Rosenthal On Roberts, Hudson, Counsell
Let’s take a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal.
- The Orioles have their ears open Brian Roberts, whose trade value has diminished as he nears free agency. The White Sox can’t afford him, the Braves are reluctant to give up talent, and the Cubs didn’t discuss him in the Felix Pie talks. The Roberts market may improve once Orlando Hudson signs.
- Rosenthal’s source says the Michael Young–Jermaine Dye discussions did take place. If you read Dave van Dyck’s article, Ken Williams never specifically denied talks with the Rangers.
- Rosenthal believes that if the Cubs make another big move, it’ll be a Jake Peavy trade. They’re not in on Hudson.
- The Dodgers have roughly $50MM in payroll flexibility right now.
- The Giants may be looking at Manny Ramirez, but they’ve also looked in trades for hitters – "presumably" Prince Fielder or Corey Hart included. Those talks with the Brewers didn’t go far. The Giants may be willing to move Jonathan Sanchez, but the Jorge Cantu talks have stalled.
- So far the Dodgers and Russell Martin have only talked about a one-year deal.
- The Mariners are Brewers are eyeing Craig Counsell.
- The Ms "likely are willing" to trade Aaron Heilman.
Olney’s Latest: Manny, Abreu, Dunn
Buster Olney reports that Scott Boras seems to be taking the same approach with Manny Ramirez as he did with Derek Lowe; that is, to wait.
Olney says "Camp Manny" is "waiting for some other team to be tempted by what Ramirez could do for them, waiting for an offer larger than that made by the Dodgers to develop."
The Dodgers are waiting as well. Olney reports they are not likely to increase their offer of 2 years, $45MM that was offered and promptly ignored in November. Also waiting for something to happen are Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn. Should Manny wind up on the Giants, Abreu and Dunn may find themselves with leverage to negotiate with the Dodgers. Olney writes, "And given that Dunn and Abreu know that they can find homes at any time for one-year deals, there really is no downside for them to see how the Ramirez situation plays out."
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Saturday
Free agent outfielder Manny Ramirez is still looking for a team, and several outlets are writing about him today.
- The New York Mets aren’t looking back at him.
- Money and the length of contract are causing the San Francisco Giants to remain on the sideline, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports.
- Bill Madden of the N.Y. Daily News has a list of teams in his column. He notes the Los Angeles Dodgers have no reason to bid against themselves. Madden’s list of teams? Dodgers, Mets, Giants, Los Angeles Angels, New York Yankees, Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers.
Giants-Joe Crede Update
The latest on the Giants and free agent third baseman Joe Crede, courtesy of Henry Schulman:
Source tells me the Giants are on the "fringes" of talks for Crede, who can be had for a one-year deal.
There hasn’t been much buzz this winter on Crede, who is represented by Scott Boras. The Twins, Angels, Rangers, Astros, and Brewers are other clubs that could be considered unsettled at the hot corner.
Odds and Ends: Lowry, Kawakami, Lowe, Young
Links for Wednesday…
- Rany Jazayerli has withdrawn his support for Royals GM Dayton Moore.
- Chris Haft says that if Noah Lowry has a nice spring, perhaps the Giants should trade him rather than Jonathan Sanchez.
- Keith Law says Kenshin Kawakami should provide bulk innings for the Braves, while the risk with Derek Lowe is his age.
- La Velle E. Neal III doesn’t get the sense the Twins are interested in Michael Young.
- Jeff Wilson looks at the likely free agent options for the Rangers.
- Peter Abraham suggests the Yankees don’t have sufficient rotation depth without Andy Pettitte or a similar veteran addition.
- It was bound to happen sooner or later…a blog dedicated entirely to Scott Boras.
- The Reds are looking for power off the bench…Mark Sheldon has suggestions.
- A look at the Twins’ non-roster invitees.
- Geoff Baker says the Mariners screwed up with Jarrod Washburn.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Tuesday
Henry Schulman describes the divide between the Giants’ limit and Scott Boras’ request for Manny Ramirez: Boras wants four years with a fifth-year vesting option, while the Giants probably won’t exceed two years.
Manny is Boras’ last great project of the offseason. If he can somehow play the Giants and Dodgers off each other, maybe he gets that third guaranteed year.
Cafardo’s Latest: Manny, Dunn, Fielder
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has lots of rumors in his latest article:
- Apparently the Giants were willing to offer Manny Ramirez a four year deal in the form of a one year deal with three option years. No more details are known, except that the Giants remain interested in Manny.
- Brad Ausmus has had ongoing talks with the Padres and Dodgers, according to Cafardo’s sources. The Red Sox aren’t interested.
- The Angels, Giants and Mets are possible suitors for Xavier Nady.
- Cafardo’s heard other clubs talking about the Red Sox and Rockies restarting the Todd Helton for Mike Lowell trade talk, but hasn’t heard anything similar from the Red Sox.
- At least one of Cafardo’s sources thinks Prince Fielder would make a lot of sense in Boston. Clay Buchholz could be a starting point if these talks were to start.
- Ben Sheets is becoming a bargain, so the Braves or Rangers could jump in and sign him affordably.
- Cafardo calls Atlanta an "emerging" destination for Adam Dunn.
Odds And Ends: Padres, Manny, Braves
Links for Sunday…
- John Moores will remain majority owner of the Padres for three or four years even if he agrees to sell the team to Jeff Moorad, according to Tom Krasovic. Major league executives say Padres CEO Sandy Alderson is likely to leave if Moorad takes over.
- In a recent poll, Giants fans were divided on the idea of signing Manny Ramirez.
- The Pirates haven’t offered Doug Mientkiewicz a contract.
- Thomas Stinson looks at an offseason of "mediocrity" for the Braves.
- Bobby Cox likes the looks of Kenshin Kawakami.
- Larry LaRue asks who’s on first for the Mariners this year.
- Joe Posnanski sees Adam Dunn and Willie Bloomquist as opposites in a way.
- Michael Silverman compares the pre-Bronx careers of Mark Teixeira and Jason Giambi.
Giants Invite 16 To Big League Camp
Including a couple of Giants prospects, catcher Buster Posey and right-hander Kevin Pucetas, San Francisco has invited 16 players to its Spring Training camp, Chris Haft of MLB.com reports.
The rest of the list: third baseman Jesus Guzman; infielders Scott McClain and Ivan Ochoa; right-handers Francis Beltran, Brandon Medders and Justin Miller; catcher Eli Whiteside; first baseman-outfielder Josh Phelps; outfielder Andres Torres; catcher Todd Jennings; infielder Jake Wald; catcher Jackson Williams; right-hander Ronnie Ray; infielder Matt Downs.
Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14.
Manny Ramirez Rumors: Friday
San Francisco Giants beat writer Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle isn’t buying that the Giants are about to expedite the process to acquire left fielder Manny Ramirez.
I am told that (agent) Scott Boras is spreading word that the Giants are going to make a big push for Ramirez in the next day or two. The Giants’ reaction to that was laughter on the other end of the phone line, Schulman writes.
Schulman believes the Giants’ brass because of logistics. He doesn’t think there is a rush to force the issue, especially when, he thinks, the Giants would be looking for a short-term deal with Ramirez. Plus, Schulman adds that the Giants aren’t looking to overspend on Ramirez, another sign the organization would likely remain patient in the process.