Offseason News & Rumors

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IIRC, the nickname is Fighters. Nippon Ham is the name of the company that owns the team.
I like the ham fighters. I just picture a bunch of guys having a donnybrook with a bunch of pigs.
 

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Just read an ESPN.com rumor mill report on Pat Burrell. I'm not allowed to post it but I'll summarize....

According to the Bucks County Courier Times, the Phillies have put Pat Burrell on the trading block and are preparing to make a run at adding better protection for cleanup hitter Ryan Howard. Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield and Nationals left fielder Alfonso Soriano, who are both likely headed for free agency, top their wish list.

Finding a taker for Burrell won't be easy. He has two years, $27 million and a no-trade clause in his contract. No decision has been made yet on how much of Burrell's contract the Phils are willing to eat.
 
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Two big names - Barry Zito and Alfonso Soriano - will be free agents this fall, and a third big name, Manny Ramirez, could available in a trade. But right now, according to a source familiar with the situation, the Mets are not interested in pursuing any of them.
NYpost.com

This is interesting. If Zito isn't going to NY it the Dbacks may have a chance at him. I'd be interested in see how much Az offers compared to everyone else.
 

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Two big names - Barry Zito and Alfonso Soriano - will be free agents this fall, and a third big name, Manny Ramirez, could available in a trade. But right now, according to a source familiar with the situation, the Mets are not interested in pursuing any of them.
NYpost.com

This is interesting. If Zito isn't going to NY it the Dbacks may have a chance at him. I'd be interested in see how much Az offers compared to everyone else.

The Mets may be out but the Yankees will be a player for him.
 

Lefty

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• The Rockies are making no secret of their desire to acquire a centerfielder before the start of spring training.

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The club has discussed ways to piece together trades for Toronto's Alex Rios, Boston's Coco Crisp and Houston's Chris Burke, while Dave Roberts, Darin Erstad and Jay Payton rank high on its wish list. Roberts and Erstad filed for free agency Saturday.
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• The Rockies also are looking for help in the pen (who isn't?), and are eyeing free agent Octavio Dotel.

• Former bird-watcher Byung-Hyun Kim has a deadline later this week for a $2.5 million option, which the Rockies are leaning toward picking up. But don't be surprised if the Rockies pick up Kim's option, then flip him in a deal.

• After the Mets found themselves without Pedro Martínez and Orlando Hernández for the playoffs, they could be thinking about kicking the tires on Jeff Suppan, Newsday reports.

• A pair of Stros are heading into free agency with possibility of retirement for both ... but don't rule out more playing time.

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How about Andy Pettitte pitching for the Yankees and Roger Clemens pitching for the Red Sox next season? Bet heavier on the latter at this point, but don't rule out the former.
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• Trey Hillman was offered a one-year, $1-million extention to return as manager of the Nippon Series champion Nippon Ham . However, Hillman appears the favorite to become the Rangers' next manager.

• While all eyes are on Daisuke Matsuzaka you might want to keep another eye on Hiroki Kuroda. The 31-year-old righthander is a free agent, which means teams won't have to pay the posting fee.

• Although the Yankees and Alex Rodríguez have publicly said that the third baseman will be in pinstripes in 2007, the Herald's Michael Silverman reminds us that ARod has been through this before. After the well-publicized trade talks with the Red Sox disintegrated, the Rangers annointed him captain. Three weeks later, he was a Yankee.


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Trading Rodríguez is not a farfetched notion, and there are reliable reports from multiple baseball sources that, according to one, “I don’t think there is any way that that relationship can be recovered” and that a trade is “all but certain.”
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The White Sox, Angels and Cubs are all interested in a potential deal.

• Twelve days. That's how long the Red Sox have to notify Keith Foulke whether they will pick up his $7.5 million option – not likely. Fourteen days. That's how long Foulke will have to notify the team if he will be exercising his $3.75 option.


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“Keith hasn’t made a decision,” agent Dan Horwits said. “It’s a long thought process that involves staying there, [or] moving on back closer to his home [in Arizona], staying close to his family [or] staying with people on the team he knows from the last few years.”
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Foulke is healthy now, but Horwits said that Foulke understood that “because of injuries he may have to work his way back to the [closer’s] role.”

