Hot Stove RUMORS Thread

[StuckOnYouk]

So the M's are looking for a 1-2 punch of Cano and Price in the next week or so. That would be pretty damn impressive if they could pull both things off.
 
King Felix, Price and Iwamura is a lethal 1-2-3. If they add Cano to that lineup and maybe another offensive piece they will make life difficult on some teams in the west.

 

[Wingack]

So the M's are looking for a 1-2 punch of Cano and Price in the next week or so. That would be pretty damn impressive if they could pull both things off.
 
King Felix, Price and Iwamura is a lethal 1-2-3. If they add Cano to that lineup and maybe another offensive piece they will make life difficult on some teams in the west.

 
 
Certainly they would be in the hunt given the extra wild card.

 

[Brianish]

How the hell does Jack Zduriencik keep convincing himself that his teams are one good player away from competing?

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

How the hell did he convince himself that signing Willie Bloomquist to a 2-year deal was a good idea?

 

[HriniakPosterChild]

 
Not a lot in recent years. A lot of their big acquisitions in the past 10 years or so have been huge busts.
 
Pre-2005 season: Signed Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre
Pre-2006 season: Gave decent money to Jarrod Washburn
Pre-2008 season: Traded a big package (including Adam Jones) to acquire Erik Bedard
Pre-2010 season: Unfortunately signed Chone Figgins for big money for 2010. Also traded for Cliff Lee, but then flipped him that same season and Smoak hasn't fulfilled expectations.
 
They've also spent low-mid range money on Japanese imports (e.g., Johjima, Iwakuma) since the success of Sasaki/Ichiro.

 
How could you forget the 4/$44m to Carlos Silva before 2008--a contract that was so bad that they swapped the fat man for Milton Bradley halfway through the deal, pinning a $9m check to Silva's check before they kissed him on the cheek at the TSA checkpoint at Sea-Tac.

 

[Hoplite]

Peter Gammons         @pgammo
Follow

Choo negotiations "could move quickly," per Scott Boras. Rumor:Boston in. we shall see

 

[lambolt]

Cano 9/225 offered from Seattle
http://tracking.si.com/2013/12/05/robinson-cano-mariners-contract-offer-yankees-free-agency/?eref=sihp

 

[hbk72777]

MLB says Heyman trying to confirm 10 year 240 million for Cano

 

[hbk72777]

Heyman just conifrmed it

 

[Yaz4Ever]

Dustin Ackley/Nick Franklin of any use to TB as part of a Price deal?

 

[CSteinhardt]

http://espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/10089241/robinson-cano-agrees-deal-seattle-mariners
 
Now confirmed with a little blurb on ESPN.  Ellsbury for Cano, huh?  I'll take that trade.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Wow. That's a lot of money for Robinson Cano. Damn it, I am glad I'm not a Mariners fan.

 

[wibi]

Wow. That's a lot of money for Robinson Cano. Damn it, I am glad I'm not a Mariners fan.


Mariners fans are pretty happy on my FB feed today. They understand that this was their best chance to get a big name and Cano was the top of their list

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Mariners fans are pretty happy on my FB feed today. They understand that this was their best chance to get a big name and Cano was the top of their list

 
Check your FB feed in four or five years. That's stupid dollars for Robinson Cano.

 

[YTF]

Am I the only one noticing that Seattle seems to be "in on everyone"? Does this come directly from The Mariners or agents knowing that Seattle has $$$ to spend and are using it for leverage. Seattle has some nice young players and some great top of the rotation pitchers, but who have they spent money on in terms of FA or a big dollar trade in recent years?

 
What the fuck do I know?

 

[LuckyBen]

 
Check your FB feed in four or five years. That's stupid dollars for Robinson Cano.

In years 4-7, he will be making just over 2 million more than Ellsbury.  For Seattle, Cano was a much safer bet than Ellsbury (not that either isn't stupid dollars).

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

How the hell does Jack Zduriencik keep convincing himself that his teams are one good player away from competing?


After the Cano deal, I think they are probably one good player away. Seager, Smoak and Cano are a decent trio of bats. Add one more solid bat or make that rumored Price deal and I think they are in the Wild Card discussion. Do both and they are a healthy season away from getting to that one game playoff.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

This is as much about legitimizing Seattle as a desirable FA destination as it is about Cano the player.
 
Just look at Rosenthal's tweet about it being dumb for the team and the player.Seattle is "in" on everybody because they have to be. It was reported they offered Ellsbury a 9 year deal and were spurned. 
 
You can argue Ellsbury might have been a lot likelier to sign there if Cano had already been on board. 
 
If they can get one more FA - Choo being the most obvious - and pull off the trade for Price then they are legitimate players .

 

[E5 Yaz]

After the Cano deal, I think they are probably one good player away. Seager, Smoak and Cano are a decent trio of bats. Add one more solid bat or make that rumored Price deal and I think they are in the Wild Card discussion. Do both and they are a healthy season away from getting to that one game playoff.

 
Look at their starting outfield

 

[StuckOnYouk]

The Choo thing is going to be interesting. Boras knows the Yankees are reeling right now, to me it's either Choo or Beltran right?
 
