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Orioles Day One Recap

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The Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec takes a look back at Baltimore's first day of the Winter Meetings:

  • The O's targeted pitching heavily, inquiring on Kevin Millwood and attaining the medical record for former Baltimore ace Erik Bedard. The O's would want Texas to eat some of Millwood's $12MM salary. They won't go after Bedard (or any other pitcher) if they're not 100% for Opening Day.
  • Andy MacPhail will meet with Bedard's agent in the next couple of days.
  • The Orioles were interested in Rafael Soriano prior to his decision to accept arbitration from the Braves.
  • Kevin Gregg is an option for relief help, but Baltimore sees him as a 7th or 8th inning guy, not a closer.
  • Felix Pie has drawn a lot of inquiries, but MacPhail points out that none of Pie, Nolan Reimold, and Adam Jones have played a full, healthy season yet, and the depth is probably a good thing for the Orioles when taking that into consideration.
  • Lots of young O's pitching has come up, including Zach Britton and David Hernandez.
  • MacPhail met with Joe Urbon, agent for Mark Hendrickson. Zrebiec says it's only a matter of time before a deal is done.
  • There hasn't been much in the way of talks for Dan Uggla recently.
  • Baltimore won't be bidders for John Lackey, but they like Hank Blalock, Nick Johnson, and Carlos Delgado as options for first base. Luke Scott is not a full-time first base option. Pedro Feliz is their primary third base target.
  • Baltimore isn't in on talks for Edwin Jackson or Matt Lindstrom, but they did meet with the agent for Aroldis Chapman.
  • Baltimore may sign another catcher, but it's not a priority.

Orioles Rumors: Soriano, Bedard, Jackson, Lindstrom

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Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun has the latest Orioles buzz from the Meetings, found here and here.

  • Should Rafael Soriano decline the Braves' offer of arbitration, the Orioles are "particularly interested."  He'd cost their #39 pick in the June draft (though the pick will be pushed back further).
  • The Orioles are reviewing medical records on Erik Bedard as well as other free agents with injury issues.  MacPhail downplayed the reviewing as standard preliminary procedure rather than serious talks.
  • We can rule the O's out for Edwin Jackson and Matt Lindstrom, while nothing is cooking currently on John Lackey or Dan Uggla.

Marlins To Deal Lindstrom At Meetings?

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4:58pm: MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets that about ten teams are in on Lindstrom, and nothing is imminent.

12:21pm: Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald downplays the Rangers' and Rays' interest in Lindstrom.  He notes that the Marlins contingent won't arrive in Indianapolis until tonight.

MONDAY, 6:58am: Buster Olney tweets that the Rangers may be the most serious team interested in Lindstrom. Two teams have fallen out of the running, but two other teams are now interested.

SUNDAY, 8:48pm: SI.com's Jon Heyman says two teams besides the Rays and Rangers are in on Lindstrom as well. Any ideas?

8:06pm: Rosenthal says the Rangers are among the interested teams.

7:39pm: ESPN's Buster Olney says a deal is imminent, though we're not sure where Lindstrom is headed.

6:58pm: MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets that the Rays are "exploring interest" in Lindstrom.

9:33am: Matt Lindstrom is "virtually certain" to be traded at the winter meetings, if not before, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  Of the six teams that have expressed interest in the soon-to-be 30-year-old, three have stepped to the forefront in recent days.

Lindstrom, who is arbitration-eligible for the first time in his career, makes sense as a Marlins trade candidate.  Earlier this week we heard that the righty was part of a trio of Florida relievers who could be dealt.

The Idaho native had a down year in 2009, as he was slowed down by an elbow injury.  In his third big league season, he posted an ERA of 5.89 and threw just 47.1 innings. 

What clubs should be burning up Florida's phone lines in regards to this fireballer?

Odds & Ends: Melky, Green, Branyan, Lowe

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It's officially Winter Meetings time! New thread for links as the folks in Indianapolis begin to wake up and get going:

  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets an interesting situation: the Cubs and Yankees both like Mike Cameron, while the Cubs like the Yanks' Melky Cabrera.  The Cubs will need to clear payroll space before they can try for Cameron though.  Also muddying the picture: both clubs may have interest in Curtis Granderson.
  • ESPN's Buster Olney is hearing that the starting pitching market is "intensifying."
  • Larry Stone of the Seattle Times has all kinds of amusing Winter Meetings memories from years past, and he explains why the Meetings were cancelled for five years in the nineties.
  • David Lennon of Newsday says Mets COO Jeff Wilpon is not scheduled to come to Indianapolis this week, suggesting the team won't be signing major free agents at the Meetings.
  • The Dodgers met with Nick Green's agent, tweets Yahoo's Tim Brown.  Green, 31, hit .236/.303/.366 in 309 plate appearances for the Red Sox this year while playing all around the infield (mainly shortstop). 
  • The Mariners have begun preliminary negotiations with Russell Branyan, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Branyan already rejected an offer from the Mariners in November.  The Mets appear to be among Branyan's other suitors.
  • Jon Heyman reports, via Twitter, that Adrian Beltre is "not likely" to accept Seattle arbitration offer. They'll still likely try to retain him, however.  It might be difficult to keep Branyan, Beltre, and Jose Lopez, with Ken Griffey Jr. already signed.
  • In case you were wondering, Morosi tweets that nothing is cooking with the Braves and Diamondbacks for Derek Lowe.  Nor are the D'Backs in on Bronson Arroyo.
  • Dan Uggla doesn't like the uncertainty surrounding what uniform he'll be wearing in five months. The Marlins slugger says he still sees himself as a second baseman, though many teams would like to move the 30-home run machine to third base. Matt Lindstrom is in a similar spot.
  • Andy MacPhail told Steve Melewski that free agents are beginning to look at Baltimore in a different light, thanks to the great reviews their farm system is getting in the national media. That said, Melewski still feels that if the O's add a big name this offseason, it'll be through a trade.
  • Alex Speier takes a look at what pieces the Red Sox could potentially use as trade bait.
  • Joel Sherman explains why Andy Pettitte is so important to the Yankees, why personal relationships matter among GMs, and the Mets struggles in finding a taker for Luis Castillo.
  • Mark Feinsand gives Yankee fans five situations to watch this week, including Pettitte, Roy Halladay, Johnny Damon, the Tigers, and Hideki Matsui.

