MLB rumors

some rumors floating around....anyone think that any of these have any substance?

1. The Rangers want Broussard from the Mariners.

2. The Dodgers are interested in Aaron Rowand. They would rather have Rowand than Torri Hunter because of price.

3. The Cubs are interested in Louis Castillo and/or Kaz Matsui to play second next year. They are also going to push hard for Kosuke Fukudome, a left handed hitting outfielder that is supposed to be the next Ichiro.

4. Reggie Sanders has reportedly said he will retire unless he can reach a deal with the Dodgers, Giants, or Padres.

 

And no one will give a shit when he retires

 

this is very true.....

 

a few new rumors floating around

It's beenknown for a few days now that the Red Sox like the idea of adding Kerry Wood as their setup man. Sullivan confirms the interest, and quotes Cubs GM Jim Hendry saying Wood is "getting a lot of action around the industry." In a pitching-starved market, teams will convince themselves Wood can stay healthy and dominant. Sullivan speculates that it could take multiple years at $5MM per. To see a team go 3/15 would not shock me.
Kaz Matsui is still on the Cubs' radar for a three-year deal. They could consider using him at shortstop or second base. Two days ago Tracy Ringolsby had said Matsui "appeared headed to the Astros," but Ken Rosenthal chimed in noting the Cubs and Rockies are ahead of Houston in the Matsui derby. Hendry met with Matsui yesterday, but no deal is imminent.
A left-handed hitting outfielder remains on Hendry's wish list. Carl Crawford hasn't yet been made available according to Sullivan, but the Cubs will surely look into it if he is. Kosuke Fukudome remains a possibility as well.
The Cubsexpect to increase payroll beyond last year's $110MM.

 

If I was Theo, I'd sign up for 3 years of Kerry Wood at 15 million dollars all day long. Fuck, I really hope that happens.

 

I'd just as quickly take Mike Timlin on a season-by-season basis.


So, do you trade Buccholz, Lester and Crisp for Santana, if the Twinkies would go for that?

I'd be happy one way or the other. Happier still if Theo could somehow keep Buccholz and package Lester, Crisp and Bowden and/or Masterson, although that seems unlikely. A 2009 rotation of Beckett, Santana, Matsuzaka, Buccholz and ??? would whip the shit out of that ass.

other grumblings have the Sox possibly trading for Dan Haren. I'm sure he could be had for less than Santana.

 

I think that I would prefer to let Lester go instead of Bucholz. If they can get Santana for a fair price - which is gonna be steep in terms of prospects - I just feeel that they have to do it. He has been the best pitcher in baseball over the last 5-7 years.

Isn't Haren always hurt?

 

they'd definitely have to pay for Santana, in terms of prospects and salary. They'll want an established player (Crisp, with Hunter leaving, is an obvious choice, expecially since he has a cheap contract) and two major-league ready prospects or three prospects. Twins have the upper hand because you gotta believe there are probably four other teams who would get in on the bidding (Yankees, Angels, Dodgers, Cubs). Yanks, Angels and Dodgers all have more to offer than the Sox, which tells me the Sox. Moneywise, if Zito is worth $18 mill (he's not, but that's what he's getting), Santana will command at least $20. question is, how many years do you go? Beckett's signed through 2010 (with the club option), at which point he'll only be 30. If he produces like he has been with the Sox throughout the next three seasons, he'll be due a huge payday. But, Manny, and Lowell and maybe Lugo and Drew will be gone by then.

haren may have been injured part of this year. You may be thinking of Rich Harden.

 

Santana's trade value is through the roof but it's all if the club that gets him can get him to sign a long term deal. The Yankees have some prospects that could get the job done for sure and they have to be team to watch. The Mets need to make a move. Santana would put them back as the team to beat in the NL East IMO. I hate the Mucking Fets but keep an eye on them with regards to Santana. The Twins will get more for him now than at the trading deadline. Minnesota could completly revamp their roster as the result of a Santana deal. If Boston were to get him, they would have to give up a lot of their young pitching and I don't know that they are willing to do that.

 

The Brewers have signed Jason Kendall, pending a physical. The amount and length is unknown. Let's hope it's around one year, $3MM. Tom Haudricourt had said the Crew had offered both one and two-year options.
Kendall, 33, hit .242/.301/.309 last year in 466 ABs. On the plus side he was a much better hitter for the Cubs, posting a .362 OBP in that stint. He threw out 15.3% of runners, better than only Johnny Estrada among regular backstops in '07. He's going to really have to work some magic with the pitchers if this signing is to pan out.
With Kendall off the market,the only viable free agent catchers are Michael Barrett, Paul Lo Duca, and Yorvit Torrealba. Seems like the Marlins and Rockies will take two of them.

It sounds like the Yankees would discuss Phil Hughes and the Red Sox might part with one of Ellsbury/Lester/Buchholz to acquire Johan Santana. The acquiring team would need an extension window though. The Mets are in on Santana big-time and would have to give up Carlos Gomez and then some. If the Twins do trade Santana, they would probably hang onto Matt Garza. But otherwise Garza could be traded for a young hitter, as we've been hearing.