Ed Wade is heading back to the NL East after four years in Houston. Here are more links from the division, starting with Wade’s longtime team…
- Mark DeRosa says he's interested in playing for the Nationals, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (Twitter links). However, other teams are interested and DeRosa is not close to making a decision.
- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. says he's comfortable heading into Spring Training with the team he has, according to Paul Hagen of MLB.com. The Phillies have already made major free agent signings, added complementary players such as Laynce Nix, Jim Thome and Dontrelle Willis and signed players to minor league deals, as our Free Agent Tracker shows.
- Those who know Cole Hamels doubt he would give the Phillies much of a discount on a potential extension, according to Tyler Kepner of the New York Times. The 27-year-old John Boggs & Associates client posted a 2.79 ERA with 8.1 K/9, 1.8 BB/9 and a 52.3% ground ball rate in 215 innings this past season. He's set to hit free agency after the 2012 season (MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a $14MM salary for Hamels in his final season of arbitration eligibility).
- Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com shows that the Mets already have a projected payroll in the $90MM range. GM Sandy Alderson has suggested the team's payroll could be less than $100MM, so the Mets may not have much offseason shopping remaining.
- The Mets are interested in catcher Luis Martinez, who was designated for assignment by the Padres on Sunday, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post (on Twitter). The 26-year-old hit .203/.309/.305 in 68 plate appearances with the Padres this past season.
- The Braves and Rockies have continued discussing a possible deal that would send Seth Smith to Atlanta for Martin Prado, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. The Braves appear to be seeing what they can get for Jair Jurrjens first, however. Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports examined possible suitors for Smith earlier today, including the Braves despite their preference for a right-handed hitter.
If/when Hamels hits free agency, it’s gonna be chaos.
If/when Lincecum reaches free agency the universe will explode.
If/when Kershaw reaches free agency…I can’t even fathom.
Do I dare mention if/when Strasburg!?! OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Holy!Crap!
Imagine when Strasburg’s future son becomes a free agent? I heard he will get a 8M bonus in the womb.
hahaha funny funny guy! 😀 maybe he will, but i think it’s too soon to say all that stuff. I think he’s capable, but it’s too soon.
I love Strasburg’s potential but I’d like to see him pitch a full MLB season.
Well he has some catching up to do. 1 more Cy Young, a Postseason MVP, and a Championship to go.
Well he has some catching up to do. 1 more Cy Young, a Postseason MVP, and a Championship to go.
Enhanced bullpen or no, everything I see says the Mets plan to continue their reign of mediocrity in 2012. This is to be expected as long as the Wilpons hang on to the team, but it’s pretty sad.
What sort of deal do we see Cole Hamels getting if he hits FA? Certainly more than CJ Wilson got. Who’s his best comparison?
CC, Lee, and Santana. Phils are gonna have to pony up a lot to keep him. He wants to be in Philly, but won’t take less than Lee for sure. They might have to go to 7 years 160m for him, which is scary…very scary.
Probably Santana/Sabathia/Halladay money.
The starting point’s probably 6 years $120 million.
Cue the Yankees fans saying Cole will be in pinstripes…
I think this is going to be a huge season for Miami. If they act like a team, not like a circus, and can compete in the division, they will be an attractive destination. Expect them to throw money at him, and with Cole being relatively young; the money and city can be very enticing for him.
Very true
Hamels will be a Yankee, no doubt
That didn’t take long
Just like Halladay…
and Lee.
And Lee…again
carlos lee?
ha! 😀
And Lee…again
Ruben will not let Hamels walk. After Rollins,
The Blue Jays now have 30 days to reach an agreement with Darvish
Its Official, the Toronto Blue Jays have won the bidding for SP Yu Darvish at $52 000 000 (US)
incorrect sir. Rangers win.
oops!
I had no clue Hamels was so young… seems like he’s been doing his thing forever!
I didn’t realize what an incredible season Hamels had this year. He’s always been good, but now he’s stepped up to join the elite ranks of the true aces. Were there seriously 4 pitchers in the NL who were better than him this year?
Really amazing that they didn’t make it past the Cardinals.
Hamels will sign an extension in Philly before the season starts.
I hope, but I am not confident of this unless Rube goes to 6 for 130 guaranteed
wow the Phillies should sign Prince Fielder while they’re at it just throwing money around and who knows when Howard will be back?…not going to happen..I think that Hamels gets traded by the deadline if they can’t extend him..and I think the J-Rol re-signing may have tied up any additional funds that they would have to do so.
Ed Wade goes back to Phils after successfully using the Astros as the Phils’ farm team.
I like the idea of picking up Martinez to platoon with Thole, if only for the lack of depth at the catcher position. I would have preferred Jose Morales. I think the front office will take him because Martinez is a Padre and Alderson/Riccardi like former Padres and Blue Jays.
That is why the Phillies need to sign Hamels to an extension immediately. 6 years 108 million is a nice number but he may want more. But as a Phillies fan, I dont care what they pay him. Just keep him happy and happy in Philly.
Here’s hoping the Phils lose Hamels and the Sox sign him. I don’t think he will beat CC’s contract but im sure he will come within 15-25M of Lee. Just a guess.
I don’t expect much loyalty from Hamels nor should he give any. This is his chance at one of the largest pitching contracts ever given out and he’s going to have at least 3 of the biggest markets vying for his services, plus Washington, Toronto (?), Miami, among others, and the potential of the Dodger’s financial situation getting figured out.
Hoping they can lock him up and avoid the real possibility he leaves next off season.
