2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by proshares,
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- 23,406
- 5,511
This is not a shot at the guy who works for the Marlins, but how many season ticket holders do they have? 600?
This will work for the first 2 years since it's a new stadium and they'll have a couple marquee guys, but the "fans" don't exist there. Can you honestly say that they'll have a consistent crowd for ALL 81 games?
This will work for the first 2 years since it's a new stadium and they'll have a couple marquee guys, but the "fans" don't exist there. Can you honestly say that they'll have a consistent crowd for ALL 81 games?
- 23,406
- 5,511
This is not a shot at the guy who works for the Marlins, but how many season ticket holders do they have? 600?
This will work for the first 2 years since it's a new stadium and they'll have a couple marquee guys, but the "fans" don't exist there. Can you honestly say that they'll have a consistent crowd for ALL 81 games?
This will work for the first 2 years since it's a new stadium and they'll have a couple marquee guys, but the "fans" don't exist there. Can you honestly say that they'll have a consistent crowd for ALL 81 games?
- 10,215
- 3,311
surprised that albert isnt in a marlin uniform this morning.
i think the mere fact that he hasnt decided yet means he is coming back to stl, or is at least leaning that way.........but i still would only be mad if he leaves because we havent signed anyone all that time and he left for miami anyway
i think the mere fact that he hasnt decided yet means he is coming back to stl, or is at least leaning that way.........but i still would only be mad if he leaves because we havent signed anyone all that time and he left for miami anyway
- 10,215
- 3,311
surprised that albert isnt in a marlin uniform this morning.
i think the mere fact that he hasnt decided yet means he is coming back to stl, or is at least leaning that way.........but i still would only be mad if he leaves because we havent signed anyone all that time and he left for miami anyway
i think the mere fact that he hasnt decided yet means he is coming back to stl, or is at least leaning that way.........but i still would only be mad if he leaves because we havent signed anyone all that time and he left for miami anyway
- 9,530
- 91
I wonder if the Cards will be a serious bidder for Rollins or Buehrle.
- 9,530
- 91
I wonder if the Cards will be a serious bidder for Rollins or Buehrle.
- 20,619
- 1,615
Huston Street has been traded to San Diego.
- 20,619
- 1,615
Huston Street has been traded to San Diego.
A hard reality check for Hanley Ramirez.
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
Ozzie Guillen understands Hanley Ramirez's unhappiness about being asked to switch positions, writes Juan Rodriguez. He has a right to be upset, says Guillen.
The Miami Marlins are all being very polite to Ramirez now, mostly because of how good a player he has been in the past, but maybe also because they understand that Miami owner Jeffrey Loria loves Hanley and regards him as a favorite son.
But at some point, the Marlins should probably stop being polite and offer this little reality check to Ramirez: It was his diminished performance that prompted Miami to invest $106 million in Jose Reyes. His defense at shortstop got worse, his offense got worse. None of this would have happened if Ramirez had continued to be one of the top players in the majors at his position.
He showed up to spring training significantly heavier -- maybe 20-25 pounds heavier, some in the organization believe -- and with the Marlins' third-base situation unresolved in March, there were some who thought the absolute best and right thing to do was to move Ramirez from shortstop then. But the Marlins kept Ramirez at shortstop out of deference to his history as a player and to the owner's feelings for Ramirez.
Then Ramirez went out and had a terrible start to his season. Not mediocre, not a little subpar, but terrible. The bigger, heavier Ramirez was nothing close to being the player he was in the past. In the end, he finished the season with a .712 OPS, .243 average and 10 homers in 338 at-bats, and in the eyes of some scouts, confirmed his reputation as an indifferent player.
Keep in mind that last season was the first year in which Ramirez, 27, was paid an eight-figure salary, and he will get only more expensive during the next three seasons -- $15 million for 2012, $15.5 million for 2013 and $16 million for 2014.
If Ramirez wanted to be traded, the Marlins probably couldn't get lot for him, because of his price tag and the growing questions about his play.
Ramirez is being moved off shortstop against his will, and he is entitled to a few bad moments over all that. But between now and the start of spring training, he should be accountable to himself and do what Michael Young did once camp opened last year -- he should repress that unhappiness and embrace the switch to a new position, because he earned it.
The Atlanta Braves have no interest in Ramirez, reports David O'Brien.
[h3]The latest on Albert Pujols[/h3]
• The Marlins made their pitch and scrambled through the lobby, as Juan Rodriguez writes.
The St. Louis Cardinals boosted their offer to Pujols, to perhaps 10 years and $220 million. The Chicago Cubs are hanging on in the talks, but nobody knows exactly whether they are really serious about all this, as Paul Sullivan writes.
The four big questions that now hang over these talks:
1. Can the Marlins or any other team separate themselves enough with their offer to lure Pujols out of St. Louis?
2. What is Pujols' level of anger toward the Cardinals for the way they've negotiated? Is he willing to stay for a little less, or is it all business for him now, as friends say?
3. What are the structures of the contract offers from the Marlins and Cardinals and other teams, and will Pujols accept a deal with Miami without a full no-trade clause?
4. Is there actually a serious mystery team? Ken Rosenthal reported late Tuesday that the Los Angeles Angels are in play, but to what degree? Last winter, I thought the notion of a mystery team in the Cliff Lee bidding was ridiculous, right up to the moment the Philadelphia Phillies swooped in and signed the lefty.
The Angels already are talking about C.J. Wilson but now might be looking at Pujols, writes Bill Plunkett. Rival executives have long waited for the Angels to really flex their financial power given their increased television revenue, and maybe this is the time for that to happen. Or maybe not. We'll see. The Angels aren't talking, writes Mike DiGiovanna.
The Cardinals' slow-burn approach to their talks with Pujols might backfire, writes Bryan Burwell. If Pujols leaves, Bernie Miklasz won't be quick to demonize either side.
The Marlins hope to make a big splash, writes Bob Brookover. The Marlins have stolen the show here, writes Joel Sherman.
The Marlins' aggressiveness is appropriate madness, writes Dave Hyde.
Some rival executives believe that if the Pujols decision were to be boiled down to a baseball-only question, the Cardinals would be fortunate if they lost on this bidding. "They'll be in a much better position to build their team if they don't have Pujols in three or four years," one club president said. "At some point, there is a tipping point on this, and I wonder if they have officially passed it."
Another thing to consider when comparing potential offers from the Cardinals and Marlins is the net value of the deal after state income taxes are deducted. If St. Louis offers a deal for, say, $220 million, after the estimated 6 percent state income tax in Missouri is accounted for, the offer is actually worth about $13 million less. In Florida, of course, there is no state income tax, so a Miami proposal could be viewed at face value.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• A friend of Loria said this about him Tuesday: "He's always wanted to emulate George Steinbrenner." Well, he's on his way. If the Marlins sign Pujols for a deal in the $220 million range, they will have committed as much to Pujols, Reyes and Heath Bell as they have to their entire payroll during the last nine seasons. Which is why folks in Major League Baseball are very, very concerned about what is happening.
• The Toronto Blue Jays have a new closer in Sergio Santos, dealing a touted prospect. "I found out from Kenny Williams," Santos wrote in an email. "He called around 8:30 this morning, and just kinda said it was a deal they couldn't pass up. I think it will be different pitching in the AL East just because of the fact that we're playing some of the better teams in the league on a consistent basis. There is really less room for error. But I'm excited for the challenge."
Nestor Molina, the prospect the Chicago White Sox got, had otherworldly numbers last season: 16 walks, 148 strikeouts in 130.1 innings in the minors. Kenny Williams used the word "rebuild."
• The New York Mets undoubtedly improved their bullpen. And undoubtedly, the moves are not going to play well on talk radio in New York, where bold and big moves are liked. Mets manager Terry Collins really didn't have a lot of options last season after Francisco Rodriguez was traded, but now he does have some guys who can generate missed swings.
The San Francisco Giants have a new option for center field, writes John Shea. Andres Torres will always have some part of the Giants in his heart, he tells Andrew Baggarly.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Mike Rizzo is confident he could land Mark Buehrle. Folks who know Buehrle think that if there is a real chance he could pitch for the Cardinals, he would do everything he could to make that happen, including taking a much lesser deal. And during the last 48 hours, the Cardinals have been looking to clear payroll, offering up Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook in a possible deal.
2. The Phillies are optimistic about signing Jimmy Rollins despite the fact that their work has been slowed by the Pujols situation, writes Matt Gelb.
3. The Texas Rangers stepped up their pursuit of Wilson, writes Jeff Wilson.
4. The Arizona Diamondbacks are waiting to hear back from the agent of Joe Saunders on whether the lefty will accept their offer. Hiroki Kuroda is still in play.
5. B.J. Upton is available in trade and the Washington Nationals are interested, but it feels like that staredown has been going on for about five months.
6. Our colleague Enrique Rojas reported that David Ortiz has decided to stay with the Boston Red Sox -- there's more from Scott Lauber here -- and what you figure will happen is that Ortiz will accept arbitration, buying time for him and the team to negotiate a two-year deal.
7. Gio Gonzalez says South Florida would be a nice destination. There is no rush for the Oakland Athletics in discussing a Gonzalez deal; his value is high now, and given that he's four years from free agency, it will continue to be high during the next year. They will wait for the right deal. The Detroit Tigers are interested, writes Susan Slusser.
8. The Red Sox and Athletics have reportedly talked about a possible Andrew Bailey trade, built around Josh Reddick.
9. For the Tigers, a major trade is unlikely, writes John Lowe. They are looking for help, writes Lynn Henning.
10. The Pittsburgh Pirates need a contingency plan in the event Pedro Alvarez struggles again, says Clint Hurdle. Within the same piece there is word that Pittsburgh is bringing back Nate McLouth.
11. The New York Yankees continue to make it clear that A.J. Burnett is available, as they have for months.
12. The Red Sox are not interested in bringing back Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek, it appears.
13. Scouts for more than a dozen teams are expected to attend a workout next week for Joel Zumaya, who will throw.
14. The Baltimore Orioles have had multiple conversations with the White Sox, writes Peter Schmuck. One executive says that in talking about John Danks, the White Sox are asking for a package of players comparable to the one the Colorado Rockies received for Ubaldo Jimenez.
15. Huston Street's situation is key to the Rockies' planning, writes Troy Renck. The Rockies traded for Kevin Slowey, who was viewed as a strong candidate for non-tender.
16. The A's are facing major questions in their outfield.
17. The Tampa Bay Rays signed Juan Miranda.
18. Josh Hamilton wants a fair offer from the Rangers.
19. The San Diego Padres have payroll flexibility. It would make sense for the Padres and Rockies to work out something for Street; we'll see.
20. The Cincinnati Reds and Rockies have talked about Street for Volquez. That makes sense, too.
21. The Seattle Mariners are trying to distance themselves from the perception that they are front-runners for Prince Fielder, writes Geoff Baker.
22. The Kansas City Royals are unlikely to shift a top prospect into their bullpen. Spring battles are coming into focus, writes Bob Dutton.
23. The Minnesota Twins want Michael Cuddyer back, writes La Velle Neal.
24. Paul Hoynes wonders: Have the Cleveland Indians moved away from their contract-extension philosophy, given what has happened with Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner?
25. The Milwaukee Brewers will make offers to Rollins and Aramis Ramirez.
[h3]Other stuff[/h3]
• Bobby Valentine has offered to go meet with Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford.
• Found this fascinating: Eric Wedge is already saying Ichiro may not hit leadoff. Next year will be a transition season in the dynamic between the Seattle franchise and Wedge.
• Magic Johnson has become the face of a bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers. One source indicated there are as many as 20 different groups in play for the Dodgers, and among those, perhaps eight are serious players.
• Joe Girardi fired a warning shot toward Phil Hughes.
• Brad Mills is keeping his eyes on 2012, amid the chaos.
• Mariano Rivera will get his biopsy results back on Friday, writes George King.
• Dan Duquette's goal is for the Orioles to be .500 or better next season, writes Peter Schmuck.
The Miami Marlins are all being very polite to Ramirez now, mostly because of how good a player he has been in the past, but maybe also because they understand that Miami owner Jeffrey Loria loves Hanley and regards him as a favorite son.
But at some point, the Marlins should probably stop being polite and offer this little reality check to Ramirez: It was his diminished performance that prompted Miami to invest $106 million in Jose Reyes. His defense at shortstop got worse, his offense got worse. None of this would have happened if Ramirez had continued to be one of the top players in the majors at his position.
