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Quick Hits: Andrus, Upton, Greinke, Rockies, Pettitte

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Believe it or not, but the last place Red Sox may actually be in better position for future years than the AL East champion Yankees, argues Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.  The Yankees have tens of millions tied up in an aging and increasingly unproductive roster, while the Red Sox shed much of their major payroll commitments when they dealt Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford to the Dodgers.

Here are some news and notes from around the baseball world…

  • Elvis Andrus is a major trade chip for the Rangers if they choose to move him, notes Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas, who outlines Andrus' trade value and circumstances behind a possible deal. Durrett also says Texas could instead try to trade an older, more expensive player like Nelson Cruz or Ian Kinsler.
  • The Rangers have interest in B.J. Upton but they see him as a corner outfielder rather than in center, reports T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com as part of a fan mailbag.
  • The longer Zack Greinke takes to pick his next team, the longer it will delay the rest of the Angels' offseason moves, reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.  Greinke is the Angels' top target and his status with the team could determine what the Halos do with Dan Haren, Ervin Santana and Torii Hunter.
  • The Rockies have Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. and A's third base coach Mike Gallego on their list of possible external candidates for manager, reports Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
  • Mark Wiley is the favorite to become the Rockies' new director of pitching operations, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post.  Wiley, currently a Marlins scout, would oversee pitchers at all levels of the Colorado organization as the team tries to develop arms capable of performing at Coors Field.
  • Andy Pettitte hopes to have a decision made about his playing future "in a month or so," reports ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand.  The Yankees southpaw hinted last week that he was looking to return in 2013.
  • The Yankees are in for a busy offseason though "by any objective measure, the Yankees aren't a team in need of a major overhaul," writes Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal.  Costa details the five most pressing questions facing the Bombers this winter.
  • Wilson Betemit doesn't appear to have much of a role on next year's Orioles roster, writes CSNBaltimore.com's Rich Dubroff.  Betemit is owed $1.75MM from the O's in 2013 and his $3.2MM option for 2014 will vest with 324 more plate appearances.
  • The Twins have no plans to alter the dimensions at Target Field next season, team president Dave St. Peter said in an e-mail to reporters (including MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger).

Outrighted To Triple-A: Tufts, Green, Murphy

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Let's keep track of the day's outright assignments right here as clubs get their 40-man rosters in shape prior to the offseason…

  • The Rangers announced that right-hander Tyler Tufts was outrighted to Triple-A Round Rock after being activated from the 15-day disabled list.  Tufts appeared in 19 minor league games last season before undergoing stomach surgery.  The move leaves Texas with 39 players on their 40-man roster.
  • The Marlins have outrighted infielder Nick Green to Triple-A according to Clark Spencer of The Miami Herland (on Twitter). The 34-year-old Green hit .174/.208/.304 in 24 plate appearances for Miami this season and is a .236/.303/.347 career hitter in the big leagues.
  • The Marlins have also outrighted utility man Donnie Murphy to Triple-A according to Spencer. Murphy, 29, hit .216/.281/.379 in 129 plate appearances for the Fish this year. He's a .205/.270/.373 career hitter in the show.
  • The Marlins have also outrighted infielder Gil Velazquez to Triple-A according to Spencer. The 33-year-old hit .232/.246/.250 in 57 plate appearances for Miami this year.

Angels Notes: Wells, Hunter, Bourjos, Pujols

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A swap of bad contracts may be the Angels' best way to move Vernon Wells, opines MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez, who lists a few other players with bloated deals that could be acquired in exchange for the remaining two years (and $42MM) on Wells' contract.  Even when taking on the likes of John Lackey, Chone Figgins or Barry Zito, however, the Angels would still have to cover the difference on Wells' deal.  Gonzalez addressed some other offseason possibilities for the Halos in a reader mailbag….

  • Gonzalez predicts the chances of Torii Hunter re-signing with Los Angeles "lean slightly toward him coming back," though the Rangers and Yankees should be interested in the veteran outfielder.  Gonzalez predicts Hunter will end up with a one- or two-year contract worth around $9MM per season.
  • If Hunter is re-signed, Peter Bourjos could become expendable and would attract attention from several teams in need of center field help.
  • The Angels could be better served finding a closer through the trade market than through free agency, Gonzalez opines.  He also thinks the Halos should look to add a left-handed reliever.
  • The Angels' 2013 payroll should be $10-$15MM lower than last season's $159MM total.
  • "The similarities have long been unmistakable" between Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols' contracts, Gonzalez writes.  While Pujols' numbers have been declining over the last few seasons, there are reasons that Pujols (33 next season) could age more gracefully than Rodriguez, whose future as an everyday player for the Yankees is in question at age 37.

