Let's run through some late-night Central links …
- A Twins official tells LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune that the club is "not sure" about whether it will sign another starter after agreeing to terms on a new deal with Mike Pelfrey. "Maybe if it makes sense," the official said. "We still have some things to address." Minnesota reportedly has strong interest in Bronson Arroyo.
- While the Indians have been quiet so far this winter, the club's biggest moves last offseason didn't come until after the Winter Meetings, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes in a reader mailbag column. The Nick Swisher deal was announced in January, while Michael Bourn wasn't signed until February.
- White Sox Manager Robin Ventura says he's excited to see what new acquisitions Adam Eaton and Jose Dariel Abreu bring to the club's lineup, which should look different in 2014, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports. GM Rick Hahn has indicated the Sox still need to decide whether to try and swap outfielders Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo for help at third base and catcher.
- Charlie Morton tells Jim Lachimia of MLB.com that his confidence in the Pirates organization was the biggest factor in agreeing to sign a three-year, $21MM extension earlier this week.
- Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review doesn't expect the Pirates to open 2014 with Gaby Sanchez as their full-time first baseman, noting his struggles with right-handed pitching (career .700 OPS). While some fans have been frustrated to watch the Pirates stand pat as names such as Mike Morse and James Loney come off the board, Starkey says the club's front office has earned trust after its recent run of success with free agent signings.
Ike Davis
Say no to smoak . Moreland or Lind get it done neil
No way I’d overpay for Lind. He has free agency on the horizon too. They’re going to trade for someone controllable like Smoak or Moreland. Plus, those two are the most expendable by their respective teams.
I don’t mind the thought of Ike Davis either, but they have to buy low if they go that route. There’s no way I’m trading much more than Justin Wilson in any of these scenarios.
Lind has an option and probably wouldn’t cost that much. I don’t think the Twins have what the Blue Jays want though.
Twins still in Bronson Arroyo?? Nice thAt would be a good rotation
Arroyo/Nolasco/Hughes/Correia/Pelfrey/Deduno
The most mediocre rotation in all of baseball
I believe that would describe the Twins rotation since Jack Morris left…
The Johan Satana / Francisco Liriano days were at least meh. Lol.
Mediocre is better than last year.
no lefty’s thats not good in the AL
ouch
It’s amazing how aggressive Twins have been on the SP front, but these are all backend starters. They really should trade Mauer at this point and except the fact that their rebuilding era doesn’t need to be paying a $20M+ Catcher. Just my thoughts.
Well, he isn’t going to catch anymore, so finding a trading partner for a 1B with limited power might be a tad difficult.
He’s their franchise player whose value is at an all time low. Trading him would accomplish nothing but ire from the fans.
I’ve been saying the same thing for two years now. They are in denial about it. The Twins are four or five years away from being a playoff threat. That’s how far they have to go. Should have dealt Mauer before moving him to first base. No rebuilding team carries a $20M salary if they can help it. If you have a player worth that much you trade him for as many prospects as you can so that you can jump start rebuilding effort. Terry Ryan is not that good of a GM in my opinion.
mets flores to cws for de aza ike to pirates for a ss
Aren’t the Pirates having their own problems with the shortstop position? Hence their signing of Clint Barmes once again….
Barmes was the 2nd best defensive SS in baseball in 2013. That doesn’t really scream “problem,” now does it?
Especially since he was re-signed on a very reasonable contract.
Random note, but it links to the wrong Adam Eaton. I bet 2 players having the same name gets really irritating for the writers.
Adam is that you? Oh sorry, wrong guy.. I went to high school with a guy named Adam Roy
The same problem happens with Chris Young, it’s a software issue.
They keep on getting it wrong, too. Maybe it’s not MLBTR . . . Rick Hahn better check his paperwork. The Sox do have a history of trading for the wrong guy . . . Jeff Barry?
Danny back to 3B and Aza in LF.
wouldve rather had garza or arroyo to pelfrey especally at that price. I guarantee no one else offered pelf a second year
Pirate fans are spewing all kinds of insanity about signing this player or that player and how the team just isn’t trying… etc… The fastest way back to mediocrity is overspending on middle-of-the-road free agents. Loney is a poor addition to this team because he offers no upside. WYSIWYG with Loney. You’ve got a light-hitting, good-glove 1B. The Pirates need to acquire or sign guys with upside. Every move they make should have the possibility of implosion. No risk, no reward.
In order to compete, upside should be their highest priority at 1B. Loney wasn’t the answer. Paying the Blue Jays reported price for Lind is not the answer. They have internal options with bigger upside than Loney. If they can’t acquire a 1B without using their Top 10 prospects (Ike or Smoak), they need to stand pat and give the Lambo/Gaby platoon a try to start the season. Lambo’s earned the shot. He’s got nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. Personally, I’d love to see them roll the dice with Lambo or go after Smoak. If the Mariners want to sell low on Smoak despite his flourish to finish the 2012 season, he’s worth the lotto ticket.
I think you’re undervaluing Loney as a player. His glove and OBP is a difference maker and would have fit in well with the Pittsburgh style of play; especially at the modest salary he ultimately commanded.
I can see how you read that into my comment, but I actually value Loney quite highly. He just doesn’t fit the Pirates need, which is a power bat in the middle of the lineup between Cutch and Alvarez. That’s a gaping whole right now. And the only way they’ll be able to pay what they want and find that bat is to tab someone with the potential to be that player… Loney doesn’t fill that void. As much as I would have liked Loney in a Pirates’ uniform, they need to allocate that money to a different kind of player.
ah, i see, thank you for the clarification.
however, do you really think what Pittsburgh really needs is power? Haven’t the past few years shown us that you don’t need to put balls over the fence to be competitive anymore? That things like defense and OBP are more valuable to a team on an everyday basis?
If the Sox trade De Aza and Viciedo for 3B/C help, then they’ll need LF help. Still a razor thin team at the ML level (minors too) although they’ve carefully added some quality players since July.
The article should probably say De Aza OR Viciedo. Hahn has given indication that he may now trade one of those because of the logjam. Wouldn’t make sense to trade them both at this point.
I’d like the White Sox to try to get Middlebrooks for De Aza and bullpen help. Especially if the Red Sox resign Drew. Still would like them to pursue Conger on the Angels at catcher, not sure what it would take.
I like Axford and he is an upgrade over Perez .We still need a starter but Cleveland has addressed most of their problems .We are looking good boys