Hot Stove Rumors Thread

[Warner2BruceTD]

I guess they are going to be using a closer by committee approach? Not that that matters any except for fantasy purposes, as I would rather have the best person in for each situation.

Dusty said he would strongly prefer to use one guy, and does not like committees.

They are still in on Cordero, and from what I understand if they couldn't get Cordero back they were going to look in house instead of spending big money on a FA (Madsen). Most seem to think it would wind up being Bill Bray. I don't know what acquiring Marshall would do in terms of roles or if they would continue to go after Cordero. Beat writer John Fay says they have about $9M left to spend, and still need a veteran backup SS type, and fourth OF to platoon with Heisey, and a closer.

[Guest]

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The Philadelphia Phillies have hired former general manager Ed Wade as a special consultant.

Wade was a GM for parts of 13 seasons for the Phillies (1998-2005) and the Houston Astros (2001-11). He was fired last month after the Astros posted a franchise-worst mark of 56-106 this year.

During his time as GM in Philadelphia, Wade’s staff drafted Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, Cole Hamels, Ryan Madson and Brett Myers, all of whom were contributors on the 2008 World Series championship team. He also acquired Jim Thome, Shane Victorino and Billy Wagner.

In Houston, Wade made several key trades with the Phillies. He sent Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence to Philadelphia in various deals.

Wade will assist in salary arbitration consultation, while also scouting at both the major and minor league levels.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-phillies-wade

Update: Oswalt is reportedly now looking for only a one-year contract in free agency, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports.

Recommendation: Oswalt has not garnered much interest up to this point, so he is hoping to stay healthy and prove his worth on a one-year deal in hopes of signing a bigger contract next offseason. Expect Oswalt rumors to pick up a bit with him shooting for a much smaller deal, in terms of years, than he originally sought.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...towookingornee

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Yuniesky Betancourt is back with the Kansas City Royals after agreeing to a one-year contract.

The deal was announced Tuesday.

Betancourt, who played for the Royals from 2009-10, started at shortstop for the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers last season, batting .252 with 13 homers and 68 RBIs. Kansas City has Alcides Escobar at shortstop, so Betancourt will provide versatility and experience off the bench. He will back up Escobar while providing a right-handed bat behind Mike Moustakas at third base.

Betancourt was part of the trade that sent pitcher Zack Greinke from the Royals to the Brewers for Escobar, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and right-handed pitchers Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi.

Milwaukee declined a $6 million option on Betancourt for next season.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...als-betancourt

BALTIMORE (AP)—Free-agent outfielder Endy Chavez has agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles.

The move was announced Tuesday.

An experienced and dependable fill-in, Chavez batted .301 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 83 games for the AL champion Texas Rangers last season.

Dan Duquette, the Orioles’ new executive vice president of baseball operations, says Chavez is a “tremendous defender” who gives the team “needed depth” in the outfield. Chavez can earn an additional $500,000 in performance bonuses.

A left-handed hitter with speed, the 33-year-old Chavez is a .274 career hitter in 10 major league seasons with Kansas City, Montreal/Washington, Philadelphia, the New York Mets, Seattle and Texas. He is best known for his spectacular catch with the Mets in Game 7 of the 2006 NL championship series against St. Louis.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-orioles-chavez

Update: Blake has signed a one-year deal with the Rockies, the club’s official Twitter feed reports.

Recommendation: Blake is recovering from neck surgery currently but if he can report to camp healthy, he should be in line for the Rockies’ starting third base option with Ty Wigginton and Ian Stewart out of the picture. Blake only played 63 games in 2011, but in 2009 and 2010 Blake hit 18 and 17 home runs respectively with Chavez Ravine as his home park. A move to Coors could bring a 20-homer season for the 39-year-old.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...keignsithockie

[Warner2BruceTD]

Ugh Chapman is not going to be a good starter/if one at all. He couldn't pitch more than 2 innings in the fucking ARIZON FALL LEAGUE without straining himself, and had to be shut down. We really fucked up this kid's development. He should have been groomed to be a starter from Day 1, not this reliever bullshit now trying to change him.

How can anyone forget one of Wood's first career starts where he took a no hitter into the 9th inning against the Phillies? I think Wood should be in the rotation this year no doubt, and to trade him for another LHRP is dumb. What does Marshall bring to the table that Bill Bray can't sufficiently do, honestly? We should just use that money to resign Coco and keep Wood, because he has the chance to be a very solid 3/4 starter in a major league rotation

If Cordero was willing to come in for $3.1M, Reds would have signed him a long time ago.

