Padres Checking In On Free Agent First Basemen
Part of the calculus in trading Adrian Gonzalez was the pool of available free agent first basemen, Padres GM Jed Hoyer told ESPN's Jayson Stark (Twitter link). Stark feels Adam LaRoche and former Padre Derrek Lee are viable options.
Heath Bell Will Not Be Traded
Padres GM Jed Hoyer, talking to reporters including SI's Jon Heyman, said the Adrian Gonzalez trade does not represent a firesale and Heath Bell will be the team's closer in 2011.
Bell, 33, racked up 47 saves and a couple of Cy Young votes this year. He's under the Padres' control for one more season, and due a raise on his $4MM salary of 2010.
Adrian Gonzalez Trade Falls Through
SUNDAY, 5:17pm: The Red Sox still have not given up on pulling off a deal for Gonzalez and there remains a chance that they could do a trade without agreeing to an extension, tweets Heyman.
2:45pm: Odds are that Gonzalez won't wind up with the Red Sox, a source tells Morosi (via Twitter), though the reporter cautions that this could change quickly. Meanwhile, a rival executive told Rosenthal (via Twitter) that the possibility of a deal happening won't die unless the Red Sox turn around and sign Adrian Beltre. The third baseman may have lost a suitor this afternoon as it seems that the A's will turn their attention elsewhere.
2:19pm: The possibility of Gonzalez going to Boston isn't dead yet, a source tells Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
2:00pm: Late Thursday, a Padres source indicated that the club wouldn't field more offers for Gonzalez if the deal with Boston didn't work out, Heyman tweets.
1:56pm: Even though the window is closed for an extension, the two teams can still work out a deal, tweets Rosenthal.
1:43pm: The deal fell through, a source tells Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter).
1:32pm: Boston might be okay with just laying out parameters with Gonzalez and finalizing a deal during Spring Training if the slugger is healthy, says Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter).
1:13pm: The BoSox could still make the deal without an extension, provided that the parameters are close, Heyman tweets. Going into overtime may not be an issue as the league understands the significance of the player and the situation, Heyman adds (via Twitter).
1:07pm: As of a couple of minutes before the 1pm CST (2pm EST) deadline, both sides were at a standstill, tweets Alex Speier of WEEI.
12:41pm: Gonzalez's camp doesn't want to discuss an extension unless it happens now, tweets Dan Hayes of the North County Times. He adds that this could be a sticking point in the talks.
12:29pm: Unsurprisingly, there is a strong sense in the Gonzalez talks that the BoSox won't make the trade unless there is an understanding that a deal can be reached, Buster Olney of ESPN tweets. The negotiating deadline is at 1pm CST.
10:11am: CSNNE.com's Sean McAdam and Dan Hayes of the North County Times provide conflicting updates: McAdam tweets that there's a "good feeling" following talks that continued through the night. On the other hand, Hayes tweets that the two sides are at something of an impasse, and there's a chance the trade won't happen. The negotiating deadline is now less than three hours away.
8:26am: Heyman (Twitter link) hears that teams discussing Gonzalez with the Padres told San Diego they only wanted to talk parameters for an extension because of the slugger's shoulder issue. As Alex Speier of WEEI.com explains, however, the surgically repaired shoulder isn't the only reason it might make sense to postpone an official extension – the Red Sox could save millions in luxury taxes by waiting until the season begins to ink a deal.
Meanwhile, an AL executive tells Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that he thinks Gonzalez is seeking an eight-year contract worth about $160MM. Cafardo suggests that, while the Sox may not go that high, a compromise seems likely. The negotiating window closes in just a few hours, so we should get some resolution soon.
SATURDAY, 10:34pm: The Red Sox suggested a six-year contract at some point during the negotiations according to Heyman (Twitter links), but they don't want to do a contract on par with Mark Teixeira's eight year, $180MM pact.
9:26pm: Heyman tweets that the Red Sox might be willing to make the trade without signing Gonzalez to an extension. They might actually prefer to just talk about contract parameters now, then see how his surgically repaired shoulder holds up in Spring Training. In the off chance that the trade does not happen, the Padres would keep Gonzalez and not field offers.
8:41pm: In a pair of tweets, SI.com's Jon Heyman says that the two sides are optimistic about reaching a deal before tomorrow's deadline. He adds that even though Gonzalez, David Ortiz, and J.D. Drew are all left-handed hitters, the Red Sox would not be discouraged from pursuing Carl Crawford, another lefty bat.
7:22pm: Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that the two sides have not yet reached an agreement, but they're still trying. He notes that if they can't work out a contract, the Red Sox could still choose to go forward with the trade if they feel they've made enough progress and are confident they could extend Gonzalez in the future.
5:21pm: With all of the players agreed to and the physical passed, the only thing left before the Adrian Gonzalez trade can be made official is a new contract. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (via Twitter) that the first baseman and his new team won't have very long to negotiate; the deadline is 2pm ET on Sunday.
Earlier today we heard that Gonzalez was seeking a Ryan Howard-like contract, and in the past a deal on par with Mark Teixeira's has been rumored.
