Rumors for November, 2011
Rangers will try to shop Yorvit Torrealba
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With the year that Mike Napoli had with the Rangers in 2011, there’s no doubt he will be their everyday catcher next season. That would leave Yorvit Torrealba as their back up catcher, a role that might make Torrealba unhappy according to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
Sullivan says that the Rangers will probably dangle Torrealba to other teams to see what kind of interest they draw. He believes there should be enough interest to get bullpen help in return for the catcher, especially left handed relievers.
Torrealba signed a two-year, $6.25 million deal with the Rangers in November 2010 and is set to earn $3.25 million in 2012. In 2011, Torrealba hit .273/.306/.399 with 7 HR’s and 37 RBI’s for the Rangers.
Napoli, was traded from the Angels to the Blue Jays this past January and four days later, he was shipped to Texas. In 2011, Napoli hit .320/.414/.631 with 30 HR’s and 75 RBI’s for the Rangers.
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Marlins considering Reyes and Buerhle
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The Florida Marlins are making their rotation the number one off-season priority and a source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports reports that the Florida Marlins will speak with free agents Mark Buehrle and shortstop Jose Reyes in South Florida this week.
Buerhle, from Montana, may be more interested in pitching in the midwest, but his former manager, Ozzie Guillen may have some pull in luring him to South Florida.
The Marlins are also interest in Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes.
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Phillies making strong push for Ryan Madson
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The Philadelphia Phillies are making a “strong push” to re-sign Ryan Madson, Jayson Stark of ESPN reports.
A source close to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports adds that the Phillies are working hard to keep Madson and are possibly nearing an agreement.
“I do not characterize my negotiations,” GM Ruben Amaro said. “I need a closer. It’s no secret I need a closer.”
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Twins name Terry Ryan interim GM
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The Minnesota Twins have named Terry Ryan as the team’s interim General Manager, according to a press release issued by the team today. The move replaces Bill Smith effective immediately.
“No one in the Twins’ organization wants to win any more than Bill,” Twins Owner and CEO Jim Pohlad said. “He is unquestionably loyal, committed and talented. The Twins goal is to get better in 2012 and beyond. Bill was equally motivated to achieve that goal but we differed in the scope and approach that was required. Going forward, we intend to have additional discussions with Bill about an ongoing role within the organization. We wish Bill, Becky and the entire Smith family nothing but the best.”
“We are fortunate and grateful for Terry Ryan’s willingness to step in as interim general manager,” Pohlad continued.
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Giants trade Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo to the Royals for Melky Cabrera
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The San Francisco Giants have traded left handed pitchers Jonathan Sanchez and Ryan Verdugo to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfielder Melky Cabrera the team announced.
Earlier today, we learned that Major league sources close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports said the team was willing to deal Sanchez in order to “free up money,”desperately needed to upgrade their offense.
A rival executive projected that the Giants’ starting rotation will take roughly half of the team’s payroll with $60 million approximately. Morosi also points out that if you add relievers Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt, and Javier Lopez, the team will have, in percentage of payroll, the “highest pitching expenditure” in the Majors.
The Giants wanted to pursue a bat this off season, and the best way to do so would be parting ways with one of their starters. As Morosi says, Sanchez was the most expendable of the six, that also includes Tim Lincecum, Ryan Vogelsong, Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito.
Sanchez will become a free agent after the 2012 and he’ll earn about $6 million according to Morosi. In 2011, Sanchez was 4-7 with a 4.26 ERA in 101.1 innings for the Giants.
Marlins appear favorites to land Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes
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Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes is slated to become a free agent this winter and according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, he could sign for more than $30 million. He’s considered “the second-best player in Cuba behind third baseman Yulieski Gourriel,” says Kilgore.
The Washington Nationals, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies are among the teams interested in the power-hitting center fielder. But according to a source close to Juan Carlos Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel, the Marlins are the favorites to land the 26-year old Cespedes.
“This may be the big one for the Miami Marlins,” the source said. “He fits all their needs (on and off the field).”
