Results tagged ‘ Jeff Francoeur ’

Melky Cabrera reportedly close to Royals deal

The ex-Atlanta Braves just keep coming the Royals’ way, according to reports surfacing at the Winter Meetings.

The Royals were reported close to terms with outfielder Melky Cabrera on Thursday, the day after signing outfielder Jeff Francoeur.

Cabrera, according to published reports, would receive a one-year deal worth $1.25 million plus $250,000 in incentives pending passing a physical. The report surfaced on Major League Baseball Trade Rumors early on Thursday.

Cabrera would be taking a pay cut from the $3.1 million he earned last year with the Braves when he hit just .255 with four homers and 42 RBIs in 147 games. A switch-hitter who could play center field or left, he previously had some productive years with the New York Yankees.

The report originated with Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sport and Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.

–Dick Kaegel.

Roundup: 1B locked up in Windy City

Day 3 of the Winter Meetings saw a couple of slugging first
basemen land in Chicago, as the White Sox resigned
their captain, Paul Konerko, and the Cubs took
a chance on Carlos Pena.

The Konerko deal was somewhat surprising, considering talks between the two
sides seemed to be on life support just a day ago. But even after signing Adam
Dunn, Chicago was able to give Konerko a three-year, $37.5 million to form what looks like one of the best lineups in baseball for 2011.

With the Cubs, Pena is reunited with his old esteemed hitting coach, Rudy
Jaramillo, and receives what super-agent Scott Boras referred to as
a “pillow contract” — because, as Boras said, it’s comfortable for both
sides. That deal is for one year and $10 million, as Pena will try to rebuild
his worth after hitting 28 homers but batting below .200 in 2010.

Here’s more from around the league on Wednesday …

* No more fooling around for the Yankees. They’re ready to make ballyhooed
free-agent starter Cliff Lee a
preliminary offer of six years and between $140 and $150 million, MLB.com’s
Bryan Hoch confirmed. Will that be enough, considering reports of mystery teams
offering seven years?

* The Rangers met with Carl Crawford‘s agent, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan.

* Adrian Beltre is still open to signing with the Athletics, according
to Boras. Boras also said negotiations for his third-base client are moving
quickly, and that the Angels are a very possible suitor.  

* There had been several reports that the Red Sox would be interested in
trading for Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. But Boras, who represents
him, says Beltran plans
to be a Met in 2011. That’s significant, considering he has a no-trade clause.

* Five teams are seriously pursuing Zack Greinke while another three are
“on the periphery,” according to FOXSports.com. It still seems like
he’d be tough
to move, however. The Royals are specific with what they want: pitching and
up-the-middle help.

* The Red Sox, according to CBS Sports, are zeroing in on Magglio Ordonez
to fill their outfield void, which would not be good news for Crawford. The Tigers are also checking.

* The Twins continue their
interest in resigning Carl Pavano, but they have competition. The
Brewers, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, have
also met with Pavano. The Nationals are another club known to have
interest. 

* In less-heralded one-year deals on Wednesday, the Mariners signed
non-tendered designated hitter Jack Cust; the Royals brought
in outfielder Jeff Francoeur; the D-backs were reportedly on the verge of signing catcher Henry
Blanco and veteran lefty Mike Hampton (Minor League deal); the
Braves acquired non-tendered lefty reliever George Sherrill; and the Dodgers were close to bringing back Russell Martin. 
 

– Alden Gonzalez 

Francoeur signed to be Royals’ right fielder

The Royals’ search for a right-handed-hitting outfielder with power has led them to Jeff Francoeur.

Francoeur, a free agent, was signed by the Royals on Wednesday at the Winter Meetings to a one-year contract for $2.5 million with a mutual option for 2012 at $4 million. Francoeur last played with the Texas Rangers in the World Series.

Manager Ned Yost said that Francoeur will be the Royals’ regular right fielder and bat somewhere in the middle of the lineup, exact spot to be determined.

The chance to play every day with the Royals rather than be in a platoon situation elsewhere appealed to Francoeur.

“I do want to play every day, I’m not the best guy to sit on the bench,” he said by phone. “I have ants in my pants.”

General manager Dayton Moore apparently moved quickly to sign Francoeur who reportedly was the target of several teams, notably the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dick Kaegel.

Roundup: Lee speculation continues

While the announcement of American League Gold Glove stole the stage on Tuesday afternoon, the Hot Stove season didn’t stop. For the third straight day following the official opening of free agent season, Cliff Lee rumors continued to swirl. We’ll take a look at who is reportedly joining the mix for the talented left-hander along with other whispers around the league on Tuesday. 
- The number of teams who are interested in Lee has increased to seven-eight teams. The Yankees and Rangers are among the favorites, no matter who you ask, but the Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers, Angels, Red Sox have all been mentioned as potential suitors. On Tuesday, though, SI.com’s Jon Heyman suggested on Twitter that the Astros could be making a run at Lee. 
- Jeff Francoeur, who some have suggested as possible fit for teams who are looking for a right-field platoon player, is expected to clear waivers and become a free agent by the end of the week, Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi tweeted. 
- Pitcher Eric Hacker, who won 16 games last season for the Giants’ Triple-A team, signed a Major League deal with the Twins on Tuesday, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reported on Twitter. Hacker had been a six-year free agent. 
-Victor Martinez is becoming something of a hot commodity as the Boston Globe is reporting that six teams have inquired about the catcher’s services. The identity of those six teams isn’t known, but as the Globe report points out, early interest came from teams like the Tigers, Rockies, Blue Jays, Mariners, Rangers and Orioles.
Stay tuned for more Hot Stove updates from MLB.com
--Bailey Stephens

Bay to DL signals status quo for Frenchy

The byproduct of Jason Bay’s assignment to the disabled list Friday is that the Mets can no longer afford to trade Jeff Francoeur for pitching. As long as Bay remains disabled, the Mets will need Francoeur to man right field for them, meaning they cannot deal him for anything other than another outfielder — and, barring a salary dump, there isn’t much point to that.