Olney On Hamilton, Brewers, Lohse

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The Brewers could pursue Josh Hamilton this offseason if the free agent outfielder doesn’t get any offers for four-plus years and more than $100MM, ESPN.com's Buster Olney writes. Here are more notes from Olney’s column…

  • The Brewers aren’t positioned to give Hamilton a massive contract, but they can offer him a comfortable place to play where he’d be supported. Johnny Narron, his former mentor, works as Milwaukee’s hitting coach, and Brewers bench coach Jerry Narron also knows the 31-year-old. While many outsiders lack detailed information about Hamilton’s off-field issues, the Narron brothers know the outfielder well enough to make a determination about his ability to continue producing.
  • At this point the Brewers intend to pursue multiple starters this offseason.
  • General managers expect free agent starting pitchers to do well this year, since there’s a shortage of viable options at a time that many teams are flush with dollars. The Blue Jays, Royals, Cubs and Angels are among the many teams known to be seeking starting pitching.
  • Some agents and general managers believe free agent starter Kyle Lohse could command a deal in the $60-75MM range, Olney reports.

Maysonet, Hernandez, Palmer Declare Free Agency

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Infielders Edwin Maysonet and Luis Hernandez and pitchers Matt Palmer and Juan Perez have declared free agency, according to the transactions page of the Pacific Coast League. All four had seen time on MLB rosters in 2012, before being outrighted to Triple-A.

Maysonet and Perez both saw action with the Brewers this year. Maysonet appeared in 30 games with a slash line of .250/.297/.350, including a game-winning grand slam against the Cubs on May 12, while playing shortstop, second and third base. Perez, a left-hander, appeared in ten games posting 12.9 K/9, 10.3 BB/9, and 2.6 HR/9 in only seven innings of work.

Hernandez played two games for the Rangers in August. He spent the rest of the year at Triple-A Round Rock batting .262/.303/.376 in 129 games, all but one at shortstop and second base. Hernandez also has MLB experience with the Orioles, Royals and Mets.

Palmer, a right-hander, pitched in three games for the Padres in late May before being outrighted to Triple-A. With Tucson, Palmer started 20 of the 21 games in which he appeared posting a 5.66 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9.   

Cafardo On Shields, Ortiz, Ross, Rodriguez

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In today's column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe offers up a few ideas to help bolster the Red Sox.  Cafardo suggests that the Red Sox need a pure middle-of-the-order hitter and writes that Joe Mauer of the Twins would fit the bill nicely.  While the Twins might not be in a rush to deal him, Boston might be willing to put together an attractive offer to get a hitter of his caliber that can split time between first base and catcher.  If they can't make Mauer the big get of this winter, Cafardo also suggests names like Nick Swisher, Mike Napoli, and even Josh Hamilton.  Of course, the Red Sox may pass on some of the bigger names and price tags out there to avoid locking themselves into more unfavorable contracts.  Here's more from Cafardo..

  • Rays pitcher James Shields has a $9MM option for this year and will likely be unaffordable for the club after that.  It seems likely that Tampa Bay will finally bite the bullet and trade pitching to get the offense that they need.  One National League GM suggested that the Rangers would be a good partner as they could offer Elvis Andrus and someone else for Shields.  Some baseball officials also haven’t ruled out the Rays moving David Price to fill a couple of positions.
  • Word is that David Ortiz might accept a two-year deal from the Red Sox for $26-28MM if they offer it.  If Boston won't go to two years, Ortiz may roll the dice and see what the Orioles, Yankees, Blue Jays, or Rangers offer.
  • The Red Sox are trying to work out a multiyear deal with Cody Ross, but he'll have a strong market if he chooses to wait.  The Braves could potentially be major players for Ross as they offered him a two-year deal last year.  Ross wouldn’t mind a Western team either and the Giants may have interest if they move on from Melky Cabrera.
  • Cafardo believes that the Dodgers would be willing to take on Alex Rodriguez as the Yankees would gladly eat some of his contract.  The Dodgers also appear unlikely to re-sign Shane Victorino and will save some money by doing that.
  • Talk is strong that Joe Torre would consider managing again and the 72-year-old has always had an affinity for Boston.

Quick Hits: Kinsler, Marcum, K-Rod, Rays

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For the first time since baseball expanded the playoff field to eight teams, all four divisional series have gone to a deciding fifth game.  The Nationals and Orioles forced Game Fives that will take place tomorrow, so we've got one more wild day of first-round baseball in store before the LCS round.  Here are some news items from around the league…

  • How the Rangers decide to use Ian Kinsler next season will impact the rest of their offseason moves, writes Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas.  Durrett suggests that Kinsler should be dropped from the leadoff spot in the batting order and moved to the outfield to make room for Jurickson Profar at second base.
  • Shaun Marcum doesn't expect to pitch for the Brewers next season, the pending free agent told Todd Rosiak and Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week.  Marcum said the Brewers "haven't said anything" to him about a contract extension.  "I think that ship sailed a long time ago," Marcum said.  "It's just one of those things. It's baseball, it's a business and we all understand that. You play to get to free agency, so we'll see what happens."
  • Also from Rosiak and Haudricourt, Francisco Rodriguez said he would "love to come back" to Milwaukee.  Rodriguez surprisingly accepted arbitration from the Brewers last season, earning himself $8MM in 2012.  The club obviously won't repeat the move again this year but Rodriguez could still return on a smaller deal if he can't find a closer's job elsewhere.
  • The Rays have asked the city of St. Petersburg for permission to explore potential stadium sites outside of the St. Pete area, reports Stephen Nohlgren of the Tampa Bay Times.  The Rays' lease at Tropicana Field runs through the 2027 season and St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster "has been adamant" about keeping the team in his city for the duration of the lease, albeit possibly in a new ballpark.

