Padres Rumors

Adrian Gonzalez Will Ask For A Massive Contract

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 2, 2010 at 4:43pm CDT

The agent for Adrian Gonzalez told Tim Sullivan of the San Diego Union-Tribune that he sees Mark Teixeira as a fair comparable for his client. John Boggs, who represents Gonzalez, told Padres GM Jed Hoyer the same thing and that basically ended their conversation.

Teixeira signed a $180MM deal with the Yankees last offseason as a 28-year-old. Gonzalez won't be a free agent until after the 2011 season if the Padres pick up his $5.6MM option, but his agent is thinking big already.

“You always shoot high and adjust to the marketplace,” Boggs said of Gonzalez, who will presumably be 29 by the time he hits the market.

Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that while Gonzalez is seeking Teixeira money, the Padres believe a five-year $90MM deal would be more appropriate (Twitter link).

Padres CEO Jeff Moorad said last month that the Padres have doubts that they can keep their first baseman long-term. Gonzalez recently said he expects to be paid what he deserves on his next contract. That doesn't mean the Padres won't extend him, but a deal seems unlikely given that Gonzalez would be a tremendously attractive commodity on the trade market.

The Dodgers, Mariners, Mets, White Sox and Red Sox are among the teams that have been connected to Gonzalez in recent months.

California Notes: Headley, Angels, Weaver

By Mark Polishuk | March 1, 2010 at 9:15pm CDT

Someone alert Dr. Dre and the Beach Boys, since here's a rundown of news from the Golden State…

The Padres are so high on Chase Headley that MLB.com's Corey Brock says the team once turned down a deal with Pittsburgh that would've brought Nate McLouth and Xavier Nady to San Diego.
MLB.com's Lyle Spencer reports that the Angels will pay their five regular infielders a total of $8.05MM in 2010 — or, almost $1MM less than Chone Figgins by himself will make in Seattle.
Tony Jackson of ESPN Los Angeles talks to Jeff Weaver, whose minor league contract with the Dodgers allows him to opt out and become a free agent if he doesn't make the club out of spring training. Weaver said the escape clause allows him to stay out of the minors: "I am here to make this team. If it doesn't work out…then I don't really want to do the Triple-A thing again."
As part of a reader mailbag, Jackson said it's unlikely that Jamie McCourt's claim of half-ownership of the Dodgers will hold up in court. But if it does, then Jackson predicts Frank McCourt "probably will be forced to sell, whether it's to Jamie and the group she allegedly has lined up to buy the club or to someone else." One would think that if this divorce halves McCourt's fortune as many predict it will, he may have to sell the team regardless of the result of his ex-wife's claim.
Scout X (who may or may not be ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski) previews the 2010 season. One of the more interesting tidbits in the piece is that Scout X would take Matt Cain over Tim Lincecum if he had to choose between the two Giants aces because "Cain pitches with such ease."

Peavy Has Spoken To White Sox About Acquiring Adrian Gonzalez

By Mike Axisa | March 1, 2010 at 6:08pm CDT

MONDAY, 6:08pm: Gonzalez said he is "flattered" by Peavy's campaigning on his behalf, reports Knobler. But Gonzalez unsurprisingly re-asserted his commitment to the Padres and said he hasn't made any trade demands himself: "I don't have any control about it. If [the Padres] trade me, they'll let me know after it happens. I don't even want to hear that they're talking about it."

SUNDAY, 5:58pm: GM Kenny Williams first spoke to Peavy about Gonzalez in January, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Peavy gave his stamp of approval, but the "feeling around 35th and Shields" was that it would take a package including Gordon Beckham to land the first baseman, and the White Sox weren't willing to go there.

1:58pm: Mark Gonzales at Chicagobreakingsports.com spoke with Peavy about his campaigning for Gonzalez earlier today. Peavy confirmed that he's spoken with Williams about the big first baseman. "I went into recruiting mode," Peavy said.

Peavy speaks highly of Gonzalez as both a player and a person, and says that while Gonzalez loves San Diego, he wants to win and would go anywhere for a chance to do so.

SATURDAY: Jake Peavy has already spoken to White Sox GM Kenny Williams about the idea of acquiring Adrian Gonzalez, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. Williams didn't need to hear it from Peavy, because Knobler says he plans to be first in line whenever Gonzalez is made available.

"That's really what we need, a big left-handed hitter," one Sox person said. "They're saying Kenny would give anything to get him, maybe even [Gordon] Beckham."

