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Rosenthal’s Latest: Santana, Cabrera, Kuroda, Edmonds, Rolen

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Ken Rosenthal checks in with the latest hot stove buzz around baseball.

  • Johan Santana is Boston’s only target – they’re not after Dan Haren or any other starter.  The talks keep slugging along.  For what it’s worth, Curt Schilling expects the Red Sox to get him.
  • 36 year-old first baseman Alex Cabrera is a sleeper power threat among free agents.  The former Rockie, Cub, and Diamondback has been mashing in Japan since 2001.  The Nationals don’t have any room for him but want him anyway.  Rosenthal says A.L. clubs are looking at him as a DH candidate, also.  Cabrera hit .295/.377/.512 with 27 HR in 441 ABs in Japan in 2007.
  • Hiroki Kuroda has not reached an agreement with any team, according to Rosenthal.
  • The Padres are still considering Jim Edmonds as a center field candidate.
  • Here’s a new one: the Indians expressed interest in Scott Rolen.  The talks have cooled however.
  • Rosenthal says the Astros don’t think they will get Miguel Tejada.  Instead they’ve moved on to…Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt.

Odds and Ends: Inge, Greene, Pavano

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A few tidbits this morning as we wait to hear more on Fukudome…

Nationals Sign Lo Duca

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UPDATE, 12-10-07 at 10:11pm: The Nationals paid a fairly hefty $5MM for Lo Duca. This is for a backstop who hit .272/.311/.378 while throwing out a below-average 23.4% of basestealers in 2007.  He’d better call a good game.

FROM 12-10-07 at 1:59pm:

According to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, the Nationals have signed Paul Lo Duca to a one-year deal.  He apparently wanted $5MM; I imagine he got a bit less than that.  Four days ago Joel Sherman said the Blue Jays were putting the "finishing touches" on a one-year, $3MM deal with Lo Duca.

My reaction: eh.  I’m not sure what Lo Duca adds to the 2008 Nationals that they couldn’t get elsewhere for less money.  I guess they could hope he has a big first half and then try to flip him for a prospect.  Mets fans: is Lo Duca good at naturing young pitchers?  That could be one decent reason to sign him.

Kearns Unlikely To Be Dealt

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It’s hard not to like the Nationals.  They have a savvy manager and something of a patchwork team.  They’re trying to build a club from the ground up without spending big on free agents.  They’re also not scared off by supposed attitude issues, acquiring players like Dmitri Young, Lastings Milledge, and Elijah Dukes.

Given the Nats’ desire to give Wily Mo Pena a full-time job, the team is left with four outfielders for three spots.  You might think this would make Austin Kearns available.  The 27 year-old hit .266/.355/.411 this year and hasn’t shown much power at RFK.  He makes $5MM in ’08, $9MM in ’09, and has a $10MM club option for ’10 with a $1MM buyout.

However, Kearns is unlikely to be traded according to both Jim Bowden and Manny Acta.  They’re happy to have four outfielders and hope to get ABs for all.  It would be surprising if everyone stayed healthy all year, anyway.  With his salary escalating in ’09, it makes sense to wait on Kearns.  Plus, he might have better power numbers in the new park.

Nats Extend Wily Mo Pena, Sign Aaron Boone

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UPDATE, 12-8-07 at 12:21pm:  The Boston Herald’s Rob Bradford says Wily Mo could’ve gotten more guaranteed money if he’d stuck with his previous agent, Josh Zeide.

FROM 12-6-07 at 11:20am:

The Nats made a couple of moves today.

  • The rumored extension to Wily Mo Pena is done.  He gets $2MM in ’08, plus a mutual option for ’09.  The club can exercise it for $5MM, and if they decline Pena can take it for $2MM.
  • Aaron Boone signed a one-year, $1MM deal with incentives.  Boone, who turns 35 in March, hit a respectable .286/.388/.423 in part-time duty with the Marlins this year. 
  • The Nats re-signed Ryan Langerhans to a minor-league deal.

Nats Talk Extension With Wily Mo Pena

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UPDATE, 12-5-07 at 11:02pm: According to Nats GM Jim Bowden, they’ve talked with Pena about an extension but no agreement has been reached.

FROM 12-5-07 at 8:35pm:

ESPN’s Enrique Rojas reports that the Nationals have signed Wily Mo Pena to a two-year extension worth $7MM.  He’ll get $2MM in ’08 and $5MM in ’09.  The deal buys out one year of free agency.

Is Wily Mo worth it?  Hard to say, as his development has stalled a bit after spending a few years as Boston’s extra outfielder.

Odds and Ends: Guillen, Crede, Hamilton, Boone

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Rounding up some of the day’s random rumors and tidbits…

  • Jose Guillen might get a light suspension for his exploits.
  • There was a report that the Brewers were close to obtaining Joe Crede, but it was published last night.
  • The BBWAA approved a new resolution for 2013.  Any player with a contract provision linked to a major award of theirs will not be considered for that award.  Makes sense – to repeat Curt Schilling’s situation.  Curt Schilling could get a million bucks by netting one Cy Young vote in 2008.  The BBWAA would rather preserve its right to have members make off-the-wall votes on occasion without bribery being accused.
  • The Reds traded Buck Coats to the Jays.  They also released Jorge Cantu.  They now have an open spot on the 40-man roster.
  • Could the Rays re-acquire Josh Hamilton?  There’s speculation on the topic in Nashville.
  • Buster Olney says Aaron Boone interests the Giants, Nationals, and Brewers.

Nationals Rumors: Colon, Fukumori

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MLB.com’s Bill Ladson has a handful of Nationals rumors tonight.

  • As you know, Damian Miller, Johnny Estrada, and Miguel Montero have been targeted at the catcher position.
  • The Nats want to sign Bartolo Colon to a one-year deal, but it appears he craves multiple years.
  • As mentioned earlier, the Nats like Kazuo Fukumori.  What we didn’t mention earlier was the idea that Fukumori could start.  The notion seems questionable, as the 31 year-old hasn’t started a game since 2002.
  • The Nationals have no interest in David Eckstein or Kenny Lofton, despite their desire for a leadoff hitter.  They certainly don’t need an outfielder, anyway.

Odds and Ends: Peavy, Ellsbury, Montero, Fukumori

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More random rumors to devour…

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