By Tim Dierkes | at
Word from Gordon Edes is that the Red Sox are likely to offer arbitration to right fielder Trot Nixon. He’ll be 33 next season. As Edes says, the retention of Nixon seems to indicate a Manny Ramirez trade is likely.
If the Sox do keep Nixon and complete the J.D. Drew signing, Jose Guillen will be pretty much the only decent remaining RF on the market.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Here’s the latest from around baseball…
Dejan Kovacevic mentions that the A’s are considering Sean Casey. Casey’s doing his usual good batting average/low slugging thing and he’s getting $8.5MM for it. The combined efforts of Dan Johnson and Nick Swisher have been inadequate at first, but would Casey really help? Johnson is hitting .485/.575/.848 in 33 Triple A at-bats; maybe he deserves another look. The Athletics, who are dead last in the AL in slugging, wouldn’t be helped by adding the powerless Casey. They need Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee, Pat Burrell, or even Raul Ibanez to make a difference.
The Yankees have decided to hold on to Philip Hughes, and the Phils aren’t biting on whatever else they offered. According to George King, the Yanks think assuming Abreu’s contract and exercising his option should be enough. Still, it would be cool to see a nasty young Phillies rotation in 2008 with Hughes, Cole Hamels, Gio Gonzalez, and Scott Mathieson.
Also, I’m hearing that WPEN in Philadelphia has mentioned a trade rumor: Tom Gordon for Trot Nixon. Nixon is a good hitter (.400 OBP), though he’s 32 with declining power numbers. Given that Flash would be hands down the best reliever on the market, I’d expect the Phils to get more.
Kenny Williams didn’t deny the recent Soriano rumor, so now you know it’s legit. Kenny has been pretty shrewd with the media, so this is probably all part of his plan. Despite word of a possible contract extension with Washington, Buster Olney all but assured us of a Soriano trade in today’s blog.
Also, Olney nixed the A-Rod to the Cubs idea, explaining that Rodriguez is a bargain in the Yankees’ world. This column is kind of weird to me. Phil Rogers almost seems like he’s just cooked up a brilliant scenario or something, with Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones being swapped for A-Rod. Thing is, Bleed Cubbie Blue broke out this exact trade rumor three weeks ago.
RotoAuthority has a look at which pitchers have been abused this season.
By Tim Dierkes | at
As we approach the winter meetings, all kinds of crazy rumors are making the rounds. First and foremost is a possible three-way deal between the Rangers, A’s, and Cubs as reported by Sunday’s edition of the Chicago Tribune. WSCR, a radio station in Chicago, has cited tomorrow’s Phil Rogers column about the trade.
The details: The Cubs send Kerry Wood and $6MM to the Rangers for Kevin Mench. The Cubs would also surrender Todd Walker and prospects and would receive Barry Zito from Oakland. It’s unclear what prospects would go Oakland’s way, although it’s fair to speculate Beane would ask for #1 prospect Felix Pie. Thanks to Alex and Mike for passing it along, and you can read a message board thread on the deal here.
My opinion? Doesn’t sound valid in the proposed form. As mentioned on the Inside The Ivy message board, it sounds more like a Phil Rogers opinion column. Rogers can’t be reached to confirm the rumor. The Cubs have plenty of starting pitcher and outfielder options on the table, and can make a deal without surrendering Pie. Given that Beane holds the cards with six starters, only the Cubs’ very best could entice him. I don’t think this deal happens.
I’ve also been informed that George Ofman from WSCR is reporting that Rafael Furcal will make his final decision by noon CST on December 4th. It’s still unknown which way he’s leaning. It’s well-known that the Dodgers have put in a three-year, $39MM bid for the shortstop. The offer is a smart one and mitigates L.A.’s risk nicely. Given that it could bring Furcal more money in both the short and long term, the Dodgers must be a serious option.
A source in the Red Sox organization mentions that the Cubs have interest in 31 year-old right fielder Trot Nixon. Nixon hasn’t had 500 at-bats since 2002, but he’s hit well when healthy. Nixon mashes right-handers but struggles mightily with southpaws. The Red Sox are rumored to have interest in Corey Patterson.
Thanks to Alex, Mike, Nick, and Cody
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