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Nats Trade For Olsen, Willingham

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9:44pm: Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel was assured this evening that Dan Uggla will not be traded this winter.  Additonally, Mike Berardino says the Marlins won’t be signing Ivan Rodriguez for a second stint.

6:34pm: According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons, the Nationals acquired Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham from the Marlins for second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor league players, pitcher P.J. Dean and shortstop Jake Smolinski.

Bonifacio was the prospect the Diamondbacks traded straight up for Jon Rauch.  He fits into the "speed and defense" plan.  Smolinski was ranked 11th among Nationals prospects heading into the season according to Baseball America.  They consider him a polished hitter with gap power.  Dean was ranked 30th, but he projects well and could become a mid-rotation starter according to BA.

I have to say, I thought the Marlins would get more for these two players.  There’s not really a sure thing in the bunch.  Did Jim Bowden pull a heist, or was this the true market value of these two players?  Olsen’s peripheral stats weren’t great this year, while Willingham has back problems.

Tim Dierkes also contributed to this post.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Nationals, Manny, Peavy, Vazquez

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We’ve already touched on Ken Rosenthal’s Matt Holliday update, but there are other good tidbits in the article as well:

  • "Club officials believe" that the Nationals are "reasonably close to a breakthrough." They blame 2008’s sorry performance on the raft of injuries Washington suffered, which is why they’re willing to spend now for a big bat — the key names floating around have been the aforementioned Holliday, Adam Dunn, and Mark Teixeira, though Rosenthal seems skeptical they could snag any of them. But what about Manny Ramirez? "Jim Bowden, the Nats’ unconventional GM, probably would love the idea, but D.C. might not be big enough for Manny and Barack Obama." Looking at the impact that Manny has had on the LA’s attendance, and looking at the empty seats at Nationals Park, it could make sense.
  • Obligatory Jake Peavy update: Padres discuss keeping the ace, Braves grow impatient. Cubs are still in the mix, while the Dodgers and Yankees are "on the backburner." (Buster Olney had a subtly different take posted a few hours later — that Peavy would be dealt before the turkey hits the sideboard.) Rosenthal also quotes Pads GM Kevin Towers as wanting to move the fences in at Petco (which is hard enough just to write without typing in "cavernous" as an automatic prefix).
  • The Mets, among other ballclubs, are interested in Rays’ righties Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson, but the Rays are in no hurry to make a deal.
  • "The White Sox are in an ideal position with" Javier Vazquez if they wait until Peavy, CC Sabathia, et al are placed and then shop him, Rosenthal argues. The 32-year old righty will make $23 MM through 2010, which he calls "a bargain for a pitcher who has produced four straight 200-inning seasons, albeit with a 49-51 record and 4.41 ERA." On the other hand, Vazquez has also hit the 200-strikeout mark in each of the last two seasons.

Sarah Green can be reached here.

Matt Holliday Rumors: Saturday

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According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cardinals’ offer for Matt Holliday includes Ryan Ludwick, Skip Schumaker and Mitchell Boggs. Rosenthal thinks the Cardinals would try to sign Holliday to an extension if traded to St. Louis.

Rosenthal also weighs in on the gap between Holliday’s .997 home OPS and his .891 road OPS this year.

The Phillies and A’s remain in the mix for Holliday, and the Nationals are involved as well. Rosenthal says that if the Rockies are likely to get quantity rather than quality if they deal Holliday to Washington.

MLB.com’s Matthew Leach asked Ludwick about the possibility of being traded. Ludwick said that even though "St. Louis feels like home," he knows trade talks are part of the business.

Four Teams Eyeing Chad Cordero

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According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Angels, Mets, Rangers, and Tigers have asked to look at Chad Cordero’s medical records.  The Nationals are not in the mix.  Cordero, 26, had shoulder surgery in July.

Ladson says Cordero’s first choice is the Angels, as he’s from Anaheim.  After that would come the Mets due to the Omar Minaya connection from Montreal.

Heyman’s Latest: Furcal, Jenks, Nats, Yankees, White Sox

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Here are a few of the latest notes from Jon Heyman…

  • The Dodgers offered Rafael Furcal a two-year deal worth $25-30MM. A source close to Furcal told Heyman that the Dodgers know that it will take more and at least eight teams have expressed interest in Furcal.
  • In the same piece Heyman says the White Sox are open to trading Bobby Jenks, but Heyman’s source says it will "take quite a bit."
  • Heyman says the Nationals are not likely to land any of the big names they covet noting they do not have the pieces for a trade and few free agents would be willing to play for a 100-loss team. Heyman does say Adam Dunn could be one player that is willing to sign with the Nats based on his relationship with Jim Bowden.
  • Heyman says the Yankees may be serious about trading for Mike Cameron noting that they have even asked for Alex Rodriguez’ opinion of his former teammate.
  • Heyman reports that the White Sox could trade several of their bigger players. Most of the names have been heard here over the last couple of days, but one we haven’t heard in a while is Paul Konerko. Heyman says Konerko could be an attractive backup plan to any team that fails to sign Mark Teixeira. Heyman also says the White Sox could go after Orlando Hudson if they can unload some of their bigger contracts.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Thursday

