Results tagged ‘ nationals ’

Roundup: The Tigers have arrived to the GM Meetings

It was the Marlins who staked their claim in Orlando on Tuesday, when they traded Dan Uggla to the Braves and agreed on a three-year contract with John Buck. Wednesday is the day of the Tigers, apparently. The club agreed on a three-year, $16.5 million contract with setup man Joaquin Benoit, according to reports. Also, Detroit is said to be going after power-hitting lefty outfielder/first baseman/potential designated hitter Adam Dunn.
SI.com first reported the two sides were quickly coming together on a
deal, but ESPN.com followed up by saying nothing is imminent just yet.

Here’s more from the second full day of the General Managers Meetings …

* Diamondbacks new general manager Kevin Towers is apparently kicking the tires on a potential trade of franchise player Justin Upton.
The Red Sox, according to USA Today, are said to be the ideal
candidate, but the New York Post wrote that the Marlins and Rays — and
perhaps the Yankees — are prime candidates.

* White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times that he would’ve let manager Ozzie Guillen go
to the Marlins if they would’ve given up the specific high-level player
he sought. Reinsdorf didn’t say who, but he denied it was Mike Stanton.

* In need of a lefty bat, the White Sox have engaged in talks with Hideki Matsui,
according to SI.com. Matsui expressed interest in a return to the
Angels, but they’d like to keep DH a revolving door with so many
veterans in their lineup. 

* Six to eight teams have spoken to free-agent starter Carl Pavano, according to The Washington Post, which names the Nationals as one of them. The Marlins, a source told MLB.com, are another.

* The Athletics traded speedy outfielder Rajai Davis to the Blue Jays in exchange for Minor Leaguers Trystan Magnuson and Daniel Farquhar, the club announced. Toronto also released right-hander Shawn Hill.

* The Rockies have expressed interest in A’s third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, according to The Denver Post, which added that Jose Lopez, Jorge Cantu and Ty Wigginton are also on the club’s radar.

* Brandon Webb is also reportedly drawing interest. According to
ESPN.com, the Dodgers, Pirates, Twins and Rangers have shown interest in
the right-hander.

* Seven to eight teams are reportedly interested in Jorge de la Rosa,
who is one of the top free-agent starters once you get past Cliff Lee.
The Rockies are a team that would like to keep him, but not if he gets an offer eclipsing four years.

– Alden Gonzalez

Marlins one of the teams interested in Pavano

The Marlins are one of several teams that have reached out to the agent for Carl Pavano about a possible return to South Florida, a baseball source told MLB.com.

The Washington Post wrote Wednesday that six to eight teams have had preliminary discussions with Pavano’s representative, adding that the Nationals were one of them.

Pavano may end up being over the Marlins’ price range, though. The club
said it would allocate the payroll money it didn’t use to resign Dan
Uggla, but they’ve already agreed on a three-year contract reportedly
worth $18 million with John Buck. And according to FOXSports.com, they
only have about $3-4 million left to spend after that, with bullpen help
still being a primary area of need.

Pavano made $7 million last season. 

Pavano pitched for the Marlins for two-plus seasons, winning a World Series with them in 2003 and then going 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA in 2004, setting him up to land a four-year, $39.95 million contract with the Yankees. After four rough years in the Bronx and an inconsistent 2009 with the Indians and Twins, the 34-year-old right-hander bounced back in Minnesota this past season, going 17-11 with a 3.75 ERA in 32 starts.

– Joe Frisaro and Alden Gonzalez

Webb reportedly on Dodgers’ radar

The Dodgers are among a handful of clubs who have expressed interest in free agent right-hander Brandon Webb. According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Pirates, Twins and Rangers also have checked in on Webb, and the Nationals, Reds and Cardinals are considered possibilities to join in the pursuit.

Webb, 31, was a 22-game winner in 2008 for Arizona before shoulder surgery cost him the past two sesons. He did not miss a start from 2004 through ’08, delivering 226 or more innings in four straight seasons. — Lyle Spencer

 

Rockies, De La Rosa in holding pattern

The general managers meetings in Florida offer a good time for teams to survey the free-agent landscape. And according to the Denver Post, things are about as expected with left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, a player the Rockies want to keep. Interest is strong: former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has taken over the Pirates and identified De La Rosa as his top target, according to the newspaper, and the Nationals, as reported by MLB.com’s Bill Ladson last week, and Orioles are already in the mix. The Yankees and Rangers could jump in, depending on what happens with lefty Cliff Lee. The paper says the key, as has been the case all along, is if the offers are at three years, the Rockies will compete — and they offer an environment in which De La Rosa has been successful. If it goes beyond three years, De La Rosa is likely gone, and the Rockies could look for a free agent such as Carl Pavano or Javier Vazquez, or seek a trade.

