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R.A. Dickey Rumors: Friday

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Multiple teams remain involved in talks for R.A. Dickey, but it's still possible the Mets will extend the knuckleballer instead of trading him. The reigning National League Cy Young winner appears to seek two years and $26MM in addition to his $5MM salary for 2013. Here are the latest rumors about contract talks for Dickey and potential trades…

  • GM Sandy Alderson repeated that the Mets might end up holding onto Dickey instead of trading or extending him, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post. Though that's not “necessarily the optimal result,” the Mets are prepared for that possibility. One competing NL official said it'd be a mistake not to trade or extend Dickey, however.

Earlier updates:

  • The Royals seem "very interested" in Dickey, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports (allTwitterlinks). However, they wouldn't be interested in sending top prospect Wil Myers to New York for the knuckleballer. Dickey, James Shields and Jeremy Hellickson remain in play for the Royals, Dutton reports. However, it now seems unlikely that the Red Sox will move Jon Lester.
  • The Mets view the Blue Jays, Royals and Rangers as the most likely trade suitors for Dickey, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports (on Twitter). In Olney's view Dickey's contract demands may seem more reasonable based on some recent free agent contracts.

AL West Notes: Rangers, Ross, DeJesus

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Could Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton end up re-signing in the AL West? The answer to that question will have ramifications within the division and throughout the sport. Here are today’s AL West links…

  • Texas GM Jon Daniels said the Rangers are looking at various options in free agency and on the trade market, Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com reports. While Daniels isn't going to rush a move, the Rangers could strike soon.
  • The Mariners are among the teams interested in free agent outfielder Cody Ross, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (on Twitter). Seattle has been linked to just about every free agent bat as they attempt to add offense. So far the Mariners have agreed to a one-year, $1MM deal with Jason Bay.
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports suggests signing Hamilton wouldn’t solve all of the Mariners’ problems. If they aren’t prepared to increase spending up and down the roster, adding a player like Hamilton would not be the answer. Morosi suggests the Mariners might want to pursue a trade for David DeJesus of the Cubs.

Mariners Making Serious Run At Josh Hamilton

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On Tuesday we learned that Josh Hamilton will give the Rangers the opportunity to match any offer another club makes before he signs. Talks were said to progress between Hamilton and the Rangers, but Texas is also in on Zack Greinke. As Hamilton works to determine where he'll play next year, we'll keep track of the latest rumors here…

  • The Red Sox are very unlikely on Hamilton, Heyman tweets.  Assistant GM Mike Hazen says the team remains engaged with Hamilton and other free agents but the club's focus is still on its young core, tweets Alex Speier of WEEI.com.
  • The Mariners have discussed three-year deals with Hamilton in range of $20MM to $25MM per season, a source tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
  • Armstrong's point about not having exchanged figures with Hamilton yet is largely semantics, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, because they've talked enough to hammer out a deal quickly.  As it stands now, Hamilton's agent is waiting for Zack Greinke to sign, because the Rangers are unlikely to sign both.
  • The Mariners are not close to signing Hamilton, team president Chuck Armstrong tells Bob Nightengale of USA Today.  Armstrong says the Mariners are interested, but haven't exchanged numbers and figures with Hamilton.

Earlier updates:

  • Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio reports that Hamilton's first choice is the Rangers, but if they sign Greinke and cannot afford him, the Mariners are his primary fallback option (Twitter link).
  • The Mariners are making a big push for Hamilton, writes Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, and talks are more serious between the two sides than has been let on. The holdup, not surprisingly, is the Rangers' ongoing pursuit of Greinke. If Greinke does land in Texas, Baker writes that the Mariners could make a deal for Hamilton happen "very soon" afterward.
  • Rangers president Nolan Ryan did not rule out signing both Hamilton and Greinke, saying in a media session that principal owners Bob Simpson and Ray Davis would have to approve such a scenario (Jeff Wilson reporting).
  • GM Ben Cherington and manager John Farrell represented the Red Sox in their Monday night meeting with Hamilton, reports Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com.
  • The Rangers won't go to five years for Hamilton, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
  • The Rangers met with Hamilton's agent Tuesday night but nothing has changed, GM Jon Daniels told reporters including Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
  • We learned earlier that the Red Sox met with Hamilton before he left Nashville.  It was an off-site meeting on Monday, tweets Dan Roche of WBZ.
  • The Mariners continue to have interest in Hamilton, but like the other teams involved, they prefer a shorter-term deal, tweets Jon Heyman.
  • The Rangers are being patient on Hamilton, waiting to hear if it will take more than something like three years and $75MM to sign him, writes Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
  • The Rangers' discussions with Hamilton are "on hold" at the moment, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, who suggests the team's involvement on Greinke may be the reason for the delay.
  • Most baseball people believe Hamilton will end up signing for five years or less, with some clubs exploring vesting options to protect themselves, says Heyman. He names the Mariners, Red Sox, Phillies and Brewers as teams besides the Rangers that have shown interest in the outfielder.

