Padres Rumors

Rosenthal’s Latest: Swisher, Nady, Kapler, Zaun

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 8:50am CDT

A recent Ned Colletti-Scott Boras conversation about Manny Ramirez didn’t result in progress. Boras still has his sights on at least $100MM over four years. Rosenthal adds that Manny is "cool to the idea of playing in San Francisco."
Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady are drawing "significant interest." Rosenthal speculates that the Giants, Braves, or Pirates would make sense.
The door is not closed with the Yankees and Andy Pettitte. Pettitte recently rejected the Yanks’ one-year, $10MM offer.
Some Mets people prefer Oliver Perez to Derek Lowe. The Braves have yet to speak to Boras about Lowe, while the Brewers and Phillies have financial concerns about fitting him in.
Trevor Hoffman has a West Coast preference (the Dodgers or maybe a Padres reconciliation) but interest with the Brewers is mutual. Other relievers on the Dodgers’ radar: Juan Cruz, Guillermo Mota, and Dennys Reyes.
Brian Fuentes’ agent had serious talks with the Yankees, but no offer was made. Fuentes would’ve been Mariano Rivera’s set-up man and perhaps taken over upon his retirement.
Rosenthal notes that MLB kicked in a small part of the $10MM owed to Sidney Ponson from their luxury tax pool, which is not uncommon.
If they can afford it, the Rays would like to sign Gabe Kapler.
The Orioles, Red Sox, and A’s are interested in Gregg Zaun.
Perhaps because of the cool market for his services, Orlando Cabrera is willing to play second base. The Yankees did not have interest.
That Gavin Floyd for Brian Roberts rumor "seemingly arose from internal discussions among Orioles officials."

Padres Backed Away From Cubs-Peavy Deal?

By Tim Dierkes | January 6, 2009 at 8:08am CDT

A note we missed from last night’s Gordon Edes story:

The Cubs and Padres appeared close to a deal for Jake Peavy in Las Vegas, but the Padres backed away, leaving the Cubs convinced that someone over Kevin Towers’ head pulled the plug.

You may recall that during the Winter Meetings Towers told reporters that Cubs GM Jim Hendry pulled out of the deal.

Braves Rumors: Pettitte, Glavine, Smoltz

By Tim Dierkes | January 5, 2009 at 10:15pm CDT

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has the latest hot stove info on the Braves.

The Braves still have roughly $25MM to spend, with a starting pitcher and a power-hitting outfielder on the shopping list.
Starters of interest: Derek Lowe, Andy Pettitte, and Jon Garland. Mark Bowman of MLB.com doesn’t believe the Braves would exceed three years and $36MM for Lowe, a Boras client.
O’Brien isn’t sure if the Jake Peavy talks will restart. But Frank Wren did reiterate that he wants to re-sign both Tom Glavine and John Smoltz if they’re able to pitch.
O’Brien notes that Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn remain on the free agent market, while the Cardinals could part with Rick Ankiel. All three bat left-handed, however.

