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Multiple Teams In On Putz

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J.J. Putz is drawing interest from several clubs, according to Jon Paul Morosi. The Cubs, White Sox, D'Backs, Rangers, Nationals, and Tigers have all shown varying levels of interest.

After being acquired by the Mets in a big three-team trade at last year's meetings, Putz was a disappointment in New York, posting a 5.22 ERA before going down for the season on June 4. The former All-Star recently held a throwing session for scouts in Arizona following bone spur removal surgery on his throwing elbow this season.

Odds & Ends: Reed Johnson, Laynce Nix, Counsell

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Links for Monday, the first day of the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis…

Nationals Talking To Jon Garland

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MONDAY, 5:11pm: Nationals GM Mike Rizzo confirmed interest in Garland, saying, "He's one of the 10 names we've been talking about throughout the whole winter." (Chico Harlan of the Washington Post reporting).

SUNDAY, 10:23pm: In search of a couple of starting pitchers this winter, the Nationals are talking to free agent Jon Garland, according to ESPN's Peter Gammons. We've also heard that the Nats were interested in John Smoltz and John Lackey, and I think it would be pretty cool if they ended up with four Jon/John's in their rotation (don't forget John Lannan!).

Only one non-Lannan Nats' starter eclipsed 100 IP last year (Craig Stammen at 105.2 IP), and Garland would certainly help that situation. He's made at least 32 starts and thrown at least 191.2 innings every year since 2002, during which time he has a respectable 4.38 ERA.

MLBTR readers discussed Garland about a month ago.

Nationals Acquire Brian Bruney; Release Saul Rivera

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4:11pm:  The Yanks will receive the Nationals' Rule 5 pick for Bruney, reports Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.

12:51pm: The Nationals confirmed the deal via a press release.  They released Saul Rivera to make room for Bruney.  Rivera, 32 today, posted a 6.10 ERA in 38.3 innings for the Nats this year.  Releasing a man on his birthday…for shame!  Saul did receive one gift: he's now on our 2010 free agents list.

11:56am: The Nationals acquired reliever Brian Bruney from the Yankees for a player to be named later, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Bruney, who is arbitration-eligible, is due a small raise on this year's $1.25MM salary.  He's under team control through 2011. 

The hard-throwing righty, who turns 28 in February, posted a 3.92 ERA in 39 innings this year, striking out 36 but walking 23.  Plagued by elbow troubles, Bruney was bumped from the Yankees' set-up role for Phil Hughes in July.  He figures to be high in the pecking order of Washington's pen, perhaps even a closer candidate if Mike MacDougal is non-tendered.

Twitter Rumors: Doumit, Mahay, Wolf, Jenkins

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Collecting some tweets I couldn't quite turn into posts…

  • Four unknown teams are in on Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit, says Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
  • The Nationals have interest in free agent catcher Brad Ausmus, says MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
  • The Red Sox have interest in free agent lefty Ron Mahay, says Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. The 38-year-old posted a 4.29 ERA, 7.5 K/9, and 3.9 BB/9 in 50.3 innings for the Royals and Twins this year.  Two years ago he was quite a hot commodity on the free agent market.
  • ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says Brett Myers is seeking a two-year deal.  The Rangers and other teams are interested at one year.  Crasnick wrote a few days ago that the Astros are also interested, while Andrew Baggarly named the Giants as a suitor today.
  • Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times shoots down Danny Knobler's rumor that the Pirates have interest in Juan Pierre.  Nonetheless, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro tweets of interest from the Pirates, White Sox, and a third team.
  • ESPN's Jayson Stark says the Yankees want to resolve the Andy Pettitte/Johnny Damon situations before moving on to Hideki Matsui and other starting pitcher options.
  • White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune that the Sox are not in the market for a pure DH.
  • The Brewers are making a "strong run" at Randy Wolf, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
  • Ruben Amaro Jr.'s comment that "those are guys we will probably count on" implies relievers Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey will be tendered contracts by the Phillies (Andy Martino reporting).
  • Crasnick says Geoff Jenkins wants to make a comeback in 2010 and has been working out at first base and outfield in hopes of landing a bench role.
  • Crasnick says to expect the Cubs to tender a contract to Mike Fontenot on Saturday.
  • Bill Shanks quoting Braves manager Bobby Cox: "clubs are knocking on the door for Kelly Johnson."  I imagine Johnson will be dealt by Saturday.
  • ESPN's Gordon Edes says that while Red Sox owner John Henry is a big fan of Miguel Cabrera from their Marlins days, the Red Sox "don't have the Major League-ready position players Detroit wants in return."
  • Crasnick expects Elmer Dessens to re-sign with the Mets, though the pitcher has talked to the Dodgers and Padres.
  • Yahoo's Steve Henson says the Braves want to move Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez, but not Kenshin Kawakami.
  • Andy Martino of the Philadelphia Inquirer says the Phillies will meet with Chan Ho Park's agent today "and attempt to resolve their differences over Park's value."  The Phils did not offer arbitration to Park, a Type B free agent.  Park craves another shot at starting, which won't happen in Philly.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says the Phillies like Brandon Lyon, but aren't "willing to pay the price for him."  Lyon is said to be seeking a multiyear deal.  He is expected to turn down the Tigers' offer of arbitration today.  The Yankees have been named as another suitor.
  • Crasnick says the Astros "have very little money to spend, unless Drayton McLane suddenly has a change of heart."

