Marlon Byrd/Matt Murton Rumors
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News has the latest on the Marlon Byrd/Cubs rumors.
Byrd has been informed that the Cubs have interest in him. Grant says the Rangers reportedly turned down an offer of Matt Murton for Byrd, requiring one or two pitching prospects be added by the Cubs. So for those who think Murton is worth more than Byrd – the Rangers apparently do not agree.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick runs down three possible destinations for Murton: Texas, Baltimore, and San Diego. It seems that the Cubs would prefer to resolve the Baltimore trade talks before they’d ship Murton to one of the other two clubs. Talks for Erik Bedard and/or Brian Roberts are ongoing, according to Crasnick.
Odds and Ends: Dotel, Valverde, Wilkerson
Some Saturday odds and ends to mull over…
- The Yankees considered bringing Octavio Dotel back, but wouldn’t go two years on him.
- Richard Justice thinks Astros GM Ed Wade is making a mistake by setting a deadline and going to arbitration hearings with Jose Valverde and Mark Loretta. I doubt the Astros wanted Loretta to accept their offer of arbitration in the first place, but they took the $4-5MM gamble hoping to get a draft pick. But they actively sought out Valverde, and this might not bode well for him staying past 2009.
- Can’t promise anything, but my source is saying Brad Wilkerson is likely to become a Mariner on a one-year deal. Put this in the unconfirmed category for now.
- Did the Rangers DFA Armando Galarraga in anticipation of including him in a trade?
- Troy Tulowitzki explanation: he can opt out of his $15MM club option for 2014 if he’s traded. Tracy Ringolsby also reports that Garrett Atkins had unfruitful extension talks with the Rox last year and would still like to stay.
- "No substantive negotiations" on a multiyear deal for Ryan Zimmerman.
- Casey Blake‘s agent put in a counteroffer but hasn’t heard back from the Indians yet; the two sides are $1.5MM apart on his ’08 salary.
Rumor Royalty – Evan Grant (Rangers)
I’ve chosen Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News as Rumor Royalty for the Rangers – he is the best source of hot stove for that club. Grant’s blog can be found here.
Submit your Rangers questions for Grant in the comments I will choose the best. Let’s keep ’em focused on the hot stove.
Questions For Jon Daniels?
Rangers GM Jon Daniels agreed to answer some questions for MLBTR. Pretty cool, eh? Leave your suggested questions for him in the comments and I will choose the best five or six. Impress me! Note that he is not at all likely to talk about players under contract with other teams.
Cubs Bedard/Roberts Talks Revived?
UPDATE, 1-21-08 at 6:39pm: According to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald, "informed insiders say no renewed talks are underway" for a Cubs/Orioles blockbuster. Miles does believe Hendry is shopping Murton and interested in Byrd.
UPDATE, 1-21-08 at 4:37pm: John Hickey of the Seattle PI notes that the Mariners seem to "very much want Bedard" still. He sees the Mets as their main competition.
FROM 1-21-08 at 3:09pm:
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune insists that Orioles owner Peter Angelos did shoot down some kind of Erik Bedard/Brian Roberts to the Cubs blockbuster last week. Furthermore, Rogers’ source says the talks are now back on.
Rogers speculates that "frustration and gamesmanship" might be why Lou Piniella and Jim Hendry recently denied the blockbuster rumor. Hendry was quoted as saying "that certainly hasn’t been a path we’ve been on."
Rogers also has sources saying the Cubs may have to give up Matt Murton and one or two other players to get Marlon Byrd from Texas (perhaps Sean Gallagher). He speculates that a three-team deal with the Rangers and Orioles to net the Cubs Bedard, Roberts, and Byrd is a possibility. Felix Pie would have to be in that mix, and note that Roch Kubatko said yesterday that the Cubs "would be willing to part with Rich Hill" to get Bedard and Roberts.
Through all of this Rogers says it’s a "very highly placed source" and that he trusts the source. It’s hard for me to really evaluate this stuff until we get more clarity. But feel free to discuss.
