Rumors from Winter Meetings

[Hammer]

lee and shoppach for bay, thats it? really? they better be getting adam miller or something here. what a terrible deal for pittsburgh otherwise.

what could the mets possibly give up for bedard... gomez, gonzalez, pelfrey, humber, mulvey... and then if they force them to take on tejada, i cant see them having that much available to do it. that dodgers deal seems a bit far fetched... the best orioles board or not, i have a hard time believing discussion board rumors, especially when the orioles are clearly winning that deal... despite the fact that [most] mlb gms arent stupid and probably already know bedard told them he isnt resigning. a closer (bull broxton), a corner outfielder (kemp), a 3rd baseman (laroche), a replacement shortstop (hu), and a potential ace starter (billingsley)... really? and jay payton has a pitiful pitiful contract, doesnt he?

[love_that_reefer]

• The Rockies and Red Sox have engaged in discussions for left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes, a baseball source said. Colorado is in need of a second baseman since Kaz Matsui left to sign with Houston and may be targeting Jed Lowrie in return. Lowrie, a 23-year-old second baseman in Boston's system, was the 45th overall pick in the 2005 draft out of Stanford and has been rumored in other trade discussions.

Fuentes and Okajima setting up Paplebon would be sick!! Certainly the Rockies can find a MLB ready second baseman for Fuentes.

[redsrbetter]

Ho Hum...

Yankees and Mets getting an edge?

• The agent for Johan Santana was on the same flight from New York as Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Mets GM Omar Minaya. All that was missing were Twins GM Bill Smith and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, and a deal might have been hammered out.

[henks]

Please nooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[redsrbetter]

BBTN hosts the Winter Meetings here at 11PM EST

[love_that_reefer]

The Dodgers have asked about Ben Sheets, Brewers GM Doug Melvin confirmed.
Melvin indicated that he was willing to listen to offers. The Brewers want an outfielder and would have to be interested in Matt Kemp. Sheets' price tag shouldn't be quite as high as that of Johan Santana, Erik Bedard or Dan Haren, but he won't come cheap, not with the Brewers aiming for first place next year.

Interesting who the Brewers think will replace Sheets as the ace.

[love_that_reefer]

The Dodgers have reportedly been the top suitors for Joe Blanton up to this point.
As they were at the trade deadline, when the two sides were believed to be close to a deal. Blanton is also viewed as a more realistic trade target than Dan Haren for the Mets.

Imagine a rotation of Penny, Lowe, Blanton, Schmidt and Billingsley. Reminds of the late 80's, early to mid 90's rotation where they had no lefties.

[love_that_reefer]

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the Phillies may be willing to "overpay" Aaron Rowand if he accepts a three-year deal.
Rowand is said to want a five-year contract, but isn't finding any teams willing to give him that. "I really don't know," general manager Pat Gillick said. "There's a possibility. We'd like to have him back. He's good for our club and good for the fans."

Andruw Jones "initiated discussions with the Royals" on Monday, according to the Kansas City Star.
Any interest Kansas City may have in Jones would likely disappear the moment they sign Jose Guillen, which is expected to happen soon. However, the newspaper suggests that it's possible that the Royals could sign both outfielders if Jones' asking price is low enough.

If the Phillies offered a 3 yr/$36 mil, I think Rowand would have to take it. Rowand isn't going to get his five year deal and he won't get Jones type money either. Phillies should sign him and keep Victorino in RF.

That Jones is contacting the Royals is fascinating to me. Jones would move DeJesus to LF and Teahen in RF. If the Royals could get Guillen and Jones, that what send a great message to fans that they want to turn things around. Jones and Guillen would provide the power with Gordon and Butler expected to improve. It would help defensively too. Royals also have a good starting three behind Meche, Bannister and Greinke.

[McKain]

The Nationals reportedly traded Jonathan Albalajedo to the Yankees for Tyler Clippard.

If we keep making these small-value for bigger-value trades, we're going to have a very interesting season.

[love_that_reefer]

ESPN Radio 1000 reports that the Cubs have traded Omar Infante and Will Ohman to the Braves for Jose Ascanio.
The Cubs traded for Infante last month, but both he and Ohman were somewhat redundant on the roster and figure to cost a combined $3.5 million or so for 2008. A 22-year-old reliever, Ascanio had a 2.54 ERA and 71/18 K/BB ratio in 78 innings at Double-A in 2007 before a 13-game stint with the Braves to end the season.

I will never forget the month Infante was a Cub. Don't know why the Braves are getting rid of relievers.

[love_that_reefer]

The Tigers and trying to get both Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins and could offer both Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.
The Marlins would probably want those two for Cabrera alone, so the Tigers may have to come up with more. Starting pitcher Dallas Trahern is a logical candidate to be included. Ideally, the Tigers could swap Brandon Inge for a prospect first and use that prospect in the deal. The Giants and Phillies are candidates to be interested in Inge.

Imagine a lineup with Sheffield, Ordonez, Cabrera, Guillen, Renteria, Granderson, Pudge, Polanco and Jones with a rotation of Verlander, Bonderman, Rogers, Willis and Durbin/Robertson. Pretty impressive!!

[redsrbetter]

Guillen to the Royals?

12:43 a.m., from Steve Phillips
• Jose Guillen is close to signing with the Royals for three years and $36 million.

[GiantsFanatic]

Gullen signed with KC, I read it on the ESPN ticker, its offical.

[redsrbetter]

Red Sox leading the race now?

2:25 a.m., from Buster Olney
• The Red Sox have emerged as the favorites to land Johan Santana. Boston and Minnesota continued to talk into early Tuesday morning, with the Twins even asking to see medical reports on Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester. Last week, the Sox offered Lester, outfielder Coco Crisp, minor league infielder Jed Lowrie and another minor league pitcher for Santana.

[redsrbetter]

Gullen signed with KC, I read it on the ESPN ticker, its offical.

Awesome man, I am just catching up after I had to do a random piss test this morning.

So the Royals are trying to spend money again?