Dan Wheeler Has Four Potential Suitors

by Steve Phillips

Filed under: Cubs, Diamondbacks, Mets, Rays, Red Sox, MLB Rumors, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Winter Meetings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Free agent reliever Dan Wheeler is drawing interest from several teams, according to a source.

The Diamondbacks, Cubs, Red Sox and Mets all have inquired about the veteran right-hander, who turns 33 this weekend.

Wheeler is an 11-year veteran who had been with Tampa Bay since being traded by Houston during the 2007 season. Wheeler was a consistent cog in the Rays' bullpen the last three seasons, posting a WHIP under 1.000 in 2008 and 2009 and coming in just above that line this season.

He made $3.5 million in 2010.

 

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Matt Guerrier, Dodgers Reportedly Agree to 3-Year Deal

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: Dodgers, MLB Rumors, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

The Dodgers made quite a commitment to shore up their bullpen, reportedly agreeing to a three-year deal with setup man Matt Guerrier.

Newsday first reported the move, which brings one of the more reliable relievers in the game over the last few seasons to Los Angeles for a reported $12 million. Guerrier, 32, has spent his entire seven-year major league career with the Twins, making at least 73 appearances each of the last four years.

Guerrier has been outstanding most of that time, excepting a hiccup in 2008 that saw his ERA balloon to 5.19. Otherwise, he could be relied upon for a WHIP near or below 1.000 and nearly everyday availability out of the bullpen. He made $3.15 million last year and qualified as a Type A free agent but was not offered arbitration by the Twins, meaning the Dodgers won't have to surrender a draft pick to sign him.

The Dodgers have been active this offseason, adding free-agent starter Jon Garland and re-signing Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla on the pitching side while also re-signing Rod Barajas and bringing aboard Juan Uribe, Tony Gwynn Jr. and Dioner Navarro.

 

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Rockies Trade Miguel Olivo to Blue Jays, Who Decline His 2011 Option

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: Blue Jays, Rockies

Over the course of a few hours Thursday, Miguel Olivo was employed by two different teams, but he ended the night as a free agent.

Late Thursday, the Rockies traded the catcher to the Blue Jays for a player to be named or cash considerations. By dealing Olivo before a midnight deadline to pick up his 2011 option, the Rockies no longer were responsible for either his $2.6 million option or the $500,000 they would have owed him to buy it out.

So it will be the Blue Jays paying him that half million after they declined Olivo's options shortly after the trade was officially completed. For their trouble, the Jays will get a supplemental pick in next summer's draft if Olivo signs elsewhere, as he is a Type B free agent.

For his part, Olivo never even wanted to leave Colorado. But at least he didn't have to go to the trouble of finding a place to live in Toronto.

 

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Report: Carlos Zambrano Could Become Target of Yankees

by Josh Alper

Filed under: Cubs, Yankees, MLB Rumors, MLB Hot Stove

Anyone eager to see the Cubs of the mid-2000s back together again could find themselves heading to the Bronx next summer.

The Yankees just signed Mark Prior to a minor-league deal, Larry Rothschild is their new pitching coach, they are thought to be interested in re-signing Kerry Wood as a reliever and now comes a report that Carlos Zambrano is on their list of backup rotation options after losing out on Cliff Lee. Anyone know what happened to that Sammy Sosa fella?

Bill Madden of the New York Daily News writes that the team will "likely target" Zambrano in a trade. Big Z is coming off a rocky year with the Cubbies. He got pounded to the tune of a 5.66 ERA in a first half of the season that saw him yanked from the rotation, but rebounded with a terrific final 14 appearances after some time off for anger management classes.

 

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With Cliff Lee Off Board, Options Limited for Pitching-Thin Yankees

by Ed Price

Filed under: Phillies, Rays, Royals, Yankees, MLB Transactions, MLB Inside Scoop, MLB Free Agency

Even if the Yankees get to Plan Z, that won't stand for Zack.

Having missed out on Cliff Lee, and badly in need of starting pitching, the Yankees aren't going to get the next best pitcher available.

Despite a report two weeks ago that Zack Greinke would waive his partial no-trade clause to go from the Royals to the Yankees, two people who have dealt frequently with Greinke said he would not want to play in New York. (One theory is that the willingness to go to New York was put out there to lead other teams interested in Greinke to believe they were competing against the Yankees.)

On a media conference call Tuesday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman repeated over and over: "Plan B is patience."

But his most telling quote may have been: "It doesn't have to happen in the wintertime."

In other words, the Yankees might open the season with the question-filled rotation they have now and add a big arm in July.

 

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Sizing Up Potential Zack Greinke Suitors

by Frankie Piliere

Filed under: Blue Jays, Dodgers, Nationals, Rangers, Royals, MLB Rumors, Prospects, Minor Leagues, MLB Hot Stove, Advanced Scouting

While Zack Greinke may not have carved up the American League in 2010 the way he did in 2009, there's no denying that he's as desirable a commodity as there is on the trade market this winter. Given his age, front-of-the-rotation stuff and track record, you can't blame the Royals for requesting nothing less than a king's ransom from potential trade partners.

As of now, we've heard that teams like the Blue Jays and Rangers have expressed interest in the 27-year-old, and more clubs figure to get involved in the coming days. So, which club may be in the best position to pay Kansas City's asking price?

 

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Report: Brad Hawpe, Padres Near Deal

by FanHouse Staff

Filed under: Padres, Rays, Rockies, MLB Rumors, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

The Padres apparently have found a buy-low replacement for Adrian Gonzalez, as they are reportedly "on the verge" of a deal with free agent first baseman Brad Hawpe.

ESPN.com reported the deal was near completion, filling the Padres' first base hole with a more affordable option than free agents like Derrek Lee or Adam LaRoche.

Hawpe, 31, knows the territory in the NL West. He had spent his entire career with the Rockies until being released in late August and signing a day later with the Rays to finish out the season. It was a tough hear all around for Hawpe, who managed just a .245 average and .758 OPS in 103 games between the two teams.

The Padres will hope he takes a turn back to his All-Star form of a year earlier -- or better yet 2007, when he posted a .926 OPS, 29 homers and 116 RBI to help lead Colorado to the World Series.

 

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Kendry Morales Brent Morel Mitch Moreland Justin Morneau