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Odds & Ends: Yankees, White Sox, Red Sox

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When you prepare the turkey, don't forget to add these tidbits for flavor…

Mets Considering Jack Cust?

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We have considered A's DH/outfielder Jack Cust a non-tender candidate for some time.  Today, Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News writes that Cust is indeed "expected to be traded" before the December 12th non-tender deadline.

Rubin says the Mets are "believed to have considered" acquiring Cust, while Seattle "may be the most likely destination" and the Rangers "may have interest."

As Rubin says, the cost for Cust figures to be low.  For one, the A's have to trade him if they want to avoid paying him more than $3MM next year after an arbitration raise.  Second, DH types are plentiful.

Obviously the Mets would see Cust as a left fielder.  Cust played 401.6 innings in right field this year and 585.6 in left last year, and the UZR/150 defensive metric was not kind.  Offensively, Cust is known for his propensity to homer, strike out, or walk.  His line slipped to .240/.356/.417 in his third full season.

Mariners, Tigers Trade Talks Stall

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Trade talks between the Mariners and Tigers have stalled, according to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.  Edwin Jackson and Curtis Granderson have been discussed, but Crasnick's source finds a deal "pretty doubtful."  Crasnick indicates that the Mariners were never terribly interested in Granderson, but did like Jackson.  The asking price is simply too high at present.

Crasnick says many feel Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is trying to sell high on Jackson, who posted a 3.62 ERA in 214 innings this year.  Jackson is only 26, and he did improve both his strikeout and walk rates (6.8 K/9, 2.9 BB/9).  Some are dinging Jackson for his final eleven starts, over which he posted a 5.83 ERA with a 6.0 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9.  If you are an xFIP fan, that stat had Jackson at 4.58 this year.  XFIP presumably wouldn't factor in at an arbitration hearing, however, and Jackson is due a pretty big raise on this year's $2.2MM salary.

Odds & Ends: Yankees, Tigers, Mariners

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A few Sunday links to peruse….

Odds & Ends: Chapman, Cubs, Holliday, Damon

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Links for Saturday afternoon …

  • Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News spoke with a baseball executive who believes the Yankees will wind up with Aroldis Chapman.  "My bet is that it'll come down to the Yankees and Red Sox, like it always does…" said the executive. "And I think the Yankees will get him.  They can give him a big-league contract over five years for $20 million and they don't even feel that."
  • The NY Post's Bart Hubbuch reports that the rumored three-way deal involving Milton Bradley, Kevin Millwood and Luis Castillo "isn't happening because the Rangers aren't interested in giving up Millwood so easily." He also mentions that the Mets aren't expected to make any majors moves until the Winter Meetings in two weeks.
  • Paul Sullivan at The Chicago Tribune rounds up some Cubs' rumors all in one convenient spot, just like our Cubs archive.
  • Meanwhile, Phil Rogers of The Chicago Tribune posted his projections on where some notable free agents will land. He sees Matt Holliday signing with Boston, while both Jason Bay and John Lackey land with the Angels.
  • Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post Dispatch notes that the market for Holliday is diminished because officials from the Angels and Giants said they "would not be vying" for his services. 
  • The Yankees' biggest focus right now is finding a "common ground" with Johnny Damon, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff. Hideki Matsui seems to be less of a priority. 
  • Larry LaRue of The News Tribune says that the Josh Johnson situation in Florida represents the worst-case scenario for the Mariners and Felix Hernandez.
  • Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker passes along a report that says Yusei Kikuchi has inked his first pro contract with the Seibu Lions. Kikuchi will not be eligible for international free agency for at least nine years, though Seibu could make him available through the posting process before that.

Gammons & Edes On Boston’s Offseason

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In a piece for ESPN Boston, Peter Gammons and Gordon Edes answered five key questions about the Red Sox and the upcoming offseason. There's not many hard rumors in the piece, but there's plenty of discussion topics, so let us know what you think…

  • Both Gammons and Edes believe the Sox will retain Jason Bay (Gammons guesses the contract will be in the four year, $64MM range), and neither is sure who will compete with them for his services.
  • The Red Sox "can easily" keep shortstop Alex Gonzalez at a reduced rate even though they declined his option earlier this month. Gammons feels the team needs depth and mentions Marco Scutaro, while Edes doesn't think it would be wise to make a long-term commitment that would block prospect Jose Iglesias.
  • When it comes to blockbuster trades, Gammons thinks the only way the team pulls one off is if they a) get frustrated during contract extension negotiations with Josh Beckett, or b) can get Adrian Gonzalez or Felix Hernandez.
  • Edes says it wouldn't be a Red Sox offseason if they didn't explore a big trade, but he thinks it's a longshot that they'll acquire Gonzalez. He says another run at Roy Halladay is more likely.
  • Gammons notes the Sox would like to add a righthanded batter than could play center and right, and they've long been intrigued by Cody Ross. He mentions that the Marlins tried to get Manny Delcarmen in July.
  • Both writers believe they will make a run at Rich Harden, and Gammons thinks they'll go after Ben Sheets as well.
  • And finally, Gammons says the team believes they will not be the high bidder for Aroldis Chapman, but they made a strong case for Boston as the place he'd want to be.

Red Sox Claim Robert Manuel From Mariners

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The Red Sox claimed pitcher Robert Manuel off of waivers from the Mariners, according to a team press release. The 26-year-old righty made his MLB debut with the Reds this year, recording 13 outs without allowing an earned run. His Triple A numbers were good, too; Manuel had a 49K/16BB ratio and an overall 2.88 ERA for the Reds and Mariners.

Pirates Claim Jakubauskas; Karstens Designated

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The Pirates claimed pitcher Chris Jakubauskas off waivers from the Mariners, according to a team press release.  Jakubauskas, 31 next month, allowed 91 hits and 27 walks in 93 innings for the Mariners last year, striking out 47 for a 5.32 ERA.

The Pirates designated Jeff Karstens for assignment to clear roster space.  Karstens, 27, was pretty well-regarded by the Pirates when he arrived as part of the Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte trade with the Yankees in July of 2008.  He pitched well in his nine starts that year but was bumped from the rotation in June for Charlie Morton.

Odds & Ends: Atkins, Twins, Carlyle

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Links for Friday, as the free agent market officially opens…

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Wood, Sheets, Bradley, Wagner

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On this date two years ago, Mike Lowell re-signed with the Red Sox for three-years, $37.5MM. In this first two years of the deal, Lowell has taken in $25.5MM, and according to his WAR has been worth $19.9MM. In '10, Lowell will be 36 as he enters the final year of his deal. Today is the first day of free agency, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

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