Rumors for November, 2010
Jon Paul Morosi on Adam Dunn, Paul Konerko, Jayson Werth
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Here’s the latest from FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi.
– Now that the Tigers signed Victor Martinez, it’s unlikely that they’ll go after Adam Dunn.
– The Nationals aren’t pursuing Dunn as hard as they previously have. Morosi says they’re on the fringe of the Dunn sweepstakes.
– The pressure is on the Chicago White Sox to sign Dunn or re-sign Paul Konerko.
– Dunn could be a fit for the Chicago Cubs.
– Magglio Ordonez Ordonez is to return to Detroit, he must play right field 90-100 games.
– The Red Sox remain the favorite to land Jayson Werth, but he would fill the Tigers’ need for an outfield bat.
Athletics, Cubs and Rockies interested in Lance Berkman
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Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says that the Oakland Athletics have been the “most aggressive” in terms of contract for free agent Lance Berkman. He adds that the Chicago Cubs and according to a Major League source, the Colorado Rockies have shown interest too.
The first time free agent says he would prefer to return to the National League. He isn’t ready to give up the field yet and become a full-time designated hitter.
“I’m certainly talking to them,” Berkman says of the A’s. “But that’s a situation where they’ve got a very good young first baseman defensively (Daric Barton), and a glut of outfielders.”
“I think they’re looking for a DH. I’m not ready to be a full-time DH. I’m not ruling them out. But I’m not jumping up and down excited about going out and DHing.”
Berkman says that he would like to continue his career on a contending team. In 2010, Berkman started the season with the Astros, but was traded to the New York Yankees mid-year. He made $14.5 million in the final year of his six-year contract.
Mariners not on Justin Upton’s no-trade list
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According to Mike Dillon of Reynolds Sports, the company that represents Justin Upton, the Seattle Mariners are not on Upton’s no-trade list.
Upton’s contract allows him to block deals up to four clubs. Originally reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, Upton’s no-trade teams included the Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. The list was later revised to omit the Cleveland Indians, but include the Seattle Mariners.
Now with today’s report from Upton’s agency, and some clarifying information from Ken Rosenthal of FOXSport.com, the team that are on Upton’s no-trade list are the Royals, Tigers, Indians and Athletics.
Boston Red Sox interested in Tsuyoshi Nishioka
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There’s a 5pm EST deadline to place a bid for Tsuyoshi Nishioka, and according to Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, the Boston Red Sox are one of many teams interested in the gold glove infielder.
Last week, this was what was reported from Sports Hiochi (via NPB Tracker’s Patrick Newman):
– The Orioles will bid on Nishioka. (Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun says the Orioles are undecided)
– The Mariners and Padres are taking a serious look at bidding. Hochi makes it sound like they will both bid.
– The Giants are not going to bid. (Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports does not expect the Giants to bid)
– The Diamondbacks find the budget required for posting problematic.
– There are at least some who think Nishioka can stick at shortstop.
Nishioka has been posted by by the Chiba Lotte Marines and will be represented by the Beverly Hills Sports Council in the United States. Nishioka who can play both shortstop and second base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
Tigers open to adding left-handed relief pitcher
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FOXSports’ Jon Paul Morosi says that the Detroit Tigers are open to adding a late-inning left-handed relief pitcher. Morosi suggests J.C. Romero as an option for Detroit.
Andy Pettitte is leaning towards returning for another season
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According to sources close to Kevin Davidoff of Newsday.com, Andy Pettitte is leaning towards returning for the 2011 season. Pettitte had mentioned in the past that if he did return, 2011 would be his last season. I tend to believe Pettitte more than I ever believed Brett Farve (I know wrong sport).
“I’m just going to wait and see what my heart wants me to do. Right now, I can tell you my heart’s right here in Deer Park. If something happens and I play one more year that would be it. It would be one more year and that would be it,” Pettitte said.
Pettitte also mentioned that if he did return for another season, he would only return to the Yankees. The Yankees do have to make a decision today about whether to offer Pettitte arbitration or not. Either way, it sounds like Pettitte is leaning towards returning and it will be a return to the Bronx.
Los Angeles Dodgers sign RHP Oscar Villarreal
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed right-handed pitcher Oscar Villarreal as a non-roster free agent, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Dylan Hernandez. Included in the deal is an invitation to Spring Training.
Yankees likely to offer Kerry Wood arbitration
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The New York Yankees are likely to offer Kerry Wood arbitration, according to ESPNNewYork.com’s Wallace Matthews. Should Wood return, the right-handed would serve as the set-up man for closer Mariano Rivera.
“I’m thinking yes on Wood,” GM Brian Cashman said. “We’ll do them a favor. If we put them into an arbitration setting, then we can take them out and make a fair market value offer to them.”
The Yankees declined an $11 million option on Wood in October despite being lights out for the Yankees during his two-plus months with the team.
Javier Vazquez has agreed to reject the Yankees offer of arbitration
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Type-B free agent Javier Vazquez has agreed to reject the New York Yankees’ offer of salary arbitration, according to FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal.
Rosenthal explains that this is usually a gentleman’s agreement for a team to offer arbitration to a Type-B free agent. In this case, the Yankees will receive a supplemental pick, but the signing team will not lose any picks.
The downside is that Vazquez could accept arbitration which will guarantee him work for 2011 with the Yankees. It will likely strain the relationship between Vazquez’s agents (Sam and Seth Levinson) and the Yankees for any future deals.
Josh Hamilton wins 2010 American League MVP
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Congratulations to Josh Hamilton for winning the 2010 American League MVP Award, as announced by the Baseball Writers Associations of America. Hamilton received 22 of the 28 first-place votes with Miguel Cabrera five votes and Jose Bautista receiving 1 first place vote.
Hamilton had a $10,000 bonus in his 2009 contract for winning the MVP, it’s unclear if that bonus is valid for 2010. Cabrera receives $100,000 bonus for coming in second place. Joe Mauer missed a $25,000 bonus by finishing in eighth place with 97 points. His contract stipulates that he would have received the bonus if he finished in fourth to sixth place.
Here are the voting results:
| Name | Total Pts. |
| Josh Hamilton (Rangers) | 358 |
| Miguel Cabrera (Tigers) | 262 |
| Robinson Cano (Yankees) | 229 |
| Jose Bautista (Blue Jays) | 165 |
| Paul Konerko (White Sox) | 130 |
| Evan Longoria (Rays) | 100 |
| Carl Crawford (Rays) | 98 |
| Joe Mauer (Twins) | 97 |
| Adrian Beltre (Red Sox) | 83 |
| Delmon Young (Twins) | 44 |
| Vladimir Guerrero (Rangers) | 22 |
| Rafael Soriano (Rays) | 21 |
| CC Sabathia (Yankees) | 13 |
| Shin-Soo Choo (Indians) | 9 |
| Alex Rodriguez (Yankees) | 8 |
| Felix Hernandez (Mariners) | 6 |
| Ichiro Suzuki (Mariners) | 3 |
| Jim Thome (Twins) | 2 |
| Joakim Soria (Royals) | 1 |
| Mark Teixeira (Yankees) | 1 |
