Padres Rumors

Odds & Ends: Hawkins, Uribe, Hill, Hazen

By Mike Axisa | October 30, 2009 at 9:11pm CDT

Here's a few links to end the night…

MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tweets that Astros GM Ed Wade said the team "is talking with LaTroy Hawkins, who wanted to see who the manager was going to be first." Hawkins will be a free agent this offseason for the fourth time in as many years.
Juan Uribe has informed the Giants that he plans to test the market, according to Andrew Baggarly of The Mercury News.
MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko reports that the Orioles outrighted three players off their 40-man roster, including southpaw Rich Hill. Meanwhile, MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince says the Indians outrighted three players as well.
Tom Krasovic reports that Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen interviewed for a front office position with the Padres. Hazen has held the position with Boston since 2006, and used to play in San Diego's minor league system.
Here's this week's edition of Baseball America's minor league transactions. Lots of new names hitting the free agent pool, including Jack Taschner and Edgar Gonzalez.

Odds & Ends: Kikuchi, Astros, Smoltz, Hermida

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 29, 2009 at 9:31am CDT

Some links to read for Thursday morning…

The AP reports (via the Miami Herald) that the Seibu Lions won the rights to negotiate with top Japanese amateur Yusei Kikuchi.
Another top young pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, hit 100 mph repeatedly in his third AFL start, according to ESPN.com's Jason Grey.
Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle says fans and media members need to hold Astros owner Drayton McLane accountable, and says it wasn't GM Ed Wade's fault that managerial candidate Manny Acta signed with the Indians.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears that the Cardinals still have interest in bringing John Smoltz back next year, perhaps as the team's fourth starter. The club seems likely to find a fifth starter within the organization.
The Pirates and Reds will swap A ball affiliates next year, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Padres GM Jed Hoyer offered contracts to all of the organization's scouts and player development personnel, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
R.J. Anderson of FanGraphs expects Tim Hudson to be worth the extension he's expected to sign.
MLB.com's Joe Frisaro lists the Blue Jays, Mariners, Rays and Mets as possible destinations for Jeremy Hermida. The Marlins may trade the outfielder, who should hit free agency after 2011.

Odds & Ends: Cubs, Byrnes, Orioles

By Tim Dierkes | October 28, 2009 at 10:21am CDT

Links for Wednesday…

Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times doesn't expect much to change with the Cubs under the Ricketts family. He says to expect a payroll around $143MM. That might leave GM Jim Hendry with around $8MM to work with.
Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic believes Eric Byrnes' time with the Diamondbacks might be nearing an end. They may attempt to trade him before releasing him.
John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer wouldn't be surprised to see the Reds release center fielder Willy Taveras, who is still owed $4MM.
Sox Machine reader Chris Pummer makes the case for the White Sox offering arbitration to reliever Octavio Dotel. Dotel projects as a Type A free agent, though he's right on the fringe.
Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun believes Andy MacPhail "will have to pull a huge rabbit out of his hat" to make the Orioles competitive in 2010.
As expected, new Padres GM Jed Hoyer reassigned scouting director Bill Gayton according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
WEEI has a live online chat scheduled with Jason Bay tomorrow.
Diamondbacks prospect Jarrod Parker blogged about his upcoming Tommy John surgery.

Odds & Ends: Chapman, Padres, Orioles, Coste

By Mike Axisa | October 27, 2009 at 7:26pm CDT

Here's a few links to help you through another baseball-less night…

Kiley McDaniel of Baseball Prospectus tweets that Aroldis Chapman will throw a bullpen at Fenway tomorrow.
ESPN's Keith Law says that firing VP of scouting and player development Grady Fuson was a good move by new GM Jed Hoyer and the Padres. He notes that San Diego's drafts have been among the worst in the game over the last few years, although they did change course last year.
Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun says the Orioles need a power hitter at one of the corner infield spots, and mentions that players like Adrian Beltre, Troy Glaus, or Carlos Delgado could represent a decent stop gap.
Chris Coste became a free agent after being outrighted by the Astros, says Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Phil Wood of MASNsports.com has news on a few front office hirings by the Nationals.
The Phillies added Brett Myers to their World Series roster according to David Murphy of The Philadephia Daily News. The 29-year-old righthander could earn himself a few extra bucks in free agency with a big series.

