Rumors for November, 2010
Dodgers open to re-signing Scott Podsednik, Vicente Padilla and Rod Barajas
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The Dodgers decided not to offer arbitration to the trio of Scott Podsednik, Vicente Padilla and Rod Barajas. Some people may be puzzled by these moves as each of these players fill a need that GM Ned Colletti hoped to address this off-season. The decisions not to offer arbitration were purely based on the hopes of re-signing each of these players at a lower salary than they would have received if they had accepted arbitration.
Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, adds that though the trio of players were not offered arbitration, the Dodgers are in contact with all three players and are open to resigning each of them.
This is purely speculation, but Barajas and Padilla would probably only receive a one-year deal while Podsednik may be looking for a guaranteed second year or at least a player option for the second year.
Cashman to Jeter: Jeter should test the market if he doesn’t like our offer
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In a blunt statement by New York Yankees GM, Brian Cashman, he tells Derek Jeter to test the market if he doesn’t like the team’s offer.
“We understand his contributions to the franchise and our offer has taken them into account,” Cashman said. “We’ve encouraged him to test the market and see if there’s something he would prefer other than this. If he can, fine. That’s the way it works.”
Over the weekend, Jeter’s agent, Casey Close, called the negotiations between his client and and the Yankees “baffling”.
Last week, the Yankees reportedly made or are about to make a three-year, $45 million offer to their long-time shortstop. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated has been receiving conflicting reports on the Yankees contract approach for Jeter. He now says that New York is expected to improve on their three-year, $45 million offer.
Earlier today, the Yankees declined to offer Jeter arbitration, so if Jeter tests the market has Cashman said and he signs with another team, New York will not be compensated with any draft picks. Jeter is a Type-A free agent, and had the Yankees offered him arbitration and he went elsewhere, the Yankees would entitled to draft picks.
So what is the market for Jeter outside of the Yankees? It would have to be limited to a major market team where they could offer a chance to make millions more in marketing. Could Theo offer Jeter $20 million for three years which could sway him to Boston? Or could Frank McCourt make a huge splash this off-season and sign Jeter who would play for his old teammate and coach Don Mattingly? I doubt Jeter will go anywhere else but Babe Ruth who is known as a Yankee (and maybe Red Sox) retired with the Boston Braves. So you never know what free agency will bring.
Information from ESPNNewYork.com’s Wallace Matthews was used in this post.
Is RHP Kevin Millwood going to Colorado or Kansas City?
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Veteran hurler Kevin Millwood is drawing interest from both the Kansas City Royals and the Colorado Rockies according to the Baltimore Sun’s Dan Connolly.
Millwood, 36, will likely find a job on a team that is in need of an fourth or fifth starter who is also an innings eater. The right-hander said in September that he is not ready to retire.
“The only thing I’m certain of right now is that I want to play again next year,” said the 14-year veteran. “I’m just going to go in the offseason thinking about preparing for next season.”
Earlier today the Orioles declined to offer the Type-B free agent arbitration. So the Orioles have no benefit on Millwood’s decision this winter.
Millwood has been been around the Majors for 14 years, and in 2010 he posted a 4-16 record with 5.10 ERA in 31 starts.
Javier Vazquez’s talks with Marlins getting ‘hot’
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According to clubs interested in Javier Vazquez, as reported by ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the pitcher is only interested in a one-year deal.
Sources close to ESPN.com have said that Vazquez has already turned down two multiyear offers – one which is believed by other clubs to be potentially worth $20 million over two years.
Earlier today, Vazquez agreed to reject the New York Yankees’ offer of salary arbitration. This will allow Vazquez to explore other options while allowing the Yankees to benefit from a supplemental draft pick. Vazquez is a Type-B free agent.
Two possible destinations include the Florida Marlins and the Washington Nationals.
Stark later added in an ESPN column that according to sources familiar with the situation, the talks between Vazquez and the Marlins have gotten “hot”. He adds that the negotiations are “moving forward,” but a deal may not be struck until after Thanksgiving.
Other clubs that had been interested in Vazquez (the Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies) are now pessimistic about signing the pitcher.
Who will replace Martinez as the next Boston Red Sox catcher?
