Rumors for January, 2010
Seattle Mariners Rumors: Interested in Fernando Tatis
Posted by: | CommentsJon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports reports the the Seattle Mariners are interested in free agent utility man Fernando Tatis.
The versatile Tatis played all 4 infield positions and corner outfield positions with the Mets last season, so he would give the Mariners flexibility in where they could use him.
Tatis, 35, hit .282 with 8 home runs and 48 RBIs with the New York Mets in 2009. Tatis, a type-B free agent, was not offered salary arbitration this off season. He made $1.7 million in 2009. Tatis has drawn interest from the Colorado Rockies this Winter.
You can see Fernando Tatis’ contract history and statistics here.
Rich Hill Rumors: Unlikely to go back to Baltimore
Posted by: | CommentsPeter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun writes that left-handed pitcher Rich Hill is unlikely coming back to pitch for the Baltimore Orioles next season.
The Orioles offered Hill a Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training, but Hill declined.
Schmuck suggests that Hill return to the National League since his chance of making the Oriole’s Opening Day Roster are slim. He played with the Chicago Cubs from 2005-2008.
Hill was 3-3 with a 7.80 ERA in 14 games (13 games started) with the Orioles last season. You can see Hill’s statistics here.
Derrick Turnbow Rumors: Former closer auditioning for clubs
Posted by: | CommentsJerry Crasnick of ESPN reports that former Milwaukee Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow will audition this week for teams in an effort to show that he’s healthy.
Turnbow’s agent, Damon Lapa, said that 16 teams will have representatives in Arizona for Turnbow’s workout. According to Lapa, Turnbow has already surpassed 93mph.
Turnbow, 32 by Opening Day, last played in 8 games for Milwaukee in 2008. His best year was in 2005 when he went 7-1, saved 39 games and had a 1.74 ERA.
Crasnick suggests that Turnbow could be a cheaper alternative to those clubs that may be interested in Octavio Dotel or Kevin Gregg such as the Pittsburgh Pirates.
You can see Turnbow’s complete statistics here.
Los Angeles Dodgers Rumors: Long term deal for Kemp?
Posted by: | Comments1/13 14:30: According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, contract talks between Matt Kemp and the Dodgers are progressing. The focus is on a two-year deal. Kemp’s agent, Dave Stewart, says that “the uncertainty of ownership” is the reason the deal will be short.
1/1 15:02: According to MLB.com, the Los Angeles Dodgers have opened discussions on a muti-year deal with outfielder Matt Kemp. However Kemp’s agent, Dave Stewart, said that the player would like to go year-to-year on a contract.
Stewart says, “We’ve got to figure out if it even makes sense to do a multiyear. The club is looking for something, the player is looking for something. Sometimes it’s difficult to find a meeting of the minds. In that case, we’re fine doing it one year at a time.”
Traditionally, the Dodgers do not lock up their young players in multiyear deals, preferring to have the player prove his value each season until he reaches the free-agency criteria of six years service time. This salary strategy may be a double-edged sword since you cannot predict a player’s performance. In one case a team will risk guaranteed money for multiple years hoping to get a bargain with a player who exceeds expectations. In return a player gets the security of a long-term paycheck that may spare them from underperformance or injury.
Kemp is eligible for arbitration this offseason, and with his 26 home runs and 101 RBI’s in 2009 he should receive a decent raise from the $467,000 he made. You can see Kemp’s contract history and statistics here.
Russell Branyan Rumors: Orioles, White Sox, Tigers, Mets or Athletics?
Posted by: | CommentsJim Street of MLB.com writes that the chances of Russell Branyan coming back to the Seattle Mariners is unlikely.
Branyan was quoted saying, “I wish I could have come back to Seattle, but that apparently won’t happen. We’re looking elsewhere.”
There are a couple of teams interested in Branyan and a Major League contract is expected, but the potential employers were not identified. ESPN Insider suggests that if Branyan is open to playing DH, potential landing spots include the Orioles, White Sox, Tigers or Athletics. If the Mets pass on Carlos Delgado, then Branyan could be an option in New York.
Branyan, 34, hit .251 with 31 home runs and 76 RBIs in a shortened 2009 season. He played in 116 games but none after August 29. He was diagnosed with a herniated disk that sidelined him throughout the month of September.
You can see Branyan’s contract history and statistics here.
Jose Valverde Rumors: Going to Detroit?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 1/13 13:21: Jon Paul Morosi reports that the Tigers are believed to have the biggest current offer for Valverde, but the sides aren’t yet close to an agreement.
