- 1,768
- 11
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
I actually like this deal. DeJesus is damn underrated.
Career UZR:
Crawford — 15.0
DeJesus — 18.9
Career wOBA:
Crawford - .347
DeJesus - .342
Dude is Crawford lite. And the A's could never pull Craw or Werth.
Official MLB Offseason Post: Michael Young asks for a trade.
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by proshares,
- Start date
I actually like this deal. DeJesus is damn underrated.
Career UZR:
Crawford — 15.0
DeJesus — 18.9
Career wOBA:
Crawford - .347
DeJesus - .342
Dude is Crawford lite. And the A's could never pull Craw or Werth.
- 1,768
- 11
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
I actually like this deal. DeJesus is damn underrated.
Career UZR:
Crawford — 15.0
DeJesus — 18.9
Career wOBA:
Crawford - .347
DeJesus - .342
Dude is Crawford lite. And the A's could never pull Craw or Werth.
- 74,762
- 24,160
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2008
He's a guy that's useless on a team with no run producers. A's need to get somebody to drive in runs. Whatever happened to Michael Taylor? Is dude a certified bust?
- 74,762
- 24,160
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2008
He's a guy that's useless on a team with no run producers. A's need to get somebody to drive in runs. Whatever happened to Michael Taylor? Is dude a certified bust?
- 3,486
- 93
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2006
Mike Taylor is looking quite "busty" if I say so myself. I haven't heard good news from him in a long time. Dejesus is like Crawford...If Crawford didn't steal 50 bases a year. I have no fear though, Billy said we're still going to address the power crisis
#inbillywetrust
#inbillywetrust
- 3,486
- 93
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2006
Mike Taylor is looking quite "busty" if I say so myself. I haven't heard good news from him in a long time. Dejesus is like Crawford...If Crawford didn't steal 50 bases a year. I have no fear though, Billy said we're still going to address the power crisis
#inbillywetrust
#inbillywetrust
- 25,234
- 13,300
- Joined
- May 30, 2006
David DeJesus screams MEH... Not a difference maker for them. Strong defensively, but doesn't hit for power and isn't fast...
- 25,234
- 13,300
- Joined
- May 30, 2006
David DeJesus screams MEH... Not a difference maker for them. Strong defensively, but doesn't hit for power and isn't fast...
- 8,139
- 88
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2005
KC got hosed
- 8,139
- 88
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2005
KC got hosed
Somewhere out there, there's a team about to turn into Next Year's San Francisco Giants.
And by that, we don't mean a team that's looking to lead the league in fortuitous waiver claims, scrap-heap excavations or most playings of "Don't Stop Believin'."
By that, of course, we can only mean one thing:
Pitching.
Yes, to qualify as the winner of Rumblings and Grumblings' thrilling Next Year's Giants competition, a team would need to have massive quantities of the commodity that led this year's Giants to the parade floats -- young, upwardly mobile starting pitching.
Just so you understand the ground rules here, we're not rating which teams project to have the best rotations, period, next season. We're looking for staffs that most resemble the Giants -- owners of the most high-end YOUNG starters who might be ready to explode next year. OK, got that? Great.
We've spent this week surveying a bunch of astute baseball minds on which teams best fit that model. And now here they are -- the five teams most capable of becoming Next Year's Giants.
[h3]1. OAKLAND A'S[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
Trevor Cahill, 23 years old next season
Brett Anderson, 23
Gio Gonzalez, 25
Dallas Braden, 27
The Giants sure don't have to look far to find their mirror image -- just right across the old Bay Bridge. In Oakland, the A's have a group that didn't just lead the league in ERA, but led in starting-pitcher ERA by 36 percentage points.
Here, though, is the stat that really opened our eyes. The A's got 82 quality starts in 2010 from pitchers 26 and under. No other team in the big leagues had more than 65.
"They'd top my list in both leagues," said one scout, "with Cahill at the forefront, because their guys have the highest upside. If they can stay afloat in that division, that's the team with the best chance to duplicate what the Giants did. Plus, they have a closer, in [Andrew] Bailey, who equates to Brian Wilson."
Everybody loves Cahill. ("That guy's just a winner," said one AL executive.) Anderson has a top-of-the-rotation arm if he can stay healthy. Gonzalez "has electric stuff," said one scout. And Braden is "a stabilizer." So if these guys stay healthy, watch out for this team.
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
Even after trading for David DeJesus on Wednesday, the A's clearly need to work on an offense that finished next-to-last in the league in homers and scored 124 fewer runs than Texas. But the good news is, with a staff like this (and with Rakuten Golden Eagles ace Hisashi Iwakuma on the way), they clearly won't need to score eight runs a game.
[h3]2. TAMPA BAY RAYS[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
David Price, 25 next year
Wade Davis, 25
Jeremy Hellickson, 24
Matt Garza, 27
Jeff Niemann, 28
We wrestled with whether the Rays should qualify for this competition, since they did win the AL East this year. So they wouldn't exactly be a surprise if they won again next year. But we're including them for two reasons:
One, no team -- even Oakland -- can match the depth of their upper-echelon young arms. And two, with Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena hitting the exit ramps, they figure to go only as far as their pitching takes them next season.
The Rays got more wins (61) from starters 27 and under this year than any team in either league. They have a bona fide rotation centerpiece in Price, who has already established he's Cy Young material. Behind him, Davis, Garza and Hellickson, Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year, all have top-of-the-rotation stuff.
Meanwhile, Niemann was eighth in the AL in ERA when he strained his shoulder in August. Somewhere over the horizon, they can call on Matt Moore, who has led the minor leagues in strikeouts in two straight seasons. And we didn't even include James Shields, because he'll be older than our arbitrary cutoff age of 28 next year. (Why 28? Because the Giants' group of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner will all be 28 or younger. That's why.)
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
They won't have the same cast of offensive characters next year. But anybody who writes off the Rays is making a huge mistake, just based on this rotation alone.
"I think Oakland's rotation probably has the higher upside," said one scout. "But for pure stuff, you could put Tampa Bay ahead of them because their fourth and fifth [starters] are so good."
[h3]3. CINCINNATI REDS[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
Johnny Cueto, 25 next year
Edinson Volquez, 27
Homer Bailey, 25
Travis Wood, 24
Mike Leake, 23
Here's another team that made it to the Octoberfest this year. But it was impossible to leave the Reds out of this discussion because no team in the National League has a deeper pool of big-time young arms.
What the Reds lack, though, is somebody who could turn into the next Lincecum. Cueto, Volquez and Bailey all have spectacular arms -- "but I don't think anyone has got the kind of pitch-ability, to go with the stuff, that Lincecum has," said one scout. "I can't say Cueto or Volquez have it. Bailey has that kind of stuff, but he's never shown the ability to 'pitch.' So maybe the closest guy is Wood, but he doesn't have Lincecum-type stuff."
What the Reds do have, however, are lots and lots of young arms that have already proven they can pitch in the big leagues. Every pitcher on this list has a winning record over the past two years. Volquez, Bailey and Wood all have racked up better than 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. And the underrated Wood had the fifth-best WHIP (1.0in the league among pitchers with at least 100 innings this year.
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
Add a veteran presence in Bronson Arroyo and the most productive offense in the league, and this is one dangerous team. The only downside, said one scout, is "they do not have a No. 1 starter, unless they put Aroldis Chapman in the rotation. And even then, while he's got No. 1 starter stuff, whether he could pitch to that level as a starter, I don't know."
[h3]4. FLORIDA MARLINS[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
Josh Johnson, 27 next year
Ricky Nolasco, 28
Chris Volstad, 24
Anibal Sanchez, 27
Alex Sanabia, 22
Any rotation that starts with a legit No. 1 like Johnson has to make this list.
"He's a true No. 1 power potential dominator," said one NL scout. "My question is about the rest of the rotation, which is still real inconsistent."
Nolasco has swing-and-miss stuff, but we heard questions about his "focus" and "competitiveness." No one is too sure what to make of Volstad, who had such a bizarre ride on the roller coaster this year that the Marlins went 4-13 in his first-half starts and (after a brief minor league tuneup) 10-3 in his second-half starts. Ditto Sanchez, who allowed one earned run or none in 11 of his 32 starts but had a 4.82 ERA over the final month and a half. And Sanabia has his fans, but only as a back-of-the-rotation type.
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
The word we heard over and over about these guys was "consistency." Unfortunately, that talk was accompanied by two other words: "lack of." If Nolasco, Volstad and Sanchez ever achieve a higher level of dependability, this is an October rotation waiting to happen. If not, it'll be more of the same. The Marlins did lead the league in quality starts by pitchers 27 or younger, with 78. But this picture would look a lot better if the enigmatic Andrew Miller ever got his act together.
[h3]5. TORONTO BLUE JAYS[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
Ricky Romero, 25 next year
Brandon Morrow, 26
Brett Cecil, 24
Marc Rzepczynski, 25
Jesse Litsch, 26
Brad Mills, 26
Kyle Drabek, 23
Only the A's got more quality starts this year by pitchers 26 or younger than the Blue Jays (65) did. Morrow threw a 17-strikeout one-hitter and would have led the league in strikeout ratio (10.95 per 9 IP) if the Jays hadn't shut him down on Labor Day. Romero would have gone 14-7, with a 3.25 ERA, if he hadn't allowed 17 runs in five innings in his last two starts before the All-Star break. Cecil won 15 games in a breakout year. And Drabek, the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, should make an impact at some point next season.
[h4]Most Quality Starts By Pitchers 27 Or Younger[/h4][table][tr][th=""]1. A's[/th][th=""]87[/th][/tr][tr][td]2. Rays[/td][td]78[/td][/tr][tr][td](tie) Marlins[/td][td]78[/td][/tr][tr][td](tie) Mariners[/td][td]78[/td][/tr][tr][td]5. Giants[/td][td]76[/td][/tr][/table]
So this group's only issue, much like the Reds, is that "there's no clear-cut No. 1," said one scout. Romero is viewed as an excellent No. 2. That's probably Drabek's upside, too. Cecil tops out as a No. 3. And while Morrow "can dominate, I wouldn't put him ahead of a Price or a Cahill," the same scout said.
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
This is a rotation on the rise and a team building around young players. But this is also a staff that's been dragged down by health issues. And -- stop us if you've heard this before -- it's a lot tougher to sneak into October when you play in the AL East than it is in the NL West. Put the Blue Jays in any other division in baseball, and they'd have all the makings of a Next Year's Giants kind of team. Put them in the AL East, and all we can say is: Lots of luck to you.
[h3]Ready to Rumble[/h3]
Greinke
• Zack exchange: Are the Royals serious about trading Zack Greinke? Well, they're serious about listening. But according to clubs that have spoken with them, they're telling bidders up front that (A) they would need to "win" the deal, (B) they would have to get the kind of four-for-one haul the Rangers got for Mark Teixeira to pull the trigger, (C) they need a bunch of "front-line, winning, quality players" in return, and (D) at least one of those players has to be a pitcher capable of turning into the next Zack Greinke in a couple of years. So unless a team like Texas were to lose Cliff Lee and decide it needs to trade for Greinke at all costs, we're betting this doesn't happen -- not this winter, anyway.
• More Greinke: Clubs that checked in on Greinke have also come away with the impression he wouldn't approve a deal to ANY major-market East Coast team (Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Mets). But an official of one team says Greinke "would at least think about the L.A. clubs" if the Dodgers or Angels were to wade into this mix.
Finally, one AL exec who has seen a lot of Greinke says the fact that his ERA almost doubled this year (from 2.16 to 4.17) has zero effect on how attractive he'd be to a contender: "I think he'd pitch better on a winning club. As the year wore on, I thought he got disinterested. He just kind of cruised. Then Tampa Bay came in there at the end of the year, and he dialed it up and stuck it right up their tails."
• Deep in the wallets of Texas: One baseball man with knowledge of the Rangers' massive new TV deal says people are overestimating the impact that contract will have on their ability to bring back Cliff Lee.
For one thing, the new deal doesn't kick in until 2015, when Lee would be in the fifth season of his next contract.
[h4]TRIVIALITY[/h4][table][tr][td]Cliff Lee owns seven postseason wins in his career. Just four other active STARTING pitchers have won that many postseason games or more. Can you name them? (Answer later.) [/td][/tr][/table]
For another, Rumblings was told, the new Rangers ownership has already used a large chunk of the upcoming TV money, which it collected up front as a signing bonus, to help finance its purchase of the franchise.
And, finally, the Rangers are about to lose their status as a revenue-sharing taker, which was allowing them to collect $8 million to $15 million a year.
So the bottom line is that this TV deal is not going to be worth an extra $80 million a season, as some people have speculated, and will have only minimal impact initially. Which means the Rangers still have to decide if it's a sane business decision to outbid the Yankees in years and dollars on a player the Yankees seem determined to sign. We wish them luck on that.
• Wild thing: It's looking more and more likely that baseball is going to add a second wild-card team in each league and have those two wild cards duke it out after the season for the right to move on to the division series. But you probably won't see that happen until 2012.
And in the meantime, the big battle could be over whether that wild-card survivor round should be a dramatic, one-game October Madness win-or-go-home game, or whether it should be stretched out to a best-of-three.
Every indication is that the players are dug in on two-out-of-three. But there's a mixed camp on the clubs' side. Let's just say it didn't go unnoticed that the team that had to wait around longest between rounds lost EVERY postseason series this year.
So there's already grumbling about the thought of the two teams with the best record in each league having to kill time in October while the wild cards play it off. If the idea of that wild-card round is to reward teams for finishing first, that's an issue that needs to be addressed.
• The retiring type: In a recent column in the New York Post, the always-creative Joel Sherman tried to help the Yankees with their Derek Jeter negotiation crisis. The answer, Sherman suggested, might be some sort of post-playing personal-services deal that would pay Jeter for, say, 25 years following his playing career.
Great idea. But early indications are that the Yankees aren't interested. When Jeter's deal gets done one of these weeks, says one baseball man who spoke with them, it will be "a baseball contract. Period."
Werth
• Not Werth it: Here's one Phillies source on the odds of his team finding a way to keep Jayson Werth: "No chance. None. Zero." In the end, it might not even be the annual dollars that will force the Phillies to move on. It's their unwillingness to go beyond three or four years for a player who will turn 32 next May.
So where might the Phillies turn? Reports of their interest in guys like Magglio Ordonez, Pat Burrell and Andruw Jones appear highly exaggerated. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. continues to talk up Ben Francisco, at least in a potential platoon with Domonic Brown -- or with Ross Gload if they decide Brown isn't ready. But the Phillies would still shop for another right-handed-hitting outfield bat. One name we've heard a lot: Jeff Francoeur, who has told friends he'd love to play for Charlie Manuel.
• More Phillie phodder: The free agent the Phillies have been most aggressive about trying to re-sign isn't Werth. It's right-hander Jose Contreras, who struck out 57 in 56 2/3 innings in his first full season in the bullpen.
Amaro wouldn't confirm that, but did say: "We've made contact with 40 free agents, predominantly bullpen guys." He also said: "Left-handed relief is a priority for us."
Two names that could top that shopping list: Mets escapees Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi.