Cespedes is a 6-0, 215-pound center fielder that is considered to be a “five tool” player. Rodriguez says that there’s a 20-minute video of him doing everything “from blasting home runs to sprinting on a track to showing off a 45-inch vertical leap to leg pressing more than 1,300 pounds.”
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Mets will listen to offers for David Wright
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According to a Mets official, the New York Mets will listen to offers for their third baseman David Wright (via Joel Sherman of the New York Post). “We will listen on Wright for sure,” said the official. “We know we are not going to win it all in 2012. We have to hope the Phillies get old and we are in position to take advantage of that in 2013-14, and we have to figure out ways to speed the process to get there.”
The Mets are definitely trying to rebuild the team, and it seems it will be without Wright and Jose Reyes, who will probably leave via free agency. Sherman says that if the Mets could find the young center fielder they’re looking for plus an arm or two, they would seriously consider trading Wright.
Sherman believes the Mets could find a match in the Angels. The Angels have shown interest in Wright previously and they have two outstanding center fielders in Peter Bourjos and Mike Trout. Even though the Angels probably won’t trade Trout, Bourjos remain a possibility for the Mets.
Wright hit .254/.345/.427 with 14 HR’s and 61 RBI’s in 389 AB’s for the Mets in 2011.
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Colorado Rockies rumors: Carroll, Ellis, Prado, Youkilis and Street
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Here’s a list of rumors involving the Colorado Rockies provided by Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
– The Rockies are interested in bringing Jamey Carroll back, but Renck isn’t sure if the Rockies can afford a hitter with no power. He also believes that Carroll’s market value is about $8 million for two years. The same deal that Omar Infante got.
– A return of Mark Ellis hasn’t been ruled out says Renck. Ellis was traded to the Rockies from the A’s back in June.
– Last week, we learned that the Braves were willing to listen to offers for Jair Jurrjens and Martin Prado. Renck believes that Prado is more likely to be moved, and with a rough estimate of $4.5 million for next year, he’s quite affordable for the Rockies. Renck wonders if dangling Seth Smith to the Braves could get the trade talks going, since they need a “corner bat.”
– According to Renck, there’s “mixed opinions on how available” Kevin Youkilis is, but he would be a perfect fit for the Rockies. He can provide some offensive pop and play both first and third base. He will make $12 million in 2012 with a $13 million club option in 2013.
– The Rokcies are exploring the possibility of moving their closer Houston Street, and according to Renck, the Blue Jays and Phillies are possible destinations for the right hander.
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Orioles name Dan Duquette new GM
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According to sources close to Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, the Baltimore Orioles have named Dan Duquette as their next General Manager.
According to CSNBaltimore’s Rich Dubroff, Duquette’s deal appears to be for three-years.
Duquette interviewed with the Orioles on Friday and traveled to Baltimore on Saturday to finalize his contract and met with owner Peter Angelos on Sunday.
Duquette was the GM for the Expos from 1991-1994, then held the same position with the Red Sox from 1994-2001. Though he does have experience running a ball club, Duquette has been out of the league for nearly a decade.
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Nationals interested in Roy Oswalt
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Nationals GM, Mike Rizzo, said that the team is interested in acquiring another veteran starter and according to a baseball source close to Bill Ladson of MLB.com they have shown interest in right hander Roy Oswalt.
“The type of pitcher we are looking for is a good leader-type of guy that throws a lot of innings, has shown that he can win in the big leagues and really lead our staff,” said Rizzo. “It’s not by having the best stuff on the staff, but showing how to be a professional, how to be a winner, how to pitch 200 innings in a season many, many times in a career. That’s kind of the guy we are looking for.”
Oswalt was considering retirement after experiencing some health issues this season, but after coming back to the mound we learned that he was feeling “rejuvenated” and that he was definitely coming back for 2012.
Late in October, the Phillies declined the option they held on Oswalt making him a free agent. The veteran right hander was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA in 139 innings with the Phillies in 2011.
