2011-2012 MLB Off-Season Thread

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

@Ken_Rosenthal: Breaking: #Astros expected to announce major changes Monday, including dismissal of GM Ed Wade. Full story coming shortly. #MLB

/Twitter

[Party]

Maybe they'll get rid of Tal's Hill and the train too.

[HUGG]

I hope not.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Team President Tal Smith and GM Ed Wade fired by Astros.

Also, Rays signed Jose Molina. Contract details;

@Buster_ESPN: RT @jaysonst: #Rays deal with Jose Molina guarantees him $1.5 M in 2012, plus $1.5M team option or $300,000 buyout in 2013.

[DColts]

That's a dumb signing.

[Ramp]

why?

[DColts]

He's no longer a good catcher. He has no defensive value now.

[Metes]

Rays also traded John Jaso to Mariners for rapist Josh Leuke and a PTBNL

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

@SI_JonHeyman: folks around game will be surprised if valentine isnt next #redsox manager. not a done deal, thats just coventional wisdom

/Twitter

[MiamiHomer]

Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Sources: #Nationals pursuing Fielder. Talks hit roadblock today. Cespedes possible alternative. Story coming on FOXSports.com. #MLB

twitter
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All that talk about the Nationals not wanting free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder?

Don’t believe it.

The Nationals are showing serious interest in Fielder and view Cuban outfielder Yoennis Cespedes as a potential Plan B, according to major-league sources.

Talks with Fielder hit a roadblock on Monday, one source said, prompting the Nats to revisit Cespedes as an alternative.

Cespedes, 26, is not yet on the open market; he first must establish temporary residence in the Dominican Republic, a development that is expected any day now.

After that, he would petition Major League Baseball to become a free agent. Approval is expected to come quickly, and the bidding on him could begin next week at the winter meetings in Dallas.

Fielder, 27, is the Nationals’ primary target, at least among offensive players, sources said. The Nats also are pursuing high-end starting pitchers, including free agents C.J. Wilson, Mark Buehrle and Roy Oswalt.

The situation is fluid on all fronts; the Cubs, Mariners and Rangers are among the other clubs expected to be in the mix for Fielder, and other teams figure to join them.

While some in the industry believe the Cubs will rebuild, their new manager, former Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum, enjoyed a strong relationship with Fielder in Milwaukee.

For the Nationals, the addition of Fielder could further bolster a lineup that figures to improve at some point next season with the arrival of another Scott Boras client, outfielder Bryce Harper.

The Nats’ incumbent first baseman, Adam LaRoche, is coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator-cuff damage in his left shoulder, but is expected to be ready for spring training. LaRoche, 32, is owed $8 million next season, plus a $1 million buyout on his $10 million club option for 2013.

Cespedes, meanwhile, could fill the Nationals’ void in center field, enabling the Nats to stick with LaRoche at first and Cespedes, Jayson Werth and Michael Morse in the outfield until Harper is ready.

The Marlins and Red Sox are among numerous other clubs showing strong interest in Cespedes, sources said.

Nats show interest in Fielder, others
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Andrew McCutchen, who made his first All-Star team before slipping in the second half of last season, is potentially available in trade talks, a source told ESPN’s Keith Law.

McCutchen just turned 25 in October and is four years away from free agency, so there’s certainly no pressure for the Pirates to move him now. It should also be noted that Law’s report doesn’t indicate that the Pirates are shopping him, just that they’d listen to offers.

Even that idea, though, would have seemed far fetched a few months ago. One factor influencing the Pirates here is that they’ve tried and failed a couple of times to lock up McCutchen to a long-term deal. Also, McCutchen’s overall lack of growth since he entered the league is somewhat disturbing. While McCutchen has added power, he’s no better of a player now than he was in a rookie. His strikeout rate took a big jump last season (from 89 strikeouts in 653 plate appearances in 2010 to 126 in 678 plate appearances), and he hasn’t proven to be much better than an average defensive center fielder.

It’s still doubtful the Pirates would trade him, but if someone is willing to make a big offer, they might bite. Washington would seem like an obvious candidate there. If the Nationals would start with right-hander Jordan Zimmermann and add a couple of prospects, that’d be a pretty attractive proposal.

Report: Pirates willing to listen on Andrew McCutchen

[DropkickAlex]

Free agent reliever Jonathan Broxton has ruled out returning to the Dodgers.

"He will not be back in L.A.," Broxton's agent BB Abbott said. Earlier this offseason, Broxton said he was open to returning to the Dodgers, but talks must have broken down. "He had multiple suitors and we should have something tentative in the next few days," Abbott said. We know that more than 10 teams have kicked the tires on Broxton and that the veteran reliever would prefer to sign with a team close to his home state of Georgia. Broxton hasn't been effective since the beginning of the 2010 season, so he'll likely have to settle for a one-year deal heavy in incentives.

Wouldn't mind him.

[MiamiHomer]

Broxton signing with the Royal for a 1 year deal via Rosenthal.

[Party]

In that division, why not. (for both sides)

[Metes]

I don't think I get it

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

@SI_JonHeyman: Broxton got $4M from royals. Plan is for him to set up. Physical tomorrow.

@SI_JonHeyman: Broxtons $4M deal with #royals can be worth $5M with incentives based on games pitched.

/Twitter