Rumors for November, 2011
Bobby Valentine to be named next Red Sox manager
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The Boston Red Sox will name Bobby Valentine as the team’s new manager, according to sources close to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston. Mike Lynch of WCVB first reported that that the sides had reached a verbal agreement.
The 61-year-old was an ESPN analyst before agreeing to be the Sox’s next manager. He last managed the Chibba Lotte Marines from 2004-2009, and he last managed in the Majors when he skippered the New York Mets from 1996-2002.
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Dodgers and Adam Kennedy close to deal
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The Los Angeles Dodgers and infielder Adam Kennedy are close to a deal, according to multiple sources close to Tony Jackson and ESPNLosAngeles.com. Terms of the deal were not available.
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Giants extend contracts for Bochy and Sabean
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The San Francisco Giants have announced that they have extended the contracts for manager Bruce Bochy and GM Brian Sabean through the 2013 season with club options for 2014. The amount of the deals were not available.
“Brian and Bruce are certainly two of the finest professionals at their respective positions in all of baseball. They have effectively built and fostered a winning tradition at all levels of our organization. I have no doubt that they will achieve continued success for the Giants in the coming years and beyond,” said CEO Larry Baer.
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Trade rumors: Thornton, Floyd, Danks, Quentin, Navarro, Iannetta and Stewart
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Here’s a running list of trade rumors around the Major Leagues:
– The Chicago White Sox have been trying to move left handed pitcher Matt Thornton since July according to Buster Olney of ESPN. He is owed $12 million over two seasons.
– Olney also points out that the White Sox are “devoted” to the idea of trading John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Carlos Quentin.
– The Colorado Rockies have inquired about catcher Dioner Navarro according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post. He would be the team’s backup catcher if they end up signing Ramon Hernandez. Renck adds that if they sign Hernandez they would probably move Chris Iannetta as well.
– Renck says that the Rockies are exploring trades for Ian Stewart. He adds that the Cubs are apparently interested in Stewart although he’s not sure “what degree” of interest they have.
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Shockingly, the Mariners are going after Prince Fielder
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Even though the Mariners would probably have around $15 million to spend this off season, according to Greg Johns of MLB.com, their GM, Jack Zduriencik, says they would like to sign free agent Prince Fielder. As Johns points out, “early media speculation has Fielder seeking something in the eight-year, $200-million neighborhood.”
“There’s no question we could use a big bat in the middle of our lineup,” said Zduriencik. “But where is your limitation and threshold? We’ll go down that road and experiment and see where it ends up, but until things get more definitive, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Besides a power hitter, the Mariners are also looking for a backup shortstop, a veteran reliever and probably another starter. “Every club in baseball looks for pitching,” Zduriencik said. “We’re relatively young in the ‘pen, so a veteran guy there would be interesting in the right situation. And you’re always looking for starting pitching.”
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Nationals interested in Mark DeRosa as a backup first baseman
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Nationals backup first baseman, Chris Marrero, might be done for the season after tearing his hamstring while playing first base in the Dominican Winter League reports Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
Although Marrero believes he’s not done for the season, he definitely won’t be ready for Spring Training. “I’m not out for the season, but I did tear my hamstring.” said Marrero. “… I didn’t think it was that bad, but once I went to the doctor in DC, he said it was torn and I had surgery. But I’m not going to miss the season. I’ll miss some time in Spring Training to make sure that it’s 100 percent. I don’t know what the doctor has planned, but I know I’m not going to miss the season.”
According to Ladson, the team is looking to add some depth at first base due to the loss of Marrero, and one baseball source close to him says they are interested in free agent Mark DeRosa.
The 36-year old DeRosa hit .279/.351/.302 with 12 RBI’s in 86 AB’s for the Giants in 2011. As Ladson points out, DeRosa could play not only first base, but also other infield positions and corner outfield spots.
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Octavio Dotel receiving interest from the Cardinals, Reds and Tigers
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Right handed pitcher Octavio Dotel has been receiving interest from the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers according to a Major League source close to Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.
Morosi adds that although Dotel is more of a seventh-inning guy at “this stage of his career,” he could handle the eight or ninth inning when needed.
In 2011, Dotel was 5-4 with a 3.50 ERA in 54.0 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays and the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Royals sign Jonathan Broxton to a one-year deal
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According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports, the Kansas City Royals have agreed to a one-year, $4mm deal with right handed pitcher Jonathan Broxton. Rosenthal adds the deal is pending physical. The deal also includes $1mm in incentives base on an unknown number of games pitched.
Last week, we learned that Broxton was close to making a decision. We also heard that at least ten teams were showing interest in him.
The 27-year-old former All Star was limited in 2011 due to injury and is coming of minor elbow surgery, though he should be ready for Spring Training. In 14 games last season, the right-hander was 1-2 with seven saves in 14 appearances.
In 2011, Broxton made $7mm in the second year of his two year deal. In 2009, Broxton had a career year where he posted a 2.61 era while saving 36 games and striking 114 out along the way.
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Nationals showing interest in Prince Fielder
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The Washington Nationals may be adding to their arsenal of young talent with Prince Fielder. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the team is showing interest in free agent first baseman Prince Fielder. However, a source close to Rosenthal says that talks between Washington and Fielder have hit a “significant roadblock” and the club is looking at Cuban outfielder Yoennis Cespedes as a plan B.
The Nationals have also been linked to C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle and Roy Oswalt.
If the Nationals sign Fielder, they could go into the season with both the new first baseman and Adam LaRoche. However, LaRoche is expensive with $8 million being owed to him in 2012 with a $1 million buyout on his $10 million club option for 2013.
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Pirates interested in Aaron Cook
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According to a source close to Paul Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Pittsburgh Pirates have shown “preliminary interest” in right handed pitcher Aaron Cook. He adds that at least half-dozen teams have checked on Cook.
Brink says that after declining Paul Maholm’s option, the team will try to add some rotation depth. The Rockies declined Cook’s $11 million option for 2012 as well.
In 2011, Cook was 3-10 with a 6.03 ERA in 97 innings throughout 18 games, 17 starts with the Colorado Rockies.
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