Three-time Gold Glove winner Luis Castillo will be traded as part of the "market correction" the team is applying to the payroll. The Marlins gave some thought to keeping him to aid in the development of newly acquired shortstop and fellow Dominican Hanley Ramirez. The price was too high. "He's definitely going," said a National League source who has spoken with the Marlins. "It's just a little too early to say where." The source said four teams, including the Minnesota Twins, are vying for Castillo's services. His departure will save the Marlins no less than $5.5 million and as much as $10.75 million through 2007. A $5.75 million option vests with 501 plate appearances next season. Castillo also is due a deferred $2 million signing bonus, which typically is covered by the original team. The source said the Twins "have shown as much interest as anybody," but the Cardinals, Red Sox and Mets also are intrigued.
Juan Pierre could be returning to The Bronx as the Yankees’ center-fielder. The cash-dumping Marlins have asked for lefty Sean Henn and right-handed reliever Scott Proctor for Pierre, and the Yankees didn’t reject the offer. When the Marlins started dumping salary by trading Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Red Sox and Carlos Delgado to the Mets, the Yankees seemed cool on acquiring the 28-year-old Pierre. However, with only Bubba Crosby to replace Bernie Williams, the Yankees have been keeping tabs on who’s available. Possibly what makes Pierre attractive is that it’s likely a one-year deal, since Pierre can become a free agent after the season and the 2007 class of free agent center-fielders will include Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter and Mike Cameron. And there is always the possibility that Pierre performs well enough to be brought back.
A Pirates source confirmed Thursday that the club has expressed interest in free-agent infielder Nomar Garciaparra, who spent an injury-plagued 2005 season with the Chicago Cubs. "I will say that we're going to investigate all possibilities at that position," David Littlefield said. "Some of those (players) may be guys who are established and bouncing back from injuries or changing positions." Garciaparra, 33, fits Littlefield's description perfectly.
It appears unlikely at the moment that the Phillies will be making any headline-grabbing trades involving Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell or any other big names. For one thing, while the Phillies have few untouchables, the two corner outfielders likely would be bait only if a top-notch starting pitcher could be acquired in return. "Which I don't see," general manager Pat Gillick said. As far as Abreu is concerned, assistant general manager Ruben Amaro called agent Peter Greenberg in Venezuela 2 weeks ago and asked him to let the outfielder know that, know matter what Abreu might hear, he wasn't being shopped. Further, Abreu has a complete no-trade clause (as well as $30.5 million coming over the next 2 years) and the Phillies haven't yet approached him to determine what teams he might be willing to go to.
The Dodgers have stepped up their interest in free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. "There is serious interest there," said Paul Kinzer, Furcal's agent. Early this week, the Chicago Cubs made a strong push to sign Furcal — dangling a five-year deal worth close to $50 million — but the Dodgers have made a comparable offer. Furcal has not ruled out returning to Atlanta, where he has spent his six-year career.
Bolstering the rotation remains Job 1, and Giants GM Brian Sabean said 90 percent of his conversations in the trade and free-agent markets revolve around pitching. In the wake of Esteban Loaiza's decision to sign with Oakland over San Francisco, Sabean continues his pursuit of free-agent Matt Morris. "I know from the conversations we've had (with Morris) that we're one of the teams of, quote, high interest," Sabean said. "It's in the agent's and player's hands as to how or when they want to accelerate it."
Lyle Overbay has made it clear he would like to stay with the Brewers, who gave him his first real chance to be a regular player. But he understands that heralded rookie Prince Fielder waits in the wings. "They've made it clear they're not going to trade me just to trade me," Overbay said. "They told me I'm an important part of the team. But Prince is going to get here. It's just a matter of time. At some point, it has to be him or me."
In recent days, industry sources have identified a Scott Boras client, right-hander Kevin Millwood, as the Mariners' prime target among free-agent pitchers. Thursday, one veteran agent went so far as to say he expects the Mariners to sign Millwood -- a notion Bavasi indicated was premature. "We're talking to so many starting pitchers right now," Bavasi said, "you can't pin us to one."
The Cardinals officially have placed themselves in contention for free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett by breaking precedent with a four-year offer worth almost $10 million per season, sources confirmed Thursday night. Burnett, the centerpiece of the Cardinals' offseason planning so far, is considered the most attractive talent within a relatively thin free-agent pool. The Arkansas native is expected to decide among several offers before Major League Baseball's winter meetings convene Monday in Dallas. Previously unwilling to guarantee more than three years to any starting pitcher, the Redbirds were the last team interested in tendering a proposal late Wednesday night, according to a source familiar with the situation. The Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and New York Mets also are believed to be competing for Burnett.
One local report Thursday indicated the ChiSox might be willing to trade second baseman Tadahito Iguchi to the Marlins in exchange for Marlins counterpart Luis Castillo.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels said Thursday he has a succinct message for clubs showing interest in Hank Blalock ever since the third baseman's name was included in a proposed package for Josh Beckett: "They have been told we're not going to trade Hank Blalock," Daniels said. Daniels maintained the Rangers were only willing to include Blalock in a unique set of circumstances that would have brought them a No. 1 pitcher. While Daniels doesn't see a similar circumstance on the horizon, it hasn't stopped the phone from ringing. "There has been interest in a number of our young position players," Daniels said. "But there is no player we are shopping to anybody."