NL East Notes: Phillies, Young, Nats, LaRoche

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Earlier today, the Phillies acquired outfielder Ben Revere from the Twins in exchange for starting pitcher Vance Worley and pitching prospect Trevor May.  Here’s a look at some of the reaction and fallout from the deal plus more out of the NL East..

  • Michael Young is thought to be weighing his professional life versus his personal life as he decides whether to waive his no-trade clause and join the Phillies, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  Young’s family lives in Texas but he would have the opportunity to start at third base for the Phillies. 
  • One baseball source believes that no MLB team will give Adam LaRoche anything beyond a two-year deal, tweets Bill Ladson of MLB.com.  The Nationals are optimistic that they’ll retain the first baseman.
  • If the Nationals are able to re-sign LaRoche, the source believes that they will trade Michael Morse for prospects, Ladson tweets.  The source adds that the Rays would be the best choice in trade discussions as they are loaded with pitching prospects. 
  • The Phillies are are expected to pursue a veteran starter to fill the hole vacated by Worley in the rotation and have already been calling around, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com tweets.
  • Given the price that Denard Span went for, the price the Phillies paid for Revere is shocking, writes Dave Cameron of Fangraphs.  Cameron argues that the Phillies have robbed Peter to pay Paul by filling their centerfield vacancy by creating a hole in their rotation.
  • Keith Law of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req’d) also sees the deal as an overpay for the Phillies and expresses optimism that May can get back on the right track in Minnesota.

R.A. Dickey Rumors: Wednesday

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Dollars, rather than years, are holding up extension talks between the Mets and R.A. Dickey, as we heard yesterday. That divide could make a trade more likely, though New York is still weighing its options.  The team left the Winter Meetings without a resolution. Here are Wednesday’s Dickey-related rumors, with new updates added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • The Blue Jays and the Rangers are involved in the talks for Dickey, Heyman tweets.  Toronto is thought to be unlikely to part with Travis D’Arnaud but may be willing to trade Anthony Gose.
  • The Rangers like Dickey but the Mets’ prospect request at this point is too rich for them, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
  • “I think the Mets are going to sign him,” an executive with a club that has tried to trade for Dickey told Jon Paul Morosi.
  • The Mets talked to the Yankees and Nationals (prior to their Dan Haren signing) this week about Dickey, tweets Andy Martino, but the Yankees don’t have the pieces and GM Sandy Alderson wouldn’t trade within the division.
  • The Mets are hoping for the Rangers in the Dickey trade talks, tweets Jon Heyman.

Earlier updates:

  • Dickey’s asking price appears to be two years and $26MM in addition to his $5MM salary for 2013, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Mets officials have told Martino that they’re sitting on at least one “acceptable” trade offer, but Martino reports that Alderson would like to keep the knuckleballer.
  • Although Dickey was at the Winter Meetings, he only went to congratulate David Wright on his new contract, and left without negotiating with the Mets, tweets Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. His situation remains in limbo.
  • The Mets are sitting on a number of potential trades for Dickey, tweets David Lennon of Newsday. He says that if a team caves and adds a necessary piece, a deal could be done quickly.  The Mets are also working on a trade for an outfielder that does not involve Dickey.
  • Dickey is seeking a two-year deal worth roughly $30MM, writes Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, while the Mets are around two years and $20MM.
  • GM Sandy Alderson now believes the most likely scenario involves the Mets keeping Dickey without an extension, tweets Bob Nightengale of the USA Today. However, that’s not the team’s preferred option.
  • Speaking to the media, Jeff Wilpon reiterated that Dickey could return to the Mets for 2013 without an extension, and made that option sound more realistic than a trade, according to ESPNNewYork.com’s Adam Rubin (Twitter link).
  • Dickey himself told Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and SiriusXM that he feels like he and the Mets are “inching toward” an extension (Twitter link). The knuckleballer also spoke to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, repeating that he’s “hopeful” about a deal with the Mets, but understands that it’s Sandy Alderson’s job to make the Mets better (Twitter link).
  • The Mets know they can sign Dickey to a two-year extension worth about $13MM annually, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. However, the team doesn’t appear willing to go quite that high yet.
  • If no trade or extension is worked out, the Mets have the “safety net” of having Dickey on an affordable deal in 2013, with the opportunity to trade or extend him later, says Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Although GM Sandy Alderson hasn’t indicated when the team would move on from trade and extension talks if no deal can be reached, one Mets official hinted to Sherman that it could happen between next week and Christmas.
  • Mets officials suggest the chances of Dickey remaining a Met are in the 55-45 range, says Sherman. The Mets’ asking price remains high, as one rival executive tells Sherman: “Any team would take Dickey. But this is not Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee being traded. I would take him, but for top prospects, no.”