He showed up to spring training significantly heavier -- maybe 20-25 pounds heavier, some in the organization believe -- and with the Marlins' third-base situation unresolved in March, there were some who thought the absolute best and right thing to do was to move Ramirez from shortstop then. But the Marlins kept Ramirez at shortstop out of deference to his history as a player and to the owner's feelings for Ramirez.
Then Ramirez went out and had a terrible start to his season. Not mediocre, not a little subpar, but terrible. The bigger, heavier Ramirez was nothing close to being the player he was in the past. In the end, he finished the season with a .712 OPS, .243 average and 10 homers in 338 at-bats, and in the eyes of some scouts, confirmed his reputation as an indifferent player.
Keep in mind that last season was the first year in which Ramirez, 27, was paid an eight-figure salary, and he will get only more expensive during the next three seasons -- $15 million for 2012, $15.5 million for 2013 and $16 million for 2014.
If Ramirez wanted to be traded, the Marlins probably couldn't get lot for him, because of his price tag and the growing questions about his play.
Ramirez is being moved off shortstop against his will, and he is entitled to a few bad moments over all that. But between now and the start of spring training, he should be accountable to himself and do what Michael Young did once camp opened last year -- he should repress that unhappiness and embrace the switch to a new position, because he earned it.
The Atlanta Braves have no interest in Ramirez, reports David O'Brien.
[h3]The latest on Albert Pujols[/h3]
• The Marlins made their pitch and scrambled through the lobby, as Juan Rodriguez writes.
The St. Louis Cardinals boosted their offer to Pujols, to perhaps 10 years and $220 million. The Chicago Cubs are hanging on in the talks, but nobody knows exactly whether they are really serious about all this, as Paul Sullivan writes.
The four big questions that now hang over these talks:
1. Can the Marlins or any other team separate themselves enough with their offer to lure Pujols out of St. Louis?
2. What is Pujols' level of anger toward the Cardinals for the way they've negotiated? Is he willing to stay for a little less, or is it all business for him now, as friends say?
3. What are the structures of the contract offers from the Marlins and Cardinals and other teams, and will Pujols accept a deal with Miami without a full no-trade clause?
4. Is there actually a serious mystery team? Ken Rosenthal reported late Tuesday that the Los Angeles Angels are in play, but to what degree? Last winter, I thought the notion of a mystery team in the Cliff Lee bidding was ridiculous, right up to the moment the Philadelphia Phillies swooped in and signed the lefty.
The Angels already are talking about C.J. Wilson but now might be looking at Pujols, writes Bill Plunkett. Rival executives have long waited for the Angels to really flex their financial power given their increased television revenue, and maybe this is the time for that to happen. Or maybe not. We'll see. The Angels aren't talking, writes Mike DiGiovanna.
The Cardinals' slow-burn approach to their talks with Pujols might backfire, writes Bryan Burwell. If Pujols leaves, Bernie Miklasz won't be quick to demonize either side.
The Marlins hope to make a big splash, writes Bob Brookover. The Marlins have stolen the show here, writes Joel Sherman.
The Marlins' aggressiveness is appropriate madness, writes Dave Hyde.
Some rival executives believe that if the Pujols decision were to be boiled down to a baseball-only question, the Cardinals would be fortunate if they lost on this bidding. "They'll be in a much better position to build their team if they don't have Pujols in three or four years," one club president said. "At some point, there is a tipping point on this, and I wonder if they have officially passed it."
Another thing to consider when comparing potential offers from the Cardinals and Marlins is the net value of the deal after state income taxes are deducted. If St. Louis offers a deal for, say, $220 million, after the estimated 6 percent state income tax in Missouri is accounted for, the offer is actually worth about $13 million less. In Florida, of course, there is no state income tax, so a Miami proposal could be viewed at face value.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• A friend of Loria said this about him Tuesday: "He's always wanted to emulate George Steinbrenner." Well, he's on his way. If the Marlins sign Pujols for a deal in the $220 million range, they will have committed as much to Pujols, Reyes and Heath Bell as they have to their entire payroll during the last nine seasons. Which is why folks in Major League Baseball are very, very concerned about what is happening.
• The Toronto Blue Jays have a new closer in Sergio Santos, dealing a touted prospect. "I found out from Kenny Williams," Santos wrote in an email. "He called around 8:30 this morning, and just kinda said it was a deal they couldn't pass up. I think it will be different pitching in the AL East just because of the fact that we're playing some of the better teams in the league on a consistent basis. There is really less room for error. But I'm excited for the challenge."
Nestor Molina, the prospect the Chicago White Sox got, had otherworldly numbers last season: 16 walks, 148 strikeouts in 130.1 innings in the minors. Kenny Williams used the word "rebuild."
• The New York Mets undoubtedly improved their bullpen. And undoubtedly, the moves are not going to play well on talk radio in New York, where bold and big moves are liked. Mets manager Terry Collins really didn't have a lot of options last season after Francisco Rodriguez was traded, but now he does have some guys who can generate missed swings.
The San Francisco Giants have a new option for center field, writes John Shea. Andres Torres will always have some part of the Giants in his heart, he tells Andrew Baggarly.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Mike Rizzo is confident he could land Mark Buehrle. Folks who know Buehrle think that if there is a real chance he could pitch for the Cardinals, he would do everything he could to make that happen, including taking a much lesser deal. And during the last 48 hours, the Cardinals have been looking to clear payroll, offering up Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook in a possible deal.
2. The Phillies are optimistic about signing Jimmy Rollins despite the fact that their work has been slowed by the Pujols situation, writes Matt Gelb.
3. The Texas Rangers stepped up their pursuit of Wilson, writes Jeff Wilson.
4. The Arizona Diamondbacks are waiting to hear back from the agent of Joe Saunders on whether the lefty will accept their offer. Hiroki Kuroda is still in play.
5. B.J. Upton is available in trade and the Washington Nationals are interested, but it feels like that staredown has been going on for about five months.
6. Our colleague Enrique Rojas reported that David Ortiz has decided to stay with the Boston Red Sox -- there's more from Scott Lauber here -- and what you figure will happen is that Ortiz will accept arbitration, buying time for him and the team to negotiate a two-year deal.
7. Gio Gonzalez says South Florida would be a nice destination. There is no rush for the Oakland Athletics in discussing a Gonzalez deal; his value is high now, and given that he's four years from free agency, it will continue to be high during the next year. They will wait for the right deal. The Detroit Tigers are interested, writes Susan Slusser.
8. The Red Sox and Athletics have reportedly talked about a possible Andrew Bailey trade, built around Josh Reddick.
9. For the Tigers, a major trade is unlikely, writes John Lowe. They are looking for help, writes Lynn Henning.
10. The Pittsburgh Pirates need a contingency plan in the event Pedro Alvarez struggles again, says Clint Hurdle. Within the same piece there is word that Pittsburgh is bringing back Nate McLouth.
11. The New York Yankees continue to make it clear that A.J. Burnett is available, as they have for months.
12. The Red Sox are not interested in bringing back Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek, it appears.
13. Scouts for more than a dozen teams are expected to attend a workout next week for Joel Zumaya, who will throw.
14. The Baltimore Orioles have had multiple conversations with the White Sox, writes Peter Schmuck. One executive says that in talking about John Danks, the White Sox are asking for a package of players comparable to the one the Colorado Rockies received for Ubaldo Jimenez.
15. Huston Street's situation is key to the Rockies' planning, writes Troy Renck. The Rockies traded for Kevin Slowey, who was viewed as a strong candidate for non-tender.
16. The A's are facing major questions in their outfield.
17. The Tampa Bay Rays signed Juan Miranda.
18. Josh Hamilton wants a fair offer from the Rangers.
19. The San Diego Padres have payroll flexibility. It would make sense for the Padres and Rockies to work out something for Street; we'll see.
20. The Cincinnati Reds and Rockies have talked about Street for Volquez. That makes sense, too.
21. The Seattle Mariners are trying to distance themselves from the perception that they are front-runners for Prince Fielder, writes Geoff Baker.
22. The Kansas City Royals are unlikely to shift a top prospect into their bullpen. Spring battles are coming into focus, writes Bob Dutton.
23. The Minnesota Twins want Michael Cuddyer back, writes La Velle Neal.
24. Paul Hoynes wonders: Have the Cleveland Indians moved away from their contract-extension philosophy, given what has happened with Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner?
25. The Milwaukee Brewers will make offers to Rollins and Aramis Ramirez.
[h3]Other stuff[/h3]
• Bobby Valentine has offered to go meet with Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford.
• Found this fascinating: Eric Wedge is already saying Ichiro may not hit leadoff. Next year will be a transition season in the dynamic between the Seattle franchise and Wedge.
• Magic Johnson has become the face of a bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers. One source indicated there are as many as 20 different groups in play for the Dodgers, and among those, perhaps eight are serious players.
• Joe Girardi fired a warning shot toward Phil Hughes.
• Brad Mills is keeping his eyes on 2012, amid the chaos.
• Mariano Rivera will get his biopsy results back on Friday, writes George King.
• Dan Duquette's goal is for the Orioles to be .500 or better next season, writes Peter Schmuck.
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Street headed to San Diego?[/h3]
11:16AM ET
[h5]Huston Street | Rockies [/h5]
Padres manager Bud Black said at the winter meetings that his club would likely look outside the organization to find a closer to replace the departed Heath Bell. The answer may come from an NL West rival.
Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweets Wednesday morning that the Padres are "very close" to acquiring Huston Street from the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies have been openly shopping Street, who has become expendable due to the emergence of Rafael Betancourt as a viable closer. The Rockies would like to move Street in order to free up some finances for other targets such as a starting pitcher or an infielder.
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says the Rockies would be assuming some of Street's contract, which has two years and $17 million remaining.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Contingency plans in Pittsburgh[/h3]
10:58AM ET
[h5]Pedro Alvarez | Pirates [/h5]
The Pittsburgh Pirates may kick the tires on a new third baseman, but GM general manager Neal Huntington insists the Pirates are committed to keeping Pedro Alvarez at the hot corner.
Huntington did add a caveat: Alvarez has to stay in shape and produce on the field. Alvarez hit just .191 in 74 games and came under criticism for his conditioning habits.
Rob Biertemfel of the Tribune Review reports the Pirates are preparing contingency plans should Alvarez falter. The Pirates have "made headway" in contract talks with free agent infielders Wilson Betemit and Mark DeRosa, though no deal was imminent.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Boston's pitch for Bailey[/h3]
10:49AM ET
[h5]Boston Red Sox [/h5]
UPDATE: Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com tweets Wednesday morning that "things were quiet" on the Oakland-Boston trade front, but adds that things could heat up.
--
The Boston Red Sox, searching for a closer to replace the departed Jonathan Papelbon, appear to be making a significant pitch to swing a deal for Oakland's Andrew Bailey.
Peter Gammons tweeted Wednesday morning the Athletics are considering an offer from Boston that includes Josh Reddick and prospects, but does not involve Jed Lowrie.
Meanwhile, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe says Oakland is seeking prospects such as third baseman Will Middlebrooks, but Boston is hesitant to go that high.
The market for closers is shrinking following the Blue Jays' trade for Sergio Santos, possibly limiting Boston's leverage. The Red Sox could sign free agent Ryan Madson, though he will have to come off his demand for a four-year deal to make that work.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Impact of Reyes deal on Rollins[/h3]
10:39AM ET
[h5]Jimmy Rollins | Phillies [/h5]
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney Monday morning that he already has talked with the agent for http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4258/jimmy-rollinsJimmy Rollins, Dan Lozano, at the winter meetings.
The process of moving the negotiations forward has temporarily stalled since Lozano has been quite busy with another of his clients ? free agent Albert Pujols. Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer says there still is optimism among the Phillies that a deal can be reached with Rollins, although the shortstop's request for a five-year deal remains a roadblock.
Gelb adds that Rollins has an inflated sense of his value after Jose Reyes signed a six-year, $106 million deal with the Marlins.
A report in Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel says the Brewers are preparing offers to both Rollins and Aramis Ramirez and would like to sign one of the free agents, but not both. A deal with Rollins would be highly unlikely unless he comes off his demands for a five-year deal.
Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch wrote last week Wednesday that the Cardinals could shift their focus to Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP with the Phillies, if they are unable to re-sign Pujols.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Oswalt wants three-year deal[/h3]
10:14AM ET
[h5]Roy Oswalt | Phillies [/h5]
Roy Oswalt knows that his next major league contract could very well be his last. With that in mind, the 34-year-old righthhander is looking for a three-year deal, says MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
Pitchers such as Bruce Chen and Chris Capuano already have been given two-year deals this offseason, so Oswalt's request may not be overly optimistic, given his resume. Oswalt may benefit from playing the waiting game and offer his services to a team that falls short on a deal for C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle.
Oswalt now doesn't carry the cost of a draft pick to the signing club, and that could make the difference for a team such as the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationalsWashington Nationals, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post wrote last month.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Outfield options in SFO[/h3]
9:57AM ET
[h5]Angel Pagan | Mets [/h5]
Outfielder Andres Torres and reliever Ramon Ramirez were among 13 arbitration-eligible Giants, which is one of the reasons they were shipped to the New York Mets late Tuesday night for outfielder Angel Pagan.
John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle says Pagan will likely land in center since Melky Cabrera, acquired last month in exchange for Jonathan Sanchez, is more comfortable in left field.
Nate Schierholtz remains the likely choice in right field unless the Giants add another outfielder. General manager Brian Sabean cautioned Tuesday that free-agent options are narrowing because of the lack of payroll flexibility. That could close the door on any possible deal for Carlos Beltran, who was a mentor to Pagan in New York.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Hanley won't land in Atlanta[/h3]
9:38AM ET
[h5]Hanley Ramirez | Marlins [/h5]
If Hanley Ramirez is somehow able to pout his way out of Miami, he will not find a new home in Atlanta.
Amid reports that Ramirez is balking about a move to third base now that the Marlins have signed Jose Reyes, Braves general manager Frank Wren tells David O'Brien of the Atlanta JC he has no interest in swinging a deal to bring Ramirez to Georgia.
Ramirez would be an unlikely fit in Florida given that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, then the Marlins skipper, once benched Ramirez for not hustling.
The Braves are believed to be interested in landing a veteran shortstop, but O'Brien says the team is leaning toward rookie Tyler Pastornicky as their starter. In that case, the Braves could still be looking for a veteran backup.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Brewers likely to re-sign Saito[/h3]
9:16AM ET
[h5]Takashi Saito | Brewers [/h5]
The Brewers are expected to re-sign reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal, but will stop short of a multi-year offer because the righthander continues to pitch without a ligament in his throwing elbow, says ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden.
Saito had 23 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings in 2011, but was limited to 30 appearances due to injuries.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Ichiro out of leadoff spot?[/h3]
8:43AM ET
[h5]Ichiro Suzuki | Mariners [/h5]
Ichiro Suzuki may no longer be the leadoff hitter in Seattle.
Manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday he'd met with Ichiro twice this offseason to keep him updated on the team's thinking. One of the options being considered is to move Ichiro away from his customary spot atop the order. "I'm still not sure where I'm going to hit him in the order, and I want him to understand that," Wedge said via MLB.com.
Ichiro hit .272 last season and finished with 182 hits, marking the first time in 11 Major League seasons that he didn't bat .300 or reach 200 hits.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Brewers eye Ramirez, Rollins[/h3]
8:30AM ET
[h5]Milwaukee Brewers [/h5]
The word out of Milwaukee in recent days has the Brewers deciding to pass on making a big-money offer to Prince Fielder, even if the number of suitors for the free agent slugger is shrinking.
The Brewers would need to replace some of Fielder's offensive numbers and Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel says the Brewers likely will make offers to both shortstop Jimmy Rollins and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. They can't afford to sign both but they would like to have one or the other.
The odds of landing Rollins may be small since the Brewers will not give him the five-year deal he covets. If Rollins were to settle for lesser years, it would likely be to stay in Philadelphia.
Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune says Ramirez is close to making a decision on his future and it appears the main choices are the Angels and Phillies.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The market for Buehrle[/h3]
8:11AM ET
[h5]Mark Buehrle | White Sox [/h5]
White Sox GM Kenny Williams essentially conceded that the bidding for Mark Buehrle has escalated to the point that his team is out of the sweepstakes.
One team that could help drive up the price is the Miami Marlins, who want a quick answer on Albert Pujols so they can decide whether to chase free agent pitchers such as Buehrle and/or C.J. Wilson, says Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune.
Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com wrote Tuesday that Buehrle would be a good fit for the Rangers, but Texas may be reluctant to go beyond a three-year offer.
Around a dozen teams have been linked to Buehrle, but Rumor Central?s Jason A. Churchill hears that the Nationals might be a team willing to give the left-hander a coveted fourth year. It could come down to three years and an option, but with Buehrle looking for that fourth year, the team willing to make that move could have a leg up.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Yankees shopping Burnett[/h3]
7:53AM ET
[h5]A.J. Burnett | Yankees [/h5]
The New York Yankees kept a relatively low profile during the first two days of the winter meetings. Behind the scenes, they are looking for a taker for A.J. Burnett.
George King of the New York Post reports the Yankees have let it be known they will listen to offers for the righthander and are willing to pay $8 million of the $33 million Burnett is owed over the next two seasons. King adds that the Yankees' efforts have yet to generate any interest.
After a solid 2009 debut in New York, Burnett is 21-26 over the past two seasons and has suffered a dip in velocity. The Yankees are likely trying to convince a team that the righthander would be more productive pitching outside of the Bronx.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]McLouth back to Pittsburgh?[/h3]
7:35AM ET
[h5]Nate McLouth | Braves [/h5]
After 2 1/2 seasons in Atlanta, free agent outfielder Nate McLouth is close to returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, says MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.
McLouth was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner for the Pirates in 2008, but never fully reached his potential in Pittsburgh and was traded to Atlanta in the summer of 2009.
Langosch says the Pirates are interested in McLouth to add outfield depth, though they would likely give Alex Presley the first chance to earn a starting berth as a corner outfielder.
Bill Brink of the Post Gazette says the Bucs are interested in adding McLouth because Presley and Jose Tabata missed time last season because of injuries.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rangers, Wilson making progress?[/h3]
7:23AM ET
[h5]C.J. Wilson | Rangers [/h5]
C.J. Wilson appears to be making the most of the free agent process, but the lefthander apparently hasn?t closed the door on returning to Texas.
Wilson's agent, Bob Garber, told Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com late Tuesday that his meeting with the Rangers was "great" and he added he was "pleasantly surprised."
Garber would not comment on whether an offer was made. Durrett says the Rangers don't want to go six years for Wilson and five years could be beyond their comfort zone as well.
Tuesday, SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted that Texas' offer to Wilson is for four years and about $60 million.
Wilson has already received offers from the Marlins, Angels, Nationals and an undisclosed fourth team. Jim Duquette of MLB Network tweeted Monday night that the Nationals had upped the ante with a six-year deal, but Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo subsequently told ESPN's Jim Bowden that the report was inaccurate.
If the Rangers lose out on Wilson they could step up their pursuit of trade targets such as http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28962/gio-gonzalezGio Gonzalez, http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28508/john-danksJohn Danks and http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5922/gavin-floydGavin Floyd, and if Yu Darvish is posted by his team in Japan, the Rangers are expected to make a strong bid.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Cards make $220M offer to Pujols[/h3]
7:08AM ET
[h5]Albert Pujols | Cardinals [/h5]
The St. Louis Cardinals apparently are not willing to sit on the sidelines and watch the Miami Marlins court Albert Pujols.
The buzz at the winter meetings Tuesday centered on the Marlins' reported 10-year offer to Pujols, a deal that would significantly alter the baseball landscape. The Cardinals now have upped the ante, offering the three-time National League MVP a deal believed worth around $220 million for 10 years, reports Joe Strauss in Wednesday's Post Dispatch.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak indicated the bid was not necessarily the club's final offer. At this point, the Cards are awaiting word whether the latest offer will be enough to keep Pujols in St. Louis.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports Tuesday evening that the Marlins expect a resolution to the situation with Pujols, one way or the other. The Marlins have pressed Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, for an answer on their latest 10-year offer, sources said.
Sources told Stark the Marlins' offer does not include a no-trade clause. Instead, the club has included post-playing-days stipulations to demonstrate its commitment to Pujols for years to come.
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Angels remain in play for Pujols, but ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden tweeted late Tuesday night that Pujols is down to the Marlins and Cardinals.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rangers interested in Dotel?[/h3]
6:45AM ET
[h5]Octavio Dotel | Cardinals [/h5]
UPDATE:There are Rangers officials who have a high opinion of Dotel, says MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. One of the meetings the Rangers had on Tuesday was with represenatives of the Beverly Hill Sports Council, whose clients include Dotel.
--
Octavio Dotel was in free agent limbo this offseason before the players and owners agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. That resulted in his status changing from Type A to Type B, effectively increasing the reliever's market value.
Dotel helped the Cardinals to a World Series title in October and the Redbirds are now pushing hard to re-sign the righthander, an NL executive tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
The New York Mets have been mentioned as a suitor for Dotel, as have the Tigers and Reds.
Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com notes that the Brewers have also made contact with Dotel's agent.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Tigers pushing for Gio[/h3]
6:35AM ET
[h5]Gio Gonzalez | Athletics [/h5]
There has been plenty of chatter this month about the possibility of the Oakland Athletics taking calls on left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who had a strong 2011 and is under club control through the 2014 season.
Gonzalez tells Susan Slusser in Wednesday's San Francisco Chronicle that if he is traded, he would prefer it to be to the Miami Marlins, who has been mentioned as a suitor. "My family and friends are here. I grew up in South Florida. There's great weather, a new stadium, a lot of positives," Gonzalez says.
Meanwhile, Slusser adds that the Detroit Tigers have jumped into the Gonzalez sweepstakes would probably be willing to part with righthander Jacob Turner, a top prospect, as part of the deal.
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox also are looking at Gio, as ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes reported.
New GM Ben Cherington has indicated that the Sox are unlikely to enter the bidding for high-end free-agent starters http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/6311/cj-wilsonC.J. Wilson or http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4454/mark-buehrleMark Buehrle, but they are known to be extremely high on Gonzalez, according to Edes. The catch, though, is that Oakland would obviously want a package of top prospects -- similar to the one the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tb/tampa-bay-raysTampa Bay Rays got last year from the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/chc/chicago-cubsChicago Cubs for http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28528/matt-garzaMatt Garza -- but the Red Sox farm system is depleted after trading away three of their high-end prospects to get http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5405/adrian-gonzalezAdrian Gonzalez last winter.
Teams don't trade young talent very often, and there's a limited number of clubs that appear to have both the ammo and the motivation to make such a deal. The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jaysToronto Blue Jays, http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationalsWashington Nationals, http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers and http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/nyy/new-york-yankeesNew York Yankees all have a need for a pitcher and some young talent that might entice A's GM Billy Beane.
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Jim Bowden[/h5]
Yankees and Gio
11:16AM ET
[h5]Huston Street | Rockies [/h5]
Padres manager Bud Black said at the winter meetings that his club would likely look outside the organization to find a closer to replace the departed Heath Bell. The answer may come from an NL West rival.
Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweets Wednesday morning that the Padres are "very close" to acquiring Huston Street from the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies have been openly shopping Street, who has become expendable due to the emergence of Rafael Betancourt as a viable closer. The Rockies would like to move Street in order to free up some finances for other targets such as a starting pitcher or an infielder.
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says the Rockies would be assuming some of Street's contract, which has two years and $17 million remaining.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Contingency plans in Pittsburgh[/h3]
10:58AM ET
[h5]Pedro Alvarez | Pirates [/h5]
The Pittsburgh Pirates may kick the tires on a new third baseman, but GM general manager Neal Huntington insists the Pirates are committed to keeping Pedro Alvarez at the hot corner.
Huntington did add a caveat: Alvarez has to stay in shape and produce on the field. Alvarez hit just .191 in 74 games and came under criticism for his conditioning habits.
Rob Biertemfel of the Tribune Review reports the Pirates are preparing contingency plans should Alvarez falter. The Pirates have "made headway" in contract talks with free agent infielders Wilson Betemit and Mark DeRosa, though no deal was imminent.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Boston's pitch for Bailey[/h3]
10:49AM ET
[h5]Boston Red Sox [/h5]
UPDATE: Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com tweets Wednesday morning that "things were quiet" on the Oakland-Boston trade front, but adds that things could heat up.