• Gone fishing: The Marlins continue to try to get Dan Uggla signed long-term. But teams that have kicked the tires on dealing for Uggla report they came away with distinct signals that if these talks continue to stall, at some point the Marlins will turn their attention to shopping their second baseman.
"So if he really wants to be there," said one NL exec, "he'd better not wait too long, or his butt will get moved."
[h4]TRIVIA ANSWER[/h4][table][tr][td]Andy Pettitte 19, CC Sabathia 7, Josh Beckett 7 and good old Livan Hernandez 7. If you guessed Mariano Rivera, you didn't read the question closely enough, but if it makes you feel better, he does have eight of them.[/td][/tr][/table]
[h3]Stat of the week[/h3]
Of Tim Lincecum's four postseason wins this year, three came against Cy Young winners -- one against Roy Halladay, two against Cliff Lee.
So how many other pitchers have ever beaten former Cy Youngs three times in the same postseason? That would be two. And you'd never guess which two:
• Sterling Hitchcock of the 1998 Padres -- beat Randy Johnson in the NLDS, then outpitched Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine in the NLCS.
• Livan Hernandez of the 1997 Marlins -- won a duel with Maddux in the NLCS, then beat Orel Hershiser twice in the World Series.
Yep. Sterling Hitchcock and Livan Hernandez. Who knew?
[h3]Late-nighter of the week[/h3]
• From Jimmy Kimmel, on what it meant to San Francisco to see the Giants win a World Series:
"To celebrate, Giants fans had a riot back home in San Francisco. They overturned Priuses. They were throwing bottles of biodynamically farmed zinfandel, building huge clean-burning bonfires out of old 'Design Within Reach' catalogs. It was a mess. There hasn't been a riot like this in San Francisco since HBO announced 'Sex and the City' was going off the air."
[h3]Best tweets of the postseason[/h3]
• From the always-entertaining @UmpJoeWest, authored by a mystery man identifying himself only as "Not Ump Joe West," as Game 4 of the NLCS was unfolding:
"If you're wondering why ump Wally Bell is calling everything a strike tonight, it's b/c we have dinner plans in an hour"
• And, from Late Show tweeting genius @EricStangel, during the pregame festivities before Game 3 of the Twins-Yankees ALDS:
"Awkward moment in the Bronx -- During introductions Brian Cashman handed Carl Pavano his weekly Yankees paycheck"
[h3]Headliner of the postseason[/h3]
This just in from those A-Rod fans at the legendary parody site, TheOnion.com:
A-ROD FINALLY LEADS RANGERS TO WORLD SERIES
Somewhere out there, there's a team about to turn into Next Year's San Francisco Giants.
And by that, we don't mean a team that's looking to lead the league in fortuitous waiver claims, scrap-heap excavations or most playings of "Don't Stop Believin'."
By that, of course, we can only mean one thing:
Pitching.
Yes, to qualify as the winner of Rumblings and Grumblings' thrilling Next Year's Giants competition, a team would need to have massive quantities of the commodity that led this year's Giants to the parade floats -- young, upwardly mobile starting pitching.
Just so you understand the ground rules here, we're not rating which teams project to have the best rotations, period, next season. We're looking for staffs that most resemble the Giants -- owners of the most high-end YOUNG starters who might be ready to explode next year. OK, got that? Great.
We've spent this week surveying a bunch of astute baseball minds on which teams best fit that model. And now here they are -- the five teams most capable of becoming Next Year's Giants.
[h3]1. OAKLAND A'S[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
Trevor Cahill, 23 years old next season
Brett Anderson, 23
Gio Gonzalez, 25
Dallas Braden, 27
The Giants sure don't have to look far to find their mirror image -- just right across the old Bay Bridge. In Oakland, the A's have a group that didn't just lead the league in ERA, but led in starting-pitcher ERA by 36 percentage points.
Here, though, is the stat that really opened our eyes. The A's got 82 quality starts in 2010 from pitchers 26 and under. No other team in the big leagues had more than 65.
"They'd top my list in both leagues," said one scout, "with Cahill at the forefront, because their guys have the highest upside. If they can stay afloat in that division, that's the team with the best chance to duplicate what the Giants did. Plus, they have a closer, in [Andrew] Bailey, who equates to Brian Wilson."
Everybody loves Cahill. ("That guy's just a winner," said one AL executive.) Anderson has a top-of-the-rotation arm if he can stay healthy. Gonzalez "has electric stuff," said one scout. And Braden is "a stabilizer." So if these guys stay healthy, watch out for this team.
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
Even after trading for David DeJesus on Wednesday, the A's clearly need to work on an offense that finished next-to-last in the league in homers and scored 124 fewer runs than Texas. But the good news is, with a staff like this (and with Rakuten Golden Eagles ace Hisashi Iwakuma on the way), they clearly won't need to score eight runs a game.
[h3]2. TAMPA BAY RAYS[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
David Price, 25 next year
Wade Davis, 25
Jeremy Hellickson, 24
Matt Garza, 27
Jeff Niemann, 28
We wrestled with whether the Rays should qualify for this competition, since they did win the AL East this year. So they wouldn't exactly be a surprise if they won again next year. But we're including them for two reasons:
One, no team -- even Oakland -- can match the depth of their upper-echelon young arms. And two, with Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena hitting the exit ramps, they figure to go only as far as their pitching takes them next season.
The Rays got more wins (61) from starters 27 and under this year than any team in either league. They have a bona fide rotation centerpiece in Price, who has already established he's Cy Young material. Behind him, Davis, Garza and Hellickson, Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year, all have top-of-the-rotation stuff.
Meanwhile, Niemann was eighth in the AL in ERA when he strained his shoulder in August. Somewhere over the horizon, they can call on Matt Moore, who has led the minor leagues in strikeouts in two straight seasons. And we didn't even include James Shields, because he'll be older than our arbitrary cutoff age of 28 next year. (Why 28? Because the Giants' group of Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner will all be 28 or younger. That's why.)
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
They won't have the same cast of offensive characters next year. But anybody who writes off the Rays is making a huge mistake, just based on this rotation alone.
"I think Oakland's rotation probably has the higher upside," said one scout. "But for pure stuff, you could put Tampa Bay ahead of them because their fourth and fifth [starters] are so good."
[h3]3. CINCINNATI REDS[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
Johnny Cueto, 25 next year
Edinson Volquez, 27
Homer Bailey, 25
Travis Wood, 24
Mike Leake, 23
Here's another team that made it to the Octoberfest this year. But it was impossible to leave the Reds out of this discussion because no team in the National League has a deeper pool of big-time young arms.
What the Reds lack, though, is somebody who could turn into the next Lincecum. Cueto, Volquez and Bailey all have spectacular arms -- "but I don't think anyone has got the kind of pitch-ability, to go with the stuff, that Lincecum has," said one scout. "I can't say Cueto or Volquez have it. Bailey has that kind of stuff, but he's never shown the ability to 'pitch.' So maybe the closest guy is Wood, but he doesn't have Lincecum-type stuff."
What the Reds do have, however, are lots and lots of young arms that have already proven they can pitch in the big leagues. Every pitcher on this list has a winning record over the past two years. Volquez, Bailey and Wood all have racked up better than 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. And the underrated Wood had the fifth-best WHIP (1.0
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
Add a veteran presence in Bronson Arroyo and the most productive offense in the league, and this is one dangerous team. The only downside, said one scout, is "they do not have a No. 1 starter, unless they put Aroldis Chapman in the rotation. And even then, while he's got No. 1 starter stuff, whether he could pitch to that level as a starter, I don't know."
[h3]4. FLORIDA MARLINS[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
Josh Johnson, 27 next year
Ricky Nolasco, 28
Chris Volstad, 24
Anibal Sanchez, 27
Alex Sanabia, 22
Any rotation that starts with a legit No. 1 like Johnson has to make this list.
"He's a true No. 1 power potential dominator," said one NL scout. "My question is about the rest of the rotation, which is still real inconsistent."
Nolasco has swing-and-miss stuff, but we heard questions about his "focus" and "competitiveness." No one is too sure what to make of Volstad, who had such a bizarre ride on the roller coaster this year that the Marlins went 4-13 in his first-half starts and (after a brief minor league tuneup) 10-3 in his second-half starts. Ditto Sanchez, who allowed one earned run or none in 11 of his 32 starts but had a 4.82 ERA over the final month and a half. And Sanabia has his fans, but only as a back-of-the-rotation type.
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
The word we heard over and over about these guys was "consistency." Unfortunately, that talk was accompanied by two other words: "lack of." If Nolasco, Volstad and Sanchez ever achieve a higher level of dependability, this is an October rotation waiting to happen. If not, it'll be more of the same. The Marlins did lead the league in quality starts by pitchers 27 or younger, with 78. But this picture would look a lot better if the enigmatic Andrew Miller ever got his act together.
[h3]5. TORONTO BLUE JAYS[/h3]
THEIR YOUNG GUNS
Ricky Romero, 25 next year
Brandon Morrow, 26
Brett Cecil, 24
Marc Rzepczynski, 25
Jesse Litsch, 26
Brad Mills, 26
Kyle Drabek, 23
Only the A's got more quality starts this year by pitchers 26 or younger than the Blue Jays (65) did. Morrow threw a 17-strikeout one-hitter and would have led the league in strikeout ratio (10.95 per 9 IP) if the Jays hadn't shut him down on Labor Day. Romero would have gone 14-7, with a 3.25 ERA, if he hadn't allowed 17 runs in five innings in his last two starts before the All-Star break. Cecil won 15 games in a breakout year. And Drabek, the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year, should make an impact at some point next season.
[h4]Most Quality Starts By Pitchers 27 Or Younger[/h4][table][tr][th=""]1. A's[/th][th=""]87[/th][/tr][tr][td]2. Rays[/td][td]78[/td][/tr][tr][td](tie) Marlins[/td][td]78[/td][/tr][tr][td](tie) Mariners[/td][td]78[/td][/tr][tr][td]5. Giants[/td][td]76[/td][/tr][/table]
So this group's only issue, much like the Reds, is that "there's no clear-cut No. 1," said one scout. Romero is viewed as an excellent No. 2. That's probably Drabek's upside, too. Cecil tops out as a No. 3. And while Morrow "can dominate, I wouldn't put him ahead of a Price or a Cahill," the same scout said.
ODDS OF ACHIEVING GIANT-HOOD
This is a rotation on the rise and a team building around young players. But this is also a staff that's been dragged down by health issues. And -- stop us if you've heard this before -- it's a lot tougher to sneak into October when you play in the AL East than it is in the NL West. Put the Blue Jays in any other division in baseball, and they'd have all the makings of a Next Year's Giants kind of team. Put them in the AL East, and all we can say is: Lots of luck to you.
[h3]Ready to Rumble[/h3]
Greinke
• Zack exchange: Are the Royals serious about trading Zack Greinke? Well, they're serious about listening. But according to clubs that have spoken with them, they're telling bidders up front that (A) they would need to "win" the deal, (B) they would have to get the kind of four-for-one haul the Rangers got for Mark Teixeira to pull the trigger, (C) they need a bunch of "front-line, winning, quality players" in return, and (D) at least one of those players has to be a pitcher capable of turning into the next Zack Greinke in a couple of years. So unless a team like Texas were to lose Cliff Lee and decide it needs to trade for Greinke at all costs, we're betting this doesn't happen -- not this winter, anyway.
• More Greinke: Clubs that checked in on Greinke have also come away with the impression he wouldn't approve a deal to ANY major-market East Coast team (Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Mets). But an official of one team says Greinke "would at least think about the L.A. clubs" if the Dodgers or Angels were to wade into this mix.
Finally, one AL exec who has seen a lot of Greinke says the fact that his ERA almost doubled this year (from 2.16 to 4.17) has zero effect on how attractive he'd be to a contender: "I think he'd pitch better on a winning club. As the year wore on, I thought he got disinterested. He just kind of cruised. Then Tampa Bay came in there at the end of the year, and he dialed it up and stuck it right up their tails."
• Deep in the wallets of Texas: One baseball man with knowledge of the Rangers' massive new TV deal says people are overestimating the impact that contract will have on their ability to bring back Cliff Lee.
For one thing, the new deal doesn't kick in until 2015, when Lee would be in the fifth season of his next contract.
[h4]TRIVIALITY[/h4][table][tr][td]Cliff Lee owns seven postseason wins in his career. Just four other active STARTING pitchers have won that many postseason games or more. Can you name them? (Answer later.) [/td][/tr][/table]
For another, Rumblings was told, the new Rangers ownership has already used a large chunk of the upcoming TV money, which it collected up front as a signing bonus, to help finance its purchase of the franchise.
And, finally, the Rangers are about to lose their status as a revenue-sharing taker, which was allowing them to collect $8 million to $15 million a year.
So the bottom line is that this TV deal is not going to be worth an extra $80 million a season, as some people have speculated, and will have only minimal impact initially. Which means the Rangers still have to decide if it's a sane business decision to outbid the Yankees in years and dollars on a player the Yankees seem determined to sign. We wish them luck on that.
• Wild thing: It's looking more and more likely that baseball is going to add a second wild-card team in each league and have those two wild cards duke it out after the season for the right to move on to the division series. But you probably won't see that happen until 2012.
And in the meantime, the big battle could be over whether that wild-card survivor round should be a dramatic, one-game October Madness win-or-go-home game, or whether it should be stretched out to a best-of-three.
Every indication is that the players are dug in on two-out-of-three. But there's a mixed camp on the clubs' side. Let's just say it didn't go unnoticed that the team that had to wait around longest between rounds lost EVERY postseason series this year.
So there's already grumbling about the thought of the two teams with the best record in each league having to kill time in October while the wild cards play it off. If the idea of that wild-card round is to reward teams for finishing first, that's an issue that needs to be addressed.
• The retiring type: In a recent column in the New York Post, the always-creative Joel Sherman tried to help the Yankees with their Derek Jeter negotiation crisis. The answer, Sherman suggested, might be some sort of post-playing personal-services deal that would pay Jeter for, say, 25 years following his playing career.
Great idea. But early indications are that the Yankees aren't interested. When Jeter's deal gets done one of these weeks, says one baseball man who spoke with them, it will be "a baseball contract. Period."
Werth
• Not Werth it: Here's one Phillies source on the odds of his team finding a way to keep Jayson Werth: "No chance. None. Zero." In the end, it might not even be the annual dollars that will force the Phillies to move on. It's their unwillingness to go beyond three or four years for a player who will turn 32 next May.
So where might the Phillies turn? Reports of their interest in guys like Magglio Ordonez, Pat Burrell and Andruw Jones appear highly exaggerated. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. continues to talk up Ben Francisco, at least in a potential platoon with Domonic Brown -- or with Ross Gload if they decide Brown isn't ready. But the Phillies would still shop for another right-handed-hitting outfield bat. One name we've heard a lot: Jeff Francoeur, who has told friends he'd love to play for Charlie Manuel.
• More Phillie phodder: The free agent the Phillies have been most aggressive about trying to re-sign isn't Werth. It's right-hander Jose Contreras, who struck out 57 in 56 2/3 innings in his first full season in the bullpen.
Amaro wouldn't confirm that, but did say: "We've made contact with 40 free agents, predominantly bullpen guys." He also said: "Left-handed relief is a priority for us."