Zack Greinke Rumors: Wednesday

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The battle for Zack Greinke might be down to just the Dodgers and the Rangers, and the bidding could exceed CC Sabathia's record $161MM contract. Here's the latest on the market's top free agent, with the newest information listed first…

Earlier updates:

  • There's a growing sense among Dodgers personnel that Greinke will end up with the Rangers, tweets Scott Miller of CBS Sports. They feel that if Greinke really wanted to pitch for them, he'd have signed by now.
  • Greinke's wife Emily, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, could influence her husband to get back to Texas, hears Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Now I'm reminiscing about all the Amber Sabathia-related rumors from four years ago.  Sherman hears the Greinke deal will get done at these Meetings or shortly thereafter.
  • An Angels person told Danny Knobler of CBS Sports a $160MM+ offer for Greinke is "going to blow us out of the water."
  • While the Angels remain in touch with Greinke, an Angels person tells Heyman a Greinke signing would be more shocking than their Albert Pujols deal was a year ago.
  • Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com notes (via Twitter) that while the Greinke sweepstakes seem to be a battle between the Dodgers and Rangers, a third team could certainly enter the fray at any time. Could that team be the Angels? Manager Mike Scioscia told Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio that L.A. is still involved in negotiations (Twitter link). However, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (via Twitter) that the Angels appear to be more focused on the tier of free agent pitchers below Greinke. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times agrees, tweeting that it's "highly unlikely" the Angels exceed $20MM+ annually for a pitcher.
  • The Dodgers spoke with Greinke's representatives today, though it's not clear where talks stand, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. According to Rosenthal, the Dodgers hope to sign two starting pitchers, perhaps even aiming as high as Greinke and Anibal Sanchez.
  • There's a "strong belief" by people close to the situation that Greinke could beat Sabathia's $161MM contract, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Heyman adds that a deal is possible within the next couple days (Twitterlinks).
  • The "big buzz" in Nashville this morning is to watch out for the Rangers on Greinke, tweets Jayson Stark.
  • Greinke is more involved in the process than many other free agents who let their representation handle the bulk of the work, writes ESPN's Jayson Stark. He'll take his time to decide, and in the meantime the rest of the starting pitching market will be on hold, as they await his decision. One executive joked to Stark about the amount of money Greinke will make: "I'm not sure it'll all fit in a Brinks truck. It might be a semi trailer."
  • During the 2012 season, the Brewers let Greinke know that they'd be open to discussing an extension in the five-year, $100MM range, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. However, Greinke and agent Casey Close decided to wait, figuring they could do much better on the open market, and it looks like they'll be proven right, says Haudricourt.

Latest On Multi-Team Justin Upton Talks

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A ridiculous number of three and four-team trade scenarios have been discussed at the Winter Meetings, most of them seemingly involving Arizona's Justin Upton winding up with the Rangers. We'll track the latest on the discussions right here:

  • The Upton talks aren't dead and never have been, an involved official tells Ken Rosenthal, but it doesn't have more legs than it did two weeks ago.
  • Rangers GM Jon Daniels left the Winter Meetings without a deal, telling reporters including Jeff Wilson, "I would have guessed something would have happened here.  And I would have been wrong. It hasn't gotten to the point where something had fallen through that I thought was going to get done."

