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Rosenthal’s Latest: Prior, Bedard, Haren

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The rumor mill is picking up today, thanks in no short part to Ken Rosenthal.  Check out his latest column.

  • Rosenthal believes the Padres are Mark Prior’s first choice, but as usual they won’t pay as much as other teams.  Both Texas clubs are in the lead for Prior currently.  Rosenthal also names the Cards, Mets, and Yankees are suitors, as we knew.  The Pirates, by the way, have not inquired.
  • Talks for Erik Bedard have slowed down, because the Orioles aren’t impressed with the offers.  The Mariners, Reds, and Mets are the top contenders.  Rosenthal indicates that the Reds may be overvaluing Homer Bailey, compared to the perception of other clubs.
  • Interesting late-game suitors for Dan Haren: the Rockies and Braves.  You wonder, then, whether they’ll also inquire on Bedard. 
  • Rosenthal notes that the Chris Burke acquisition could be a sign that the D’Backs won’t re-sign Orlando Hudson.  Burke will have to show something first though.
  • The Orioles don’t seem likely to flip Luke Scott; they like his style.  The guy could hit 30 bombs this year, in the opinion of Ron Shandler and Co.
  • The Twins are up to 39 on their 40 man roster, so they’ll have to be creative to take back four players in a Johan Santana deal.  It could mean including a player with Johan.

Pirates Looking For Catching Help

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Ronny Paulino.  The Pirates’ backstop turns 27 in April and sports a career OPS of .730 (NL average for the position in ’07 was .712).  Paulino nailed 26.7% of baserunners in ’07 and 36.2% in ’06.  For his gamecalling skills I’ll defer to devoted Pirate fans, but he’s got to be improving after two years behind the dish.  In short, there’s no reason to spend money at the catcher position for 2008.

That is exactly what the Pirates are planning, however.  The names on the radar:

  • Johnny Estrada – free agent with few remaining skills, will cost between $3.5-4MM
  • Miguel Olivo – free agent hits for pop and guns runners down, will cost around $3MM
  • Damian Miller – aging backup with little left, will cost around $2MM
  • Michael Barrett – intriguing buy low trade possibility, but could cost $4.5-5MM

I don’t really support any of these moves, but I can at least see the logic in acquiring Barrett on the cheap and hoping to cash in on a rebound year.  But bringing in a vet to split time with Paulino doesn’t seem good for his development.

Padres Rumors: Nady, Barrett, Jenkins, Prior

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Padres rumor guru Tom Krasovic has a new article up at the San Diego Union-Tribune.

  • The Padres are open to trading 24 year-old catcher Nick Hundley.  Hundley did not crack Baseball America’s Padres top ten prospects for ’08 after hitting .247/.324/.475 at Double A.  Kevin Towers would’ve sent him to the Astros for Luke Scott, and still could send him to Pittsburgh for Xavier Nady.
  • Krasovic says that if the Padres are to deal Michael Barrett for a few prospects, it’s likely to happen soon.  The Pirates are said to be interested so maybe a deal involving Nady and some prospects could go down.
  • The Padres’ offer to Geoff Jenkins will likely to be inferior to that of the Phillies.  So Jenkins would have to be sold on the city.  He’s from California and went to USC, notes MLBTR reader Nathaniel S.
  • The Friars expressed interest in another USC alum, Mark Prior (as have 11 other teams).  The New York Daily News reiterated the Mets’ and Yankees’ interest in him this morning.

Phillies Interested In Cameron, Benson

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ESPN’s Jayson Stark wrote recently that the Phillies have expressed interest in center fielder Mike Cameron, now that the Padres are out of the mix.  Pat Gillick, who had Cameron back in Seattle, may have warmed to the idea of a two-year contract.  Back on December 6th Todd Zolecki said the Phils didn’t even want to go that far.  Stark says the White Sox and Rangers are other contenders for Cameron.

Also, both the Phillies and Padres remain on the trail of Geoff Jenkins, according to Zolecki.  His choices have been narrowed down to those two clubs since Friday.

The Phils will be among many teams watching Kris Benson throw tomorrow.  Benson is a popular bargain option; we’ve known that the Yankees, Cardinals, Royals, and Marlins may be watching on Monday as well.  Nick Cafardo says ten teams will observe Benson, adding the Rockies and Dodgers as new ones.  We’re still three short! 

The Phils also could give a minor-league deal to Sidney Ponson.  I’ll let you add your own punchline there. 

Padres Acquire Jim Edmonds

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UPDATE, 12-15-07 at 3:18pm: Krasovic has learned that the Cards sent $2MM over to the Padres in the Edmonds deal.  Kevin Towers apparently pushed for more salary relief but settled there.

FROM 12-14-07 at 10:32pm:

According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres have agreed to trade minor league third baseman David Freese to the Cardinals for Jim Edmonds.  The Cards will also send more than a million in cash to offset some Edmonds’ $8MM salary. 

Freese is mildly interesting for a prospect who’ll be 25 in April.  He’s yet to reach Double A but he did draw 69 walks this year.  Baseball America says there’s a chance he’s moved off third eventually (and notes that he’s done some catching in an instructional league).