Two names that could top that shopping list: Mets escapees Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi.
• Gone fishing: The Marlins continue to try to get Dan Uggla signed long-term. But teams that have kicked the tires on dealing for Uggla report they came away with distinct signals that if these talks continue to stall, at some point the Marlins will turn their attention to shopping their second baseman.
"So if he really wants to be there," said one NL exec, "he'd better not wait too long, or his butt will get moved."
[h4]TRIVIA ANSWER[/h4][table][tr][td]Andy Pettitte 19, CC Sabathia 7, Josh Beckett 7 and good old Livan Hernandez 7. If you guessed Mariano Rivera, you didn't read the question closely enough, but if it makes you feel better, he does have eight of them.[/td][/tr][/table]
[h3]Stat of the week[/h3]
Of Tim Lincecum's four postseason wins this year, three came against Cy Young winners -- one against Roy Halladay, two against Cliff Lee.
So how many other pitchers have ever beaten former Cy Youngs three times in the same postseason? That would be two. And you'd never guess which two:
• Sterling Hitchcock of the 1998 Padres -- beat Randy Johnson in the NLDS, then outpitched Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine in the NLCS.
• Livan Hernandez of the 1997 Marlins -- won a duel with Maddux in the NLCS, then beat Orel Hershiser twice in the World Series.
Yep. Sterling Hitchcock and Livan Hernandez. Who knew?
[h3]Late-nighter of the week[/h3]
• From Jimmy Kimmel, on what it meant to San Francisco to see the Giants win a World Series:
"To celebrate, Giants fans had a riot back home in San Francisco. They overturned Priuses. They were throwing bottles of biodynamically farmed zinfandel, building huge clean-burning bonfires out of old 'Design Within Reach' catalogs. It was a mess. There hasn't been a riot like this in San Francisco since HBO announced 'Sex and the City' was going off the air."
[h3]Best tweets of the postseason[/h3]
• From the always-entertaining @UmpJoeWest, authored by a mystery man identifying himself only as "Not Ump Joe West," as Game 4 of the NLCS was unfolding:
"If you're wondering why ump Wally Bell is calling everything a strike tonight, it's b/c we have dinner plans in an hour"
• And, from Late Show tweeting genius @EricStangel, during the pregame festivities before Game 3 of the Twins-Yankees ALDS:
"Awkward moment in the Bronx -- During introductions Brian Cashman handed Carl Pavano his weekly Yankees paycheck"
[h3]Headliner of the postseason[/h3]
This just in from those A-Rod fans at the legendary parody site, TheOnion.com:
A-ROD FINALLY LEADS RANGERS TO WORLD SERIES
http://[h3]
http://[h3]Angels may bid $100M for Crawford[/h3]
8:59AM ET
[h5]Carl Crawford | Rays [/h5]
Every team would love to have Carl Crawford, but the pursuit of the prized free agent will ultimately come down to who needs him the most.
In Wednesday's blog, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney handicapped the race for Crawford according to those who would derive the biggest benefit. We know, for example, that the deep-pocketed New York Yankees would gladly add Crawford to their outfield mix, but a higher priority is starting pitching and the pursuit of Lee.
With that in mind, Olney says the Los Angeles Angels would be the perfect fit.
"The Angels finished 19th in runs scored -- partly because of the season-ending injury to Kendry Morales, but also because Mike Scioscia's lineup simply lacks depth," Olney writes. "Crawford would be a perfect fit as a No. 3 hitter, because his speed and baseline aggressiveness would match the way Scioscia manages. He could hit third in the Angels' lineup, right in front of Morales and Torii Hunter and create situations in which those two would see more fastballs."
Bill Shaikin of the LA Times appears to agree, writing that the Angels are prepared to make Crawford the first $100 million player in franchise history.
Shaikin adds that the Angels will monitor the pursuit of Lee, but will not get seriously involved because they feel he is headed to the Yankees.
The Nationals are also showing interest, but whether Crawford is keen on the idea of playing in D.C. remains to be determined.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Could Francoeur land in KC? [/h3]
8:40AM ET
[h5]Jeff Francoeur | Rangers [/h5]
Jeff Francoeur's tenure with the Texas Rangers apparently will be a brief but memorable one.
Francouer, who came to the Rangers from the Mets in an August 31 trade and ended up being part of the team's first World Series appearance, became a free agent Wednesday when he cleared waivers and declined an assignment to the minor leagues.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels did not close the door on bringing back Francoeur at a later date, but the outfielder is looking for an opportunity to play on a regular basis. We think a strong possibility is Kansas City, where Francoeur has ties to GM Dayton Moore from their days in Atlanta.
The Royals also subtracted an outfielder Wednesday when they shipped David DeJesus to Oakland.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Jeter wants four years at $20M per[/h3]
8:24AM ET
[h5]Derek Jeter | Yankees [/h5]
After doing some sparring in the press last week, the New York Yankees and Derek Jeter got together last weekend in Tampa to discuss the future of the franchise icon.
According to various reports, a Yankees contingent consisting of GM Brian Cashman, Hal Steinbrenner and Randy Levine met with Jeter and his agent, Casey Close. No formal offer was made, but it is likely that Jeter's future as a shortstop was part of the discussion.
Jeter just completed a 10-year, $189 million contract, earning $100 million of that over the past five years. A New York Daily News report says Jeter is believed to be seeking a deal of at least four years at a minimum of $20 million per season, although sources say the Yankees are reluctant to give the shortstop more than three years.
Steinbrenner turned some heads last week by predicting that the negotiations with Jeter "could get messy," a comment he would likely take back.
Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com says that the Yankees have no intention on putting the squeeze on Jeter, but only that they have no intention of handing him a blank check.
Could Jeter go elsewhere? We mentioned Sunday that the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giantsSan Francisco Giants might be one club that keeps tabs on the situation, and Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune wonders if the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/det/detroit-tigersDetroit Tigers might get involved at some point.
Our Buster Olney cautions that things are different now that George Steinbrenner is no longer in charge:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
The Jeter negotiations
http://[h3]Cashman, Lee didn't talk money[/h3]
7:58AM ET
[h5]Cliff Lee | Rangers [/h5]
Cliff Lee will be breaking the bank by the time his free agent sweepstakes are over, but money was not the topic of discussion when New York Yankees manager Brian Cashman paid him a visit Wednesday in Arkansas.
According to a New York Post report, Cashman spent several hours with Lee, wife Kristen and agent Darek Braunecker, but no financial offers were exchanged. It is believed the Yankees were the first team granted such a visit.
Part of Cashman's motivation for the visit may have been address any lingering bad feelings that arose during the ALCS when Kristen Lee complained that she was taunted by Yankees fans. There's no word on whether Cashman brought along a written apology from the Bleacher Creatures.
Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have had talks with Braunecker, GM Mike Rizzo told MLB Network on Sirius/XM Radio.
We talked earlier this week of how several teams, most notably the Yankees reached out to Braunecker on Sunday, the first day that clubs could officially contact free agents of other teams. The other teams believed to be interested in Lee include the Rangers, Nationals, Phillies, Brewers, Cubs and Angels, and SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted Tuesday afternoon that the Houston Astros may get in on the discussion, too.
Braunecker is in no rush. The agent may not even attend the general manager's meetings next week in Orlando and Lee may not even make up his mind until after the winter meetings December 6-9 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The Yankees have a history of sparing no expense and will employ a full court press in an effort to sign Lee. Lee is expected to command a contract in the neighborhood of CC Sabathia's seven-year, $161 million deal, and the Yankees can expect stiff competition from the Rangers, whose outspoken owner, Chuck Greenberg, last week vowed to make a strong effort to hold on to Lee.
The folks at Baseball Prospectus say the Yankees' signing of Lee is one of the five "must moves" for this offseason.
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Baseball Prospectus[/h5]
Lee to the Bronx
http://[h3]Could Oakland deal an outfielder?[/h3]
7:31AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first notable trade of the offseason Wednesday night, acquiring outfielder David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers -- right-hander Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks -- giving the A's a full set of outfielders and opening left field for Alex Gordon on a permanent basis in KC.
Oakland receives a speedy outfielder who hit .318 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games before suffering a thumb injury. DeJesus is set to make $6 million in 2011 and then become a free agent.
DeJesus figures to join an outfield that already boasts former Royals teammate Coco Crisp. Also in the outfield mix for Oakland are arbitration-eligible players Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis and Conor Jackson, along with Chris Carter.
Wednesday's deal could prompt the A's to deal one of their excess outfielders, likely Davis or Jackson, before Opening Day. GM Billy Beane doesn't mind a crowded outfield, but said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Red Sox considering Buck[/h3]
7:03AM ET
[h5]John Buck | Blue Jays [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox are expected to go after free agent catcher John Buck, reports ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes, who cites two sources.
The Sox have Jarrod Saltalamacchia under contract, but may not be comfortable entering the season without proven commodity behind the plate. Both Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez are free agents and expected to sign elsewhere this winter, though the club has not closed the door on either player's return in 2011.
Buck is known for his power, not his defense or on-base skills, but after V-Mart is considered among the best catcher's on the market.
Should the Red Sox be on Buck aggressively? Lets check in with ESPN Insider's Keith Law for more.
- Jason A. Churchill
[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Buck can hit for power
http://[h3]Crasnick: A's targeting Berkman[/h3]
7:01AM ET
[h5]Lance Berkman | Yankees | Interested: Rockies? [/h5]
The New York Yankees acquired Lance Berkman from Houston over the summer as a short term rental, and it appears there is no chance the veteran returns to Houston, reports Mark Berman.
Berkman may have hit a key home run in Game Two of the ALDS against the Twins, but he will not be returning to the Bronx. Berkman is far more of a country boy than a city slicker, could the Rockies be in his future?
"That's a place that I would definitely have interest in," the free-agent-to-be told Troy Renck of the Denver Post during the playoffs.
How about Oakland? ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweeted Wednesday evening that in the wake of the trade that sent David DeJesus to Oakland, the A's have Berkman in their cross hairs. The club's designated hitters combined to produce a .724 OPS last season.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy has made no secret of wanting to add an impact bat this offseason and the team did kick the tires on a Berkman deal over the summer. Berkman, however, may have to return to the outfield since Todd Helton is still at first base, even if his playing time will be cut back to some extent.
As Renck points out, Berkman is coming off career lows in home runs (14) and RBIs (5, so he could come at a fairly reasonable price. Renck has also noted that the Rockies would like a right-handed bat to platoon at first with Helton, and Berkman is a switch hitter.
[/h3][h3]Impact of Rangers' TV deal[/h3]
10:06AM ET
[h5]Texas Rangers [/h5]
Andy handicapping of the Cliff Lee sweepstakes invariably includes a mention of the Texas Rangers' new television deal worth a reported $3 billion.
In a column for MLB.com, Mitch Williams writes that the TV deal will be a key component in the Rangers' ability to sign players such as Lee.
Not so fast, says ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. In his latest Rumbling & Grumblings, Stark notes the broadcast deal doesn't kick in until 2015, when Lee would be in the fifth season of his next contract. In addition, Stark hears the new Rangers ownership has already used a large chunk of the upcoming TV money, which it collected up front as a signing bonus to help finance its purchase of the franchise.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Collins may have early edge in Queens[/h3]
9:47AM ET
[h5]New York Mets [/h5]
The traveling road show that is the New York Mets' managerial search moves to the Dominican Republic, where GM Sandy Alderson is expected to meet with Ken Oberkfell Thursday or Friday. Oberkfell, who managed at Triple-A Buffalo last season, is managing in the Dominican Winter League.
At this stage, the leading candidate appears to be former Astros and Angels manager Terry Collins, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Collins' early edge is due to his ties to Paul DePodesta, who was recently hired as the head of player development.
Alderson began interviewing external candidates for manager Tuesday when http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale visited Citi Field. The process will continued Wednesday when the Mets interview former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/col/colorado-rockiesColorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sea/seattle-marinersSeattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.
The interviews began last week in Queens where Alderson talked with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss. Then it was on to California over the weekend for talks with Collins, Chip Hale and Wally Backman. Got all that?
According to the New York Post, Alderson's callback list could have as many as four names, and Backman is expected to be among them.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Jays interested in Greinke[/h3]
9:23AM ET
[h5]Zack Greinke | Royals [/h5]
It appears more and more likely that the Kansas City Royals will listen intently to serious offers for Zack Greinke, but whether a deal gets done is another matter.
In his latest Rumblings & Grumblings, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says the Royals are looking to pull off a heist.
"They're telling bidders up front that (A) they would need to "win" the deal, (B) they would have to get the kind of four-for-one haul the Rangers got for Mark Teixeira to pull the trigger, (C) they need a bunch of "front-line, winning, quality players" in return, and (D) at least one of those players has to be a pitcher capable of turning into the next Zack Greinke in a couple of years," Stark writes.
That's asking an awful lot, especially since Stark adds that Greinke wants no part of any major-market East Coast team (Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Mets).
Who does that leave? Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports that the Blue Jays have inquired about Greinke's availability. We're guessing that the Royals will ask for top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek, but that would be a tough sell.
We've mentioned previously that the Texas Rangers are a strong possibility if they fail to retain Cliff Lee.
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Greinke a prime trade target
http://[h3]Angels may bid $100M for Crawford[/h3]
8:59AM ET
[h5]Carl Crawford | Rays [/h5]
Every team would love to have Carl Crawford, but the pursuit of the prized free agent will ultimately come down to who needs him the most.
In Wednesday's blog, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney handicapped the race for Crawford according to those who would derive the biggest benefit. We know, for example, that the deep-pocketed New York Yankees would gladly add Crawford to their outfield mix, but a higher priority is starting pitching and the pursuit of Lee.
With that in mind, Olney says the Los Angeles Angels would be the perfect fit.
"The Angels finished 19th in runs scored -- partly because of the season-ending injury to Kendry Morales, but also because Mike Scioscia's lineup simply lacks depth," Olney writes. "Crawford would be a perfect fit as a No. 3 hitter, because his speed and baseline aggressiveness would match the way Scioscia manages. He could hit third in the Angels' lineup, right in front of Morales and Torii Hunter and create situations in which those two would see more fastballs."
Bill Shaikin of the LA Times appears to agree, writing that the Angels are prepared to make Crawford the first $100 million player in franchise history.
Shaikin adds that the Angels will monitor the pursuit of Lee, but will not get seriously involved because they feel he is headed to the Yankees.
The Nationals are also showing interest, but whether Crawford is keen on the idea of playing in D.C. remains to be determined.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Could Francoeur land in KC? [/h3]
8:40AM ET
[h5]Jeff Francoeur | Rangers [/h5]
Jeff Francoeur's tenure with the Texas Rangers apparently will be a brief but memorable one.
Francouer, who came to the Rangers from the Mets in an August 31 trade and ended up being part of the team's first World Series appearance, became a free agent Wednesday when he cleared waivers and declined an assignment to the minor leagues.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels did not close the door on bringing back Francoeur at a later date, but the outfielder is looking for an opportunity to play on a regular basis. We think a strong possibility is Kansas City, where Francoeur has ties to GM Dayton Moore from their days in Atlanta.