Jed Hoyer Notes

By Tim Dierkes | October 27, 2009 at 9:28am CDT

Jed Hoyer was introduced as the new GM of the Padres yesterday at a press conference. Notes from the day:

Hoyer signed a four-year contract with a club option for 2014, according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Tim Sullivan of the U-T quotes Hoyer saying, "I want to build from within." He does not want to rely on trades and free agent signings. Talking to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Hoyer also expressed a desire to tailor the Padres to win at Petco.
Jim Callis of Baseball America says the Padres' farm system "still lacks high-ceiling players" despite a solid 2009 draft.
VP of scouting and player development Grady Fuson was fired, according to Center. CEO Jeff Moorad said he anticipates "more movement on the baseball side." Tom Krasovic heard that scouting director Bill Gayton will not return.
Hoyer told Cafardo long-term contract discussions for Adrian Gonzalez are "definitely on the docket." The new Padres GM also gave Cafardo his thoughts on dealing with Theo Epstein in the future.
The Red Sox will "spread out [Hoyer's] duties among top members of the front office," according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Also, Silverman feels that former Padres GM Kevin Towers could be open to a West Coast scouting job for the Red Sox but would be unlikely to move to the East Coast for a non-GM position.

Jed Hoyer Named Padres GM

By Tim Dierkes | October 26, 2009 at 4:15pm CDT

Jed Hoyer will be named the new Padres general manager at a press conference today, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. Hoyer, 35, was an assistant GM with the Red Sox. Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune had a little bit of background on him in an article yesterday.

Hoyer ought to have $10MM+ to work with this winter despite a payroll in the low $40 millions. If the plan is to contend in 2010, it's not out of the question.

Heyman On Chapman, Mets, Hudson

By Tim Dierkes | October 26, 2009 at 3:08pm CDT

The latest hot stove notes from SI's Jon Heyman…

Despite interest from several other clubs, Heyman sees the Aroldis Chapman bidding as ultimately a Yankees-Red Sox battle.
Heyman says the Mets "don't seem inclined" to pursue free agent starter John Lackey. Heyman believes Lackey will aim for $100MM+, which is higher than most estimates we've seen.
The Mets have no interest in Milton Bradley, despite a September report. Heyman believes a left fielder will be the team's big-ticket import, with Matt Holliday atop their list.
Like many, Heyman does not see Orlando Hudson returning to the Dodgers. Hudson earned about $8MM this year and will be a Type A free agent once again.
Look for a Jed Hoyer announcement today from the Padres.

Odds & Ends: Ricciardi, Sabathia, Chapman

By Tim Dierkes | October 26, 2009 at 11:57am CDT

Links for Monday…

Former Padres GM Kevin Towers told Bill Madden of the New York Daily News recently "it's just a matter of when" the team trades first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
The Astros claimed outfielder Jason Bourgeois off waivers from the Brewers, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart via Twitter. Bourgeois, 28 in January, hit .316/.354/.401 in Triple A while playing all three outfield positions. In other Brewers-related news, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says the team retained Mike Burns and Adam Stern on minor league deals.
Don Mattingly is discussing his future with the Dodgers, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.
I missed this October 5th article from Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. Elliott talked to former Blue Jays president Paul Godfrey, who was frank in his opinions of ex-GM J.P. Ricciardi.
Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times says the Angels bid $140MM for C.C. Sabathia last winter, but Olney says "the Angels bid a firm $100MM and discussed increasing their offer to $120MM."
Andy Pettitte admitted to Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times, "I think everybody knows I wasn't real happy with the contract. But I wanted to take it and come back here and have a chance to do this." Pettitte ended up earning about $10MM in 2009, but only $5.5MM was guaranteed.
ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. says on Twitter that Aroldis Chapman "had good conversations" with Yankees GM Brian Cashman and other team execs at yesterday's game. Meanwhile, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian says that Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos finds signing Chapman unrealistic for his club. Logically, the Chapman bidding should heat up after the World Series. The 21-year-old lefty is meeting with the Cardinals, Orioles, and Red Sox this week.
Aaron Gleeman says it's reasonable for fans to call for Twins closer Joe Nathan to be traded, but not because he allowed a postseason home run to Alex Rodriguez.
NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman says reliever Scott Atchison hopes to return to MLB in 2009. Atchison, 34 in March, elected free agency in November of 2007 after posting a 4.11 ERA in 30.6 relief innings for the Giants.
Jim Seip of the York Daily Record writes about the beginning of Ken Rosenthal's career.
John Bonnes attempted to extract info about Joe Mauer's future with the Twins, talking to GM Bill Smith.

