The Mets are believed to be close to a deal in which they would send a minor-league prospect to the Marlins for catcher Paul Lo Duca, according to a major-league source. The identity of the Met prospect was not immediately known — but it's hard to envision it being Lastings Milledge, the jewel of their minor-league system. Getting Lo Duca would give the Mets a starting catcher and continue their extremely aggressive offseason so far.
Cubs GM Jim Hendry is dangling second baseman Todd Walker. The Cubs need a right fielder, and if the Phillies are willing to move Bobby Abreu (24 home runs, .405 OBP), he’d fit quite nicely at Wrigley Field. Barring that, there are some lesser right fielders, such as Minnesota’s Jacque Jones, still on the market, and the Cubs may be interested.
The Halos are a possibility for Boston OF Manny Ramirez and Arizona third baseman Troy Glaus, whom they shouldn't have allowed to leave in the first place. , though it's unclear if they would be traded within the division, and might have to settle for the Royals' Mike Sweeney.
Yanks GM Brian Cashman has vowed not to take powderkeg Milton Bradley. But perhaps if Bradley goes to Oakland, the Yankees could try to restart trade talks with the A's for Mark Kotsay.
The simplest deal the Mariners could make wouldn’t be the headline-grabber Mariners fans covet, but it would change the look of the team – Gil Meche and catcher Rivera to Tampa Bay in exchange for Aubrey Huff and tall left-hander Mark Hendrickson. Huff is owed $6.75 million in 2006, could be a designated hitter-outfielder for the Mariners and batted .261 with 22 home runs and a career-best 88 RBI last season. Hendrickson is 31, a 6-foot-9 lefty from Mount Vernon who went 11-8 last year with a 5.90 ERA. That’s the kind of deal the Mariners can make without seriously altering their roster.
Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin, who is on the hunt for relief help and possibly another starting pitcher, has four or five clubs interested in first baseman Lyle Overbay, including Boston, Toronto, San Francisco and possibly Baltimore and Anaheim. Melvin is in no hurry to deal Overbay, however, even with rookie Prince Fielder waiting in the wings.
Signing Jose Mesa is the Rockies most likely move. Felix Rodriguez remains an option, as does Matt Mantei and possibly Chris Reitsma through a trade. Landing one late-inning guy won't preclude the Rockies from pressing hard to acquire the Cubs' Todd Wellemeyer or sign Brian Meadows and Chris Hammond if the price is right.
Former Marlins skipper Jack McKeon is 75 but he is ready to manage again if he gets a call. "Someone has trouble, I'm a turnaround specialist," he said.
The Dodgers plan to remain aggressive in the free-agent market. They are expected to sign Bill Mueller or Joe Randa to play third base and have made offers to several free-agent starting pitchers. Obtaining a power-hitting outfielder is also a priority.
Mets people are telling folks they will not trade Lastings Milledge or Aaron Heilman in a package for Manny Ramirez. But other baseball execs believe they'd have no chance to land Ramirez without including at least Milledge and probably both players, and one person close to Omar Minaya said, "If it means getting Manny, he'll do it." Word is Manny prefers Anaheim, Arizona, Cleveland or Seattle. But one person who talks to Ramirez said he'd also approve New York. "New York is his hometown," the person said.
Despite drawing more than four million fans, the Yankees lost between $50 million and $85 million for the 2005 season, several Major League Baseball sources told the Daily News. The benefactors of baseball, who pumped more than $200 million into their payroll and almost $110 million into revenue sharing and luxury tax, are deep in the red this year. "Yes, even George has his limits," one source said. And it may get worse. According to lawyers close to the situation, the Yankees might have to share additional revenue with poorer clubs if a consultant hired by MLB decides they undervalued their television rights. The Yankees currently charge the YES Network about $60 million a year to broadcast games, but the consultant is expected to say the rights are worth far more. If he does, that will mean the Yankees will be required to make up the difference and put more money into the revenue-sharing fund.
Phils GM Pat Gillick is expected to in Dallas, and even could go as far as trading Bobby Abreu, who has driven in 100-plus runs in four of the last five years.
The Tigers would love A.J. Burnett, a Dombrowski favorite since he traded for him while running the Marlins. But Burnett is looking for a grandiose five-year deal. He also doesn't appear to be entertaining thoughts of the Tigers, even if they are ready to splurge. Matt Morris, a longtime Cardinals right-hander, is possible -- if he doesn't move into the extended-year stratosphere that has come to define offers made during the opening weeks of free agency. The Tigers might also shoot for a trade, perhaps for Javier Vazquez of the Diamondbacks or Carl Pavano of the Yankees. Trades are expected to be unusually plentiful this week, mostly because talented free agents have been few, and expensive.
