Rumors for December, 2009
Pittsburgh Pirates sign Bobby Crosby to 1 year contract
Posted by: | CommentsThe American Chronicle reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to announce the signing of former Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby to a 1 year contract. “We’ve got some processes we’ve got to work through,” general manager Neal Huntington said Wednesday night. Terms of the deal are not available.
Pirates interested in Rick Ankiel
Posted by: | CommentsESPN reports that Scott Boras client, Rick Ankiel, has drawn interest from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jerry Crasnik Tweets that Boras wants a 3-year deal for “big money”.
The former pitcher turned outfielder hit .231 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI’s over 120 games in an injury shorted season in 2009. However, he did have a solid 2008 when he hit 25 home runs and drove in 71 runs.
Kansas City Royals offer 2 year contract to catcher Jason Kendall
Posted by: | CommentsThe Kansas City Star reports that the Kansas City Royals have offered veteran catcher Jason Kendall a 2 year contract. Terms are unknown at this point.
The Nationals signed Ivan Rodriguez to a 2-year $6 million contract and the Rockies are close to signing a 2-year $5 million contract with Yorvit Torrealba. The New York Post reports that the Mets have offered Bengie Molina a 2-year $12 million offer, but Molina may be looking at a 3-year contract given that he’s probably the best of the free agent catchers. Kendall made $5 million in 2009 through his vesting option. He ranks in the same catching tier as Rodriguez so I’m assuming that the 2-year contract offered by the Royals is comparable to the contract the Nationals offered to Rodriguez.
The number of free agent catchers is dwindling. The Dodgers and the Giants who are interested in catchers may be continue to pursue Brad Ausmus or Miguel Olivo.
Red Sox judged Jason Bay market correctly – will wait
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to The Boston Globe, the Red Sox are waiting out the Jason Bay market. All sign have indicated that the demand for Bay is small, and by waiting it out they can get Bay for a relative bargain. Teams have been reluctant this year to be the one to open up the $50+ million gateway, a number that many figured Jason Bay could command.
Right now, the front runners for Jason Bay include the Red Sox, the Angels, the Mariners and according to the Boston Herald the Mets have entered the chase. It is believed that the Red Sox made a 4-year $60 million offer before the Winter Meetings, but was declined by Bay and his agent, Joe Urbon.
The waiting game is a double edged sword. The Red Sox and Cardinals can go back and forth in negotiating with tier 1 players like Bay or Matt Holliday, but consolation prizes such as Mark DeRosa will get snatched up by those teams that were never in the market for the tier 1 players.
Boof Bonser traded to Red Sox
Posted by: | CommentsReynolds Sports Agency, the company that represents pitcher Boof Bonser, has Tweeted that the Minnesota Twins have traded Bonser to the Red Sox. Bonser was designated for assignment by the Twin to make room for pitcher Carl Pavano who accepted Minnesota’s offer of arbitration.
Bonser missed the 2009 season due to shoulder surgery during Spring Training. He has a 18-25 record and a 5.12 ERA in 96 games with Twins. Bonser made $450,000 in 2009 while sitting out.
Rafael Soriano traded to Tampa Bay Rays
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 9:02am PST: The Rays have signed Soriano for 1 year at $7 million or slightly above according to Ken Rosenthal’s Tweet. This is all pending the exchange of medicals. This also avoids an arbitration hearing between Soriano and the Rays in early 2010. Soriano could have fetched as much as $8 million for 1 season had he won arbitration.
ESPN.com reports that the Atlanta Braves have traded relief pitcher Rafael Soriano to the Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Jesse Chavez. It was rumored that Soriano was headed to the Orioles late Wednesday. Soriano, 30 on Opening Day 2010, was 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA in 77 games for the Braves in 2009.
RHP Jesse Chavez, 26, came over to the Rays in the Akinori Iwamura trade last month with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Chavez was 1-4, with a 4.01 ERA in 73 games last season.
Brandon Lyon signs 3 year $15 million deal with Astros
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal of Fox Sports Tweets that former Detroit Tiger relief pitcher Brandon Lyon has signed a 3 year, $15 million deal with the Houston Astros pending a physical. Lyon who declined arbitration from the Tigers on Monday, was 6-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 65 games with the club in 2009.
Phillies interested in Fernando Rodney as setup man for Lidge
Posted by: | CommentsESPN.com’s Jason Stark Tweets that the Philadelphia Phillies are being “aggressive” in pursuing former Detroit Tiger relief pitcher Fernando Rodney. The Phillies have previously been in pursuit of reliever another Detroit Tiger, Brandon Lyon, earlier this month. The Phillies are trying to secure a setup man to complement closer Brad Lidge. Rodney is in search of closer-type money, and the Phillies may not pay him closer money to be a setup man.
Both Rodney and Lyon declined arbitration on Monday. The Tigers are interested in retaining both relievers. Lyon was 6-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 65 games with the Tigers in 2009. Rodney, as Detroit’s closer was 2-5, 37 saves with a 4.40 ERA in 73 games for the 2009 Tigers.
Red Sox discussing Mike Lowell trade with Rangers
Posted by: | CommentsThe Providence Journal reports of a rumored discussion involving a possible trade of the Red Sox’ third baseman Mike Lowell for the Ranger’s catcher Max Ramirez.
| Team | Acquires |
| Rangers | 3B Mike Lowell |
| Red Sox | C Max Ramirez |
As of Wednesday night, the deal is possible, but nowhere near completion. It is believed that the Red Sox are making this move in anticipation of signing free agent third baseman and Scott Boras client Adrian Beltre. If that is the case then the Red Sox-Ranger deal will probably occur once the signing of Beltre has been finalized.
This scenario is in contrast to ESPN.com’s belief that the Red Sox may swap Lowell’s position from third base to first base. Kevin Youkalis will then play third base.
