Ayala, 30, earns $1.7MM in ’08 and then reaches free agency.  He may not be a fit for Detroit – he pitches to contact, and their bullpen already has those types.  Ayala had Tommy John surgery in March of ’06.

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