Exactly ten years ago, the Orix Blue Wave lost a 27-year-old outfielder to the Seattle Mariners. A decade later, Ichiro Suzuki has ten Gold Gloves and 2244 big league hits to his name. Here are today's links…
- Derek Jeter is meeting with agent Casey Close, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff (on Twitter). They met with the Yankees in Tampa today, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- An executive interested in Lance Berkman expects that it would take a one-year deal worth $7MM to sign the switch-hitter, according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.
- Passan reports that the A’s continue to talk with right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, though talks appeared to sour earlier in the month.
- The Nationals are still discussing potential deals with Carl Pavano, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post (on Twitter).
- D'Backs GM Kevin Towers told MLB.com's Steve Gilbert that he'll know by the end of next week's winter meetings whether it makes sense to trade Justin Upton.
- A.J. Pierzynski said on The Waddle & Silvy Show on ESPN 1000 that he's talking to the White Sox and some other teams about potential deals (via ESPNChicago). The White Sox are open to bringing the catcher back, though they didn't offer him arbitration last week.
- Maury Brown of the Biz of Baseball looks back at some record salary arbitration cases from over the years. For instance, Tim Lincecum's demand for a $13MM salary last year was the most any first-time eligible pitcher has ever asked for.
- The Rangers have signed a European player for the first time in franchise history. They agreed to a minor league deal with 18-year-old Dutch middle infielder Nick Urbanus, according to the Newberg Report.
- The agent for Brandon Webb told Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the former Cy Young Award winner would have interest in pitching for the Pirates. About six teams are interested in Webb, including Pittsburgh.
I hope Iwakuma doesn’t turn into a bust. I’m predicting an ERA of 3.85 for Iwakuma which isn’t bad for a fifth starter .
If they can sign him. If he signs, I predict around 4.30 ERA
In that ballpark with our great defense i think your confused.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if he doesn’t sign with the A’s. We are deep when it comes to pitching. And we can spend that money on bat.
Can’t win if you can’t score. A’s need offense and they have plenty of pitching right now. Spend money on some bats, not a Japanese pitcher who has a big chance to be a bust (like Dice-K).
Dice-k isn’t really that much of a bust. It’s just that people had unrealistic expectations for him.
He’s a bust in my opinion. Hasn’t had a great season yet and Boston wasted a LOT of money into him. Kei Igawa also a bust.
Of the half dozen or so pitchers that the Nats have talked about I think Pavano would be the best fit. I really hope he signs here. Does anyone know how much he’s supposed to get?
30 mil over 3 years.
Good, I would love to see the Pirates sign Brandon Webb. He is exactly who we need, low risk, high reward just like Neal likes his signings…so all he has to do is get it done
my boy webby aint gonna win no 20 games playing in pittsburgh! or anywhere most likely, but damn do i ever want to see him come back…
I want to see Brandon Webb come to Minnesota on a 2 year deal FULL of incentives. Let Pavano sign with a different team and we’ll take the draft picks that we turn into really good prospects with our scouting and farm system. I’m so far happy with what we’ve done by offering arbitration to Crain, Pavano, and Hudson and winning rights to negotiate with Tsuyoshi. Get Brandon Webb in a Twins uni though and the rotation looks really good with Liriano, Webb, Baker, Duensing, Blackburn/Slowey/Gibson.
I wouldnt calll that “really good” but its not bad.
1 year $7M for Berkman?!?!? Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but are the Red Sox potentially in on this? Obviously Beltre is still out there, but he got that 5 year offer from the A’s already, and the Sox are not likely to meet that (thank God). And if a Gonzo trade can’t happen, it’d be best to get a 1 year stopgap at first (i.e. Berkman) and move Youk to 3rd for a year. Then sign Gonzo or Fielder next year from FA.
Sounds perfect to me…except I’m not sure if Berkman’s defense is still there. If I was the GM, I’d sign Adam Laroche. He was tearing it up there a couple years ago in his very short stay.
Berkman > LaRoche
Not at this point and Adam plays good defense and is a good guy in the clubhouse
Laroche hit 25 bombs and had 100 RBIs last year and is a very solid fielder. I’d take Laroche before Berkman, and I’d get more production out of Laroche.
where does Laroche stand in terms of dollars and years?
Well last year he signed with Arizona for 1 yr/$4.5 mill but I bet the Redsox could get him for 2 yrs/$13 mill.
