Hot Stove Rumors Thread

[Warner2BruceTD]

I have no problem with Walt telling these teams to fuck off. The Rockies tried to rob us when we asked about Ubaldo during the season. Fuck overpaying for people.

It looks like Jocketty is willing to part with any of these guys, but...

As Rosenthal notes, the Reds own a few attractive prospects that are rumored to be sought by other teams -- in particular, first baseman/outfielder Yonder Alonso and catchers Yasmani Grandal and Devin Mesoraco.

However, it sounds like Jocketty isn't comfortable with the asking price for the top available pitchers on the trade market: “They just want too many of ’em.”

 

[ThomasTomasz]

I don't really want Jones now that I've thought about it. His career walk rate and OBP are less than desirable, and he's only under team control for as long as Jurrjens is, and only one year longer than Michael Bourn is, so it's not even a guarantee he would be in our longterm plans.

Just a reminder that Jones is just 25 or 26........I don't think he has hit his plateau just yet. Which is a reason I would be reluctant to deal him unless its for Gio Gonzalez or Jurrjens.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Veteran outfielder Josh Willingham passed his physical with the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, completing a three-year, $21 million deal with the club.

The Twins announced the agreement Thursday morning.

Willingham can earn an additional $1 million in the third season if he reaches 525 plate appearances in the second year of the deal, a league source said. He has only reached that plateau one time in that last four years, with Oakland Athletics last season.

Willingham, 32, is a career .262 hitter with 132 home runs for the Marlins, Nationals and Athletics. He batted .246 with a career-high 29 homers and 98 RBIs for Oakland in 2011.

The Twins were looking for more power from the right side of the plate after trading Delmon Young to the Tigers last season. Willingham has topped 20 homers four times in six full major league seasons.

His signing could mean the end of Michael Cuddyer's run in Minnesota. Twins general manager Terry Ryan said this week that the team has not ruled out Cuddyer's return.

Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Colorado and Boston were among the other clubs that expressed interest in Willingham during the free-agency process.

Adding Willingham, a right-handed hitting outfielder to help balance out a lefty-heavy lineup, would help ease the sting if Cuddyer doesn't return.

Cuddyer hit .284 with 20 homers and 70 RBIs last season, earning an All-Star bid for the first time in his 11-year career. Over the past six seaons, Cuddyer has hit .266 with 66 homers while Willingham has hit .257 with 69 home runs.

Willingham has played mostly left field throughout his career, but the Twins would likely have to move to him right field if Cuddyer goes, so the weak-armed Ben Revere could play left field.

The Twins were looking for more power from the right side of the plate to help balance a batting order that has lefties Denard Span, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau near the top. Willingham has topped 20 homers four times in six full major league seasons, and the hope is he will have similar success at spacious Target Field, one of the most difficult ballparks to hit it over the fence.

If Cuddyer does leave, the Twins would receive two draft picks as compensation.

He has been a Gardenhire favorite for years because of his hustle, discipline, dependability and versatility. Cuddyer has played right field, center field, first base, second base, third base and DH over the last few seasons for the Twins, filling in for numerous injuries the team has endured.

But the Twins are also determined to keep the payroll at around $100 million, meaning Cuddyer would likely have to take a decent paycut from the four-year, $33 million contract he just finished to stay in Minnesota.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7...h-willingham-minnesota-twins-deal-3-years-21m

Not sure why they would give Willingham this deal when it would take something similar for Cuddyer to come back.

 

[EmpireWF]

Have no idea how serious the Mets are about Gio Gonzalez but they're in the mix according to Ken Rosenthal.

If their interest is legit, it tells me they have little faith in Johan Santana being a productive pitcher this season.

 

[Rudi]

Red Sox, Tigers and Reds continue pursuit of Joe Saunders.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Red Sox, Tigers and Reds continue pursuit of Joe Saunders.

How do you feel about this?

To me, Joe Saunders is no better than the guys we already have. He does nothing for me.

 

[Rudi]

I think Joe Saunders is exponentially better than Bronson Arroyo.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Gio Gonzalez, Mat Latos and Jair Jurrjens are among the pitchers on the Reds’ wish list, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Latos may be available in the right deal, Gonzalez could be had, but Oakland's asking price is high and Jurrjens also appears to be available. GM Walt Jocketty recently told Rosenthal that he’s looking aggressively at ways of improving his team’s pitching staff, despite the high asking prices sellers are setting for available arms.

