Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Nationals Rumors

Nationals Rumors: LaRoche, Lee, Pavano

By | at

MLB.com's Bill Ladson has some late night Nationals rumors. Let's take a look:

  • In the wake of Carlos Pena's deal with the Cubs, the Nats will likely shift their focus to Adam LaRoche. LaRoche said on Monday that he'd have definite interest if he and Washington were on the same page. The free agent is coming off a season in which he hit .261/.320/468 with 25 HR in his age-30 season.
  • A source told Ladson that Washington's chances of winning the Cliff Lee sweepstakes actually increased after the club signed Jayson Werth to his seven-year contract. He also said the Nationals won't offer Lee seven years.
  • GM Mike Rizzo says the club likely won't acquire Lee, but Ladson's source says the Nats "are not out of it by any means." Washington won't, however, get into a bidding war like they did for Mark Teixeira in 2008.
  • The Nationals appear to be out of the bidding for Carl Pavano's services, as they're not comfortable giving him a multiyear deal. A trade may be Washington's best bet at acquiring a starter.

Cliff Lee Rumors: Tuesday

By | at

We heard yesterday that the market for Cliff Lee was beginning to heat up, and that at least one team would be willing to offer Lee a seven-year deal, but it wasn't the Yankees. Here are today's Lee rumors for your reading pleasure:

  • It sounds like the Yankees made Lee an offer. Braunecker spoke to Cashman tonight and when the YES Network's Jack Curry asked if the Yankees presented a proposal, the agent declined comment and smiled (Twitter link).
  • The Angels reached out to Lee's representatives and started pursuing him today, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. Crasnick hears that it's doubtful Lee signs before the Winter Meetings end.
  • The Nationals are not in on Lee, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link). GM Mike Rizzo said earlier today that he has some interest in the lefty.
  • Though GM Tony Reagins downplayed the Angels-Lee connection, Tom Krasovic of AOL FanHouse hears that the Halos are discussing Lee and will stay in touch with his agent (Twitter link).
  • The Yankees are on the verge of making Lee a lucrative offer and are awaiting the go-ahead from Braunecker, according to Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. GM Brian Cashman says he's ready to get serious.
  • Lee now has two seven-year offers for $20MM or more per season, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (Twitter link).
  • Angels GM Tony Reagins tells Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times that the Angels are not the mystery team that has offered Lee seven years.
  • Rangers president Nolan Ryan is more optimistic about signing Lee this week than he was last week, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter).
  • Rizzo confirmed that he met with Lee's agent again, but says the Nationals are a "real long shot" to sign him, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Angels manager Mike Scioscia told Yahoo's Steve Henson that a pitcher like Lee makes a team better (Twitter link).
  • Nationals GM Mike Rizzo met with Braunecker for the second time this week today, reports Mark Zuckerman.
  • A Yankees official told Feinsand that Lee getting seven-year offer "won't affect what we do."  They will not go past six years for the lefty.  The Yankees are frustrated with the slow pace of the Lee talks, reports Rosenthal.
  • Lee has at least one seven-year offer for $20-25MM – not from the Nationals – tweets Heyman.
  • Lee's agent Darek Braunecker described his discussions with the Rangers and Yankees as "positive" and "productive," talking to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  Braunecker also said he's "maintaining dialogue" with the Nationals.
  • The Nationals are prepared to offer Lee a seven-year deal, reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.  But talking to two Nationals sources, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post reports that such an offer has zero chance of happening.  The contract length is very important to Lee, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.  There is growing speculation among rival executives and agents that the Nationals will throw a huge number at Lee, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.
  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that the Yankees have vowed not to exceed six years or the $161MM that they gave Sabathia for Lee. Sherman feels the Yankees will top out at $144MM-$150MM over six years. As GM Brian Cashman said, Sabathia's presence as an ace makes Lee a "pleasant addition," but not a necessity.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports discusses how signing Lee could affect Sabathia.

Nationals, Rockies, Indians Eyeing Adam Everett

By | at

7:20pm: The Nationals are also considering Eckstein, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

1:57pm: The Rockies and Indians are eyeing slick-fielding shortstop Adam Everett for a utility role, tweets ESPN's Jayson Stark.  Everett sat out the last three months of the season after the Tigers released him in June.  He played only 31 games this year.  Everett has played shortstop almost exclusively in his pro career, so he'd have to learn the other positions to act as a true utility infielder.

The Rockies also have an eye on Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan for shortstop protection, tweets Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post.