Although Chicago's lineup already features the lefty bats of Juan Pierre, A.J. Pierzynski, and Mark Teahen, none of them really qualify as a power bat. Gonzalez would certain rectify that, and since incumbent first baseman Paul Konerko may not be back next season, there's a natural fit.

If the White Sox offer a package centered around Beckham, it's difficult to see any other team interested in the Padres' first baseman topping it.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Adrian, Howard, Jeter

By Mike Axisa | February 26, 2010 at 8:47am CDT

A year ago today, the Giants renewed reigning Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum's contract for $650K. One year and a second Cy Young later, San Francisco bought out Lincecum's first two years of arbitration eligibility for $23MM. I'm sure they enjoyed paying him just six figures while it lasted.

Let's take a look at what's being written around the baseball blogosphere…

The Friarhood looks at what some other teams could offer the Padres in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez.
Crashburn Alley breaks down the possibility of the Phillies trading Ryan Howard so they could re-sign Jayson Werth.
Meanwhile, TAUNTR thinks it's going to be tough for the Phillies to retain their right fielder.
Statistician Magician says that letting Derek Jeter walk is an option for the Yankees.
Mets Paradise takes a look at the Mets' catching situation with Rod Barajas now on board.
More Hardball constructed a 25-man roster out of players that were signed to minor league contracts this offseason.
River Ave. Blues wonders what CC Sabathia will do with his opt-out clause following the 2011 season.
Baseball Bloggers Alliance challenges readers to put together Toronto's 25-man roster.
The Sports Banter ranks each team's offseason, with two AL East powers leading the way.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

Odds & Ends: Munson, Ranaudo, Sheets

By Tim Dierkes | February 25, 2010 at 1:24pm CDT

Links for Thursday…

Chat today, 2pm CST.
Dan Hayes of the North County Times tweets that the Padres signed Eric Munson to a minor league deal. Munson, 32, hit .265/.362/.450 in Triple A last year while catching 73 games.
Potential high 2010 draft pick Anthony Ranaudo, a righty at LSU, will miss a start Friday due to elbow discomfort according to Baseball America's Aaron Fitt.
ESPN's Jerry Crasnick looks at the mentor role Ben Sheets will play for the Oakland pitching staff.
Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball reports that despite a decrease in attendance, MLB revenue reached a record $6.6 billion in 2009.
J.D. Drew feels that he's been worth the $42MM he's been paid so far by the Red Sox over the 2007-09 seasons, reports Steve Buckley of the Boston Herald.

No Discount For Adrian Gonzalez

By Tim Dierkes | February 24, 2010 at 9:04pm CDT

9:04pm: Hayes has an updated story now, and it includes some interesting details. He reports that a Padres source said no teams approached San Diego about a deal for Gonzalez this winter. At last summer's non-waiver trade deadline, the Mariners were close to acquiring Gonzalez in a 6-for-1 trade, but the deal fell through when then-Padres GM Kevin Towers held out for one more player.

2:50pm: Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez isn't interested in a hometown discount, based on this report from Dan Hayes of the North County Times. In reference to his current contract, Gonzalez said, "At the time you take the security…the next one is where I look for what I deserve." I imagine he's expecting to top $100MM once he reaches free agency after the 2011 season. Gonzalez says there have been no extension talks with the Padres.

Gonzalez is sure to continue appearing in trade rumors this summer, but he cautions that "99.9 percent of everything is false."

Cardinals, Others Interested In Felipe Lopez

By Mark Polishuk | February 20, 2010 at 3:53pm CDT

SATURDAY, 3:53pm: Corey Brock of MLB.com (via Twitter) hears it's highly unlikely that the Padres will make a move on Lopez.

WEDNESDAY, 5:12pm: Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports are reporting that free agent infielder Felipe Lopez has four suitors, two of whom are San Diego and St. Louis.

We've heard about the Cards' interest in Lopez already this winter, and Morosi/Rosenthal note that Brendan Ryan's wrist surgery might be a main reason why St. Louis is keeping an eye on Lopez. For the Padres, Lopez would be essentially a depth signing, though David Eckstein and Everth Cabrera aren't exactly rock-solid everyday options in the middle infield. Cabrera is entering just his second season, and Eckstein has never posted an OPS in any of his nine major league seasons that has come within 50 points of the .810 OPS that Lopez achieved in 680 plate appearances last season..

