Rumors for November, 2010
Cardinals are 50-50 on whether to trade or sign a shortstop
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A source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports says the St. Louis Cardinals are “50-50″ on whether to trade for a shortstop or sign one as a free agent.
Rosenthal adds that possible trade candidates include the Tampa Bay Rays’ Jason Bartlett, the Minnesota Twins’ J.J. Hardy and the Boston Red Sox’s Marco Scutaro.
One free agent candidate includes Miguel Tejada.
Met’s closing in on deal for RHP Chris Young
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ESPN’s Buster Olney says via Twitter that the New York Mets are closing in on a deal with veteran right-hander Chris Young. Although a source with knoledge of the situiation close to New York daily News’ Andy Martino said tonight that “nothing was close at this time” between the parties.
Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan says that Young has several incentive-laden one-year Major League offers in front of him. He adds that according to a source, Young’s right shoulder check out well.
The San Diego Padres declined Young’s 2011 option in early November. The option was valued at $8.5 million.
Young, 31, missed five months of the 2010 season due to a shoulder injury. After his return, he made four starts going 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA over 20 innings.
Texas Rangers deny contacting Andy Pettitte
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The Texas Rangers may be interested in left-handed pitcher Andy Pettitte. According to a source close to the New York Daily News’ Mark Feinsand, Ranger’s team president, Nolan Ryan, apparently reached out to the free agent pitcher.
Mlb.com’s Brian Hoch said the Rangers denied contacting Pettitte. And sources said the only contact between Pettitte and the club was when the lefty called Ryan after the ALCS to congratulate him.
Pettitte has a strong desire to pitcher near his family in Houston, Texas. Feinsand adds that Pettitte may be unhappy with his current pay structure as well – he’s the team’s number 2 pitcher, but he’s being paid like a number 4 starter.
There were thoughts that Pettitte could retire, but as of last week, the veteran pitcher is leaning towards returning for the 2011 season. However, there was mention that if he returned, he would only do so with the New York Yankees.
Yankees and Mariano Rivera are not far apart in negotiations
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While the Yankees and Derek Jeter are in the middle of an ugly negotiation, sources close to the deal involving Mariano Rivera says that the sides are not far apart, according to ESPNNewYork.com’s Andrew Marchand.
Rivera made $15 million last season, and it’s likely that he’ll receive a bump to $16 or $17 million, but it’s unknown if he’ll receive a one or two-year deal.
Ken Fidlin of the Toronto Sun says that Rivera and the Yankees are quietly closing in on a new contract that will pay the right-hander $17 million.
The 41-year-old closer has previously told friends that he would like to get a two-year deal from the Yankees. Marchand speculates that a one-year deal with a vesting option could be a way to bridge the gap between the parties.
The right-hander was a 3-3 with a 1.80 ERA and 33 saves in 2010 with the Yankees. Rivera just wrapped up the final year of a three-year, $45 million contract.
Pedro Feliciano is seriously considering accepting the Mets offer of arbitration
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Recently, we have heard teams such as the Yankees and the Phillies both expressing an interest in left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano. Newsday’s Ken Davidoff recently spoke with Feliciano’s agent, Melvin Roman, and he stated that his client is “seriously considering” accepting the Mets offer of arbitration.
FOXSports’ Ken Rosenthal says that Feliciano could accept the arbitration offer where his salary could go from $2.9 million to the $4.5-$5 million range.
Feliciano who is a Type-B free agent made $2.9 million last season and could see his salary jump anywhere north of $3.3.million.
Back in August, both Feliciano and the Mets expressed a mutual interest in each other. The Mets were concerned about his workload as he set club records for most appearances in each of the last three seasons. Though he made a number of appearances, Feliciano has been one of the Mets most reliable relievers over the years. Feliciano will also be 36 at the conclusion of next season so many teams may be skeptical of giving him a multi-year deal.
In a team high 92 appearances, Feliciano posted a 3.30 era.
Braves signed four more Minor League free agents
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Last week the Atlanta Braves signed four Minor League free agents and it was believed that the four will be non-roster invitees. Today according to ajc.com’s David O’Brien the Braves also signed Juan Carlos Boscan, Brent Clevlen, Wilkin Ramirez and Jay Sborz to Minor League deals, all of them will recieve invitations to the Major League Spring Training.
The Braves are also expected to invite other minor leaguers to major league spring training, including top pitching prospects Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado.
Octavio Dotel will turn down arbitration
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Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman says that relief pitcher Octavio Dotel will decline arbitration.
Dotel was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the Los Angeles Dodgers at trade-deadline for James McDonald and Andrew Lambo. The Dodgers then traded Dotel to the Rockies in mid-September for a player to be name later. Dodger’s GM Ned Colletti acquired Dotel in hopes of strengthening the Dodgers weak bullpen as they made a push for the playoffs.
The Rockies declined a $4.5 million team option on Dotel earlier this month. The team will pay the $250,000 buyout. The right-hander made $3.25 million in 2010.
Rockies signed Matt Pagnozzi and Eric Stults to Minor League deals
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The Colorado Rockies have signed catcher Mike Pagnozzi and left handed pitcher Eric Stults to Minor League deals, according to MLB.com’s Thomas Harding.
Stults, 30, spent this past season with the Hiroshima Carp in Japan, posting a 5.07 ERA over 21 starts, he will recieve an invitation to the Major League Spring Training.
Pagnozzi, 28, has a .333/.391/.452 batting line with 1 HR and 10 RBI over 49 major league plate appearances, all with the Cardinals.
Indians sign Luke Carlin to Minor League deal
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The Cleveland Indians signed catcher Luke Carlin to a Minor League contract on Monday with an invitation to Spring Training, according to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian.
Carlin was removed from the Indian’s 40-man roster at the end of October.
The 29-year-old is a lifetime .175/.268/.286 hitter in three seasons in the Big Leagues. He played in 6 games for the Indians in 2010.
Kevin Gregg drawing interest from Angels, Orioles, Rays, Blue Jays and others
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Right-handed pitcher Kevin Gregg is turning down arbitration, according to the Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman. The Type-B free agent is attracting interest from the Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and other teams.
Gregg was offered arbitration by the Blue Jays last week, and because of his Type-B free agent status, the Jays will be compensated with a supplemental pick should he sign elsewhere.
The 32-year-old right-hander was 2-6 with 37 saves and a 3.51 ERA in 63 appearances this year. Gregg was paid $2.75 million this season. Gregg had team options for 2011 and 2012 (worth $4.5 million and $4.25 million respectively), but the Jays declined both options early in November.
Almost as soon as Toronto declined Gregg’s options, GM Alex Anthopoulos kept the door open about re-signing Gregg.
“We may very well come back and try to get something done with [Gregg], he’s very open to coming back here, he enjoyed his time here, we certainly enjoyed his time here,” Anthopoulos said during a conference call. “I’ve spent a lot of time on the phone with the other GMs trying to get a sense of who might be available [via trade]. Obviously everybody’s aware of the names that are out there in free agency, and there are a lot of ways that we can go. It’s very fluid with different trade talks, a lot of scenarios with respect to free agency.”