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Earlier today the Tigers signed Venezuelan catcher Victor Martinez, to a four-year deal. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, said that he wanted to retain Martinez with the team, but with his departure Epstein now has to get to work and find a replacement.
Terry Francona, the Red Sox’s skipper, was surprised by the news about Martinez. “Sometimes it works out where a guy doesn’t come back. That doesn’t mean we’re not going to be any good,” Francona said in an interview with Boston radio station WEEI. “I feel real confident. The winter has to play itself out. It’s just beginning. It will be really interesting.”
“Being the manager is a little bit different [than being the GM] … making the lineup out is a little bit different than having to be the caretaker for the organization and looking at it four years down the road. I try not to lose sight of that. Wanting to have Victor in the lineup next April is a no-brainer. When you have to make a decision and you’re talking $40, $45, $50 million, four years down the road, that’s not quite as easy. I respect that.”
Boston has Jarrod Saltalamacchia as a replacement for Martinez, but his injury plagued seasons has slowed his development. MLB.com’s Ian Browne thinks that Boston could enter in trade talks with the Angels regarding Mike Napoli. Other possibilities for the Red Sox include American League Champion free agent Bengie Molina and Colorado Rockies Chris Iannetta, both of whom could split time with Saltalamacchia behind the plate.
Braves sign four Minor League free agents
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According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien the Braves have signed four Minor League’s free agents. O’Brien says that the newly acquired players will likely be non-roster invitees.
The four signed players are shortstop Ed Lucas, a former eight round pick from the Royals who hit .307 with 13 HR’s last year for Triple-A Omaha; former Mets third base prospect Shawn Bowman, who hit 22 HR’s last year in Double-A New Hampshire; Wilkin Castillo, a catcher who can also play in the infield or outfield and outfielder. Castillo played 22 games in the majors for the Reds in 2008 and 2009; and and outfielder Jose Constanza, an International League All-Star who hit .319 last year for Columbus.
“It’s a group of guys, with good skills and tools, who we think have the ability to help us at the major league level at some point,” Said Frank Wren, the Braves GM.
Angels decided not to offer arbitration to Hideki Matsui
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Angels decided not to offer arbitration to Hideki Matsui according to FOXSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.
Earlier this month Yahoo Sports Japan (via Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker), reported that the Angels didn’t plan to offer Matsui a contract.
“Would I say that it’s completely out of the likelihood that he’ll be back? I can’t say that at this point. You never know. We’re just going to focus on getting better any way we can as the offseason unfolds,” said Los Angeles general manager Tony Reagins said in early October regarding Matsui’s uncertain future in Southern California.
The Angels signed Matsui last winter to replace Vladimir Guerrero. Guerrero went on to the Texas Rangers and hit 29 home runs, 115 RBIs and had a .300 average. The 36-year-old Matsui had 21 home runs and 84 RBIs and had a .274 batting average.
Who will replace Martinez as the next Boston Red Sox catcher?
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According to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, the Milwaukee Brewers and Trevor Hoffman had a “gentlemen’s” agreement in place for team to offer the pitcher arbitration with the expectation that Hoffman would decline the offer. Because Hoffman is a Type-B free agent, the Brewers will receive a supplemental draft pick, and should Hoffman go to another team it won’t cost his new employer any picks.
Looking for a list of 2010 MLB arbitration players and their status?
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Looking for a list of those players that will be or will not be offered arbitration before the 11:59pm EST deadline tonight? We’ll be updating this list as the day goes on. You’ll also find other useful free agent information there in a sortable list. Bookmark this link:
http://www.prorumors.com/free-agents-2010
Oakland Athletics interested in Mark Reynolds
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ESPN’s Jayson Stark says that he keeps hearing the Oakland Athletics are interested in Arizona Diamondback’s third baseman Mark Reynolds. However, there’s one problem – the A’s are on Reynold’s no-trade list.
This isn’t the first time the Reynolds-Athletics rumor came up. In October, there were rumors that the A’s could move Kevin Kouzmanoff and pitcher Vin Mazzaro for Reynolds. Mizzaro has since been traded to the Kansas City Royals.
