By Nat Boyle | at
Padres GM Kevin Towers in an interview today said he expects to sign a shortstop by next week, according to Corey Brook at MLB.com.
"Towers said he had interest in veterans David Eckstein and Omar Vizquel, in addition to a few names he didn’t want to divulge. ’There are a couple of other guys, too,’ Towers said. ’We’ve got three or four options.’"
By Tim Dierkes | at
Tom Krasovic talked to Padres GM Kevin Towers, who is looking for help in the middle infield via the free agent market. Three players on the radar: Omar Vizquel, David Eckstein, and Mark Grudzielanek. Towers is looking for bargains. San Diego might be a tough sell for Grudzielanek, who left Kansas City to sign with a team with a better chance of reaching the World Series.
By Ben Nicholson-Smith | at
Omar Vizquel wants to play another year in the majors and maybe more according to MLB.com.
He said his agent “has been talking to a couple of teams,” but didn’t reveal which ones.
Vizquel realizes he’s not going to get long-term offers at his age, but he’s interested in one-year deals, especially from National League teams.
The 41-year-old said he feels “really good” and can play better than he did last season for the Giants.
By Tim Dierkes | at
7:39pm: Ned Colletti told Diamond Leung the Dodgers aren’t looking at Vizquel.
5:55pm: Andrew Baggarly says the Padres also have interest in Vizquel. He adds that the A’s are looking at free agent pitcher Kevin Correia for a minor league deal.
4:52pm: Tony Jackson says the Dodgers might have interest in free agent shortstop Omar Vizquel if they can’t sign Rafael Furcal.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News did some quick blogging from Brian Sabean’s press conference today. Here’s a full transcript. Hot stove notes:
By Cork Gaines | at
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the D-Backs are the favorite to land David Eckstein from the Blue Jays, prior to tonight’s deadline for players to be eligible for the post-season. Previously we heard that both the D-Backs and the Angels were in pursuit of Eckstein.
Eckstein, 33, is almost certain to be traded before the deadline for setting postseason rosters at midnight Sunday. While talks are fluid, the Jays currently are more inclined to trade with the D-backs, sources say.
Rosenthal says the Angels are now considering other options, including Omar Vizquel of the Giants and Juan Castro of the Orioles.
Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.
By Alejandro Leal | at
Omar Vizquel, arguably one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, is not ready to retire and if he cannot sign with a Major League club in 2009, he’ll look for playing time in Japan.
"I’ve played here long enough in America," he told Henry Schulman, of the San Francisco Chronicle. "I’ve seen every team, every ballpark. I think it would be great to experience a new league and something new. I played in Japan in 2000 on the major-league all-star tour and I found it very cool – good baseball, good fans. Why not? It’s a new culture."
Schulman believes Vizquel’s days with the Giants are drawing to a close, but the veteran shortstop thinks he can be a leader for the younger infielders in the Giants’ roster.
Once the team puts on a tribute, however, he knows hes probably not coming back.
Alejandro A. Leal writes for UmpBump.com. Comments? Rumors? E-mail me alexo05 (at) umpbump (dot) com.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Today’s collection of links and rumors.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Giants GM Brian Sabean explained his trade deadline strategy to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Schulman.
By Nat Boyle | at
Last week I heard Peter Gammons on ESPN radio discussing Omar Vizquel as a possible replacement candidate for the struggling Julio Lugo. In today’s Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo chimes in:
"Vizquel is quite fond of Boston but would be interested only if he were a starter. He has a close relationship with Manny RamÃrez from their Cleveland days. Vizquel still has a terrific glove and can hit."
Lugo – who is just returning from a mild concussion – finds himself batting .284 but with a .331 OBP and only 7 extra base hits, all doubles. He has a major league leading 11 errors, almost half of the Red Sox 23 errors. Here’s a sampling of Red Sox fan frustration.
Playing in a hitters haven would be a good move for Vizquel, who wants to play in ’09, assuming he produces in the spotlight of Boston. I see Vizquel as a band-aid (although a band-aid may be what they need). He might be a better option than a Cora/Lugo platoon; however, the Red Sox are a team that can weather this problem even if Lugo’s contract becomes a sunk cost this year. Jed Lowrie should be called back up this season and may progress well enough to be the solution, making Lugo the new Coco Crisp in ’09.
By Nat Boyle
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