Rumors for December, 2010
Tampa Bay Rays agree to terms with reliever Joel Peralta
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In a Tweet by Buster Olney of ESPN, he says the Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to terms with reliever Joel Peralta for about $900,000. The deal has not been completed yet.
The right-handed pitcher was 1-0 with a 2.02 ERA in 39 appearances for the Washington Nationals in 2010.
Nationals, Orioles and Padres pursuing Derrek Lee and Adam LaRoche
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The Washington Nationals, Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres are in need of a first baseman, and they’re going after one of the top two free agents available at the position, Derrek Lee and Adam LaRoche, according to sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.
The Orioles recently acquired on of LaRoche’s good friends, third baseman Mark Reynolds and bench coach John Russell, so those reasons could persuade him to go there. The Nationals need a strong left-handed hitter to replace Adam Dunn, and the Padres appear as longshots for both first baseman.
Rosenthal speculates that the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays and the Arizona Diamondbacks could also be in on one of the first basemen.
Mariners trying to trade closer David Aardsma
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According to sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Mariners are trying to trade closer David Aardsma. He adds that free agent right-handed pitcher Kevin Gregg may be a replacement for Aardsma in Seattle.
Aardsma made $2.75 million in 2010, and stands to make a significant raise in 2010 from arbitration. The right-hander will also be eligible for salary arbitration next winter before in becomes a free agent after the 2012 season.
Aardsma, 29 later this month, was 0-6 with a 3.44 ERA and 31 saves in 2010 with the M’s. He achieved a career high of 38 saves with Seattle with a 2.52 ERA in 2009.
It’s believed that the Baltimore Orioles are close to signing Gregg to a two-year, $12 milion deal. The 32-year-old right-hander was 2-6 with 37 saves and a 3.51 ERA in 63 appearances last season with the Toronto Blue Jays. 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.
Chicago White Sox make two-year offer to Kerry Wood
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Sources close to Fred Mitchell and David Kaplan of The Chicago Tribune say the White Sox have made a two-year offer to free agent right-handed pitcher Kerry Wood.
The White Sox signed right-handed pitcher Jesse Crain to a three-year deal earlier today, so it’s unlikely Chicago will bring Wood in.
There’s a possibility that Wood could return to the New York Yankees. The Yankees did not offer Wood, a Type-B free agent, arbitration, but he pitched well down the stretch that they could welcome him back. During his time in the Bronx, Wood had an ERA of 0.69 and a record of 2-0 in 26 innings over 24 appearances.
Arizona Diamondbacks agree to one-year deal with Xavier Nady
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According to sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year deal with Xavier Nady. The possibility deal was first reported by Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated adds that Nady will receive $1.75 million.
Heyman said on December 11th that the sides were talking. The Diamondbacks’ GM Kevin Towers has familiarity with Nady since he signed him for the San Diego Padres in 2000 in the second round of the MLB draft.
Nady, 32, hit .256/.306/.353 with 6 home runs and 33 RBIs with the Chicago Cubs in 2010.
Minnesota Twins believe they can re-sign Carl Pavano and Jim Thome
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In an article by John Shipley and Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press, Twins’ GM Bill Smith says he believes that the team can re-sign Carl Pavano and Jim Thome, but he added “They have more to do with the ultimate decision than I do.”
Pavano is likely to command a three-year deal worth about $10 million a year, but he may be interested in more than just money. He likely would want to go to a team that has a chance to win a World Series.
Smith says he has not spoken with Thome, but the team continues to speak with his agent, Pat Rooney.
When Smith was asked if they have a chance to re-sign the veterans, Smith said,
“We’ll find out. We’d love to have them back, but there are financial implications. I’ve said all along, veteran players have a different set of priorities than younger players.”
If Thome doesn’t re-sign, Smith said, “We would continue to look at the market and see what’s available. We spent all last
Bobby Jenks close to signing with the Rays
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According to a source close to NBCSports’ Craig Calcaterra, the Tampa Bay Rays are close to signing closer Bobby Jenks. Calcaterra adds that there’s no word on the terms yet.
Sources close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports say the action is heating on Jenks. In addition to the Rays the Yankees and others have interest. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times says the Rays are not close to signing Jenks this evening.
Jenks made $7.5 million last season and was non-tendered by the White Sox after the 2010 season. He was 1-3 with a 4.44 ERA and 27 saves last season.
Toronto Blue Jays pursuing Octavio Dotel
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According to a Major League source close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports, he says the Toronto Blue Jays are pursuing free agent right-handed pitcher Octavio Dotel. The Blue Jays do not have an experienced closer on their current roster, so signing Dotel would fill the void.
Dotel, 37, declined arbitration from the Colorado Rockies at the end of November. Because he’s a Type-B free agent, should he go to the Blue Jays or elsewhere, the Rockies will receive a supplemental draft pick in the 2011 draft.
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 Colorado Rockies declined a $4.5 million team option on Dotel in November. The right-hander made $3.25 million in 2010.
Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with LHP Lenny DiNardo
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According to Rob Bradford of WEEI, the Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Lenny DiNardo on a Minor League, split-contract. DiNardo confirmed the agreement with Bradford by phone. The deal is pending the results of an MRI.
Dinardo, 31, pitched for the Red Sox from 2004-2006. He last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2009 when he went 0-3 with a 10.13 ERA in 5 starts for the Kansas City Royals.
DiNardo told Brandford that he will be ready as either a starting depth option or as a reliever. He has previously worked with the Sox’s pitching coach, Curt Young, during their time with the Oakland A’s.
“[Young] really helped me focus on using my changeup more. And I attribute that whole year to that pitch basically,” said DiNardo. “Up to that point I was mainly just a fastball, cutter guy and I’d throw more curveballs and changeups and in 2007 what turned me around was that I would throw a changeup in any count. If I threw 100 pitches previous to 2007 I’d throw less than 10 changeups and in a few of the games in 2007 if I were to throw 100 pitches it was boosted up to 35 changeups.
“That’s Curt Young. He’s a left handed pitcher who had similar stuff to me and we kind of felt eye-to-eye on a lot of things. He really helped me out.”
Andy Pettitte Rumors: Won’t accept lowball offer to return in 2011
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The New York Yankees have likely turned their attention to one of their own – Andy Pettitte, now that they lost out on Cliff Lee. Here’s a running list of Pettite rumors to wet your appetites (newest on top):
– Because Pettitte’s family supports it, it’s likely that Pettitte will return to play in 2011. However, a friend of Pettitte that is close to Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says he was upset over low 2009 base salary, and he won’t accept a “lowball” offer.
– Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says Pettitte will decide within days if he’ll return for the 2011 season. He adds “cautiously optimistic.”
– The Yankees will not pressure Pettitte to decide, according to Brian Costello of The New York Post, but it’s safe to assume the Yankees are getting nervous.
“He’s at the point right now where he has to decide if he wants to play or not,” GM Brian Cashman said.
“He knows if he puts himself in play, we’d love to talk to him. I think the pull of the potential retirement is a little stronger than normal. It’s a very deep and personal decision for him. Andy’s been a great Yankee, and I can’t tell you if he’s going to pitch or not. He has not officially retired. He has not officially decided to play, either.”
