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Asking Prices For Beltre, DeRosa

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Free agent infielders Adrian Beltre and Mark DeRosa had off-years offensively, but according to ESPN's Buster Olney, both have steep asking prices.  Said Olney:

As teams have been checking in on the availability of infielders, they have found that the asking price for Beltre is no less than $10 million a year, and for DeRosa, it's a three-year deal for something in the range of $9 million a year.

Beltre is a relatively young 31 in April, his third base defense is top-notch, and he's represented by Scott Boras.  He did have shoulder surgery in June.  Still, his initial demands aren't entirely unexpected, and Olney didn't tell us how many years he's seeking.

DeRosa turns 35 in February, earned $5.5MM this year, and had wrist surgery in November.  But since he reportedly has at least a dozen suitors, why not start the bidding around $27MM?

Both players are Type B free agents, and the Mariners and Cardinals offered arbitration on Tuesday.  Beltre and DeRosa don't seem likely to accept.

Odds & Ends: Hudson, Pujols, Gonzalez, D-Backs

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Some Thursday night links…

  • Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports note that the Phillies had a creative idea for third base before signing Placido Polanco – they asked Orlando Hudson if he'd make the position change.  He passed.
  • Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III spoke openly about the club's limitations in retaining Albert Pujols beyond his current deal, writes Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.  Signing Pujols and free agent Matt Holliday to new contracts would almost definitely mean committing upwards of 40% of the team's payroll to two players.
  • If the Tigers cannot re-sign free agent relievers Brandon Lyon or Fernando Rodney, they may have to look into a pair of Type A free agents, writes James Schmehl of MLive.com.  Atlanta's Mike Gonzalez or Rafael Soriano could appeal to Detroit, but they would require the forfeiture of a first-round pick.
  • Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes conducted a live chat today on MLB.com.  It sounds as though Byrnes would be content to more or less stand pat this offseason, telling one fan that most of the club's impact players evolve within their system rather than "arrive via offseason splash."  Don't expect Arizona to go after a second baseman this winter either as Byrnes says he looks forward to competition over the spot this season, featuring late-season acquisition Tony Abreu.
  • More from Arizona as the club outrighted a pair of prospects to their Triple-A affiliate – pitcher Kyler Newby and catcher Luke Carlin, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.  Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic writes that the move was not made in anticipation of a free agent signing or trade.
  • Matt Stairs told Larry Mahoney of the Bangor Daily News that he would like to play next season.  Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer says not to expect Stairs back in Philadelphia next season, as Phils GM Ruben Amaro offered him the opportunity to audition for other teams at Spring Training.
  • Jacque Jones also wants back in baseball, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding.  The 34-year-old last played in 2008, seeing time in 42 games in which he recorded an OPS of .446.  However, his agent insists that teams will be impressed with his physical conditioning and desire to continue his career.

Cubs And Cards Lead Chase For Padilla?

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6:52pm: Matthew Leach of MLB.com says not to read too much into word of the Cardinals considering Padilla, although he is likely of "some interest" to them (via Twitter).

5:25pm: The Cubs and Cardinals are in the lead to sign free-agent hurler Vicente Padilla, according to a report from La Prensa passed along by Diamond Notes.

La Prensa's source for the report is Cesar Batista, who is linked to the agency that represents the 32-year-old.  Batista says that formal negotiations will not begin until after the winter meetings.  The White Sox, Orioles, Nationals, Braves, Mets, Red Sox, and Dodgers have also expressed interest in the righty.

Several Clubs Interested In Jermaine Dye

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Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has the latest on free agent outfielder Jermaine Dye.  Cowley notes that while the Rangers are interested, Dye may prefer not to be a DH.  He names the Red Sox, Cardinals, and Giants as other teams that have shown interest.  Dye would presumably be a backup plan for the Red Sox and Cardinals.

What about the Yankees, who ESPN's Jerry Crasnick said yesterday discussed Dye internally?  Cowley says the Yanks denied the report, yet his source said the team asked for Dye's medical reports.