How close will Cal Ripken Jr. come to being a unanimous pick for the National Baseball Hall of Fame? How will semi-disgraced slugger Mark McGwire fare in the voting? The 2007 ballot for Cooperstown will be extremely interesting and generate extraordinary attention. Ripken and Tony Gwynn will head an impressive list of first-time eligibles and figure to be elected on their first try. Nobody knows how the voters will treat McGwire.
The Cubs are said to have their eyes on Florida's Juan Pierre as well as Boston free agent Johnny Damon, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Milton Bradley and Tampa Bay's Joey Gathright. They have about $20 million to $25 million to spend.
The Orioles are content with catcher Javy Lopez as their pursuit of San Diego Padres free-agent catcher Ramon Hernandez has cooled.
The Orioles have since withdrawn the offer to Paul Byrd, who reportedly is mulling a three-year deal with the Kansas City Royals for more than $20 million.
Kevin Millwood has five serious suitors: Detroit, Baltimore, Cleveland, Seattle and Washington.
Now that the Florida Marlins’ fire sale is fully under way, Cubs GM Jim Hendry will jump in on the bidding for center fielder Juan Pierre, who batted .276 with a .326 on-base percentage and 57 stolen bases in 2005. (Furcal’s OBP this year was .348.) If the Cubs are able to trade for Pierre, they’ll try to move center fielder Corey Patterson (.254 OBP) during the winter meetings.
The Indians are looking at Nomar Garciaparra. He's had a lot of injuries and still is getting a lot of interest on the free-agent market. He played 62 games in 2005, 81 in 2004 and 21 in 2001. That means he has missed huge parts of three of the past five seasons. Seems awful risky for a team with a small payroll.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have Baez on the market. He has one year left at $4.5 million and then is a free agent. The Devil Rays want prospects. The Indians like Baez and have prospects to trade, starting with Brandon Phillips and some younger pitchers. But do they want to risk losing Baez after one year to free agency?
Eric Duncan, The Yankees' first-round draft pick in 2003 out of Seton Hall Prep will start next season playing first base for Triple-A Columbus after playing the position in eight of 23 Arizona Fall League games. "I'm excited, and hopefully it means they will keep me in the system," said the left-handed hitting Duncan, who hit .362 (34-for-94) with eight homers and 27 RBIs for Grand Canyon and posted a .423 on-base percentage and slugged at a .734 clip, the second highest in AFL history. "If a position change means staying with the Yankees, I will do it."
Southpaw reliever Ricardo Rincon's agent, Dave Stewart, said yesterday afternoon that he and Met GM Omar Minaya "played phone tag" yesterday and noted that he was closer to getting a deal done with other clubs than with the Mets.
As for other second-base possibilities for the Mets, they have had discussions with the Devil Rays about Julio Lugo, and one industry source said Friday that free agent Mark Grudzielanek appears to be the player they now want at second. They've also shown interest in both Tony Graffanino and D'Angelo Jimenez, who could potentially factor in as utility players or perhaps at second.
The Yankees, meanwhile, continue to weigh their center field options. They're waiting to see if the Marlins lower the price for Juan Pierre and stop asking for Robinson Cano. The Cubs and White Sox both have interest in Pierre and have more prospects to offer.
The Mets have little patience this offseason as they spend big to construct a contender. So while free-agent catchers Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez keep them waiting for a response to their offers, the Mets are now discussing a trade with the Marlins for Paul Lo Duca. Maybe they're just trying to force either Molina or Hernandez into making a decision, but one person close to the talks said yesterday the Mets are "serious" about acquiring Lo Duca if the deal is right. The Marlins, who have acquired pitching prospects in other deals, would deal Lo Duca to the Mets for a young position player such as infielder Anderson Hernandez or outfielder Victor Diaz.
Scott Boras' staff includes former players, scouts and managers. Dallas' Calvin Murray, with five years of major league experience, is the latest addition. Some of the key figures:
Jeff Mussleman: Pitched five seasons for New York Mets and Toronto. Holds degree in economics and an M.B.A from Harvard. Essentially Boras' office manager.
Mike Fiore: Former minor league outfielder and U.S. Olympian. Served as associate director/GM of USA Baseball. Is at Boras' side at most games and meetings.
Bob Brower: Duke- educated former Rangers outfielder who, like Fiore, handles many player needs. Is especially close with Mark Teixeira and J.D. Drew.
Mike Fischlin: Former infielder was Boras' first employee. Has known Boras for 30 years.
The White Sox World Series display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., has opened, including bats used by Scott Podsednik and Geoff Blum to hit game-winning home runs in the Series' middle two games. The third-floor encased tribute has a jersey from Series MVP Jermaine Dye, who also is featured in a nearly life-size photo next the case, and a glove from third baseman Joe Crede, who made several outstanding defensive plays. Front pages from the Tribune, Red Eye and Houston Chronicle are also a part of the exhibit, as are vials of dirt taken from Minute Maid Park to celebrate the first World Series played in Texas and a pair of spikes worn by Astros second baseman Craig Biggio.
