Cubs, Rockies Still Discussing Ian Stewart
1:37pm: The Rockies and Cubs are discussing Stewart for Colvin, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
12:44pm: The Cubs and Rockies have continued to discuss third baseman Ian Stewart over the last week, reports ESPNChicago's Bruce Levine. Cubs players Blake DeWitt, DJ LeMahieu, and Tyler Colvin have been discussed.
The Cubs are also looking at the Padres' Chase Headley, notes Levine.
Padres Very Close To Acquiring Huston Street
9:59am: The Padres are very close to getting Street from the Rockies, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports. The Rockies will receive a player to be named later, he adds, and the Padres will pay Street's contract.
9:52am: The Rockies and Padres' talks for Huston Street are ongoing, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney, and they've been extensive. Scott Miller of CBS Sports agrees that the teams are talking seriously about Street, and the Padres hope to close the deal today.
ESPN's Jayson Stark suggested this match yesterday, saying the Rockies are willing to eat all of Street's $8MM salary for prospects. However, Miller says the Rockies want to get rid of his salary and wouldn't pick up much. Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets that the Padres are working hard on landing a closer.
Padres Rumors: K-Rod, Payroll, Rule 5, Zumaya
It's late on the East coast but it's not even 11:30pm in San Diego, so here's some Padres rumors for the Friars fans who are still awake:
- The Padres have spoken with Francisco Rodriguez about replacing Heath Bell, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff (on Twitter). Then again, Davidoff notes that they've spoken to "pretty much all the available closers."
- Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that the Padres have about $20MM to spend.
- From that same piece, Center writes that GM Josh Byrnes will be active on Wednesday and also that he hopes to have all seven arbitration-eligible Padres signed by the Dec. 12 non-tender deadline.
- The Padres are unlikely to release anyone from their full 40-man roster to create an opening for Thursday's Rule 5 Draft, writes Center.
- Center also adds that the Padres will be one of several teams to watch Joel Zumaya throw next week.
Closer Rumors: Madson, K-Rod, League, Street, Soria
The Blue Jays, Twins, and Marlins added closers in recent days, and it's not clear whether the remaining teams with ninth inning openings are willing to spend big. The latest on several closers…
- There is "no interest" from Madson or Rodriguez in accepting arbitration, tweets Peter Gammons of MLB Network. However, one agent believes that if the Red Sox trade for Andrew Bailey, which is a "real possibility," Madson and K-Rod could be in trouble, tweets ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
- The Angels are interested in trading for Seattle's Brandon League, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Angels have also expressed interest in free agents Todd Coffey and Jason Isringhausen, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times, but they probably won't move on a reliever until C.J. Wilson decides what to do.
- There's lots of buzz that Ryan Madson and Francisco Rodriguez could accept arbitration with the Phillies and Brewers, respectively, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark. I still think Scott Boras will advise both to decline tomorrow night.
- The Rockies are willing to eat all of Huston Street's $8MM salary for prospects, tweets Stark. He says the Padres are a possibility. Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter link) hears the Rockies would take on some "but not all" of Street's salary.
- Stark confirms yesterday's rumor that the Royals will listen on Joakim Soria, but they want a front-line starter in return.
NL West Notes: Sherrill, Saunders, Thayer, Moseley
Winter Meetings notes from the NL West:
- The Rockies are eyeing left-handed relief help and George Sherrill is on their list of targets, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Mariners have also checked in on Sherrill, Morosi adds.
- Joe Saunders' camp provided the Diamondbacks with a counter-offer to the contract the club proposed yesterday, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Scott Miller of CBS Sports discusses the decision Arizona is facing on Saunders.
- The Padres signed Dale Thayer to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock (on Twitter).
- Dustin Moseley, who had surgery on his non-throwing in August, is a non-tender candidate for the Padres, tweets Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.
Tigers, Blue Jays, Padres Inquired On Daniel Murphy
TUESDAY, 11:19am: In reference to Murphy, a Mets official told ESPNNewYork's Adam Rubin, "Some players are more valuable to us than other clubs."
MONDAY, 2:19pm: The Tigers, Blue Jays, and Padres inquired on Mets infielder Daniel Murphy, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman adds that the Mets like the Tigers' Andy Dirks as a potential center field alternative to Angel Pagan.
Murphy, 26, hit .320/.362/.448 in 423 plate appearances while playing first base, second base, and third base this year.