• According to The Boston Globe, the new agreement between baseball and the players will extend the Rule 5 protection from three years to four, and provide a little draft protection for teams.


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As for draft protection, if a team can't sign its pick, it receives the same pick the following year, which eases the pain.

The new Aug. 15 deadline for signing draft picks should also provide a drag on amateur draft salaries, and reduce what are often contentious negotiations.
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• The Tribune Co. is in search of a new CEO after the resignation of Andy MacPhail. Two names rumored to be on the list were Tigers' Dan Dombrowski and the Red Sox' Larry Lucchino.


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"Nothing whatsoever to it," said Lucchino. "I like it right where I am, and this is where I want to be."
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• Seems Theo Epstein's acquisition of catcher George Kottaras from the Padres in the David Wells trade was astute, according to one international scout.


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"There aren't any catchers anywhere. I'm talking about catchers who could be top major league players. You can't find them in the States and you can't find them internationally. The best of them was Kenji Johjima [.291, 18 HRs, 76 RBIs for Seattle this season]."
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Rod Barajas is a free agent and could command big bucks as a result. Then again, Benji Molina thought the same thing last offseason.

Luis Gonzalez could find a new home in the Bay Area. Word is he's close with Bruce Bochy – the new Giants skipper.

• Don't expect the White Sox to pursue a trade for Manny Ramírez. They could be tempted by Gary Sheffield, but the $13 million price tag might be tough to swallow. The Pale Hose apparently are willing to dish Freddy García orJavíer Vázquez in return for a left fielder.

• It looks like Bill Haselman will turn down the managerial post in Lowell. Now, he's waiting to find out if the Carmines will keep him on as first base coach.

• Back to Sheffield ... the New York Post reports the Bombers are fielding calls for the outfielder.


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Possible landing places for Sheffield in a trade are the Angels and Orioles. The Tigers need a DH, and Sheffield enjoyed playing for Jim Leyland with the Marlins.
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Luis Gonzalez could find a new home in the Bay Area.
I hope for Gonzo's sake this doesn't happen. He needs to go to the AL and DH for somebody with occasional games in the OF.

Plus he would be the guy replacing Bonds in LF for SF. I don't think the fans will take too kindly to him. And then you have the extra games with against the D-backs to make things awkward.
 

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Thanks for the updates Zona. :)
 
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The Mets may be out but the Yankees will be a player for him.
Yeah I just wonder who exactly the Yankees want for that rotation. I would guess they try to go younger and maybe even a little cheaper. They have had some extremely bad luck with older higher priced pitching but then again it is Steinbrener so they probably will spend way to much money on a pitcher who will fall apart.
 

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• The Phillies have cast their eyes toward lofty heights on their free agent shopping list. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, GM Pat Gillick and company are willing to throw money and deal players for the likes of Alfonso Soríano and Gary Sheffield. Meanwhile, the Phils are hoping that they can convince another team to pick up Pat Burrell and his monster contract.

• The headline in the Chicago Tribune trumpets that the Cubs are looking for a stopper and a bopper. They will certainly need one after Aramis Ramírez opted out of his deal Tuesday. And it seems the Cubs are another team lining up at Alfonso Soríano's door, as well as possibly Carlos Lee.

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If the Cubs go the trade route, outfielders such as Toronto's Vernon Wells and the Yankees' Gary Sheffield are likely to surface. Wells, one of the top two or three center fielders in the game, is entering his final year with the Blue Jays and hopes to sign an extension.
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• Across town, the White Sox are hoping to add a little help in centerfield, the Tribune reports. Among the free agent crop are old friend Dave Roberts, who will command much less than Gary Matthews Jr. and Juan Pierre.


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The Sox could aim for a younger player and try to trade for Boston's Coco Crisp or the Los Angeles Angels' Chone Figgins. But the Sox don't have a surplus of young pitching to trade after losing six prospects in trades and the Rule 5 draft in the last 12 months, which could rule out any shot at Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford.
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• Meanwhile, Roberts hasn't heard from the Padres, but he has plenty of other suitors, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The White Sox, Brewers, Cubs and Rockies are among the clubs interested in Roberts, who can sign with a new club on Nov. 11.