Reaction To The Adrian Gonzalez Trade
If all goes according to plan, Adrian Gonzalez will soon become the newest member of the Boston Red Sox. Here's a sampling of opinion from around the baseball world on the deal that has been talked about for quite some time..
- Gonzalez could put up monster numbers in Fenway, says Alex Speier of WEEI.com. During the 2009 All-Star game, the slugger told the site that he was long curious about what it would be like to play his home games in a different park. Petco, of course, is less-than-friendly to hitters.
- The "Human Trade Rumor" will prove that he has been worth the wait, says Scott Miller of CBSSports.com.
- While the proposed deal may seem to favor the Red Sox on the surface, Keith Law of ESPN (Insider subscription required) sees it as being pretty even. While there's a lot to like about the makeup of right-hander Casey Kelly, Law points out that he is also a great defensive pitcher. His fielding is so strong in fact that Law writes that "it's like having an extra infielder on the diamond."
- Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter) says that the Padres still need a first baseman in the short-term.
- Heath Bell says he's okay with the deal if it makes San Diego better in the long-term, according to Marty Caswell of XX1090 radio (via Twitter).
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that the deal would shake up this winter's hot stove. The trade would certainly hurt free agent Adrian Beltre, who would lose leverage as a result.
- Rival executives have mixed feelings about the Padres' return for Gonzalez, tweets Rosenthal.
- BoSox pitcher Tim Wakefield likes Gonzalez as a player and a person, tweets Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
- The Red Sox used their deep pockets to get the man they wanted, writes Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.
Red Sox, Padres Agree On Adrian Gonzalez Trade
11:33am: Hayes tweets that the two sides have had the deal in place since Thursday night, which is what prompted the flight to Boston.
11:23am: Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com reports (via Twitter) that Gonzalez has already taken his physical and his surgically repaired shoulder "should be fine." Some minor tests still need to be completed.
11:13am: MLB.com's Peter Gammons tweets that the player to be named later is not a "prime guy." The two teams determine who exactly it will be later.
10:52am: Morosi tweets that Gonzalez is seeking a Ryan Howard-like contract. Howard signed a five-year contract extension worth $125MM earlier this year.
10:13am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Padres will also receive a player to be named, so it's a 4-for-1 swap. The 40-man roster freeze is in effect until next week's Rule 5 Draft, so it's possible the player is a minor leaguer not on the 40-man that's eligible for the Rule 5.
10:04am: Heyman tweets that there is still work to be done as far as a contract extension for Gonzalez, and that it could take a day or two. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports confirms with a source that the trade is "not completely done." (Twitter link)
9:14am: Hayes tweets that the package includes Kelly, Rizzo, and Reymond Fuentes. ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes says (via Twitter) that Theo Epstein flew from San Diego to Boston with Gonzalez, and MLB.com's Corey Brock says that Jed Hoyer implored his scouts to scour the lower level of the minors in 2010 (Twitter link). The second and third player in the deal are key.
9:01am: SI.com's Jon Heyman tweets that negotiations about a contract extension will begin shortly, and that Kelly is in fact in the deal. WEEI.com's Alex Speier adds that multiple Red Sox prospects rumored to be in the deal have yet to hear anything from the team about a trade (Twitter link).
7:39am: Olney tweets that the Red Sox flew Gonzalez into Boston to help move the process along, and he is there now.
6:30am: Adrian Gonzalez is expected in Boston today for a physical, reports Nick Cafardo of the Globe. Gonzalez had shoulder surgery to clean up his right labrum in October and has a four or five month recovery timeline. Cafardo says talks have centered around Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo, and the deal "would likely involve three or four players from the Sox, including one who is major league-ready." ESPN's Buster Olney says that all players have been agreed to and the Red Sox are now trying to work out an extension with Gonzalez. MLB has approved a negotiating window.
SATURDAY, 12:01am: The Red Sox are very close to acquiring Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres, tweets Dan Hayes of the North County Times. Hayes says the trade would just involve Gonzalez and not Heath Bell, whose name has come up in other rumors. Hayes adds that the deal will only involve minor leaguers – not players such as Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Bard, or Jed Lowrie. Top Red Sox prospect Casey Kelly would definitely be involved.
Mark Reynolds Will Not Be Traded To Padres
Mark Reynolds will not be traded to the Padres according to Jack Magruder of FOX Sports Arizona (Twitter link). His source adds that the Diamondbacks are seeking two relievers for their third baseman.
Reynolds, 27, would have been a fine power replacement for Adrian Gonzalez, who appears to be headed to Boston. He's hit at least 28 home runs in each of the last three seasons, at least 32 in the last two seasons. Reynolds does strike out at a historic rate though; he's the first man in baseball history to be set down on strike three at least 200 times in three straight seasons.
Reynolds is under contract for $5MM in 2011 and then $7.5MM in 2012 before a $11MM club option for 2013 ($500K buyout) comes into play. Earlier today we heard that the Orioles were the front-runner to acquire him.
Padres Will “Absolutely” Trade Heath Bell?
10.22am: Rosenthal now hears from another source that it's "highly unlikely" the Padres will move Bell (Twitter links). They could hold him to keep the fans happy, and because they might be able to fetch more at the trade deadline.