The Royals also subtracted an outfielder Wednesday when they shipped David DeJesus to Oakland.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Jeter wants four years at $20M per[/h3]
8:24AM ET
[h5]Derek Jeter | Yankees [/h5]
After doing some sparring in the press last week, the New York Yankees and Derek Jeter got together last weekend in Tampa to discuss the future of the franchise icon.
According to various reports, a Yankees contingent consisting of GM Brian Cashman, Hal Steinbrenner and Randy Levine met with Jeter and his agent, Casey Close. No formal offer was made, but it is likely that Jeter's future as a shortstop was part of the discussion.
Jeter just completed a 10-year, $189 million contract, earning $100 million of that over the past five years. A New York Daily News report says Jeter is believed to be seeking a deal of at least four years at a minimum of $20 million per season, although sources say the Yankees are reluctant to give the shortstop more than three years.
Steinbrenner turned some heads last week by predicting that the negotiations with Jeter "could get messy," a comment he would likely take back.
Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com says that the Yankees have no intention on putting the squeeze on Jeter, but only that they have no intention of handing him a blank check.
Could Jeter go elsewhere? We mentioned Sunday that the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giantsSan Francisco Giants might be one club that keeps tabs on the situation, and Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune wonders if the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/det/detroit-tigersDetroit Tigers might get involved at some point.
Our Buster Olney cautions that things are different now that George Steinbrenner is no longer in charge:
- Doug Mittler
The Jeter negotiations
http://[h3]Cashman, Lee didn't talk money[/h3]
7:58AM ET
[h5]Cliff Lee | Rangers [/h5]
Cliff Lee will be breaking the bank by the time his free agent sweepstakes are over, but money was not the topic of discussion when New York Yankees manager Brian Cashman paid him a visit Wednesday in Arkansas.
According to a New York Post report, Cashman spent several hours with Lee, wife Kristen and agent Darek Braunecker, but no financial offers were exchanged. It is believed the Yankees were the first team granted such a visit.
Part of Cashman's motivation for the visit may have been address any lingering bad feelings that arose during the ALCS when Kristen Lee complained that she was taunted by Yankees fans. There's no word on whether Cashman brought along a written apology from the Bleacher Creatures.
Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have had talks with Braunecker, GM Mike Rizzo told MLB Network on Sirius/XM Radio.
We talked earlier this week of how several teams, most notably the Yankees reached out to Braunecker on Sunday, the first day that clubs could officially contact free agents of other teams. The other teams believed to be interested in Lee include the Rangers, Nationals, Phillies, Brewers, Cubs and Angels, and SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted Tuesday afternoon that the Houston Astros may get in on the discussion, too.
Braunecker is in no rush. The agent may not even attend the general manager's meetings next week in Orlando and Lee may not even make up his mind until after the winter meetings December 6-9 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The Yankees have a history of sparing no expense and will employ a full court press in an effort to sign Lee. Lee is expected to command a contract in the neighborhood of CC Sabathia's seven-year, $161 million deal, and the Yankees can expect stiff competition from the Rangers, whose outspoken owner, Chuck Greenberg, last week vowed to make a strong effort to hold on to Lee.
The folks at Baseball Prospectus say the Yankees' signing of Lee is one of the five "must moves" for this offseason.
- Doug Mittler
Lee to the Bronx
http://[h3]Could Oakland deal an outfielder?[/h3]
7:31AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first notable trade of the offseason Wednesday night, acquiring outfielder David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers -- right-hander Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks -- giving the A's a full set of outfielders and opening left field for Alex Gordon on a permanent basis in KC.
Oakland receives a speedy outfielder who hit .318 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games before suffering a thumb injury. DeJesus is set to make $6 million in 2011 and then become a free agent.
DeJesus figures to join an outfield that already boasts former Royals teammate Coco Crisp. Also in the outfield mix for Oakland are arbitration-eligible players Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis and Conor Jackson, along with Chris Carter.
Wednesday's deal could prompt the A's to deal one of their excess outfielders, likely Davis or Jackson, before Opening Day. GM Billy Beane doesn't mind a crowded outfield, but said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Red Sox considering Buck[/h3]
7:03AM ET
[h5]John Buck | Blue Jays [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox are expected to go after free agent catcher John Buck, reports ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes, who cites two sources.
The Sox have Jarrod Saltalamacchia under contract, but may not be comfortable entering the season without proven commodity behind the plate. Both Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez are free agents and expected to sign elsewhere this winter, though the club has not closed the door on either player's return in 2011.
Buck is known for his power, not his defense or on-base skills, but after V-Mart is considered among the best catcher's on the market.
Should the Red Sox be on Buck aggressively? Lets check in with ESPN Insider's Keith Law for more.
- Jason A. Churchill
Buck can hit for power
http://[h3]Crasnick: A's targeting Berkman[/h3]
7:01AM ET
[h5]Lance Berkman | Yankees | Interested: Rockies? [/h5]
The New York Yankees acquired Lance Berkman from Houston over the summer as a short term rental, and it appears there is no chance the veteran returns to Houston, reports Mark Berman.
Berkman may have hit a key home run in Game Two of the ALDS against the Twins, but he will not be returning to the Bronx. Berkman is far more of a country boy than a city slicker, could the Rockies be in his future?
"That's a place that I would definitely have interest in," the free-agent-to-be told Troy Renck of the Denver Post during the playoffs.
How about Oakland? ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweeted Wednesday evening that in the wake of the trade that sent David DeJesus to Oakland, the A's have Berkman in their cross hairs. The club's designated hitters combined to produce a .724 OPS last season.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy has made no secret of wanting to add an impact bat this offseason and the team did kick the tires on a Berkman deal over the summer. Berkman, however, may have to return to the outfield since Todd Helton is still at first base, even if his playing time will be cut back to some extent.
As Renck points out, Berkman is coming off career lows in home runs (14) and RBIs (5
, so he could come at a fairly reasonable price. Renck has also noted that the Rockies would like a right-handed bat to platoon at first with Helton, and Berkman is a switch hitter.http://[h3]
http://[h3]Angels may bid $100M for Crawford[/h3]
8:59AM ET
[h5]Carl Crawford | Rays [/h5]
Every team would love to have Carl Crawford, but the pursuit of the prized free agent will ultimately come down to who needs him the most.
In Wednesday's blog, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney handicapped the race for Crawford according to those who would derive the biggest benefit. We know, for example, that the deep-pocketed New York Yankees would gladly add Crawford to their outfield mix, but a higher priority is starting pitching and the pursuit of Lee.
With that in mind, Olney says the Los Angeles Angels would be the perfect fit.
"The Angels finished 19th in runs scored -- partly because of the season-ending injury to Kendry Morales, but also because Mike Scioscia's lineup simply lacks depth," Olney writes. "Crawford would be a perfect fit as a No. 3 hitter, because his speed and baseline aggressiveness would match the way Scioscia manages. He could hit third in the Angels' lineup, right in front of Morales and Torii Hunter and create situations in which those two would see more fastballs."
Bill Shaikin of the LA Times appears to agree, writing that the Angels are prepared to make Crawford the first $100 million player in franchise history.
Shaikin adds that the Angels will monitor the pursuit of Lee, but will not get seriously involved because they feel he is headed to the Yankees.
The Nationals are also showing interest, but whether Crawford is keen on the idea of playing in D.C. remains to be determined.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Could Francoeur land in KC? [/h3]
8:40AM ET
[h5]Jeff Francoeur | Rangers [/h5]
Jeff Francoeur's tenure with the Texas Rangers apparently will be a brief but memorable one.
Francouer, who came to the Rangers from the Mets in an August 31 trade and ended up being part of the team's first World Series appearance, became a free agent Wednesday when he cleared waivers and declined an assignment to the minor leagues.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels did not close the door on bringing back Francoeur at a later date, but the outfielder is looking for an opportunity to play on a regular basis. We think a strong possibility is Kansas City, where Francoeur has ties to GM Dayton Moore from their days in Atlanta.
The Royals also subtracted an outfielder Wednesday when they shipped David DeJesus to Oakland.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Jeter wants four years at $20M per[/h3]
8:24AM ET
[h5]Derek Jeter | Yankees [/h5]
After doing some sparring in the press last week, the New York Yankees and Derek Jeter got together last weekend in Tampa to discuss the future of the franchise icon.
According to various reports, a Yankees contingent consisting of GM Brian Cashman, Hal Steinbrenner and Randy Levine met with Jeter and his agent, Casey Close. No formal offer was made, but it is likely that Jeter's future as a shortstop was part of the discussion.
Jeter just completed a 10-year, $189 million contract, earning $100 million of that over the past five years. A New York Daily News report says Jeter is believed to be seeking a deal of at least four years at a minimum of $20 million per season, although sources say the Yankees are reluctant to give the shortstop more than three years.
Steinbrenner turned some heads last week by predicting that the negotiations with Jeter "could get messy," a comment he would likely take back.
Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com says that the Yankees have no intention on putting the squeeze on Jeter, but only that they have no intention of handing him a blank check.
Could Jeter go elsewhere? We mentioned Sunday that the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giantsSan Francisco Giants might be one club that keeps tabs on the situation, and Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune wonders if the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/det/detroit-tigersDetroit Tigers might get involved at some point.
Our Buster Olney cautions that things are different now that George Steinbrenner is no longer in charge:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
The Jeter negotiations
http://[h3]Cashman, Lee didn't talk money[/h3]
7:58AM ET
[h5]Cliff Lee | Rangers [/h5]
Cliff Lee will be breaking the bank by the time his free agent sweepstakes are over, but money was not the topic of discussion when New York Yankees manager Brian Cashman paid him a visit Wednesday in Arkansas.
According to a New York Post report, Cashman spent several hours with Lee, wife Kristen and agent Darek Braunecker, but no financial offers were exchanged. It is believed the Yankees were the first team granted such a visit.
Part of Cashman's motivation for the visit may have been address any lingering bad feelings that arose during the ALCS when Kristen Lee complained that she was taunted by Yankees fans. There's no word on whether Cashman brought along a written apology from the Bleacher Creatures.
Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have had talks with Braunecker, GM Mike Rizzo told MLB Network on Sirius/XM Radio.
We talked earlier this week of how several teams, most notably the Yankees reached out to Braunecker on Sunday, the first day that clubs could officially contact free agents of other teams. The other teams believed to be interested in Lee include the Rangers, Nationals, Phillies, Brewers, Cubs and Angels, and SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted Tuesday afternoon that the Houston Astros may get in on the discussion, too.
Braunecker is in no rush. The agent may not even attend the general manager's meetings next week in Orlando and Lee may not even make up his mind until after the winter meetings December 6-9 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The Yankees have a history of sparing no expense and will employ a full court press in an effort to sign Lee. Lee is expected to command a contract in the neighborhood of CC Sabathia's seven-year, $161 million deal, and the Yankees can expect stiff competition from the Rangers, whose outspoken owner, Chuck Greenberg, last week vowed to make a strong effort to hold on to Lee.
The folks at Baseball Prospectus say the Yankees' signing of Lee is one of the five "must moves" for this offseason.
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Baseball Prospectus[/h5]
Lee to the Bronx
http://[h3]Could Oakland deal an outfielder?[/h3]
7:31AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first notable trade of the offseason Wednesday night, acquiring outfielder David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers -- right-hander Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks -- giving the A's a full set of outfielders and opening left field for Alex Gordon on a permanent basis in KC.
Oakland receives a speedy outfielder who hit .318 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games before suffering a thumb injury. DeJesus is set to make $6 million in 2011 and then become a free agent.
DeJesus figures to join an outfield that already boasts former Royals teammate Coco Crisp. Also in the outfield mix for Oakland are arbitration-eligible players Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis and Conor Jackson, along with Chris Carter.
Wednesday's deal could prompt the A's to deal one of their excess outfielders, likely Davis or Jackson, before Opening Day. GM Billy Beane doesn't mind a crowded outfield, but said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Red Sox considering Buck[/h3]
7:03AM ET
[h5]John Buck | Blue Jays [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox are expected to go after free agent catcher John Buck, reports ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes, who cites two sources.
The Sox have Jarrod Saltalamacchia under contract, but may not be comfortable entering the season without proven commodity behind the plate. Both Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez are free agents and expected to sign elsewhere this winter, though the club has not closed the door on either player's return in 2011.
Buck is known for his power, not his defense or on-base skills, but after V-Mart is considered among the best catcher's on the market.
Should the Red Sox be on Buck aggressively? Lets check in with ESPN Insider's Keith Law for more.
- Jason A. Churchill
[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Buck can hit for power
http://[h3]Crasnick: A's targeting Berkman[/h3]
7:01AM ET
[h5]Lance Berkman | Yankees | Interested: Rockies? [/h5]
The New York Yankees acquired Lance Berkman from Houston over the summer as a short term rental, and it appears there is no chance the veteran returns to Houston, reports Mark Berman.
Berkman may have hit a key home run in Game Two of the ALDS against the Twins, but he will not be returning to the Bronx. Berkman is far more of a country boy than a city slicker, could the Rockies be in his future?
"That's a place that I would definitely have interest in," the free-agent-to-be told Troy Renck of the Denver Post during the playoffs.
How about Oakland? ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweeted Wednesday evening that in the wake of the trade that sent David DeJesus to Oakland, the A's have Berkman in their cross hairs. The club's designated hitters combined to produce a .724 OPS last season.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy has made no secret of wanting to add an impact bat this offseason and the team did kick the tires on a Berkman deal over the summer. Berkman, however, may have to return to the outfield since Todd Helton is still at first base, even if his playing time will be cut back to some extent.
As Renck points out, Berkman is coming off career lows in home runs (14) and RBIs (5, so he could come at a fairly reasonable price. Renck has also noted that the Rockies would like a right-handed bat to platoon at first with Helton, and Berkman is a switch hitter.
[/h3][h3]Impact of Rangers' TV deal[/h3]
10:06AM ET
[h5]Texas Rangers [/h5]
Andy handicapping of the Cliff Lee sweepstakes invariably includes a mention of the Texas Rangers' new television deal worth a reported $3 billion.
In a column for MLB.com, Mitch Williams writes that the TV deal will be a key component in the Rangers' ability to sign players such as Lee.
Not so fast, says ESPN.com's Jayson Stark. In his latest Rumbling & Grumblings, Stark notes the broadcast deal doesn't kick in until 2015, when Lee would be in the fifth season of his next contract. In addition, Stark hears the new Rangers ownership has already used a large chunk of the upcoming TV money, which it collected up front as a signing bonus to help finance its purchase of the franchise.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Collins may have early edge in Queens[/h3]
9:47AM ET
[h5]New York Mets [/h5]
The traveling road show that is the New York Mets' managerial search moves to the Dominican Republic, where GM Sandy Alderson is expected to meet with Ken Oberkfell Thursday or Friday. Oberkfell, who managed at Triple-A Buffalo last season, is managing in the Dominican Winter League.
At this stage, the leading candidate appears to be former Astros and Angels manager Terry Collins, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Collins' early edge is due to his ties to Paul DePodesta, who was recently hired as the head of player development.
Alderson began interviewing external candidates for manager Tuesday when http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale visited Citi Field. The process will continued Wednesday when the Mets interview former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/col/colorado-rockiesColorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sea/seattle-marinersSeattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.
