Rumors for January, 2010
Yorvit Torrealba Rumors: Interest from Mets, Padres, Giants and Rangers
Posted by: | CommentsYesterday MLB Secrets talked about the mutual interest between Yorvit Torrealba and the San Francisco Giants in a one-year agreement. Today, Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports says that the Mets, Padres and Rangers are interested in Torrealba, as well. The Rangers won’t make an agressive offer unless they get bad news on the condition of Jarrod Saltalamachia, their starting catcher from last year.
If Bengie Molina goes to the Mets, as expected, this would make Torrealba the top veteran free agent catcher. As long there are more teams in need of Torrealba, he should be able to get a deal no less than the two-year $5.6 million offer from the Colorado Rockies that he rejected earlier this Winter. Torrealba is seeking a two-year $6 million deal. If the needs of the aforementioned teams wane, then Torrealba could be in the same situation as Adam LaRoche who turned down a two-year $17 million offer from the Giants earlier this Winter only to sign a one-year $4-5 million deal.
Torrealba, 31, started his career with the Giants before being traded in 2005 to the Seattle Mariners. He had a batting average of .291 with 2 home runs and 31 RBIs in 64 games with the Rockies in 2009. You can see Torrealba’s contract history and statistics here.
Ben Sheets Rumors: To audition for 6-10 teams
Posted by: | CommentsTim Kurkjian of ESPN The Magazine reports that six to ten teams will observe free agent pitcher Ben Sheets next week at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Sheets, 31, did not pitch in 2009 due to a torn flexor tendon. He was 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 198 1/3 innings for the Brewers in 2008. Other teams that have been interested in Sheets during the off-season include the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, New York Mets and New York Yankees.
You can see Ben Sheets’ statistics here.
Tigers and Joel Zumaya agree to contract and avoid arbitration
Posted by: | CommentsRight-handed reliever Joel Zumaya and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a one-year, $915,000 contract and thus avoiding salary arbitration.
Zumaya, 25, was 3-3 with a 4.94 ERA in 29 games with the Tigers in an injury shortened 2009 season. He made $735,000.
You can see Zumaya’s contract history and statistics here.
Felix Hernandez Rumors: Why the Mariners could trade him
Posted by: | CommentsWe’re less than three months away from Opening Day and the Seattle Mariners and their ace pitcher Felix Hernandez have yet to sign a long-term deal. It’s widely speculated that Hernandez is worth over $100 million in a multi-year contract. The Mariner’s goal is to either lock him into a long-term deal or risk being forced to trade him by July or sometime next year. The Mariners don’t want to see Hernandez leave without getting anything in return.
If there is going to be a deal done, it will have to be completed before the season starts since most player do not like to negotiate in season. It’s to the M’s benefit that they lock in a deal now so they have the most leverage. If the Mariners know they can’t sign him to favorable numbers, they may be better of trading him this year to a playoff contending team that can utilize Hernandez for two playoff runs. Hernandez will be eligible to hit the open market after the 2011 season. If the Mariner’s wait until the beginning or middle of 2011, then they won’t have as much negotiation leverage to acquire key prospects since the other team will get Hernandez for only one playoff run. This is why the Toronto Blue Jays wanted to trade Roy Halladay last July – halfway into his three year contract. The Blue Jays knew if they succeeded, they would get a better return since the team they were trading Halladay to would get him for a playoff run in 2009 and 2010.
The last thing the Mariners need to expose themselves to is losing two top notch pitchers in Hernandez and Cliff Lee (a free agent after the 2010 season) so expect to see something done with Hernandez before Spring Training ends.
Click here to see Hernandez’s contract history and statistics.
Information used for this article came from The Seattle Times.
Mark Mulder Rumors: Reviving career in Milwaukee?
Posted by: | CommentsThe Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel reports that the Milwaukee Brewers are expected to offer left handed pitcher Mark Mulder a minor-league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The deal may involve incentives and bonuses for making the Major League roster.
