Rumors for February, 2010
Cubs and Carlos Marmol agree to 1 year $2.125 million deal
Posted by: | CommentsCarrie Muskat of MLB.com tweets that the Chicago Cubs and Carlos Marmol have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.125 million contract.
Marmol, 27, was 2-4 witha 3.41 ERA with 15 saves in 79 games with the Cubs in 2009. You can see Marmol’s contract history and statistics here.
Orlando Hudson Rumors: Hudson controls infielder market
Posted by: | Comments2/4 13:26: Bill Ladson of MLB.com tweets that Hudson is close to signing a deal with the Twins.
2/2 13:10: According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, Hudson does not want to take a pay cut from 2009. The Natonals have offered Hudson $3 million with incentives that could bring the value of the contract to $4 million. Hudson is looking for $9 million. He made close to $7 million with incentives from the Dodgers last year.
2/2 10:58: According to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, there still is an outside possibility of Seattle signing Orlando Hudson. Manager Don Wakamatsu said the team could carry 14 positions players on their Opening Day roster. If the Mariners sign Hudson the team will either need to move Jose Lopez, their current second baseman, to either first base or to another team.
The Nationals, Indians and Twins have also shown interest in Hudson recently.
2/1 15:06: According to ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney (via ESPN Insider), the Twins have emerged as a serious player for Orlando Hudson.
2/1 06:10: Tim Kurkjian of ESPN that the Nats and Hudson are close to signing a one-year deal with a club option for a second year. The contract would be for $3 million with incentives that could easily reach $4 million for 2010.
1/31 16:41: According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com via Twitter: Nats GM Mike Rizzo and Orlando Hudson’s representative haven’t talked in a couple of days.
Ladson also says via Twitter: If Orlando Hudson is bringing his price down, that’s news to #Nats GM Mike Rizzo.
1/30 15:15: Jim Bowden of FOXSports says that the Washington Nationals are in the lead of landing Orlando Hudson.
1/29 13:22: Bill Ladson of MLB.com, says that the chances of Cabrera signing with the Nationals are slim. The Nationals are Hudson’s top choice, but money is getting in the way, so if they cannot sign him look for the Nationals to sign Kennedy.
1/27 23:40: Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports writes about free-agent Orlando Hudson and his effect on the infielder’s market. He says that once Hudson signs with a team, the other free-agent infielder situations will become clearer. Hudson is believed to be speaking with as many as six teams including the Tampa Bay Rays, Washington Nationals, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies this off-season.
The other infielders that are looking for jobs include Adam Kennedy, Felipe Lopez, Orlando Cabrera and Melvin Mora. In addition to the teams above, the Reds and Cardinals are two teams that are in need of an infielder or an upgrade to their current situation.
Hudson, 33, hit 9 home runs, drove in 62 RBIs and had a .283 batting average with Los Angeles last season while making the All Star team and taking home a Gold Glove. You can see Hudson’s contract history and statistics here.
Erik Bedard Rumors: Coming back to the Seattle Mariners?
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 2/4 13:21: Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports tweets that Bedard and the Mariners are close on a one-year deal.
2/4 01:45: Jim Street of MLB.com, reports that former Seattle Mariner Erik Bedard could be coming back to the team.
Bedard is expected to miss the first three or four months of the regular season but could be back for a playoff run as early as June. Steet suggests that any contract will have to be a low base salary with high incentives due to his health history.
Bedard, 31 by Opening Day, had his best season in 2006 when he wen 15-11 with a 3.76 ERA and 171 strikeouts with the Orioles. You can see Bedard’s contract history and statistics here.
Adam Kennedy Rumors: Talking with the Indians and Nationals
Posted by: | CommentsFree agent infielder Adam Kennedy tells San Francisco Chronicle reporter Susan Slusser, that he’s still talking to the Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals, but everything is on hold until Orlando Hudson decides where he is going.
Hudson was known to be speaking with the Nationals, but price has become an issue. Hudson does not want to take a pay cut from 2009. The Nationals have offered Hudson $3 million with incentives that could bring the value of the contract to $4 million. Hudson is looking for $9 million. He made close to $7 million with incentives from the Dodgers last year.
Kennedy, 34, played with the Oakland A’s in 2009 where he hit .289 with 11 home runs and 63 RBIs in 129 games. You can see Adam Kennedy’s contract history and statistics here.
Johnny Damon Atlanta Braves Rumors
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Jim Bowden of FOXSports, the Atlanta Braves have interest in free agent outfielder Johnny Damon.. However, the team isn’t ready to seal the deal at his current price. He reportedly turned down a one-year, $6 million offer from the Yankees last week.
The Detroit Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays have also shown recent interest in Damon.
You can see Damon’s contract history and statistics here.
MLB Rumors: Marco Estrada, Mike Ekstrom, Tim Lincecum
Posted by: | CommentsHere are a few links for Wednesday:
Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel reports that the Brewers have claimed right-handed pitcher Marco Estrada off of waivers from the Washington Nationals.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reports that the Rays have claimed right-handed pitcher Mike Ekstrom from the San Diego Padres.
Mychael Urban of CSNBayArea.com reports that Tim Lincecum is not too happy with the negotiations of his contract. His agent, Rick Thurman, suggested that the Giants are low-balling his client.
Brett Tomko Rumors: Coming back to Oakland or San Francisco?
Posted by: | CommentsPitcher Brett Tomko indicated to San Francisco Chronicle writer Susan Slusser that he would love to come back to Oakland or San Francisco to pitch.
He said, “I would love to come back to Oakland. I really liked everything about it, I had a great time there. If they wanted me, I’d definitely go back. … And I wouldn’t mind San Francisco, either. I liked it there, too.”
Tomko experienced a torn or strained muscle that would up pinching a nerve in his arm. He has just recently started to throw again.
The pitcher currently has a few standing offers for Minor League deals with split Major League contract, but he would like to find a big league opportunity. He feels that he can be game ready by April 1 or around that date.
Tomko, 37 in April, has a lifetime 100-102 record witha 4.65 ERA. He split time with the Yankees and Athletics in 2009. You can see Tomko’s contract history and statistics here.
Mariners sign Casey Kotchman to 1 year deal
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Jim Street of MLB.com, the Seattle Mariners have reached an agreement with first baseman Casey Kotchman on a one-year $3.5 million contract.
Kotchman was looking for $3.9 million while the Mariners were offering $3.135 million.
Kotchman split time with the Red Sox and Braves in 2009 where he hit .268 with seven home runs and 48 RBI’s while making $2.85 million. You can see Kotchman’s contract history and statistics here.
2010 Free Agent Rumors: Yorvit Torrealba and Padres are close to a deal
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Buster Olney of ESPN, the San Diego Padres and free agent catcher Yorvit Torrealba are on the verge of a one-year deal.
Torrealba turned down a two-year $5.6 million offer from the Colorado Rockies earlier this Winter. The free agent catcher was close to signing with the Giants or Mets at some point during the off season.
Torrealba, 31, 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.
