Hot Stove Rumors from ESPN Insider

Somebody please just shoot me
Dodgers join Abreu talks
Dec 7 - The Phillies and Dodgers have discussed a deal that would send Bobby Abreu and possibly third baseman David Bell to L.A. for pitcher Derek Lowe or pitcher Brad Penny, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The two teams are expected to meet again Wednesday.
According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, the Phillies and Blue Jays explored a potential Abreu-for-Vernon Wells swap at the GM meetings, and those discussions have resumed at the winter meetings. But since the Phillies want pitching if they trade Abreu, the names of Miguel Batista and Gustavo Chacin also might have to be tossed into the conversation.

The Red Sox (possibly for Matt Clement and Trot Nixon) and Astros (potentially for Brandon Backe and Chad Qualls) also are showing renewed interest in Abreu.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that the Cubs learned Monday that they would need to include pitcher Mark Prior in any deal for Abreu.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Edgar Renteria
Red Sox Braves Three-way deal is 'dead'
Dec 7 - The Devil Rays have effectively killed a proposed three-way deal that would have sent Renteria to Atlanta, Julio Lugo to Boston and highly regarded third-base prospect Andy Marte to Tampa Bay, reports ESPN's Peter Gammons.
According to Gammons, the Devil Rays want more than Marte. "It is all but dead," said one official.

Earlier, the Boston Globe had reported that the Red Sox were moving aggressively to trade Renteria, who had fallen out of favor in Boston after a 30-error season. According to the Globe, Tampa Bay would have received Marte and another player.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Lyle Overbay
Brewers Angels?
Red Sox?
Orioles?
Blue Jays?
Pirates?
Red Sox? Blue Jays, Brewers talkin' swap
Dec 7 - Milwaukee and Toronto are discussing a deal that would send first baseman Lyle Overbay to the Blue Jays for infielder Shea Hillenbrand and pitcher David Bush, a source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.
Overbay hit .276 with 19 homers last year in Milwaukee. By moving Overbay, the Brewers would free up first base for top prospect Prince Fielder. Hillenbrand would be a defensive liability at first base, but he's a .288 career hitter. He hit 18 homers and drove in 82 runs for the Blue Jays last season.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Juan Pierre
Marlins Cubs
Dodgers?
Yankees?
Rangers? The last Fish
Dec 7 - According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, the Marlins have tentatively agreed on a four-player deal that would send Juan Pierre to the Cubs for three young pitchers -- Sergio Mitre and prospects Renyel Pinto and Ricky Nolasco.
The deal is pending physicals examinations.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Barry Zito
Athletics Rangers
Dodgers Serious offers only
Dec 7 - The Mets have inquired about the possibility of signing Barry Zito to an extension as part of any trade with the Athletics, Newsday reports.
According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the A's never considered sending trading Zito to the Dodgers as was previously reported earlier this week.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Mark Grudzielanek
Cardinals Royals?
Mets?
Red Sox?
Cardinals
Rangers? Still in the Cards
Dec 7 - After pitcher A.J. Burnett signed with the Blue Jays, the Cardinals turned their attention toward re-signing second baseman Mark Grudzielanek, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Grudzielanek's contract, according to the newspaper, stipulates the Cardinals may not offer him arbitration. He is seeking a two-year deal for about $3 million per season.

If the Mets hope to sign Grudzielanek, they'll need to trade Kaz Matsui, even though Grudzielanek has offered to backload a multiyear deal until Matsui comes off the books, the New York Daily News reports.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Matt Morris
Cardinals Cardinals
Giants
Mariners?
Dodgers?
Rangers He might be a Giant
Dec 7 - Cards GM Walt Jocketty met Tuesday with Matt Morris's agent, Barry Axelrod, but it appears the veteran right-hander is leaning toward accepting a two-year offer from the Giants, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The Giants' proposal is for more than $8 million a season, the newspaper reports.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram says the Rangers have pitched a three-year, $25 million offer.

