Rangers Rumors: Lamb, Gagne, Prior
As usual, Evan Grant has the latest Rangers hot stove buzz.
- New acquisition Chris Shelton may see some time at first base for the Rangers. As far as left-handed hitters, the Rangers’ options are Mike Lamb, Sean Casey, and in-house choice Frank Catalanotto.
- Free agents Eric Gagne, LaTroy Hawkins, Corey Patterson, and Milton Bradley are still on the radar.
- Contrary to previous reports, the Rangers aren’t interested in Mark Prior.
- The Rangers don’t want to move Vicente Padilla or Kevin Millwood as straight-up salary dumps.
Four Teams After Prior
MLB.com’s Jim Molony names four teams interested in Mark Prior: Reds, Padres, Phillies, and Rangers. The Phils are the new one on that list; I remember they had interest a few years back in a Prior for Bobby Abreu swap.
One other team that may have some interest is the Mariners.
Cubs Rumors: Fukudome, Prior
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:58pm: MetsBlog’s Matthew Cerrone says there is "very minimal buzz"that the Mets may have inquired on Prior.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 7:04pm: Tasty rumor morsel: Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says Fukudome is "almost certainly" going to sign with the Cubs.
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 12:20pm: Some new stuff from ESPN Radio 1000’s Bruce Levine.
- The Cubs have talked to the Royals about Mark Teahen; the Royals like Matt Murton.
- Levine says there’s nothing to the Josh Hamilton rumor.
FROM 12-4-07 at 12:11pm:
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times discusses the rumors around the Cubs.
- Wittenmyer implies that Kosuke Fukudome could get a deal similar to Torii Hunter‘s – five years, $90MM. That’s not in line with what’s been said so far, plus Fukudome has said he wants three years and not more.
- The Padres are the frontrunner to acquire Mark Prior, but Dusty Baker’s Reds are also interested. The Reds idea first surfaced here. The Padres, though, have made many deals with the Cubs over the past few years as Jim Hendry and Kevin Towers work well together.
ESPN’s Latest: Sosa, Prior, Kuroda, Reyes
UPDATE, 12-4-07 at 11:19pm: Ah, the truth comes out. Sammy Sosa‘s people approached the Royals, but they weren’t interested.
FROM 12-4-07 at 3:17pm:
ESPN has a huge team at the Meetings; here are some tidbits that haven’t appeared elsewhere on MLBTR.
- Enrique Rojas says the Royals have interest in Sammy Sosa. Could that indicate a Mark Teahen trade is in the works also? Teahen is expected to move to first base to accomodate Jose Guillen, which would push Billy Butler to DH. But Sammy can only DH.
- Buster Olney says the Rangers and Padres are in on Mark Prior.
- The Padres also like lefties Glendon Rusch and Shawn Estes, and may sign both after the Rule 5 as a means of adding starting depth.
- Jayson Stark says the Mariners made an offer to Hiroki Kuroda in the range of four years, $45MM.
- Jerry Crasnick says Anthony Reyes is generating a lot of interest. The Cards, by the way, are open to trading Rick Ankiel, Chris Duncan, or Jim Edmonds.
- The Rockies have gotten in touch with Marcus Giles‘ agent.
- The Astros aren’t interested in Jon Lieber, despite previous reports. They liked Matt Clement a bit among the injury guys but are over him now.
- Ryan Howard‘s agent and the Phillies will sit down soon to talk about a long-term deal.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Rolen, Haren, Prior, Hawkins
Ken Rosenthal has some new rumors for us.
- The Dodgers lead the chase for Scott Rolen, with the Angels also in the mix. The Giants’ Brian Sabean denied interest.
- The D’Backs view the Athletics’ requests for Dan Haren to be quite excessive.
- Talks between the Padres and Cubs for Mark Prior have cooled.
- The Rangers offered LaTroy Hawkins a one-year deal with a club option. As you know, he wants two years.
Odds and Ends: Cliff Lee, Edwin Jackson
You know the drill…
- Nick Piecoro checks in on his blog. Apparently the D’Backs discussed swapping Carlos Quentin for Cliff Lee before sending him to Chicago. As much as he might’ve liked to it seems like Josh Byrnes couldn’t get a starter for Quentin.
- Geoff Baker links the Mariners to Lee, Ben Sheets, Mark Prior, and Edwin Jackson based on yesterday’s buzz. The Sheets one has since been questioned, since the Dodgers were identified as the West Coast team that inquired. Prior could be part of a Raul Ibanez trade, but the Cubs are first focusing on Fukudome. As for Jackson, the Rays would want more than just Ben Broussard.
- John Fay believes the Reds will have to part with Jay Bruce or Homer Bailey to get a frontline starter.
Padres Rumors: Loretta, Iguchi, Peavy, Barrett
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: Tavarez, Lieber, Stewart
Another collection…
- A few notes from Brian Cashman…the Yanks have talked to Luis Vizcaino‘s agent about bringing him back. Also, they’ve yet to inquire on any free agent center fielders.
- Miguel Cabrera has been talking to Ozzie Guillen daily since the season ended. The article makes Cabrera sound like a big kid.
- The Red Sox have had a couple of inquiries on Julian Tavarez.
- Five or six teams have inquired on Shannon Stewart, who wants a two-year pact apparently.
- The Phillies, contrary to previous reports, are not interested in re-signing Jon Lieber.
- On a scale of 1 to 10, the chances of the Astros trading for a Miguel Tejada were rated a 2. The ‘Stros don’t want to give up the farm. That’s also why Joe Nathan is unlikely for Houston.
- Scott Boras recently called Ed Wade to sell him on Eric Gagne, Jeff Weaver, and Rodrigo Lopez. Wade seemed unimpressed.
- Nothing much new on the Padres front – still interested in Kosuke Fukudome, Geoff Jenkins, Jim Edmonds, Darin Erstad, and Mark Prior.
- Brian Cashman’s phone has been ringing off the hook about Melky Cabrera.
Padres Working On Trade For A Starter
The Padres have already signed Greg Maddux and Randy Wolf this winter, but GM Kevin Towers isn’t done. He’s expecting to finish a trade before the Padres leave Nashville. Tom Krasovic thinks it might be Mark Prior or Josh Towers.
Both are said to be non-tender candidates, but surely the Cubs and Jays can work out deals rather than lose the pitchers for nothing. Prior is the high risk high reward guy, Towers is the opposite.
Levine’s Latest: Rowand, Prior, Hudson, Swisher
Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 went on air a few hours ago with some interesting tidbits regarding the Chicago teams. This was before the Sox acquired Carlos Quentin so I’m not sure what kind of effect that has on this info.
- The White Sox are still very much in the mix for Aaron Rowand, but they really don’t want to give him five years. By the way Jerry Crasnick mentioned today that the Phillies may be willing to stretch to four years on Rowand or at least three years plus a vesting option.
- The Cubs are having all sorts of trade discussions involving Mark Prior. The Rangers and Padres are said to be two interested parties.
- Of course the Cubs still have Kosuke Fukudome in their sights. But they also have their eye on Oakland’s Nick Swisher and Arizona’s Orlando Hudson. Both are switch-hitters, by the way.