Offseason News & Rumors

[boondockdrunk]

A source told FOXSports.com that free agent Mark Mulder is most intrigued by the Diamondbacks, Rangers, Padres and Cardinals.
Mulder lives in Phoenix, which could give the Diamondbacks the edge if their offer matches up. Mulder is getting married this weekend, so unless he reaches a decision today, this could drag out a little while longer.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&filter_teams=N&id=2950

 

[boondockdrunk]

Free agent Mark Mulder, who is getting married this weekend, has decided he wants a two-year deal.
He probably won't be narrowing his choices over the next few days. Mulder is likely to pick from the Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Rangers or Padres, though the Indians and Giants are also involved. The Diamondbacks offered him a deal that could extend to five years through club options, but that didn't come with the sort of guaranteed money Mulder wants. The Cardinals have offered him a one-year deal with a club option.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&filter_teams=N&id=2950

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

He wants only two years of substantial guaranteed money? Thats a lot less than what I thought he was demanding.

 

[devilfan02]

He wants only two years of substantial guaranteed money? Thats a lot less than what I thought he was demanding.

His demnads have changed a lot from only a week ago. He wanted a heavily incentive laiden contract and now he wants guaranteed money????

 

[Ryanwb]

His demnads have changed a lot from only a week ago. He wanted a heavily incentive laiden contract and now he wants guaranteed money????

That throws up some red flags.... he's gone from, "Let me earn it by my performance" to "Uhhh, just give me the cash, I may be a while"

 

[overseascardfan]

I am staring to get a little skeptical on how much Mulder would help us this year.

If we are willing to deal elite prospects and some of our core players then I would rather go for two SP's like Haren and Blanton or Buehrle and Garland or Cabrera and Loewen (sp??) or Johnson and Sanchez from Florida.

We could use Tracy, Nippert, and Carlos Gonzalez, and the Gonzalez boys. The only guy I would not want to trade is Owings because I feel he is going to get even better. I would also be willing to trade Co Jack more so than Tracy.

For our closer I think we should go gor Foulke, and maybe use Julio as another trade chip.

Of course this scenario depend upon us getting Mulder or not. I don't like the trade rumors of Tracy going to PIT for Gonzalez, from what I understand it would be a straight up deal, where a Tracy trade should net us a front of the rotation SP.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Arizona, San Diego and Texas, which has come on strong, have emerged with the Cardinals as favorites in the pursuit of Mulder. San Francisco and Cleveland have also expressed interest.

Location is the question.

Contract duration is not.

Clifton said he and Mulder have decided that a two-year deal is most attractive to the lefty, who is coming off shoulder surgery and will not be available to pitch for the first several months of the coming season. According to a report in the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks offered a five-year deal and will not have to tweak it to meet Mulder's preference.

The Cardinals are interested in signing Mulder with the idea he would be ready to join the starting rotation in midseason. Clifton is telling teams to expect 21 to 25 starts from the lefty, who is scheduled to begin throwing the first week of January. If those workouts go well, eight weeks later he'll take the mound, and from there "it all depends on how he feels," Clifton said.

Several of his suitors have to refigure their proposals to fit the two-year model Mulder finds most agreeable. Clifton expects to hear from Arizona shortly. He knows the Cardinals are ready, even eager, and he does not want the process to drag on.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sp...2A71D99A2381678A86257246001785E3?OpenDocument

 

[boondockdrunk]

Diamondbacks released infielder Andy Green.
Clearing the way for him to join the Nippon Ham Fighters. The D'Backs will receive about $275,000 from the Fighters for Green, who a month ago agreed to a deal that guarantees him $800,000 and includes an option for 2008.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&filter_teams=N&id=3891

 

[devilfan02]

Tribe in the running
Dec 20 - The Indians have stepped forward with a two-year offer for Mark Mulder, sources tell ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.
Mulder is coming off shoulder surgery and isn't expected to be ready by Opening Day. But some clubs have been creative and expressed a willingness to make more than a straight one-year commitment because of the pitcher's potential upside in 2008. Arizona, for example, proposed a one-year contract with four option years. Mulder, who got married last weekend in Scottsdale, Ariz., is currently on his honeymoon and keeping in touch with agent Gregg Clifton by phone. He plans to make his decision after the Cardinals, Rangers and Diamondbacks make their final pitches.

ESPN.com insider

 

[Mulli]

any day now the Republic will report that Mulder may sign with the Dbacks. I can't wait much longer to see whay might happen.

 

[The Commish]

What a slow offseason. If the Dbacks make an offer remotely close to what any of the other teams do then I think he'll play for us. Obviously he's settling down, already has a ring and makes his home here. Call it a hunch, but I think he'll be in a Diamondbacks uni come spring.