--
The Boston Red Sox, searching for a closer to replace the departed Jonathan Papelbon, appear to be making a significant pitch to swing a deal for Oakland's Andrew Bailey.
Peter Gammons tweeted Wednesday morning the Athletics are considering an offer from Boston that includes Josh Reddick and prospects, but does not involve Jed Lowrie.
Meanwhile, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe says Oakland is seeking prospects such as third baseman Will Middlebrooks, but Boston is hesitant to go that high.
The market for closers is shrinking following the Blue Jays' trade for Sergio Santos, possibly limiting Boston's leverage. The Red Sox could sign free agent Ryan Madson, though he will have to come off his demand for a four-year deal to make that work.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Impact of Reyes deal on Rollins[/h3]
10:39AM ET
[h5]Jimmy Rollins | Phillies [/h5]
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney Monday morning that he already has talked with the agent for http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4258/jimmy-rollinsJimmy Rollins, Dan Lozano, at the winter meetings.
The process of moving the negotiations forward has temporarily stalled since Lozano has been quite busy with another of his clients ? free agent Albert Pujols. Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer says there still is optimism among the Phillies that a deal can be reached with Rollins, although the shortstop's request for a five-year deal remains a roadblock.
Gelb adds that Rollins has an inflated sense of his value after Jose Reyes signed a six-year, $106 million deal with the Marlins.
A report in Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel says the Brewers are preparing offers to both Rollins and Aramis Ramirez and would like to sign one of the free agents, but not both. A deal with Rollins would be highly unlikely unless he comes off his demands for a five-year deal.
Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch wrote last week Wednesday that the Cardinals could shift their focus to Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP with the Phillies, if they are unable to re-sign Pujols.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Oswalt wants three-year deal[/h3]
10:14AM ET
[h5]Roy Oswalt | Phillies [/h5]
Roy Oswalt knows that his next major league contract could very well be his last. With that in mind, the 34-year-old righthhander is looking for a three-year deal, says MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
Pitchers such as Bruce Chen and Chris Capuano already have been given two-year deals this offseason, so Oswalt's request may not be overly optimistic, given his resume. Oswalt may benefit from playing the waiting game and offer his services to a team that falls short on a deal for C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle.
Oswalt now doesn't carry the cost of a draft pick to the signing club, and that could make the difference for a team such as the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationalsWashington Nationals, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post wrote last month.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Outfield options in SFO[/h3]
9:57AM ET
[h5]Angel Pagan | Mets [/h5]
Outfielder Andres Torres and reliever Ramon Ramirez were among 13 arbitration-eligible Giants, which is one of the reasons they were shipped to the New York Mets late Tuesday night for outfielder Angel Pagan.
John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle says Pagan will likely land in center since Melky Cabrera, acquired last month in exchange for Jonathan Sanchez, is more comfortable in left field.
Nate Schierholtz remains the likely choice in right field unless the Giants add another outfielder. General manager Brian Sabean cautioned Tuesday that free-agent options are narrowing because of the lack of payroll flexibility. That could close the door on any possible deal for Carlos Beltran, who was a mentor to Pagan in New York.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Hanley won't land in Atlanta[/h3]
9:38AM ET
[h5]Hanley Ramirez | Marlins [/h5]
If Hanley Ramirez is somehow able to pout his way out of Miami, he will not find a new home in Atlanta.
Amid reports that Ramirez is balking about a move to third base now that the Marlins have signed Jose Reyes, Braves general manager Frank Wren tells David O'Brien of the Atlanta JC he has no interest in swinging a deal to bring Ramirez to Georgia.
Ramirez would be an unlikely fit in Florida given that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, then the Marlins skipper, once benched Ramirez for not hustling.
The Braves are believed to be interested in landing a veteran shortstop, but O'Brien says the team is leaning toward rookie Tyler Pastornicky as their starter. In that case, the Braves could still be looking for a veteran backup.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Brewers likely to re-sign Saito[/h3]
9:16AM ET
[h5]Takashi Saito | Brewers [/h5]
The Brewers are expected to re-sign reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal, but will stop short of a multi-year offer because the righthander continues to pitch without a ligament in his throwing elbow, says ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden.
Saito had 23 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings in 2011, but was limited to 30 appearances due to injuries.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Ichiro out of leadoff spot?[/h3]
8:43AM ET
[h5]Ichiro Suzuki | Mariners [/h5]
Ichiro Suzuki may no longer be the leadoff hitter in Seattle.
Manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday he'd met with Ichiro twice this offseason to keep him updated on the team's thinking. One of the options being considered is to move Ichiro away from his customary spot atop the order. "I'm still not sure where I'm going to hit him in the order, and I want him to understand that," Wedge said via MLB.com.
Ichiro hit .272 last season and finished with 182 hits, marking the first time in 11 Major League seasons that he didn't bat .300 or reach 200 hits.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Brewers eye Ramirez, Rollins[/h3]
8:30AM ET
[h5]Milwaukee Brewers [/h5]
The word out of Milwaukee in recent days has the Brewers deciding to pass on making a big-money offer to Prince Fielder, even if the number of suitors for the free agent slugger is shrinking.
The Brewers would need to replace some of Fielder's offensive numbers and Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel says the Brewers likely will make offers to both shortstop Jimmy Rollins and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. They can't afford to sign both but they would like to have one or the other.
The odds of landing Rollins may be small since the Brewers will not give him the five-year deal he covets. If Rollins were to settle for lesser years, it would likely be to stay in Philadelphia.
Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune says Ramirez is close to making a decision on his future and it appears the main choices are the Angels and Phillies.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The market for Buehrle[/h3]
8:11AM ET
[h5]Mark Buehrle | White Sox [/h5]
White Sox GM Kenny Williams essentially conceded that the bidding for Mark Buehrle has escalated to the point that his team is out of the sweepstakes.
One team that could help drive up the price is the Miami Marlins, who want a quick answer on Albert Pujols so they can decide whether to chase free agent pitchers such as Buehrle and/or C.J. Wilson, says Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune.
Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com wrote Tuesday that Buehrle would be a good fit for the Rangers, but Texas may be reluctant to go beyond a three-year offer.
Around a dozen teams have been linked to Buehrle, but Rumor Central?s Jason A. Churchill hears that the Nationals might be a team willing to give the left-hander a coveted fourth year. It could come down to three years and an option, but with Buehrle looking for that fourth year, the team willing to make that move could have a leg up.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Yankees shopping Burnett[/h3]
7:53AM ET
[h5]A.J. Burnett | Yankees [/h5]
The New York Yankees kept a relatively low profile during the first two days of the winter meetings. Behind the scenes, they are looking for a taker for A.J. Burnett.
George King of the New York Post reports the Yankees have let it be known they will listen to offers for the righthander and are willing to pay $8 million of the $33 million Burnett is owed over the next two seasons. King adds that the Yankees' efforts have yet to generate any interest.
After a solid 2009 debut in New York, Burnett is 21-26 over the past two seasons and has suffered a dip in velocity. The Yankees are likely trying to convince a team that the righthander would be more productive pitching outside of the Bronx.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]McLouth back to Pittsburgh?[/h3]
7:35AM ET
[h5]Nate McLouth | Braves [/h5]
After 2 1/2 seasons in Atlanta, free agent outfielder Nate McLouth is close to returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, says MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.
McLouth was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner for the Pirates in 2008, but never fully reached his potential in Pittsburgh and was traded to Atlanta in the summer of 2009.
Langosch says the Pirates are interested in McLouth to add outfield depth, though they would likely give Alex Presley the first chance to earn a starting berth as a corner outfielder.
Bill Brink of the Post Gazette says the Bucs are interested in adding McLouth because Presley and Jose Tabata missed time last season because of injuries.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rangers, Wilson making progress?[/h3]
7:23AM ET
[h5]C.J. Wilson | Rangers [/h5]
C.J. Wilson appears to be making the most of the free agent process, but the lefthander apparently hasn?t closed the door on returning to Texas.
Wilson's agent, Bob Garber, told Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com late Tuesday that his meeting with the Rangers was "great" and he added he was "pleasantly surprised."
Garber would not comment on whether an offer was made. Durrett says the Rangers don't want to go six years for Wilson and five years could be beyond their comfort zone as well.
Tuesday, SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted that Texas' offer to Wilson is for four years and about $60 million.
Wilson has already received offers from the Marlins, Angels, Nationals and an undisclosed fourth team. Jim Duquette of MLB Network tweeted Monday night that the Nationals had upped the ante with a six-year deal, but Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo subsequently told ESPN's Jim Bowden that the report was inaccurate.
If the Rangers lose out on Wilson they could step up their pursuit of trade targets such as http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28962/gio-gonzalezGio Gonzalez, http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28508/john-danksJohn Danks and http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5922/gavin-floydGavin Floyd, and if Yu Darvish is posted by his team in Japan, the Rangers are expected to make a strong bid.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Cards make $220M offer to Pujols[/h3]
7:08AM ET
[h5]Albert Pujols | Cardinals [/h5]
The St. Louis Cardinals apparently are not willing to sit on the sidelines and watch the Miami Marlins court Albert Pujols.
The buzz at the winter meetings Tuesday centered on the Marlins' reported 10-year offer to Pujols, a deal that would significantly alter the baseball landscape. The Cardinals now have upped the ante, offering the three-time National League MVP a deal believed worth around $220 million for 10 years, reports Joe Strauss in Wednesday's Post Dispatch.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak indicated the bid was not necessarily the club's final offer. At this point, the Cards are awaiting word whether the latest offer will be enough to keep Pujols in St. Louis.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports Tuesday evening that the Marlins expect a resolution to the situation with Pujols, one way or the other. The Marlins have pressed Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, for an answer on their latest 10-year offer, sources said.
Sources told Stark the Marlins' offer does not include a no-trade clause. Instead, the club has included post-playing-days stipulations to demonstrate its commitment to Pujols for years to come.
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Angels remain in play for Pujols, but ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden tweeted late Tuesday night that Pujols is down to the Marlins and Cardinals.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rangers interested in Dotel?[/h3]
6:45AM ET
[h5]Octavio Dotel | Cardinals [/h5]
UPDATE:There are Rangers officials who have a high opinion of Dotel, says MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. One of the meetings the Rangers had on Tuesday was with represenatives of the Beverly Hill Sports Council, whose clients include Dotel.
--
Octavio Dotel was in free agent limbo this offseason before the players and owners agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. That resulted in his status changing from Type A to Type B, effectively increasing the reliever's market value.
Dotel helped the Cardinals to a World Series title in October and the Redbirds are now pushing hard to re-sign the righthander, an NL executive tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
The New York Mets have been mentioned as a suitor for Dotel, as have the Tigers and Reds.
Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com notes that the Brewers have also made contact with Dotel's agent.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Tigers pushing for Gio[/h3]
6:35AM ET
[h5]Gio Gonzalez | Athletics [/h5]
There has been plenty of chatter this month about the possibility of the Oakland Athletics taking calls on left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who had a strong 2011 and is under club control through the 2014 season.
Gonzalez tells Susan Slusser in Wednesday's San Francisco Chronicle that if he is traded, he would prefer it to be to the Miami Marlins, who has been mentioned as a suitor. "My family and friends are here. I grew up in South Florida. There's great weather, a new stadium, a lot of positives," Gonzalez says.
Meanwhile, Slusser adds that the Detroit Tigers have jumped into the Gonzalez sweepstakes would probably be willing to part with righthander Jacob Turner, a top prospect, as part of the deal.
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox also are looking at Gio, as ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes reported.
New GM Ben Cherington has indicated that the Sox are unlikely to enter the bidding for high-end free-agent starters http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/6311/cj-wilsonC.J. Wilson or http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4454/mark-buehrleMark Buehrle, but they are known to be extremely high on Gonzalez, according to Edes. The catch, though, is that Oakland would obviously want a package of top prospects -- similar to the one the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tb/tampa-bay-raysTampa Bay Rays got last year from the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/chc/chicago-cubsChicago Cubs for http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28528/matt-garzaMatt Garza -- but the Red Sox farm system is depleted after trading away three of their high-end prospects to get http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5405/adrian-gonzalezAdrian Gonzalez last winter.
