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Nomar Garciaparra

A’s Sign Orlando Cabrera

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According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, the A’s signed shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a one-year, $4MM deal.  Since Cabrera was a Type A free agent offered arbitration, the White Sox will receive Oakland’s second-round pick this June as well as a supplemental pick.  The move leaves Bobby Crosby ($5.5MM) as a pricey backup infielder.  ESPN’s Buster Olney adds that the A’s "have had substantial talks with Nomar Garciaparra in the last 48 hours."  They also remain in talks for Dennys Reyes.

The A’s have been flirting with Cabrera for a while now, and I didn’t think they’d go as high as $4MM (which is still a bargain in general).  Perhaps recent reported interest by the Blue Jays forced them to make a move.

Now seems like a good time to bust out some quotes from John Dewan’s awesome new Fielding Bible Volume II.  Here’s his opinion on Cabrera’s defense:

"Cabrera is a fundamentally sound shortstop who plays with a lot of energy and does everything well.  He has above-average range and makes a lot of sliding plays, but he also led all shortstops in 2008 in defensive misplays (56)."

Garciaparra Pondering Retirement?

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12:56pm: Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has confirmed that his club is no longer interested in Garciaparra (courtesy of the Philadelphia Inquirer’s David Murphy):

"I would not view him as someone who will be with us," Amaro said.  Murphy doesn’t expect the Phillies to add any more free agents before the start of the regular season.

9:47am: According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, free agent infielder Nomar Garciaparra is deciding between retirement and a one-year contract with the A’s.

The Phillies have apparently moved on.  The A’s are also currently working on deals for shortstop Orlando Cabrera and left-hander Dennys Reyes, and Rosenthal heard from a source that the club could "increase their pursuits" of those two players "due to their uncertainty over Garciaparra."

Garciaparra, 35, hit .264/.326/.466 with eight homers and 28 RBI in 163 at-bats last season.  It sounds like he needs to make a career decision fairly soon.

Phillies Still Eyeing Free Agents

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Contrary to some previous reports, the Phillies are still keeping an eye on several free agents.  Todd Zolecki has the news over at MLB.com.

GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was asked if his club is still interested in Nomar Garciaparra.  "If I were to handicap this thing," Amaro responded, "I would say less than 50 percent."  It probably depends on the A’s interest.  Phillies officials said last week that they have no desire to enter a bidding war with another team.

Amaro also said talks are "still open" with the representatives for left-handers Joe Beimel and Will Ohman.  "But nothing has changed there," added the general manager.  Both relievers are holding out for bigger and better offers.  As Zolecki writes,

Amaro said a few days ago that those relievers would have to accept a very modest salary to join the Phillies. That likely means a contract worth less than $1 million.

Nomar Garciaparra To Decide Soon

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According to ESPN’s Buster Olney:

It’s expected that Nomar Garciaparra will make his decision by mid-week on whether he wants to play in Oakland, or in Philadelphia, or if he’d prefer to walk away from the game.

Garciaparra, 35, hit .264/.326/.466 in 181 plate appearances for the Dodgers last year while playing first base, shortstop, and third base and earning $8.5MM.  Ken Rosenthal wrote about Nomar yesterday, saying the Phillies are pessimistic about signing him because the A’s are offering an opportunity for more at-bats.

Rosenthal On Cabrera, Cruz, Nady, Swisher

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Let’s take a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • The A’s are offering more at-bats to Nomar Garciaparra than the Phillies.  If the A’s sign Nomar, that wouldn’t stop them from adding Orlando Cabrera.  However, Rosenthal’s source says Cabrera and the A’s "are not even close" in terms of his value.
  • Nothing is close with the Juan Cruz situation; "New teams entered the mix after the sign-and-trade option became more realistic."  Rosenthal says it’s still possible that a team will simply sign Cruz and give up a draft pick.  La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says the Twins have made an offer to Cruz, but did not speak to his agent yesterday.
  • Even with the Orlando Hudson signing, Blake DeWitt still has a role with the Dodgers pitching in at second base, third base, and even shortstop.
  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman "didn’t particularly like" any of the offers he’s received for Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady.
  • Rosenthal leaves the door slightly ajar for the Astros and Pudge: "the team continues to indicate that it cannot afford free agent Ivan Rodriguez unless his price drops significantly."  Astros GM Ed Wade said on Wednesday: "We’re not signing Pudge.  Put that one to rest. We have no expectation to sign Pudge."

Phillies Likely To Pass On Free Agents

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Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes that the Phillies are likely to pass on signing an additional right-handed bat or a lefty reliever.

The Phillies have been linked to Nomar Garciaparra, Will Ohman, and Joe Beimel, but now appear likely to pass on all of them. General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. says he does not want to get into a bidding war with the Athletics over Garciaparra, who are rumored to have interest as well.  Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote earlier today that Nomar "has offers from the A’s and Phillies he’s weighing."

Amaro states that the Phillies will not be making anything more than "extremely modest" offers to Ohman or Beimel. While it’s unclear as to what "modest" is in Amaro’s opinion, Zolecki speculates that it would have to be less than $1MM.

Oakland Hot Stove: Garciaparra, Cabrera, Reyes

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Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Oakland Athletics and Nomar Garciaparra are "in serious talks" about a bench spot for the team. Slusser notes that the Phillies are likely competing for Nomar’s services as well; I myself would also mention the Cubs as a team in need of a right-handed bench bat.

Additionally, Slusser points out that signing Garciaparra would not preclude the Athletics from also going after Orlando Cabrera. However, it seems as though the two parties continue to have difficulty in bridging the salary gap, despite Cabrera’s reducing his salary demands from $9MM to roughly $5.5MM at this point.

Also on the A’s radar are a pair of relievers: lefties Dennys Reyes and Andrew Sisco.

A’s Interested In Garciaparra

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According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney the A’s are interested in Nomar Garciaparra. Olney suggests the A’s would like Nomar’s righthanded bat to provide balance in a lineup well-stocked with lefthanded hitters like Jason Giambi and Jack Cust.

Olney adds that the A’s have maintained interest in Orlando Cabrera, who will likely have to sign for Orlando Hudson money (up to $8MM) instead of Edgar Renteria money ($18MM).

Phillies Quiet On Free Agents

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Todd Zolecki of MLB.com says things are quiet on the free agent front for the Phillies.  GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said the team’s not in on lefty relievers Will Ohman or Joe Beimel, and indicated that signing one of them is a long shot.

Zolecki also finds a Nomar Garciaparra signing unlikely.  Nomar still hasn’t decided whether to play in ’09.

Phillies Rumors: Nomar, Howard, Andruw

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Kevin Roberts of the Philadelphia Inquirer has a few Phillies rumors:

  • GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says it’s "very likely" the Phillies will not make any more additions.
  • The Phillies have inquired on "almost every righthanded bat on the market." They’ve considerd Rich Aurilia, Nomar Garciaparra, Moises Alou and Mark Grudzielanek.
  • Amaro’s targeting Nomar.
  • Roberts agrees with Jon Heyman that the Phillies gave Andruw Jones a "tepid look."
  • However, they’re in no hurry to bring in a righty bench bat and could take their time adding one.
  • The $4MM gap between the Phillies’ arbitration offer to Ryan Howard and his demand will influence how much the Phillies can spend. Amaro called Howard’s case "the elephant in the middle of the room."
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