Here’s the latest from around the league as we wait for somebody to throw more wood in the hot stove.
- Closer Seung-Hwan Oh of the NPB’s Hanshin Tigers is still eyeing the majors, reports Hyun-Woo Nam of the Korea Times. The 32-year-old reliever is under contract with the Tigers for one more season after making the transition from Korea to Japan this year. Per MLBTR’s report last offseason, Oh works between 94-96 mph with a splitter. At the time, the Yankees were said to have expressed interest.
- Teams with depth could play a “big role” in the shape of the offseason, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Frequent readers of MLBTR will recognize the Cubs (position players), Dodgers (outfielders), and Red Sox (outfielders) as frequent sources of rumors. Sherman also highlights the White Sox who have a different sort of depth – three stars signed to fantastic contracts.
- Earlier tonight, Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune answered fan tweets on a number of Mariners subjects. Two may interest MLBTR readers. Dutton hears (tweet) that the Mariners have “some interest” in Melky Cabrera, but the outfielder prefers to remain in the East or Midwest. Meanwhile, he’s heard (also Twitter) nothing to suggest Seattle will check in on expensive free agent pitchers. This jives with other reports that cite a focus on offense.
Oh would the Yankees like to have him!
Even with Cervelli gone the Yankees still have a handsome amount of catching depth.
Even after all the previous catchers are Pirates.
Well, now we know the M’s have interest in every single decent free agent bat. If there were only points for that!
I wonder what the Mariners would give to Philly for Cole Hamels.
Amaro will probably ask for both Walker and Paxton to which the Mariners GM says never mind.
Hopefully something similar to the package they sent for Lee.
Sherman has an interersting idea of the Redsox trading Napoli and siging Laroach.
Trade Proposal? Both Napoli and Iwakuma are 1 year rentals
SEA gets: Napoli (5 of his 16million eaten) and Ranaudo
BOS gets: Iwakuma
Seattle has an eye on competing. The came within one hour winning a wild card shot this year. Why would they move their #2 SP?
Because he has value and they could buy a solid starter to replace him, whereas that may not be an option for a solid bat. I don’t think moving Iwakuma is likely either, but if they were to do so, I would hope they’d acquire a solid outfielder, rather than a first baseman. If Cespedes was the return, I’d feel differently.
I thought the idea of the Redsox trading Napoli and signing Laroach was interesting.
trade proposal
BOS gets: Elias
SEA gets: Napoli (Boston eats 6 of his 16mil)
This benefits the Mariners how? 1 year of an aging DH for 6 years of a cost controlled SP with a nice curveball? No thank you very much. I don’t think the M’s would move Diaz for Napoli at this time. The M’s can spend money and bring in a quality bat.
Yeah, I actually think Elias is a lot more important than a lot of people realize, because the M’s lack starter depth and he has options. If/when they find another starter, he gives them more flexibility.
What I have found interesting is that, five years ago, Boston HAD LaRoche for a cup of coffee (6 games) and dealt him for Casey Kotchmann. LaRoche was already a fairly well established player. I didn’t understand the move then…..still don’t.
I think the only way the Ms go after one of the big FA pitchers is if they trade for a cost controlled hitter. I doubt we will see that type of maneuvering though, because it’s a lot safer to just go and spend to bolster the offense.
I agree, but I could see the M’s having better luck landing a free agent an arm, than signing a free agent bat. I think it’s likely we’ll see a couple of trades before the end of the year.
Brad, you mean to write that the Seattle rumor “jibes” with other such reports.
“Oh works between 94-96 mph with a splitter”
I didn’t know that. I’d be interested in Oh as a RP. It may be a bit risky but it sounds like he’s got sure fire stuff to shut down the batting order in the 8th or 9th inning.