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Royals Rumors: Francoeur, Butler, Ibanez, Greinke

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Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star has several Royals rumors this morning…

  • Dutton says the Braves appear willing to trade Jeff Francoeur.  While no trade talks have taken place, it’s known that Royals GM Dayton Moore is a fan.  Dutton speculates that the Royals would not give up Zack Greinke for Francoeur, but may consider offering Luke Hochevar, Danny Cortes, or Mark Teahen.
  • The Royals and Mariners discussed a Billy Butler for Yuniesky Betancourt trade before the ’07 season, and Dutton wonders if Seattle’s new GM could reignite those talks.
  • Dutton says the Mark Teahen to Cleveland rumor "just won’t die," despite Moore labeling it an "absolute lie" on October 27th.  It may be that Teahen is on the Indians’ list but no talks have occurred.
  • Will the Royals offer arbitration to second baseman Mark Grudzielanek?  He’s a Type B free agent, so it’s under consideration.  The risk is that he accepts.
  • Another Royals rumor from Ken Davidoff of Newsday: they’ve expressed an interest in bringing Raul Ibanez back to Kansas City.  The Mets and Cubs are other known suitors.
  • ESPN’s Keith Law says the Royals would like to sign Zack Greinke to a long-term deal, but if that fails they would make him available. Greinke, 25, is under team control for two more seasons.

Braves Offer Tazawa Major League Contract

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8:09pm: According to John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mariners scouts met with Tazawa today.  The Yankees will not pursue Tazawa.

7:25pm: O’Brien has more.  He says the Braves made a multiyear offer to Tazawa, and will know his decision in a few weeks.  In an earlier post, O’Brien passed along a rumor that the Braves’ offer topped the $6MM Pedro Alvarez received.

4:10pm: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves offered Junichi Tazawa a Major League contract.  O’Brien says the Red Sox, Mariners, Cubs, and Marlins are also interested in the 22 year-old pitcher.  This offer could put the Braves in the lead, but the dollar amount is unknown.

Mets Rumors: Wolf, Fuentes, K-Rod, Street, Pedro

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11:37am: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets are eyeing Randy Wolf, in addition to Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez.

Heyman adds that some Mets people are concerned about their catching, but others aren’t thrilled with the free agent options.

9:20am: All kinds of Mets rumors this morning.

  • Let’s begin with the closer situation.  The Mets are interested in Brian Fuentes, but Omar Minaya will not rule out Francisco Rodriguez. He makes a great point: contract numbers are tossed around early, but the player often fails to reach that amount. 
  • Joel Sherman says the Mets also want to speak to the A’s about Huston Street.  However, his sources say the A’s feel they match up better with the Indians, Rockies, and Brewers (all interested parties).  Rosenthal has Kerry Wood and Joe Beimel in the Mets’ sights as well.  Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog believes J.J. Putz could be a trade target, with interest on the Mariners’ side. 
  • Ken Davidoff explains how the Mets could end up signing K-Rod – the Fuentes market blows up, while Rodriguez settles for less.  I’m on board with that.
  • The Javier Vazquez rumors were addressed in this post.  Elsewhere on the starting pitching front – Minaya will talk to Pedro Martinez’s agent, but he’s unlikely to return.  Aaron Heilman won’t be moving to the rotation.
  • We’ve heard about the Mets’ interest in Raul Ibanez, but Minaya does not seem to consider the offense a problem.  He even spoke optimistically about a Luis Castillo rebound (though he did not give Castillo a ringing endorsement).

LaRue’s Latest: Manny, Ibanez, Putz

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Larry LaRue of The News Tribune has several new rumors…

  • Scott Boras has floated an asking price for Manny Ramirez that begins at $27MM per year.  It seems that the Dodgers may be willing to offer that salary for two years, but Boras wants a significantly longer term.
  • The Cubs and Mets expressed interest to Raul Ibanez’s agent.  Does this mean the Cubs are comfortable with the idea of Ibanez in right field?
  • The Tigers crave a closer, and J.J. Putz may be a target.  Putz will earn $5MM in ’09 with an $8.6MM option for ’10.

NPB Rumors: Tazawa, Iwase, Iguchi

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Some Japanese baseball-related rumors, courtesy of Patrick Newman at NPB Tracker:

Odds & Ends: Amaro, Marte, Griffey

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Some Odds & Ends to begin the day:

  • The Phillies are expected to announce Ruben Amaro Jr. as their next General Manager on Monday. Says Ken Mandel of MLB.com, "Amaro, 43, served as a batboy for the Phillies from 1980-83, and played for the Phillies from 1992-93 and 1996-98. He moved into the front office after retiring as a player." As the clubs Assistant General Manager, he’s been the heir apparent to the 71-year-old Pat Gillick as GM.
  • The Yankees are expected to decline Damaso Marte’s $6MM option, according to George King III of the New York Post. Marte made $2MM this year and the Yankees are opting to buy him out for $250,000. I expect them to make an attempt to sign him to a new contract but no details yet.
  • Larry Stone of the Seattle Times says Ken Griffey Jr. is open to returing to Seattle. No comment from M’s new GM Jack Zduriencik.

Odds And Ends: Miller, Ngoepe, Moss, Perez, Phillies

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Here are some crumbs from the trade rumor loaf:

Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. He can be reached here.

Junior Would Return To Seattle

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According to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times, Ken Griffey Jr. is open to returning to the Mariners as a free agent. Griffey’s agent, Brian Goldberg, said that his client is “open minded” about returning to play in Seattle, where he played for 11 seasons.

Goldberg added that Griffey wants to talk with the White Sox about returning to play in Chicago. The White Sox declined Griffey’s $16MM option this week.

Griffey, who hit .249/.353/.424 last year, has said that he wants to play for three more seasons.

What’s Next For Ken Griffey Jr.?

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According to Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald, Ken Griffey Jr. said he wants to play three more seasons.  Junior is a free agent now, and the White Sox will probably not re-sign him. Though Griffey is a Type B free agent, the Sox probably won’t risk offering him arbitration.

Could Griffey finish his career back with the Mariners?  It’s not known if interest is mutual, as Ms GM Jack Zduriencik would not comment.  Griffey, 39, hit .249/.353/.424 in 575 plate appearances this year.  Larry LaRue offers commentary on the Griffey idea in a blog post.

Marlins Raise Payroll Limit To $40 Million

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Mike Berardino of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel talked an industry source who says Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria has authorized a payroll of up to $40MM for 2009.  This means they won’t be forced to trade any of their 16 arbitration-eligible players.  Greg Cote first suggested this on September 30th, and Buster Olney reiterated it on October 15th.

However, Berardino confirms Olney’s note from Friday: Kevin Gregg, Mike Jacobs, and Scott Olsen are available.  The Marlins discussed sending Jacobs to the Royals for righty Carlos Rosa, but the Fish are worried about Rosa’s August forearm soreness.  A thought: why would the Royals consider trading pitching for Jacobs?  Berardino names the Mariners and Blue Jays as other interested parties, and considers the Indians a fit.  The Giants have also been named as a suitor.

Berardino wonders if the Rangers will pursue Olsen, perhaps offering a catcher.  I don’t believe Olsen would succeed in Texas.

Expected to remain in Florida: Dan Uggla, Cody Ross, and Alfredo Amezaga.  Berardino says the front office is divided on Jeremy Hermida’s potential.  Four teams have asked about Hermida.  Josh Willingham may be available, but his back is worrisome.

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