Just to add: Hard to believe there’s a possibility that Roy Halladay is the third highest paid pitcher on the staff.
Just to add: Hard to believe there’s a possibility that Roy Halladay is the third highest paid pitcher on the staff.
Enough with the Prado/Smith rumors.
O’Dowd should have already ante-upped with Wheeler or Blackmon especially with the signing of Cuddyer. Get it done or move on, there is value in Smith.
would you call either of those two blocked by Dexter Fowler?
Yes definitely blocked by Fowler, they are buying into the second half he had. Last yr when Blackmon was healthy he played all 3 OFer positions but Cuddy is seen as the everyday RF so it’s going to be hard to find Blackmon abs, let alone Wheeler when he’s ready along with Colvin. Makes zero sense to hold onto all 3 or them when there will only limited abs to go around.
Where is Cuddyer going to play? He’s essentially Prado, so why do they still want Prado?
I don’t think Cuddy can play 2nd , which is where the Rockies are wanting him(Prado) to play .
Yes, he can play 2nd. He is really a very similar player to Prado.
Cuddy is seen as the everyday RF while playing a bit of 1B when Helton needs a day off and Rox are facing LH starter.
They don’t plan on playing him at 2B or 3B at all, at least that whats being reported.
Dodgers will have new ownership when Hamels hits free agency. So Cal kid.
D’OD will trade Smith for a PTBNL, I guarantee it
Are we really still talking about this? Prado for Smith ain’t gonna happen. Now if Danny-O wanted to include Wheeler then maybe we may have something but until then, go find your bat elsewhere.
Braves office: We are interested in Dexter Fowler is he available?
Rockies office: No but Seth Smith is.
Braves office: We’re not that interested but we really like Fowler, we have 300 good pitchers do you want any?
Rockies office: Yes we’re very interested, how about Seth Smith?
Really?
Lol, I laughed. I was thinking it would go more like…
{phone ring}
Frank Wren: Hello?
Dan O’Dowd: Hi Frank, it’s Dan O’Dowd…
FW: {interrupts} sigh…for the last time, you’re not getting Prado for Seth Smith.
DO’D: Oh come on Frank, do it!!
FW: How about you include one of those CFer’s you are stock piling like a squirrel stockpiles nuts before winter?
DO’D: How about not? Come on, Seth Smith is really good!!! He could platoon in left with that guy who beats up fans that run onto the field.
FW: Either include Wheeler or go bother someone else. {Hangs up}
Getting Prado will have to include either a replacement for Bourn or Chipper along with Seth Smith…plain and simple. Otherwise, there’s no point in moving him and Wren may as well keep Prado to play 3rd beyond 2012 and move a pitcher to obtain a CF.
Red Sox should kick the tires on Derosa. He rakes against lefties and could be a terrific RF platoon guy and give infielders occasional rest as well.
These Martin Prado for Seth Smith rumors make no sense. The ONLY way Smith would make sense would be if the Braves kept Prado and used them in a platoon. And, if the Braves wanted a platoon LF then they could just sign Luke Scott and keep Martin.
Dexter Fowler for Prado makes a lot more sense.
It doesn’t make sense but it does when you are Frank Wren and insisting on getting Wheeler along with Smith as a potential Bourn replacement.
Again, Smith is left handed. Wheeler is left handed. The Braves need to get another right handed hitter…..NOT give up a right handed hitter to get two more lefties.
Prado for Fowler makes sense. The Rockies can keep Seth Smith.
Again, Fowler isn’t going anywhere.
Never say never .
Just noticed that this rumor came from a Rockies blogger. Dream on Rox fans, you aren’t getting Prado for Seth Smith.
Harding and Renck aren’t exactly throw it against the wall types, Wren and O’Dowd are def in talks I would put money on Smith and Wheeler to ATL by Spring Training but there might need to be one more player from each side.
I can see the Braves trading Jurrjens to the Rockies but they aren’t trading one of the best right handed hitters for two lefties. That just is not happening. If it does, Frank Wren is a complete idiot…and I don’t believe that to be true at all.
Braves writers have said that the Braves would be interested in Smith but ONLY as a platoon partner with Prado….so that doesn’t sound like a Prado for Smith deal is imminent.
I would put money on the Braves making a trade that no one sees coming. This is just a smokescreen.
The deal isn’t supposed to be centered around Seth Smith. The main piece is what the Rockies will or won’t include. Wren insists on Wheeler, Blackmon or Fowler included in a potential deal. I don’t see why Braves fan think this is a 1 for 1 deal.
I don’t think we see at as a 1 for 1 deal . But Wren has clearly stated on several occasions that he is wanting a young RH bat to play in LF . Other than Fowler , the others don’t qualify . I agree with 14Rocks that we are more likely to see a trade we haven’t heard about yet . We have enough talent in the Farm System to add to a package with either Prado or Jurrjens to get something of significance back . Especially something better than some of the players we have been linked too (Smith-Col , Stubbs-Cincy , Young-Tigers , Jones-Orioles) .
Going by what Wren has stated in several interviews , Smith is not on the Braves wishlist . Not saying that he wouldn’t be put into a trade with the Rockies . But he wouldn’t be the centerpiece . I really don’t like the trade . Prado would hold more value to us than Smith would be be able to give us . If Chipper , Uggla , Freeman go down to injury , Prado can step in as he has played servicable defense at those positions . Smith is great against RH pitchers . But that doesn’t fill those other positions .
But the point of the trade is the value that it would return, depending on who is or isn’t included with Smith. It’s really not about him but whether or not COL is willing to deal one of the CFs in their organization.