The interviews began last week in Queens where Alderson talked with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss. Then it was on to California over the weekend for talks with Collins, Chip Hale and Wally Backman. Got all that?
According to the New York Post, Alderson's callback list could have as many as four names, and Backman is expected to be among them.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Jays interested in Greinke[/h3]
9:23AM ET
[h5]Zack Greinke | Royals [/h5]
It appears more and more likely that the Kansas City Royals will listen intently to serious offers for Zack Greinke, but whether a deal gets done is another matter.
In his latest Rumblings & Grumblings, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark says the Royals are looking to pull off a heist.
"They're telling bidders up front that (A) they would need to "win" the deal, (B) they would have to get the kind of four-for-one haul the Rangers got for Mark Teixeira to pull the trigger, (C) they need a bunch of "front-line, winning, quality players" in return, and (D) at least one of those players has to be a pitcher capable of turning into the next Zack Greinke in a couple of years," Stark writes.
That's asking an awful lot, especially since Stark adds that Greinke wants no part of any major-market East Coast team (Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Mets).
Who does that leave? Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports that the Blue Jays have inquired about Greinke's availability. We're guessing that the Royals will ask for top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek, but that would be a tough sell.
We've mentioned previously that the Texas Rangers are a strong possibility if they fail to retain Cliff Lee.
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Greinke a prime trade target
http://[h3]Angels may bid $100M for Crawford[/h3]
8:59AM ET
[h5]Carl Crawford | Rays [/h5]
Every team would love to have Carl Crawford, but the pursuit of the prized free agent will ultimately come down to who needs him the most.
In Wednesday's blog, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney handicapped the race for Crawford according to those who would derive the biggest benefit. We know, for example, that the deep-pocketed New York Yankees would gladly add Crawford to their outfield mix, but a higher priority is starting pitching and the pursuit of Lee.
With that in mind, Olney says the Los Angeles Angels would be the perfect fit.
"The Angels finished 19th in runs scored -- partly because of the season-ending injury to Kendry Morales, but also because Mike Scioscia's lineup simply lacks depth," Olney writes. "Crawford would be a perfect fit as a No. 3 hitter, because his speed and baseline aggressiveness would match the way Scioscia manages. He could hit third in the Angels' lineup, right in front of Morales and Torii Hunter and create situations in which those two would see more fastballs."
Bill Shaikin of the LA Times appears to agree, writing that the Angels are prepared to make Crawford the first $100 million player in franchise history.
Shaikin adds that the Angels will monitor the pursuit of Lee, but will not get seriously involved because they feel he is headed to the Yankees.
The Nationals are also showing interest, but whether Crawford is keen on the idea of playing in D.C. remains to be determined.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Could Francoeur land in KC? [/h3]
8:40AM ET
[h5]Jeff Francoeur | Rangers [/h5]
Jeff Francoeur's tenure with the Texas Rangers apparently will be a brief but memorable one.
Francouer, who came to the Rangers from the Mets in an August 31 trade and ended up being part of the team's first World Series appearance, became a free agent Wednesday when he cleared waivers and declined an assignment to the minor leagues.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels did not close the door on bringing back Francoeur at a later date, but the outfielder is looking for an opportunity to play on a regular basis. We think a strong possibility is Kansas City, where Francoeur has ties to GM Dayton Moore from their days in Atlanta.
The Royals also subtracted an outfielder Wednesday when they shipped David DeJesus to Oakland.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Jeter wants four years at $20M per[/h3]
8:24AM ET
[h5]Derek Jeter | Yankees [/h5]
After doing some sparring in the press last week, the New York Yankees and Derek Jeter got together last weekend in Tampa to discuss the future of the franchise icon.
According to various reports, a Yankees contingent consisting of GM Brian Cashman, Hal Steinbrenner and Randy Levine met with Jeter and his agent, Casey Close. No formal offer was made, but it is likely that Jeter's future as a shortstop was part of the discussion.
Jeter just completed a 10-year, $189 million contract, earning $100 million of that over the past five years. A New York Daily News report says Jeter is believed to be seeking a deal of at least four years at a minimum of $20 million per season, although sources say the Yankees are reluctant to give the shortstop more than three years.
Steinbrenner turned some heads last week by predicting that the negotiations with Jeter "could get messy," a comment he would likely take back.
Wallace Matthews of ESPNNewYork.com says that the Yankees have no intention on putting the squeeze on Jeter, but only that they have no intention of handing him a blank check.
Could Jeter go elsewhere? We mentioned Sunday that the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sf/san-francisco-giantsSan Francisco Giants might be one club that keeps tabs on the situation, and Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune wonders if the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/det/detroit-tigersDetroit Tigers might get involved at some point.
Our Buster Olney cautions that things are different now that George Steinbrenner is no longer in charge:
- Doug Mittler
The Jeter negotiations
http://[h3]Cashman, Lee didn't talk money[/h3]
7:58AM ET
[h5]Cliff Lee | Rangers [/h5]
Cliff Lee will be breaking the bank by the time his free agent sweepstakes are over, but money was not the topic of discussion when New York Yankees manager Brian Cashman paid him a visit Wednesday in Arkansas.
According to a New York Post report, Cashman spent several hours with Lee, wife Kristen and agent Darek Braunecker, but no financial offers were exchanged. It is believed the Yankees were the first team granted such a visit.
Part of Cashman's motivation for the visit may have been address any lingering bad feelings that arose during the ALCS when Kristen Lee complained that she was taunted by Yankees fans. There's no word on whether Cashman brought along a written apology from the Bleacher Creatures.
Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have had talks with Braunecker, GM Mike Rizzo told MLB Network on Sirius/XM Radio.
We talked earlier this week of how several teams, most notably the Yankees reached out to Braunecker on Sunday, the first day that clubs could officially contact free agents of other teams. The other teams believed to be interested in Lee include the Rangers, Nationals, Phillies, Brewers, Cubs and Angels, and SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted Tuesday afternoon that the Houston Astros may get in on the discussion, too.
Braunecker is in no rush. The agent may not even attend the general manager's meetings next week in Orlando and Lee may not even make up his mind until after the winter meetings December 6-9 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
The Yankees have a history of sparing no expense and will employ a full court press in an effort to sign Lee. Lee is expected to command a contract in the neighborhood of CC Sabathia's seven-year, $161 million deal, and the Yankees can expect stiff competition from the Rangers, whose outspoken owner, Chuck Greenberg, last week vowed to make a strong effort to hold on to Lee.
The folks at Baseball Prospectus say the Yankees' signing of Lee is one of the five "must moves" for this offseason.
- Doug Mittler
Lee to the Bronx
http://[h3]Could Oakland deal an outfielder?[/h3]
7:31AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first notable trade of the offseason Wednesday night, acquiring outfielder David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers -- right-hander Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks -- giving the A's a full set of outfielders and opening left field for Alex Gordon on a permanent basis in KC.
Oakland receives a speedy outfielder who hit .318 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games before suffering a thumb injury. DeJesus is set to make $6 million in 2011 and then become a free agent.
DeJesus figures to join an outfield that already boasts former Royals teammate Coco Crisp. Also in the outfield mix for Oakland are arbitration-eligible players Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis and Conor Jackson, along with Chris Carter.
Wednesday's deal could prompt the A's to deal one of their excess outfielders, likely Davis or Jackson, before Opening Day. GM Billy Beane doesn't mind a crowded outfield, but said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Red Sox considering Buck[/h3]
7:03AM ET
[h5]John Buck | Blue Jays [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox are expected to go after free agent catcher John Buck, reports ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes, who cites two sources.
The Sox have Jarrod Saltalamacchia under contract, but may not be comfortable entering the season without proven commodity behind the plate. Both Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez are free agents and expected to sign elsewhere this winter, though the club has not closed the door on either player's return in 2011.
Buck is known for his power, not his defense or on-base skills, but after V-Mart is considered among the best catcher's on the market.
Should the Red Sox be on Buck aggressively? Lets check in with ESPN Insider's Keith Law for more.
- Jason A. Churchill
Buck can hit for power
http://[h3]Crasnick: A's targeting Berkman[/h3]
7:01AM ET
[h5]Lance Berkman | Yankees | Interested: Rockies? [/h5]
The New York Yankees acquired Lance Berkman from Houston over the summer as a short term rental, and it appears there is no chance the veteran returns to Houston, reports Mark Berman.
Berkman may have hit a key home run in Game Two of the ALDS against the Twins, but he will not be returning to the Bronx. Berkman is far more of a country boy than a city slicker, could the Rockies be in his future?
"That's a place that I would definitely have interest in," the free-agent-to-be told Troy Renck of the Denver Post during the playoffs.
How about Oakland? ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweeted Wednesday evening that in the wake of the trade that sent David DeJesus to Oakland, the A's have Berkman in their cross hairs. The club's designated hitters combined to produce a .724 OPS last season.
Rockies manager Jim Tracy has made no secret of wanting to add an impact bat this offseason and the team did kick the tires on a Berkman deal over the summer. Berkman, however, may have to return to the outfield since Todd Helton is still at first base, even if his playing time will be cut back to some extent.
As Renck points out, Berkman is coming off career lows in home runs (14) and RBIs (5
, so he could come at a fairly reasonable price. Renck has also noted that the Rockies would like a right-handed bat to platoon at first with Helton, and Berkman is a switch hitter.
Bend_The_Knee
formerly gotholesinmysocks
- 61,766
- 23,510
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2008
Originally Posted by WearinTheFourFive
This Delacruz kid getting signed is better than the Japanese guy (still havent learned his name) and DeJesus combined. Hopefully he turns into our next Tejada.
my cousin who lives in the dominican republic told me he saw Vicmal De La Cruz play out there and he said dude is gonna be the real deal.
he also said to watch out for Edwin Moreno, OF
Bend_The_Knee
formerly gotholesinmysocks
- 61,766
- 23,510
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2008
Originally Posted by WearinTheFourFive
This Delacruz kid getting signed is better than the Japanese guy (still havent learned his name) and DeJesus combined. Hopefully he turns into our next Tejada.
my cousin who lives in the dominican republic told me he saw Vicmal De La Cruz play out there and he said dude is gonna be the real deal.
he also said to watch out for Edwin Moreno, OF
GreenNGold89
formerly bbllplaya23
- 6,571
- 2,114
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2005
I don't want Berkman. I'd much rather try to find another DH. And I don't really agree with analyst that say we can surprise people like the Giants just because we have good pitching. It's way to early to say that. Timmy and Cain r much stronger than our 1-2 punch. I love Cahill, Anderson, and Gio but they need to perform for another year at least before we can think about being a World Series team.
GreenNGold89
formerly bbllplaya23
- 6,571
- 2,114
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2005
I don't want Berkman. I'd much rather try to find another DH. And I don't really agree with analyst that say we can surprise people like the Giants just because we have good pitching. It's way to early to say that. Timmy and Cain r much stronger than our 1-2 punch. I love Cahill, Anderson, and Gio but they need to perform for another year at least before we can think about being a World Series team.
http://[h3]
http://[h3]Werth not returning to Philly[/h3]
1:06PM ET
[h5]Jayson Werth | Phillies [/h5]
While they are also expected to be in on free agent left fielder Carl Crawford, the Boston Red Sox have made contact with Scott Boras about right fielder Jayson werth, reports ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes.
J.D. Drew, the Sox's right fielder for the past four years, has just one year left on that deal, and could move to left field to make room for Werth. Werth could also make the move to left field, as Drew has played just nine games in the other corner in his career while Werth has played more than 200.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark wrote Wednesday that Werth is not likely to return to Philly, with one source quoted as saying "no chance. None. Zero."
Acquiring Crawford or Werth in Boston means that there will either be a committee covering center field and the other corner spot, or one of the incumbents will be out of a job. Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury spent much of 2010 on the disabled list, so the Red Sox may see value in having both of them aboard for next season.
Of course, Ellsbury could be shopped to one of several clubs looking for help in center field, too.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Collins may have early edge in Queens[/h3]
11:22AM ET
[h5]New York Mets [/h5]
The traveling road show that is the New York Mets' managerial search moves to the Dominican Republic, where GM Sandy Alderson is expected to meet with Ken Oberkfell Thursday or Friday. Oberkfell, who managed at Triple-A Buffalo last season, is managing in the Dominican Winter League.
At this stage, the leading candidate appears to be former Astros and Angels manager Terry Collins, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Collins' early edge is due to his ties to Paul DePodesta, who was recently hired as the head of player development.
Alderson began interviewing external candidates for manager Tuesday when http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale visited Citi Field. The process will continued Wednesday when the Mets interview former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/col/colorado-rockiesColorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sea/seattle-marinersSeattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.
The interviews began last week in Queens where Alderson talked with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss. Then it was on to California over the weekend for talks with Collins, Chip Hale and Wally Backman. Got all that?
According to the New York Post, Alderson's callback list could have as many as four names, and Backman is expected to be among them.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]A's sign prospect de la Cruz[/h3]
11:20AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
An eventful offseason for the Oakland Athletics reportedly includes the signing of Vicmal de la Cruz, a sought-after center-field prospect from the Dominican Republic.
According to Baseball America the A's came to terms with the 5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitter, who turns 17 next week. The report says de la Cruz possesses "some of the best all-around tools of any prospect from this year's international signing class."
Kevin Goldstein tweets that the deal includes an $800,000 bonus.
The A's also landed David DeJesus in a trade with the Royals on Wednesday.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Options for Carlos Pena[/h3]
11:02AM ET
[h5]Carlos Pena | Rays [/h5]
We've been hearing for months how the free agent exodus out of Tampa Bay will include Carlos Pena.
The Washington Nationals have been linked to Pena since the regular season ended, and Ken Davidoff of New York Newsday tweeted last week that "Competing exec sees #Nationals signing Carlos Pena b/c of emphasis on defense and Rizzo's strong relationship with Boras."
Pena struggled at the plate this season, but still showed power and can still play first base at a high level. His down year may play into the Nationals' hands, as they probably couldn't afford Pena had he put up star-like production in 2010. But what about staying on the Gulf Coast?
John Romano writes in Thursday?s St. Pete Times that the Rays need to look past his .196 average and bring Pena back. "Pena is exactly the type of player typically on Tampa Bay's radar. If he had just finished up this wreck of a season in, let's say, Oakland, there would be talk of how nicely he would fit in the Rays lineup because of his talents and relative lack of leverage," Romano writes.
One caveat: Pena's batting average and RBI have declined each of the last three seasons.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Could Oakland deal an outfielder?[/h3]
10:45AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first notable trade of the offseason Wednesday night, acquiring outfielder David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers -- right-hander Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks -- giving the A's a full set of outfielders and opening left field for Alex Gordon on a permanent basis in KC.
Oakland receives a speedy outfielder who hit .318 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games before suffering a thumb injury. DeJesus is set to make $6 million in 2011 and then become a free agent.
DeJesus figures to join an outfield that already boasts former Royals teammate Coco Crisp. Also in the outfield mix for Oakland are arbitration-eligible players Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis and Conor Jackson, along with Chris Carter.
Wednesday's deal could prompt the A's to deal one of their excess outfielders, likely Davis or Jackson, before Opening Day. GM Billy Beane doesn't mind a crowded outfield, but said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.
