[h3]Rangers to trade Michael Young?[/h3]
6:03PM ET
[h5]Michael Young |
Rangers[/h5]
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com tweets Tuesday that the
Texas Rangers are
fielding offers for infielder
Michael Young. Young, 34, hit .284/.330/.444 with 21 home runs in 2010, but is due $48 million over the next three season.
The Rangers may have to be willing to send cash along with Young, and probably have to accept the idea that they may not get much in return. Clubs that could view Young as an option may include the
St. Louis Cardinals,
San Francisco Giants,
Los Angeles Angels and
Toronto Blue Jays.
The Rangers could be trying to pave the way for a future move, since if Young were dealt he would vacate third base, and the club does not have an obvious in-house option at the position. Might
Adrian Beltre be an option in Arlington?
Rosenthal writes, however, that the Rangers could be looking to clear payroll because of their sizable offer to Cliff Lee, and that trading Young now maks sense because he will become a 10-5 player next May, enabling him to block any trade.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]The market for Derrek Lee[/h3]
5:47PM ET
[h5]Derrek Lee |
Braves[/h5]
A number of clubs could use a first baseman, or even an upgrade at the position, including the
Los Angeles Dodgers,
Texas Rangers,
Baltimore Orioles,
Toronto Blue Jays,
Washington Nationals and
Chicago Cubs. The Nationals have been linked to
Carlos Pena, as have the Blue Jays and Cubs, and the Orioles went hard after
Paul Konerko without success.
The O's,
, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweets, will have interest in free agent
Derrek Lee, "if the medicals check out."
The Rangers could view Lee as a backup plan to Konerko, who is rumored heavily to be close to re-signing with the White Sox, and the loser of the Pena sweepstakes could see Lee as an option, but it appears unlikely that the Cubs would go back down that road again.
The Dodgers, who may or may not have interest in
Prince Fielder, could see Lee as an upgrade to
James Loney, but may not have much money to spend.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Ryan more encouraged on Lee chances[/h3]
5:36PM ET
[h5]Cliff Lee |
Rangers[/h5]
UPDATE: Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
tweets late Tuesday afternoon that Nolan Ryan is "more encouraged this week than last that Cliff Lee will sign with #Rangers," a sentiment that backs up what manager Ron Washington told reporters Monday.
...
UPDATE: Lee's offer from the Yankees will be for six years,
tweets Olney. The belief here could be that the Yankees may go nuts on a five-year deal but won't go seven.
...
UPDATE:Our Buster Olney
tweets Tuesday morning there is a growing speculation among rival agents and executives that the Washington Nationals are going to throw a HUGE number at Cliff Lee.
--
A lucky seven could be what it takes to land
Cliff Lee.
The winter meetings began in earnest Monday and plenty of attention focused on Lee, the free agent left-hander who is being aggressively pursued by the
Texas Rangers and
New York Yankees.
Agent Darek Braunecker met separately Monday with both Texas GM Jon Daniels and Yankees counterpart Brian Cashman. ESPN the Magazine's Buster Olney reported that
money was not discussed with Cashman, nor were parameters put forth. Olney added Tuesday morning that Braunecker is still trying to drum up interest from other teams.
Meanwhile,
Ken Rosenthalreported early Tuesday morning that at least one unidentified team has expressed a willingness to offer Lee a seven-year deal, but no such offer had been made as of Monday night. Another source tells Rosenthal that the Yankees do not plan to make a seven-year offer.
George King of the
New York Post believes the Yankees are willing to spend $23 million per season on Lee, which also might be too rich for the Rangers.
There have been conflicting reports whether the Yankees have offered Lee a six-year deal worth $140 million. If that is true, it might be enough to get it done.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox have talked with the agent for Lee,
reports WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark can't find anybody who doesn't expect the Lee auction to come down to the Yankees and Rangers.
- Doug Mittler
http://[h3]Rays talking Garza trade?[/h3]
5:29PM ET
[h5]Matt Garza |
Rays[/h5]
Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune tweets that the
Milwaukee Brewers are
"rekindling talks" with the
Tampa Bay Rays regarding right-hander
Matt Garza, and that the Brewers may be willing to include center field prospect
Lorenzo Cain.
Garza is arbitration eligible this winter after making $3.35 million in 2010, but he is under club control for two more seasons.
Milwaukee was linked to
Carl Pavano earlier Tuesday, and traded for right-hander
Shaun Marcum on day 1 of the winter meetings.
