One AL East player has avoided arbitration in designated hitter David Ortiz, and another is close in reliever Casey Janssen. The latest from the division:
- "Vladimir Guerrero has made it known to the Yankees that he wants their DH spot," tweets ESPN's Buster Olney, but Raul Ibanez remains the frontrunner. Ibanez had a slightly worse 2011 season, but the Yankees seem to prefer his left-handed bat.
- The Cubs and Red Sox submitted briefs regarding the Theo Epstein compensation issue, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, and a decision could come this week.
- Red Sox GM Ben Cherington told WEEI after the Ortiz settlement that he doesn't expect any major moves between now and when pitchers and catchers report Sunday, but added, "We're still working on some stuff." WEEI's Rob Bradford hears there's still no traction with Roy Oswalt.
- Orioles executive director of international recruiting Fred Ferreira will still fly to the Dominican Republic this weekend to scout six Cuban players, including outfielder Jorge Soler, he told Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. The Orioles had interest in Yoenis Cespedes, but Ferreira isn't surprised or disappointed about not getting him.
- Matt Moore, Dylan Bundy, Manny Machado, Travis d'Arnaud, Jake Marisnick, Manny Banuelos, Xander Bogaerts, Gary Sanchez, Brandon Jacobs, Daniel Norris, Will Middlebrooks, Dellin Betances, Hak-Ju Lee, Anthony Gose, Jonathan Schoop, Noah Syndergaard, Ryan Lavarnway, and Mason Williams are the division's best prospects, based on Kevin Goldstein's recently-released top 101 prospects list for Baseball Prospectus. Jacobs, Norris, and Syndergaard didn't merit mentions on Keith Law's top 100 or his "just missed" list for ESPN. On the other hand, Law included Drew Hutchison, Chris Archer, Enny Romero, Mikie Mahtook, Taylor Guerrieri, Aaron Sanchez, and Blake Swihart on his list and Goldstein did not.
If Vlad really wants to go to the Yankees, he should sign for a 1-2 mil contract with incentives. I don’t think the Yankees will sign Vlad, but I wish they would
What are his current demands – the Yankees had made it clear who they’re interested in – but I hadn’t actually read what Vlad is looking to get.
He is looking to keep his facial hair. I can’t picture him without it.
I really want Matsui to come back, he never should have left. If I have to get a consolation price, then Johnny Damon.
Get over it man, these guys are shells of what they were.
If he can have the season he had with the Rangers 2 years ago, then sign him up. But I’m scared he’ll have an awful season like last year.
He played half his games where he ball absolutely flies because of the heat, and it also helps the body since you’re not having trouble getting loose in 75 degree weather in April as opposed to 40-50. Regardless, Vlad still puts fear in a lot of pitchers. He would be a nice sign for the Yankees if he can stay healthy.
umm…how did he have an awful year i dont understand why people keep saying that, he hit .290, his hr’s went down but hes old , his average was better then most of the hitters on the yankees
Ferreira isn’t surprised or disappointed about not getting him. Well he shouldn’t be, because I am almost 100% certain the Orioles didn’t even make an offer. So therefore, if you don’t make an offer, how in the world would you get Cespedes? A good comparison would be one hand clapping!
Vladimir Guerrero has made it known to the Yankees that he wants their DH spot. I can’t see Vlad playing for the Yankees. To be honest, I think he had his best games against them and the Red Sox. In fact I remember the sacrifice fly he hit to get the O’s into extra innings only to lose in like the 15th or something. The man can still hit and when he wants, he still has a very versatile swing. I wish the O’s would sign him again, but it simply won’t happen.
I wish I could say Roy Oswalt reads MLB Trade Rumors, I doubt it, but if he does, I wish he would sign with the Royals
He can still hit, he just cant walk, run, or field.
He still probably has a cannon, but I would be scared to see his frail legs roaming the outfield.
Probably has to do with the artificial turf he had to play on in Montreal all those years. That stuff beats the crap out of your knees.
Olympic stadium will probably go down as the worst field in modern history. Just the field alone was awful enough and then the turf factor.. it ruined Vlad, The Hawk’s knees also..
Those were 5 tool guys who could run when they 1st came up and that gawd awful turf literally killed them.
That place (Montreal) deserved to lose a team years before they did due to that awful stadium alone.
If the Yankees deal A.J., could they have the luxury of having both Vlad and Raul?
sure but Vlad doesn’t make any sense at all for the Yanks. He can’t field at all these days and the Yanks already got a great righty bench/DH bat in Andruw Jones. I think the Yanks will sign Damon or Ibanez and then finish their offseason shopping by signing Chavez to a minor league deal.
Why would they want 2 guys who are terrible OFers on their bench? Yes 1 would be the DH but then that leaves the other or Andruw Jones on the bench when he is not the DH as well. It makes much more sense for the Yankees to get Eric Chavez back (if they can) and maybe 1 of Vlad/Ibanez.
I wonder if the Red Sox & Cubs briefs are available anywhere. I’d love to see their arguments about Theo’s value and what they should get/give up.
and then i’d love to see Selig’s reasons for getting it so terribly wrong… which is about the only thing everybody can agree on at this point…
and then i’d love to see Selig’s reasons for getting it so terribly wrong… which is about the only thing everybody can agree on at this point…
I am sure their briefs read (aprox.) as follows:
Sox: We place Theo’s value at the Matt Garza level….
Cubs: We place Theo’s value at the Wrigleyville Rooftop Peanut Vendor level….
Fairly certain they will be made to settle somewhere in between.
When was the last time the whitesox had a top 100 prospect? I honestly don’t remember if beckham and sale were top 100.
I’d really like to see the Twins sign Vlad. A right-handed, power hitting bench player would make sense in Target Field.