Meanwhile, our Keith Law gives his take on what DeJesus brings to the A's:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
The book on DeJesus
http://[h3]Red Sox, Pirates like Duchscherer[/h3]
10:37AM ET
[h5]Justin Duchscherer | Athletics [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox have expressed interested in free agent right-hander Justin Duchscherer, reports WEEI.com, though it's not clear in which role they envision the 33-year-old.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who could be non-tendering or tarding left-hander Zach Duke this winter, have given indications that they are interested in Duchscherer's services.
Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review, however, says the Pirates have huge concerns about Duchscherer's durability.
Duchscherer had been a starter in most recent action with the Oakland Athletics, but has extensive experience pitching out of the bullpen. His versatility may be what clubs value as much as anything else, but the WEEI.com report by Rob Bradford indicates that Duchscherer has told clubs he wants to start.
The Reds Sox current starting rotation is full with Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka holding down the fort, but Beckett has had problems staying healthy and Matsuzaka is inconsistent to the point of ineffectiveness and could find himself on the trade block this winter as he enters the final year of his contract.
Duchscherer is coming off an injury so it's not likely he'll receive multi-year offers, but new Boston pitching coach Curt Young has worked well with Ducscherer in Oakland and such a connection could be a deciding factor.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Expanded playoffs by 2012?[/h3]
10:24AM ET
[h5]Expanded Playoffs [/h5]
[font=Helvetica][color=#225db7][siz...lrg/trans/mlb.gif[/img][/size][/color][/font]
We mentioned earlier this month how commissioner Bud Selig spent the playoffs laying the groundwork for an expanded postseason.
Selig discussed the idea at least twice during the World Series. "I like it enough, so we'll seriously consider it," Selig said before Game 4. "Is eight out of 30 enough? Is that fair? And that's the basic question here, at least for me."
Selig appears to be floating the idea to gauge public interested, similar to what he did with the implementation of the wild card in the 1990s. At this point, an expanded playoff appears more and more likely for 2012, says ESPN.com?s Jayson Stark.
The plan would be to add a second wild-card team in each league and have those two wild cards duke it out after the season for the right to move on to the Division Series. Stark says there could be a big battle over whether to make that series a one-game playoff or a best-of-three. Teams with the best records will likely be opposed to a best-of-three because of the extra time off needed to determine their playoff opponents.
[/h3][h3]Tigers to bid strong for V-Mart[/h3]
3:02PM ET
[h5]Victor Martinez | Red Sox [/h5]
UPDATE: Troy Renck of the Denver Post tweeted Thursday that the Detroit Tigers are making Martinez a top priority, according to sources.
If Martinez lands in Motown, that could impact the club's ability to go hard after Carl Crawford. Stay tuned on that front, because a Martinez-Crawford offseason in Detroit is a great one for the Tigers, and a bad one for the Twins and White Sox.
----
Peter Gammons of MLB.com stated last week in a radio interview that he does not expect http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5007Victor Martinez back in Boston next season, which opens the door for the all-star catcher to test the free agent market.
We've mentioned that the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/det/detroit-tigersDetroit Tigers are expected to make a run, and we wonder if the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/laa/los-angeles-angelsLos Angeles Angels won't get involved if they miss out on other bats such as http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5035Carl Crawford, http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4262Jayson Werth and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3878Adrian Beltre.
John Lowe of the Free Press wrote Sunday that the Tigers will make a strong push for Martinez. He could serve primarily as the designated hitter, then take over for left-handed-hitting Alex Avila at catcher when the Tigers face a left-hander.
Chris Toman of The Sports Network wrote last week that Martinez is a perfect fit in Toronto, where the Blue Jays simply need a mentor for http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29537J.P. Arencibia and have at-bats available at first base and/or the designated hitter spot.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Update on Pedroia[/h3]
2:57PM ET
[h5]Dustin Pedroia | Red Sox [/h5]
Dustin Pedroia's recovery and return is just as critical to the Boston Red Sox return to the postseason as anything else the club may do this winter, and WEEI.com provided an update last month.
Pedroia again updated WEEI in Boston that his protective boot was removed three months earlier than originally planned, a sign that his recovery is moving along well.
If Pedroia is fully healthy, the Red Sox may have a surplus in starting-caliber middle infielders with Marco Scutaro returning and the emergence of Jed Lowrie's bat late this past season.
Theo Epstein may decide it's safer to hang on to all three, however, at least until it appears Pedroia isn't going to have any setbacks.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Phils targeting Benoit, Contreras[/h3]
2:50PM ET
[h5]Joaquin Benoit | Rays [/h5]
Joaquin Benoit was one of, if not the best setup man in baseball last year, posting 1.34 ERA and 25 holds while striking out 75 and walking just 11 batters in 60 1/3 innings. And now he's being chased by the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Jim Bowden.
Philadelphia has Ryan Madson due back and Brad Lidge is under contract, too, so Benoit would simply be an addition to a bullpen needing some depth. The Phillies are also trying to retain Jose Contreras, reports ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, who was valuable in the middle innings for the Phillies a year ago.
Benoit, 33, figures to draw interest from a number of clubs after the season he just had in Tampa, and the Phillies could consider other late-inning options as well, including Jon Rauch, Jason Frasor, Jesse Crain, Brian Fuentes, and Benoit's teammate Grant Balfour.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]White Sox eyeing Soriano?[/h3]
2:16PM ET
[h5]Chicago White Sox [/h5]
We've mentioned on numerous occasions since last spring how Bobby Jenks' tenure as the closer on the south side may be coming to an end soon, and FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal wrote Thursday morning that they have checked in with free agent Rafael Soriano this week.
Soriano may ultimate prove to be a bit pricey for the White Sox -- or not -- but it's a clear sign that GM Kenny Williams is not all that keen on paying Jenks $9-10 million in 2011 after the right-hander made $7.5 million last season and showed signs of decline and certainly tested the patience of manager Ozzie Guillen with some of his inconsistencies.
The Sox could look to retain J.J. Putz and use him in the ninth inning, or go after other closer types such as Jon Rauch or Brian Fuentes, and could check the trade market where Francisco Rodriguez, David Aardsma and Jonathan Papelbon could all become available this winter.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Coghlan plans to play third[/h3]
2:10PM ET
[h5]Chris Coghlan | Marlins [/h5]
Chris Coghlan of the Florida Marlins came up through the minors as a second base prospect, but moved to left field once he reached the big leagues because of the presence of Dan Uggla, the only second baseman in baseball history with four straight 30-homer seasons. And as the club looks to extend Uggla's contract for the next four or five years, Coghlan will play yet another position in 2011.
Logan Morrison is a natural first baseman, but with Gaby Sanchez worthy of regular play, Morrison is penciled in for left field while Sanchez mans first base. This means Coghlan has to play third base, a position he played often in the early stages of his professional career before moving to second.
Coghlan is coming off meniscus surgery, but is reportedly recovering well and is expected to be ready to go by spring training.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Red Sox plans for outfield[/h3]
1:56PM ET
[h5]Boston Red Sox [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox were in on left fielder David DeJesus before he was dealt to the Oakland Athletics Wednesday,reports WEEI.com's Alex Speir.
It's the second time in six months that GM Theo Epstein went after the 30-year-old, and as Speier adds, could be a sign that the club may not be all too keen on spending the kind of money it might take to land Jayson Werth or Carl Crawford off the free agent market.
The Red Sox could prefer to trade for said outfielder and use the bulk of their payroll space to deal with their catching situation and continue to improve their pitching staff.
Other trade options could include Los Angeles Dodgers centerfielder Matt Kemp, and the Sox were connected to Kosuke Fukudome both last summer and earlier this week. Magglio Ordonez is a name that could come up in Boston if they feel he can handle the outfield on a regular basis at the age of 37 and coming off a major ankle injury.
As is, the Sox have J.D. Drew penciled for right field with Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury available for center and left. Neither of the latter two were healthy last season and Cameron's advanced age likely concerns the Red Sox going forward, lending to the possibility that the club adds an outfielder this winter.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Braves heating up trade talks?[/h3]
1:47PM ET
[h5]Atlanta Braves [/h5]
The talk since early last summer, if not sooner, is that the Atlanta Braves need help in the outfield. They went out and traded for Rick Ankiel, but the 32-year-old is a free agent and isn't likely to return, which means GM Frank Wren will be on the lookout for outfield help once again.
The Braves lineup lacks pop, which probably means the addition will need to bring some power to the table, and as David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote Tuesday, several names have already been connected to the Braves.
Pat Burrell, a free agent, is one of those names, but it's difficult to imagine the veteran being at the top of Wren's list. Colby Rasmus might be, but he'd also likely be the toughest of the bunch to pry away from his current club. Jacoby Ellsbury is more of a table-setter than a run producer, but he could man centerfield for years to come.
MLB.com's Mark Bowman added Thursday that the Braves may heat up trade talks soon and that they'd prefer a right-handed bat, which could abbreviate their interest in Rasmus and Ellsbury.
Tampa's B.J. Upton and the Dodgers' Matt Kemp are also possibilities, and free agent Magglio Ordonez could be in play if the price is right and the Braves believe he can still play right field regularly.
The Braves, who expect Chipper Jones to be back at some point -- but don't know when -- could go get a third baseman, too, though Adrian Beltre, the top name at the position on the open market, is likely priced out of Atlanta.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Arizona's first base situation[/h3]
1:43PM ET
[h5]Arizona Diamondbacks [/h5]
The Arizona Diamondbacks declined their 2011 option on first baseman Adam LaRoche earlier this month and are in the market for his replacement. But despite reports that GM Kevin Towers was planning on making a bid for free agent Paul Konerko, it appears the club may be seeking a short-term answer at the position, tweets FoxSports.com's Jon Morosi.
Short term would likely rule out Konerko, even though he's 35 years old, but may not eliminate such free agents as Carlos Pena, Lance Berkman, Lyle Overbay or Derrek Lee, who all bring some baggage -- age, declining skills or recent poor performances -- to the table that likely will hinder their shot at a four or five-year contract.
The Diamondbacks could also look into Aubrey Huff if the veteran and the Giants move sluggishly along to continue their relationship, and a one-year deal for the likes of Russell Branyan could work for the Diamondbacks, too.
Brandon Allen could play the outfield in 2011, but he's experienced at first base and displayed strong on-base skills last season in Triple-A Reno, giving the club a fallback option.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Loney on the block?[/h3]
1:34PM ET
[h5]James Loney | Dodgers [/h5]
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been waiting for James Loney to break through at the plate and it just hasn't happened. It could be time for the club to seek an upgrade, and if they can find the means to do so, Loney could become trade bait this winter.
Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn represent two possible targets, but each is likely to command at least three years at $10-15 million per season. Adam LaRoche could also be an option for GM Ned colletti, and Carlos Pena, who is being chased by the Washington Nationals, is also on the market.
Loney made $3.1 million in 2010 and stands to receive a raise into the $5 million range for next season. It's just a one-year commitment, however, which could interest clubs such as Tampa -- if they don't re-up with Pena -- Atlanta, of prospect Freddie Freeman needs another year in the minors or isn't expected to fully recover from a thumb injury suffered in the Arizona Fall League last month, and the Nationals could each be a fit.
The Dodgers are also in the market for a left fielder to replace Manny Ramirez and a possible upgrade at second, not to mention their wishes to improve their entire pitching staff, so the available funds will have to spent wisely.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Cards eyeing Hudson, Drew?[/h3]
1:27PM ET
[h5]St. Louis Cardinals [/h5]
While there has been no confirmed indications that the St. Louis Cardinals will or have plans to check in on free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson and potential trade target Stephen Drew of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests that either player could be sought after by GM John Mozeliak.
Drew might be a tough get, since he'd cost the Cardinals value in return, especially considering how dry the shortstop market is these days and that the Diamondbacks lack a replacement at the position within their organization.
Hudson, however, is a free agent, and unlike last winter will not cost the signing club a first-round draft pick. The veteran made $5 million with the Twins last season and could be a value at around the same figure for a club such as the Cardinals that need a stable option.
St. Louis used Skip Schumaker at second in 2010, his first season at the position in the big leagues, but may be best suited for a fourth outfielde ror utility role.
Other options for the Cardinals include making a major trade for Mets shortstop Jose Reyes or checking in on free agents such as Edgar Renteria or Juan Uribe, or talking trade with the Twins about J.J. Hardy or the Rays about Jason Bartlett.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Mets to shop Reyes?[/h3]
1:16PM ET
[h5]Jose Reyes | Mets [/h5]
The first notable contract move for New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was an expected one. An $11 million option for 2011 with shortstop Jose Reyes was exercised last Wednesday, and the attention turns to the possibility of a multi-year extension.
The 27-year-old Reyes debuted with the Mets as a teenager and has been with the club since. Over the summer, Reyes stated his desire to finish his career in Queens. But Alderson may have other ideas, such as shopping the infielder at the winter meetings next month.
Alderson is reshaping the Mets' franchise to his liking and the beginning of his tenure could be defined on what he does or does not do with Reyes, an exceptionally talented but sometimes inconsistent player. As Andy Martino of the Daily News points out, signing Reyes to a multi-year deal makes Reyes more valuable not only to the Mets but to any team that is looking to add a shortstop for the long term.
Reyes missed most of the 2009 season with various leg injuries, and some in the baseball community wonder whether he has lost a step. "He's definitely not as fast as he was in 2006. You can see that," an unnamed rival player of the Mets told Martino.
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Mets could trade Reyes in July
http://[h3]Werth not returning to Philly[/h3]
1:06PM ET
[h5]Jayson Werth | Phillies [/h5]
While they are also expected to be in on free agent left fielder Carl Crawford, the Boston Red Sox have made contact with Scott Boras about right fielder Jayson werth, reports ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes.
J.D. Drew, the Sox's right fielder for the past four years, has just one year left on that deal, and could move to left field to make room for Werth. Werth could also make the move to left field, as Drew has played just nine games in the other corner in his career while Werth has played more than 200.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark wrote Wednesday that Werth is not likely to return to Philly, with one source quoted as saying "no chance. None. Zero."
Acquiring Crawford or Werth in Boston means that there will either be a committee covering center field and the other corner spot, or one of the incumbents will be out of a job. Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury spent much of 2010 on the disabled list, so the Red Sox may see value in having both of them aboard for next season.
Of course, Ellsbury could be shopped to one of several clubs looking for help in center field, too.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Collins may have early edge in Queens[/h3]
11:22AM ET
[h5]New York Mets [/h5]
The traveling road show that is the New York Mets' managerial search moves to the Dominican Republic, where GM Sandy Alderson is expected to meet with Ken Oberkfell Thursday or Friday. Oberkfell, who managed at Triple-A Buffalo last season, is managing in the Dominican Winter League.
At this stage, the leading candidate appears to be former Astros and Angels manager Terry Collins, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Collins' early edge is due to his ties to Paul DePodesta, who was recently hired as the head of player development.
Alderson began interviewing external candidates for manager Tuesday when http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale visited Citi Field. The process will continued Wednesday when the Mets interview former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/col/colorado-rockiesColorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sea/seattle-marinersSeattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.
