Six Teams Interested In Derrek Lee
The Orioles, Athletics, Blue Jays, Padres, Nationals, and Diamondbacks have all expressed interest in free agent first baseman Derrek Lee according to SI.com's Jon Heyman (via Twitter). We've heard that Lee wouldn't mind playing for Arizona, and the interest from the O's and A's is nothing new. Heyman reiterated the D'Backs interest in Xavier Nady as well.
Lee, 35, had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb after the season. He's expressed a desire to join a playoff club for 2011, but calling any of those six teams a contender would be generous. D'Backs GM Kevin Towers was the Padres GM when Lee broke in with the team in 1997, and the running theme of the offseason has been Towers bringing some of his former players to Arizona. Nady obviously fits the bill as well.
I examined Lee's free agent stock back in October.
Padres Sign Gregorio Petit
The Padres have signed shortstop Gregorio Petit, tweets Matt Eddy of Baseball America. Petit recorded 56 plate appearances with Oakland in 2008 and 2009 before being dealt to Texas for Edwar Ramirez last March, and he spent all of last season with the Rangers' Triple-A team.
Padres Pushing For Jason Bartlett
The Rays will definitely trade Jason Bartlett, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who suggests a deal could go down tonight (Twitter links). The Orioles aren't involved, so it's down to the Padres and Pirates. We'll keep track of all the rumors right here:
- Bartlett is likely going to San Diego, according to Dan Hayes of the North County Times (on Twitter).
- The Padres and Rays are discussing a deal that would send pitchers Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos to Tampa Bay for Bartlett, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union Tribune.
- The Rays are asking the Pirates for Joel Hanrahan, according to Rob Biertempfel (on Twitter).
- It appears that Bartlett wants to sign an extension if traded, according to Sherman.
Ryan Ludwick Drawing Trade Interest
WEDNESDAY, 3:15pm: The Padres would only trade Ludwick for a package that includes two or three pieces, which means he'll likely be in their opening day lineup, according to Scott Miller of CBS Sports (on Twitter).
TUESDAY, 10:46pm: Ryan Ludwick is generating trade interest, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Red Sox, Tigers, Orioles and Dodgers are among the teams that have checked in, according to the reporters. At this point – just 48 hours after trading Adrian Gonzalez – the Padres seem reluctant to part with Ludwick.
The Orioles, Tigers and Red Sox have also been linked to another outfielder who bats from the right side and is a year away from free agency: Josh Willingham.
Ludwick, 32, earned 5.45MM in 2010 and has hit 76 home runs over the course of the past three seasons, so he'll surpass the $6MM mark through arbitration in 2011 and could earn close to $7MM. He batted .251/.325/.418 with 17 homers and 27 doubles in 551 plate appearances last year.
Padres Close To Signing Dustin Moseley
The Padres are close to signing free agent right-hander Dustin Moseley to a major league deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The deal will be worth a guaranteed $900K, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick. The Yankees non-tendered Moseley last week after they couldn't come to terms with him on a deal for 2011.
Moseley, who turns 29 this month, posted a 4.96 ERA with 4.5 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 in 65 1/3 innings as a swingman for the Yankees. It's unclear whether he'll join Aaron Harang in the rotation or work out of Bud Black's 'pen.
Padres, Mariners, D’Backs In On Jorge Cantu
Free agent infielder Jorge Cantu is generating interest from the Padres, Mariners, and Diamondbacks, tweets Yahoo's Tim Brown.
Cantu, 29 in January, had a rough year for the Marlins and Rangers in 2010. He hit .256/.304/.392 in 515 plate appearances, logging time at the infield corners.
Transaction Reactions: Harang, Werth, Marcum
As we continue on throughout the night here at MLBTR, here are some reactions from executives and the players themselves to the flurry of moves we've seen over the past few days:
- Aaron Harang calls coming home to pitch at Petco Park in San Diego "a blessing," according to Bill Center from the San Diego Union-Tribune. The San Diego native says he had other offers, but this was the best fit and he's looking forward to a fresh start.
