Rumors for February, 2010
Kevin Gregg Rumors: Rockies eyeing setup man
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate 2/3 04:23: According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, Kevin Gregg has narrowed his choice to the Rockies and Florida Marlins. In Colorado he would be used a setup guy. In Florida, Gregg has the opportunity to compete for the closer role against Leo Nunez.
Update 2/2 17:13: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, Other suitors for K. Gregg getting confirmation that he will sign with #Blue Jays.
Update 2/2 11:13: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, Kevin Gregg is close to signing with the Blue Jays.
Update 1/31 16:31: According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports via Twitter: #Marlins have made offer to K. Gregg and remain in talks with him. Would be setup man.
1/30 14:04: According to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post, the Colorado Rockies are eyeing free agent setup man Kevin Gregg.
“We have discussed Gregg (with the Rockies),” agent Danny Horwits said.
Gregg, 31, was 5-6 with a 4.72 ERA and 23 saves with the Chicago Cubs in 2009. He made $4.2 million last season.
You can see Kevin Gregg’s statistics here.
Scott Hairston and Padres avoid salary arbitration with one-year deal
Posted by: | CommentsThe Associated Press reports that the San Diego Padres and outfielder Scott Hairston have agreed to a $2.45 million, one-year contract to avoid salary arbitration.
Hairston asked for $2.9 million and the Padres offered $2.1 million.
Hairston, 29, was traded from the Athletics to the Padres on January 16. Hairston hit 17 home runs and drove in 64 RBIs with the Padres and A’s last season.
Johnny Damon Rumors: Is Damon going to be a Tiger?
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Steve Kornacki of Michigan Live, the Tiger’s management team is not commenting on their interest in free agent Johnny Damon.
GM Dave Dombrowski said through a club spokesperson in January: “We have not expressed interest in Johnny Damon.” He added on Tuesday, “It’s a situation for us where we have not discussed free agent players in public, and I don’t see any benefit in doing that in this situation.”
However, he did not close the door. “We keep an open mind,” Dombrowski said. “We keep our mind open to every way we can improve our club.”
Asked about Damon’s desire to play for him and the Tigers, manager Jim Leyland said, “Johnny Damon’s been a really good player for quite awhile, and it’s flattering he would consider Detroit. But I don’t have anything to do with that.”
This late into the off-season does not give Damon many options. He could sign cheap on a one-year deal, but a team cannot wait too long. He reportedly turned down a one-year, $6 million offer from the Yankees last week. With the Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays are interested in Damon Tigers cannot wait too long.
You can see Damon’s contract history and statistics here.
Justin Verlander Rumors: Tigers optimistic in signing Verlander to long-term deal
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, the Detroit Tigers are optimistic that they will sign pitcher Justin Verlander to a long-term contract extension.
Verlander’s camp is using Felix Hernandez’s five-year, $78 million deal as a reference point in their negotiations. It was reported that Verlander is seeking a sixth year. Morosi says that a five-year deal with more money than Hernandez could convince Verlander to sign.
Verlander, 27 in February, has a 65-43 record over five seasons with the Tigers. He was 19-9 with a 3.45 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 2009. You can see Verlander’s contract history and statistics here.
Tim Lincecum's Arbitration Case Headed to Hearing
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury, the San Francisco Giants and Rick Thurman, the agent for Tim Lincecum, have not engaged in significant contract negotiations. Thurman is convinced that the case will go to the hearing stage.
The Giants have not discussed a one-year deal and talks have been limited to “some very insignificant two-year conversations,” which leads him to believe that “it’s quite clear the case is headed to a hearing.”
Thurman has been very surprised at the lack of conversation between him and the Giants, adding, “I think that’s the direction (a hearing) they’ve wanted this to go from Day 1 simply because there’s been little or no discussions with regards to a contract.”
Lincecum has asked for $13 million and the Giants have offered $8 million. Given that these are realistic numbers as opposed obscenely too high or two low of a number means that both sides are prepared to go all the way to a hearing.
It is likely that Lincecum will continue going year-to-year to maximize his contracts until he’s a free agent after the 2013 season. If possible, players tend to sign long-term deals for security, but in exchange they provide the team a discount.
Brian Giles Rumors: 8-10 teams interested in outfielder
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Dan Hayes of the North County Times, free agent outfielder Brian Giles has 8-10 unidentified teams interested.
Giles’ agent Joe Bick said they should have a deal in place by the end of the week.
Giles, 39, hit .191 (43 for 225) with 2 home runs and 23 RBIs in 61 games for the San Diego Padres in 2009. You can see Giles’ contract history and statistics here.
San Francisco Giants sign RHP Guillermo Mota to Minor League deal
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury, the San Francisco Giants have signed right-handed pitcher Guillermo Mota to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.
Mota, 36, was 3-4 witha 3.44 ERA in 61 appearances for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009. You can see Mota’s contract history and statistics here.
Kris Benson Rumors: Five teams interested in pitcher
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, pitcher Kris Benson is scouted by five teams: the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationas and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers may be the leading candidate according to Rosenthal’s source.
Benson, 35, has only appeared in eight Major League games since 2006 because of arm and elbow injuries. In his 8 games with the Texas Rangers last season, he was 1-1 with a 8.46 ERA in 22 1/3 innings. You can see Benson’s statistics here.
Alfredo Amezaga signs Minor League deal with Dodgers
Posted by: | CommentsAccording to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Alfredo Amezaga have agreed to a Minor League deal. If he makes the club he will make $650,000 plus a potential $800,000 more based on bonuses.
Amezaga, 32, hit .217 (15 for 69) in 27 games with the Marlins in 2009. He had a left knee injury that required micro-fracture surgery which kept him out most of the year. His one-year contract in 2009 paid him $1.3 million. You can see Amezaga’s contract history and statistics here.
