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Nomar Garciaparra

Rosenthal On Fielder, Buchholz, Edmonds

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal…

  • Rosenthal suggests the Brewers trade Prince Fielder for "premium pitching" and then sign Adam Dunn to replace him.  Which begs the question, why wouldn’t the team giving up this premium pitching just sign Dunn instead?
  • Despite signing John Smoltz, the Red Sox still are not willing to trade Clay Buchholz for Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  The Sox may be willing to move Michael Bowden or especially Daniel Bard for Salty.
  • The Yankees’ interest in Mike Cameron "seems to be waning."
  • Despite Jon Heyman’s report, the Phillies, Angels, and Brewers deny interest in Derek Lowe.  Rosenthal says the market for Oliver Perez is even worse.
  • Rosenthal suggests veterans such as Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas, and Jim Edmonds could go the Kenny Lofton route.  Lofton, a capable player, sat out the 2008 season when his salary demands weren’t met.  As I mentioned yesterday, we’ll soon see which former stars are willing to play for a pittance (if you consider more than $500K a pittance).
  • The Orioles have Edmonds on the radar as a first base candidate.
  • Suitors for lefty reliever Dennys Reyes: the A’s, Mets, and Dodgers.  The Tigers and Rangers are also known to be on the lookout for a southpaw in the pen.

Crasnick On Retirement Candidates

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ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick looks at nine veteran players and estimates their chances of retiring.  He assesses the situations of Jim Edmonds, Garret Anderson, Ken Griffey Jr., Cliff Floyd, Jeff Kent, Nomar Garciaparra, Luis Gonzalez, Frank Thomas, and Moises Alou.

Crasnick feels Edmonds, Anderson, Griffey, and Floyd are likely to play, while the rest are not.  Of the long shots, Thomas seems most intent on playing in ’09.

Latest Dodgers Info

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Alex Speier of WEEI has the latest Dodgers chatter, as GM Ned Colletti held court this evening.  Ned wasn’t in a very revealing mood.

  • Colletti reiterated that no offer has been made to Manny Ramirez.  He hasn’t met with Scott Boras yet.  Since the Dodgers have so many needs, Colletti would like to resolve the Manny situation quickly.  In Jerry Crasnick’s survey of 15 executives, 10 chose the Dodgers as Manny’s destination.  It’s unlikely that the Dodgers are able to sign Ramirez and C.C. Sabathia.
  • Those other needs include shortstop, third base, the bullpen, and the rotation.
  • Colletti was not sure whether Jeff Kent and/or Nomar Garciaparra will retire.

Dodgers Rumors: Manny, Furcal, Peavy

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Dodgers GM Ned Colletti talked to the media yesterday; here’s the latest.

  • Tony Jackson of the L.A. Daily News believes Colletti will pursue a competent backup catcher to allow more rest for Russell Martin.  A decision is due on Gary Bennett’s $900K option within seven days.
  • So far this offseason, Colletti and Scott Boras have exchanged two voicemails.  They’ll meet in person to discuss Manny Ramirez and other Boras clients (Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux, Andruw Jones, maybe Joe Crede) at next week’s GM meetings.  Colletti will not put the other team needs on hold to deal with Manny.
  • Colletti has had preliminary talks with the agents for Rafael Furcal, Casey Blake, and Nomar Garciaparra, while Jeff Kent is expected to retire.
  • Colletti intends to acquire a top of the line starting pitcher, but Jake Peavy is unlikely (the Dodgers would have to pay extra due to the same-division factor).  Free agents Lowe and C.C. Sabathia may be considered.  The Dodgers have seven days to decide on Brad Penny’s $9.25MM option versus the $2MM buyout.
  • The Dodgers would love to have Takashi Saito back, but the situation with his elbow injury is unclear.
  • Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones have expressed a desire to be traded through the media, but not formally to the Dodgers.

Dodgers Rumors: Manny, Nomar, Lowe, Penny, Kent

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Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times discusses the Dodgers’ upcoming busy offseason, while Bill Shaikin focuses on Manny Ramirez.

  • Nomar Garciaparra is undecided about playing next year.  He hit .264/.326/.466 in 181 plate appearances in 2008 while earning $8.5MM.
  • Manager Joe Torre seems to consider pitching the top offseason priority.  Makes sense, with the statuses of Derek Lowe and Brad Penny in question.  Hernandez’s sources say Lowe felt underappreciated during his time in L.A., and he is expected to leave.  It’s unknown whether the Dodgers will choose Penny’s $9.25MM option or the $2MM buyout.
  • Hernandez doesn’t see GM Ned Colletti breaking up his core group of young players to acquire Jake Peavy.
  • The departure of Jeff Kent is near-certain  Blake DeWitt can step in at second or third base.
  • The Manny situation is difficult, because the Dodgers will take a lot of heat if they won’t meet his asking price (perhaps $100MM+).  Former Dodgers GM Fred Claire suggests a more reasonable offer of three years, $60MM.