The interviews began last week in Queens where Alderson talked with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss. Then it was on to California over the weekend for talks with Collins, Chip Hale and Wally Backman. Got all that?
According to the New York Post, Alderson's callback list could have as many as four names, and Backman is expected to be among them.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]A's sign prospect de la Cruz[/h3]
11:20AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
An eventful offseason for the Oakland Athletics reportedly includes the signing of Vicmal de la Cruz, a sought-after center-field prospect from the Dominican Republic.
According to Baseball America the A's came to terms with the 5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitter, who turns 17 next week. The report says de la Cruz possesses "some of the best all-around tools of any prospect from this year's international signing class."
Kevin Goldstein tweets that the deal includes an $800,000 bonus.
The A's also landed David DeJesus in a trade with the Royals on Wednesday.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Options for Carlos Pena[/h3]
11:02AM ET
[h5]Carlos Pena | Rays [/h5]
We've been hearing for months how the free agent exodus out of Tampa Bay will include Carlos Pena.
The Washington Nationals have been linked to Pena since the regular season ended, and Ken Davidoff of New York Newsday tweeted last week that "Competing exec sees #Nationals signing Carlos Pena b/c of emphasis on defense and Rizzo's strong relationship with Boras."
Pena struggled at the plate this season, but still showed power and can still play first base at a high level. His down year may play into the Nationals' hands, as they probably couldn't afford Pena had he put up star-like production in 2010. But what about staying on the Gulf Coast?
John Romano writes in Thursday?s St. Pete Times that the Rays need to look past his .196 average and bring Pena back. "Pena is exactly the type of player typically on Tampa Bay's radar. If he had just finished up this wreck of a season in, let's say, Oakland, there would be talk of how nicely he would fit in the Rays lineup because of his talents and relative lack of leverage," Romano writes.
One caveat: Pena's batting average and RBI have declined each of the last three seasons.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Could Oakland deal an outfielder?[/h3]
10:45AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first notable trade of the offseason Wednesday night, acquiring outfielder David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers -- right-hander Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks -- giving the A's a full set of outfielders and opening left field for Alex Gordon on a permanent basis in KC.
Oakland receives a speedy outfielder who hit .318 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games before suffering a thumb injury. DeJesus is set to make $6 million in 2011 and then become a free agent.
DeJesus figures to join an outfield that already boasts former Royals teammate Coco Crisp. Also in the outfield mix for Oakland are arbitration-eligible players Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis and Conor Jackson, along with Chris Carter.
Wednesday's deal could prompt the A's to deal one of their excess outfielders, likely Davis or Jackson, before Opening Day. GM Billy Beane doesn't mind a crowded outfield, but said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.
Meanwhile, our Keith Law gives his take on what DeJesus brings to the A's:
- Doug Mittler
The book on DeJesus
http://[h3]Red Sox, Pirates like Duchscherer[/h3]
10:37AM ET
[h5]Justin Duchscherer | Athletics [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox have expressed interested in free agent right-hander Justin Duchscherer, reports WEEI.com, though it's not clear in which role they envision the 33-year-old.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who could be non-tendering or tarding left-hander Zach Duke this winter, have given indications that they are interested in Duchscherer's services.
Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review, however, says the Pirates have huge concerns about Duchscherer's durability.
Duchscherer had been a starter in most recent action with the Oakland Athletics, but has extensive experience pitching out of the bullpen. His versatility may be what clubs value as much as anything else, but the WEEI.com report by Rob Bradford indicates that Duchscherer has told clubs he wants to start.
The Reds Sox current starting rotation is full with Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka holding down the fort, but Beckett has had problems staying healthy and Matsuzaka is inconsistent to the point of ineffectiveness and could find himself on the trade block this winter as he enters the final year of his contract.
Duchscherer is coming off an injury so it's not likely he'll receive multi-year offers, but new Boston pitching coach Curt Young has worked well with Ducscherer in Oakland and such a connection could be a deciding factor.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Expanded playoffs by 2012?[/h3]
10:24AM ET
[h5]Expanded Playoffs [/h5]
[font=Helvetica][color=#225db7][siz...lrg/trans/mlb.gif[/img][/size][/color][/font]
We mentioned earlier this month how commissioner Bud Selig spent the playoffs laying the groundwork for an expanded postseason.
Selig discussed the idea at least twice during the World Series. "I like it enough, so we'll seriously consider it," Selig said before Game 4. "Is eight out of 30 enough? Is that fair? And that's the basic question here, at least for me."
Selig appears to be floating the idea to gauge public interested, similar to what he did with the implementation of the wild card in the 1990s. At this point, an expanded playoff appears more and more likely for 2012, says ESPN.com?s Jayson Stark.
The plan would be to add a second wild-card team in each league and have those two wild cards duke it out after the season for the right to move on to the Division Series. Stark says there could be a big battle over whether to make that series a one-game playoff or a best-of-three. Teams with the best records will likely be opposed to a best-of-three because of the extra time off needed to determine their playoff opponents.
http://[h3]
http://[h3]Werth not returning to Philly[/h3]
1:06PM ET
[h5]Jayson Werth | Phillies [/h5]
While they are also expected to be in on free agent left fielder Carl Crawford, the Boston Red Sox have made contact with Scott Boras about right fielder Jayson werth, reports ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes.
J.D. Drew, the Sox's right fielder for the past four years, has just one year left on that deal, and could move to left field to make room for Werth. Werth could also make the move to left field, as Drew has played just nine games in the other corner in his career while Werth has played more than 200.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark wrote Wednesday that Werth is not likely to return to Philly, with one source quoted as saying "no chance. None. Zero."
Acquiring Crawford or Werth in Boston means that there will either be a committee covering center field and the other corner spot, or one of the incumbents will be out of a job. Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury spent much of 2010 on the disabled list, so the Red Sox may see value in having both of them aboard for next season.
Of course, Ellsbury could be shopped to one of several clubs looking for help in center field, too.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Collins may have early edge in Queens[/h3]
11:22AM ET
[h5]New York Mets [/h5]
The traveling road show that is the New York Mets' managerial search moves to the Dominican Republic, where GM Sandy Alderson is expected to meet with Ken Oberkfell Thursday or Friday. Oberkfell, who managed at Triple-A Buffalo last season, is managing in the Dominican Winter League.
At this stage, the leading candidate appears to be former Astros and Angels manager Terry Collins, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Collins' early edge is due to his ties to Paul DePodesta, who was recently hired as the head of player development.
Alderson began interviewing external candidates for manager Tuesday when http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale visited Citi Field. The process will continued Wednesday when the Mets interview former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/col/colorado-rockiesColorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sea/seattle-marinersSeattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.
The interviews began last week in Queens where Alderson talked with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss. Then it was on to California over the weekend for talks with Collins, Chip Hale and Wally Backman. Got all that?
According to the New York Post, Alderson's callback list could have as many as four names, and Backman is expected to be among them.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]A's sign prospect de la Cruz[/h3]
11:20AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
An eventful offseason for the Oakland Athletics reportedly includes the signing of Vicmal de la Cruz, a sought-after center-field prospect from the Dominican Republic.
According to Baseball America the A's came to terms with the 5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitter, who turns 17 next week. The report says de la Cruz possesses "some of the best all-around tools of any prospect from this year's international signing class."
Kevin Goldstein tweets that the deal includes an $800,000 bonus.
The A's also landed David DeJesus in a trade with the Royals on Wednesday.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Options for Carlos Pena[/h3]
11:02AM ET
[h5]Carlos Pena | Rays [/h5]
We've been hearing for months how the free agent exodus out of Tampa Bay will include Carlos Pena.
The Washington Nationals have been linked to Pena since the regular season ended, and Ken Davidoff of New York Newsday tweeted last week that "Competing exec sees #Nationals signing Carlos Pena b/c of emphasis on defense and Rizzo's strong relationship with Boras."
Pena struggled at the plate this season, but still showed power and can still play first base at a high level. His down year may play into the Nationals' hands, as they probably couldn't afford Pena had he put up star-like production in 2010. But what about staying on the Gulf Coast?
John Romano writes in Thursday?s St. Pete Times that the Rays need to look past his .196 average and bring Pena back. "Pena is exactly the type of player typically on Tampa Bay's radar. If he had just finished up this wreck of a season in, let's say, Oakland, there would be talk of how nicely he would fit in the Rays lineup because of his talents and relative lack of leverage," Romano writes.
One caveat: Pena's batting average and RBI have declined each of the last three seasons.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Could Oakland deal an outfielder?[/h3]
10:45AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first notable trade of the offseason Wednesday night, acquiring outfielder David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers -- right-hander Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks -- giving the A's a full set of outfielders and opening left field for Alex Gordon on a permanent basis in KC.
Oakland receives a speedy outfielder who hit .318 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games before suffering a thumb injury. DeJesus is set to make $6 million in 2011 and then become a free agent.
DeJesus figures to join an outfield that already boasts former Royals teammate Coco Crisp. Also in the outfield mix for Oakland are arbitration-eligible players Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis and Conor Jackson, along with Chris Carter.
Wednesday's deal could prompt the A's to deal one of their excess outfielders, likely Davis or Jackson, before Opening Day. GM Billy Beane doesn't mind a crowded outfield, but said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.
Meanwhile, our Keith Law gives his take on what DeJesus brings to the A's:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
The book on DeJesus
http://[h3]Red Sox, Pirates like Duchscherer[/h3]
10:37AM ET
[h5]Justin Duchscherer | Athletics [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox have expressed interested in free agent right-hander Justin Duchscherer, reports WEEI.com, though it's not clear in which role they envision the 33-year-old.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who could be non-tendering or tarding left-hander Zach Duke this winter, have given indications that they are interested in Duchscherer's services.
Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review, however, says the Pirates have huge concerns about Duchscherer's durability.
Duchscherer had been a starter in most recent action with the Oakland Athletics, but has extensive experience pitching out of the bullpen. His versatility may be what clubs value as much as anything else, but the WEEI.com report by Rob Bradford indicates that Duchscherer has told clubs he wants to start.
The Reds Sox current starting rotation is full with Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka holding down the fort, but Beckett has had problems staying healthy and Matsuzaka is inconsistent to the point of ineffectiveness and could find himself on the trade block this winter as he enters the final year of his contract.
Duchscherer is coming off an injury so it's not likely he'll receive multi-year offers, but new Boston pitching coach Curt Young has worked well with Ducscherer in Oakland and such a connection could be a deciding factor.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Expanded playoffs by 2012?[/h3]
10:24AM ET
[h5]Expanded Playoffs [/h5]
[font=Helvetica][color=#225db7][siz...lrg/trans/mlb.gif[/img][/size][/color][/font]
We mentioned earlier this month how commissioner Bud Selig spent the playoffs laying the groundwork for an expanded postseason.
Selig discussed the idea at least twice during the World Series. "I like it enough, so we'll seriously consider it," Selig said before Game 4. "Is eight out of 30 enough? Is that fair? And that's the basic question here, at least for me."
Selig appears to be floating the idea to gauge public interested, similar to what he did with the implementation of the wild card in the 1990s. At this point, an expanded playoff appears more and more likely for 2012, says ESPN.com?s Jayson Stark.
The plan would be to add a second wild-card team in each league and have those two wild cards duke it out after the season for the right to move on to the Division Series. Stark says there could be a big battle over whether to make that series a one-game playoff or a best-of-three. Teams with the best records will likely be opposed to a best-of-three because of the extra time off needed to determine their playoff opponents.
[/h3][h3]Tigers to bid strong for V-Mart[/h3]
3:02PM ET
[h5]Victor Martinez | Red Sox [/h5]
UPDATE: Troy Renck of the Denver Post tweeted Thursday that the Detroit Tigers are making Martinez a top priority, according to sources.
If Martinez lands in Motown, that could impact the club's ability to go hard after Carl Crawford. Stay tuned on that front, because a Martinez-Crawford offseason in Detroit is a great one for the Tigers, and a bad one for the Twins and White Sox.
----
Peter Gammons of MLB.com stated last week in a radio interview that he does not expect http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5007Victor Martinez back in Boston next season, which opens the door for the all-star catcher to test the free agent market.
We've mentioned that the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/det/detroit-tigersDetroit Tigers are expected to make a run, and we wonder if the http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/laa/los-angeles-angelsLos Angeles Angels won't get involved if they miss out on other bats such as http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5035Carl Crawford, http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4262Jayson Werth and http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3878Adrian Beltre.
John Lowe of the Free Press wrote Sunday that the Tigers will make a strong push for Martinez. He could serve primarily as the designated hitter, then take over for left-handed-hitting Alex Avila at catcher when the Tigers face a left-hander.
Chris Toman of The Sports Network wrote last week that Martinez is a perfect fit in Toronto, where the Blue Jays simply need a mentor for http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29537J.P. Arencibia and have at-bats available at first base and/or the designated hitter spot.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Update on Pedroia[/h3]
2:57PM ET
[h5]Dustin Pedroia | Red Sox [/h5]
Dustin Pedroia's recovery and return is just as critical to the Boston Red Sox return to the postseason as anything else the club may do this winter, and WEEI.com provided an update last month.
Pedroia again updated WEEI in Boston that his protective boot was removed three months earlier than originally planned, a sign that his recovery is moving along well.
If Pedroia is fully healthy, the Red Sox may have a surplus in starting-caliber middle infielders with Marco Scutaro returning and the emergence of Jed Lowrie's bat late this past season.
Theo Epstein may decide it's safer to hang on to all three, however, at least until it appears Pedroia isn't going to have any setbacks.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Phils targeting Benoit, Contreras[/h3]
2:50PM ET
[h5]Joaquin Benoit | Rays [/h5]
Joaquin Benoit was one of, if not the best setup man in baseball last year, posting 1.34 ERA and 25 holds while striking out 75 and walking just 11 batters in 60 1/3 innings. And now he's being chased by the Philadelphia Phillies, according to Jim Bowden.
Philadelphia has Ryan Madson due back and Brad Lidge is under contract, too, so Benoit would simply be an addition to a bullpen needing some depth. The Phillies are also trying to retain Jose Contreras, reports ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, who was valuable in the middle innings for the Phillies a year ago.
Benoit, 33, figures to draw interest from a number of clubs after the season he just had in Tampa, and the Phillies could consider other late-inning options as well, including Jon Rauch, Jason Frasor, Jesse Crain, Brian Fuentes, and Benoit's teammate Grant Balfour.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]White Sox eyeing Soriano?[/h3]
2:16PM ET
[h5]Chicago White Sox [/h5]
We've mentioned on numerous occasions since last spring how Bobby Jenks' tenure as the closer on the south side may be coming to an end soon, and FoxSports.com's Ken Rosenthal wrote Thursday morning that they have checked in with free agent Rafael Soriano this week.
Soriano may ultimate prove to be a bit pricey for the White Sox -- or not -- but it's a clear sign that GM Kenny Williams is not all that keen on paying Jenks $9-10 million in 2011 after the right-hander made $7.5 million last season and showed signs of decline and certainly tested the patience of manager Ozzie Guillen with some of his inconsistencies.