J.P. Ricciardi will keep looking to improve the Blue Jays. He is willing to consider trading second baseman Orlando Hudson, who won his first Gold Glove last season after batting .271 with 10 home runs and 63 runs batted in. "We love Orlando, but sometimes you have to deal from strength and right now we have an excess of middle infielders," Ricciardi said. "We do what we have to. We're not a team like New York or Boston or the Dodgers with 100 years of tradition, where kids start playing baseball and dream of playing for them. We have to operate in different ways."
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Juan Pierre could be returning to The Bronx as the Yankees’ center-fielder. The cash-dumping Marlins have asked for lefty Sean Henn and right-handed reliever Scott Proctor for Pierre, and the Yankees didn’t reject the offer. When the Marlins started dumping salary by trading Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Red Sox and Carlos Delgado to the Mets, the Yankees seemed cool on acquiring the 28-year-old Pierre. However, with only Bubba Crosby to replace Bernie Williams, the Yankees have been keeping tabs on who’s available. Possibly what makes Pierre attractive is that it’s likely a one-year deal, since Pierre can become a free agent after the season and the 2007 class of free agent center-fielders will include Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter and Mike Cameron. And there is always the possibility that Pierre performs well enough to be brought back.
A Pirates source confirmed Thursday that the club has expressed interest in free-agent infielder Nomar Garciaparra, who spent an injury-plagued 2005 season with the Chicago Cubs. "I will say that we're going to investigate all possibilities at that position," David Littlefield said. "Some of those (players) may be guys who are established and bouncing back from injuries or changing positions." Garciaparra, 33, fits Littlefield's description perfectly.
It appears unlikely at the moment that the Phillies will be making any headline-grabbing trades involving Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell or any other big names. For one thing, while the Phillies have few untouchables, the two corner outfielders likely would be bait only if a top-notch starting pitcher could be acquired in return. "Which I don't see," general manager Pat Gillick said. As far as Abreu is concerned, assistant general manager Ruben Amaro called agent Peter Greenberg in Venezuela 2 weeks ago and asked him to let the outfielder know that, know matter what Abreu might hear, he wasn't being shopped. Further, Abreu has a complete no-trade clause (as well as $30.5 million coming over the next 2 years) and the Phillies haven't yet approached him to determine what teams he might be willing to go to.
The Dodgers have stepped up their interest in free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. "There is serious interest there," said Paul Kinzer, Furcal's agent. Early this week, the Chicago Cubs made a strong push to sign Furcal — dangling a five-year deal worth close to $50 million — but the Dodgers have made a comparable offer. Furcal has not ruled out returning to Atlanta, where he has spent his six-year career.
Bolstering the rotation remains Job 1, and Giants GM Brian Sabean said 90 percent of his conversations in the trade and free-agent markets revolve around pitching. In the wake of Esteban Loaiza's decision to sign with Oakland over San Francisco, Sabean continues his pursuit of free-agent Matt Morris. "I know from the conversations we've had (with Morris) that we're one of the teams of, quote, high interest," Sabean said. "It's in the agent's and player's hands as to how or when they want to accelerate it."
Lyle Overbay has made it clear he would like to stay with the Brewers, who gave him his first real chance to be a regular player. But he understands that heralded rookie Prince Fielder waits in the wings. "They've made it clear they're not going to trade me just to trade me," Overbay said. "They told me I'm an important part of the team. But Prince is going to get here. It's just a matter of time. At some point, it has to be him or me."
In recent days, industry sources have identified a Scott Boras client, right-hander Kevin Millwood, as the Mariners' prime target among free-agent pitchers. Thursday, one veteran agent went so far as to say he expects the Mariners to sign Millwood -- a notion Bavasi indicated was premature. "We're talking to so many starting pitchers right now," Bavasi said, "you can't pin us to one."
The Cardinals officially have placed themselves in contention for free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett by breaking precedent with a four-year offer worth almost $10 million per season, sources confirmed Thursday night. Burnett, the centerpiece of the Cardinals' offseason planning so far, is considered the most attractive talent within a relatively thin free-agent pool. The Arkansas native is expected to decide among several offers before Major League Baseball's winter meetings convene Monday in Dallas. Previously unwilling to guarantee more than three years to any starting pitcher, the Redbirds were the last team interested in tendering a proposal late Wednesday night, according to a source familiar with the situation. The Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and New York Mets also are believed to be competing for Burnett.
One local report Thursday indicated the ChiSox might be willing to trade second baseman Tadahito Iguchi to the Marlins in exchange for Marlins counterpart Luis Castillo.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels said Thursday he has a succinct message for clubs showing interest in Hank Blalock ever since the third baseman's name was included in a proposed package for Josh Beckett: "They have been told we're not going to trade Hank Blalock," Daniels said. Daniels maintained the Rangers were only willing to include Blalock in a unique set of circumstances that would have brought them a No. 1 pitcher. While Daniels doesn't see a similar circumstance on the horizon, it hasn't stopped the phone from ringing. "There has been interest in a number of our young position players," Daniels said. "But there is no player we are shopping to anybody."
J.P. Ricciardi will keep looking to improve the Blue Jays. He is willing to consider trading second baseman Orlando Hudson, who won his first Gold Glove last season after batting .271 with 10 home runs and 63 runs batted in. "We love Orlando, but sometimes you have to deal from strength and right now we have an excess of middle infielders," Ricciardi said. "We do what we have to. We're not a team like New York or Boston or the Dodgers with 100 years of tradition, where kids start playing baseball and dream of playing for them. We have to operate in different ways."
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