Mulder, 32, has made only four starts since August 2006 due to rotator cuff and shoulder problems. With former pitching coach from the Oakland A’s, Rick Peterson, on the Brewers’ staff, it is believed that Milwaukee is the best place for Mulder to revive his career.
General manager Doug Melvin and assistant Gord Ash will visit Mulder and his agent, Gregg Clifton in Scottsdale today where Melvin and Ash will gauge Mulder’s commitment and readiness to make a comeback.
Mulder has a 103-60 lifetime record with a 4.18 ERA in 9 seasons with the Oakland A’s and St. Louis Cardinals. You can see Mulder’s complete contract history and statistics here.
Yorvit Torrealba Rumors: Mutual interest in one-year contract with Giants?
Posted by: | CommentsChris Haft of MLB.com reports that free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba and the San Francisco Giants maintain a mutual interest in a one-year agreement. If the deal occurs, it may not happen until after the weekend.
Torrealba is currently in the Venezuelan Winter League, and his team could be eliminated as early as Sunday.
The Giants have been going back and forth regarding their starting catcher position. General Manager Brian Sabean said, “At this time, we are prepared to go to [Buster] Posey,” Sabean said. “But we’ll keep an open mind.” The Giants are hoping to sign a veteran catcher to ease the transition to Posey, their starting catcher of the future.
Torrealba, rejected a two-year $5.6 million offer from the Colorado Rockies earlier this Winter. Torrealba wanted a two-year $6 million deal.
Torrealba, 31, started his career with the Giants before being traded in 2005 to the Seattle Mariners. He had a batting average of .291 with 2 home runs and 31 RBIs in 64 games with the Rockies in 2009. You can see Torrealba’s contract history and statistics here.
Bengie Molina Rumors: Close to signing with Mets
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, he says the New York Mets and free agent catcher Bengie Molina are close to signing. Morosi also wonder how Beltran’s unexpected surgery will affect the Met’s off-season plans.
Molina and the New York Mets have been negotiating all Winter. The hold up has been the Met’s reluctance to offer Molina a third guaranteed year. The club previously has offered a two-year, $12 million contract. It’s believed that Molina now has lowered his asking price. It is not known if he’s lowered his salary requirements or the number of years on the contract.
Molina, 35, wrapped up a three-year contract with the San Francisco Giants last season. In 2009, he had a batting average of .265, he hit 20 home runs and drove in 80 RBIs.
You can see Bengie Molina’s statistics here.
Carlos Beltran Rumors: Outfielder has knee surgery
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 19:16: Joel Sherman Tweets: #Mets are definitely claiming Beltran procedure done without their blessing, and are threatening some form of action
Update 18:58: MetsBlog.com posted a copy of the team’s statement regarding Beltran’s surgery. You can read it here. He’s expected to resume baseball activities in 12 weeks.
18:56: According to several sources, Carlos Beltran of the New York Mets had knee surgery today. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says that Beltran may need eight weeks of rehabilitation and may miss the start of the season.
Joel Sherman of The New York Post says that one source indicated the surgery was a “scope clean up”, but the Mets are acting like this was more than routine.
Another source of Sherman’s insists it was not micro fracture surgery, as previously thought. Rather, it’s a standard scope and the Mets are okay with this. Sherman later says that Beltran had worsening osteoarthritis in his right knee and the conditioned worsened in the off season so this was the course of action.
Beltran, 33, played 81 games in 2009. He hit 10 home runs, drove in 48 RBIs and had a .325 batting average. You can see Beltran’s statistics here.
Doug Davis Rumors: Interest from Twins and Brewers
Posted by: | CommentsKen Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports reports that the Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers are interested in free-agent left-handed pitcher Doug Davis.
Davis has drawn interest from the Mets and Nationals this off season. However, the Mets are believed to prefer free agent Joel Pineiro, and the Nationals have shifted their focus away from starting pitching to other needs such as a new second baseman such as Adam Kennedy.
Davis, 34, played for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 where he went 9-14 with a 4.14 ERA while making $8.75 million in the third year of his three year contract.
You can see Davis’ contract history and statistics here.
