Marlins Looking For Reliever, Catcher
According to MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro, the Marlins are looking to acquire a righthanded reliever and a veteran catcher. Frisaro says indications are that the Fish are "not serious" about Paul Lo Duca.
Possibilities at catcher include Paul Bako, Yorvit Torrealba, and Michael Barrett (in my estimation). Back in November, the Marlins had interest in Torrealba and Barrett.
Possible righty relievers: guys like David Weathers, Chad Bradford, LaTroy Hawkins, and Mike MacDougal. I don’t see the Marlins chasing bigger fish like Huston Street and Jon Rauch. There are no reports indicating it, but I’d like to see the Fish go after Trevor Hoffman (an original Marlin).
Odds And Ends: Lo Duca, Cabrera, Nady, Bay
A few more minor notes from the MLBiverse…
- Jay Gibbons joins the Long Island Ducks.
- The Giants may have to trade for a long-reliever. Bruce Bochy admits that his team is without a long-reliever and will work to find extra innings from his middle relievers.
- With Paul Lo Duca coming off the DL, the Nationals will now have three catchers. Chico Harlan feels the Nats will hope that Lo Duca plays well in his return to increase his trade value.
- Nick Cafardo believes that the White Sox will let Orlando Cabrera walk at the end of the season as a free agent, feeling that their double-play combination of the future is in the system and not far away.
- Bob Smizik doesn’t see the Pirates landing any top prospects for Xavier Nady or Jason Bay, should they be dealt.
Odds and Ends: Jerome Williams, Linden, Lo Duca
Below you’ll find the day’s random rumors and links.
- Remember Jerome Williams? He’s begging the Giants or any other team to give him a shot, "even if it means in A-ball" according to John Shea. The 26 year-old Hawaiin couldn’t find any success last year with Washington. He started out pretty strong with the Giants back in 2003-04.
- Todd Linden can get out of his minor league deal with Oakland if offered a deal in Japan, which is a possibility.
- Paul Lo Duca has choice words for the Mets, rejecting the notion that they were ever interested or that he demanded three years.
- The Astros still have Mark Loretta on the radar.
- The Brewers don’t seem to have any trades in the works.
- He deems it "pure speculation," but Buster Olney wonders whether the Angels should call the A’s about Joe Blanton.
- Support for my contention that RBI Baseball is better than today’s baseball video games.
Odds And Ends: Crede, Marlins, Canó, Bonds
Some interesting tidbits this afternoon before I check out:
- Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that one of Brian Sabean’s top advisors, Ted Uhlaender, was present to witness Joe Crede’s homer off of Arizona’s Max Scherzer on Saturday. Seems more and more likely, as Crede proves his back is fine, that he will be moved to the Giants. Will the White Sox get Kevin Correia in exchange for Crede? The White Sox need a back-of-the-rotation guy, and Kenny Williams and company think they can win this year. So prospects probably won’t get it done. While the Giants could conceivably use Rich Aurilia or Kevin Frandsen at third, Sabean will most likely be unable to resist Crede’s 2006.
- Juan Rodriguez of the Sun-Sentinel digs up this little tidbit: The Florida Marlins haven’t signed a player to a multi-year contract since December 2005, when they signed Carlos Delgado to a four-year, $55MM contract, and Paul Lo Duca to a three-year, $18MM deal. One would hope that this trend will end soon enough, and that owner Jeff Loria will open the purse strings for Hanley Ramirez when the time is right.
- Tyler Kepner of The New York Times explores the relative surprise that Robinson Canó has been considering his draft position and reputation as a prospect, and details how frequently the Yankees almost dealt him before he made the big club. Canó was nearly dealt for Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltrán, and Randy Johnson in different instances.
- AP Sports Writer Bob Baum explains that Bud Selig isn’t trying to keep Barry Bonds from being signed. Selig stressed that each club is free to deal with whomever they please.
Johnny Estrada Signs With Nationals
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals signed catcher Johnny Estrada to a one-year, $1.25MM deal. Estrada had been close to a deal with the Pirates.