The paper also reported that the Rockies are unlikely to re-sign right-handed hitting utility man Melvin Mora, who wants a contract quicker than the Rockies want to move on him. With the Athletics not looking to trade Conor Jackson, the Rockies could take a look at the Nationals’ Josh Willingham or the Angels’ Mike Napoli for right-handed hitting help.

– Thomas Harding

Roundup: Marlins discussing Maybin trade?

The Hot Stove didn’t take the day off just because it’s Saturday. Much of the day’s conversation centered around the Marlins, who are among the teams who are heating things up heading into next week’s GM meetings in Orlando. MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro learned that the Marlins may be in serious talks with the Padres regarding outfielder Cameron Maybin. The club has also discussed the former top prospect with the Royals, Frisaro noted on Twitter. Beyond the Marlins, there were plenty of whispers around the league on Saturday. Here’s a rundown: 

- The Cards could pursue free agent Juan Uribe aggressively, ESPN’s Buster Olney suggested on Twitter. Olney highlighted Uribe’s versatility and ability to play third base or shortstop. 
- Atlanta officially outrighted right-hander Kenshin Kawakami to Double-A Mississippi, effectively removing him from their 40-man roster while they continue to search for potential trade possibilities according to multiple media reports. The Braves have quite a bit of money tied up in Kawakami, with roughly $6.7 million left on his contract.
- The Nats have signed right-handed reliever Tim Wood to a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to Spring Training, according to a Tweet from FoxSports.com’s Jon Morosi. Wood appeared in 44 games over the last two seasons with the Marlins, with a 4.32 ERA. 
- Free agent Aubrey Huff has been on the market for a week now and the first basemen figures to be a subject of interest for several teams. As late as Saturday morning though, Huff’s first choice is still to stay with the Giants, his agent told FoxSports.com on Saturday. 
– Bailey Stephens

Cliff Lee will take his time

The drop-off between Cliff Lee and the rest of the free agent starting pitching market is sizable, and that allows the left-hander a certain amount of comfort as his representatives approach the task of securing a large contract this winter.

Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, told The Associated Press Monday that his camp is only “gathering information” at this point, and that no deal is expected to be reached quickly.
“This one certainly is a little bit unique in that he’s clearly the best player on the free-agent market and not a lot of other things are going to impact our position on Cliff,” Braunecker said.
Braunecker may not even attend next week’s General Manager’s meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., not needing to drum up interest in Lee. There is also no need to take Lee on a tour of the cities where he could pitch next year. 
The Yankees and Rangers are thought to be among his most interested suitors, while the Phillies, Brewers, Cubs, Nationals and Angels could also jump in. 
“We’re going to take it on of kind of a team-by-team, case-by-case basis. I don’t expect Cliff to be flying all over the country,” Braunecker said. “We’re really in just the infancy stages of it all. We don’t really ever handicap the timing of any of this stuff. We believe that when the right deal presents itself, we’ll be prepared to act. And when that might be, that’s anybody’s guess at this point.”
– Bryan Hoch

Roundup: Veteran pitchers still listening

Now that free agents are officially able to negotiate with any team, Hot Stove season is in full swing. While some teams are still nailing down their coaching staffs and front offices, others are already in hot pursuit of the most coveted free agents. It’s no secret the Yankees are among those teams on the early trail, coveting free agent Cliff Lee. That sweepstakes could take weeks or months to play out, but here’s a look at some of the whispers around the league on Monday. 
  • MLB announced on Monday that the A’s officially won the bidding on Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma. The Athletics have 30 days to come to a deal with the 29-year-old pitcher and if everything ends up working out, Oakland could have landed themselves a strong addition to their young staff. 
  • All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman would like to pitch in 2011 if he can find a closer spot, according to a Tweet from SI.com’s Jon Heyman. Hoffman reached 600 saves last season while with the Brewers, but only closed sporadically down the stretch. Finding a team willing to take a chance that Hoffman still has something in the tank could be tough as there are a number of potential closers fighting for jobs next season, including J.J. Putz, Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood, Kevin Gregg, Jon Rauch, and Koji Uehara. 
  • Veteran southpaw Jarrod Washburn didn’t pitch last season but isn’t completely ready to announce his retirement. Washburn told Fox Sports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi recently that he’s undecided on 2011, mentioning that he’s been approached by some interested teams. 
  • Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal believes the Reds will sign Bronson Arroyo to a two-year extension later this week. Arroyo’s option for the coming season was picked up, so the new deal could extend through 2013. Rosenthal speculated that Arroyo’s deal could be the first of several longer-term deals this winter in Cincy, leaving the door open for possible extensions for first baseman Joey Votto, right fielder Jay Bruce and right-hander Edinson Volquez.
  • Rosenthal also suggested on Monday that the Cubs could be a potential landing spot for Adam Dunn, who doesn’t reportedly want to serve as just a DH in the American League. The Cubs have a bundle set to come off the books after 2011 and Rosenthal suggests a back-loaded deal could create a fit between Dunn and Chicago.
  • As expected, the Red Sox have reportedly expressed interest in free agent outfielder Jayson Werth. ESPNBoston.com reported on Monday that the Sox have reached out to Werth’s agent, Scott Boras. Boras, however, did not immediately return a call to MLB.com.
Stay tuned for more updates on MLB.com! 
– Bailey Stephens