Matt Garza, who could earn a salary approaching $9MM through arbitration, is too expensive for Jocketty’s liking and John Danks is less appealing than some alternatives, as he’s under team control for just one season, Rosenthal writes. James Shields appears to be out of the reach for every team, including the Reds, and Jocketty is aiming to obtain a better pitcher than Wade Davis.

Honestly I don't love any of these guys, and probably wouldn't trade Alonso for any one of them, let alone Alonso plus one of the catchers and other pieces.

Gonzalez walks the ballpark, i've never like Garza and he makes too much, Shields is the best but he's also the oldest, Jurrjens has health concerns, and guys like Danks and Davis are nothing special.

Obvioulsy i'd take any of these guys (aside from Garza, who I don't want at all under any circumstance) if you are talking one of the catchers as the centerpiece instead of Alonso.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think Joe Saunders is exponentially better than Bronson Arroyo.

But that doesn't really matter, because Arroyo is going to be in the rotation no matter what as the #3 or #4.

This is what they are trying to do:

Cueto
???
Leake
Arroyo
Chapman/Wood/Volquez

I don't think Saunders fills the ??? any better than what we have in house. In fact, he basically is Arroyo. A lock to not miss any starts, 200 innings, some years good, some years bad.

I think Leake is better than Saunders, especially moving forward.

 

[nflman2033]

But that doesn't really matter, because Arroyo is going to be in the rotation no matter what as the #3 or #4.

This is what they are trying to do:

Cueto
???
Leake
Arroyo
Chapman/Wood/Volquez

I don't think Saunders fills the ??? any better than what we have in house. In fact, he basically is Arroyo. A lock to not miss any starts, 200 innings, some years good, some years bad.

I think Leake is better than Saunders, especially moving forward.

Two Good seasons, and gave up nearly 30 HR's last year in Arizona, I am seeing Eric Milton Pt 2 if we get him.. no thanks

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

After some analysis, of the realistic options, I want Latos.

 

[Rudi]

I def want Jurrjens if its possible

 

[Rudi]

And I dont think the chapman starting thing is going to take off yet.

 

[FedEx227]

After some analysis, of the realistic options, I want Latos.

You should. Latos is solid and not at all a byproduct of PETCO.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You should. Latos is solid and not at all a byproduct of PETCO.

Plus he's 24, under team control until 2016, and gives you the 9.0 k/9 without the walks that you get from Gonzalez.

I soured on him after the slow start last year, but his numbers ended up pretty strong.

 

[NAHSTE]

Plus he's 24, under team control until 2016, and gives you the 9.0 k/9 without the walks that you get from Gonzalez.

I soured on him after the slow start last year, but his numbers ended up pretty strong.

He had a sore arm to start the year. His 2nd half numbers were tremendous.

Here are his monthly ERA's last year:

March/April: 4.98
May: 3.38
June: 4.82
July: 3.69
Aug: 3.00
Sept/Oct.: 1.96

What is weird though is that his K/9 are inversely proportional to that. His highest K/9 was in March/April, and his lowest was in August. Not sure if that's just a fluke or if it represents a change in pitching philosophy.

 

[EmpireWF]

The Mets told Oakland they won't deal any of their top prospects for Gonzo...so that's pretty much dead.

However, there is momentum building to some package including Niese for OF Seth Smith of Colorado.

 

[NAHSTE]

The Mets told Oakland they won't deal any of their top prospects for Gonzo...so that's pretty much dead.

However, there is momentum building to some package including Niese for OF Seth Smith of Colorado.

Damn, I'm still hoping the Braves can land Smith. The Rockies seem determined to deal him.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Damn, I'm still hoping the Braves can land Smith. The Rockies seem determined to deal him.

Especially now with Cuddyer in the fold.

Heisey for Jurrjens. Do it. Do it.

 

[NAHSTE]

Especially now with Cuddyer in the fold.

Heisey for Jurrjens. Do it. Do it.

:yao:

I don't think a Reds deal goes down without involving Frazier.