Rumors for December, 2010
Bobby Jenks and Red Sox agree to two-year, $12 million deal
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According to Buster Olney of ESPN, Bobby Jenks and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal, pending a physical.
The Red Sox will have crowded, but solid, back end of their rotation with Jenks, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon.
Jenks made $7.5 million last season and was non-tendered by the White Sox. He was 1-3 with a 4.44 ERA and 27 saves in his final season with the White Sox.
Bobby Jenks rumors: Boston Red Sox closing in on a deal for Jenks
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Here are your Bobby Jenks rumors for Thursday (newest on top):
– Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says that the Boston Red Sox are closing in on a deal for Jenks.
– Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says that Jenks is looking for “closer money”, that could be around $8 million per season, or more. Heyman adds that he’s not an ideal fit for the Yankees who are looking for a set-up man.
Jason Bartlett Trade Rumors: Padres and Rays continue to work on trade
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San Diego Padres GM Jed Hoyer told radio station XX1090 that they are continuing to work with the Tampa Bay Rays for a trade involving shortstop Jason Bartlett. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated confirms that the trade issue is nearly resolved.
“We’re working on some things with Tampa. I hope it’s something that can get resolved quickly,” Hoyer said.
The sides originally were working on a trade during the Winter Meetings, with both sides agreeing to the deal that would send Bartlett to the Padres in exchange for Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos. While the deal is not completely dead, the Rays wanted to get a second opinion on one of pitchers after conducting an initial physical.
The 31-year-old Bartlett played the last three seasons with the Rays. He’s a lifetime .281/.345/.385 hitter seven big league seasons with the Rays and Twints.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Minnesota Twins close on three-year, $10MM deal
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According to a source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Minnesota Twins and Tsuyoshi Nishioka are “very close” on a deal. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds the sides are working on a three-year deal plus an option year and the deal is in the neighborhood of $10 million.
Twins GM Bill Smith confirmed that Nishioka is in town and is taking a physical “today and tomorrow.” The negotiations between the sides are on-going, but not complete, according to John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
On Tuesday, La Velle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune, speculated that Nishioka was close to coming to the Minnesota area for his physical – a clear sign that the sides are close to a deal.
The Twins previously won the exclusive right in November to negotiate with Nishioka via a $5.3 million bid to his Chiba Lotte Japanese club. The sides have up until December 26 to have a deal in place otherwise Nishioka will return to his Japanese club for the 2011 season.
A physical by Nishioka is a good sign that the sides are getting close to an agreement. Neal adds that there have been no indications that a multi year deal will not get worked out.
Nishioka who can play both shortstop and second base, led Japan’s Pacific League in hitting this year with a .346 average.
Texas Rangers looking to add starting pitching
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Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the team is taking a look at starting pitcher to improve their rotation, but they are not in a hurry to make a move, according to ESPN’s Richard Durrett.
“We saw last year that you can definitely improve during the season,” Daniels said Wednesday referring to the acquisition of Cliff Lee. “We’re looking at starters now and relievers to give ourselves some flexibilty.”
Daniels knows he has time left in the off season, during Spring Training as well as during the season.
“We’ve got a number of guys we have confidence in,” Daniels said. “Would we like to add to that group, maybe somebody who could be ahead of those guys in the rotation and take some pressure off the young guys? Yeah. That would be desireable. But it’s a competitive marketplace. I don’t know if that’s going to happen or not.”
Vladimir Guerrero open to one-year deal
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According to Buster Olney of ESPN, free agent designated hitter-outfielder, Vladimir Guerrero, is now open to the idea of discussing a one-year deal with prospective employers. Olney speculates that this makes it more likely that he would return to the Texas Rangers.
Guerrero lost one possible employment opportunity yesterday when the Oakland A’s officially signed Hideki Matsui to fill their DH role. Last week, it was reported that the Baltimore Orioles could be suitors for Guerrero’s services.
Guerrero just wrapped up a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers, and he was previously looking for a two-year deal to return to the Texas Rangers or a three-year deal from other clubs.
The Texas Rangers declined a $9 million option for 2011, but the team is still interested in bringing the DH/OF back.
Magglio Ordonez re-signs with the Detroit Tigers
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Outfielder Magglio Ordonez has re-signed with the Detroit Tigers for a one-year and $10 million contract, according to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated. Heyman adds that Ordonez rejected two-year offers elsewhere.
Heyman speculated in November that the Ordonez would re-sign with the Tigers. In October, the team decided against picking up Ordonez’s, $15 million option for 2011, however they were interested in negotiating a new deal at the time.
The 36-year-old Ordonez hit .303/.378/.474 with 12 home runs while driving in 59 runs in 2010 with the Tigers in 2010.
Blue Jays sign Edwin Encarnacion to one-year deal
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According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed Edwin Encarnacion to a one-year contract. The deal is for $2.5 million with a club option for 2012. The club option will be worth $3.5 million and a $500,000 buyout, according to Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star.
During the Winter Meetings, the Tampa Bay Rays expressed interest in Encarnacion. It was speculated that he could play first base and designated hitter for the Rays.
Encarnacion, 27, spent the last two seasons with the Blue Jays where he hit .243/.306/.469 in 138 games in 2009 and 2010. He hit 21 home runs and drove in 51 RBIs for the Jays last season.
Chicago Cubs moving towards finalizing a deal with Kerry Wood
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In a Tweet by David Kaplan of the Chicago Tribune, he says the Cubs are moving towards finalizing a deal with Kerry Wood. He cautions that the deal is not done, but is very close. Kaplan expects the deal to be done this week.
Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News says that Wood is reportedly looking for a two-year, $12 million contract. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that the Yankees were reluctant to go two years with Wood.
Wood told Kaplan in an article that whatever decision he made about pitching in 2011 would have to be good for his family. The right-hander makes Chicago his permanent home, and being close to home and his longtime relationship with Cubs GM Jim Hendry are factors in the Cubs’ favor.
Earlier, there was a report by the Chicago Tribune that the White Sox made a two-year offer to Wood, but with the signing of Jesse Crain to a three-year deal, it was unlikely that the White Sox would continue pursuing Wood.
Yankees close to signing Pedro Feliciano
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In a Tweet by Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record, he says the New York Yankees are close to signing left-handed pitcher Pedro Feliciano.
The Yankees first expressed interest in the pitcher in mid-November.
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that the Yankees were reluctant to go two-years on a contract with Kerry Wood, so they’re looking at Feliciano and free agent Brian Fuentes. It’s believed that Fuentes wants to close, and he won’t have that opportunity with the Yankees.
In 2010, Feliciano was 3-6 in 92 relief appearances over 62 2/3 innings pitched. He made $2.9 million with the New York Mets last season.