As for the Giants, MLB.com's Chris Haft notes that Xavier Nady is another outfielder on their radar.

Cards Offer Arb To Holliday, Pineiro, DeRosa, Decline On Glaus

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The official St. Louis Cardinals Twitter feed breaks the news that Matt Holliday, Joel Pineiro and Mark DeRosa are all being offered arbitration by the Cardinals.  Holliday is a Type A free agent, while Pineiro and DeRosa are Type Bs.  The only ranked free agent not mentioned was Troy Glaus (a Type B), but MLB.com's Matthew Leach (via Twitter) reported that St. Louis didn't make an offer to the veteran third baseman.

The moves were expected, given that Holliday is arguably the jewel of this winter's free agent class and at least four clubs are seriously pursuing DeRosa.

Odds & Ends: Kuo, DeRosa, Dye, Blue Jays

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With all the arbitration decisions flying around today, we haven't had time for an Odds & Ends until now.

  • Diamond Leung tweeted last night that the Yankees "signed Taiwanese 18-year-old infielder Fu-Lin Kuo to six-figure bonus."  Taiwan Baseball says Kuo received about $150K.
  • Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has the Cardinals, Phillies, Mets, and Giants as suitors for Mark DeRosa.  ESPN's Buster Olney heard that a few teams are concerned with DeRosa's range at third base.
  • Fungoes shows us "when the hot stove is the hottest," graphically.  Looks about right to me…peaks in December, stays hot in January.
  • A.J. Burnett talked to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News about Roy Halladay potentially being traded.
  • Juan Castro will take his physical Thursday according to Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer; if he passes, his one-year deal with the Phillies will be official.
  • ESPN's Jerry Crasnick wrote about potential fits for Jermaine Dye, noting that the Yankees have discussed him internally.  Crasnick says geography will not be a major factor for Dye.
  • MLB.com's Jordan Bastian tweeted comments from Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos regarding their search for a catcher.  Anthopoulos is eyeing some potential non-tenders.  Dioner Navarro and John Buck come to mind, with Kelly Shoppach going to the Rays.
  • The market for Miguel Tejada should be decent now that he certainly will not cost a draft pick.  SI's Jon Heyman tweets that the Cardinals, Phillies, Giants, Rangers, and Astros are interested.  Rangers?
  • MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reports that the Brewers officially announced their minor league deal with John Halama today.
  • Nick Green's agent Tom O'Connell tells Ken Davidoff of Newsday his client is drawing "significant interest" on Major League contracts.

Heyman On Lowell, Tejada, White Sox

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The latest from SI's Jon Heyman…

  • The Phillies had a "brief talk" with the Red Sox about Mike Lowell, but Heyman finds a free agent signing more likely.
  • A competing agent believes Fern Cuza might be able to get a three-year deal for Miguel Tejada, which seems unlikely to me.  Heyman says Tejada is drawing interest from the Cardinals, Astros, Giants, Phillies, and Rangers.  The Rangers keep getting linked to starting infielders, but they're really only looking for a backup.
  • Heyman notes that the White Sox signing Andruw Jones represents a rare Kenny Williams-Scott Boras matchup.  He says Boras tried to sell the Sox on bringing back Joe Crede, prior to their Mark Teahen acquisition.
  • Kendry Morales apparently advised Aroldis Chapman to switch from API to the Hendricks brothers.

Cardinals Sign Ruben Gotay

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The Cardinals signed minor league free agent infielder Ruben Gotay, tweets MLB.com's Matthew Leach.  Gotay, 27 next month, has big league experience with the Royals, Mets, and Braves.  This year he hit .272/.429/.450 for the D'Backs' Triple A club, playing second and third base.  Gotay's 102 walks in 479 plate appearances (21.3%) make him an intriguing pickup.

Odds & Ends: Matsui, Cardinals, Arb Offers

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Links for Monday…

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