Rumors for November, 2010
Los Angeles Dodgers looking for bullpen help
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According to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark, the Los Angeles Dodgers are attempting to sign at least one, and possibly two setup relievers. Names on their list include Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier. The team also has Jason Frasor on their wish list, but he accepted arbitration with the Toronto Blue Jays so the sides will need to work out a trade of some sort.
Stark adds that the team would like to add at least one right-handed pitcher to compliment Hong-Chih Kuo to divide up the late-inning setup work for Jonathan Broxton.
Oakland Athletics Rumors: Adrian Beltre, Lance Berkman, Kevin Kouzmanoff
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A few weeks ago, the Oakland Athletics reportedly offered a contract to Adrian Beltre for five-years for $64 million. FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal wonders how long the offer will be available for Beltre before it expires.
The A’s need to make a decision by Thursday about which players they need to “tender” or offer a contract to that are under their control, so with that said, they cannot sit on their offer to Beltre for too long. Third baseman that the A’s need to make a decision on include Kevin Kouzmanoff and Edwin Encarnacion.
It’s unlikely that Beltre, a Scott Boras client, will make a decision this early in the winter. He’ll likely use these numbers as benchmarks to open negotiations with other teams.
Oakland’s priority is likely with Lance Berkman. The team had dinner with Berkman on Tuesday, and are courting him to likely be their designated hitter. If Berkman doesn’t agree hang up the glove for good, the A’s could go after free agents Hideki Matsui, Vladimir Guerrero or Adam Dunn.
Final 2010 MLB Arbitration Player Decisions
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The midnight deadline for free agent players to accept or reject their team’s arbitration offers has come and gone. 23 American League players and 12 National League players were offered arbitration last week, only two players accepted arbitration – Toronto Blue Jays’ Jason Frasor and the Texas Rangers’ Frank Francisco.
The last batch of players to declare their arbitration intentions – Cliff Lee (Type-A), Carl Crawford (Type-A), Jayson Werth (Type-A) and Adam LaRoche (Type-B) were made public just before the deadline and all four declined.
Frasor’s Type-A status likely hurt him. Teams likely did not want to surrender a draft pick in order to sign him. Frasor reported had three teams interested in signing him to a multi-year deal.
Francisco likely had the same problem with his Type-A status. With a deep draft in 2011, teams were interested in keeping their draft picks as opposed to surrendering them as free agent compensation.
For a complete list of arbitration decisions with links, you can go to the PRO Rumors 2010 MLB Free Agent Tracker.
Giants are out on Jason Bartlett trade
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San Jose Mercury News’ Andrew Baggarly, says via Twitter that the Giants are out on the Jason Bartlett trade.
There were conflicting reports in regards to the Giants’ interest in Bartlett due to the agreement with infielder Miguel Tejada from earlier today. Having both Tejada and Bartlett on the team may be redundant for the Giants.
Shortly after the Tejada agreement was made public, CBSSports.com’s Scott Miller said the Giants were continuing to talk with the Tampa Bay Rays about Bartlett.
A source close to Comcast Sports Network’s Mychael Urban and close to Tejada said that the newly acquired infielder will be used as the team’s everyday shortstop. Pablo Sandoval is penciled in a third base as long as he meets the Giants physical requirements and Mark DeRosa will be the team’s infield utility man. With this setup, it’s unlikely the Giants will need another infielder.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals have not completely ruled out Bartlett.
The San Jose Mercury News’ Andrew Baggarly says that unless the Giants want to use Emmanuel Burriss, then the team will need to get another shortstop.
There was a rumor from the Wall Street Journal that Giants’ GM Brian Sabean spoke with Derek Jeter’s agent, Casey Close, regarding the available shortstop. Sabean denied that he reached out to Close about Jeter, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Shulman. Sabean said that he called Close about Mike Fontenot.
Renewed optimism for Derek Jeter and Yankees?
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Sports Illustrated has learned that there has been renewed optimism between Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees. The sides are starting to once again have conversations. SI.com’s Jon Heyman heard from one source that the Yankees might be willing to bump up their offer to Jeter up to $51 million and possibly add a fourth year. Another source adds that “nothing is imminent.”
This new optimism was not case as early as this afternoon. Jeter and his agent are set to meet in Florida to “mull things over”. Newsdays’ Ken Davidoff said that the two will likely discuss possible a possible future with another club.
From the Yankees’ side, the it was reported yesterday that the team was not willing to budge from their original offer of three-years, $45 million.
The Yankee captain had reportedly asked for annual salary in the area of $23-25 million, and the Yankees are not to overpay their 36-year-old shortstop. GM Brian Cashman has even encouraged Jeter to shop himself around to see if he can get a better deal.
Blue Jays Arbitration decisions: Jason Frasor, Miguel Olivo
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According to Mike Wilner of FAN 590, Toronto Blue Jays’ reliever Jason Frasor will accept the team’s offer of arbitration. Earlier reports indicated that Frasor was considering signing a multi year deal with one of three teams before the midnight EST deadline.
Frasor, 33, is coming off a season in which he earned $2.65 million and posted a 3.68 ERA. Frasor was a Type-A free agent.
FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi says that Type-B free agent Miguel Olivo will decline the Blue Jays’ offer of arbitration.
Brandon Webb would be open to pitching for Pittsburgh Pirates
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The agent of Brandon Webb, Jonathan Maurer, told Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that the pitcher would welcome a chance to come back from shoulder surgery with the Pirates.
“The Pirates are an organization that Brandon and I have a lot of respect for, especially for the GM,” Maurer said. “But they’re also one of a number of teams that are interested.”
We’ve heard teams such as the Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs are interested in the former Cy Young Award winner.
Webb has only pitched once in the last two seasons after suffering a shoulder injury late in Spring Training in 2009. Maurer said earlier this month that he would seek a contract in the $7.5 million range this winter.
Adrian Beltre declines arbitration from Red Sox
Posted by: | CommentsIn an expected move, Type-A free agent Adrian Beltre has declined the offer of arbitration from the Boston Red Sox, according to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman.
Twins Arbitration decisions: Carl Pavano, Orlando Hudson, Jesse Crain
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Here’s the latest on arbitration decisions for Minnesota Twins players:
– Carl Pavano has officially turned down arbitration, according to Newsdays’ Ken Davidoff.
– Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated said Orlando Hudson will reject the Twin’s offer of arbitration.
– The Star Tribune’s Joe Christensen says that there are “strong indications” that Jesse Crain will decline arbitration.
White Sox Arbitration decisions: Paul Konerko, J.J. Putz
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Here’s the latest on the arbitration decisions for Chicago White Sox players:
– A source close to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley says that Paul Konerko has declined arbitration. Cowley calls it a “no-brainer”.
– J.J. Putz has officially declined arbitration according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com
– For a listing and links to all arbitration decisions, check out http://www.prorumors.com/free-agents-2010