Cubs GM Jim Hendry is dangling second baseman Todd Walker. The Cubs need a right fielder, and if the Phillies are willing to move Bobby Abreu (24 home runs, .405 OBP), he’d fit quite nicely at Wrigley Field. Barring that, there are some lesser right fielders, such as Minnesota’s Jacque Jones, still on the market, and the Cubs may be interested.
The Halos are a possibility for Boston OF Manny Ramirez and Arizona third baseman Troy Glaus, whom they shouldn't have allowed to leave in the first place. , though it's unclear if they would be traded within the division, and might have to settle for the Royals' Mike Sweeney.
Yanks GM Brian Cashman has vowed not to take powderkeg Milton Bradley. But perhaps if Bradley goes to Oakland, the Yankees could try to restart trade talks with the A's for Mark Kotsay.
The simplest deal the Mariners could make wouldn’t be the headline-grabber Mariners fans covet, but it would change the look of the team – Gil Meche and catcher Rivera to Tampa Bay in exchange for Aubrey Huff and tall left-hander Mark Hendrickson. Huff is owed $6.75 million in 2006, could be a designated hitter-outfielder for the Mariners and batted .261 with 22 home runs and a career-best 88 RBI last season. Hendrickson is 31, a 6-foot-9 lefty from Mount Vernon who went 11-8 last year with a 5.90 ERA. That’s the kind of deal the Mariners can make without seriously altering their roster.
Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin, who is on the hunt for relief help and possibly another starting pitcher, has four or five clubs interested in first baseman Lyle Overbay, including Boston, Toronto, San Francisco and possibly Baltimore and Anaheim. Melvin is in no hurry to deal Overbay, however, even with rookie Prince Fielder waiting in the wings.
Signing Jose Mesa is the Rockies most likely move. Felix Rodriguez remains an option, as does Matt Mantei and possibly Chris Reitsma through a trade. Landing one late-inning guy won't preclude the Rockies from pressing hard to acquire the Cubs' Todd Wellemeyer or sign Brian Meadows and Chris Hammond if the price is right.
Former Marlins skipper Jack McKeon is 75 but he is ready to manage again if he gets a call. "Someone has trouble, I'm a turnaround specialist," he said.
The Dodgers plan to remain aggressive in the free-agent market. They are expected to sign Bill Mueller or Joe Randa to play third base and have made offers to several free-agent starting pitchers. Obtaining a power-hitting outfielder is also a priority.
Mets people are telling folks they will not trade Lastings Milledge or Aaron Heilman in a package for Manny Ramirez. But other baseball execs believe they'd have no chance to land Ramirez without including at least Milledge and probably both players, and one person close to Omar Minaya said, "If it means getting Manny, he'll do it." Word is Manny prefers Anaheim, Arizona, Cleveland or Seattle. But one person who talks to Ramirez said he'd also approve New York. "New York is his hometown," the person said.
Despite drawing more than four million fans, the Yankees lost between $50 million and $85 million for the 2005 season, several Major League Baseball sources told the Daily News. The benefactors of baseball, who pumped more than $200 million into their payroll and almost $110 million into revenue sharing and luxury tax, are deep in the red this year. "Yes, even George has his limits," one source said. And it may get worse. According to lawyers close to the situation, the Yankees might have to share additional revenue with poorer clubs if a consultant hired by MLB decides they undervalued their television rights. The Yankees currently charge the YES Network about $60 million a year to broadcast games, but the consultant is expected to say the rights are worth far more. If he does, that will mean the Yankees will be required to make up the difference and put more money into the revenue-sharing fund.
Phils GM Pat Gillick is expected to in Dallas, and even could go as far as trading Bobby Abreu, who has driven in 100-plus runs in four of the last five years.
The Tigers would love A.J. Burnett, a Dombrowski favorite since he traded for him while running the Marlins. But Burnett is looking for a grandiose five-year deal. He also doesn't appear to be entertaining thoughts of the Tigers, even if they are ready to splurge. Matt Morris, a longtime Cardinals right-hander, is possible -- if he doesn't move into the extended-year stratosphere that has come to define offers made during the opening weeks of free agency. The Tigers might also shoot for a trade, perhaps for Javier Vazquez of the Diamondbacks or Carl Pavano of the Yankees. Trades are expected to be unusually plentiful this week, mostly because talented free agents have been few, and expensive.
How close will Cal Ripken Jr. come to being a unanimous pick for the National Baseball Hall of Fame? How will semi-disgraced slugger Mark McGwire fare in the voting? The 2007 ballot for Cooperstown will be extremely interesting and generate extraordinary attention. Ripken and Tony Gwynn will head an impressive list of first-time eligibles and figure to be elected on their first try. Nobody knows how the voters will treat McGwire.