Ladson’s source says the signing is not a reaction to Paul Lo Duca‘s knee injury (torn meniscus). Lo Duca isn’t expected to miss too much of the regular season anyway.
Jim Bowden seems to have created a veteran surplus on his club at multiple positions.
Nationals Sign Lo Duca
UPDATE, 12-10-07 at 10:11pm: The Nationals paid a fairly hefty $5MM for Lo Duca. This is for a backstop who hit .272/.311/.378 while throwing out a below-average 23.4% of basestealers in 2007. He’d better call a good game.
FROM 12-10-07 at 1:59pm:
According to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, the Nationals have signed Paul Lo Duca to a one-year deal. He apparently wanted $5MM; I imagine he got a bit less than that. Four days ago Joel Sherman said the Blue Jays were putting the "finishing touches" on a one-year, $3MM deal with Lo Duca.
My reaction: eh. I’m not sure what Lo Duca adds to the 2008 Nationals that they couldn’t get elsewhere for less money. I guess they could hope he has a big first half and then try to flip him for a prospect. Mets fans: is Lo Duca good at naturing young pitchers? That could be one decent reason to sign him.
Blue Jays Close With Lo Duca
UPDATE, 12-6-07 at 4:10pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the "final touches" are being applied to Lo Duca’s one-year, $3MM deal with the Blue Jays.
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 10:11pm: Robert MacLeod says the Jays are close with Lo Duca on a one-year deal for $3-4MM.
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 8:02pm: Jeff Blair says the Jays made a one-year offer for less than $5MM. It was the Jays’ last and best offer and has yet to be accepted.
UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 5:36pm: Joel Sherman says Lo Duca is "very close" to a one-year deal with the Jays.
FROM 12-4-07 at 6:25pm:
The Globe and Mail’s Jeff Blair says the Blue Jays met with Paul Lo Duca‘s agent today. This discussion was expected; the Jays might only have about $2.5MM to offer on a one-year deal. Lo Duca earned $6.25MM in ’07, so he might not be amenable to the huge pay cut and part-time opportunity.
Nationals Interested In Lo Duca
The Nationals have some interest in Paul Lo Duca for their starting catching job. Capitol Punishment chronicles the Washington Post’s updates.
The Nats also like Damian Miller, Johnny Estrada, and Miguel Montero as possibilities.
Blue Jays Like Lo Duca, Clement, Armas
J.P. Ricciardi is going bargain-shopping this winter. The Jays won’t be in on any big-name free agents. Instead, names like Paul Lo Duca, Matt Clement, and Tony Armas are on Ricciardi’s shopping list.
The Jays like the idea of pairing Gregg Zaun with another veteran backstop, but don’t want to give out a deal greater than one year. It doesn’t seem like Lo Duca would go for that, but sometimes the last catcher standing has to settle. It happened to Bengie Molina in ’06 and he was coming off a decent year. The Marlins could pluck one of Lo Duca or Michael Barrett and the other one could get screwed.
The Jays have good rotation depth: Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum, Casey Janssen, and Gustavo Chacin. That front three stacks up with anyone’s when healthy. You can never have too much pitching, however, so projects like Clement and Armas are being considered. Clement worked with Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg in Florida. The Padres might be the favorite, but plenty of teams are interested.
Rockies Rumors: Torrealba, Herges, Chacon
Time for a Rockies update, courtesy of the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders.
- The Rox appear to be making progress with Yorvit Torrealba, though they’re leaving the door open for Michael Barrett or Paul Lo Duca. So things are creeping along there.
- Matt Herges will decide where to pitch within a day or two. It’s down to two teams – the Rockies and perhaps the Brewers. He’d like to stay with Colorado but would prefer a two-year deal.
- Shawn Chacon continues to surface on GM Dan O’Dowd’s radar. O’Dowd will only consider Chacon in a relief role, though Chacon’s agent seems to indicate other teams may toss some starts his way.