Mets Step Up Pursuit For Willingham, Rivera

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The Mets have intensified their pursuit for left fielders Josh Willingham and Juan Rivera, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Given all their needs, the Mets like the idea of acquiring the more cost-effective Willingham or Rivera rather than signing Matt Holliday or Jason Bay.  ESPN's Buster Olney notes that while the Mets have made inquiries on corner outfield trade targets, they are not close to a deal.

Willingham might be tough to pry loose, based on comments from Nationals manager Jim Riggleman.  It's rumored that Rivera could be available as a way to clear a spot for the Angels to sign Jason Bay.

Five Teams Interested In Kevin Gregg?

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Yahoo's Tim Brown tweets the "early market" for free agent reliever Kevin Gregg: the Rays, Nationals, Tigers, and Rockies.  Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune says the Orioles are also interested.  I imagine Gregg will get a one-year deal for less than the $4.2MM he earned in 2009.  This year the 31-year-old improved his control a bit and whiffed more than a batter per inning, but allowed 13 home runs in 68.6 innings and lost the Cubs' closing job to Carlos Marmol.  The Cubs chose not to offer arbitration to Gregg, a Type A free agent.

With the Tigers and Rockies, the arbitration decisions of Brandon Lyon, Fernando Rodney, and Rafael Betancourt will be reached tonight, perhaps clearing the way for Gregg.  The Rays are looking to add reasonably-priced late-inning arms (they've already traded for Jesse Chavez).  The Nats have arbitration-eligible Mike MacDougal as the default closer currently, but may want another veteran option for 2009.  Van Dyck wonders if the Nats might non-tender MacDougal.

Cardinals Notes: Boras Meeting, Holliday Alternatives

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Joe Strauss from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch discusses the Cardinals and their current situation with free agent Matt Holliday. Let's dive in:

  • The Cardinals are pushing for a meeting with Scott Boras at the Winter Meetings to discuss whether or not they have a legitimate chance to bring Holliday back to St. Louis.
  • If they were to retain Holliday, the club would be content to give David Freese his shot at third base and spend its leftover money on the rotation rather than infield help.
  • Re-signing Mark DeRosa is one alternative to Holliday in left, although the Cardinals understandably aren't fans of DeRosa's current asking price of three years and roughly $24MM.
  • The Cards had interest in bringing Chone Figgins aboard, prior to his agreement with the Mariners.
  • St. Louis continues to say that they don't have leverage to make trades after parting with a number of top prospects, but Strauss mentions that some teams looking to shed salary could make sense. He names Dan Uggla, Kevin Millwood, and (if he's made available) Brandon Inge as some candidates, though the Marlins are asking a lot in return for Uggla.
  • Strauss also mentions Adam Dunn, who's owed $12MM this season as a good fit, though the Nationals aren't intent on moving him. According to Strauss, several within the Cardinal organization were pushing for Dunn over Holliday last season before the deadline.
  • If the Cards are able to sign Holliday, backloading the contract as they typically do with large deals won't be beneficial as the expensive years will coincide with those of Albert Pujols, if and when he, too, gets a new contract.
  • Strauss names Vicente Padilla and Ben Sheets as possible free agent arms to target.
  • Interesting note on the Cardinals from Strauss; they haven't made a trade at the Winter Meetings since 2003 when they acquired Adam Wainwright, Jason Marquis, and Ray King.

Whatever comes of Holliday, team president Bill DeWitt plans to be active this offseason. Strauss quotes him, "If we don't spend on Holliday, we will spend on other players."

Minaya: No Pressure To Make Moves

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Ben Shpigel of the New York Times writes that Omar Minaya arrived in Indianapolis for the Winter Meetings and has said that he's not under any pressure to make moves, despite having issues to address at catcher, left field, the rotation, and the bullpen.

"I don't feel like I have to do something," Minaya is quoted as saying, and that includes signing Bengie Molina, as many expect the Mets to do. Shpigel backs up his tweet that we linked to earlier, stating that the Mets are more likely to make a trade at the meetings than sign a free agent.

Minaya feels that the Mets had more focused needs than last year, according to Shpigel. He quotes Omar:

“I remember coming here last year and we were trying to get Frankie Rodriguez… We knew that and we focused on that. Coming into the meetings we had meetings with the agent and we felt that we could get things done and address that last year. This year, it’s not as clear as it was last year. Last year we needed a closer and we ended up getting two closers. This year we have more parts that we have to fill in. Are we going to be able to fill all of them in here? I don’t know that."

The Mets would like to unload Luis Castillo in an effort to lure Orlando Hudson to New York, and they're very interested in Nationals outfielder Josh Willingham to fill their need for a slugging left fielder. Shpigel says that the Nats currently have a steep asking price though, as Willingham is in high demand.

If the Mets can't land Willingham, Shpigel suggests Marlon Byrd as a possibility, though he notes that the Mets are wary of the vast disparity between Byrd's home and road splits in 2009. Byrd hit a whopping .282/.336/.538 and clubbed 14 of his 20 home runs at home, but posted a much more pedestrian line of .285/.322/.419 away from Arlington.

Nationals Notes: Hardy, Needs

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The latest on the Nationals, courtesy of Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post…

  • The Nats discussed a deal for shortstop J.J. Hardy, before he was traded to the Twins.  However, with Ian Desmond and Cristian Guzman the projected starters, upgrading in the middle infield is not the top priority.
  • Manager Jim Riggleman says starting pitching comes first, with Sheinin suggesting trades are preferred over free agent signings. You can see our list of starting pitcher trade candidates here.
  • The Nationals also seek a catcher, more than just a backup type according to Riggleman.
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