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: Super Twos and more

During the current five-day period when free agents can only negotiate with their own teams, the Hot Stove is starting to simmer, but can only get so hot. 
Not to worry, there’s still plenty of action that could happen this week for players who could choose to resign with their current team, including Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who is expected to stay in the Bronx. The only real question is, at what price? 
Outside of the Jeter speculation, much of the news on Friday surrounded the designation of 20 players as Super Twos. This will allow these players such as Reds outfielder Jay Bruce and Indians closer Chris Perez, to become arbitration-eligible a year early. Subsequently, they’ll be eligible for arbitration for four seasons, instead of the usual three. Generally, this will result in a much higher pay day for these senior second-year players. 
Here’s a rundown of what’s dominating headlines around the league: 
  • The Yankees negotiations with Jeter are expected to begin within a day or two, SI.com’s Jon Heyman suggested on Twitter. Jeter’s actual value to the Bombers is unquestionable, but his monetary value is still to be determined.  
  • Hisanori Takahashi, who has until midnight to work out a deal with the Mets, is reportedly asking for a three-year deal worth $4-5 million, according to Heyman. The Mets have offered Takahashi a one-year deal. According to the unique stipulation in his contract, if the two sides can’t come to an agreement tonight, Takahashi wouldn’t be eligible to re-sign with the Mets and pitch in the Majors until May 15, 2011.  
  • The Indians officially outrighted outfielder Andy Marte to the Minors. The former heralded prospect could be done in Cleveland and now qualifies to be a free agent. Marte never seemed to reach his potential with the Indians, batting just .224 over his five seasons in Cleveland. It remains to be seen if he’s really done with the Tribe, but there’s always the chance that a change of scenery could help Marte finally blossom. 
  • The Nats are expected to be a player for free agent pitcher Brandon Webb, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Webb could be the type of low-risk starter with a big upside the Nats have been seeking to anchor their young pitching staff. 
Stay tuned to all the Hot Stove action on MLB.com
–Bailey Stephens

Roundup: Lefty power-hitting 1B, anyone?

He isn’t Adam Dunn or Prince Fielder — don’t give up hope on those guys, either, though — but Carlos Delgado is still out there, without a team, and wants to play. Contending teams are reportedly interested. 

According to FOXSports.com, Delgado — he of 473 career home runs and two hip surgeries since May of 2009 — is drawing interest from the White Sox, while the Mariners, Rockies and Red Sox are possible fits. Of those, Seattle would appear to be a longshot, since the 38-year-old would like to sign with a contending team. 
Delgado’s agent, David Sloane, told FOXSports.com his client has received two Minor League offers and would need a couple of weeks in the Minors to get ready. Delgado wants to play for a team in contention and one that will give him regular playing time, the Web site added. 
Here’s more from around the league … 
* Pedro Martinez, who recently relayed his intention to sit out the 2010 season through his agent, was asked on ESPN’s First Take what it would take for him to come back and pitch this season. This is what he said … 
Right now, it’s going to be hard to do, because I’m really enjoying what I’m doing with my family, and I’m really enjoying helping out the community with my foundation. … The time with my family, I think, is priceless. I’m really enjoying it, and so it’s going to take a lot to bring me out of my house, out of my comfort zone, right now. 
In order for the idle Martinez to be on a postseason roster, he must be picked up before Aug. 31. 
* The Royals designated outfielder Jose Guillen for assignment on Thursday. Guillen was in the last year of a three-year, $36 million contract. Now, Kansas City will have 10 days to trade, release or outright Guillen. Teams like the Giants, Rays, White Sox or Red Sox could be interested. 
* An unknown team has claimed Adam Dunn off waivers from the Nationals, which makes it less likely that the first baseman will be traded, according to FOXSports.com. Washington could now either engage in one-on-one negotiations with that club, or can pull him back. 
* The Mets are open to negotiating a contract extension with shortstop Jose Reyes, according to The New York Daily News. Reyes has a club option for 2011 worth $11 million, but New York is reportedly willing to scrap that for a long-term contract. Negotiations likely won’t be finalized until the end of the season, however. 
* Buck Showalter, the Orioles’ new manager, will earn $1.5 million a year each season through 2013, according to the Twitter account of ESPN’s Buster Olney. 
* Now that the non-waiver Trade Deadline has passed, teams have to first put a player on waivers before trading them. Under that, the Phillies acquired a veteran first baseman in Mike Sweeney from the Mariners — for a player to be named later or cash considerations — the Marlins signed infielder Chad Tracy, and the Pirates claimed a couple of righties in Chris Resop and Chan Ho Park. 
– Alden Gonzalez
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