Teams don't trade young talent very often, and there's a limited number of clubs that appear to have both the ammo and the motivation to make such a deal. The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jaysToronto Blue Jays, http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationalsWashington Nationals, http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers and http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/nyy/new-york-yankeesNew York Yankees all have a need for a pitcher and some young talent that might entice A's GM Billy Beane.
- Doug Mittler
Yankees and Gio
A hard reality check for Hanley Ramirez.
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
Ozzie Guillen understands Hanley Ramirez's unhappiness about being asked to switch positions, writes Juan Rodriguez. He has a right to be upset, says Guillen.
The Miami Marlins are all being very polite to Ramirez now, mostly because of how good a player he has been in the past, but maybe also because they understand that Miami owner Jeffrey Loria loves Hanley and regards him as a favorite son.
But at some point, the Marlins should probably stop being polite and offer this little reality check to Ramirez: It was his diminished performance that prompted Miami to invest $106 million in Jose Reyes. His defense at shortstop got worse, his offense got worse. None of this would have happened if Ramirez had continued to be one of the top players in the majors at his position.
He showed up to spring training significantly heavier -- maybe 20-25 pounds heavier, some in the organization believe -- and with the Marlins' third-base situation unresolved in March, there were some who thought the absolute best and right thing to do was to move Ramirez from shortstop then. But the Marlins kept Ramirez at shortstop out of deference to his history as a player and to the owner's feelings for Ramirez.
Then Ramirez went out and had a terrible start to his season. Not mediocre, not a little subpar, but terrible. The bigger, heavier Ramirez was nothing close to being the player he was in the past. In the end, he finished the season with a .712 OPS, .243 average and 10 homers in 338 at-bats, and in the eyes of some scouts, confirmed his reputation as an indifferent player.
Keep in mind that last season was the first year in which Ramirez, 27, was paid an eight-figure salary, and he will get only more expensive during the next three seasons -- $15 million for 2012, $15.5 million for 2013 and $16 million for 2014.
If Ramirez wanted to be traded, the Marlins probably couldn't get lot for him, because of his price tag and the growing questions about his play.
Ramirez is being moved off shortstop against his will, and he is entitled to a few bad moments over all that. But between now and the start of spring training, he should be accountable to himself and do what Michael Young did once camp opened last year -- he should repress that unhappiness and embrace the switch to a new position, because he earned it.
The Atlanta Braves have no interest in Ramirez, reports David O'Brien.
[h3]The latest on Albert Pujols[/h3]
• The Marlins made their pitch and scrambled through the lobby, as Juan Rodriguez writes.
The St. Louis Cardinals boosted their offer to Pujols, to perhaps 10 years and $220 million. The Chicago Cubs are hanging on in the talks, but nobody knows exactly whether they are really serious about all this, as Paul Sullivan writes.
The four big questions that now hang over these talks:
1. Can the Marlins or any other team separate themselves enough with their offer to lure Pujols out of St. Louis?
2. What is Pujols' level of anger toward the Cardinals for the way they've negotiated? Is he willing to stay for a little less, or is it all business for him now, as friends say?
3. What are the structures of the contract offers from the Marlins and Cardinals and other teams, and will Pujols accept a deal with Miami without a full no-trade clause?
4. Is there actually a serious mystery team? Ken Rosenthal reported late Tuesday that the Los Angeles Angels are in play, but to what degree? Last winter, I thought the notion of a mystery team in the Cliff Lee bidding was ridiculous, right up to the moment the Philadelphia Phillies swooped in and signed the lefty.
The Angels already are talking about C.J. Wilson but now might be looking at Pujols, writes Bill Plunkett. Rival executives have long waited for the Angels to really flex their financial power given their increased television revenue, and maybe this is the time for that to happen. Or maybe not. We'll see. The Angels aren't talking, writes Mike DiGiovanna.
The Cardinals' slow-burn approach to their talks with Pujols might backfire, writes Bryan Burwell. If Pujols leaves, Bernie Miklasz won't be quick to demonize either side.
The Marlins hope to make a big splash, writes Bob Brookover. The Marlins have stolen the show here, writes Joel Sherman.
The Marlins' aggressiveness is appropriate madness, writes Dave Hyde.
Some rival executives believe that if the Pujols decision were to be boiled down to a baseball-only question, the Cardinals would be fortunate if they lost on this bidding. "They'll be in a much better position to build their team if they don't have Pujols in three or four years," one club president said. "At some point, there is a tipping point on this, and I wonder if they have officially passed it."
Another thing to consider when comparing potential offers from the Cardinals and Marlins is the net value of the deal after state income taxes are deducted. If St. Louis offers a deal for, say, $220 million, after the estimated 6 percent state income tax in Missouri is accounted for, the offer is actually worth about $13 million less. In Florida, of course, there is no state income tax, so a Miami proposal could be viewed at face value.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• A friend of Loria said this about him Tuesday: "He's always wanted to emulate George Steinbrenner." Well, he's on his way. If the Marlins sign Pujols for a deal in the $220 million range, they will have committed as much to Pujols, Reyes and Heath Bell as they have to their entire payroll during the last nine seasons. Which is why folks in Major League Baseball are very, very concerned about what is happening.
• The Toronto Blue Jays have a new closer in Sergio Santos, dealing a touted prospect. "I found out from Kenny Williams," Santos wrote in an email. "He called around 8:30 this morning, and just kinda said it was a deal they couldn't pass up. I think it will be different pitching in the AL East just because of the fact that we're playing some of the better teams in the league on a consistent basis. There is really less room for error. But I'm excited for the challenge."
Nestor Molina, the prospect the Chicago White Sox got, had otherworldly numbers last season: 16 walks, 148 strikeouts in 130.1 innings in the minors. Kenny Williams used the word "rebuild."
• The New York Mets undoubtedly improved their bullpen. And undoubtedly, the moves are not going to play well on talk radio in New York, where bold and big moves are liked. Mets manager Terry Collins really didn't have a lot of options last season after Francisco Rodriguez was traded, but now he does have some guys who can generate missed swings.
The San Francisco Giants have a new option for center field, writes John Shea. Andres Torres will always have some part of the Giants in his heart, he tells Andrew Baggarly.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Mike Rizzo is confident he could land Mark Buehrle. Folks who know Buehrle think that if there is a real chance he could pitch for the Cardinals, he would do everything he could to make that happen, including taking a much lesser deal. And during the last 48 hours, the Cardinals have been looking to clear payroll, offering up Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook in a possible deal.
2. The Phillies are optimistic about signing Jimmy Rollins despite the fact that their work has been slowed by the Pujols situation, writes Matt Gelb.
3. The Texas Rangers stepped up their pursuit of Wilson, writes Jeff Wilson.
4. The Arizona Diamondbacks are waiting to hear back from the agent of Joe Saunders on whether the lefty will accept their offer. Hiroki Kuroda is still in play.
5. B.J. Upton is available in trade and the Washington Nationals are interested, but it feels like that staredown has been going on for about five months.
6. Our colleague Enrique Rojas reported that David Ortiz has decided to stay with the Boston Red Sox -- there's more from Scott Lauber here -- and what you figure will happen is that Ortiz will accept arbitration, buying time for him and the team to negotiate a two-year deal.
7. Gio Gonzalez says South Florida would be a nice destination. There is no rush for the Oakland Athletics in discussing a Gonzalez deal; his value is high now, and given that he's four years from free agency, it will continue to be high during the next year. They will wait for the right deal. The Detroit Tigers are interested, writes Susan Slusser.
8. The Red Sox and Athletics have reportedly talked about a possible Andrew Bailey trade, built around Josh Reddick.
9. For the Tigers, a major trade is unlikely, writes John Lowe. They are looking for help, writes Lynn Henning.
10. The Pittsburgh Pirates need a contingency plan in the event Pedro Alvarez struggles again, says Clint Hurdle. Within the same piece there is word that Pittsburgh is bringing back Nate McLouth.
11. The New York Yankees continue to make it clear that A.J. Burnett is available, as they have for months.
12. The Red Sox are not interested in bringing back Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek, it appears.
13. Scouts for more than a dozen teams are expected to attend a workout next week for Joel Zumaya, who will throw.
14. The Baltimore Orioles have had multiple conversations with the White Sox, writes Peter Schmuck. One executive says that in talking about John Danks, the White Sox are asking for a package of players comparable to the one the Colorado Rockies received for Ubaldo Jimenez.
15. Huston Street's situation is key to the Rockies' planning, writes Troy Renck. The Rockies traded for Kevin Slowey, who was viewed as a strong candidate for non-tender.
16. The A's are facing major questions in their outfield.
17. The Tampa Bay Rays signed Juan Miranda.
18. Josh Hamilton wants a fair offer from the Rangers.
19. The San Diego Padres have payroll flexibility. It would make sense for the Padres and Rockies to work out something for Street; we'll see.
20. The Cincinnati Reds and Rockies have talked about Street for Volquez. That makes sense, too.
21. The Seattle Mariners are trying to distance themselves from the perception that they are front-runners for Prince Fielder, writes Geoff Baker.
22. The Kansas City Royals are unlikely to shift a top prospect into their bullpen. Spring battles are coming into focus, writes Bob Dutton.
23. The Minnesota Twins want Michael Cuddyer back, writes La Velle Neal.
24. Paul Hoynes wonders: Have the Cleveland Indians moved away from their contract-extension philosophy, given what has happened with Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner?
25. The Milwaukee Brewers will make offers to Rollins and Aramis Ramirez.
[h3]Other stuff[/h3]
• Bobby Valentine has offered to go meet with Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford.
• Found this fascinating: Eric Wedge is already saying Ichiro may not hit leadoff. Next year will be a transition season in the dynamic between the Seattle franchise and Wedge.
• Magic Johnson has become the face of a bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers. One source indicated there are as many as 20 different groups in play for the Dodgers, and among those, perhaps eight are serious players.
• Joe Girardi fired a warning shot toward Phil Hughes.
• Brad Mills is keeping his eyes on 2012, amid the chaos.
• Mariano Rivera will get his biopsy results back on Friday, writes George King.
• Dan Duquette's goal is for the Orioles to be .500 or better next season, writes Peter Schmuck.
The Miami Marlins are all being very polite to Ramirez now, mostly because of how good a player he has been in the past, but maybe also because they understand that Miami owner Jeffrey Loria loves Hanley and regards him as a favorite son.
But at some point, the Marlins should probably stop being polite and offer this little reality check to Ramirez: It was his diminished performance that prompted Miami to invest $106 million in Jose Reyes. His defense at shortstop got worse, his offense got worse. None of this would have happened if Ramirez had continued to be one of the top players in the majors at his position.
He showed up to spring training significantly heavier -- maybe 20-25 pounds heavier, some in the organization believe -- and with the Marlins' third-base situation unresolved in March, there were some who thought the absolute best and right thing to do was to move Ramirez from shortstop then. But the Marlins kept Ramirez at shortstop out of deference to his history as a player and to the owner's feelings for Ramirez.
Then Ramirez went out and had a terrible start to his season. Not mediocre, not a little subpar, but terrible. The bigger, heavier Ramirez was nothing close to being the player he was in the past. In the end, he finished the season with a .712 OPS, .243 average and 10 homers in 338 at-bats, and in the eyes of some scouts, confirmed his reputation as an indifferent player.
Keep in mind that last season was the first year in which Ramirez, 27, was paid an eight-figure salary, and he will get only more expensive during the next three seasons -- $15 million for 2012, $15.5 million for 2013 and $16 million for 2014.
If Ramirez wanted to be traded, the Marlins probably couldn't get lot for him, because of his price tag and the growing questions about his play.
Ramirez is being moved off shortstop against his will, and he is entitled to a few bad moments over all that. But between now and the start of spring training, he should be accountable to himself and do what Michael Young did once camp opened last year -- he should repress that unhappiness and embrace the switch to a new position, because he earned it.
The Atlanta Braves have no interest in Ramirez, reports David O'Brien.
[h3]The latest on Albert Pujols[/h3]
• The Marlins made their pitch and scrambled through the lobby, as Juan Rodriguez writes.
The St. Louis Cardinals boosted their offer to Pujols, to perhaps 10 years and $220 million. The Chicago Cubs are hanging on in the talks, but nobody knows exactly whether they are really serious about all this, as Paul Sullivan writes.