Padres Sign Josh Barfield

By Tim Dierkes | February 19, 2010 at 8:28am CDT

The Padres signed second baseman Josh Barfield to a minor league deal with no Spring Training invite, reports MLB.com's Corey Brock. Barfield, 27, hit .252/.271/.331 in 319 appearances for the Indians' Triple A club in '09 and was outrighted in August.

Barfield came up with the Padres, posting a fine rookie season in '06. Former GM Kevin Towers sold high on him, sending Barfield to Cleveland after the season for Kevin Kouzmanoff and Andrew Brown.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Mets, Gonzalez, Contreras

By Mike Axisa | February 19, 2010 at 8:02am CDT

On this date back in 1983, Dodgers' hurler Fernando Valenzuela became the first player in baseball history to receive a seven-figure award through the arbitration process. During his first two-plus seasons as a big leaguer, Fernandomania had been named the Rookie of the Year, appeared in two All Star Games, and won a Cy Young Award. The arbitration panel awarded him a $1MM salary in his first year of eligibility, nearly tripling his 1982 salary.

As the last few present day arbitration cases wrap up, here are some links to check out from around the baseball blogiverse…

Mets Paradise reviews the Amazin's offseason, and says they aren't a finished product even if the team believes they are.
Capitol Avenue Club examines a potential Adrian Gonzalez-to-Atlanta trade, and notes that it's the same situation as the Mark Teixeira swap of 2007.
Turn Two looks at some AL and NL position battles.
The Sports Banter tries to find homes for the best remaining free agents.
Phillies Nation grades the Jose Contreras pickup.
Gear Up For Blue Jays Baseball breaks down Kevin Gregg and the rest of Toronto's bullpen.
Tipi Talk wonders if Rafael Perez could contribute to the Indians as a starting pitcher.
Dodgers Digital answers questions about how the Dodgers' roster decisions will affect their Triple-A affiliate.
AdamAdkins.net ranks the top five catchers in the game today.
Brew Crew Ball provides an easy-to-use guide for creating your own Spring Training story.

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.

Odds & Ends: Cardinals, Burnett, Chapman, Reyes

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 18, 2010 at 9:32pm CDT

Links for Thursday…

GM John Mozeliak and manager Tony LaRussa both mentioned to MLB.com's Matthew Leach that the Cardinals are not in a rush to add an infielder despite Brendan Ryan's recent wrist surgery.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels knows that it's far from a foregone conclusion that his team will win 87 games again, according to ESPNDallas.com reporter Richard Durrett.
Reds GM Walt Jocketty tells MLB.com's Mark Sheldon that Aroldis Chapman has looked "very impressive" so far.
Jose Reyes tells Kevin Kernan of the New York Post that he wants to finish his career with the Mets. Reyes says he's not thinking about the $11MM option the Mets have for his services in 2011.
The Nats outrighted Doug Slaten to Triple A, according to the team's Twitter. They designated him for assignment two days ago.
The Rockies and Mariners offered Mark McGwire hitting coach positions, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Mariners made their offer in 2003; the Rockies made theirs a few years ago.
Victor Martinez tells Alex Speier of WEEI.com that he'd "obviously" like to stay in Boston. The catcher says the negotiations are now under the team's control.
Carlos Zambrano tells Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald that he would have vetoed a trade had the Cubs approached him about one this offseason.
Andrew Friedman says he and his front office have assembled "the most talented team in Rays history," according to the Tampa Tribune (via Twitter).
USA Today's Peter Barzilai looks back at some historically good free agent signings.
Greg Burke cleared waivers, tweets Dan Hayes of the North County Times. The club placed Burke on unconditional waivers ten days ago.
Dodgers GM Ned Colletti tells ESPN.com's Buster Olney that the club find its fifth starter outside of the organization. "We'd love to have a bona fide No. 5 starter," Colletti said.
Mariano Rivera tells MLB.com's Brian Hoch that he doesn't know how long he's going to continue playing (Twitter link).
Rockies manager Jim Tracy told Denver Post readers that he helps Dan O'Dowd make personnel decisions when the GM is looking for input.
In anticipation of the club's scheduled arbitration hearing with Ryan Theriot, Cubs GM Jim Hendry tells Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times that the arbitration process is sometimes unavoidable.
The Braves signed 17-year-old infield prospect Alejandro Sanchez Martinez to a seven-year contract out of Spain earlier in the winter, according to David Menayo of Marca.com. Thanks to Nick Collias for the translation.

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