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Two New Teams Interested In Joe Beimel

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Two new teams expressed interest in Joe Beimel late last week, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Beimel's agent, Joe Sroba, doesn't reveal which two clubs spoke to him about his client, but Kilgore says that the Nationals are not one of them.

Last we heard, Beimel still had a contract offer on the table from the New York Mets, who were hoping to add a left-handed arm to their bullpen for $1MM or less. Beimel, on the other hand, was looking for a salary closer to the $2MM he earned in 2009. He may yet get there, given the possibility of two new potential suitors. Perhaps one of those suitors is the Phillies, who could use another lefty in their pen, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer's Paul Hagen.

With teams constantly searching for reliable left-handed throwers, it wouldn't be surprising to see Beimel sign a deal worth in excess of $1MM within the next week or two. Waiting out the market didn't necessarily hurt the 32-year-old last winter either, when he signed with the Nationals on March 18.

Orlando Hudson Rumors: Monday

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3:53pm: The Rockies are out on Hudson as well as Felipe Lopez, writes Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.

Meanwhile, Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said on Sirius XM's MLB Home Plate show today that GM Mike Rizzo "feels confident that we’re going to get [a Hudson deal] done," but other teams are interested and taking a lower-than-expected contract "might be a little bit of a hard pill to swallow" for the player.

11:15am: Ladson tweets that the Indians, Rockies, and another AL team – not the Twins – are in on Hudson, aside from the Nationals.  He adds in another tweet that Hudson "appears unwilling to play for the Nats at a discount."

Still, Olney does believe (via Twitter) the Twins have shifted their focus from pitching to an infielder, perhaps given Nick Punto's recent surgery and Francisco Liriano's impresive winter ball stint.

9:25am: Let's try to decipher the latest rumors involving free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson.  MLB.com's Bill Ladson expects a decision this week (Twitter).

Yesterday, ESPN's Tim Kurkjian wrote the Nationals "appear to be getting closer to signing" Hudson.  The deal "would be for $3 million with incentives that could easily reach $4 million for 2010."  Kurkjian cautioned that Hudson had not signed off on Washington's offer.  Also on Sunday, Ladson countered Kurkjian's report with two Tweets.  Ladson said Nationals GM Mike Rizzo hadn't talked to Hudson's agent "in a couple of days," and if Hudson's price is coming down "that's news to Rizzo."

This morning, ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted that the Twins "appear to be serious in their pursuit of Hudson."  On Saturday, La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wondered if the Twins were "looking harder into acquiring Hudson" based on TwinsFest comments.  Neal's colleague Joe Christensen doesn't believe the Twins would go to $3MM for Hudson.

Three Teams In On Orlando Hudson

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Last offseason was disappointing for second baseman Orlando Hudson.  He signed with the Dodgers on February 20th, accepting one year and a $3.38MM guarantee.  He had a decent '09 season, managing to stay healthy and hit most of his incentives.  Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports have the latest on Hudson's search for a new team.

The Nationals and Rays are known to be pursuing Hudson, with the Nats possibly offering more money.  The writers say a mystery team is also in the mix, and speculate on the Twins.  The Rockies could be another match, but Minnesota and Colorado would be looking for a bargain.

ESPN's Buster Olney first reported the Rays' interest in Hudson yesterday, but Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times finds a signing unlikely.  And in an interview with MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Hudson alluded to the Indians and Padres.  Those clubs are considered longshots.

Tigers In Lead For Jose Valverde

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4:21pm: In a chat today, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says he's been told the Cardinals are "not actively involved" on Valverde.

12:53pm: The Tigers are believed to have the biggest offer out to free agent reliever Jose Valverde, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  The sides are not close to a deal, however.  Morosi adds that the Cubs are not interested, but the Cardinals "could emerge as a suitor."  Just depends on if they want to put most of their $6-7MM in one basket, I'd say.  Yahoo's Tim Brown tweets that Valverde has offers from the Tigers, Cardinals, and one other team.

Last night on Twitter, Jim Bowden had this to say:

[Tigers GM] Dave Dombrowski told me tonight they are focusing on the back end of the bullpen and did not deny an offer to Valverde and a willingness to lose their #1 pick.

MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith ran through the draft picks that would be at stake in a post Sunday.  The Tigers would surrender the #19 overall pick to the Astros, while the Cardinals would have to part with #25.  Ben noted that the Red Sox have not been connected to Valverde but they'd only have to give up the #107 overall pick.

