Nationals Showing Interest In Nady, Swisher
Bill Ladson of MLB.com says the Nationals are calling the Yankees about Xavier Nady and Nick Swisher. Nationals GM Jim Bowden’s alleged interest in these reportedly available outfielders should not surprise anyone.
Ladson says Nady has been a Washington target since last summer, as a potential stabilizing force at first base. The Nationals have indeed been frustrated with Nick Johnson‘s lack of durability. Now Swisher is reportedly a possibility for the first base job, while Nady is seen as an upgrade in right field.
Also, confirming what many had suspected, Ladson notes that free agents Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson "have exceeded the team’s price range."
Chad Cordero To Audition Friday
THURSDAY: Count the Mets in on the Cordero session. Twins too.
WEDNESDAY: MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy says Cordero will throw Friday, and the Brewers will be in attendance. They’ve already seen him throw once. The Rangers will also be there.
TUESDAY, 9:57pm: MLB.com’s Jason Beck says the Tigers are also expected to watch Cordero throw.
1:37pm: Nick Piecoro says the D’Backs will be one of the teams in attendance at Cordero’s audition. Chico Harlan says the Nationals will also attend.
8:38am: According to a baseball source, free agent reliever Chad Cordero is ahead of schedule and teams will watch him throw this week. The Nationals had said he wouldn’t be able to throw until June due to last summer’s labrum/biceps surgery.
Teams known to be interested based on reports: the Angels, Mets, Cardinals, D’Backs, Rangers, and Tigers.
Nationals Discouraged On Dunn, Hudson, Wolf
According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, the Nationals will not sign any major free agents this offseason.
The Nats have fallen short on offers to Mark Teixeira and Milton Bradley, and aren’t intrigued enough by Adam Dunn or Orlando Hudson. Ladson claims the organization will instead focus on their minor league system and look to trade for some young players.
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post says the Nationals are not out on Dunn, Hudson, and Randy Wolf, but they are discouraged about their chances given the players’ demands. Harlan shoots down the idea of the Nats pursuing Derek Lowe. In another post, Harlan says the Nationals have not had any formal talks with Tom Glavine‘s agent.
Derek Lowe Rumors: Thursday
1:15pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Mets and Lowe remain far apart in negotiations. Heyman sees the Angels, Phillies, and Brewers as other suitors aside from the Braves.
11:40pm: Mark Bowman notes that the Braves’ meeting with Lowe was arranged before they lost Smoltz, but their interest has increased this week. Chipper Jones already made a pitch to Lowe.
10:45pm: Gordon Edes of Yahoo says the Braves have "zeroed in on Lowe" and have significant interest. An Edes source adds that the Red Sox topped Atlanta’s offer for Smoltz by "a couple million."
9:41am: Interesting line from Mike Puma of the New York Post: "Some believe the Nationals could be a suitor for Lowe."
8:45am: According to Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe, Derek Lowe is scheduled to meet with the Braves today in Atlanta. The apparent loss of John Smoltz to Boston stings, but Lowe would be a huge addition.
I am with J.C. Bradbury on the Smoltz thing. While it will feel wrong to see him in any other uniform, $5.5MM guaranteed would’ve been risky for the Braves.
Odds and Ends: Crede, Swisher, Astros
Links for Wednesday…
- RotoAuthority identifies a bunch of sleepers who had between 200-400 at-bats in 2008 in posts here and here.
- Joe Crede remains on the Rangers’ radar, but they have not made an offer.
- All kinds of interesting thoughts from Peter Gammons.
- Fred Claire contrasts Pat Burrell and Milton Bradley.
- Dave Sheinin says the Nationals inquired on Nick Swisher, but their offer did not impress the Yankees. Chico Harlan mentioned the same yesterday. Joel Sherman notes that the Mets and Braves had interest in Swisher before he was traded to the Yankees.
- In that post, Sherman also predicts the contracts for Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez.
- The Astros are mostly done, unless Drayton McLane pulls a surprise move.
- Murray Chass reflects on Carl Pohlad.
- Eric Stashin talked to Wayne Graczyk of the Japan Times about various Japanese pitchers.
A’s Rumors: Abreu, Cabrera, Barton
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has the latest on the A’s.
- The Jason Giambi press conference is scheduled for today. Joe Dillon was designated for assignment to make room.
- Slusser believes Billy Beane will take a look at Bobby Abreu and/or Orlando Cabrera if their price tags slip.
- Daric Barton is drawing trade interest, with the Nationals a possibility.
John Patterson Retires
According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, pitcher John Patterson announced his retirement today at age 30. Patterson just has not been able to get healthy. His best season was 2005, when he made 31 starts for the Nationals with a 3.13 ERA.
Patterson was one of Scott Boras’ infamous "loophole" amateur free agents in ’96; Boras got him $6.075MM with the D’Backs.
Mark Teixeira Leftovers
More Mark Teixeira info…
- Tony Massarotti chronicles the Red Sox-Yankees angle to the Teixeira negotiations from start to finish.
- Lisa Olson says the Yankees lured Tex with a montage backed by his beloved band Twisted Sister (and also $180 million).
- Teixeira says the botched negotiations with the Red Sox in ’98 had nothing to do with his decision.
- Jack Curry got some comments from Red Sox owner John Henry on the situation.
- Yankees president Randy Levine accused Brewers owner Mark Attanasio of "sour grapes."
- Ken Davidoff banters with Hal Steinbrenner about the Yankees’ approach.
- Gordon Edes says the Red Sox put together an offer with vesting options that would’ve reached ten years and $212MM; Scott Boras made a similar pitch to the Angels. Boras wanted either nine years or $23MM per from the Sox; he told them the Nationals did commit to a ninth year. That was when John Henry emailed the media. As for the Angels, Arte Moreno believes no player is worth more than $160MM.
- Joel Sherman says the Angels were Teixeira’s first choice.
Nationals Rumors: Wolf, Dunn, Hudson
Rounding up Nationals rumors…
- According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals are interested in free agent lefty starter Randy Wolf. The Mets and Dodgers are also known to be in on him, while we haven’t heard much about the Brewers, Cardinals, or Orioles lately.
- The Washington Post’s Chico Harlan says the Nats want to acquire players who will still be in their primes in 2010 or 2011. Adam Dunn and Orlando Hudson make sense, at the right price.
- The Nationals aren’t interested in Xavier Nady and don’t believe they "have a legitimate shot at trading for Nick Swisher."
- Odalis Perez remains under consideration, but isn’t a priority.
Brown’s Latest: Abreu, Manny, Looper
The latest from Yahoo’s Tim Brown…
- Bobby Abreu still wants $48MM over three years, according to Brown and Gordon Edes. Abreu may have lost three potential suitors today in the Cubs, Rays, and A’s. Buster Olney suggests Abreu is "probably out on the ledge, more than any other player in the corner outfield market."
- Brown says the Dodgers, Orioles, Nationals and Mariners "seem to have the most interest in adding an outfielder." Haven’t heard much about the Orioles looking for help there.
- Brown believes the Dodgers are "sitting on their original offer of two years and $45 million guaranteed" to Manny Ramirez. He says Scott Boras still wants four or five years at $25MM per.
- Starters on the Dodgers’ radar: Randy Wolf, Jon Garland, and Braden Looper. Looper might be a new name.
- Kenshin Kawakami is apparently "drawing solid interest from the Braves, Cardinals, Red Sox, Twins and Orioles." It’d be surprising to see Boston sign him after getting Brad Penny.