Yukinaga Maeda To Throw For MLB Teams
Yukinaga Maeda is a 37 year-old southpaw reliever who was recently released by the Yomiuri Giants. He hasn’t been any good in Japan lately; Aaron and Jackson of East Windup Chronicle told us:
His ’07 season was marked by a series of call-ups and send-downs, and going on 38 years old, it’s hard to see this guy making a huge contribution.
Nonetheless, Maeda hopes to try his hand at Major League Baseball. This article (link in Japanese) says he’ll be throwing for multiple MLB teams in the coming days, the Rangers included. Loyal reader Patrick, who sent this along and translated, told me, "I go back and forth between thinking this guy has a slim chance of making it to an MLB team, and no chance." What can I say, it’s a slow rumor day for some reason.
Wittenmyer On Byrd, Roberts, Bedard
Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times gives his take on the odds of various rumored Cubs acquisitions:
For now, the Marlon Byrd move looks possible, if not probable, while snagging Brian Roberts — a speedy switch-hitter whose presence could mean a three- or four-level ripple effect of improvement through the lineup — looks at least doubtful. And forget about that would-be deal that would include Orioles ace Erik Bedard. Those discussions didn’t reach the level first believed, and the Cubs don’t have the players to land both.
This is pretty much what we figured. Byrd – sure, Hendry could figure out a way to get him. Roberts would take a lot and doesn’t seem likely, while Bedard is a huge long shot. Seems the 7-for-2 rumor from Saturday is officially dead, now that both GMs have dismissed it.
Roberts to me is a 1-2 win gain for the 2008 Cubs, with an accompanying loss of most of the team’s young MLB-ready pitching (plus a decent outfielder). The Cubs might be better off keeping the pitching depth.
Odds and Ends: Colon, Byrd, Sosa, Wilkerson
Some random links and whatnot for Saturday…
- Joe Cowley says the White Sox have backed off on Bartolo Colon because he wants a two-year deal. He believes the Royals are the frontrunner.
- Rangers guru Jamey Newberg doesn’t think Marlon Byrd would be enough to get Matt Murton from the Cubs.
- The Rangers might’ve entertained Sammy Sosa in a limited role, but he’s looking for 400-500 plate appearances. Good luck with that!
- Heard an unconfirmed whisper that the Red Sox may have some interest in Brad Wilkerson.
- RotoAuthority takes a fantasy baseball look at Yovani Gallardo and Tim Lincecum.
Cubs Interested In Marlon Byrd
According to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, the Cubs asked the Rangers about Marlon Byrd. Sullivan says the Cubs may be willing to give up Matt Murton for Byrd. This swap could make sense given each team’s needs. Sullivan cautions that the discussions are only preliminary. The Byrd rumor first popped up via Bruce Levine about a week ago.
Byrd, 30, will make $1.8MM in ’08 in a newly agreed-to contract. He’s set to reach free agency after the 2009 season. He’s been with the Phillies, Nationals, and Rangers. He had decent years in ’03 and ’07. He’s not a guy you want to use in left field, but the Josh Hamilton acquisition would push him there unless he’s dealt.
Murton is under team control through 2011, if my calculations are correct. He’s a bit of a tweener in that his power is a bit light for a corner outfielder. Still, a career line of .296/.365/.455 in 289 games is interesting and there is room for growth if he’s left alone (he’s 26).
Rangers Sign Jason Jennings
UPDATE, 1-16-08 at 10:39pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports that the Rangers have reached an agreement with Jennings for one year and $4MM. Another $4MM is possible in incentives. I like the price, and I wonder if this was one of those hometown discount situations.
FROM 1-11-08 at 12:09am:
According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers "appear to be closing in on" a deal with Jason Jennings. Grant says the last hurdle before a deal is struck with the 29 year-old might be a physical. Terms are not yet known. The Dallas native earned $5.5MM in 2007.
Jennings had surgery in late August to repair a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. He expects to be throwing by March 1st.