NL West Rumors: Saunders, Overbay, Headley
One round of NL West notes wasn't enough for today, so let's do it again:
- The Diamondbacks have extended a contract offer to Joe Saunders, and it appears to be for two years, tweets Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. GM Kevin Towers says other teams have inquired about Saunders, and that the D'Backs intend to either trade him or sign him to a new deal, rather than go to arbitration (Twitter link).
- Steve Gilbert of MLB.com says (on Twitter) the Diamondbacks expect to hear tonight whether Lyle Overbay will accept their one-year offer.
- The Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with Joe Martinez, who will be added to the 40-man roster, tweet Piecoro.
- MLB.com's Corey Brock (Twitter link) says the Padres are asking for "the moon" for Chase Headley. They could move him, but it will cost a lot if they do.
- The Padres are looking at Andrew Bailey and several free agent arms to replace Heath Bell, according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (via Twitter). Hayes adds that the team isn't willing to commit more than two years to any free agent arm (Twitter link).
- The Rockies' waiver claim of Jamie Hoffmann increases the probability of Ryan Spilborghs being non-tendered, tweets Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com.
NL West Rumors: Ludwick, Gillick, Padres, Rockies
The latest on various NL West clubs…
- Heath Bell told MLB.com's Corey Brock he never heard from new Padres GM Josh Byrnes. Bell noted that he passed on offers of a little more money to take a three-year, $27MM deal from the Marlins.
- The Padres' goal is to fix the eighth and ninth innings this offseason, manager Bud Black told Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio.
- The Dodgers are closing in on a minor league deal with reliever Alberto Castillo, tweets MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez. The 36-year-old spent most of the year at Triple-A, posting a 1.91 ERA and 8.1 K/9 in 42 1/3 innings there.
- The Giants are believed to have scheduled a meeting today with Ryan Ludwick's agent Dan Horwits, reports MLB.com's Chris Haft. Ludwick, 33, hit .237/.310/.363 with 13 home runs in 553 plate appearances for the Padres and Pirates this year.
- Phillies senior advisor and former GM Pat Gillick would consider a position as the Dodgers' new president of baseball operations, he told Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times.
- The Padres are getting hits on Chase Headley, Jason Bartlett, and Orlando Hudson, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, who expects one of them to be dealt by spring training. Hudson, who is owed $7.5MM through 2012, would be a pure salary dump, tweets Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports.
- The Rockies are lukewarm at best on Hudson, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, who wonders if the Giants' Jeff Keppinger could be a fit. Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News says the Giants are looking to get creative on the trade front for outfield and infield help.
- Non-tender candidate Joe Saunders told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert he'd like to return to the Diamondbacks, but the decision is up to the team. About a week ago, ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted that Saunders has a very good chance of returning to the D'Backs on a two-year deal.
Heyman On Royals, Cuddyer, Andruw, Astros
Congratulations to national baseball writer Jon Heyman, who has a new job with CBSSports.com starting Monday. As usual, Heyman is tweeting up a storm; here's his latest from the Winter Meetings (all links go to Twitter):
- The Royals are talking trades for starters and are in on Oakland's Gio Gonzalez.
- Everyone wants bullpen help but few want it more than the Padres, Brewers, and Red Sox.
- The Phillies haven't completely ruled out Michael Cuddyer, but the Twins are still trying to bring him back as well. The Giants and Red Sox are other logical destinations, in Heyman's estimation.
- The Yankees would love to bring back Andruw Jones for his right-handed pop and strong clubhouse presence.
- Former Reds executive Scott Nethery is in the mix for the Astros GM opening. Andrew Friedman is still their top choice, Bill Geivett and Jeff Luhnow are also in the mix.
- The Astros will also eat most of Carlos Lee's contract to facilitate a trade. They still expect a good return for Wandy Rodriguez and something decent for Brett Myers in any trade.
- Heyman also said this morning that the Angels are looking for a closer and the Pirates are talking to Derrek Lee.
Padres Hire Omar Minaya
The Padres announced that they have hired Omar Minaya. The former Mets and Expos GM will be San Diego's senior VP of baseball operations under GM Josh Byrnes.
“His experience, knowledge, evaluative skills and connections throughout the industry will be invaluable for us,” Byrnes said in a statement.
The Mets dismissed Minaya 14 months ago and though a role in the current front office was a possibility, it never materialized. The Mets paid him approximately $1.1MM in 2011 and owe him the same amount in 2012. The Angels interviewed Minaya for the GM job that went to Jerry Dipoto earlier in the offseason. The Brewers, Blue Jays, Indians and Red Sox also had interest in adding Minaya to their respective front offices.
Minaya will serve as a sounding board and evaluate amateur and professional players, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter link). Jon Heyman of SI.com first reported the hiring (Twitter link).