Glavine Shows Interest In Nationals
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, Tom Glavine would be interested in signing with the Nationals if he is unable to reach an agreement with the Braves for the 2009 season. A source close to Glavine says that the lefty is close to Washington’s team president Stan Kasten, who was with the Braves from from 1987 to 2002.
Though the Nationals would rather sign young players to long-term deals, the 42-year-old could serve as a mentor to Washington southpaws John Lannan and Scott Olsen.
In just 13 games with the Braves last season, Glavine went 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA.
Padres, Nats Interested In Ohman
According to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick the Nationals and Padres are among the teams interested in Will Ohman. Both teams are "bottom fishing," and are considered secondary options for the lefty reliever.
Ohman hoped for a deal similar to the ones signed by Jeremy Affeldt ($8MM, two years) and Damaso Marte ($12MM, three years). He’s generated lots of interest and has a new contract offer from an unnamed team.
Crasnick mentions the Dodgers and Mets as potential suitors for Ohman, and the D’Backs, Orioles, Rangers, Indians, Rays and Braves have all reportedly had interest in him.
Nationals Still Interested In Hudson, Dunn
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson the Nationals still have interest in Orlando Hudson and Adam Dunn. So far both players’ demands have exceeded the Nats’ budget, but GM Jim Bowden said the team still has interest in acquiring free agent hitters.
The rotation, on the other hand, could enter Spring Training as is. The Nationals have no interest in Josh Fogg because they are content with a rotation of Collin Balester, Daniel Cabrera, John Lannan, Scott Olsen and Jordan Zimmermann. MASN reports that Bowden said he’s interested in adding "one or two more starting pitchers" if the circumstances are right.
Nationals Rumors: Zimmerman, Prospects
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post came up with some Nationals rumors at their season ticket holder luncheon today.
- Nationals GM Jim Bowden said he’s working on an extension with Ryan Zimmerman and is "optimistic that it will get done at some point." He mentioned Nick Markakis, Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia and Evan Longoria as reference points and said he has a "phenomenal" relationship with Zimmerman.
- Bowden said prospect Jordan Zimmermann could be MLB ready and is in the running for a rotation spot.
- Ross Detwiler could also have an impact on the Nats in 2009.
- Bowden said the Nationals would have had to overpay to sign any major free agents this offseason.
Odds and Ends: Fogg, Jays, Red Sox, White Sox
Links for Friday…
- Corey Brock talked to agent Barry Axelrod about the slow-moving free agent market.
- The D’Backs still have Will Ohman and Joe Beimel on the radar, but Nick Piecoro believes they’d like to add a starter first.
- Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino doesn’t want the team’s dealings with Scott Boras for Mark Teixeira to affect other negotiations.
- Josh Fogg hopes to sign soon; possibilities may include the Rockies, Orioles, and Nationals.
- The Blue Jays are currently in talks with a Japanese pitcher.
- Nolan Ryan comments on the free agent market.
- Ed Wade explains his approach to waivers.
- Tony Massarotti projects an Opening Day payroll around $135MM for the Red Sox. Michael Silverman examines Boston’s options behind the plate.
- South Side Sox have the White Sox around $100MM for their Opening Day payroll.
- RotoAuthority lists the hitters projected to earn at least $10 in fantasy value in 2009.
Odds And Ends: Varitek, Markakis, Johnson
Links for Thursday night…
- Curt Schilling thinks the Red Sox need Jason Varitek.
- Buster Olney writes that some executives think Type A free agents like Varitek, Orlando Cabrera and Juan Cruz should sign soon instead of waiting until the season starts.
- Ken Rosenthal proposes a ‘Juan Cruz rule’ so that players like Cruz aren’t the ones hurt by the compensation system.
- Andy MacPhail provides some of the reasons he wanted to lock up Nick Markakis. He has plenty of good ones to choose from.
- Chico Harlan of the Washington Post spoke with Nick Johnson, who "expressed no particular desire" to play in his home state of California.
- Kobe Bryant jokingly suggested that he could play left for the Dodgers instead of Manny Ramirez.
Heyman On Manny, Varitek, Madson, Swisher
SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up…
- Heyman says half the teams in baseball may still have a big deal left in them, with roughly 100 free agents remaining.
- Manny Ramirez continues to wait patiently; Heyman guesses the Dodgers go to three years for him. They’d be bidding against themselves, unless Manny has an offer we don’t know about.
- When John Henry asked Jason Varitek why he didn’t accept their offer of arbitration, Varitek responded that he didn’t believe it would’ve guaranteed him a spot on the team.
- Heyman finds it odd that first-year arb closers are getting more money than starters.
- Scott Boras was in favor of Ryan Madson taking the Phillies’ three-year, $12MM offer based on Madson’s personal/familial circumstances.
- The Yankees are finding more interest in Nick Swisher than Xavier Nady.
- Heyman has the Ricketts family as the favorite to buy the Cubs.
- Heyman suggests Bobby Abreu‘s defense gets a bad rap. The plus/minus system, however, says the right fielder is among the worst in the game.
- The Nationals and Marlins share the Rays’ policy of not negotiating once arbitration figures are submitted. The Nats are apparently willing to bend and may keep talking with Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham (each about a million bucks apart).
Odds and Ends: Prospects, Alfonzo, Zimmerman
Links for Wednesday…
- Cardinals GM John Mozeliak subjected himself to all kinds of questions from fans today in an online chat. It sounds like he might do a little spring tinkering.
- It seems that the Angels will go with internal options for the fifth starter job.
- The Rangers, Rays, and A’s are atop Keith Law’s farm system rankings, with the Tigers, Nationals, and Astros bringing up the rear.
- Orioles infielder Oscar Salazar is likely on the chopping block to make room for Gregg Zaun.
- Kyodo News reports that Edgardo Alfonzo will try out for the Yomiuri Giants.
- Dave Sheinin says Kevin Youkilis is a good comp for Ryan Zimmerman. The midpoint between Zimmerman’s and the Nationals’ arbitration submissions would be a $3.325MM.
- I sincerely appreciate all the submissions for the Saturday evening writer gig. I’m happy to welcome D.J. Blatter aboard as our newest blogger.
Adam Dunn’s Price Might Be Falling
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post spoke with an agent Monday who believes Adam Dunn "will get a max of $5MM per year" this offseason.
"Anything more than that and I’d be surprised," added the unnamed agent. Dunn is reportedly still seeking a four-year, $56MM deal. Harlan notes that there are no big market teams in the running and he’s highly unlikely to get those desired figures. "That’s why Dunn just might end up in Washington, the one team that unequivocally wants the guy," the report concludes.
Nationals Still Targeting Strasburg
In a Saturday article, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune explained how the Padres would like to bring righty Stephen Strasburg home with the #3 pick in the June draft. He wonders if the Padres could flash enough cash for Scott Boras to "steer Strasburg past the Nationals and Mariners."
Not to worry, Nationals fans. Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post says Strasburg remains atop the Nats’ list by a wide margin. Barring a major injury, the Nationals will draft Strasburg. As it usually is with Boras and most early draft picks, signability is a concern. However, Sheinin says the Nationals’ relationship with Boras improved with the Mark Teixeira negotiations.