Odds & Ends: Cubs, Vazquez, Matthews

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Some links for Friday…

Milton Bradley Rumors: Wednesday

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7:05pm: Ian Browne of MLB.com says there's "no chance" the Bradley-Lowell deal goes through. Sounds about right. But ESPN.com's Gordon Edes says the Cubs really did ask.

6:43pm: A Cubs official didn't dismiss the Milton Bradley for Mike Lowell rumor, speaking to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat. Still, that swap seems unlikely.

3:10pm: Cubs president Crane Kenney implied to the Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers that the team won't be releasing Bradley.

2:46pm: The White Sox don't consider Bradley a fit, but GM Kenny Williams had kind words for the player today (Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald reporting).

12:38pm: ESPN's Buster Olney says the Cubs would be open to swapping Bradley for Mike Lowell, but that deal is "unlikely to happen."  Lowell, like Pat Burrell, seems like someone the Cubs would have to flip.  Regardless, Sullivan talked to a Cubs official who seemed to shoot this rumor down.

9:53am: With the Cubs' desire to trade Milton Bradley by the end of the Winter Meetings common knowledge, the words "imminent" and "close" have been tossed around a little too freely.  At any rate, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune still likes the Rays as the favorite, while noting the presence of a possible mystery team.  This is good…I always like to bust out my "Mystery Team" category on a post (although MLB.com's Carrie Muskat says there is no such team).  Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times weighs in on the Rays possibility here.

Yesterday, we saw the Mariners, Blue Jays, Rangers, and Royals pretty much dismissed as Bradley suitors.

Rafael Furcal Rumors: Monday

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10:42pm: The fourth team is the Braves, according to Ken Rosenthal.  Kinzer told Rosenthal the Braves are "in deep" and Furcal is seriously considering their offer.  Rosenthal believes it’s a three-year offer with a vesting option.  Rosenthal spoke to an exec who felt the same as Joel Sherman, that Furcal does not want to sign with the A’s.

Adding Furcal would give the Braves a middle infield surplus.  Good shortstops are hard to find and the Braves would have two.

4:40pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer, who said his client will sign by Tuesday.  He’s mulling offers from the Dodgers, Royals, A’s, and…a mystery team.

1:32pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Blue Jays have dropped out of the bidding for Furcal (now confirmed by Furcal’s agent).  Sherman adds that Furcal prefers the A’s the least but they are offering the most money.

1:10pm: ESPN’s Buster Olney says the A’s offered four years and $40MM, up about $4MM from their previous offer.

8:10am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the A’s appear to be the frontrunners for free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.  Joel Sherman said the same on Friday.  Rosenthal says the A’s have upped their initial four-year offer to Furcal, and it appears to be the only four-year proposal on the table.  Yahoo’s Jeff Passan suggested on Wednesday that the Royals believe it will take four years and $44MM to sign him.  The A’s were reportedly in the $35-40MM range previously.

The Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Royals were identified as other finalists last week by Furcal’s agent.  Those teams all have issues coming up with the money or years Furcal desires.  Rosenthal suggests Orlando Cabrera, Angel Berroa, and Jack Wilson as possible alternatives for the Dodgers.

Rafael Furcal Rumors: Wednesday

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7:58pm: Kinzer told Joe Stiglich of the Contra Costa Times that the A’s are "right at the top of the list."

7:05pm: Kinzer revealed to Yahoo’s Tim Brown that the two unknown Furcal suitors "have to make some moves first."  So think of teams with incumbent shortstops, like the Braves.  Or perhaps a team that has to clear payroll like the Cubs.

4:25pm: Kinzer told Haft they’ll have it down to two teams before Monday or Tuesday.  The A’s, Giants, and two other clubs are still in the mix for Furcal.  This time, Kinzer told Haft he did talk to the Giants yesterday.  It’s unknown whether he has an offer from San Francisco, but there’s nothing from the A’s yet.

12:55pm: Susan Slusser and Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle learned that Kinzer did have talks with the Giants about Furcal on Tuesday.  MLB.com’s Chris Haft had Kinzer saying last night that he hadn’t spoken to Giants officials in two days.

10:11am: Rafael Furcal met with the A’s yesterday, and it’s not a stretch to suggest they’re the frontrunner for his services.  SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the A’s, Giants, Cubs, Dodgers, Braves, and a mystery team remain involved.  Interesting note from Heyman:

Furcal’s agent, Paul Kinzer, said by phone that he hasn’t fielded a correct guess from any media member on said mystery team. I gave it a shot on Tuesday night, throwing out the Reds — who appear to be in the mix on some surprising names — but he said that was incorrect.