Rangers Notes: Hamilton, Greinke, Napoli, Adams

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As the Rangers are still recovering from their disappointing finish to 2012, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan discussed a number of offseason possibilities for the club as part of a reader mailbag piece.  Some of the hot stove highlights…

  • Josh Hamilton will get at least one big-money, long-term offer this winter, leaving little chance that the Rangers would be able to sign him for any kind of relative discount, Hamilton believes.  Rangers GM Jon Daniels said earlier this week that his team will wait to see what contract offers Hamilton receives from other clubs before making their own pitch to the free agent outfielder.
  • Zack Greinke will be a top target for the Rangers this winter.  "The Rangers made a strong push for him at the trade deadline…and this is still an organization that wants to build around pitching. That's where the club wants to spend its money," Sullivan writes.
  • The Rangers are "unsure" about making a qualifying offer to pending free agent Mike Napoli since if he accepted, Texas would owe the catcher approximately $13.35MM for the 2013 season.  If the Rangers didn't issue a qualifying offer and Napoli signed elsewhere, however, then the Rangers wouldn't receive any draft pick compensation.  Sullivan argues that Napoli could accept the qualifying offer in the wake of his somewhat disappointing 2012 season and look to rebound in 2013 to set himself up for a larger long-term deal with Texas or another club.
  • Though Mike Adams has been diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Sullivan thinks the 34-year-old reliever could still find a multiyear deal as a free agent.  The Rangers would happily take Adams back on a one-year deal.   
  • Sullivan doesn't think Jacoby Ellsbury is a good fit in Texas and doesn't think the Rangers should or would trade Derek Holland or Elvis Andrus in exchange for the Red Sox center fielder.  "[Nelson] Cruz for Ellsbury, maybe. But it would seem more logical to take a chance on Leonys Martin than give up substantial talent for an injury-prone outfielder who can walk after next season," opines Sullivan.
  • Despite the numerous rumors about a Justin Upton trade, Sullivan isn't sure he's a fit for the Rangers since Cruz is already set at right field.  Center field would be the only question mark for Texas next season if Hamilton leaves, as the Rangers have Cruz in right and David Murphy in left.
  • Michael Young could receive some trade interest this winter from "a team in need of veteran leadership, as well as somebody who can play second base."  Young hit .277/.312/.370 in 651 plate appearances last season, his lowest career OPS for a full campaign.  Young turns 36 this month and is set to earn $16MM in 2013, the final year of his contract.  He also has no-trade protection as a 10-and-5 player, adding another wrinkle to any possible trade talks.

Rangers Notes: Hamilton, Holland, Ellsbury

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The Rangers are one of three teams to win 90-plus games in each of the past three seasons (the Yankees and Rays are the others) but they’ll be spectators for the remainder of postseason following a loss to the Orioles in Friday night’s Wild Card play-in game. Here’s the latest from Texas…

  • It wouldn’t shock baseball people if the Rangers walk away from Josh Hamilton altogether this offseason, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney writes. The assumption around MLB is that the Rangers know Hamilton better than anyone else, so potential suitors will be carefully monitoring Texas’ bids. However, the Rangers intend to sit back and let other teams make the first move.
  • It might be time for the Red Sox to use Jacoby Ellsbury as a trade chip for rotation help, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald writes. GM Ben Cherington is expected to consider a multiyear extension for the center fielder, but agent Scott Boras figures to seek a deal in the $160MM range. The Rangers could find themselves in the market for a center fielder this offseason, so Lauber wonders if they'd make Derek Holland available in a deal for Ellsbury.
  • One MLB executive said there’s “zero” chance the Red Sox sign Ellsbury to a contract extension before he reaches free agency at the end of the 2013 season, Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com reported last month. Ellsbury has one more season of arbitration eligibility after earning $8.05MM in 2012. 

AL West Notes: Young, Washington, Mariners

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The Rangers will let Josh Hamilton reach the free agent market before bidding on him, GM Jon Daniels told reporters today. Click here for the details on Hamilton and continue reading for more AL West-related notes…

  • President/CEO Nolan Ryan said the Rangers will evaluate Hamilton's disappointing late-season play in the context of the entire 2012 season, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
  • Daniels said the Rangers haven't determined what Michael Young's role will be in 2013, Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com reports (on Twitter).
  • Daniels said he’s pleased with the job manager Ron Washington did and will continue to do, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (Twitter link).
  • Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner outlines his offseason plan for the Mariners. It includes one-year deals for Melky Cabrera, Carlos Villanueva and Travis Hafner plus a trade with the Rays.
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