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Angels Close To Deal With LaTroy Hawkins

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The Angels are close to signing LaTroy Hawkins, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. This matches up with comments made earlier today by GM Jerry Dipoto, indicating the Angels were moving toward shoring up their bullpen. The deal is expected to be for one year, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

The Brewers also have interest in Hawkins, who posted a 2.42 ERA in 48 1/3 innings for Milwaukee in 2011.

Diamondbacks Willing To Deal Prospects

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Although GM Kevin Towers was reluctant to move any prospects at this year's July trade deadline, he's coming around on the idea this winter, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Towers said today that he'd be willing to deal from the farm system in an effort to strengthen the big league club for another playoff run.

"We see an opportunity in the next couple of years, and this is just our eyes, the way we view it," Towers said. "This is probably an opportune time to hopefully stay on top if we make the right moves and are able to make our club better, even if it means giving up prospects."

Earlier today, we heard that the Diamondbacks had discussed acquiring Gio Gonzalez or Trevor Cahill from the Athletics.

Red Sox Increase Two-Year Offer To Ortiz?

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8:27pm: Ortiz said tonight that he hadn't heard about an increase to Boston's two-year offer, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI. Ortiz officially accepted arbitration, though the two sides could still work out a multiyear agreement.

7:22pm: With tonight's arbitration deadline looming, the Red Sox have boosted their two-year contract offer to David Ortiz, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com. McAdam says the new offer increases the $18MM figure the Sox previously proposed, but still falls slightly short of $20MM, meaning Ortiz is unlikely to accept it.

With numerous reports indicating Ortiz has decided to accept Boston's offer of arbitration, the 36-year-old will be in line for a raise over last year's $12.5MM salary on a one-year deal. If Ortiz accepts arb, the Sox would be less likely to continue pursuing a multiyear deal, a source tells McAdam.

Other Red Sox notes:

  • If the Sox are paying Ortiz upwards of $14-15MM next season, it's less likely they'll spend on a closer or outfielder, tweets ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.
  • Boston is close to signing Jesse Carlson to a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite, tweets McAdam.

Carlos Beltran Market Appears Thin

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Already today, we've heard that the Giants won't re-sign Carlos Beltran and that the Red Sox don't seem enthused about the outfielder. So it's no surprise that Jon Heyman of MLB Network says (via Twitter) the market for Beltran "appears very thin."

According to Heyman, teams are concerned about Beltran's medical records. The 34-year-old appeared in 142 games in 2011, but was limited to approximately that amount in 2009 and 2010 combined, due to knee problems.

Giants Won’t Re-Sign Beltran Or Ross

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The Giants won't re-sign Carlos Beltran or Cody Ross this winter, GM Brian Sabean told reporters, including John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Manager Bruce Bochy hinted as much, after yesterday's Angel Pagan acquisition, saying the Giants seemed "pretty set" in the outfield, writes Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.

"Simply put," Sabean said. "With Ross, we could never get on the same page. And Beltran, we knew it was going to be a stretch."

Here are some other Sabean highlights from Shea and Baggarly:

  • The Giants' payroll is maxed out. They'll have to decide whether to tender a contract to Jeff Keppinger or Mike Fontenot, since they can only afford to retain one. With the help of Matt Swartz, MLBTR projected Fontenot to earn about half as much as Keppinger, so Fontenot may have the edge.
  • Guillermo Mota is choosing between two different payout structures, but both Giants offers are for one year with a big league guarantee.
  • No other roster moves are expected besides non-tenders and minor league signings.
  • If the Giants hadn't traded Ramon Ramirez, they would have tendered him a contract.

Roy Oswalt Among Nationals’ Pitching Targets

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6:36pm: Rizzo told reporters, including Zuckerman, that the Nationals' "Plan B" after missing out on Buehrle could involve Oswalt or other free agents and trade candidates. He has talked to the Athletics about Gio Gonzalez.