Morosi also says that the Cardinals are a potential suitor for Valverde. It is not clear what role Valverde would play with the Cardinals since the team has All Star closer Ryan Franklin, who had 38 saves last season.
1/12 06:27: According to ESPN.com, the likely destination for free agent closer Jose Valverde is Detroit.
Last week, Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, reported that Valverde received four offers to be a team’s closer. Two of the offers are more than one year. Brown says that the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Detroit Tigers are two of the four teams that have an offer in front of Valverde.
ESPN went on to say that the Diamondback’s interest has waned, so Detroit may have the upper-hand.
Valverde gambled this off season by turning down the Houston Astros offer of arbitration in hopes of getting a larger deal. Right now, it’s not for sure that Valverde’s gamble to test the open market will pay off. Valverde, who made $8 million last season with the Astros, probably would have made $10 million in arbitration.
You can see Jose Valverde’s contract history and statistics here.
Carlos Delgado Rumors: Mets and Blue Jays interested
Posted by: | Comments1/13 12:06pm: According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, “Carlos Delgado doesn’t fit into the Blue Jays’ plans.”
1/12 04:44am: According to Mark J. Miller of Yahoo Sports, the New York Mets have stopped by to watch Carlos Delgado in Puerto Rico a couple of times. Delgado is supposedly “not moving well” according to FanHouse (via Yahoo Sports), but that is not deterring the Mets from remaining interested in Delgado’s bat.
The Blue Jays may be more interested since they have the ability to use him in the DH role, but that may be a problem since Toronto already has a DH in Adam Lind.
If the Mets can determine that Delgado is healthy enough to play first base, he would be strong candidate to take over for Daniel Murphy who started 97 games at first base for the Mets in 2009.
Delgado played in 26 games for the Mets in 2009 before going down to a hip injury that required surgery. You can see Delgado’s statistics here.
San Francisco Giants Rumors: Damon, Posey, Torrealba & Ankiel
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 10:36am: According to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News:
- 3B Pablo Sandoval has gained weight in Venezuel, “but not enough to worry about, ” – Sabean
- There has been no corresponding 40-man move yet to make space for Aubrey Huff. Maybe Kevin Frandsen? Merkin Valdez? or Fred Lewis?
- Manager Bruce Bochy envisions a 3-4-5 of Sandoval, Huff and DeRosa.
- General Manager Brian Sabean says Huff will bat cleanup.
Update 1/13 10:33am: Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says that general manager Brian Saben says that Posey could be the starting catcher and Madison Bumgarner looks like the fifth starter.
1/12: Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area had a chat earlier today regarding the San Francisco Giants. Here are a few highlight:
- Urban will be mildly surprised if the Giants add Johnny Damon. He says the Giants will go with Pablo Sandoval at third, Aubrey Huff at first and Mark DeRosa at left. If the Giants don’t think Nate Schierholtz is an impact player they could sign Damon and move DeRosa to right.
- The Giants haven’t said they are going with Buster Posey. The team will be comfortable going with him if it came to that which leaves the door open for someone like Yorvit Torrealba.
- Rick Ankiel may be looking for more than the Giants are willing to spend at this point. Urban believes the Giants have a bunch of prospects who’ll be impact players fairly soon.
Jermaine Dye Rumors: Interest from San Diego Padres
Posted by: | CommentsJon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports reports that the San Diego Padres have shown interest in free agent outfielder Jermaine Dye. If the Padres sign Dye, expect them to move a veteran player to afford Dye.
Morosi says that the most likely candidates to be moved would be closer Heath Bell or third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. Both players have been the subject of numerous off season rumors.
Dye has drawn interest from the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals this Winter.
Chris Young would be a good candidate to be traded, but his health may be too much of a risk for the other team. According to Padres’ general manager Jed Hoyer, Young is on schedule to be ready for Spring Training. Young had season ending arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in his labrum.
You can see Jeramine Dye’s statistics and contract history here.
Kiko Calero Rumors: Cubs and Giants show interest but shoulder may be a problem
Posted by: | CommentsJohn Paul Morosi of Fox Sports writes that the market is slow to develop for free agent relief pitcher Kiko Calero. Morosi says that his problematic shoulder is the reason why Calero hasn’t signed with a team yet.
Calero experienced inflammation in his right (throwing) shoulder last season and had a torn rotator cuff in 2008.
The Cubs and Giants have been rumored to have gone after the pitcher this off season, but no offers were given to him. The Cubs would like to add another late-inning reliever. The Giants need a right-handed setup man to replace Bobby Howry, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Calero pitched for the Marlins in 2009 going 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA over 67 games.
You can see Kiko Calero’s statistics here.
