Results tagged ‘ Hot Stove ’

Cubs looking at Webb

Add the Cubs into the mix of teams looking at free agent right-hander Brandon Webb.
Fanhouse’s Ed Price reported Saturday night that Chicago has had contact with Webb’s agent and is “seriously” considering the former Cy Young winner.
Webb, 31, reportedly has also drawn interest from the Dodgers, Pirates, Twins and Rangers. Webb missed all of last season after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2009, but he could be a high-reward signing if healthy in 2011.
– Evan Drellich

Roundup: Kaz Matsui off the market

The Major League hot stove remained torrid on Thursday, but offseason speculation was replaced on the front burners by other delights of the season: gastronomic ones like stuffing and sweet potatoes. Still, several negotiations continued to simmer on back burners on Thanksgiving, and one conversation reached a rolling boil.

Infielder Kazuo Matsui agreed to a contract with Japanese club Rakuten Eagles, according to The Associated Press. Matsui, most recently of the Colorado Rockies, likely concluded his Major League career after seven seasons. If, indeed, the 35-year-old’s career in the big leagues has concluded, he will finish with a .267 career average, 32 home runs and 102 stolen bases.

Elsewhere, the negotiations continued between closer Mariano Rivera and the Yankees. Rivera would like a two-year contract worth $18 million per year, according to the New York Daily News. The Yankees, according to Daily News sources, would prefer to give the soon-to-be 41-year-old a one year deal.

The Red Sox have an opening at catcher, and FOXsports.com reports that the club may be pursuing Rod Barajas. Barajas became a free agent on Tuesday when the Dodgers declined to offer him arbitration. Barajas cranked 17 home runs last season, which he split between the Mets and Dodgers. He’s reached double-digits in home runs in each of the past three campaigns.

Left-handed reliever George Sherrill has a minuscule chance of remaining with the Dodgers, reports the LA Times. Sherrill, who closed for the Orioles from 2008-09, had a disappointing 2010 season, but he still held left-handers to a .192 average.

–Sunil Joshi

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Zaun wants a Tampa return

If he has his way this offseason, 16-year veteran catcher Gregg Zaun will return to his stomping grounds from two seasons ago, Tampa Bay.

Zaun, 39 and a free agent, told Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on Tuesday that he’d like to play for the Rays in 2011. That could be a crowded situation to squeeze into, though: The Rays have John Jaso and Kelly Shoppach under contract, and while Dioner Navarro is arbitration eligible, he’s likely to be non-tendered.
A backup most of his career, Zaun played 34 games for the Rays in 2009 before signing a one-year, $2.15 million deal with Milwaukee for 2010. He hit .265 with a pair of homers in 102 at-bats this past season. 
The Brewers declined a $2.25 million club option on Zaun a week ago, paying a small buyout instead and making him a free agent. Zaun once said he wants to become the oldest catcher to play in the Majors. 
– Evan Drellich

Roundup: Lee gets a late-night ring

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Baseball’s biggest spenders showed no hesitation in going after this year’s biggest name on the pitching market. According to multiple reports, the Yankees contacted Cliff Lee‘s agent practically right away once free agency officially began at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.


That the Yankees are targeting Lee, who went 12-9 with a 3.18 ERA between Seattle and Texas and went to the World Series for a second straight season, is no secret. The question is whether they’ll offer enough to woo him away from the American League Champion Rangers, or any other suitors – the Nationals, anyone?


  • The Tigers have agreed to terms with shortstop Jhonny Peralta on a two-year, $11.25 million contract, MLB.com’s Jason Beck reports. The deal is expected to be announced in the next couple days, and comes with a third-year club option and buyout.
  • FoxSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reported late Sunday that Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla rejected a four-year, $48 million offer to keep his talents in South Beach. Potentially a free agent next winter, Uggla is arbitration eligible is this year. Rosenthal writes that Uggla turned down the offer in part because another free agent with similar numbers is likely to command more money: Jayson Werth.
  • As MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo wrote last week was an expected move, reports confirmed Sunday that Boston bench coach DeMarlo Hale is to interview for the Mets’ manager job early this week. Hale, 49, has been with Boston for the last five years.

– Evan Drellich

Roundup: Lee’s landing spot still talk of MLB

Amidst the All-Star Game announcements, rumors continued to swirl on Sunday about a potential landing spot for Cliff Lee. The Twins and Yankees are still being tossed around as potential front-runners for the Mariners’ Cy Young hurler.

The possibility has also been raised by Tyler Kepner of the New York Times that Lee may be destined to become a Yankee, but not until the offseason when New York would be better equipped to sign him to a long-term deal. Others have suggested that Yankees GM Brian Cashman’s hand could be forced by A.J. Burnett’s recent struggles.

A baseball source outside of the Twins organization reportedly told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he believes the Twins are the front-runners to land Lee at this point.

The Mets, Rangers and Dodgers also remain possible contenders to land Lee before the Trade Deadline.

Here’s a look at happenings around the league on Sunday:

- SI.com’s Jon Heyman tweeted on Sunday that he believes the Astros might be willing to pay some of Oswalt’s contract, if they can get the right pieces in return.

With regard to the O’s mangerial search, Heyman said on Twitter that he believes it is now down to Wedge and Showalter, despite the players’ support of interim manager Juan Samuel.

- Kansas City utility man Willie Bloomquist has been drawing attention from a few clubs, according to a report in Sunday’s Kansas City Star. With Dustin Pedroia on the shelf right now, the Red Sox join the Phillies, Yankees and Rockies as potential interested parties, the report suggests.

- The D-backs designated Dontrelle Willis for assignment on Sunday, raising the question of his future once again. There were several teams interested in Willis after he was designated earlier this summer by the Tigers, before Arizona acquired him on June 1. Will another team take a chance on the hurler down the stretch?

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