I'd have to think Beltran agent asks for 3 or 4 from NY and the Yankees may go that route instead of 6 years with Choo. Boras will have the Yankees lunch if NY is determined to go after Choo.
 
So I think they end up going Beltran.

 

[Snodgrass'Muff]

Look at their starting outfield

Saunders and Ackley are both good candidates for some growth. If they are going to add a bat, a corner outfielder is probably what they will do. They could try to convince Morales to come back instead, but Ibanez might be a better target for them. Hell, if they really are GFIN, maybe they do both.

Anyway, with growth from their young guys, I don't think they are that far from being in the Wild Card hunt right into September. It's really not that hard to stay relevant for the majority of the season.

 

[geoduck no quahog]

And the Mariners will eventually be in on the hunt for Lester, although I imagine the Yankees will offer him a billion dollars.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Anyway, with growth from their young guys, I don't think they are that far from being in the Wild Card hunt right into September. It's really not that hard to stay relevant for the majority of the season.

 
that's true when you have bottom feeders in your division. but they're in a division where only houston is a wreck. the other three teams are still better than the mariners

 

[Corsi]

Rosenthal:
 

Sources: #Phillies trying to trade Papelbon.
 

 

[RedOctober3829]

Rosenthal:
 

 

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 1m
Papelbon is owed $13M in ’14, $13M in ’15 with $13M vesting option for ’16. #Phillies could sign another closer for less.
 

Yeah, Ken, not so much here.  They'll be on the hook for a lot of that money if they want to get rid of him.  Their next closer would be much more expensive than the price they sign him for.

 

[E5 Yaz]

The Yankees need a closer, and have lots of extra money. More of the contract NYY eats, lesser the prospect goes to Philly

 

[nvalvo]

I think Choo to Seattle would make a degree of sense: he'd give you an on base threat to hit in front of Cano. 
 
Saunders CF
Choo LF
Cano 2B
Seager 3B
Morales? DH
Smoak 1B
Ackley RF
Miller SS
Zunino C
 
Not great, but if you're starting Felix, Iwakuma and Taijuan Walker sixty percent of the time, you'd expect to win a few with a lineup like that. 

 

[Yaz4Ever]

Beltran to the Yankees per Rosenthal on Twitter

 

[Hoplite]

I think Choo to Seattle would make a degree of sense: he'd give you an on base threat to hit in front of Cano. 
 
Saunders CF
Choo LF
Cano 2B
Seager 3B
Morales? DH
Smoak 1B
Ackley RF
Miller SS
Zunino C
 
Not great, but if you're starting Felix, Iwakuma and Taijuan Walker sixty percent of the time, you'd expect to win a few with a lineup like that. 

 
I think Montero will be their DH, they've given up on using him as a catcher.

 

[Yaz4Ever]

 
I think Montero will be their DH, they've given up on using him as a catcher.

He was never much of a C prospect anyhow, was he?  I thought it was always assumed he'd be a 1B/DH type with incredible Miguel Cabrera type offensive numbers.  Besides, they have Zunino behind the dish now anyhow.  Would that make Montero possible trade bait or is his value far too low at this point for them to move him?

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

@Jon Heyman #yankees have checked in on mike pelfrey. #BIGPELF

Yankees plan to improve ratings must involve holding a homerun derby every 5th day.

 

[RIrooter09]

Yankees plan to improve ratings must involve holding a homerun derby every 5th day.

Then why would they let Hughes go?

 

[Hoplite]

He was never much of a C prospect anyhow, was he?  I thought it was always assumed he'd be a 1B/DH type with incredible Miguel Cabrera type offensive numbers.  Besides, they have Zunino behind the dish now anyhow.  Would that make Montero possible trade bait or is his value far too low at this point for them to move him?

 
The only way I could see Seattle trading Montero would be if they get another high upside "change of scenery" candidate in return. Someone like Brett Anderson, or Adam Eaton might make sense (I think Eaton's minor league numbers were inflated by some really good hitter environments).

 

[DourDoerr]

Buster Olney at espn.com reports that Aroldis Chapman doesn't want to start and won't entertain any more speculation about it.  Wouldn't it make sense then for Cincy to look into trading him for a starting pitcher prospect?  In the hopes of convincing him to start, they probably waited a year too long as he's got a great contract, but it's done after 2014 with a player option for 2015.  Interesting that Chapman doesn't see it's in his own best interest to start - he'd make a lot more money potentially.

 

[Savin Hillbilly]

MBLTR now quoting several tweets hinting that the Mets are out on Drew due to payroll considerations. If this isn't just a negotiating stance, does Drew still have a market? I guess there's the Pirates, though after the pretty decent season Jordy Mercer had, you have to wonder if they'll think it's worth the money and the pick to upgrade. It's starting to look like that pillow contract Drew signed had more gravel than goose down in it.

 

[MakMan44]

Buster Olney at espn.com reports that Aroldis Chapman doesn't want to start and won't entertain any more speculation about it.  Wouldn't it make sense then for Cincy to look into trading him for a starting pitcher prospect?  In the hopes of convincing him to start, they probably waited a year too long as he's got a great contract, but it's done after 2014 with a player option for 2015.  Interesting that Chapman doesn't see it's in his own best interest to start - he'd make a lot more money potentially.