 

[devilfan02]

Just saw on ESPNNEWS that Mulders agent has sent a counter offer to the Rangers. Texas is desperate for pitching, they might counter with an offer we can't match or come close to. Wonder why Byrnes is taking so long to propose a new contract???? My only thought is he's trying to work out a trade

 

[boondockdrunk]

Just saw on ESPNNEWS that Mulders agent has sent a counter offer to the Rangers. Texas is desperate for pitching, they might counter with an offer we can't match or come close to. Wonder why Byrnes is taking so long to propose a new contract???? My only thought is he's trying to work out a trade

Or it could be the fact that Mulder's asking price is unreasonable.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Looks like Clifton is attempting to hold out as long as he can in order to get the teams to up their offers.

Mark Mulder's agent, Gregg Clifton, said he sent a counterproposal to Rangers GM Jon Daniels on Monday and that Texas is still very much in the mix for the left-hander.
Clifton said the Indians and Cardinals have stepped up their interest lately, with back-and-forth proposals and plenty of dialogue. Clifton has also sent the Diamondbacks a counterproposal and as of Wednesday was waiting to hear back from them. The Padres may have backed off Mulder a bit in favor of David Wells.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&filter_teams=N&id=2950

 

[Lefty]

Keith Foulke a Diamondback? Not!
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2006/12/foulke_could_de.html

Former Sox closer Keith Foulke has a few offers to mull over and could make a decision on where he'll be playing next season as soon as Friday, according to his agent, Dan Horwits.

Horwits said Foulke has moved off his desire to pitch close to his Arizona home. He said four teams have made offers. One is thought to be the Cleveland Indians, who have pursued Foulke the longest.

Horwits said there is a situation or two where Foulke could be the closer. The Indians might fit. Horwits said Foulke would likely want a one-year deal with an option. He received a $1.5 million parting gift from the Red Sox.

While Horwits said he's had recent conversations with Theo Epstein, and said he didn't rule anything out with Boston, it does not appear the Red Sox will bring him back.

 

[overseascardfan]

With Valverde and Julio I am not as concerned w. the closer role as our rotation. Besides he's damaged goods, forget him go after Mulder, Haren, Harden, Garland, Buerhle, etc.

 

[The Commish]

Diamondbacks off Mulder's short list​

By Jack Magruder, Tribune
December 22, 2006​

Mark Mulder is out of the country, and the Diamondbacks are long gone, too. The D-Backs no longer are among the finalists to sign free agent Mulder, sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday.​

Texas, Cleveland and St. Louis appear to have become the front-runners to add Mulder, a Valley resident who is honeymooning in Tahiti after being wed here Saturday.​

While the D-Backs have at least $10 million to spend this offseason, they did not appear comfortable committing a portion of that to Mulder because of the uncertainty of his return to the mound.​

Mulder underwent shoulder surgery Sept. 12 and will begin a throwing program Jan. 1. Agent Gregg Clifton has been telling teams they can expect Mulder to make between 20 and 25 starts this season.

The D-Backs make it a policy not to discuss contract negotiations.

The D-Backs’ offer to Mulder 10 days ago was believed to have included a $1 million base salary with the opportunity to reach $2.5 million through incentives in 2007. It also included four option years.​

Texas and Cleveland have offered two-year deals, according to published reports, a length that Mulder is willing to accept.

Mulder’s camp did not make a counter proposal to the D-Backs’ offer, contrary to a published report in Dallas, although it has made counter offers to Texas and Cleveland.

Now that Mulder is off the table, the D-Backs will turn their focus to adding another starter and a reliever through trades, their most likely path all along.

They already have acquired left-handers Doug Davis and Dana Eveland in the Johnny Estrada six-player deal with Milwaukee.Contact Jack Magruder by email, or phone (480) 898-6524

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=81022​

 

[devilfan02]

With Valverde and Julio I am not as concerned w. the closer role as our rotation. Besides he's damaged goods, forget him go after Mulder, Haren, Harden, Garland, Buerhle, etc.

Not sure why anyone would not be concerned with our closer role. Valverde has proved time and time again that he is not a MLB closer. How many blown games will it take for the Dback organization to realize this? Julio is slightly better but also proved to be shaky. Our bullpen blew a TON of games last year, it's definitely an issue. I would definitely trade Nippert for Otsuka, our closer role would be immediately resloved and Julio and Valverde would be quality set-up guys

Garland and Buerlhe are off limits. When Garcia got traded, the Sox were done making trades involving their starting rotation. Kenny Williams said so himself when he dismissed the Garland to Houston rumors.

Haren and Harden are definitely possibilities but will come at a very very expensive cost. I would rather go with Danny Haren (although Harden has more upside but has health issues that rival Kerry Wood and Mark Prior combined) but he will cost us our 3 best prospects. If we're ready to deal Carlos Gonzalez, Montero, Owings, Nippert (and maybe someone else I'm not thinking of) then do it. Gonzalez is the most intruiging Dback prospect to come up through our farm system IMO and I would be very hesitant to trade him if I were Byrnes. With out financial problems that will extend through the next couple years at least, I would find it hard to believe that Byrnes would trade any of our elite prospects (besides Nippert). Just my opnion

 

[devilfan02]