Wood was odd man out:
Cueto
Latos
Leake
Arroyo
Bailey
------
Wood
Chapman?

Bullpen could be:
LeCure - R
Ondrusek - R
Masset - R
Arredondo - R
Marshall - L
Bray - L
Chapman - L ?

If you look at that, I think if they get Marshall, Bray will close, with Marshall & Chapman as the two lefties. That's a damn good bullpen, if Bray (or whoever) works out in the 9th.

I like Wood too, but he would have been long relief/spot starter. This would be another trade where the Reds get back a guy who will fill a bigger role than the guy they are trading. I can live with it either way. Reds are gunning for this thing this year, unlike sitting on their hands last year, and it's exciting.

EDIT-And actually, Chapman did not have to be shut down, they just chose to shut him down in Arizona and decided to let him rest up for the Spring. Like i've said before, I don't really care how they use him, starter, setup, closer, whatever, as long as they dont yank him back & forth like the Yankees did to Joba. He's the setup man now. If they stretch him out this spring, he needs to start, no going back & forth.

[Leftwich]

Brewers sign Cesar Izturis

[Rudi]

The Wood + 2 minor leaguers for Marshall deal is done pending physicals. *sigh*

[Warner2BruceTD]

The Wood + 2 minor leaguers for Marshall deal is done pending physicals. *sigh*

Who would you rather have in the bullpen this year, Marshall or Wood?

Wood wasnt making this rotation, dude.

Walt is going for it this year, embrace it. Hunt for Red October! w00t!

[Rudi]

Who would you rather have in the bullpen this year, Marshall or Wood?

Wood wasnt making this rotation, dude.

Walt is going for it this year, embrace it. Hunt for Red October! w00t!

Wood has minor league options left, he could have pitched in AAA then when Homer/Chapman eventually get hurt/suck, he comes in. I'm not doubting Marshalls talent, I'm glad we got him...I just would have rather traded Bailey.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Wood has minor league options left, he could have pitched in AAA then when Homer/Chapman eventually get hurt/suck, he comes in. I'm not doubting Marshalls talent, I'm glad we got him...I just would have rather traded Bailey.

I think we all would have rather traded Bailey, but you wouldn't have gotten a guy the caliber of Marshall for him.

Wood was more attractive because he A.) has options, and B.) isn't arbi eligible yet. Bailey is out of options and is due to make more money in arbitration.

[nflman2033]

I think we all would have rather traded Bailey, but you wouldn't have gotten a guy the caliber of Marshall for him.

Wood was more attractive because he A.) has options, and B.) isn't arbi eligible yet. Bailey is out of options and is due to make more money in arbitration.

and don't forget lefthanded

[Sharkweather]

The Braves have made it clear — by their lack of denial, as well as logic and circumstances — that they are open to trading pitcher Jair Jurrjens and outfielder-infielder Martin Prado. But are/were they really willing to trade both . . . for one player?

According to the Baltimore Sun, the Braves offered Jurrjens, Prado and a prospect to the Orioles for center fielder Adam Jones, but Baltimore declined the proposal.

http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/12/21/braves-reportedly-offered-jurrjens-prado-for-orioles-jones/?cxntfid=blogs_jeff_schultz_blog

Jones is definitely not worth that much, glad they turned that down.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Braves are dying to give away Jurrjens.

[moneyman255]

Rumors today:

Cards are the favorites to land Beltran.
OAK is deciding on offers from WSH and BOS on Gio Gonzalez.

[Leftwich]

Rumors today:

Cards are the favorites to land Beltran.
OAK is deciding on offers from WSH and BOS on Gio Gonzalez.

The Athletics will send Gio Gonzalez to the Nationals for A.J. Cole, Derek Norris, Brad Peacock and Tom Milone, ESPN.com's Keith Law reports (on Twitter).

Gonzalez is under team control through 2015 and has reached the 200-inning plateau in each of the past two seasons without posting an ERA above 3.23. He'll join Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann atop the Nationals' rotation. However, no MLB pitcher has walked more opponents than Gonzalez in the past two seasons and he's about to get expensive through arbitration (projected 2012 salary of $4.2MM).

via mlbtraderumors

[FedEx227]

That's a crazy haul for Gio.

[Leftwich]

Peacock looked good at the end of the year when the Nats called him up so the A's are getting a good player in him possibly. As for AJ Cole... bleh.