Edmonds is an OK one-year play for the Padres.  He dipped to a .325 OBP and .403 SLG last year as a 37 year-old, and only got into 117 games due to back/leg/groin/hamstring/shoulder/toe injuries.  It still might make sense to let Scott Hairston handle the lefties.  Edmonds seemingly waived his no-trade clause to go to San Diego.   

Joe Strauss says the Cards will first consider internal options in center.  Top prospect Colby Rasmus is 21 and hasn’t seen Triple A yet.  Rick Ankiel is also a possibility.  Guys like Mike Cameron, Kenny Lofton, Corey Patterson, Nate McLouth, or Coco Crisp could be external options.

Viva El Birdos weighs in on this deal; check it out.

Cameron, Padres Sever Ties

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The Padres and Mike Cameron will go in different directions, according to his agent.  It had been said previously that Cameron and the Padres agreed on two years but couldn’t meet on the amount of money.

Tom Krasovic notes that the Padres have already talked to the Cardinals about Jim Edmonds.  They’ve also got an eye on free agent Kenny Lofton.  Lofton may not be a defensive asset these days, but the 40 year-old still hits righties at an .800 OPS.  Scott Hairston could play center when the Padres face a southpaw.

As for Cameron, the White Sox, Twins, Rangers, Brewers, Phillies, and Braves could be options.  Ken Rosenthal adds the Cardinals, Reds, and Yankees as possibilities as well.  Cameron is the best center field free agent left on the market.

Padres Sign Glendon Rusch

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A small signing this evening, as the Padres inked 33 year-old southpaw Glendon Rusch to a minor-league deal.  He missed the entire ’07 season due to a blood clot. 

Add this to the recent Shawn Estes signing, and I wonder whether the Padres are content with their depth for the fifth starter spot.  They’ve also got Clay Hensley and Justin Germano on the roster to compete for that job.  My guess is that this means the Padres won’t pursue Mark Prior aggressively. 

Jenkins Will Choose Phillies Or Padres

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According to Ken Rosenthal, both the Phillies and Padres are vying for the services of Geoff Jenkins.  He’s expected to choose one of the two clubs.  The Rays are now out of the mix, having signed Cliff Floyd.

Both opportunities in Philly and San Diego would probably be platoon situations.  Jenkins seems decent at one-year, $5MM, but I wonder if he’ll require two years.

Padres Rumors: Iguchi, Prior, Cameron

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Padres rumor guru Tom Krasovic checks in with the latest.

  • Why does Tadahito Iguchi love San Diego so much?  He passed on far superior offers (and hitter’s parks) from the Rockies and Phillies.  The Padres have definitely developed a competitive advantage over the years in that guys will make concessions to play there.
  • Nine teams have expressed interest in Mark Prior, according to his agent.  The Astros are confirmed.  The Reds, Rangers, and Phillies are other possibilities.  The Padres haven’t checked in yet but they are expected to.
  • Talks are still ongoing between Mike Cameron and the Padres.

Today’s Non-tenders: Towers, Prior, Everett, Durbin

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Tim’s out for the night, so we’ve got a fresh post started for the non-tenders.  MLB.com has a running list as well.

These guys are the officials as of now:

  • As expected, the Marlins non-tendered catcher Miguel Olivo.  Johnny Estrada was another casualty; these two make up the market for starting catchers.
  • The Blue Jays non-tendered Josh Towers, a surprising move.  Some NL team could offer him two years and get league average work out of him.
  • Mark Prior has been non-tendered.  Honestly if I were the Cubs, I would’ve tossed the $3.5MM his way just to see.
  • Aaron Miles is now a free agent.
  • The A’s cut Kiko Calero loose.
  • The Padres have non-tendered four: Morgan Ensberg, Jason Lane, and pitchers Jack Cassell and Ryan Ketchner. RotoWorld speculates that the latter two, not arbitration eligible, could be offered minor league deals.
  • The Royals cut the cord on Emil Brown.  He turns 33 soon; he hit an ugly .257/.300/.347 in 2007.  Brown earned $3.45MM in ’07.
  • The Tigers non-tendered Chad Durbin, toss him into the free agent pool.  Guess those trade talks with the Bucs didn’t work out.
  • The Twins have let go Jason Tyner.
  • The Nats have cut bait with Nook Logan and LHP Michael O’Connor.
  • The Dodgers wave goodbye to Mark Hendrickson.
  • The White Sox have non-tendered Andy Gonzalez and LHP Heath Phillips. Joe Crede sticks with the Pale Hose for now.
  • Adam Everett has lost his job with the Astros. It’d be kind of funny if the Orioles signed him.
  • Per RotoWorld, the Angels have non-tendered Dallas McPherson. He’s full of potential, but he’s never come through. He’s only 27, though, so he could still catch on somewhere. Unless, RotoWorld notes, he has an agreement in place with the Angels.
  • The Braves have non-tendered Willie Harris, though he had already been DFA’d.

–Joe and Tim

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