Dissapointing news regarding Mark Mulder. I will reserve judgment till I learn more about the situation. IMO, it's hard for any of us to fault Byrnes for not commiting most of the $10 million we have left to a pitcher with major health issues (still have bullpen issues and need a bat). Sure, he has major upside but it looks like he won't be able to take the mound till June which would worry me as well if I were Byrnes. If Byrnes can swing another good trade for starting pitching, Mulder will be a distant memory IMO

 

[Ryanwb]

This offseason has been stupid

 

[overseascardfan]

Not sure why anyone would not be concerned with our closer role. Valverde has proved time and time again that he is not a MLB closer. How many blown games will it take for the Dback organization to realize this? Julio is slightly better but also proved to be shaky. Our bullpen blew a TON of games last year, it's definitely an issue. I would definitely trade Nippert for Otsuka, our closer role would be immediately resloved and Julio and Valverde would be quality set-up guys

Garland and Buerlhe are off limits. When Garcia got traded, the Sox were done making trades involving their starting rotation. Kenny Williams said so himself when he dismissed the Garland to Houston rumors.

Haren and Harden are definitely possibilities but will come at a very very expensive cost. I would rather go with Danny Haren (although Harden has more upside but has health issues that rival Kerry Wood and Mark Prior combined) but he will cost us our 3 best prospects. If we're ready to deal Carlos Gonzalez, Montero, Owings, Nippert (and maybe someone else I'm not thinking of) then do it. Gonzalez is the most intruiging Dback prospect to come up through our farm system IMO and I would be very hesitant to trade him if I were Byrnes. With out financial problems that will extend through the next couple years at least, I would find it hard to believe that Byrnes would trade any of our elite prospects (besides Nippert). Just my opnion

So would say our rotation situation isn't as bad as our bullpen's. The bullpen blew so many leads because we couldn't get enough quality starts out of our starters and they were overworked. Its bad when you have to bring relievers in the 3rd and 4th innings because your starters can't get it done that day. We have got 3 innings eaters but the last 2 spots look like they will go to young guys who are unproven at this level which really worries me.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Republic said today that we offered Mulder a million guaranteed this year. This ownership group is a joke, a player of Mulder's pedigree must have tried hard not to laugh. Look, because of his recent injury, I realize you can't give him too much, but at least put together a realistic proposal. This ownership group clearly doesn't have the funds to be competitive and has made no progress in improving the team this offseason.

 

[boondockdrunk]

Republic said today that we offered Mulder a million guaranteed this year. This ownership group is a joke, a player of Mulder's pedigree must have tried hard not to laugh. Look, because of his recent injury, I realize you can't give him too much, but at least put together a realistic proposal. This ownership group clearly doesn't have the funds to be competitive and has made no progress in improving the team this offseason.

I believe that is a realistic proposal. This injury which Mulder has experienced is nothing to take lightly. While he was a front of the rotation starter, the risk of handicapping the organization's total amount of monetary funds on someone who was hurt most of last year and might not return to form until the middle of next season (at the earliest) is not too bright. All we know is the money that was guaranteed to him and not the total amount he could have made from easily reached incentives.

In addition, the team has been improved this offseason. Davis will surprise everyone because he will fit into being a good middle of the rotation starter (something we lacked last year). Also, the fact that most of the dead weight (Gonzo, Green, Vargas, Estrada, etc) has been dropped off the team frees up more money to pay our debts and allow the young prospects, who we have heard so much about for so long, to play.

I agree that picking up rotation help would have greatly aided this team, but they really weren't there to be had. The asking price and injury concerns were just too great to pick up anyone.

 

[devilalum]

Republic said today that we offered Mulder a million guaranteed this year. This ownership group is a joke, a player of Mulder's pedigree must have tried hard not to laugh. Look, because of his recent injury, I realize you can't give him too much, but at least put together a realistic proposal. This ownership group clearly doesn't have the funds to be competitive and has made no progress in improving the team this offseason.

They never wanted to sign him, they just wanted the publicity associated with making an offer. This is the same reason they made a joke bid on the rights to that Japanese pitcher. It is also the same reason we're changing colors.

This is the off season of smoke and mirrors. The Dbacks want you to get excited and buy season tickets to see the same sub .500 team they put on the field last year.

Don't piss on my head and tell me its raining!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

They never wanted to sign him, they just wanted the publicity associated with making an offer. This is the same reason they made a joke bid on the rights to that Japanese pitcher. It is also the same reason we're changing colors.

This is the off season of smoke and mirrors. The Dbacks want you to get excited and buy season tickets to see the same sub .500 team they put on the field last year.

Don't piss on my head and tell me its raining!

To be fair their offer to Matsuzaka was in the 8 figure range, I'd hardly call that a joke. I don't think anybody expected that some team would go completely nuts and offer $50M just for the rights to talk to a guy that has never thrown a pitch in the MLB. The Diamondbacks also made a decent offer for Igawa, but once again a team offered a ridiculous amount of money, even though most scouts believe Igawa is a 4th or 5th starter. I for one am glad the Dbacks have stayed out of a market where scrubs like Gil Meche get $11M a year. The last thing this team needs right now is to be stuck with another awful contract.