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Rocco Baldelli

Pirates Pursuing Rocco Baldelli

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Pirates rumors from the tireless Dejan Kovacevic…

  • Kovacevic says the Pirates are in pursuit of free agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli.  The Bucs are serious about him, having spoken to his agents several times.  The Reds, Phillies, Red Sox, and Yankees are considered other suitors.
  • The team’s interest in Ty Wigginton has dropped off.
  • Doug Mientkiewicz remains on the radar, but no offer has been made.
  • Nothing cooking on the Jack Wilson front; he’s likely to remain the Pirates’ shortstop.
  • The Pirates offered slightly more than the $2.6MM Daniel Cabrera signed for with the Nationals.  D-Cab wanted to remain in the area.  The Pirates may choose not to pursue any other free agent starters.
  • We knew extension talks with Nate McLouth had fizzled; turns out nothing is close with Paul Maholm either.  Pirates president Frank Coonelly described the disconnect at Ryan Doumit’s press conference.

Reds Focused On Hairston, Baldelli, Taveras

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According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds are now focused on three outfielders: Jerry Hairston Jr., Rocco Baldelli, and Willy Taveras.  They had some interest in Juan Rivera but didn’t want to do three years.

Fay believes the Reds currently have offers out to Hairston and Taveras.

Reds Rumors: Baldelli, Hairston, Bradley, Rivera

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The Reds’ search for a right-handed hitting bat continues.  The latest from John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

  • GM Walt Jocketty suggested that the positive news regarding Rocco Baldelli’s condition could change the way the Reds see him.
  • The Reds are waiting to hear back regarding a counterproposal made to Jerry Hairston Jr.
  • The Reds discussed Milton Bradley internally, but haven’t contacted his agent.  In a recent article, Ken Rosenthal named the Cubs, Rays, Reds, Angels, and Nationals as suitors for Bradley.
  • Talks with Juan Rivera are ongoing.

Updated Diagnosis For Rocco Baldelli

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WEDNESDAY: Baldelli told Marc Topkin that more sophisticated tests have revealed "his condition is a less-severe and treatable channelopathy."

TUESDAY: From Ken Bell of ABC6 out of Rhode Island:

Great news for Rocco Baldelli.  A visit to the Cleveland Clinic last week revealed that doctors had misdiagnosed his illness.  Baldelli missed much of last season, and when he did play, he was limited because of extreme fatigue.  Doctors thought it was mitochondrial disorder, which can be fatal.  The Baldelli family told me tonight that the Cleveland Clinic diagnosed his condition as channelopathy, a non-progressive, highly treatable disease.

Bell adds that the Red Sox have not contacted Baldelli, who is a free agent.  The story is also being reported by WPRI 12 out of Rhode Island.

Reds Rumors: Baldelli, Rivera, Burrell

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11:46pm: Amusing story from Joe McDonald:

A group of Cincinnati Reds personnel, including manager Dusty Baker, were playing roulette Tuesday night. A member of the contingent yelled "Put it on No. 5 for Rocco Baldelli" and now it appears the Reds are having talks with his agent.

McDonald adds that the Red Sox have apparently stepped back with their interest in Baldelli.  Buster Olney wrote on Monday that he’d be shocked if Boston didn’t sign Baldelli.

9:24pm: According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds talked to the agents for Rocco Baldelli and Juan Rivera (the agents initiated).  Pat Burrell’s agents also want to meet. Fay says the Reds have at least $10MM to spend.

MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon adds that Moises Alou’s agent contacted Walt Jocketty, but the Reds aren’t interested.  Nor are they interested in Garrett Anderson.  Sheldon adds that there’s been "no real activity towards reviving the Jermaine Dye deal."

Odds and Ends: Shelton, Laird, Baldelli

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Links for Monday – Winter Meetings, Day 1.