Jon!  No!  You wasted your guess.  I believe the mystery team boils down to the Indians or Twins.  Thoughts? 

Rafael Furcal Rumors: Monday

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6:20pm: Impacto Deportivo says the surprise team is the Braves, possibly offering four years and $52MM.  It’d be wise to treat the report with caution until it is confirmed by another source.

6:09pm: The Reds had a brief conversation with Kinzer about Furcal, but it probably isn’t going anywhere.

3:58pm: ESPN’s Enrique Rojas says Furcal traveled to the West Coast today, where he could sign with the Giants or A’s.  However, a third team remains involved.

1:36pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to Furcal’s agent, Paul Kinzer.  Kinzer called the El Caribe report "bogus."  Apparently there has been no four-year, $48MM offer from Oakland nor are the Mets interested.  And Furcal doesn’t want to move to second base anyway. 

The A’s and Giants are leading the charge for Furcal, with a "surprise team" also in the mix.

12:26pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman does not believe the Mets made an offer to Furcal.

12:11pm: Susan Slusser’s A’s source calls the below report "untrue," but it’s unclear to what degree.

8:40am: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times passes along a report from El Caribe, a newspaper in the Dominican Republic.  In the report, Rafael-Fellito Ortiz talked to free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.  Furcal says he has a four-year, $48MM deal on the table from the A’s (with another $2MM in incentives).  Surprisingly, he also has an offer from the Mets, who would use him as a second baseman.  Ortiz believes Furcal might sign soon.

Manny Ramirez Rumors: Thursday

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3:26pm: Many people are emailing saying Jon Heyman is reporting Manny to the Dodgers.

3:08pm: Aaaaaand…it’s dead again.

3:02pm: Rosenthal stirs things up: the three-headed Manny-Bay-Hermida deal is back on.

2:46pm: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says the three-way is dead, while the Dodgers are in play.  Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe says to count out the Dodgers on Manny.  Guess these guys aren’t cube-mates.

1:31pm: Heyman says the Dodgers are back in the mix for Manny but the Marlins aren’t out of it.

1:17pm: Nick Cafardo doesn’t buy the "dead" talk.  However, the Pirates may have turned away from the Boston-Florida scenario for Bay.  The Rays are still a possibility for him.

12:56pm: Rosenthal’s hearing this thing is dead.

11:49am: Rosenthal has a mixed opinion, with one source advising caution and another saying the deal is "taking off."  Manny is following the ordeal on ESPN.

More links: a Gordon Edes Q&A on the topic, and word from Yahoo’s Tim Brown that the Pirates are happy with their end of the deal.

11:46am: Peter Gammons says the three-way Manny deal is close to dead.  It may not make sense for Boston.

11:34am: A deal hasn’t been reached, though Manny has consented to a Florida trade.  Jon Heyman considers this a major hurdle cleared.

The Rays appear unlikely to make a trade, by the way.  Perhaps they’re cursed by their own loaded farm system.

11:29am: Will Carroll has an update.  The Pirates could back out Bay talks entirely if they don’t get what they want.  The Red Sox will continue shopping Manny regardless, with the Dodgers and a mystery team in the mix.  The Dodgers might be willing to part with Matt Kemp.

10:44am: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe agrees – the Pirates’ return for Bay may be the holdup.

10:12am: Rosenthal says the three teams have a framework for the major players, but no agreement on the prospects.  The Bucs’ return from the Red Sox is the holdup.  Rosenthal says Tucker and Stanton will stay put, by the way.

9:37am: Kovacevic says the Pirates are open to trading Bay to the Red Sox or the Rays.

9:22am: ESPN’s Jayson Stark’s source has this at 50-50.  The Pirates are insisting on Stanton but the Marlins don’t want to give him up.  Grabow coud end up in Florida rather than Boston.  Tucker is in play but not a lock to be moved.

9:10am: Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald has a source saying chances of a deal are "less than 50-50."  Some members of Red Sox front office are not convinced Manny should be traded.  What do you think?  Are they better off with Bay and Grabow or Manny?

7:59am: Scott Miller of CBSSports.com hears that Ryan Tucker and Mike Stanton would not be in the deal.  He says it’s not done and talks could still collapse.  By the way, the Pirates have tried to acquire Jeremy Hermida in the past.

7:17am: Here’s the latest on the Manny Ramirez–Jason Bay–Jeremy Hermida three-way deal talks.  At this time, the AP is saying there is no tentative agreement between the Red Sox, Pirates, and Marlins.

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