The Phillies are believed to be re-examining the list of free-agent starters and now have interest in Morris, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Mark Loretta
Padres Red Sox Loretta-Mirabelli swap?
Dec 7 - The Red Sox are discussing a deal with the Padres that would send backup catcher Doug Mirabelli to San Diego for second baseman for Mark Loretta, the Boston Herald reports.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Adam Dunn
Reds Orioles Dunn available?
Dec 7 - The Orioles on Tuesday had discussions with the Reds about slugger Adam Dunn, The Baltimore Sun reports. Cincinnati reportedly is seeking a package that includes left-hander Erik Bedard.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Johnny Damon
Red Sox Red Sox
Yankees?
Cubs? Here's an offer, Johnny
Dec 7 - The Red Sox reportedly are on the verge of offering center fielder Johnny Damon a four-year deal worth $40 million, the Boston Herald reports.
But Damon's camp, the newspaper reports, now believes that Rafael Furcal's deal (an average of $13M per season with the Dodgers)is the new benchmark for leadoff hitters.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

David Wells
Red Sox Athletics
Angels NoCal OK for Wells?
Dec 7 - Boston may have a West Coast destination for David Wells. The Red Sox are considering a deal that would send Wells to Oakland for reliever Justin Duchscherer, The Boston Globe reports. Wells reportedly would prefer to return to San Diego.
If the Red Sox can strike a deal with the Dodgers, they reportedly are interested in 24-year-old right-handed reliever Jonathan Broxton, the Providence Journal reports.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Ramon Hernandez
Padres Rangers
Orioles
Diamondbacks? New Baltimore backstop?
Dec 7 - The Orioles have offered catcher Ramon Hernandez a four-year deal worth about $27 million, The Baltimore Sun reports. The Rangers reportedly also are serious about Hernandez.
According to The Washington Post, Hernandez could sign with the Orioles as soon as Wednesday.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Frank Thomas
White Sox Athletics?
Twins?
Angels? Oakland Big Hurt-ing?
Dec 7 - The A's are expected to sign right-handed slugger Frank Thomas, reports ESPN's Peter Gammons.
Oakland won't formally offer him a contract before Dec. 7 -- the deadline for teams to offer their own free agents salary arbitration.

According to The Baltimore Sun, the Orioles are considering offering Thomas a one-year, incentive-laden deal.

They Twins say they'll review Thomas's medical records before continuing negotiations, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Austin Kearns
Reds Cubs? Odd man out?
Dec 7 - The Cubs, who tried hard to pry Austin Kearns loose from the Reds at last July's trade deadline, are revisiting talks this winter, the Dayton Daily News reports. The Cubs are dangling pitchers -- including prospect Ricky Nolasco, starters Sergio Mitre and Jerome Williams, and reliever Todd Wellemeyer -- to the Reds for Kearns.
The Reds likely also will ask for prized Cubs prospect Rich Hill. "They'd probably have to hold our feet to the fire to get Hill," a Cubs official told the newspaper.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Mike Sweeney
Royals Angels Middle-of-the-order bat
Dec 7 - The Angels had conversations Tuesday with the Royals about first baseman Mike Sweeney, The Los Angeles Times reports.
The Royals reportedly asked for Casey Kotchman and minor-league shortstop Brandon Wood, whom the Angels aren't willing to deal.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Mike Piazza
Mets Twins
Angels Minny Piazza?
Dec 7 - In their quest for a DH with some power, the Twins are scheduled to meet Wednesday with Mike Piazza's agent, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
The Angels and Twins are among four teams interested in the 37-year-old slugger.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Javier Vazquez
Diamondbacks Cardinals
Mets?
Tigers
Nationals Meet halfway?
Dec 7 - The Cardinals are interested in Arizona starter Javier Vazquez, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Vazquez, who wants to play for an East Coast team, exercised his right to decline a trade to Detroit, thus killing what the Diamondbacks thought would be a blockbuster for center fielder Curtis Granderson and right-hander Joel Zumaya, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports.