• Two other players hit the free agent street Monday when the Padres declined $8 million options on Mike Pizza and Ryan Klesko. The Pads did pick up options on Mike Cameron – $7 million – and Russell Branyan – $1 million.
 

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It's very interesting that FA opens in the next couple of weeks and news involving the D'backs has been non existent. I hope they have a game plan because we need serious help in the rotation and bullpen.
 

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• As teams begin knocking on Alfonso Soríano's door, they might find more trick than treat. The Washington Post is reporting the Orioles recently had preliminary discussions only to find a scary outlook.


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Soríano is seeking a deal similar to the seven-year, $119 million deal given to center fielder Carlos Beltrán by the New York Mets before the 2005 season. It's unlikely the Orioles will be in the running for Soríano if he doesn't back off those demands.
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• The Phillies, however, are willing to offer up a five-year $75 million contract for Soríano's services, PhillyBurbs.com reports.

If the Phils are successful in wooing Soríano, GM Pat Gillick then wants to trade away outfielder Pat Burrell.

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Burrell was forewarned that the team wants to move him and asked to provide a list of places he'd go, the team source said.

Dealing Burrell to Arizona for catcher Johnny Estráda is a possibility.
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• Now that Aramis Ramírez has opted out of his deal with the Cubs, a potential suitor for Manny Ramírez might be turning their eyes toward the third baseman, the Los Angeles Times reports.

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Although the Angels could pursue trades for Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells, Baltimore shortstop Míguel Tejáda and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodríguez if he becomes available, several industry sources said in October that Ramírez would be the team's top target if he became a free agent.
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Despite all the love Ramírez will no doubt find in a free agency that has a derth of third base talent, could he make a return trip to Wrigley?


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His first choice is to stay in Chicago, but if we can't get something done there, I expect him to be as much in demand as any free agent out there," said Paul Kinzer, Ramírez's agent. "He loves Chicago, but he's opening up more and more" to the idea of playing elsewhere.
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• According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the A's and Frank Thomas are closing in on a new two-year contract.
 

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Dealing Burrell to Arizona for catcher Johnny Estráda is a possibility.

They better kick in a lot of cash for me to even think about liking that deal. Burrell is too much in the Shawn Green and Troy Glaus mold for me too get excited for him to come here. I say that because their all overpaid and have the worst attitudes. They could care less what happens throughout the game.

As for our name not being tossed around the rumor mill that much, I wouldn't place too much emphasis in it. The only names swirling around are Lee and Soriano who we def won't get. I have faith in Byrnes that he will get some quality deals done. I only ask that we get one ace....
 

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• No surprise, but the Astros have declined Jeff Bagwell's $18 million option for 2007, Rotoworld reports.

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He gets a $7 million buyout. Bagwell still holds out some hope of playing again, but it's not going to happen with the Astros, as there's still some lingering bad blood from how his situation was handled this spring.

"Jeff had an outstanding career with the Astros," GM Tim Purpura said Tuesday. "Jeff's legacy with the Astros is truly legendary."
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• Perhaps the Mariners aren't as high on Daisuke Matsuzaka as initially thought, the Seattle Times reports.


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Two well-placed baseball sources said Monday they don't expect the Mariners to make anything more than a token bid for the negotiating rights to Matsuzaka.
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Some news from the centre-fielder market:

George King of the New York Post believes the Yankees may not have room for veteran Bernie Williams next year.

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With Matsui in left, Johnny Damon in center, Bobby Abreu in right, the Yankees wanting to turn Jason Giambi into a full-time DH and Melky Cabrera as the fourth outfielder, there doesn't appear to be much more than a No. 5 outfielder for the very proud Williams.
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The White Sox may be looking to Tampa and Carl Crawford to replace Scott Posednik in center field after Posednik had a disappointing 2006.

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Devil Rays GM Andrew Friedman has said it would take a standout young starter such as Brandon McCarthy to get Crawford.
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Gary Matthews Jr is drawing a lot of attention on the free agent with interest from the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco, Seattle and the Chicago Cubs and White Sox reports the Dallas Morning News.

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The Rangers made a two-year offer to him in October, but Matthews passed and agent Scott Leventhal said his client would test the open market.
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