Zack Greinke Rumors: Tuesday

By | at

On Monday, we heard that Zack Greinke would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in any deal, and that the Royals covet Kyle Drabek and Travis Snider in a potential deal with Toronto. Here are today's Greinke rumors:

  • You can count the Nationals out of the Greinke sweepstakes, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The Royals felt the Nationals weren't a good match.
  • The Dodgers have discussed Greinke with the Royals, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (Twitter link).
  • The Nationals inquired on Greinke, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports. It doesn't seem like the sides will reach a deal, however. The Blue Jays and Rangers remain involved in talks with Kansas City.
  • It sounds like teams are upping their offers for Greinke, tweets Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse.
  • The Royals' rival officials expect them to gradually reduce their sky-high asking price until they get a yes, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.
  • Jon Heyman of SI tweets that the Royals are now saying they wouldn't trade Greinke within the division "in a perfect world." As Heyman points out, that sounds like a softened version of the stance the Royals seemed to have taken last week.

Kevin Gregg Has Multiple Offers

By | at

Kevin Gregg is drawing strong interest on potential multiyear deals and has offers from the Red Sox, Pirates, and Nationals, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The Red Sox have offers out to a number of relievers other than Gregg, according to Rosenthal. They're known to be interested in Scott Downs, Matt Guerrier and Pedro Feliciano.

Rosenthal reports that the Orioles and Mariners are also in the mix for Gregg, who has also drawn interest from the Rockies. The Blue Jays will obtain a draft pick for losing Gregg, a Type B free agent.

Brandon Webb Rumors: Tuesday

By | at

Things are heating up for free agent starter Brandon Webb.  The latest:

Josh Willingham Rumors: Tuesday

By | at

Josh Willingham may  have become expendable for the Nationals with the Jayson Werth signing, but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the asking price is said to be absurd.  Rosenthal says the Athletics and Red Sox have checked in, while his colleague Jon Paul Morosi adds the Tigers and Mariners.

Athletics Considering Vlad, Willingham, Derrek Lee

By | at

The Athletics are looking for offense with Vladimir Guerrero and Hideki Matsui on their list, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  The A's prefer free agents to trades, Morosi notes.  Lance Berkman turned down a two-year offer from the A's; Vlad may require at least that long of a deal to sign.

The A's are also in on Josh Willingham and Derrek Lee, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, but the Nationals' asking price for Willingham is said to be absurd.  Rosenthal feels that the A's could offer Lee more than the Padres or Diamondbacks.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported yesterday that A's GM Billy Beane met with Matsui's agent Arn Tellem.  Tellem tells her the A's are not the only team in on him.  The Orioles are in, but Matsui prefers a contender.  She considers Nick Johnson and Lee "among the other potential options."  The A's don't find Carlos Beltran a realistic option, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  They don't believe he'd waive his no-trade clause to come to Oakland.    

Washington’s Day Two Agenda

By | at

If the Nationals' signing of Jayson Werth to a seven-year deal wasn't enough to show you they're going to be seriously active, perhaps these rumors will:

  • SI's Jon Heyman tweets that the Nationals are "ultra aggressive" going after pitching and that this team "isn''t messing around."
  • Ben Goessling of MASN says the Nats have the cash to make another addition, and it's possible that it could happen today or tomorrow. Washington has been linked to Carl Pavano and Brandon Webb.
  • In the same article, Goessling notes that signing a pitcher may allow the Nats to move Josh Willingham for other position pieces that fit their needs. Most notably, he feels, they could use a center fielder to offer long-term insurance beyond Nyjer Morgan.

Rockies Interested In Cantu, Harden, Bullpen Help

By | at

We've heard that Ty Wigginton is the Rockies' top target for a right-handed bat, but the club has other targets for that role, as well as interest in several other players, according to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post. Let's go over some of them:

  • Jorge Cantu is one alternative to Wigginton, despite a miserable second half to the 2010 season. GM Dan O'Dowd acknowledged that they'd prefer someone who can play in the outfield, but that's not critical.
  • The Rockies have soured on Josh Willingham due to Washington's asking price and concerns over the 31-year-old's knee. They've also called about Jeff Francoeur, believing he could handle first base.
  • Colorado would have interest in Rich Harden in a bullpen role, if the righty would be willing to make the switch from starting pitching. There's also the question of whether or not the injury-prone Harden could hold up physically. Renck says the Rox have tried to acquire Harden numerous times in the past, but to no avail.
  • Colorado is also looking at Kevin Gregg, Bobby Jenks, Brian Fuentes, Jesse Crain, and Pedro Feliciano, though the first three prefer to close, which won't happen in Denver.
  • The Rockies also haven't closed the door on Joe Beimel, who tells Renck he'd love to come back to Colorado.
Show all

MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

hide arrows scroll to top