| Newsbreakers |
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| Jays' GM J.P. Ricciardi stated that he is not interested in free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: Furcal would be a strong addition to the Jays' middle infield, but this is to be expected, as Ricciardi previously mentioned that the Jays were going to be idle in free agency, other than to try to retain hurler AJ Burnett. |
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| The Athletics remain in pursuit of landing Rafael Furcal, according to the SF Chronicle. |
Our View: The club viewed his medical reports, which show his back has fully recovered. The A's would likely be able to sign him for a favorable price and he wouldn't cost draft picks. |
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| At least six MLB clubs are interested in free agent reliever Joe Beimel, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. His agent (Joe Sroba) said, "Across the board, things are starting to pick up some. That's to be expected after the signings (namely Jeremy Affeldt and Damaso Marte)."
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Our View: It is believed that the Tigers, Cardinals, Mets, and Rockies are among the interested clubs, but it remains unknown if any offered him a deal. |
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| The Cubs are reportedly interested in Rafael Furcal, according to the Hot Stove Blog on MLB.com. |
Our View: Furcal's agent (Paul Kinzer) noted that talks with Chicago have not been serious as of yet. The Giants and Athletics are believed to be the top contenders for the productive shortstop. |
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| Derek Lowe's agent (Scott Boras) is telling interested teams that he is looking for a Zito-type deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: Barry Zito inked a seven-year deal with the Giants last season worth $126 million. Lowe is 35, but Boras called him he safest bet among all free agent hurlers. |
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| The Tigers have shown interest in signing free-agent reliever Joe Beimel, according the Detroit Free-Press. |
Our View: Beimel is a hot commodity this off-season. There are several teams interested. There is good reason for that too, he was 5-1 with an ERA of 2.02 in 71 appearances. |
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| Newsday reports that the Yankees may make an offer to free agent pitcher Derek Lowe soon. |
Our View: The Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets, and Rangers are among the other clubs believed to be interested in signing Lowe. He would be a solid addition to any of these clubs, as he pitched 211 innings in 2008, with a strong 1.13 WHIP. |
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| Free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal has gotten the strongest interest from the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's, and that he is looking to sign a deal before the Winter Meetings, which start December 8, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Along with the two Bay-area squads, Furcal's former team, the Dodgers, as well as St. Louis were said to be among the teams who were the most interested in signing him. It will likely take a deal around four-years and $40 million to get it done. |
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| Pitcher Eric Stults could be a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting rotation in 2008, according to Dodgers.com. |
Our View: Stults was a fairly effective hurler in his seven starts for L.A. this season, posting a 2-3 record, but with a 3.49 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. He also had a complete game shutout and struck out thirty in 38.2 innings. He could be someone for fantasy owners to consider in the late rounds of deep mixed league drafts. |
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| ESPN.com reports the Red Sox were ready to formally suspend Manny Ramirez before trading him to Los Angeles in July, even delivering a letter to him after his refusal to play in a game. |
Our View: Manny's problems during his last days in Boston are well documented, but from rumored free agent offers it seems unlikely that his wallet will be impacted. |
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| The Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Braves may make an offer to Derek Lowe now that their proposal to land Jake Peavy is dead. |
Our View: Lowe is not in the same class as Peavy, but would still be a strong addition to the Braves' rotation, as he held a 1.13 WHIP over 211 innings for the NL West champion Dodgers in 2008. The Braves may also target AJ Burnett or Ryan Dempster. |
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| Joe Beimel will likely be on the Cardinals' radar as they are looking to add quality lefty relievers to improve their bullpen, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: Beimel enjoyed a solid campaign for the AL West champion Dodgers in 2008, as he nailed down five wins, while maintaining a 2.02 ERA over 49 innings of relief. |
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| The Minnesota Twins have submitted framework of an offer to Casey Blake and his agent Jim McDowell, according to MLB.com. McDowell did not discuss the specifics of what the Twins sent him. |
Our View: Blake is reportedly looking for a three-year deal and could really help the Twins offensively, as they struggled last season. This was evident when they were shutout by the White Sox in a one-game playoff for the AL Central title. |
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| The Dodgers have pulled their offer for Manny Ramirez, according to MLB.com. The Dodgers will continue to negotiate with Manny and his agent, Scott Boras. |
Our View: This isn't a huge deal because Ramirez was unlikely to sign the contract anyways. Boras has stated that they are looking for a five or six year deal, and certainly won't sign for under three. |
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| Rafael Furcal has interested about 10 teams, according to MLB.com. Furcal's agent, Paul Kinzer, has said that the Cardinals, who have a hole at shortstop, have not inquired about his client. |
Our View: Furcal's back trouble will make some general managers anxious, but with top-tier shortstops being a rarity on the free agent market, it might not affect Furcal's contract too much with so many interested clubs. |
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| The Yankees are set to pursue Derek Lowe and may attempt to outbid their rivals the Red Sox for him, according to Sports Illustrated. |
Our View: The Yankees are trying to scoop up all of the top starting pitchers that they can. Being patient last season and not trading for Johan Santana may have cost them the playoffs, and the Yankees appear to be abandoning the wait-and-see approach just as quickly as they adopted it. |
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| The Giants are very interested in free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal, according to the Mercury News. |
Our View: Signing Furcal, or one of the other free agent shortstops, would allow the Giants to move Emmanuel Burriss to second base, where he would compete with Kevin Frandsen for playing time. |
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| Brad Penny is reportedly on the Jays' radar in case they cannot bring back AJ Burnett, according to the Globe and Mail. |
Our View: The health of Penny's shoulder remains a concern for the Dodgers, which is why they declined his 2009 option. Toronto could be looking to sign him at a value price if their bid to keep Burnett is unsuccessful. |
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| There have been rumors that the Orioles were interested in trading for Manny Ramirez, but the Baltimore Sun states that every Oriole official they have talked to has denied the report of being in the bidding for the outfielder. |
Our View: Ramirez would be a great addition to the Orioles' lineup, but the team has more pressing needs, such as pitching help. |
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| GM Jim Bowden denies the report that the Nationals are targeting Manny Ramirez, according to FOX Sports. Bowden simply stated, "We are not pursuing Manny Ramirez."