The four big questions that now hang over these talks:
1. Can the Marlins or any other team separate themselves enough with their offer to lure Pujols out of St. Louis?
2. What is Pujols' level of anger toward the Cardinals for the way they've negotiated? Is he willing to stay for a little less, or is it all business for him now, as friends say?
3. What are the structures of the contract offers from the Marlins and Cardinals and other teams, and will Pujols accept a deal with Miami without a full no-trade clause?
4. Is there actually a serious mystery team? Ken Rosenthal reported late Tuesday that the Los Angeles Angels are in play, but to what degree? Last winter, I thought the notion of a mystery team in the Cliff Lee bidding was ridiculous, right up to the moment the Philadelphia Phillies swooped in and signed the lefty.
The Angels already are talking about C.J. Wilson but now might be looking at Pujols, writes Bill Plunkett. Rival executives have long waited for the Angels to really flex their financial power given their increased television revenue, and maybe this is the time for that to happen. Or maybe not. We'll see. The Angels aren't talking, writes Mike DiGiovanna.
The Cardinals' slow-burn approach to their talks with Pujols might backfire, writes Bryan Burwell. If Pujols leaves, Bernie Miklasz won't be quick to demonize either side.
The Marlins hope to make a big splash, writes Bob Brookover. The Marlins have stolen the show here, writes Joel Sherman.
The Marlins' aggressiveness is appropriate madness, writes Dave Hyde.
Some rival executives believe that if the Pujols decision were to be boiled down to a baseball-only question, the Cardinals would be fortunate if they lost on this bidding. "They'll be in a much better position to build their team if they don't have Pujols in three or four years," one club president said. "At some point, there is a tipping point on this, and I wonder if they have officially passed it."
Another thing to consider when comparing potential offers from the Cardinals and Marlins is the net value of the deal after state income taxes are deducted. If St. Louis offers a deal for, say, $220 million, after the estimated 6 percent state income tax in Missouri is accounted for, the offer is actually worth about $13 million less. In Florida, of course, there is no state income tax, so a Miami proposal could be viewed at face value.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• A friend of Loria said this about him Tuesday: "He's always wanted to emulate George Steinbrenner." Well, he's on his way. If the Marlins sign Pujols for a deal in the $220 million range, they will have committed as much to Pujols, Reyes and Heath Bell as they have to their entire payroll during the last nine seasons. Which is why folks in Major League Baseball are very, very concerned about what is happening.
• The Toronto Blue Jays have a new closer in Sergio Santos, dealing a touted prospect. "I found out from Kenny Williams," Santos wrote in an email. "He called around 8:30 this morning, and just kinda said it was a deal they couldn't pass up. I think it will be different pitching in the AL East just because of the fact that we're playing some of the better teams in the league on a consistent basis. There is really less room for error. But I'm excited for the challenge."
Nestor Molina, the prospect the Chicago White Sox got, had otherworldly numbers last season: 16 walks, 148 strikeouts in 130.1 innings in the minors. Kenny Williams used the word "rebuild."
• The New York Mets undoubtedly improved their bullpen. And undoubtedly, the moves are not going to play well on talk radio in New York, where bold and big moves are liked. Mets manager Terry Collins really didn't have a lot of options last season after Francisco Rodriguez was traded, but now he does have some guys who can generate missed swings.
The San Francisco Giants have a new option for center field, writes John Shea. Andres Torres will always have some part of the Giants in his heart, he tells Andrew Baggarly.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Mike Rizzo is confident he could land Mark Buehrle. Folks who know Buehrle think that if there is a real chance he could pitch for the Cardinals, he would do everything he could to make that happen, including taking a much lesser deal. And during the last 48 hours, the Cardinals have been looking to clear payroll, offering up Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook in a possible deal.
2. The Phillies are optimistic about signing Jimmy Rollins despite the fact that their work has been slowed by the Pujols situation, writes Matt Gelb.
3. The Texas Rangers stepped up their pursuit of Wilson, writes Jeff Wilson.
4. The Arizona Diamondbacks are waiting to hear back from the agent of Joe Saunders on whether the lefty will accept their offer. Hiroki Kuroda is still in play.
5. B.J. Upton is available in trade and the Washington Nationals are interested, but it feels like that staredown has been going on for about five months.
6. Our colleague Enrique Rojas reported that David Ortiz has decided to stay with the Boston Red Sox -- there's more from Scott Lauber here -- and what you figure will happen is that Ortiz will accept arbitration, buying time for him and the team to negotiate a two-year deal.
7. Gio Gonzalez says South Florida would be a nice destination. There is no rush for the Oakland Athletics in discussing a Gonzalez deal; his value is high now, and given that he's four years from free agency, it will continue to be high during the next year. They will wait for the right deal. The Detroit Tigers are interested, writes Susan Slusser.
8. The Red Sox and Athletics have reportedly talked about a possible Andrew Bailey trade, built around Josh Reddick.
9. For the Tigers, a major trade is unlikely, writes John Lowe. They are looking for help, writes Lynn Henning.
10. The Pittsburgh Pirates need a contingency plan in the event Pedro Alvarez struggles again, says Clint Hurdle. Within the same piece there is word that Pittsburgh is bringing back Nate McLouth.
11. The New York Yankees continue to make it clear that A.J. Burnett is available, as they have for months.
12. The Red Sox are not interested in bringing back Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek, it appears.
13. Scouts for more than a dozen teams are expected to attend a workout next week for Joel Zumaya, who will throw.
14. The Baltimore Orioles have had multiple conversations with the White Sox, writes Peter Schmuck. One executive says that in talking about John Danks, the White Sox are asking for a package of players comparable to the one the Colorado Rockies received for Ubaldo Jimenez.
15. Huston Street's situation is key to the Rockies' planning, writes Troy Renck. The Rockies traded for Kevin Slowey, who was viewed as a strong candidate for non-tender.
16. The A's are facing major questions in their outfield.
17. The Tampa Bay Rays signed Juan Miranda.
18. Josh Hamilton wants a fair offer from the Rangers.
19. The San Diego Padres have payroll flexibility. It would make sense for the Padres and Rockies to work out something for Street; we'll see.
20. The Cincinnati Reds and Rockies have talked about Street for Volquez. That makes sense, too.
21. The Seattle Mariners are trying to distance themselves from the perception that they are front-runners for Prince Fielder, writes Geoff Baker.
22. The Kansas City Royals are unlikely to shift a top prospect into their bullpen. Spring battles are coming into focus, writes Bob Dutton.
23. The Minnesota Twins want Michael Cuddyer back, writes La Velle Neal.
24. Paul Hoynes wonders: Have the Cleveland Indians moved away from their contract-extension philosophy, given what has happened with Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner?
25. The Milwaukee Brewers will make offers to Rollins and Aramis Ramirez.
[h3]Other stuff[/h3]
• Bobby Valentine has offered to go meet with Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford.
• Found this fascinating: Eric Wedge is already saying Ichiro may not hit leadoff. Next year will be a transition season in the dynamic between the Seattle franchise and Wedge.
• Magic Johnson has become the face of a bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers. One source indicated there are as many as 20 different groups in play for the Dodgers, and among those, perhaps eight are serious players.
• Joe Girardi fired a warning shot toward Phil Hughes.
• Brad Mills is keeping his eyes on 2012, amid the chaos.
• Mariano Rivera will get his biopsy results back on Friday, writes George King.
• Dan Duquette's goal is for the Orioles to be .500 or better next season, writes Peter Schmuck.
Rumors.
Spoiler [+]
http://[h3]Street headed to San Diego?[/h3]
11:16AM ET
[h5]Huston Street | Rockies [/h5]
Padres manager Bud Black said at the winter meetings that his club would likely look outside the organization to find a closer to replace the departed Heath Bell. The answer may come from an NL West rival.
Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweets Wednesday morning that the Padres are "very close" to acquiring Huston Street from the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies have been openly shopping Street, who has become expendable due to the emergence of Rafael Betancourt as a viable closer. The Rockies would like to move Street in order to free up some finances for other targets such as a starting pitcher or an infielder.
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says the Rockies would be assuming some of Street's contract, which has two years and $17 million remaining.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Contingency plans in Pittsburgh[/h3]
10:58AM ET
[h5]Pedro Alvarez | Pirates [/h5]
The Pittsburgh Pirates may kick the tires on a new third baseman, but GM general manager Neal Huntington insists the Pirates are committed to keeping Pedro Alvarez at the hot corner.
Huntington did add a caveat: Alvarez has to stay in shape and produce on the field. Alvarez hit just .191 in 74 games and came under criticism for his conditioning habits.
Rob Biertemfel of the Tribune Review reports the Pirates are preparing contingency plans should Alvarez falter. The Pirates have "made headway" in contract talks with free agent infielders Wilson Betemit and Mark DeRosa, though no deal was imminent.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Boston's pitch for Bailey[/h3]
10:49AM ET
[h5]Boston Red Sox [/h5]
UPDATE: Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com tweets Wednesday morning that "things were quiet" on the Oakland-Boston trade front, but adds that things could heat up.
--
The Boston Red Sox, searching for a closer to replace the departed Jonathan Papelbon, appear to be making a significant pitch to swing a deal for Oakland's Andrew Bailey.
Peter Gammons tweeted Wednesday morning the Athletics are considering an offer from Boston that includes Josh Reddick and prospects, but does not involve Jed Lowrie.
Meanwhile, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe says Oakland is seeking prospects such as third baseman Will Middlebrooks, but Boston is hesitant to go that high.
The market for closers is shrinking following the Blue Jays' trade for Sergio Santos, possibly limiting Boston's leverage. The Red Sox could sign free agent Ryan Madson, though he will have to come off his demand for a four-year deal to make that work.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Impact of Reyes deal on Rollins[/h3]
10:39AM ET
[h5]Jimmy Rollins | Phillies [/h5]
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney Monday morning that he already has talked with the agent for http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4258/jimmy-rollinsJimmy Rollins, Dan Lozano, at the winter meetings.
The process of moving the negotiations forward has temporarily stalled since Lozano has been quite busy with another of his clients ? free agent Albert Pujols. Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer says there still is optimism among the Phillies that a deal can be reached with Rollins, although the shortstop's request for a five-year deal remains a roadblock.
Gelb adds that Rollins has an inflated sense of his value after Jose Reyes signed a six-year, $106 million deal with the Marlins.
A report in Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel says the Brewers are preparing offers to both Rollins and Aramis Ramirez and would like to sign one of the free agents, but not both. A deal with Rollins would be highly unlikely unless he comes off his demands for a five-year deal.
Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch wrote last week Wednesday that the Cardinals could shift their focus to Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP with the Phillies, if they are unable to re-sign Pujols.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Oswalt wants three-year deal[/h3]
10:14AM ET
[h5]Roy Oswalt | Phillies [/h5]
Roy Oswalt knows that his next major league contract could very well be his last. With that in mind, the 34-year-old righthhander is looking for a three-year deal, says MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
Pitchers such as Bruce Chen and Chris Capuano already have been given two-year deals this offseason, so Oswalt's request may not be overly optimistic, given his resume. Oswalt may benefit from playing the waiting game and offer his services to a team that falls short on a deal for C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle.
Oswalt now doesn't carry the cost of a draft pick to the signing club, and that could make the difference for a team such as the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationalsWashington Nationals, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post wrote last month.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Outfield options in SFO[/h3]
9:57AM ET
[h5]Angel Pagan | Mets [/h5]
Outfielder Andres Torres and reliever Ramon Ramirez were among 13 arbitration-eligible Giants, which is one of the reasons they were shipped to the New York Mets late Tuesday night for outfielder Angel Pagan.
John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle says Pagan will likely land in center since Melky Cabrera, acquired last month in exchange for Jonathan Sanchez, is more comfortable in left field.
Nate Schierholtz remains the likely choice in right field unless the Giants add another outfielder. General manager Brian Sabean cautioned Tuesday that free-agent options are narrowing because of the lack of payroll flexibility. That could close the door on any possible deal for Carlos Beltran, who was a mentor to Pagan in New York.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Hanley won't land in Atlanta[/h3]
9:38AM ET
[h5]Hanley Ramirez | Marlins [/h5]
If Hanley Ramirez is somehow able to pout his way out of Miami, he will not find a new home in Atlanta.