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According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Nationals are preparing to make a significant offer to Mark Teixeira.  Olney believes the Angels will make an offer in the $100-120MM range, but that offer will expire soon.  If and when Scott Boras passes on that proposal, it might be the Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, and Orioles competing for Tex.

Heyman’s Latest: Holliday, Bradley, Hudson

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman reports from the GM meetings…

  • Matt Holliday showed up at the GM meetings to talk to Scott Boras, sparking trade speculation by reporters.
  • The Rangers failed to reach an agreement with Milton Bradley, and he’ll seek a four-year deal worth more than $10MM per.  Good luck with that.
  • Heyman says the Nationals are interested in Mark Teixeira and Matt Holliday, which MLB.com’s Bill Ladson first reported yesterday.  It does not seem that the Nats have the goods to acquire Holliday.  Heyman adds A.J. Burnett as a possibility, though Ken Rosenthal said to scratch them from the running this morning.  Adam Dunn is a more realistic name for the Nats.
  • The Angels haven’t ruled out signing Teixeira and C.C. Sabathia, though it’d be tough to fit both in the payroll.
  • The Yankees are eyeing Orlando Hudson, and could even ask him to play center field.  Nick Piecoro figures this would require an absurd offer from the Yanks.

Rockies Rumors: Holliday, Atkins, Podsednik

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Let’s check in on the Rockies next.

  • Matt Holliday may be selling his Denver-area home, not that it means anything.  Tracy Ringolsby has the Nationals, Rays, Cardinals, and Mets as teams interested in Holliday.  Meanwhile, Troy E. Renck explores a Yankees scenario.
  • Renck can’t see the Rox trading both Holliday and Garrett Atkins.  Ringolsby says the Angels are more interested in Atkins than Holliday.  Renck has the Indians and Twins as suitors for Atkins.
  • Scott Podsednik is open to returning to the Rockies, and they could have a place for him if Willy Taveras is dealt.
  • Renck expects the Rockies to be in on Carl Pavano if the Yankees don’t re-sign him.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Fielder, Beimel, Eckstein

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Ken Rosenthal is on the scene at the GM meetings, and as usual has all kinds of new info.

  • The Brewers are unlikely to trade Prince Fielder, and reluctant to trade J.J. Hardy or Alcides Escobar.  It’d be smart to retain those three players.
  • Rosenthal still likes the Braves as the favorite for Jake Peavy, but wonders if the Cubs or another team could incorporate a third team to get it done.
  • The Cubs will need to spend much of their available money on pitching, which may leave little payroll room for an outfielder like Bobby Abreu.  They could backload contracts and move some of Jason Marquis’ salary though.
  • The Mets are interested in lefty reliever Joe Beimel, as well as usual suspects Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, and Kerry Wood.  They also like Raul Ibanez.
  • The Cardinals could move forward with a Ryan Ludwick/Colby Rasmus/Rick Ankiel outfield, or trade one of them.  Ankiel, entering his contract year, seems most likely to go if Rasmus is ready.
  • David Eckstein is marketing himself as a second baseman for 2009.
  • Don’t look for the Phillies to move Shane Victorino in a Matt Holliday deal.
  • The Cardinals and Nationals are not contenders for A.J. Burnett.  Still no word on Burnett’s opt-out.
  • The Marlins may wait until some of the top free agent starters sign before shopping Scott Olsen.

Rockies Shopping Holliday, Atkins, Taveras

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9:11pm: According to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves are not interested in Taveras after all.

10:47am: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post and Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, the Rockies are shopping Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, and Willy Taveras.

Holliday, a Scott Boras client, is set to earn $13.5MM in 2009 before reaching free agency.  Ringolsby says the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Mets, and Phillies have shown interest. Renck has the Cardinals as a lurker.  The Nats may also be interested.  The Rockies will target young pitching in return.

Atkins is under team control for 2009 and 2010.  Ringolsby has the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Angels, Mets, Phillies, White Sox, and Twins as interested parties.  Renck sees the Indians as another possibility.

Taveras is also under team control through 2010.  Ringolsby says the Royals, Yankees, White Sox, and Braves are in on him, while Renck adds the Nationals.

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