Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Nationals Rumors

Odds & Ends: Paulino, Beltre, Werth, Thome

By | at

Some links on what has been a very busy day in baseball..

Nats Notes: Pavano, Zimmerman, Pena

By | at

The Nationals shocked the world today, and they're not done yet..

  • Even after shelling out $126MM over seven years for Jayson Werth, the Nationals are still looking to make a splash in free agency.  The club is still in on pitcher Carl Pavano, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.  
  • Every player on the Nats, excluding Werth and Ryan Zimmerman, is being considered in trade talks, tweets MLB.com's Bill Ladson.  Josh Willingham, who has long been talked about in trade rumors, seems especially likely to be headed elsewhere now.
  • The Nationals are in the mix for Carlos Pena, but his preference is to stay in Tampa Bay, tweets Ladson. 

NL West Notes: Pierzynski, Reynolds, Rockies

By | at

The latest NL West rumors, aside from a certain huge trade…

  • The Dodgers were extremely close to signing A.J. Pierzynski before White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf stepped in, tweets Peter Gammons of the MLB Network.  The Dodgers have been in the market for a catcher ever since they declined to offer arbitration to Russell Martin.
  • Earlier this week we learned that the D'Backs were looking at getting pitcher David Hernandez from the Orioles in a package for Mark Reynolds.  This isn't the first time that Arizona has tried to land Hernandez, says Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com (via Twitter).  Ghiroli adds that several other teams, including Tampa Bay, are high on the right-hander.
  • Troy Renck of The Denver Post (via Twitter) could see the Rockies getting in on outfielder Josh Willingham.  We have long heard that Willingham and the Nats would part ways over an impasse in extension talks.  Now after the arrival of Jayson Werth, it now seems very likely that Willingham will be moved.
  • Meanwhile, the Rockies lost out Lance Berkman because they did not want to give the veteran $8MM and an everyday job wasn't realistic in Coors Field, Renck tweets.

Nationals Sign Jayson Werth

By | at

Scott Boras landed Jayson Werth a nine-figure contract with a surprise suitor this afternoon. The Nationals signed the free agent outfielder to a seven-year, $126MM deal. In case any doubt remained, this deal shows that it's a good time to be a free agent. Werth turned three productive seasons into the third biggest deal a free agent outfielder has ever signed.

Manny Ramirez ($160MM, 2000) and Alfonso Soriano ($136MM, 2006) are the only outfielders to sign bigger deals than Werth's. Interestingly, Vernon Wells and Barry Zito both signed deals worth exactly as much as the one Boras just negotiated with the Nationals.

The Phillies offered Werth, a Type A free agent, arbitration, but will not receive the Nats' first-round pick as compensation because Washington's pick is protected. Philadelphia will instead receive the Nats' second-round pick and and a compensatory sandwich-round pick.

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo appears to have a strong relationship with Boras. The two worked out deals for number one overall selections Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper in 2009 and 2010.

It was said earlier this week that the most serious suitors for the 31-year-old were the Phillies, Tigers, and Red Sox.  Those three teams were all in on Werth up until the end, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  While Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that Boston got up to four years on Werth, Alex Speier of WEEI.com hears the Sox never made a formal contract offer to the outfielder.

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki first reported that the two sides were nearing agreement.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) confirmed the deal, Jon Heyman of SI (via Twitter) first reported the length of the contract and Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports reported the deal's terms (via Twitter). Rosenthal later tweeted the financial breakdown. Werth's $4MM signing bonus will be payable between January 2011 and January 2012, and his annual salaries are as follows: $10MM, $13MM, $16MM, $20MM, $21MM, $21MM, and $21MM.

Blue Jays Still Showing Interest In Zack Greinke

By | at

The Blue Jays are still showing interest in Royals ace Zack Greinke, reports Bob Elliott of The Toronto Sun. They inquired about the right-hander last month, and Elliott hears that the Jays believe the need "one more big piece" to make a run at the AL East title next season.

The Twins, Rangers, Braves, Reds, Mariners, and Nationals have all inquired about Greinke according to Elliott. The Royals have said they won't trade the former Cy Young Award winner within their division, limiting their options somewhat. The market for Greinke could heat up once Cliff Lee signs, since both the Rangers and Yankees could turn their attention towards him since he's the only other ace-caliber starter that we know is available.