The Sox could look to retain J.J. Putz and use him in the ninth inning, or go after other closer types such as Jon Rauch or Brian Fuentes, and could check the trade market where Francisco Rodriguez, David Aardsma and Jonathan Papelbon could all become available this winter.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Coghlan plans to play third[/h3]
2:10PM ET
[h5]Chris Coghlan | Marlins [/h5]
Chris Coghlan of the Florida Marlins came up through the minors as a second base prospect, but moved to left field once he reached the big leagues because of the presence of Dan Uggla, the only second baseman in baseball history with four straight 30-homer seasons. And as the club looks to extend Uggla's contract for the next four or five years, Coghlan will play yet another position in 2011.
Logan Morrison is a natural first baseman, but with Gaby Sanchez worthy of regular play, Morrison is penciled in for left field while Sanchez mans first base. This means Coghlan has to play third base, a position he played often in the early stages of his professional career before moving to second.
Coghlan is coming off meniscus surgery, but is reportedly recovering well and is expected to be ready to go by spring training.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Red Sox plans for outfield[/h3]
1:56PM ET
[h5]Boston Red Sox [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox were in on left fielder David DeJesus before he was dealt to the Oakland Athletics Wednesday,reports WEEI.com's Alex Speir.
It's the second time in six months that GM Theo Epstein went after the 30-year-old, and as Speier adds, could be a sign that the club may not be all too keen on spending the kind of money it might take to land Jayson Werth or Carl Crawford off the free agent market.
The Red Sox could prefer to trade for said outfielder and use the bulk of their payroll space to deal with their catching situation and continue to improve their pitching staff.
Other trade options could include Los Angeles Dodgers centerfielder Matt Kemp, and the Sox were connected to Kosuke Fukudome both last summer and earlier this week. Magglio Ordonez is a name that could come up in Boston if they feel he can handle the outfield on a regular basis at the age of 37 and coming off a major ankle injury.
As is, the Sox have J.D. Drew penciled for right field with Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury available for center and left. Neither of the latter two were healthy last season and Cameron's advanced age likely concerns the Red Sox going forward, lending to the possibility that the club adds an outfielder this winter.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Braves heating up trade talks?[/h3]
1:47PM ET
[h5]Atlanta Braves [/h5]
The talk since early last summer, if not sooner, is that the Atlanta Braves need help in the outfield. They went out and traded for Rick Ankiel, but the 32-year-old is a free agent and isn't likely to return, which means GM Frank Wren will be on the lookout for outfield help once again.
The Braves lineup lacks pop, which probably means the addition will need to bring some power to the table, and as David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote Tuesday, several names have already been connected to the Braves.
Pat Burrell, a free agent, is one of those names, but it's difficult to imagine the veteran being at the top of Wren's list. Colby Rasmus might be, but he'd also likely be the toughest of the bunch to pry away from his current club. Jacoby Ellsbury is more of a table-setter than a run producer, but he could man centerfield for years to come.
MLB.com's Mark Bowman added Thursday that the Braves may heat up trade talks soon and that they'd prefer a right-handed bat, which could abbreviate their interest in Rasmus and Ellsbury.
Tampa's B.J. Upton and the Dodgers' Matt Kemp are also possibilities, and free agent Magglio Ordonez could be in play if the price is right and the Braves believe he can still play right field regularly.
The Braves, who expect Chipper Jones to be back at some point -- but don't know when -- could go get a third baseman, too, though Adrian Beltre, the top name at the position on the open market, is likely priced out of Atlanta.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Arizona's first base situation[/h3]
1:43PM ET
[h5]Arizona Diamondbacks [/h5]
The Arizona Diamondbacks declined their 2011 option on first baseman Adam LaRoche earlier this month and are in the market for his replacement. But despite reports that GM Kevin Towers was planning on making a bid for free agent Paul Konerko, it appears the club may be seeking a short-term answer at the position, tweets FoxSports.com's Jon Morosi.
Short term would likely rule out Konerko, even though he's 35 years old, but may not eliminate such free agents as Carlos Pena, Lance Berkman, Lyle Overbay or Derrek Lee, who all bring some baggage -- age, declining skills or recent poor performances -- to the table that likely will hinder their shot at a four or five-year contract.
The Diamondbacks could also look into Aubrey Huff if the veteran and the Giants move sluggishly along to continue their relationship, and a one-year deal for the likes of Russell Branyan could work for the Diamondbacks, too.
Brandon Allen could play the outfield in 2011, but he's experienced at first base and displayed strong on-base skills last season in Triple-A Reno, giving the club a fallback option.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Loney on the block?[/h3]
1:34PM ET
[h5]James Loney | Dodgers [/h5]
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been waiting for James Loney to break through at the plate and it just hasn't happened. It could be time for the club to seek an upgrade, and if they can find the means to do so, Loney could become trade bait this winter.
Paul Konerko and Adam Dunn represent two possible targets, but each is likely to command at least three years at $10-15 million per season. Adam LaRoche could also be an option for GM Ned colletti, and Carlos Pena, who is being chased by the Washington Nationals, is also on the market.
Loney made $3.1 million in 2010 and stands to receive a raise into the $5 million range for next season. It's just a one-year commitment, however, which could interest clubs such as Tampa -- if they don't re-up with Pena -- Atlanta, of prospect Freddie Freeman needs another year in the minors or isn't expected to fully recover from a thumb injury suffered in the Arizona Fall League last month, and the Nationals could each be a fit.
The Dodgers are also in the market for a left fielder to replace Manny Ramirez and a possible upgrade at second, not to mention their wishes to improve their entire pitching staff, so the available funds will have to spent wisely.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Cards eyeing Hudson, Drew?[/h3]
1:27PM ET
[h5]St. Louis Cardinals [/h5]
While there has been no confirmed indications that the St. Louis Cardinals will or have plans to check in on free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson and potential trade target Stephen Drew of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests that either player could be sought after by GM John Mozeliak.
Drew might be a tough get, since he'd cost the Cardinals value in return, especially considering how dry the shortstop market is these days and that the Diamondbacks lack a replacement at the position within their organization.
Hudson, however, is a free agent, and unlike last winter will not cost the signing club a first-round draft pick. The veteran made $5 million with the Twins last season and could be a value at around the same figure for a club such as the Cardinals that need a stable option.
St. Louis used Skip Schumaker at second in 2010, his first season at the position in the big leagues, but may be best suited for a fourth outfielde ror utility role.
Other options for the Cardinals include making a major trade for Mets shortstop Jose Reyes or checking in on free agents such as Edgar Renteria or Juan Uribe, or talking trade with the Twins about J.J. Hardy or the Rays about Jason Bartlett.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Mets to shop Reyes?[/h3]
1:16PM ET
[h5]Jose Reyes | Mets [/h5]
The first notable contract move for New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was an expected one. An $11 million option for 2011 with shortstop Jose Reyes was exercised last Wednesday, and the attention turns to the possibility of a multi-year extension.
The 27-year-old Reyes debuted with the Mets as a teenager and has been with the club since. Over the summer, Reyes stated his desire to finish his career in Queens. But Alderson may have other ideas, such as shopping the infielder at the winter meetings next month.
Alderson is reshaping the Mets' franchise to his liking and the beginning of his tenure could be defined on what he does or does not do with Reyes, an exceptionally talented but sometimes inconsistent player. As Andy Martino of the Daily News points out, signing Reyes to a multi-year deal makes Reyes more valuable not only to the Mets but to any team that is looking to add a shortstop for the long term.
Reyes missed most of the 2009 season with various leg injuries, and some in the baseball community wonder whether he has lost a step. "He's definitely not as fast as he was in 2006. You can see that," an unnamed rival player of the Mets told Martino.
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Mets could trade Reyes in July
http://[h3]Werth not returning to Philly[/h3]
1:06PM ET
[h5]Jayson Werth | Phillies [/h5]
While they are also expected to be in on free agent left fielder Carl Crawford, the Boston Red Sox have made contact with Scott Boras about right fielder Jayson werth, reports ESPNBoston.com's Gordon Edes.
J.D. Drew, the Sox's right fielder for the past four years, has just one year left on that deal, and could move to left field to make room for Werth. Werth could also make the move to left field, as Drew has played just nine games in the other corner in his career while Werth has played more than 200.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark wrote Wednesday that Werth is not likely to return to Philly, with one source quoted as saying "no chance. None. Zero."
Acquiring Crawford or Werth in Boston means that there will either be a committee covering center field and the other corner spot, or one of the incumbents will be out of a job. Mike Cameron and Jacoby Ellsbury spent much of 2010 on the disabled list, so the Red Sox may see value in having both of them aboard for next season.
Of course, Ellsbury could be shopped to one of several clubs looking for help in center field, too.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Collins may have early edge in Queens[/h3]
11:22AM ET
[h5]New York Mets [/h5]
The traveling road show that is the New York Mets' managerial search moves to the Dominican Republic, where GM Sandy Alderson is expected to meet with Ken Oberkfell Thursday or Friday. Oberkfell, who managed at Triple-A Buffalo last season, is managing in the Dominican Winter League.
At this stage, the leading candidate appears to be former Astros and Angels manager Terry Collins, reports Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. Collins' early edge is due to his ties to Paul DePodesta, who was recently hired as the head of player development.
Alderson began interviewing external candidates for manager Tuesday when http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-soxBoston Red Sox bench coach DeMarlo Hale visited Citi Field. The process will continued Wednesday when the Mets interview former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/col/colorado-rockiesColorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and former http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/_/name/sea/seattle-marinersSeattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu.
The interviews began last week in Queens where Alderson talked with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss. Then it was on to California over the weekend for talks with Collins, Chip Hale and Wally Backman. Got all that?
According to the New York Post, Alderson's callback list could have as many as four names, and Backman is expected to be among them.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]A's sign prospect de la Cruz[/h3]
11:20AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
An eventful offseason for the Oakland Athletics reportedly includes the signing of Vicmal de la Cruz, a sought-after center-field prospect from the Dominican Republic.
According to Baseball America the A's came to terms with the 5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitter, who turns 17 next week. The report says de la Cruz possesses "some of the best all-around tools of any prospect from this year's international signing class."
Kevin Goldstein tweets that the deal includes an $800,000 bonus.
The A's also landed David DeJesus in a trade with the Royals on Wednesday.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Options for Carlos Pena[/h3]
11:02AM ET
[h5]Carlos Pena | Rays [/h5]
We've been hearing for months how the free agent exodus out of Tampa Bay will include Carlos Pena.
The Washington Nationals have been linked to Pena since the regular season ended, and Ken Davidoff of New York Newsday tweeted last week that "Competing exec sees #Nationals signing Carlos Pena b/c of emphasis on defense and Rizzo's strong relationship with Boras."
Pena struggled at the plate this season, but still showed power and can still play first base at a high level. His down year may play into the Nationals' hands, as they probably couldn't afford Pena had he put up star-like production in 2010. But what about staying on the Gulf Coast?
John Romano writes in Thursday?s St. Pete Times that the Rays need to look past his .196 average and bring Pena back. "Pena is exactly the type of player typically on Tampa Bay's radar. If he had just finished up this wreck of a season in, let's say, Oakland, there would be talk of how nicely he would fit in the Rays lineup because of his talents and relative lack of leverage," Romano writes.
One caveat: Pena's batting average and RBI have declined each of the last three seasons.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Could Oakland deal an outfielder?[/h3]
10:45AM ET
[h5]Oakland Athletics [/h5]
The Oakland Athletics pulled off the first notable trade of the offseason Wednesday night, acquiring outfielder David DeJesus from the Kansas City Royals for two pitchers -- right-hander Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks -- giving the A's a full set of outfielders and opening left field for Alex Gordon on a permanent basis in KC.
Oakland receives a speedy outfielder who hit .318 with five home runs and 37 RBIs in 91 games before suffering a thumb injury. DeJesus is set to make $6 million in 2011 and then become a free agent.
DeJesus figures to join an outfield that already boasts former Royals teammate Coco Crisp. Also in the outfield mix for Oakland are arbitration-eligible players Ryan Sweeney, Rajai Davis and Conor Jackson, along with Chris Carter.
Wednesday's deal could prompt the A's to deal one of their excess outfielders, likely Davis or Jackson, before Opening Day. GM Billy Beane doesn't mind a crowded outfield, but said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.
Meanwhile, our Keith Law gives his take on what DeJesus brings to the A's:
- Doug Mittler
The book on DeJesus
http://[h3]Red Sox, Pirates like Duchscherer[/h3]
10:37AM ET
[h5]Justin Duchscherer | Athletics [/h5]
The Boston Red Sox have expressed interested in free agent right-hander Justin Duchscherer, reports WEEI.com, though it's not clear in which role they envision the 33-year-old.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who could be non-tendering or tarding left-hander Zach Duke this winter, have given indications that they are interested in Duchscherer's services.
Rob Biertempfel of the Tribune-Review, however, says the Pirates have huge concerns about Duchscherer's durability.
Duchscherer had been a starter in most recent action with the Oakland Athletics, but has extensive experience pitching out of the bullpen. His versatility may be what clubs value as much as anything else, but the WEEI.com report by Rob Bradford indicates that Duchscherer has told clubs he wants to start.
The Reds Sox current starting rotation is full with Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka holding down the fort, but Beckett has had problems staying healthy and Matsuzaka is inconsistent to the point of ineffectiveness and could find himself on the trade block this winter as he enters the final year of his contract.
Duchscherer is coming off an injury so it's not likely he'll receive multi-year offers, but new Boston pitching coach Curt Young has worked well with Ducscherer in Oakland and such a connection could be a deciding factor.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Expanded playoffs by 2012?[/h3]
10:24AM ET
[h5]Expanded Playoffs [/h5]
[font=Helvetica][color=#225db7][siz...lrg/trans/mlb.gif[/img][/size][/color][/font]
We mentioned earlier this month how commissioner Bud Selig spent the playoffs laying the groundwork for an expanded postseason.
Selig discussed the idea at least twice during the World Series. "I like it enough, so we'll seriously consider it," Selig said before Game 4. "Is eight out of 30 enough? Is that fair? And that's the basic question here, at least for me."
Selig appears to be floating the idea to gauge public interested, similar to what he did with the implementation of the wild card in the 1990s. At this point, an expanded playoff appears more and more likely for 2012, says ESPN.com?s Jayson Stark.
The plan would be to add a second wild-card team in each league and have those two wild cards duke it out after the season for the right to move on to the Division Series. Stark says there could be a big battle over whether to make that series a one-game playoff or a best-of-three. Teams with the best records will likely be opposed to a best-of-three because of the extra time off needed to determine their playoff opponents.
- 74,762
- 24,160
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2008
Reyes gets traded and they don't sign him after 2011, I will never watch a Met game again.
- 74,762
- 24,160
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2008
Reyes gets traded and they don't sign him after 2011, I will never watch a Met game again.
Originally Posted by GotHolesInMySocks
Originally Posted by WearinTheFourFive
This Delacruz kid getting signed is better than the Japanese guy (still havent learned his name) and DeJesus combined. Hopefully he turns into our next Tejada.
my cousin who lives in the dominican republic told me he saw Vicmal De La Cruz play out there and he said dude is gonna be the real deal.
he also said to watch out for Edwin Moreno, OF
One thing I've heard about him a lot is that he's really undersized and can't hit a breaking pitch.
