MLB Offseason Rumors & News

[Johnnydollaz89]

Rather than just spamming the section with threads, figured it would be easier to post all rumors and news in here. We will start with this big one.

Santana Seeks $100MM; Nolasco Looking For $80MM

Free agent, right-handed starters Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco are both looking for five-year deals, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The former hopes to earn a $100MM guarantee, while Nolasco is asking for $80MM, sources tell Rosenthal.
Of course, it is still early, and players' agents are probably still feeling out how baseball's revenue increases will translate to free agent dollars. The pair of durable thirty-year-olds, who were born within a day of each other, just put up respective 3.0 fWAR campaigns. For Santana, his 3.24 ERA over 211 innings for the Royals was a marked improvement on a terrible 2012. Throwing for the Marlins and Dodgers, Nolasco's 3.70 ERA across 199 1/3 innings was his best since 2008. Santana is still weighing a qualifying offer, though there is little doubt he'll reject it, while Nolasco was ineligible due to his mid-season trade.
MLBTR recently provided full profiles of both pitchers. Steve Adams predicted a five-year, $75MM pact for Santana. And after profiling Nolasco back in September, Tim Dierkes upped his estimate on Nolasco to four years and $52MM in his list of the top fifty free agents.

MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Not sure either of them get what they want.

 

[steveringo]

How is posting threads spamming?

I'd much rather see individual threads for each rumor. It is much easier to comment on the ones you're interested in.

Who wants to scroll through a monstrous thread?

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

How is posting threads spamming?

I'd much rather see individual threads for each rumor. It is much easier to comment on the ones you're interested in.

Who wants to scroll through a monstrous thread?

Well then lets use this for smaller rumors, just figured they didn't want all threads of like minor signings or just a small rumor.

 

[steveringo]

Well then lets use this for smaller rumors, just figured they didn't want all threads of like minor signings or just a small rumor.

Ok. Small rumor:

Tim Hudson to Boston. The Sox have contacted him and he seems interested. They like his 'mentorabiliy' to help the young pitchers coming up. This would also require the Sox to trade Jake Peavy back to the NL where he could find more success. The Sox are also considering keeping Ryan Dempster in the bull-pen as a long releiver...

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Arroyo in talks with the Twins.

The Twins are in the market for a starting pitcher, and they're furthest along with Bronson Arroyo, Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press writes. The Twins are inspecting Arroyo's medical records and have discussed some contract language with Arroyo's agency, Gaylord Sports Management. Berardino earlier tweeted that the two sides have not yet begun discussing terms of the contract, but noted that the work the Twins have already done indicates that they are "serious."
Arroyo has pitched at least 199 innings in each of the last nine seasons, so the Twins would look to him to eat innings in what was baseball's worst rotation in 2013. He posted a 3.79 ERA with 5.5 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9 with the Reds last season. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes predicted he would receive a two-year, $24MM deal.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Diamondbacks Interested In Nate Schierholtz

The Diamondbacks have interest in trading for Cubs outfielder Nate Schierholtz, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. Schierholtz, 30 in February, smacked 21 home runs in 503 plate appearances for the Cubs this year. In an article Sunday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic speculated on Schierholtz as a possible fit for the Diamondbacks, who were rumored to have an eye on Cubs righty Jeff Samardzija prior to the trade deadline.
With more than five years of big league service time, Schierholtz is arbitration eligible and under the Cubs' control for one more season. Matt Swartz has projected a $3.8MM salary for 2014, a $1.55MM raise on Schierholtz's 2013 base salary. The Cubs inked Schierholtz to a one-year deal in December of last year after he was non-tendered by the Phillies. They were able to offer him the most playing time of his career while making sure he faced left-handed pitching only 13% of the time. He responded with a .251/.301/.470 line as the Cubs' primary right fielder.
D'Backs GM Kevin Towers has talked about his desire to add a power-hitting corner outfielder. Gerardo Parra seems to have one of the team's outfield spots locked down, with Adam Eaton, A.J. Pollock, and Cody Ross also in the mix. Given Arizona's limited payroll flexibility, Schierholtz could hold extra appeal at less than $4MM.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

A's a dark horse for Nelson Cruz; Mariners, Mets, Phillies also in

ORLANDO, Fla. -- There's a surprise entry in the Nelson Cruz sweepstakes, and it's the Oakland A's.
The Mariners, Mets and Phillies are among other teams in pursuit of Cruz, who hit 27 home runs in a suspension-shortened season.
A's general manager Billy Beane likes to pick his spots for the big play, and Cruz is apparently a player Beane likes from Cruz's early days in the A's organization.
The small-market A's, who have severe stadium problems, could end up with an issue about the dollars and years in the end. Oakland also does not like to surrender a draft choice, which they would have to do in this case should they sign Cruz.
Oakland has been looking for a right-handed-hitting outfielder after declining to pick up the option on Chris Young, but this would be a much bigger splash than anyone anticipated. Beane is known for putting together competitive to excellent teams on a shoestring, but he occasionally tries to step into deep waters, like when he offered Adrian Beltre $65 million for five years out of the blocks before the Rangers signed Beltre for $80 million for five (with a vesting option that should take it to $96 million).
Beane traded Jorge Velandia for Cruz in 2000, then four years later sent Cruz away for Keith Ginter. Cruz has proven to be much more valuable than that now.
Cruz also has drawn interest from the Mariners, who desperately need offense, as Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported.
The Phillies have been talking to Cruz, but it'll be interesting to see if their signing of Marlon Byrd for $16 million over two years ends that talk.
The Mets also have Cruz on their list, according to sources.
Cruz had 76 RBI and hit .266 in a season shortened by 50 games by his Biogenesis suspension.