Cafardo on Gonzalez, Martinez, Webb, Lackey

By Zachary Links | October 25, 2009 at 6:45pm CDT

In his column today, the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo brings us a great deal of tidbits from around the majors:

Former Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi and ex-Padres GM Kevin Towers will "likely surface somewhere soon."
Cafardo wonders aloud if new Padres GM Jed Hoyer could work out a deal with his former club and send Adrian Gonzalez to Boston. One AL GM identified Gonzalez and Heath Bell as major chips that could be moved as part of a rebuilding effort. Hoyer is obviously familiar with Boston's assets, but Theo Epstein might be reluctant to part with Casey Kelly, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard.
Boston must act on Victor Martinez's $7.1MM option within five days of the World Series ending, but Cafardo wonders if they would prefer to sign him to a long-term deal in advance of Joe Mauer's talks with the Twins. Martinez's rep says that he and his client are "up for either scenario."
If the Red Sox choose to part ways with Jason Varitek ($5MM club option or $3MM player option for '10), there are a number of options available to the BoSox to replace him. One player mentioned is Rays catcher Gregg Zaun, whose $2MM option may not be picked up. Zaun has already said that he wants to return to Tampa Bay in 2010.
The "latest thinking" indicates that Arizona will pick up Brandon Webb's $8.5MM option as his rehab from shoulder surgery is reportedly going well.
John Lackey is in line for a big contract this winter, but it doesn't appear that he'll get it from the Angels. The Angels could instead use that money on an upgrade over Brian Fuentes. Cafardo says to look for the Rangers and Mets to show interest.
More on the Angels as Vladimir Guerrero could stay on with the club if he is willing to take a reasonably priced one-year deal. Guerrero has already publicly stated his desire to remain with the Halos.
It will be difficult for the Phillies to find the cash necessary to retain Pedro Martinez.
Dan Duquette was considered for the Blue Jays CEO/President position but doesn't appear to be atop current CEO Paul Beeston's list.

Hoyer To Become Padres GM

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | October 23, 2009 at 4:42pm CDT

4:42pm: Melissa Segura of SI.com reports that the Padres will name Hoyer as GM later today. The 35-year-old exec has contributed to contract negotiations and offered sabermetric analysis with the Red Sox. He was co-GM of the team when Theo Epstein took a brief hiatus in 2005.

2:35pm: Gammons reports (via Twitter) that the Red Sox held a farewell lunch for assistant GM Jed Hoyer today before he heads off to San Diego. Presumably this means Hoyer is set to become the Padres' new GM.

9:45am: It seems increasingly likely that the Padres will choose Jed Hoyer as the team's next GM early next week, according to ESPN.com's Peter Gammons. Hoyer is currently Boston's assistant GM, but the Red Sox are well-equipped to handle the loss of the high-ranking exec. Kevin Towers, who mentored Red Sox GM Theo Epstein in San Diego, has been offered a position in Boston, and the Red Sox have extended former Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi a similar offer. Red Sox exec Ben Cherington would likely become assistant GM if Hoyer does take over in San Diego.

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