  • Check out the minor league signings for the week at Baseball America.  Hey, Jerome Williams to the A’s!  Also, Chris Shelton signed with the Mariners.
  • Funny quote from Scott Boras: "There can be a lot of late-night meetings where you’re in a room and people are falling asleep.  And you’ll have some late-night GMs who want you to drink. I’ll allow them to do it, but I won’t do it. I do have some interesting things written on napkins over the years."
  • Dave Cameron likes the Tigers’ acquisition of Gerald Laird.
  • Buster Olney talked to some agents who believe "the stated concern about the economy is providing a nice cover for Major League Baseball to roll back salaries."  Another note from Olney, he’d be "shocked" if Rocco Baldelli doesn’t sign with Boston.
  • Tony Massarotti makes five recommendations for the Red Sox.
  • David Murphy asks ten questions about the Phillies.

Red Sox Rumors: Sabathia, Youkilis, Tazawa

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Red Sox rumors and links abound this morning.

  • ESPN’s Buster Olney says the Red Sox will meet with C.C. Sabathia within the next few days.  It’s unknown whether they have serious interest.
  • Olney adds that the Sox hope to sign Kevin Youkilis and Jon Lester long-term, in the wake of the Dustin Pedroia deal.  Peter Gammons suggested a deal for Youkilis could get done quickly.
  • Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe says GM Theo Epstein has prioritized catching.  Epstein suggested more catchers may be available in trade than people think.
  • Benjamin says the Red Sox also want to add a right-handed hitting outfielder who can play center (such as Rocco Baldelli) and a corner infielder.  Trade talks with the Tigers for Julio Lugo have broken down.
  • Epstein indicated to Benjamin that certain free agent pitchers will "dominate for years to come," and that’s the type he’s interested in.  He also said an eight-to-ten year deal for a free agent is unlikely, but Benjamin says not to rule out Mark Teixeira.
  • Epstein said at a press conference yesterday that the team’s Junichi Tazawa signing was made possible in part by the Daisuke Matsuzaka signing a few years back.  Dice-K and Hideki Okajima could be reasons Tazawa turned down more money from the Rangers.  Tazawa may begin his career in Double A.
  • The Boston Herald’s Sean McAdam looks at the controversy caused by the Tazawa deal.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Dunn, Burrell, Manny

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6:16pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says the Braves are not interested in Dunn because they seek a right-handed bat.  Does that rule out Raul Ibanez as well?

1:51pm: The latest from Ken Rosenthal:

  • The Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, and Phillies are pursuing free agent outfielder Rocco Baldelli.
  • Now that Adam Dunn wasn’t offered arbitration, the market is starting to take shape.  The Braves, Mariners, and Nationals are interested, and the Dodgers and Angels consider him a fallback option.  How about Dunn and Russell Branyan in the same lineup?  Rosenthal considers the Yankees another possibility.
  • Teams considering Pat Burrell, who was also not offered arb: the Mariners, Angels, and Giants.
  • Rosenthal considers the Giants a darkhorse for C.C. Sabathia.  Tim Brown says the Giants may be closing in on Edgar Renteria; Rosenthal has the Dodgers and Cardinals as other suitors.
  • The Brewers will need to increase their offer to Sabathia to six years to have a shot. 
  • Rosenthal believes Jason Varitek will accept his offer of arbitration.  He also wonders if Orlando Cabrera could accept.  He expects Ben Sheets to decline (I made an error on this eariler).
  • Rosenthal ponders the chances of Manny Ramirez accepting the Dodgers’ offer of arbitration.  Buster Olney says three GMs wondered the same.  I was under the impression Manny declining arbitration was a condition of his trade.
  • The Cardinals want to add a young starter with upside.  They also may go after a closer like Brian Fuentes or Kerry Wood if prices drop.
  • Rosenthal believes the Reds could discuss a two-year deal with David Weathers.

No Agreement Yet For Moyer

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12:01pm: David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News says everyone expects the Phils to re-sign Moyer.  He says not to read into the Lowe/Burnett inquiries; the team has inquired on more than 25 free agents.  MLB.com’s Ken Mandel names six of them: Doug Brocail, Russ Springer, Raul Ibanez, Rocco Baldelli, Jerry Hairston Jr., and Nick Punto.

10:16am: According to Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies are still talking to free agent pitcher Jamie Moyer but don’t have an agreement yet.  Moyer apparently wants a multiyear deal.  The Phils recently contacted Derek Lowe and A.J. Burnett to hedge their bets. 

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