Earlier updates:

  • The Rangers, D'Backs, and Rays are still at the Winter Meetings, working on an Upton blockbuster according to Rosenthal.  A friend of Rays top exec Andrew Friedman says that while Friedman has never done a three-way trade, he's determined to get one done.
  • D'backs GM Kevin Towers made it clear that he seeks a shortstop he controls for more than two years, so it seems Elvis Andrus or Asdrubal Cabrera would not be sufficient, tweets Jim Bowden of SiriusXM and ESPN.
  • Rosenthal has one possible outcome: Upton to the Rangers, a Rays starter to the D'Backs, and Mike Olt and other prospects to the Rays.  The scenario doesn't seem to satisfy the needs of the D'Backs and Rays, but we'll see.
  • There's nothing close on the Upton front, Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers told Bob Nightengale.
  • Bowden adds (also via Twitter) that the Mariners' reasoning for being in these talks is to use their prospects to ensure that Upton lands with Texas, which will open the door for them to sign Josh Hamilton. The Mariners are reportedly in serious talks with Hamilton, who considers them his fallback should he not sign with Texas.
  • Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio tweets that the Diamondbacks will not budge from their insistence that Andrus or Profar be included in a trade with the Rangers. As such, they're more likely to trade two young pitchers to the Indians to land Cabrera.
  • The fourth team in some permutations of the blockbuster is the Mariners, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  One official in the talks sees them as the biggest roadblock, as they're unsure whether to move forward and surrender prospects.  A source tells Rosenthal the player the Mariners want most in these talks is Derek Holland of the Rangers.  Rosenthal says Rangers GM Jon Daniels is driving the trade, "feverishly trying to land" Upton.  In the end, the FOX writer says the four-team blockbuster "appears unlikely to happen."
  • D'Backs GM Kevin Towers said today, "I've had more multi-team talks this year than ever before. In every discussion it seems three or four teams are involved."
  • One scenario had Upton going to the Rangers, Cabrera to the D'Backs, and Martin Perez and more to the Indians, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
  • The Indians are pushing for the Diamondbacks to include Tyler Skaggs in a deal for Cabrera, tweets Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports. However, Arizona would prefer to move Trevor Bauer.
  • Although the Diamondbacks like many of the Rangers' prospects, such as Mike Olt, Leury Garcia, and Cody Buckel, they continue to want Elvis Andrus or Jurickson Profar in return for Upton, tweets Passan. At this point, it seems more likely that the D-Backs would move Upton in a multi-team scenario that nets them Cabrera rather than trading straight-up with the Rangers.

Minor Trades: Red Sox, Padres

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A few minor trades completed today…

  • The Red Sox acquired righty Kyle Kaminska from the Pirates to complete the Zach Stewart trade, the team announced.  Kaminska, 24, posted a 4.19 ERA, 7.3 K/9, 1.2 BB/9, and 1.21 HR/9 in 81 2/3 innings across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A for the Pirates and Marlins.
  • The Padres acquired righty Wilfredo Boscan from the Rangers to complete the Cory Burns trade, according to the team.  Boscan, 23, posted a 3.75 ERA, 8.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, and 0.92 HR/9 in 98 1/3 innings for the Rangers' Double-A affiliate this year.

Rangers Sign Evan Meek, Randy Wells

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The Rangers signed reliever Evan Meek, starter Randy Wells, first baseman Brandon Allen, and starter Jake Brigham to minor league deals with invites, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Meek, 29, made the All-Star team during a 2.14 ERA campaign for the Pirates in 2010.  Since then, he's been limited by a shoulder injury.

Wells, 30, made 82 starts for the Cubs from 2009-11, even placing sixth in the NL Rookie of the Year vote in '09.  He spent much of this year struggling at Triple-A Iowa.

Allen, 26, never caught on in the Majors and spent the second half of this season in Japan.

Phillies “In Serious Talks” For Michael Young

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9:23am: It is in Young's hands whether to waive his no-trade, tweets Salisbury.  Jon Heyman thinks the Phillies are getting closer to an agreement, while Danny Knobler can see a resolution today.

8:06am: As of late last night Young had shown no interest in waiving his no-trade, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark.

7:10am: There are signs that Young would be willing to waive his no-trade rights and accept a move to Philadelphia, writes Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.

12:55am: The Phillies' reported interest in Michael Young has picked up some steam, with Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reporting that the two sides are in "advanced talks."

In the proposed scenario, the Rangers would eat more than half of Young's $16MM salary to facilitate the trade, which would likely send a young Major League reliever and a low-level prospect back to the Rangers in exchange for the 36-year-old Young.

Young's name has dominated trade rumors in previous offseasons, but a move does seem more feasible now with just one year remaining on his contract and a potentially diminishing role in the Rangers' offense. Young received 651 plate appearances last season (his lowest total in a full season since 2002), batting .272/.312/.370 in the process. He saw time at all four infield positions, though Philadelphia would have interest in him as a third baseman.

Young, of course, has 10-and-5 rights after spending his entire 13-year career with the Rangers. As such, he'd have the ability to veto any trade the Rangers could attempt.

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