Amid reports that Ramirez is balking about a move to third base now that the Marlins have signed Jose Reyes, Braves general manager Frank Wren tells David O'Brien of the Atlanta JC he has no interest in swinging a deal to bring Ramirez to Georgia.
Ramirez would be an unlikely fit in Florida given that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, then the Marlins skipper, once benched Ramirez for not hustling.
The Braves are believed to be interested in landing a veteran shortstop, but O'Brien says the team is leaning toward rookie Tyler Pastornicky as their starter. In that case, the Braves could still be looking for a veteran backup.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Brewers likely to re-sign Saito[/h3]
9:16AM ET
[h5]Takashi Saito | Brewers [/h5]
The Brewers are expected to re-sign reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal, but will stop short of a multi-year offer because the righthander continues to pitch without a ligament in his throwing elbow, says ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden.
Saito had 23 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings in 2011, but was limited to 30 appearances due to injuries.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Ichiro out of leadoff spot?[/h3]
8:43AM ET
[h5]Ichiro Suzuki | Mariners [/h5]
Ichiro Suzuki may no longer be the leadoff hitter in Seattle.
Manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday he'd met with Ichiro twice this offseason to keep him updated on the team's thinking. One of the options being considered is to move Ichiro away from his customary spot atop the order. "I'm still not sure where I'm going to hit him in the order, and I want him to understand that," Wedge said via MLB.com.
Ichiro hit .272 last season and finished with 182 hits, marking the first time in 11 Major League seasons that he didn't bat .300 or reach 200 hits.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Brewers eye Ramirez, Rollins[/h3]
8:30AM ET
[h5]Milwaukee Brewers [/h5]
The word out of Milwaukee in recent days has the Brewers deciding to pass on making a big-money offer to Prince Fielder, even if the number of suitors for the free agent slugger is shrinking.
The Brewers would need to replace some of Fielder's offensive numbers and Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel says the Brewers likely will make offers to both shortstop Jimmy Rollins and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. They can't afford to sign both but they would like to have one or the other.
The odds of landing Rollins may be small since the Brewers will not give him the five-year deal he covets. If Rollins were to settle for lesser years, it would likely be to stay in Philadelphia.
Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune says Ramirez is close to making a decision on his future and it appears the main choices are the Angels and Phillies.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The market for Buehrle[/h3]
8:11AM ET
[h5]Mark Buehrle | White Sox [/h5]
White Sox GM Kenny Williams essentially conceded that the bidding for Mark Buehrle has escalated to the point that his team is out of the sweepstakes.
One team that could help drive up the price is the Miami Marlins, who want a quick answer on Albert Pujols so they can decide whether to chase free agent pitchers such as Buehrle and/or C.J. Wilson, says Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune.
Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com wrote Tuesday that Buehrle would be a good fit for the Rangers, but Texas may be reluctant to go beyond a three-year offer.
Around a dozen teams have been linked to Buehrle, but Rumor Central?s Jason A. Churchill hears that the Nationals might be a team willing to give the left-hander a coveted fourth year. It could come down to three years and an option, but with Buehrle looking for that fourth year, the team willing to make that move could have a leg up.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Yankees shopping Burnett[/h3]
7:53AM ET
[h5]A.J. Burnett | Yankees [/h5]
The New York Yankees kept a relatively low profile during the first two days of the winter meetings. Behind the scenes, they are looking for a taker for A.J. Burnett.
George King of the New York Post reports the Yankees have let it be known they will listen to offers for the righthander and are willing to pay $8 million of the $33 million Burnett is owed over the next two seasons. King adds that the Yankees' efforts have yet to generate any interest.
After a solid 2009 debut in New York, Burnett is 21-26 over the past two seasons and has suffered a dip in velocity. The Yankees are likely trying to convince a team that the righthander would be more productive pitching outside of the Bronx.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]McLouth back to Pittsburgh?[/h3]
7:35AM ET
[h5]Nate McLouth | Braves [/h5]
After 2 1/2 seasons in Atlanta, free agent outfielder Nate McLouth is close to returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, says MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.
McLouth was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner for the Pirates in 2008, but never fully reached his potential in Pittsburgh and was traded to Atlanta in the summer of 2009.
Langosch says the Pirates are interested in McLouth to add outfield depth, though they would likely give Alex Presley the first chance to earn a starting berth as a corner outfielder.
Bill Brink of the Post Gazette says the Bucs are interested in adding McLouth because Presley and Jose Tabata missed time last season because of injuries.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rangers, Wilson making progress?[/h3]
7:23AM ET
[h5]C.J. Wilson | Rangers [/h5]
C.J. Wilson appears to be making the most of the free agent process, but the lefthander apparently hasn?t closed the door on returning to Texas.
Wilson's agent, Bob Garber, told Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com late Tuesday that his meeting with the Rangers was "great" and he added he was "pleasantly surprised."
Garber would not comment on whether an offer was made. Durrett says the Rangers don't want to go six years for Wilson and five years could be beyond their comfort zone as well.
Tuesday, SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted that Texas' offer to Wilson is for four years and about $60 million.
Wilson has already received offers from the Marlins, Angels, Nationals and an undisclosed fourth team. Jim Duquette of MLB Network tweeted Monday night that the Nationals had upped the ante with a six-year deal, but Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo subsequently told ESPN's Jim Bowden that the report was inaccurate.
If the Rangers lose out on Wilson they could step up their pursuit of trade targets such as http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28962/gio-gonzalezGio Gonzalez, http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28508/john-danksJohn Danks and http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5922/gavin-floydGavin Floyd, and if Yu Darvish is posted by his team in Japan, the Rangers are expected to make a strong bid.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Cards make $220M offer to Pujols[/h3]
7:08AM ET
[h5]Albert Pujols | Cardinals [/h5]
The St. Louis Cardinals apparently are not willing to sit on the sidelines and watch the Miami Marlins court Albert Pujols.
The buzz at the winter meetings Tuesday centered on the Marlins' reported 10-year offer to Pujols, a deal that would significantly alter the baseball landscape. The Cardinals now have upped the ante, offering the three-time National League MVP a deal believed worth around $220 million for 10 years, reports Joe Strauss in Wednesday's Post Dispatch.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak indicated the bid was not necessarily the club's final offer. At this point, the Cards are awaiting word whether the latest offer will be enough to keep Pujols in St. Louis.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports Tuesday evening that the Marlins expect a resolution to the situation with Pujols, one way or the other. The Marlins have pressed Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, for an answer on their latest 10-year offer, sources said.
Sources told Stark the Marlins' offer does not include a no-trade clause. Instead, the club has included post-playing-days stipulations to demonstrate its commitment to Pujols for years to come.
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Angels remain in play for Pujols, but ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden tweeted late Tuesday night that Pujols is down to the Marlins and Cardinals.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rangers interested in Dotel?[/h3]
6:45AM ET
[h5]Octavio Dotel | Cardinals [/h5]
UPDATE:There are Rangers officials who have a high opinion of Dotel, says MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. One of the meetings the Rangers had on Tuesday was with represenatives of the Beverly Hill Sports Council, whose clients include Dotel.
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Octavio Dotel was in free agent limbo this offseason before the players and owners agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. That resulted in his status changing from Type A to Type B, effectively increasing the reliever's market value.
Dotel helped the Cardinals to a World Series title in October and the Redbirds are now pushing hard to re-sign the righthander, an NL executive tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
The New York Mets have been mentioned as a suitor for Dotel, as have the Tigers and Reds.
Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com notes that the Brewers have also made contact with Dotel's agent.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Tigers pushing for Gio[/h3]
6:35AM ET
[h5]Gio Gonzalez | Athletics [/h5]
There has been plenty of chatter this month about the possibility of the Oakland Athletics taking calls on left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who had a strong 2011 and is under club control through the 2014 season.
Gonzalez tells Susan Slusser in Wednesday's San Francisco Chronicle that if he is traded, he would prefer it to be to the Miami Marlins, who has been mentioned as a suitor. "My family and friends are here. I grew up in South Florida. There's great weather, a new stadium, a lot of positives," Gonzalez says.
Meanwhile, Slusser adds that the Detroit Tigers have jumped into the Gonzalez sweepstakes would probably be willing to part with righthander Jacob Turner, a top prospect, as part of the deal.
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox also are looking at Gio, as ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes reported.
New GM Ben Cherington has indicated that the Sox are unlikely to enter the bidding for high-end free-agent starters http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/6311/cj-wilsonC.J. Wilson or http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4454/mark-buehrleMark Buehrle, but they are known to be extremely high on Gonzalez, according to Edes. The catch, though, is that Oakland would obviously want a package of top prospects -- similar to the one the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tb/tampa-bay-raysTampa Bay Rays got last year from the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/chc/chicago-cubsChicago Cubs for http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28528/matt-garzaMatt Garza -- but the Red Sox farm system is depleted after trading away three of their high-end prospects to get http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5405/adrian-gonzalezAdrian Gonzalez last winter.
Teams don't trade young talent very often, and there's a limited number of clubs that appear to have both the ammo and the motivation to make such a deal. The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jaysToronto Blue Jays, http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationalsWashington Nationals, http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers and http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/nyy/new-york-yankeesNew York Yankees all have a need for a pitcher and some young talent that might entice A's GM Billy Beane.
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Jim Bowden[/h5]
Yankees and Gio
11:16AM ET
[h5]Huston Street | Rockies [/h5]
Padres manager Bud Black said at the winter meetings that his club would likely look outside the organization to find a closer to replace the departed Heath Bell. The answer may come from an NL West rival.
Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com tweets Wednesday morning that the Padres are "very close" to acquiring Huston Street from the Colorado Rockies.
The Rockies have been openly shopping Street, who has become expendable due to the emergence of Rafael Betancourt as a viable closer. The Rockies would like to move Street in order to free up some finances for other targets such as a starting pitcher or an infielder.
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says the Rockies would be assuming some of Street's contract, which has two years and $17 million remaining.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Contingency plans in Pittsburgh[/h3]
10:58AM ET
[h5]Pedro Alvarez | Pirates [/h5]
The Pittsburgh Pirates may kick the tires on a new third baseman, but GM general manager Neal Huntington insists the Pirates are committed to keeping Pedro Alvarez at the hot corner.
Huntington did add a caveat: Alvarez has to stay in shape and produce on the field. Alvarez hit just .191 in 74 games and came under criticism for his conditioning habits.
Rob Biertemfel of the Tribune Review reports the Pirates are preparing contingency plans should Alvarez falter. The Pirates have "made headway" in contract talks with free agent infielders Wilson Betemit and Mark DeRosa, though no deal was imminent.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Boston's pitch for Bailey[/h3]
10:49AM ET
[h5]Boston Red Sox [/h5]
UPDATE: Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com tweets Wednesday morning that "things were quiet" on the Oakland-Boston trade front, but adds that things could heat up.
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The Boston Red Sox, searching for a closer to replace the departed Jonathan Papelbon, appear to be making a significant pitch to swing a deal for Oakland's Andrew Bailey.
Peter Gammons tweeted Wednesday morning the Athletics are considering an offer from Boston that includes Josh Reddick and prospects, but does not involve Jed Lowrie.
Meanwhile, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe says Oakland is seeking prospects such as third baseman Will Middlebrooks, but Boston is hesitant to go that high.
The market for closers is shrinking following the Blue Jays' trade for Sergio Santos, possibly limiting Boston's leverage. The Red Sox could sign free agent Ryan Madson, though he will have to come off his demand for a four-year deal to make that work.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Impact of Reyes deal on Rollins[/h3]
10:39AM ET
[h5]Jimmy Rollins | Phillies [/h5]
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney Monday morning that he already has talked with the agent for http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4258/jimmy-rollinsJimmy Rollins, Dan Lozano, at the winter meetings.
The process of moving the negotiations forward has temporarily stalled since Lozano has been quite busy with another of his clients ? free agent Albert Pujols. Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer says there still is optimism among the Phillies that a deal can be reached with Rollins, although the shortstop's request for a five-year deal remains a roadblock.
Gelb adds that Rollins has an inflated sense of his value after Jose Reyes signed a six-year, $106 million deal with the Marlins.
A report in Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel says the Brewers are preparing offers to both Rollins and Aramis Ramirez and would like to sign one of the free agents, but not both. A deal with Rollins would be highly unlikely unless he comes off his demands for a five-year deal.
Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch wrote last week Wednesday that the Cardinals could shift their focus to Rollins, the 2007 NL MVP with the Phillies, if they are unable to re-sign Pujols.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Oswalt wants three-year deal[/h3]
10:14AM ET
[h5]Roy Oswalt | Phillies [/h5]
Roy Oswalt knows that his next major league contract could very well be his last. With that in mind, the 34-year-old righthhander is looking for a three-year deal, says MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
Pitchers such as Bruce Chen and Chris Capuano already have been given two-year deals this offseason, so Oswalt's request may not be overly optimistic, given his resume. Oswalt may benefit from playing the waiting game and offer his services to a team that falls short on a deal for C.J. Wilson or Mark Buehrle.
Oswalt now doesn't carry the cost of a draft pick to the signing club, and that could make the difference for a team such as the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationalsWashington Nationals, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post wrote last month.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Outfield options in SFO[/h3]
9:57AM ET
[h5]Angel Pagan | Mets [/h5]
Outfielder Andres Torres and reliever Ramon Ramirez were among 13 arbitration-eligible Giants, which is one of the reasons they were shipped to the New York Mets late Tuesday night for outfielder Angel Pagan.
John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle says Pagan will likely land in center since Melky Cabrera, acquired last month in exchange for Jonathan Sanchez, is more comfortable in left field.
Nate Schierholtz remains the likely choice in right field unless the Giants add another outfielder. General manager Brian Sabean cautioned Tuesday that free-agent options are narrowing because of the lack of payroll flexibility. That could close the door on any possible deal for Carlos Beltran, who was a mentor to Pagan in New York.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Hanley won't land in Atlanta[/h3]
9:38AM ET
[h5]Hanley Ramirez | Marlins [/h5]
If Hanley Ramirez is somehow able to pout his way out of Miami, he will not find a new home in Atlanta.
Amid reports that Ramirez is balking about a move to third base now that the Marlins have signed Jose Reyes, Braves general manager Frank Wren tells David O'Brien of the Atlanta JC he has no interest in swinging a deal to bring Ramirez to Georgia.
Ramirez would be an unlikely fit in Florida given that Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, then the Marlins skipper, once benched Ramirez for not hustling.
The Braves are believed to be interested in landing a veteran shortstop, but O'Brien says the team is leaning toward rookie Tyler Pastornicky as their starter. In that case, the Braves could still be looking for a veteran backup.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Brewers likely to re-sign Saito[/h3]
9:16AM ET
[h5]Takashi Saito | Brewers [/h5]
The Brewers are expected to re-sign reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal, but will stop short of a multi-year offer because the righthander continues to pitch without a ligament in his throwing elbow, says ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden.
Saito had 23 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings in 2011, but was limited to 30 appearances due to injuries.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Ichiro out of leadoff spot?[/h3]
8:43AM ET
[h5]Ichiro Suzuki | Mariners [/h5]
Ichiro Suzuki may no longer be the leadoff hitter in Seattle.
Manager Eric Wedge said Tuesday he'd met with Ichiro twice this offseason to keep him updated on the team's thinking. One of the options being considered is to move Ichiro away from his customary spot atop the order. "I'm still not sure where I'm going to hit him in the order, and I want him to understand that," Wedge said via MLB.com.
Ichiro hit .272 last season and finished with 182 hits, marking the first time in 11 Major League seasons that he didn't bat .300 or reach 200 hits.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Brewers eye Ramirez, Rollins[/h3]
8:30AM ET
[h5]Milwaukee Brewers [/h5]
The word out of Milwaukee in recent days has the Brewers deciding to pass on making a big-money offer to Prince Fielder, even if the number of suitors for the free agent slugger is shrinking.
The Brewers would need to replace some of Fielder's offensive numbers and Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel says the Brewers likely will make offers to both shortstop Jimmy Rollins and third baseman Aramis Ramirez. They can't afford to sign both but they would like to have one or the other.
The odds of landing Rollins may be small since the Brewers will not give him the five-year deal he covets. If Rollins were to settle for lesser years, it would likely be to stay in Philadelphia.
Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune says Ramirez is close to making a decision on his future and it appears the main choices are the Angels and Phillies.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]The market for Buehrle[/h3]
8:11AM ET
[h5]Mark Buehrle | White Sox [/h5]
White Sox GM Kenny Williams essentially conceded that the bidding for Mark Buehrle has escalated to the point that his team is out of the sweepstakes.
One team that could help drive up the price is the Miami Marlins, who want a quick answer on Albert Pujols so they can decide whether to chase free agent pitchers such as Buehrle and/or C.J. Wilson, says Dave van Dyck of the Chicago Tribune.
Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com wrote Tuesday that Buehrle would be a good fit for the Rangers, but Texas may be reluctant to go beyond a three-year offer.
Around a dozen teams have been linked to Buehrle, but Rumor Central?s Jason A. Churchill hears that the Nationals might be a team willing to give the left-hander a coveted fourth year. It could come down to three years and an option, but with Buehrle looking for that fourth year, the team willing to make that move could have a leg up.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Yankees shopping Burnett[/h3]
7:53AM ET
[h5]A.J. Burnett | Yankees [/h5]
The New York Yankees kept a relatively low profile during the first two days of the winter meetings. Behind the scenes, they are looking for a taker for A.J. Burnett.
George King of the New York Post reports the Yankees have let it be known they will listen to offers for the righthander and are willing to pay $8 million of the $33 million Burnett is owed over the next two seasons. King adds that the Yankees' efforts have yet to generate any interest.
After a solid 2009 debut in New York, Burnett is 21-26 over the past two seasons and has suffered a dip in velocity. The Yankees are likely trying to convince a team that the righthander would be more productive pitching outside of the Bronx.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]McLouth back to Pittsburgh?[/h3]
7:35AM ET
[h5]Nate McLouth | Braves [/h5]
After 2 1/2 seasons in Atlanta, free agent outfielder Nate McLouth is close to returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, says MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.
McLouth was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner for the Pirates in 2008, but never fully reached his potential in Pittsburgh and was traded to Atlanta in the summer of 2009.
Langosch says the Pirates are interested in McLouth to add outfield depth, though they would likely give Alex Presley the first chance to earn a starting berth as a corner outfielder.
Bill Brink of the Post Gazette says the Bucs are interested in adding McLouth because Presley and Jose Tabata missed time last season because of injuries.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rangers, Wilson making progress?[/h3]
7:23AM ET
[h5]C.J. Wilson | Rangers [/h5]
C.J. Wilson appears to be making the most of the free agent process, but the lefthander apparently hasn?t closed the door on returning to Texas.
Wilson's agent, Bob Garber, told Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com late Tuesday that his meeting with the Rangers was "great" and he added he was "pleasantly surprised."
Garber would not comment on whether an offer was made. Durrett says the Rangers don't want to go six years for Wilson and five years could be beyond their comfort zone as well.
Tuesday, SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted that Texas' offer to Wilson is for four years and about $60 million.
Wilson has already received offers from the Marlins, Angels, Nationals and an undisclosed fourth team. Jim Duquette of MLB Network tweeted Monday night that the Nationals had upped the ante with a six-year deal, but Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo subsequently told ESPN's Jim Bowden that the report was inaccurate.
If the Rangers lose out on Wilson they could step up their pursuit of trade targets such as http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28962/gio-gonzalezGio Gonzalez, http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28508/john-danksJohn Danks and http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5922/gavin-floydGavin Floyd, and if Yu Darvish is posted by his team in Japan, the Rangers are expected to make a strong bid.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Cards make $220M offer to Pujols[/h3]
7:08AM ET
[h5]Albert Pujols | Cardinals [/h5]
The St. Louis Cardinals apparently are not willing to sit on the sidelines and watch the Miami Marlins court Albert Pujols.
The buzz at the winter meetings Tuesday centered on the Marlins' reported 10-year offer to Pujols, a deal that would significantly alter the baseball landscape. The Cardinals now have upped the ante, offering the three-time National League MVP a deal believed worth around $220 million for 10 years, reports Joe Strauss in Wednesday's Post Dispatch.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak indicated the bid was not necessarily the club's final offer. At this point, the Cards are awaiting word whether the latest offer will be enough to keep Pujols in St. Louis.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports Tuesday evening that the Marlins expect a resolution to the situation with Pujols, one way or the other. The Marlins have pressed Pujols and his agent, Dan Lozano, for an answer on their latest 10-year offer, sources said.
Sources told Stark the Marlins' offer does not include a no-trade clause. Instead, the club has included post-playing-days stipulations to demonstrate its commitment to Pujols for years to come.
Ken Rosenthal reports that the Angels remain in play for Pujols, but ESPN Insider's Jim Bowden tweeted late Tuesday night that Pujols is down to the Marlins and Cardinals.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rangers interested in Dotel?[/h3]
6:45AM ET
[h5]Octavio Dotel | Cardinals [/h5]
UPDATE:There are Rangers officials who have a high opinion of Dotel, says MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. One of the meetings the Rangers had on Tuesday was with represenatives of the Beverly Hill Sports Council, whose clients include Dotel.
--
Octavio Dotel was in free agent limbo this offseason before the players and owners agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement. That resulted in his status changing from Type A to Type B, effectively increasing the reliever's market value.
Dotel helped the Cardinals to a World Series title in October and the Redbirds are now pushing hard to re-sign the righthander, an NL executive tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
The New York Mets have been mentioned as a suitor for Dotel, as have the Tigers and Reds.
Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com notes that the Brewers have also made contact with Dotel's agent.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Tigers pushing for Gio[/h3]
6:35AM ET
[h5]Gio Gonzalez | Athletics [/h5]
There has been plenty of chatter this month about the possibility of the Oakland Athletics taking calls on left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who had a strong 2011 and is under club control through the 2014 season.
Gonzalez tells Susan Slusser in Wednesday's San Francisco Chronicle that if he is traded, he would prefer it to be to the Miami Marlins, who has been mentioned as a suitor. "My family and friends are here. I grew up in South Florida. There's great weather, a new stadium, a lot of positives," Gonzalez says.
Meanwhile, Slusser adds that the Detroit Tigers have jumped into the Gonzalez sweepstakes would probably be willing to part with righthander Jacob Turner, a top prospect, as part of the deal.
The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox also are looking at Gio, as ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes reported.
New GM Ben Cherington has indicated that the Sox are unlikely to enter the bidding for high-end free-agent starters http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/6311/cj-wilsonC.J. Wilson or http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/4454/mark-buehrleMark Buehrle, but they are known to be extremely high on Gonzalez, according to Edes. The catch, though, is that Oakland would obviously want a package of top prospects -- similar to the one the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tb/tampa-bay-raysTampa Bay Rays got last year from the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/chc/chicago-cubsChicago Cubs for http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/28528/matt-garzaMatt Garza -- but the Red Sox farm system is depleted after trading away three of their high-end prospects to get http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/_/id/5405/adrian-gonzalezAdrian Gonzalez last winter.
Teams don't trade young talent very often, and there's a limited number of clubs that appear to have both the ammo and the motivation to make such a deal. The http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jaysToronto Blue Jays, http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/wsh/washington-nationalsWashington Nationals, http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/tex/texas-rangersTexas Rangers and http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/nyy/new-york-yankeesNew York Yankees all have a need for a pitcher and some young talent that might entice A's GM Billy Beane.
- Doug Mittler
Yankees and Gio
- 23,406
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Jose Reyes has to cut his hair
- 23,406
- 5,511
Jose Reyes has to cut his hair
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Looks like Pujols is heading back to STL. Thanks for playing
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Looks like Pujols is heading back to STL. Thanks for playing
bkmac
Banned
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http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/sto...portedly-out-of-the-running-for-albert-pujolsOriginally Posted by miamib30514
Looks like Pujols is heading back to STL. Thanks for playing
bkmac
Banned
- 11,540
- 13
http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/sto...portedly-out-of-the-running-for-albert-pujolsOriginally Posted by miamib30514
Looks like Pujols is heading back to STL. Thanks for playing
- 23,406
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If the Cards were giving him $225, I figured the Marlins would have to give him 10-15 mil on top of that to get him to sign in Miami.
- 23,406
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If the Cards were giving him $225, I figured the Marlins would have to give him 10-15 mil on top of that to get him to sign in Miami.
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I am not believing any reports regarding Pujols until he signs a contract.
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I am not believing any reports regarding Pujols until he signs a contract.
- Status