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Our View: The Nationals are still looking for a left-handed slugger, and they are pursuing free agents Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn and Prince Fielder. |
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| The Braves would be interested in signing Rafael Furcal if they acquire Jake Peavy, according to Fox Sprots. |
Our View: The Braves never really wanted to let Furcal go in the first place, but they didn't think they could afford to keep him while being in a rebuilding mode. Furcal's back trouble is the only real concern in signing him. |
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| The Oakland A's have serious interest in acquiring shortstop Rafael Furcal in free agency, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. |
Our View: Furcal wants a four-year deal, and he'll likely get around $10 million per year, and with his recent back trouble, he could be a risk, especially for a small market team. |
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| The Los Angeles Angels may be in pursuit of free agent slugger Manny Ramirez, according to the L.A. Times. "At the end of the day, you want people who can hit, and he may be one of top right-handed hitters ever," said Angels owner Artie Moreno. |
Our View: Ramirez will be courted by a number of teams, and the Angels certainly have the cash to go after Ramirez. He and Vladimir Guerrero would be a potent right-handed duo. |
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| The Boston Red Sox have already spoken to Scott Boras, the agent for free agent pitcher Derek Lowe, according to the Boston Globe. |
Our View: Boston is apparently Lowe's preferred team, so the feeling seems to be mutual. The question is how much the Red Sox are willing to spend on the 35-year-old. |
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| The Dodgers' deal for Manny Ramirez has a third-year option that could raise the value of the contract to $60 million, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: The option for 2011 in the initial offer is believed to be worth $22.5 million and can be bought out for $7.5 million. The future Hall of Famer would earn $15 million in 2009 and $22.5 million in 2010.
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| After seeing what Manny Ramirez did for the Dodgers last year, Nationals GM Jim Bowden is promising everyone his team will be players in the bidding for the outfielder, according to Yahoo! Sports' Tim Brown. |
Our View: We have also learned recently that the Marlins intend to make a play on Manny, but frankly, we believe neither team has much of a chance at him. |
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| The Marlins could make a run at Manny Ramirez, according to the Palm Beach Post. Ramirez has received an offer from the Dodgers, but Manny's agent, Scott Boras, said the contract isn't long enough. |
Our View: The Marlins' pursuit of Manny near the deadline was surprising, and going after him now makes even less sense given the team's financial constraints. It would be a huge shocker to see him land in South Beach. |
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| The Minnesota Twins are interested in signing free agent third baseman Casey Blake to add power to their team, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. |
Our View: Blake will likely get a three-year deal from someone. He hit 21 home runs and drove in 81 to go with a .274 average. |
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| The Dodgers' offer for Manny Ramirez may not be long enough to keep him, according to the LA Times. His agent (Scott Boras) made it clear Thursday that the contract the Dodgers offered Ramirez isn't long enough. |
Our View: The Dodgers offered $45 million over two years, and Ramirez is reportedly seeking a six-year deal. The Dodgers' efforts to re-sign him looks to be a long drawn-out process. |
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| Rafael Furcal covets a four-year contract, according to the LA Times. |
Our View: There has been enough interest garnered in him that he feels he could land a four-year deal, despite missing 126 games in 2008 due to injuries, namely his back. The Dodgers are believed to only be interested in offering him a two-year deal. Oakland is displaying strong interest, but it remains to be seen if they will offer him a deal that satisfies him. |
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| Oakland is displaying strong interest in shortstop Rafael Furcal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. |
Our View: Oakland finished last in the AL in on-base percentage in 2008 and last in the leadoff spot, and adding Furcal would provide a significant boost to their production. |
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| Jeff Kent has filed for free agency, according to the Dodgers' official website. |
Our View: The 40-year-old is best suited to serve as a designated hitter at this point of his career, and may ultimately decide to retire if he can't find a suitable fit with a team. |
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| Updating a previous report, the L.A. Times reports that the Dodgers offered Manny Ramirez a two or three year deal at $25 million per season. It is believed that agent Scott Boras is seeking a six-year deal. |
Our View: Manny will land a massive deal somewhere and the Dodgers appear to be one of the front-runners for his services. Expect these negotiations to go on for a while as Boras will seek out the maximum amount of money out there. |
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| Pitcher Greg Maddux won his record 18th Gold Glove on Wednesday, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Maddux has won five Gold Gloves in a row, and 18 in a 19-year span. He is set to retire soon, and when he does he will go down as the best fielding pitcher of all time. |
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| MLB.com reports that Scott Boras met with Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti regarding free agent left fielder Manny Ramirez on Tuesday night at the General Managers Meetings and proclaimed on Wednesday that he was finished with the Dodgers for these meetings, which end on Thursday. "Our discussions were largely foundational and preliminary," the agent said.