With Francoeur off the block, the Mets don’t appear primed to do much before Saturday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline. Unable to acquire one of the three top-flight starting pitchers available on the market, the Mets are hardly enthused with the prospect of dealing for a lesser starter — a Jake Westbrook, Ted Lilly, Paul Maholm type. And they — like every other team — have experienced sticker shock on the few quality relievers available.

For the Mets to make the playoffs, then, it appears they’re going to have to win with what they have.

–Anthony DiComo

Francoeur: “I want to be here”

Dogged in late 2008 by a series of rumors intimating that he did not enjoy playing in Queens, Mets outfielder Ryan Church reported to Spring Training the next year sporting an “I Love New York” t-shirt.

Jeff Francoeur, the man for whom the Mets traded Church last season, is heading down a similar path.

Mere days after telling both the Daily News and the Post that he would welcome a trade elsewhere — read: Kansas City — if it would result in increased playing time, Francoeur nixed that talk following Tuesday’s victory at Citi Field.

“I want to be here,” Francoeur said. “I’ve said it from Day 1, I like it here. I enjoy playing. It’s a fun place to play. It’s a crazy place to play, but it’s a fun place to play.”

And it should remain Francoeur’s home for a while, as it appears increasingly unlikely that the Mets will deal Francoeur prior to Saturday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline. Even before this week, the Mets were worried that trading Francoeur would make them vulnerable in the event that Carlos Beltran re-injured his surgically repaired right knee. Now, Jason Bay is out indefinitely with a mild concussion, providing the Mets with a clear reminder of why Francoeur remains valuable to them.

“You like to have good players, and Jeff is definitely a good player,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said.

In other words, don’t expect him to go anywhere.

–Anthony DiComo

Mets talking Frenchy, nothing imminent

The Mets have had conversations with the Royals regarding Jeff Francoeur, but it’s doubtful that anything will come of that before Saturday’s non-waiver Trade Deadline.

Multiple published reports this weekend claimed that the Mets were interested in dealing Francoeur, who is making $5 million this season, for Royals reliever Kyle Farnsworth, who is making $4.5 million. On paper that matches up, considering the Mets’ desperate need for bullpen help. But the Mets are wary of trading Francoeur and then watching Carlos Beltran suffer a setback in his recovery from right knee surgery. Though Francoeur is nothing more than a fourth outfielder for the Mets at the moment, he is also an important source of depth.

That said, Francoeur told multiple news outlets this weekend that he would be receptive to any trade that would net him more playing time. The Royals could certainly offer that sort of situation.

–Anthony DiComo

Roundup: Haren, Oswalt chatter continues

Many contending clubs are looking for reliable starting pitching (who isn’t really?), and so the attainable Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren are hot topics of discussion with the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline now just eight days away. 

Regarding Oswalt, the Dodgers, Cardinals and Phillies have reportedly all reached out to the Astros to try and work something out. The Cardinals seem like Oswalt’s most desired destination. The 32-year-old right-hander, who has a full no-trade clause, grew up in nearby Mississippii and has said he would not force the Cardinals to pick up his 2012 option for $16 million — something he would reportedly demand of a team like the Phillies. 
The Dodgers, according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, are also looking into Oswalt and have discussed names with Houston. The Astros, Stark added, would prefer not to trade Oswalt to a divisional opponent. According to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Astros seek two top prospects, a third Minor Leaguer and a young player who’s Major League ready for Oswalt. Perhaps those demands come down as the Deadline approaches. 
Regarding Haren, D-backs CEO Derrick Hall said he has no urgency to move the right-hander and would need “an A-plus deal” to ship him out. As MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert wrote, the D-backs are hesitant to move both Haren and Edwin Jackson. The Tigers, Yankees, Phillies, Cardinals and Twins have all been linked to Haren. According to FOXSports.com, Haren would have to approve a deal to the Twins and Tigers. 
Here’s more from around the league … 
* The Athletics signed catcher Kurt Suzuki to a four-year extension. The deal runs through 2013, Suzuki’s arbitration years, and includes a club option for 2014. 
* The Giants, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney, scouted Jose Guillen on Thursday night. 
* With Carlos Beltran back in the lineup and Jeff Francoeur‘s playing time dwindling, the Mets are looking to trade Francoeur, according to The New York Post. 
* David DeJesus, the subject of much speculation, will miss the rest of the season after suffering a complete ligament tear in his right thumb on Thursday, according to The Kansas City Star. His surgery is set for Monday. 
* The Rays do not expect to acquire Jayson Werth, Yahoo! Sports’ Tim Brown reported via Twitter. 
– Alden Gonzalez
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