Odds and Ends: Andruw, Marquis, Coonelly

By Tim Dierkes | January 5, 2009 at 10:42am CDT

Links for Monday…

In his first post for RotoAuthority, David Chase looks at players who were said to have lost weight or gained muscle during Spring Training ’08. How did they perform in ’08?
The Red Sox inked infielder Nick Green to a minor league deal.
Murray Chass explains why the New York Times Company’s purchase of a share of the Red Sox was a conflict of interest.
Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik: "We’ve got an offer out right now for a piece of the puzzle, and I’d hope to hear in the next few days."
David Laurila talked to new Mariners exec Tony Blengino. One of many interesting quotes (in reference to the Bill Bavasi regime and the ’07 club): "I thought that it was clear going in that, with all due respect, they overrated their team from the last year."
The Yankees will introduce Mark Teixeira tomorrow. He passed his physical today.
River Ave. Blues and Peter Abraham ask whether the Yankees should consider Andruw Jones. Evan Brunell looks at other possible fits.
The Dodgers talked to the Cubs about Jason Marquis, according to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick.
Pirates president Frank Coonelly joins Mark Attanasio (Brewers) and Drayton McLane (Astros) in supporting a salary cap.
Jeff Moorad might be aggressive in the draft if he takes over the Padres. Tom Krasovic adds that the Padres have already discussed spending up to $6MM on their #3 pick this June.
Keith Law likes the Angels’ Brian Fuentes signing, and doesn’t think the Indians gave up much for Mark DeRosa.
If the Indians are to add another significant player, they’ll have to get creative with contracts.
RAB and In Mo We Trust discuss Kevin Kernan’s recent suggestion that the Yanks sign Oliver Perez over Andy Pettitte.
A couple of recent Hot Stove Dailies from Jeff Passan: the Braves and A’s.
Athletics Nation asks whether Brian Sabean is "out-GMing" Billy Beane this winter.
Sox Machine on why the Gavin Floyd–Brian Roberts rumor makes no sense.

D-backs GM, CEO Unlikely To Leave

By Ben Jones | January 4, 2009 at 6:59pm CDT

Despite former CEO Jeff Moorad leaving the Arizona Diamondbacks for San Diego Padres ownership, two of his trusted colleagues will likely not follow him.

Current Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall and general manager Josh Byrnes have small ownership stakes in the Arizona franchise. That will likely keep the duo in place, The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro reports.

Hall and Byrnes each received contracts that run through 2015. Moorad negotiated both deals, Piecoro added.

Olney on Moorad, Peavy, Hoffman

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | January 3, 2009 at 12:00pm CDT

Buster Olney looks at the fallout for the Padres now that former D’Backs CEO Jeff Moorad has agreed in principle to buy the club with the help of some investors.

Will the new ownership retain Kevin Towers? Moorad once interviewed the Padres GM for a job with the D’Backs and, as Olney points out, Towers has an "excellent reputation within the industry" so his chances of keeping his job seem good.
The sale could give the Padres the financial stability to take Jake Peavy off the market. Peter Gammons wrote today that Cubs GM Jim Hendry "hasn’t given up" on Peavy.
Olney suggests it’s possible this change could spark a reconciliation with Trevor Hoffman.
Padres CEO Sandy Alderson’s future isn’t certain anymore and neither is Paul DePodesta’s.

D’Backs CEO Resigns, Will Attempt To Buy Padres

By | January 2, 2009 at 6:34pm CDT

The Arizona Republic reports that Jeff Moorad has resigned from his post as CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks in an attempt to acquire the San Diego Padres with a "small but significant" group of investors. Moorad has reached an "agreement in principle" to buy the Padres.

Team president Derrick Hall was promoted to President and CEO in Arizona. Padres fans will hope that Moorad and his group’s purchase of the team might put a halt to all of the cost-cutting. Current Padres owner John Moores is going through a pricey divorce that is seemingly dragging down the entire franchise.

Peavy To Cubs Unlikely

By Tim Dierkes | January 1, 2009 at 8:55am CDT

Yahoo’s Tim Brown asked Padres GM Kevin Towers whether the Cubs’ talks for Jake Peavy might reopen now that they’ve freed up cash. Towers’ reply: "Doubtful." To Tom Krasovic, Towers said, "The Cubs’ most recent trades have no bearing or connections with us and the Cubs in a potential Peavy deal." Krasovic notes that one big factor for the Cubs remains getting approval from new ownership to add Peavy’s $16MM salary to the 2010 payroll.

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times agrees that the team’s trade of Mark DeRosa "was made independent of Peavy considerations." Brown says the $8MM or so the Cubs cleared from the ’09 payroll is to pay for Milton Bradley, their top right field target. Bradley wants three years and $30MM and the Cubs will approach that.

Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio considers the Cubs signing Bradley a "done deal," though the Nationals were reported yesterday to have serious interest. Wittenmyer says the Cubs still "appear confident" about signing Bradley. It could be something they try to announce at the Cubs Convention, which begins January 16th. Paul Sullivan says the Cubs have been Bradley’s "preferred choice since Day One of the offseason."

DeRosa Traded To Indians

By Tim Dierkes | December 31, 2008 at 12:44pm CDT

12:44pm: Levine says the three minor league pitchers coming to Chicago for DeRosa are Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer, and John Gaub. The move feels like a salary dump – of a player whose production was worth $19.4MM this year.

A note from Bruce Miles: the Cubs’ ownership situation will have to be settled before the Cubs are able to complete a Peavy trade. Levine says the same in his post.

12:25pm: Levine and Buster Olney are saying it’s a done deal – DeRosa to the Tribe for three minor league pitchers. The Cubs have trimmed roughly $9MM from the 2009 payroll with their recent moves. Coming in: $3.5MM for Luis Vizcaino (plus another million sent in salary relief) and $2.2MM for Aaron Miles. Going out: $5.5MM for DeRosa and $9.875MM for Jason Marquis.

11:27am: According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Radio, the Indians are getting close to a deal for Mark DeRosa that would send two or three young pitchers to the Cubs. At least, that statement was attributed to him in the station’s recent SportsCenter update. Levine recently scooped the Cubs’ signing of Aaron Miles.

In his blog, Levine suggests a DeRosa match with Cleveland but does not say a deal is close. Levine considers the Cubs’ Milton Bradley signing "a done deal" and says they’ve back in the mix for Jake Peavy. Jon Heyman says Bradley seeks a three-year deal.

Red Sox Reach Deals With Bard, Penny

By Ben Jones | December 28, 2008 at 9:59pm CDT

9:59pm: Ian Browne of MLB.com weighs in on Bard. He discusses the catching situation, and in particular, how the Red Sox will use Bard if free-agent Jason Varitek returns to the franchise.

SI.com points out Penny’s Interleague numbers: 7-11 with a 5.08 ERA in 24 appearances against American League opponents. Penny has spent his entire career in the National League.

8:41pm: Rob Bradford of WEEI.com spoke with Brad Penny, who confirmed his deal with the Boston Red Sox.

From Bradford:

“There were a lot of teams involved,” said Penny in a phone conversation. “But I wanted to go somewhere where I knew we had a great chance at winning, and Boston is that place.”

Bradford adds that Penny will be in Boston on Jan. 7 to take his physical and will begin his throwing program next week.

Bradford also updates the status of Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett, who has started exercises on his throwing shoulder, which is earlier than in years past. Bradford’s post states that the injury that plagued Beckett at the end of the 2008 season has subsided. The injury centered around the intercostal muscles near the ribs and not the oblique as previously thought.

7:33pm: Free-agent catcher Josh Bard has reached a one-year deal with the Boston Red Sox, Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald and Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe are reporting.

The Bard agreement is a nonguaranteed major-league deal worth $1.6MM. According to McAdam, Bard is viewed as a backup, but he could see more time depending upon what Boston decides to do at catcher.

Bard, 31 in March, spent seven games with the Red Sox in 2006 before Boston traded him to the Padres. He hit .202 in 57 games with San Diego in 2008.

McAdam has more on the Brad Penny deal, too. The agreement, a one-year deal with a base salary of $5MM, will be finalized Monday. Incentives and performance bonuses can increase the total deal another $3MM if Penny pitches more than 160 innings, McAdam reports.

Penny, 31 in May, went 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA in 17 starts and two relief appearances in 2008 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander played 4.5 seasons for the Dodgers. He played with the Florida Marlins from 2000 until he was traded in 2004.

With the addition of Penny, the Boston rotation now consists of Penny, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jon Lester.

The move also allows righty Justin Masterson to remain in a setup role for closer Jonathan Papelbon.

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