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Our View: Ramirez is about to get rich. Real rich. The Dodgers figure to be one of the front-runners for his services. |
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| The AP reports that the Los Angeles Dodgers have notified Brad Penny they will buy out his contract option for next season, making the former All-Star Game starter a free agent. Penny started 17 games last season and missed significant time because of a sore shoulder. Late-season tests showed no structural damage in the shoulder. He left the club in late September, so was absent for its playoff run, further souring his relationship with Dodgers management. |
Our View: While Penny was due only $9.25 million in 2009 and twice won 16 games for the Dodgers, most recently in 2007, the player and the team were at odds late in the season over the club’s refusal to negotiate an extension. He has some value, and he'll likely sign a one-year deal in hopes of proving himself worthy of a richer long-term deal. |
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| The Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox are Derek Lowe's top choice of team's he would like to sign with this winter. |
Our View: Lowe probably wants a five year deal and it's unlikely Boston will offer that long of a deal. He was 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Dodgers last season. |
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| Casey Blake will be looking for a three-year deal in the off-season, according to Yahoo! Sports. |
Our View: He is 35 years old, but is viewed as the best third baseman available on the market. The Dodgers would like to have him back, as would the Indians. |
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| Dodgers' GM Ned Colletti stated that the rumor that Russell Martin is on the trading block is not true, according to the LA Times. The team is also not going to move him to third base, which was also part of the rumor. |
Our View: Martin is one of only a few elite catchers in the majors, and it did seem odd that the team would intend to trade him or move him to third. |
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| Shortstop Rafael Furcal has filed for free-agency and the Detroit Tigers have said that they will have some interest in the shortstop, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Even though Furcal did not have a huge 2008, he will see a big contract coming his way. |
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| Gary Bennett had his contract bought out by the Dodgers for $50,000, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: Bennett had a terrible year, which was plagued by Plantar fasciitis. He shouldn't be fantasy relevant next year either. |
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| Peter Gammons of ESPN states the Dodgers intend to either trade Russell Martin or move him to third base. |
Our View: There is speculation that the Dodgers are interested in free agent catcher Jason Varitek. If Martin is to be traded there are several potential suitors, such as the Blue Jays and Phillies. |
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| The Mets are reported to be interested in setup man Joe Beimel, according to Fox Sports. |
Our View: Beimel was very effective for the Dodgers last year, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.02 ERA in 71 games. The Mets' bullpen will be a big focus for them this offseason as many collapses likely cost them a playoff spot last season. They are also interested in K-Rod, Brian Fuentes, and Kerry Wood to replace Bill Wagner in the closer role. Wagner had Tommy John surgery near the end of last season, and will most likely miss all of 2009. |
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| Greg Maddux is likely to retire, according to the New York Post. "He hasn't made a final decision, but for now it is doubtful he will play (any longer)," Boras said at the GM Meetings. "As it stands now, he is not going to play." |
Our View: He is the eighth winningest pitcher in Major League history and a certain Hall of Famer. He had lost a lot of his fantasy value in recent years and it seems entirely possible that he shows up as a pitching coach sometime in his retirement. |
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| Shortstop Rafael Furcal filed for free agency on Monday, according to The Sports Network. |
Our View: An injured back cost Furcal a majority of the 2008 season, but when healthy, the 31-year-old hit .357 with five homers and 16 RBI in 36 games. He went on to play well in the playoffs, which likely relaxed the minds of a lot of GMs who were thinking of offering him a contract this season. |
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| Chan Ho Park has filed for free agency, according to MLB.com. |
Our View: The 35-year-old held a 3.40 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 54 games in 2008. He worked mainly as a reliever, and has made it clear he would like to start. |
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