The Brewers may have competition, however, as the
Washington Nationals may prefer to deal for Garza than for Greinke,
writes Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
Cain would presumably be a candidate to take over for
Carl Crawford in Tampa, but his presence could also make
B.J. Upton trade bait as well. Last summer, GM Andrew Friedman told reporters that he didn't want to move Upton because of his defense, but Cain has similar defensively capabilities.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Halos' 3B options[/h3]
5:16PM ET
[h5]Los Angeles Angels[/h5]
One look at the team stat page and it's clear the
Los Angeles Angels could use help at third base. But their connection to
Adrian Beltre's free agency may not mean a whole lot, as manager Mike Scioscia told the media today in Florida.
Rumor Central's Chris Sprow's take: "Given what he has currently, Scioscia notes a possible combo of
Alberto Callaspo and
Brandon Wood as 'a fragile balance' going into the spring."
Wood has struggled mightily in his big-league stints, but did show well in the Arizona Fall League, hitting .341/.385/.489, though he did continue to struggle with the strikeout.
The Angels could still jump into the market for Beltre, who is said to be seeking a five-year deal worth between $70-85 million.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Mets to add 'pen arm?[/h3]
4:56PM ET
[h5]D.J. Carrasco |
Diamondbacks[/h5]
The
New York Mets, in an attempt to shore up their bullpen without spending tons of money, are nearing a deal with right-hander
.J. Carrasco,
tweets Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse.
Carrasco, 33, could share setup duties with
Bobby Parnell, and the Mets may still be interested in a left-hander to replace
Pedro Feliciano, who was a solid workhorse for the Mets the past two seasons.
Price's tweet mentioned that the two sides were working on a two-year contract, and though no terms have been reported, we have to believe the Mets still have some payroll space left to address the starting rotation.
- Jason A. Churchill
http://[h3]Philly's OF situation[/h3]
4:43PM ET
[h5]Philadelphia Phillies[/h5]
With
Jayson Werth headed to Washington, the
Philadelphia Phillies are looking in another direction for outfield help. Reports have them connected to free agents
Jeff Francoeur and
Matt Diaz, but the presence of
Ben Francisco, a fairly similar player, could limit the salary commitments they might make to either player.
The club has not been linked to
Magglio Ordonez at this stage, nor
Andruw Jones,
Austin Kearns or
Xavier Nady, but the asking price may be high this early in the game and the Phillies could keep an eye on that group as the winter progresses.
We discussed the rumors last month surrounding the potential trade involving
Raul Ibanez and
Chicago White Sox outfielder
Carlos Quentin, but that possibility may live only if the Sox are unable to re-sign
Paul Konerko.
The Phillies may go with a platoon of Francisco, or another veteran, and top prospect
Domonic Brown, whom manager Charlie Manuel is
not ready to send back to the minors, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.
http://[h3]Nats call on Greinke[/h3]
4:12PM ET
[h5]Zack Greinke |
Royals[/h5]
UPDATE: Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports Tuesday that the Nationals
have called the Royals to express their interest in Greinke.
...
UPDATE: Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse tweets Tuesday afternoon that clubs are
improving their offers for Greinke. The Royals were reportedly "annoyed" by the Rangers' initial offer.
There has been no indication of another club making an official offer, but the Blue Jays, Twins, Yankees and Red Sox could all do so, though Boston's inventory of young talent is down three after the trade to acquire Adrian Gonzalez.
...
Speculation on the future of
Zack Greinke has heated up at winter meetings, but what are the
Kansas City Royals looking for in return?
In
Tuesday's blog, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes there isthere is very little impact pitching available on the open market. "So Dayton Moore, the Royals' general manager, is asking for the sun and the moon and first-born male children, plus some really good pitching prospects -- which is what he should do," Olney writes.
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star
tweeted Monday night that talks between the Rangers and Royals about Greinke have stalled, just as they did between KC and Toronto earlier in the day.
It does appear, however, that the Royals are strongly considering moving their ace, and that the Blue Jays and Rangers are the most interested clubs.
One unnamed Royals official told Dutton in
Sunday's Star: "We'd want two young players who can make a major impact, and maybe two guys who can help us out in some way. If we don't get that, we don't make the trade. It's that simple."
While the price remains high, Olney might not stay that way forever:
- Doug Mittler
[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Time for Royals to sell high?
"The Royals know this, too: Greinke had a mediocre 2010 season, and the broad view within the sport is that Greinke was bored, at times. Some players deal well with playing on a losing team -- like Felix Hernandez, who kept his focus throughout the entire 2010 season despite being 'supported' miserably by the Mariners' offense -- and some players don't handle it that well. If the Royals keep Greinke into the 2011 season and his ERA again hovers near 4.00, he will lose the mulligan that rival evaluators are giving him for his 2010 performance. His trade value will drop significantly."