5:20pm: The Nationals had hoped to sign Mark Buehrle, but their offer to the left-hander fell short in both years and average annual value, tweets Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. With Buehrle off the board, the Nats will switch their focus to Roy Oswalt, says Kilgore.

Kilgore reported in November that Oswalt was Washington's "Plan B" if the club couldn't land Buehrle. GM Mike Rizzo told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman) today that the Nationals aren't interested in other free agent pitchers, though Zuckerman clarifies that was before news of Buehrle's agreement broke (Twitter link). Oswalt is said to be seeking a three-year commitment.

AL Central Rumors: Navarro, Lillibridge, Wheeler

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A few of Wednesday's rumors from the AL Central:

  • The Royals are shopping Yamaico Navarro in an attempt to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for the Rule 5 draft, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. He names the Pirates, Mariners, and Astros as possible fits.
  • In their search for a utility infielder, the Royals are considering Edgar Renteria and several other players, tweets ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.
  • Brent Lillibridge has been the White Sox player drawing the most interest in Dallas, sources tells Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
  • The Indians talked to free agent reliever Dan Wheeler, but they don't consider the bullpen an area of need, tweets Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  • Indians GM Chris Antonetti won't make any moves in the Rule 5 draft, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian (Twitter link).

AL East Notes: Orioles, Red Sox, Crawford, Jays, Rays

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AL East updates:

  • Orioles GM Dan Duquette expects to make a deal or two tomorrow, according to Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com. The moves would likely be trades to obtain pitching, Ghiroli adds (Twitter links).
  • The Red Sox have no plans to try to trade Carl Crawford, writes WEEI's Alex Speier.
  • GM Ben Cherington and the Red Sox seem content to wait out the pitching market for bargains, says Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe.
  • The Red Sox didn't have "substantive conversations" with Erik Bedard before the lefty signed with the Pirates, tweets Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.
  • Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos says there's a "very select group" of players the team will consider in the Rule 5 draft tomorrow, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. The Jays will only clear a spot on their 40-man roster if they think they have a shot to acquire one of those players (all Twitter links).
  • Anthopoulos also said yesterday that he thinks the Blue Jays' ability to boost payroll has been "grossly exaggerated," writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. Team president Paul Beeston said the Jays could increase payroll to around $120MM eventually, but that they'd need to start drawing more fans first.
  • The Rays are still talking to free agents, but nothing is imminent, tweets Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. There may be mutual interest between Johnny Damon and the Rays for a reunion, tweets Newsday's Ken Davidoff.

NL West Rumors: K-Rod, Street, Volquez, Renteria

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Latest out of the NL West:

  • The Padres seemed to be making progress on a multiyear contract with Francisco Rodriguez, but it fell apart, tweets ESPN.com's Buster Olney. Presumably, having added Huston Street, the Padres don't have any more interest in K-Rod.
  • Speaking of Street, the Padres will receive $500K from the Rockies this year as a part of that deal, and another $500K if they don't pick up his 2013 option, tweets MLB.com's Corey Brock.
  • Street described the trade to the Padres as "bittersweet," writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
  • The delay in finalizing the Street deal occurred because the Rockies were close to sending him to the Reds for Edinson Volquez, tweets Renck.
  • The Giants appear set in the outfield, but are still seeking a right-handed bat in the infield, says Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. Edgar Renteria seems to be a "pretty major longshot."

Free Agent Notes: Saito, Ayoki, Guerrero, Kazmir

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Here are Wednesday's updates on a few players on the free agent market:

  • Takashi Saito's agent, Nez Balelo, says six to eight teams have shown interest in his client, who is open to playing in either league, tweets WEEI's Alex Speirer.
  • Balelo also tells Speier that Japanese outfielder and six-time NPB All-Star Norichika Aoki will be posted next Monday (Twitter link).
  • With milestones in reach, Vladimir Guerrero intends to keep playing, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network (on Twitter).
  • Scott Kazmir will make his Dominican Winter League debut with the Escogido Lions tonight, tweets Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes.

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