A's a dark horse for Nelson Cruz; Mariners, Mets, Phillies also in - CBSSports.com

That would be a nice addition for the A's, would mean they probably move Cespedes though.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

With Granderson out, Yankees focus on Choo, Beltran

ORLANDO -- The Yankees breathed a collective sigh of relief when outfielder Curtis Granderson rejected their $14.1 million qualifying offer, and will now commence with their plan to sign an even bigger big-time outfielder to replace him.
Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Beltran are the top two stars they seek, targets 1 and 1A, according to a person familiar with their thinking, with Jacoby Ellsbury a hair behind the other two stars.
Choo and Beltran appear very popular on a market with fairly limited power. The Yankees also like top power-hitting catcher Brian McCann, on whom they are bidding.
The Yankees already have moved on from Granderson, who they believe struck out too much. The crosstown Mets have said they may be interested in Granderson, who is believed to have some interest in playing in his hometown of Chicago.
The reason Yankees GM Brian Cashman ultimately made a qualifying offer to Granderson is that he recalled how difficult it was for the Yankees to find power over the past year and wanted to earn a draft pick. Granderson and agent Matt Brown made comments suggested they'd consider the $14.1 million qualifying offer, but Brown ultimately told CBSSports.com he mostly wanted to be respectful of the Yankees and not just dismiss it out of hand.
Baseball people believe Granderson, who combined for an MLB high 84 home runs in 2011-12 but suffered two freak injuries last year, should be able to get a deal for three or four years even with a draft choice attached to his signing, as it is now.
By extending the qualifying offer, the Yankees will receive a first-round draft choice when Granderson signs elsewhere, just as they did with Nick Swisher and Rafael Soriano.

With Granderson out, Yankees focus on Choo, Beltran - CBSSports.com

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Teams are showing interest in young Astros catching star Castro

ORLANDO -- The Astros are receiving significant interest in star catcher Jason Castro, and once big free agents like Brian McCann and Jarrod Saltalamacchia go off the board, things could possibly intensify.
Castro's name hasn't previously come up as a trade possibility, but the Astros have been known to trade players, even young ones. It isn't certain how serious they are about dealing Castro, who became an All-Star in 2013 for the first time, but Houston is said to like catching prospect Max Stassi very much.
Depending on what happens with the free-agent catchers, the Yankees, Rangers, Red Sox and Blue Jays could have interest. The Angels, Rockies and Twins are other teams that could be looking for a catcher.
The Astros are said to be willing to double their payroll from the $25 million range to $50 million or $60 million, and Castro is only heading into his first year of arbitration, so a trade wouldn't be financially motivated. Castro hit .276 with 18 home runs and 56 RBI as he emerged as the player folks predicted him to be.
Stassi came to Houston from Oakland in the five-player Jed Lowrie trade.

Teams are showing interest in young Astros catching star Castro - CBSSports.com

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Market for Mets 1B Ike Davis: Astros, Brewers, Rays, Rockies, Orioles

ORLANDO, Fla. -- There appears to be decent trade interest in Ike Davis despite his awful 2013 season.
The Astros, Orioles, Rays, Brewers and Rockies all have checked in as the Mets field offers.
Milwaukee may prefer re-signing its own guy Corey Hart, however.
The Mets appear set to go with Lucas Duda after Davis' second straight season hurt by a slow start. Davis recovered in 2012 to hit 30 home runs, and while he hit much better in the second half last season, he still finished with a .205 batting average, only nine home runs and 33 RBI.
Duda did well after switching from the outfield last season. he also has a decent track record for on-base percentage.
The Mets also have Josh Satin, who did a nice job in 2013.

Market for Mets 1B Ike Davis: Astros, Brewers, Rays, Rockies, Orioles - CBSSports.com

I'd take Escobar from the Rays for Ike right now.

 

[navamind]

A's sign Nick Punto | HardballTalk

 

[powerchord86]

A's sign Nick Punto | HardballTalk

The A's are a shoe in for the WS now!

World Champion Nick Punto!

 

[Hambombs]

This is why A's will never win it all LOL

 

[navamind]

This is why A's will never win it all LOL

Huh? It's not like they're signing him to be their starting 2B or anything. It's a depth move. Punto has a very good glove. Not much of a hitter, but he's had a few years where he posted a good OBP (especially 2011).

 

[da55bums]

This is why A's will never win it all LOL

still mad they knocked the Rangers out I see.

Very good value signing for a guy who can back up the entire infield and give them some veteran presence.

The A's have a great shot to get there...still need just 1 bat for that closer.

 

[rokketmn]

So this is a thread where you post clips from MLBTradeRumors? If you want that, just go to their website and see all of the rumors. You can even see the rumors by team.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

So this is a thread where you post clips from MLBTradeRumors? If you want that, just go to their website and see all of the rumors. You can even see the rumors by team.

I mean, you could also share opinions? Is that a good fit? What the hell is that team thinking? Wow they're severely overpaying that guy if that's his asking price.