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Mark Loretta

Arbitration Decisions

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Free agents’ decisions on whether to accept their teams’ offers of arbitration are rolling in.

  • Eric Gagne told the Red Sox that he won’t their offer of arbitration.  The Boras camp had sent signals otherwise, but it was an idle threat.  He wants that multiyear deal or at least a chance to close.  The Red Sox get a delicious sandwich pick for their dalliance with Gagne.  Could’ve been more, if Gagne was lights out for them and snagged Type A status.
  • Mark Loretta accepted; Trever Miller declined.  Loretta should make $3MM+ to take on a utility role.  The Astros could always still trade him to a team looking for second base help.  As for Miller, he could still return.  The Astros will get a sandwich pick if he leaves.
  • Ron Mahay declined the Braves’ offer.  No surprise since he’s looking for three years.  You have to consider their sandwich pick as an added benefit of the Teixeira trade.
  • Aaron Rowand is expected to decline, which is a formality since he’s going to get at least three years.  As a Type A, the Phils probably hope he ends up with the Yankees somehow.

Odds and Ends: Sabathia, Loretta, Patterson

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You know the drill, here’s a roundup of some rumor nuggets.  I’ll update the  post continuously throughout the day.

Rockies Rumors: Iguchi, Cook, Kip, Holliday

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UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 12:57pm: According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, David Eckstein is now a Rockies’ target for second base.  They talked to Mark Loretta today, also.  Harding adds that the holdup on the Cook deal is the amount of a fourth-year option.

FROM 12-6-07 at 12:21pm:

The Denver Post’s Troy E. Renck has a lunchtime Rockies update.

  • Renck doesn’t see Tadahito Iguchi getting Kaz Matsui money, noting that only the Rockies are pursuing Iguchi at his preferred position of second base.  That could change if the Orioles trade Brian Roberts.
  • Though Aaron Cook’s 3/30 extension isn’t final, GM Dan O’Dowd believes it will get done.
  • Free agents on the radar: LaTroy Hawkins, Shawn Chacon, Octavio Dotel, Victor Zambrano, and Kip Wells.  There was recent chatter about Wells trying to become a setup man.
  • According to Scott Boras, he’s never received a contract offer from the Rox for Matt Holliday.  The original rumor was that the Rockies were planning to offer a four-year, $60MM extension.

Rockies Interested In Iguchi

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According to Troy Renck and Patrick Saunders, the Rockies met with Tadahito Iguchi’s agent yesterday to discuss their second base opening.  Iguchi prefers the idea of second base, and is looking for a two-year deal.  Other teams interested in Iguchi are the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, and Brewers.

Other second basemen on Colorado’s radar include Chris Burke and Mark Loretta.

Astros Rumors: Tejada, Loretta

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MLB.com’s Alyson Footer chased down a few Astros rumors today.

  • The Astros’ chances at Miguel Tejada were graded a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 yesterday.  Now they’re at a 0.  So, that’s that.
  • Mark Loretta has until Friday to decide whether to accept the team’s offer of arbitration.  He may not want to accept since he wants a full-time job.  His agent contacted Ed Wade about that today.  Dan O’Dowd suggested that the Astros "got him back."

Barmes For Burke Offered

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According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies have offered shortstop Clint Barmes to the Astros for second baseman Chris Burke.  Seems a reasonable swap of blocked middle infielders.

The Rockies will also meet with Mark Loretta’s agent tonight.  Loretta is coveted by the Mariners as well.

Talks with the Astros about Brian Fuentes fizzled, so the Rockies will probably just keep him as a luxury.

ESPN’s Latest: Lamb, Bedard, Tejada, Loretta

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ESPN’s Amy Nelson and Buster Olney recently checked in with a few new rumors.

  • The Red Sox checked in on Mike Lamb – they’re looking for a corner infield backup.  Lamb had good numbers in ’07 so he may prefer to look for a starting job.  Meanwhile, Evan Grant says the Rangers are in the lead for Lamb.  They’d give him that starting gig.
  • The Orioles apparently have four teams already offering impressive packages for Erik Bedard.
  • The Dodgers and O’s talked Miguel Tejada last night but they couldn’t find a match.
  • The Mariners like Mark Loretta as a backup and challenger to Jose Lopez; they may offer around $2MM.

Padres Rumors: Loretta, Iguchi, Peavy, Barrett

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Tom Krasovic fills us in on the latest with the Padres.

  • Kevin Towers is considering Mark Loretta and Tadahito Iguchi as second base options.  Loretta has expressed interest.  I wonder how this will make the Padres feel; his strong flirtations may turn them off.
  • Jake Peavy will get full no-trade protection for 2008-10, limited for 2011-12.
  • As reported yesterday Towers is in talks for Mark Prior and Josh Towers.  Towers said that himself?  Tampering!
  • The Padres still expect Michael Barrett to accept arby.  Krasovic mentions the Cubs actually considered having Barrett switch positions last year.  Yes!  Barrett should market himself as a third baseman and play the field.
  • The Padres recently talked about a multiyear (probably two year) deal with Mike Cameron.

Odds and Ends: Guillen, Patterson, Clark, Andruw

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Let’s keep things rolling along with a morning Odds and Ends collection.

  • U.S.S. Mariner is not amused with the Ms’ decision not to offer arbitration to Jose Guillen.
  • Andruw Jones hasn’t been getting much player, and his camp initiated contact with the Royals yesterday. The mutual interest may have been what pushed Guillen to sign.
  • With the David Riske to Milwaukee signing not official, the Orioles apparently had talks with his agent yesterday.  He’ll be too pricey for them, anyway.  By the way, the Cubs checked in on Brian Roberts, but nothing is really stirring right now on that front.
  • Corey Patterson seems a little down, as he’s no one’s first choice in center field.  The Orioles are apparently moving on.  Patterson wouldn’t say whether he’d take a one-year deal.  As a Scott Boras client, I imagine he won’t.
  • Summing up the Rockies’ external second base candidates: Chris Burke, Marcus Giles, and Mark Loretta. The agents for both Giles and Loretta have contacted the Rockies, and Loretta would play there at a discount.
  • Evan Grant has his Rangers column up, but we already hit upon most of the points yesterday (he was the source then, too).  One new note is that the Rangers don’t want to give Tony Clark anything more than one year plus an option, while Clark wants a two-year deal.  The Rays, Dodgers, and Twins are said to like Clark.

Rockies, Mariners Interested In Marcus Giles

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Second baseman Marcus Giles was awful this year, hitting .229/.304/.317 in 420 ABs.  You don’t hear statheads talking him up quite as much these days.  Nonetheless ESPN’s Jayson Stark reports that the Rockies and Mariners have interest.  Apparently one other NL team is interested as well.

For the Rox, Giles would be a fallback option if they can’t sign Mark Loretta.  The Mariners are trying to find someone to challenge or replace Jose Lopez.  Giles made $3.75MM this year and doesn’t figure to get much more on the open market.

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