The Cubs are said to have their eyes on Florida's Juan Pierre as well as Boston free agent Johnny Damon, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Milton Bradley and Tampa Bay's Joey Gathright. They have about $20 million to $25 million to spend.
The Orioles are content with catcher Javy Lopez as their pursuit of San Diego Padres free-agent catcher Ramon Hernandez has cooled.
The Orioles have since withdrawn the offer to Paul Byrd, who reportedly is mulling a three-year deal with the Kansas City Royals for more than $20 million.
Kevin Millwood has five serious suitors: Detroit, Baltimore, Cleveland, Seattle and Washington.
Now that the Florida Marlins’ fire sale is fully under way, Cubs GM Jim Hendry will jump in on the bidding for center fielder Juan Pierre, who batted .276 with a .326 on-base percentage and 57 stolen bases in 2005. (Furcal’s OBP this year was .348.) If the Cubs are able to trade for Pierre, they’ll try to move center fielder Corey Patterson (.254 OBP) during the winter meetings.
The Indians are looking at Nomar Garciaparra. He's had a lot of injuries and still is getting a lot of interest on the free-agent market. He played 62 games in 2005, 81 in 2004 and 21 in 2001. That means he has missed huge parts of three of the past five seasons. Seems awful risky for a team with a small payroll.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have Baez on the market. He has one year left at $4.5 million and then is a free agent. The Devil Rays want prospects. The Indians like Baez and have prospects to trade, starting with Brandon Phillips and some younger pitchers. But do they want to risk losing Baez after one year to free agency?
Eric Duncan, The Yankees' first-round draft pick in 2003 out of Seton Hall Prep will start next season playing first base for Triple-A Columbus after playing the position in eight of 23 Arizona Fall League games. "I'm excited, and hopefully it means they will keep me in the system," said the left-handed hitting Duncan, who hit .362 (34-for-94) with eight homers and 27 RBIs for Grand Canyon and posted a .423 on-base percentage and slugged at a .734 clip, the second highest in AFL history. "If a position change means staying with the Yankees, I will do it."
Southpaw reliever Ricardo Rincon's agent, Dave Stewart, said yesterday afternoon that he and Met GM Omar Minaya "played phone tag" yesterday and noted that he was closer to getting a deal done with other clubs than with the Mets.
As for other second-base possibilities for the Mets, they have had discussions with the Devil Rays about Julio Lugo, and one industry source said Friday that free agent Mark Grudzielanek appears to be the player they now want at second. They've also shown interest in both Tony Graffanino and D'Angelo Jimenez, who could potentially factor in as utility players or perhaps at second.
The Yankees, meanwhile, continue to weigh their center field options. They're waiting to see if the Marlins lower the price for Juan Pierre and stop asking for Robinson Cano. The Cubs and White Sox both have interest in Pierre and have more prospects to offer.
The Mets have little patience this offseason as they spend big to construct a contender. So while free-agent catchers Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez keep them waiting for a response to their offers, the Mets are now discussing a trade with the Marlins for Paul Lo Duca. Maybe they're just trying to force either Molina or Hernandez into making a decision, but one person close to the talks said yesterday the Mets are "serious" about acquiring Lo Duca if the deal is right. The Marlins, who have acquired pitching prospects in other deals, would deal Lo Duca to the Mets for a young position player such as infielder Anderson Hernandez or outfielder Victor Diaz.
Scott Boras' staff includes former players, scouts and managers. Dallas' Calvin Murray, with five years of major league experience, is the latest addition. Some of the key figures:
Jeff Mussleman: Pitched five seasons for New York Mets and Toronto. Holds degree in economics and an M.B.A from Harvard. Essentially Boras' office manager.
Mike Fiore: Former minor league outfielder and U.S. Olympian. Served as associate director/GM of USA Baseball. Is at Boras' side at most games and meetings.
Bob Brower: Duke- educated former Rangers outfielder who, like Fiore, handles many player needs. Is especially close with Mark Teixeira and J.D. Drew.
Mike Fischlin: Former infielder was Boras' first employee. Has known Boras for 30 years.
The White Sox World Series display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., has opened, including bats used by Scott Podsednik and Geoff Blum to hit game-winning home runs in the Series' middle two games. The third-floor encased tribute has a jersey from Series MVP Jermaine Dye, who also is featured in a nearly life-size photo next the case, and a glove from third baseman Joe Crede, who made several outstanding defensive plays. Front pages from the Tribune, Red Eye and Houston Chronicle are also a part of the exhibit, as are vials of dirt taken from Minute Maid Park to celebrate the first World Series played in Texas and a pair of spikes worn by Astros second baseman Craig Biggio.