- Former Philadelphia GM Pat Gillick is happy for Jayson Werth, according to Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Phillies president David Montgomery says he's disappointed, but can't thank Werth enough for the four seasons he gave them.
- Shaun Marcum was surprised to learn that he'd been traded to the Brewers, writes MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm. Marcum says Toronto had approached him about an extension just two days prior.
Red Sox Notes: Buchholz, Gonzalez, Ellsbury, Okajima
Here's the latest on the Red Sox, including some continued fallout from the blockbuster Adrian Gonzalez deal…
- The Red Sox are interested in adding a complementary right-handed bat, GM Theo Epstein tells Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald (Twitter link).
- The Red Sox have offered Taylor Buchholz a minor league deal and are one of 12 teams to express interest in the right-hander, according to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.
- Felix Doubront, Jed Lowrie, and Jacoby Ellsbury's names were all discussed in the Boston/San Diego trade talks, says John Tomase of the Boston Herald. Ellsbury was the only one that drew much interest from the Padres, but they decided against him since Ellsbury's forthcoming arbitration raise would make him too expensive and a trade candidate himself in the near future.
- Also from Tomase, both Chicago teams were "finalists" for Gonzalez and were offering at least one major league player in their trade packages. Ultimately, San Diego decided that it preferred the prospects in Boston's offer.
- John Boggs, Gonzalez's agent, talks to WEEI.com's D.J. Bean about the contract extension negotiations that nearly held up the trade on the weekend. "We’re not working in a spirit to get [the Red Sox] by the jugular or squeeze every nickel, or set a precedent-setting deal," Boggs said.
- The agent for Hideki Okajima tells ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes (Twitter link) that he will talk with the Red Sox "soon," though there has been "pretty strong" interest in Okajima from some other clubs.
- It's not often the Red Sox are priced out of a signing, but FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal says Jayson Werth's contract with Washington may have made Carl Crawford too expensive for Boston's liking, especially since the Sox now have to fit a Gonzalez extension ("the parameters" for which are $154MM over seven years) into their budget. The Red Sox may instead focus on acquiring relievers or finding a cheaper outfield option, like trading for Josh Willingham.
- Adrian Beltre's asking price is $85MM over five years, Rosenthal reports. Boston would be interested in re-signing the third baseman if "the market for Beltre collasped," but the plan is to play Kevin Youkilis at third with Gonzalez taking over at first. Rosenthal says the Red Sox aren't considering moving Youkilis to left field to make room for Beltre.
Padres Agree To Terms With Aaron Harang
The Padres announced today that they have agreed to terms with right-hander Aaron Harang on a one-year deal worth $4MM that includes a mutual option for 2012. The contract will become official once he passes a physical.
Harang, a San Diego native, had interest in pitching for his hometown team, especially since Petco Park is pitcher friendly. The 32-year-old made 20 starts in 2010, pitching to a 5.32 ERA in 111 2/3 innings. His 2.2 K/BB ratio is solid, but not as impressive as it was from 2005-09 when Harang struck out 3.5 times as many hitters as he walked. A fly ball pitcher, Harang could thrive in San Diego because of Petco's spacious outfield.
Bill Center of The San Diego Union-Tribune originally reported that the two sides were close to a deal while Friarhood, a fan site, confirmed the agreement. MLB.com's Corey Brock later tweeted the terms of the deal.
Nightengale On Gonzalez, Beckham, Mariners
The Red Sox have a preliminary agreement to sign Adrian Gonzalez to a seven-year extension worth $154MM, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The possible deal, which Ken Rosenthal anticipated earlier today, probably won't be announced until April because of MLB's luxury tax.
The White Sox, a runner-up in the Gonzalez sweepstakes, offered Gordon Beckham and prospects to the Padres, according to Nightengale (Twitter links). Nightengale reports that the Mariners were the other finalist for the slugging first baseman.