Honestly, I think it's pretty fair on his part. They've jerked him around for years now, I see as basically saying, you made your bed, now lay in it.

 

[Minneapolis Millers]

I haven't heard any murmurs here on Drew, but the Twins still have money.  Florimon played well defensively last year but is a lousy hitter; he'd be a better UI guy.  They have no SS prospects.  A 3/$33m deal for Drew would make a ton of sense for them and likely be more than the Sox would want to spend.

 

[Red(s)HawksFan]

I haven't heard any murmurs here on Drew, but the Twins still have money.  Florimon played well defensively last year but is a lousy hitter; he'd be a better UI guy.  They have no SS prospects.  A 3/$33m deal for Drew would make a ton of sense for them and likely be more than the Sox would want to spend.

 
I don't think there's any doubt that the Sox wouldn't want to match 3/33 on Drew, or any multi-year offer he can garner.  I understand the speculation of Drew to Boston on another one-year deal being something the Sox would want to do (after all, they did tender him a QO).  I can't see them wanting to go multiple years on him, though.  Another year as Bogaerts/WMB insurance, okay.  Any longer and he's potentially blocking even more options on the left side of the infield, starting with Cecchini.  Doesn't seem to fit their MO of late.
 
The Twins make a ton of sense for Drew, especially if they are committed to spending some money to upgrade more than just their rotation.

 

[Mighty Joe Young]

 
I don't think there's any doubt that the Sox wouldn't want to match 3/33 on Drew, or any multi-year offer he can garner.  I understand the speculation of Drew to Boston on another one-year deal being something the Sox would want to do (after all, they did tender him a QO).  I can't see them wanting to go multiple years on him, though.  Another year as Bogaerts/WMB insurance, okay.  Any longer and he's potentially blocking even more options on the left side of the infield, starting with Cecchini.  Doesn't seem to fit their MO of late.
 
The Twins make a ton of sense for Drew, especially if they are committed to spending some money to upgrade more than just their rotation.

 
Agree on Drew - only for a year and then only if they free up money by dumping Peavster.
 
Drew doesn't really seem like a Twins kind of guy though. They usually prefer flashy toolsy types who can't hit - which is kind of the antiDrew 

 

[DJnVa]

Phillies are apparently listening to offeres on Dominic Brown--he'll be 26 next season, coming off his best (and first full) season, and is cost controlled for the next few seasons.
 
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/09/report-phillies-dangling-all-star-domonic-brown/
 
Why? Perhaps because he's a butcher in LF.

 

[Hoplite]

Phillies are apparently listening to offeres on Dominic Brown--he'll be 26 next season, coming off his best (and first full) season, and is cost controlled for the next few seasons.
 
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/09/report-phillies-dangling-all-star-domonic-brown/
 
Why? Perhaps because he's a butcher in LF.

 
There are a lot of reasons for them to try to sell high on him. His batted ball distance decreased by 3 feet in 2013, but his HR/FB% jumped from 9% to 19%. And in the second half, pitchers started respecting his power by pitching him away and his power numbers took a nosedive.

 

[soxhop411]

“@BillShaikin: #Angels are not interested in Skaggs for Trumbo, at least not straight up.”
.......

 

[MakMan44]

“@BillShaikin: #Angels are not interested in Skaggs for Trumbo, at least not straight up.” .......

WHAT!?

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

“@BillShaikin: #Angels are not interested in Skaggs for Trumbo, at least not straight up.”
.......

 
Thats some serious Meth being used in those Angels offices. 
 
I'd move WMB for Skaggs. Top level talent

 

[Cumberland Blues]

there's too many j guys.

 

[jimbobim]

Anybody want RH power with a decent boom/bust potential ? Trumbo, WMB, Kemp, Cruz ? 

 

[Dionysus]

According to Chris Cotillo on Twitter:
 
"Source: 6 teams now seriously in on Yuniesky Betancourt. #Marlins are one of them, and seem like a great fit."
 
​Six. Six teams. Yuniesky Betancourt. I don't even know anymore...

 

[DourDoerr]

Honestly, I think it's pretty fair on his part. They've jerked him around for years now, I see as basically saying, you made your bed, now lay in it.

I agree.  They couldn't resist putting him in as a closer and he took to it - much like Papelbon early on.  If you can deal with the pressure, I'd imagine it's easier and more fun to close.   Chapman's so dominant as a reliever though that he just might tempt a GM to part with a top pitching prospect.  If you believe in the value of a starter relative to a reliever, then I'd think you'd have to look hard.  As I said though, they might have waited a year too late.

 

[AlNipper49]

I'm just wondering if the Red Sox are serious on Matt Kemp.


If the Dodgers could eat enough of his contract so that Boston is only paying him 16 million per season.


And the medicals look good, pull the trigger already.


2013 Champs!!!

Are you 12?

 

[Wingack]

Cubs are apparently interested in either Storen or Clippard from the Nats.