9:38am: Adrian Gonzalez might not be the only Padres star on his way out of San Diego. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from a source that they will "absolutely" trade Heath Bell, who is likely to get a sizable raise from his $4MM salary in his last time through arbitration (Twitter link).
The free agent market includes Rafael Soriano and Bobby Jenks, but Bell could be an alternative for a team not wanting to commit multiple years to a reliever. Rosenthal speculates (on Twitter) that the White Sox, Angels, Rangers, Marlins, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Rays could have interest in Bell, who owns a 10.4 K/9 and a 2.32 ERA as San Diego's closer over the last two seasons.
Orioles Notes: Tillman, Hernandez, Reynolds, Uehara
The Orioles missed out on Victor Martinez and Adam Dunn, but they're still in the hunt for Paul Konerko. Here's a look at some of their other offseason targets…
- Chris Tillman's name has been mentioned in connection with the Mark Reynolds trade rumors, tweets Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic thinks the D'Backs "seem to like" David Hernandez more, but Hernandez would be just one piece of what's likely to be a pitcher-centric package (Twitter links).
- The O's are one of three teams known to be exploring a Reynolds deal, but they're the ones with "the heaviest interest" in the third baseman according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. The Blue Jays and Padres, in fact, "strongly deny" that they're even pursuing Reynolds.
- "Some progress has been made" between the Orioles and Koji Uehara, reports Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The club has been keeping in touch with Uehara's agent and Zrebiec says team officials "feel pretty good" about their ability to re-sign the reliever.
- Zrebiec also notes that Baltimore has been in discussions about a number of free agent relievers and have contacted the representatives of Grant Balfour, Jesse Crain, Scott Downs, Brian Fuentes, Matt Guerrier and Kerry Wood. The O's "have at least one offer out" to one of these pitchers, Zrebiec says.
- Baltimore has contacted Bobby Jenks' agent, reports Zrebiec in another piece.
- From that same article, Zrebiec writes "the next person I speak to in the organization who feels the O’s have a shot at Konerko would be the first." The Orioles' interest in Konerko is "largely overblown" and most insiders feel Konerko will re-sign with the White Sox.
Cubs, Other Teams Also Pursuing Adrian Gonzalez
The Red Sox aren't the only team in the hunt for Adrian Gonzalez. "Multiple teams besides [the] Red Sox," including the Cubs, are interested in the Padres slugger, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com. This isn't the first time we've heard about Chicago's interest in Gonzalez, and the Cubs' search for a big-hitting first baseman may have intensified now that Adam Dunn has signed with the crosstown rival White Sox.
Two big obstacles stand in the way of a Cubs/Padres deal: the Cubs' ability to provide the blue-chip prospects that San Diego desires in any Gonzalez trade, and whether the Cubs can afford the long-term extension that Gonzalez wants after 2011. One obviously impacts the other, since it would be foolish for the Cubs to move several prospects for just one season of Gonzalez. With the Carlos Silva and Kosuke Fukudome contracts coming off the books after this year, Chicago has about $63MM committed to their 2012 payroll.
Besides the Cubs, Rosenthal lists the Angels, Blue Jays, Orioles, Nationals, Rangers and Rays as having a "possible interest" in a Gonzalez trade. All of the teams could potentially afford a Gonzalez extension except Tampa Bay, and all of the clubs have intriguing minor league prospects to interest the Padres (though it might be hard for L.A. to acquire Gonzalez without giving up star prospect Mike Trout). Dan Hayes of the North County Times tweets that it's the Cubs and Red Sox, however, who are the "main focus" of San Diego's trade talks.
Red Sox Notes: Bell, Beltre, Martin, Wakefield
The increase in Adrian Gonzalez trade chatter is the biggest news out of Fenway Park today. Here's a bit of extra news about those rumors plus some other Boston notes…
- Josh Byrnes tells WEEI.com's Alex Speier that the familiarity between the Red Sox and Padres front offices may actually be a hindrance in making a deal happen.
- Heath Bell's name has been mentioned in some of the Padres/Red Sox trade talks, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney. Top Boston prospects Casey Kelly and Anthony Rizzo are two of the names discussed in a potential package to San Diego, writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
- Olney also tweets that if Adrian Beltre's first preference is really to return to Boston, then admitting so probably cost him some leverage with the Athletics.
- Boston is Gonzalez's preferred trade destination, tweets Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman, possibly due to the fact that the Sox are contenders and they can afford "to give him [a Mark] Teixeira deal."
- Are the Red Sox one of the teams interested in Russell Martin? Heyman tweets that Boston has "always liked" the former Dodger catcher. With Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Jason Varitek behind the plate, Heyman speculates that Martin could fill a utility role for Boston.
- Tim Wakefield talked to the Boston Globe's Peter Abraham about how 2011 will "probably" be his last season and how he's now more comfortable about losing his rotation spot.
- If the Red Sox had been successful in signing Mariano Rivera away from the Yankees, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com reports that the Sox would've non-tendered Jonathan Papelbon before last night's deadline. Given the Bell-from-San Diego rumor noted earlier, you wonder if a Papelbon move is yet to come for the Red Sox this winter.