Werth Agrees To Deal With Nationals

By | at

Free agent outfielder Jayson Werth has agreed to a deal with the Washington Nationals, sources tell Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter).  Werth signing with the Nats would be a surprise, though the pairing does make sense.  Washington now has money to spend after losing Adam Dunn in free agency and needs to replace the bopper's bat in the lineup.

It was said earlier this week that the most serious suitors for Werth were the Phillies, Tigers, and Red Sox.  Boston met with Werth on Wednesday though contract terms were not discussed.

MLB.com's Todd Zolecki first reported that the two sides were nearing agreement.

Odds & Ends: Hardy, Punto, Dunn, Marlins, Lee

By | at

Some items to wrap up the week…

Cubs, Other Teams Also Pursuing Adrian Gonzalez

By | at

The Red Sox aren't the only team in the hunt for Adrian Gonzalez.  "Multiple teams besides [the] Red Sox," including the Cubs, are interested in the Padres slugger, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com.  This isn't the first time we've heard about Chicago's interest in Gonzalez, and the Cubs' search for a big-hitting first baseman may have intensified now that Adam Dunn has signed with the crosstown rival White Sox. 

Two big obstacles stand in the way of a Cubs/Padres deal: the Cubs' ability to provide the blue-chip prospects that San Diego desires in any Gonzalez trade, and whether the Cubs can afford the long-term extension that Gonzalez wants after 2011.  One obviously impacts the other, since it would be foolish for the Cubs to move several prospects for just one season of Gonzalez.  With the Carlos Silva and Kosuke Fukudome contracts coming off the books after this year, Chicago has about $63MM committed to their 2012 payroll.

Besides the Cubs, Rosenthal lists the Angels, Blue Jays, Orioles, Nationals, Rangers and Rays as having a "possible interest" in a Gonzalez trade.  All of the teams could potentially afford a Gonzalez extension except Tampa Bay, and all of the clubs have intriguing minor league prospects to interest the Padres (though it might be hard for L.A. to acquire Gonzalez without giving up star prospect Mike Trout).  Dan Hayes of the North County Times tweets that it's the Cubs and Red Sox, however, who are the "main focus" of San Diego's trade talks.

Cubs, Nationals Step Up Pursuit Of Webb

By | at

The Cubs and Nationals are stepping up their pursuit of Brandon Webb, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). A number of other clubs, including the Dodgers, Pirates, Twins, Rangers and Rockies, are interested in the former Cy Young Award winner.

Webb, 31, has missed virtually all of the past two seasons with shoulder surgery. He finished in the top two in Cy Young voting every year from 2006-08, when he averaged 233 innings and posting a 3.13 ERA with 7.2 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9.

Odds & Ends: Dunn, Pirates, Correia, Lee

By | at

Ron Santo, the longtime Cubs star and broadcaster, died overnight. Condolences to his family, friends and many fans. Here are today's links…

  • ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick profiles Brewers manager Ron Roenicke, who expects to be a players' manager, partly because his experience as a player allows him to relate to those who are struggling to produce.
  • The Orioles offered Adam Dunn a four-year deal worth about $40MM before he agreed to sign with the White Sox, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
  • The Pirates have had "ongoing discussions with multiple free-agent starters, and would be pleased to sign more than one starting pitcher to compete for a spot in the rotation," president Frank Coonelly told fans in a chat on MLB.com. The team made Jorge de la Rosa an offer and is also open to upgrading in right field, at first base or at short.
  • The market for Kevin Correia is heating up, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). The right-hander is in "active negotiations" with two or more teams.
  • Ryan Zimmerman tells Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that he wouldn't mind signing a Troy Tulowitzki-like extension (Twitter link).
  • "It's no secret we want Cliff [Lee], and we will do what we can to get him," Hank Steinbrenner told ESPN.com. Lee's agent, Darek Braunecker insists he never said he's looking to match C.C. Sabathia's $161MM deal.
  • MLB.com's Corey Brock suggests Brendan Ryan might be a better trade target for the Padres than Jason Bartlett (Twitter link).
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