Odds And Ends: Millar, Lowe, Jays, Ibanez, Garciaparra, Posey

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A few notes from the MLBiverse…

  • Kevin Millar wants to return to the Orioles in ’09. Of course, many feel the O’s will make a run at Mark Teixeira this off-season which would decrease Millar’s chances of re-signing, unless both sides feel he can be a full-time DH. Millar made $2.75MM this season.
  • Detroit Tiger Thoughts has made an adjustment to the projected Elias ranking for Derek Lowe. He will indeed be a Type A free agent this off-season.
  • The original article is missing from the Toronto Sun, but Sportsnet has the piece in which Paul Godfrey says the Jays are unlikely to include opt-out clauses in any future contracts based on the current situation with AJ Burnett. Some believe Burnett will exercise his opt-out clause and declare himself a free agent this winter.
  • Jim Street says the value of Raul Ibanez goes beyond stats…However, it remains to be seen if his value to Seattle will go beyond the two draft picks they would receive for letting him walk this off-season.
  • Michael Schwartz says another free agent-to-be, Nomar Garciaparra, has proven his worth to the Dodgers in his new role coming off the bench.
  • Even though Brian Sabean went to see Buster Posey play in person, he ruled out any chance of Posey making his major league debut this season.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Astros Rumors: Patterson, Loretta

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If 30-year old righty John Patterson clears waivers today, Ed Wade will give him a call. Patterson hails from Orange, Texas and was released by the Nationals on Thursday.  You can read about Patterson’s injury-packed history here.

In other Astros news, Wade is not likely to deal infielder Mark Loretta, despite alleged interest from the Dodgers. The Dodgers want Loretta to sub for perennially injured 3B Nomar Garciaparra, who will not be ready to go by opening day. However, there may be wishful thinking going on in Los Angeles, as the Astros are also coping with an unpleasant injury to their new second baseman, Kaz Matsui.

Wade doesn’t like to discuss trade rumors, but told the Houston Chronicle that he "expects" Loretta to be with the Astros on opening day.

Sarah Green writes for the Boston Metro and UmpBump.com. She can be reached here.

Injuries May Revive Inge To Dodgers Talk

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The Dodgers’ Andy LaRoche suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb when he was hit by a pickoff throw in Friday’s spring game. In the same game, Nomar Garciaparra was hit by a pitch on his right wrist.  LaRoche will undergo surgery and will miss eight to 10 weeks. Garciaparra suffered no break but is in pain and will be evaluated today.

If Garciaparra joins LaRoche in sick bay, the recent Brandon Inge-to-the-Dodgers rumor that was declared dead this week may be resurrected. If both LaRoche and Nomar miss significant parts fo the season, the Dodgers’ already shallow infield will need a warm body or two.

By Big Mike Glab

Dodgers Need a Third Baseman

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Ken Rosenthal has a bunch of news and notes, including a bit about the misshapen offense of the Dodgers.  They have plenty of bats and plenty of prospects, but not enough to solve every problem they’ve got.  Rosenthal mentions Morgan Ensberg, Hank Blalock, and Joe Crede as potential trade targets, but rightfully notes that none would make that big of a difference.

The Dodgers recently called up prospect Andy LaRoche, a third baseman, and moved another prospect, Tony Abreu, to third at Triple-A Las Vegas.  So they are at least trying some different things while Wilson Betemit continues to not hit.  Through yesterday’s games, Dodgers 3Bs (mostly Betemit) combined to "hit" 183/291/240, which is barely 80 points of OPS better than Dodgers pitchers! 

The move that would solve all of their problems would be giving Nomar Garciaparra a shot back at the hot corner.  Nomar played some third with the Cubs in 2005, but I certainly understand the team’s reluctance to put any more pressure on his body.  But it would be perfect: Nomar at third would open up first base for James Loney, one of the best blocked prospects in baseball, and one of the guys teams will invariably ask about as the Dodgers try to upgrade during the season.

By Jeff Sackmann
Brew Crew Ball

Garciaparra About to Sign

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The Dodgers now have a first (or third) baseman for the next couple of years.  Nomar Garciaparra agreed to come back to L.A. for two more years.  There have been no monetary details in the articles I’ve seen, but since Nomar made $8.5M with incentives last year, I have to imagine he’s making more than that in each year of this deal.  Maybe $10-11M per year?  Seems like his value should be in the Frank Thomas range; maybe a little higher since the risk of career-ending injury isn’t so high.

With Bill Mueller’s retirement, that would seem to open up third base for Wilson Betemit, unless Rafael Furcal or Jeff Kent gets hurt, in which case Betemit could slide over, opening up third for Nomar or Andy LaRoche.  If Nomar is slotted in at first, that means (as speculated) that James Loney will start the year in the outfield.

 

UPDATE: The LA Times says it’s $18M total.  Good deal for Ned Coletti.

By Jeff Sackmann

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