Rays Rumors: Bradley, Shouse, Lindstrom

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8:48am: Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that the "Rays are growing less hopeful of swapping Burrell to the Cubs."

12:28am: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times has a few pieces of info from Indianapolis as we approach the early stages of the Winter Meetings:

  • Joe Maddon has arrived in Indianapolis, but executive VP Andrew Friedman won't arrive until tomorrow, so don't look for any moves just yet.
  • The Cubs are confident that they'll move Milton Bradley and his attitude out of Chicago, but if it's going to be to Tampa Bay for Pat Burrell, it will require "serious negotiation." Topkin notes that there's a near $15MM difference between the money owed to the two.
  • Brian Shouse is unlikely to accept arbitration.
  • The Rays are interested in Matt Lindstrom, as we've heard, but as of Sunday night, nothing is close between the Marlins and Tampa Bay.

Marlins Meeting Notes: Uggla, Bullpen, Free Agents

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Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald looks at what's in store for the Marlins as the Winter Meetings approach:

  • No surprise here, but the Marlins won't be players for any reputable free agents. In fact, were you aware that over the past three offseasons, the most the Marlins have spent on any one free agent was the $2MM they gave Luis Gonzalez in 2007? Needless to say, Matt Holliday and Jason Bay aren't headed to South Florida.
  • The Giants have been one of the most outspoken suitors for Dan Uggla, but the Marlins have asked for Madison Bumgarner in any deal for Uggla. The Giants top pitching prospect is a hefty price to pay, and could lead the Giants to pursue other avenues to add some thunder.
  • As we've heard before, Renyel Pinto and Matt Lindstrom could very well be moved at the Winter Meetings.
  • Even if Pinto and Lindstrom stay put, the Marlins will be on the lookout for affordable bullpen help now that Kiko Calero and Brendan Donnelly have departed.
  • The Marlins will turn to internal options such as Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison to replace departed free agent Nick Johnson and his monstrous OBP.
  • Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco are the team's two locks for the starting rotation. From there, a combination of Anibal Sanchez, Andrew Miller, Sean West, Rick VandenHurk, Chris Volstad, and Hayden Penn will fill out the final three spots.

Spencer closes, quoting Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest: "We'll definitely be active… There's no reason to go there and not do anything. Whether that leads to anything is anyone's guess."

Nolasco Not On The Market

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Despite listening to offers for Matt Lindstrom and Renyel Pinto, the Marlins are telling teams that starter Ricky Nolasco is not available, reports Juan C. Rodriguez of The Sun Sentinel.

Nolasco, who earned $2.4MM this year, is arbitration eligible for the second time after an odd 2009 season. His periperhal stats were outstanding (9.49 K/9, 2.14 BB/9, 3.35 FIP), yet he still finished with a 5.06 ERA. Considering his cost and relative production, you'd have to think the Fish could get a pretty nice return if they made him available in a trade.

Rodriguez adds that the team is in the "early stages" of trade discussions involving Dan Uggla.

Marlins Rumors: Pinto, Lindstrom, Nunez

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MLB.com's Joe Frisaro has a few Marlins rumblings…

  • The Marlins are prepared to pay Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu in 2010, although both players will receive raises through arbitration.
  • Frisaro feels that two of Renyel Pinto, Matt Lindstrom, and Leo Nunez will be traded.  All three relievers are eligible for arbitration for the first time.
  • Frisaro feels that Vladimir Guerrero is not a fit for the Marlins, given his inability to play the field.

Marlins Rumors: Lindstrom, Cantu, Uggla

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Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald packs his Marlins rumors into one paragraph:

We hear the Marlins have been getting trade inquiries about Matt Lindstrom and are considering dealing him. One Marlins official said Leo Nuñez seems better-suited to close games. The Marlins lean toward keeping Jorge Cantu (who has drawn interest) but would consider an extraordinary offer. Dan Uggla remains likely to be dealt.

It's fitting to see Lindstrom's name on the trading block, since he's arbitration-eligible for the first time.  Lindstrom had an ugly year; he spent time on the DL with an elbow strain.

The Marlins' desire to retain Cantu is surprising.  His salary will continue to increase in 2010, and he's shaky defensively.

Odds & Ends: Byrd, Livan, Marlins

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A couple of links to help you start off your Saturday night…

  • Rangers' manager Ron Washington wants to see the team bring back Marlon Byrd next year, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. Bryd has said he wants to return to the team next year, but Sullivan says it's uncertain if Texas will be able to re-sign him, presumably because of their uncertain financial situation.
  • According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Livan Hernandez "believes he has six years left in his baseball career and wants those years to be with the Nationals." Livan's been a below league average pitcher for four years now, but if he can stick around for another six years, more power to him.
  • Marlins' closer Leo Nunez figures to stick around next year, even though he'll earn a hefty raise in arbitration says Clark Spencer of The Miami Herald. The bigger question might be what to do with ex-closer Matt Lindstrom, who will also be arbitration eligible for the first time. Lindstrom has a 5.79 ERA and has battled injuries this season.
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