Hmm $13M/2 sounds decent…stopgap for the first year (a fairly decent stopgap I’d say) and perhaps DH/part time 1B for the 2nd. We can talk about year 2 when we get there, but at least for year 1, we get a good fielder with good power at first for a relatively cheap price.
I seriously don’t want Beltre back for 4-5 years. He’s had 2 big years in his career, 04 and 10, and both walk years. Coincidence? Maybe…maybe not. But either way, he’s not worth 4-5 years at $15M per if we’re going to get the .270 guy who doesn’t have an impressive OBP. And the main problem with signing Beltre down long term is it leaves no room for the big first basemens to come in next season!
Well last year he signed with Arizona for 1 yr/$4.5 mill but I bet the Redsox could get him for 2 yrs/$13 mill.
So we’ve gotten to the point where the fact that “Jeter talks to his agent” constitutes Twitter/Post-worthy “news”? Seriously?
Hahaha can I get a feed that excludes all things New York?
why would anyone have interest in pitching for the pirates. especially brandon webb. come join haren and the angels man. we’ll score runs for you and get you in the playoffs!
His ERA will skyrocket in the A.L. playing against the Rangers and Yankees.
It’s myth that the Pirates can’t get into the playoffs! Management was behind the curve for about 10-15 years but now they are starting to development talent through their scouting department. They can get to the playoffs in 2 years i guarantee, especially if MLB expands the playoffs.
His ERA will skyrocket in the A.L. playing against the Rangers and Yankees.
It’s myth that the Pirates can’t get into the playoffs! Management was behind the curve for about 10-15 years but now they are starting to development talent through their scouting department. They can get to the playoffs in 2 years i guarantee, especially if MLB expands the playoffs.
The Pirates could have an advantage in signing Brandon Webb. He wants to ptich close to his home in Kentucky.
I hope his sinker can still hit 90 and he needs a solid dipping changeup.
kentucky is no where near pittsburgh
Well, it looks like an 8-9 hour drive at most (Pitt to Louisville) and maybe a 2-3 hour flight.
It’s easier than traveling from Scottsdale or Phoenix.
Well, it looks like an 8-9 hour drive at most (Pitt to Louisville) and maybe a 2-3 hour flight.
It’s easier than traveling from Scottsdale or Phoenix.
The Pirates could have an advantage in signing Brandon Webb. He wants to ptich close to his home in Kentucky.
I hope his sinker can still hit 90 and he needs a solid dipping changeup.
I love that the White Sox organization has a certain loyalty to their players. That said. At some point they need to let A.J. go. He’s fun to watch play with all his glorious intangibles, but it’s time to let him go.
It’d be nice to see KW work out something for Mike Napoli maybe. Napoli might be half neanderthal behind the dish…but he might hit 40 dongs at Comiskey.
i would love to see this trade and it seems like the angles would love to move him. I would guess tyler flowers+ mid level pitching prospect+ out field prospect not named danks or mitchell might get it done plus some cash….soscia might be able to fix flower and napoli would be a nice fit for the sox…he could catch, slepp PK(or who ever at 1st) and could spell someone at DH
Flowers actually seems to project as Napoli in best case scenario. So if you’re the Sox do you get the sure thing, or play the odds on Flowers. KW likes to win. I’m not sure how serious the Sox are going to be on Dunn. Konerko seems likely to return, and Dunn won’t see much time in the field…which he seems to prefer.
Seems the Sox can cobble Dunnish stats together much cheaper than getting the man himself.
Not sure who they send to the Angels for Napoli. There’s so much speculation on who goes where…and that is beyond our grasp….we don’t know the psychology behind trades very well.
I’ve heard a lot of Gavin Floyd to the Rockies for Dexter Fowler and Ian Stewart though. Wow…..Fowler might give them the chance to play the ever-elusive “Ozzieball” we hear so much about.
I personally dont like the idea of floyd to the rockeis for two guys who are basically AAAA guys…i like fowler he is fast has great baseball read and hits for a good average but i weary of trading for guys from COL due to the huge home field advantage…play there is almost no point in that deal because of the fact that the sox dont need stewart they have brent morell more than likely starting at 3rd, he may not ever hit for the same power ian will but his D is better and he might hit for a better average…If floyd is traded(i hope not at least untill we know how long peavy is out) i would rather see him traded for a 1st basemen or a right fielder and then they can either trade CQ or move him to DH
LETS SEE THE PIRATES SPEND SOME MONEY AND GO FOR WEBB!