Arizona GM Josh Byrnes says eight to 10 teams continued to have serious interest in Vazquez, The Arizona Republic reports. Any team interested in Vazquez would have to pick up the remainder of his salary, about $12M for each of the next two seasons.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Boston The finish line?
Dec 7 - According to the Boston Globe, Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino interviewed another candidate for the GM position: former Dodger GM Dan Evans. But the job still could go to Jim Beattie -- the word in MLB offices on Tuesday was that the job was Beattie's.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Larry Bigbie
Rockies Mariners
Cubs
Indians Bigbie knows his fate
Dec 7 - The Rockies will need to find another suitor for outfielder Larry Bigbie, as talks with the Mariners have fizzled, The Denver Post reports. Colorado was looking to send Bigbie to Seattle for catcher Yorvit Torrealba.
"I think it's pretty apparent they are going ahead with their plans, minus me," Bigbie, 28, told The Post. "They are going in a very young direction, so I think if you are going to go young, go all young."

The Rockies also had been in contact with the Indians about catcher Josh Bard.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jamie Moyer
Mariners Ancient Mariner?
Dec 7 - Seattle has made an offer to free-agent starter Jamie Moyer, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. And a decision is now in Moyer's hands, according to a club that has interest in Moyer.
For the second straight contract, the 43-year-old left-hander is handling his own negotiations, without an agent.

According to The Seattle Times, Moyer's biggest concern with the deal is how much of his 2006 salary is guaranteed and how much is incentive laden. The team is offering a base salary believed to be around $3 million, the newspaper reports.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Carl Everett
White Sox Mariners M's seek offensive spark
Dec 7 - The Mariners have engaged in substantive talks with Carl Everett, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports.
Everett's agent, Larry Reynolds, said a "few teams" are interested in his client, and a deal could be finalized by week's end.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Adam Eaton
Padres Rangers Eaton staying put
Dec 7 - The Rangers met with the Padres on Monday to discuss a deal involving Adam Eaton, but San Diego GM Kevin Towers decided he wanted to keep his young pitching, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
The proposed deal would have sent catcher Gerald Laird and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to the Padres for Eaton.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Kenny Rogers
Rangers Tigers
Padres? Surf's up
Dec 7 - Kenny Rogers is in serious discussions with the Padres about a free-agent contract, the Newark Star-Ledger reports.
The Tigers have interest in the 41-year-old left-hander as well, the Detroit Free Press reports.

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Brett Tomko
Giants Rangers Rangers moving on Tomko
Dec 7 - The Rangers have made an offer to pitcher Brett Tomko and are expected to meet with his agent, Scott Boras, on Wednesday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Kyle Lohse
Twins Orioles Nothing to Lohse
Dec 7 - The Orioles have interest in Twins starter Kyle Lohse, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. But Twins GM Terry Ryan says he's not actively shopping the arbitration-eligible right-hander because that likely would leave the team with two rookies in the starting rotation.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Nomar Garciaparra
Cubs Yankees?
Padres?
Dodgers?
Pirates?
Orioles
Diamondbacks
Indians? Anywhere but short, pitcher and catcher
Dec 7 - The Yankees are expected to meet Wednesday with Nomar Garciparra's agent, Arn Tellem, the New York Daily News reports. Tellem, according to The Washington Post, met with Orioles on Tuesday, but no contract specifics were discussed. Garciaparra's agent also met Tuesday with the Blue Jays, The Toronto Globe and Mail reports.
While there is no clear-cut roster spot for him, the Yankees are intrigued by Nomar Garciparra, The New York Times reports.

"Teams have asked him, in general, about the outfield, first base, second base," Garciaparra's agent, Arn Tellem, told the newspaper. "He's pretty open to any position other than catcher and pitcher."

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Trot Nixon
Red Sox Phillies
Mariners
Pirates Hot to Trot?
Dec 7 - The Red Sox are talking to the Pirates about a trade involving Trot Nixon for either Kip Wells or Mark Redman, The Hartford Courant reports.
WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

Jose Mesa
Pirates Rockies Check-up, sign-up
Dec 7 - Jose Mesa is expected to sign a deal with the Rockies as a late-inning reliever and part-time closer pending a physical examination, The Denver Post reports.

 

how can they even think of trading Nixon when it's more likely than not they're losing the other two-thirds of their starting lineup? and for Kip Wells OR Mark Redman? Who comes with this shit.

 

Who's this Skinny kid that everyone seems interested in anyway?