The GM ’roundtable’ that took place during the meetings in Orlando has the baseball world talking collusion. Theo Epstein and Larry Beinfest had the idea of putting all of the GM’s together in the same room to talk about each of their teams needs and wants this off-season. Donald Fehr said the meeting was ‘improper’ and that the union will look into the ‘actions’ of the meetings. Stay tuned….
Jim Hendry still has until Tuesday to resign Kerry Wood to a new contract before he hits the open market. Some have speculated he could garner a lot of attention if he hits free agency. Here is the latest from the North Side, more from Japan and rumors from around the league…. The Cubs….
The Cubs are rumored to be interested in Carl Crawford. And the newly renamed ‘Rays‘ are rumored to be interested in Ronny Cedeno….along with a few others to fill their hole at shortstop. Could there bill a deal in the works? And what would it take, along with Cedeno, to put Crawford in blue pinstripes next season?
Jon Heyman thinks Kerry Wood will receive a 2-year, $10 million dollar contract….and he is “likely to remain a Cub.” The Rangers, however, appear interested in Wood for their bullpen as well.
Kaz Matsui has reportedly been offered a 2-year, $6 million dollar contract by the Rockies but the media in Denver thinks he could end up in Chicago. The Denver Post expects the Cubs to offer Matsui a 3-year deal. The Cubs apparently like Matsui’s speed and the fact he could help make Kosuke Fukudome’s transition to the majors a little easier.
Phil Rogers let everyone in on what the Cubs need to do this winter. Rogers made a couple of very good points (Geovany Soto and Kevin Hart) but mentioned the Cubs and Torii Hunter in the same article….that is not going to happen.
Fukudome is everywhere….
Several members of the mainstream media are talking about Kosuke Fukudome. John Donovan from SI.com recently said Fukudome “looms as a free-agent wild card.” Dayn Perry thinks Fukudome is the “first name to know” when discussing whom will make the “jump from Japan” this winter.
Around the League….
Dayn Perry named 10 of this winter ‘big names’ that are available for the right price….and not money.
Because of last season’s tragic death of Mike Coolbaugh, the GM’s voted this past week that base coaches “will wear some sort of head protection next season.”
Craig Wilson would like to play in Pittsburgh again.
The Brewers could “contemplate” trading Ben Sheets this off-season.
The Rockies have contacted Michael Barrett according to the Denver Post.
Khalil Greene was rumored to be on the trading block last week. The Padres are now trying “to find out if they can cut a multiyear contract” with him. Greene still has two years worth of arbitration left.
According to the Kansas City Star, the Brewers could non-tender Kevin Mench.
Ed Wade, the Astros’ new GM, has contacted the Marlins about what it would take to land Dontrelle Willis….the Houston Chronicle thinks the Astros do not have enough quality prospects to make a deal with the Marlins. Wills’ agent was on XM Radio Friday night and stated a deal that would have sent the lefty from Florida to Houston ‘came very close to happening’ at last week’s meetings.
With the free-agent signing period starting on Tuesday, SI.com reminded the baseball world of the 10 worst contracts signed in the last 10 years.
Louisville Slugger announced the Silver Slugger Awards on Friday, here are the winners….
National League
- Prince Fielder – 1B
- Chase Utley – 2B
- David Wright – 3B
- Jimmy Rollins – SS
- Russell Martin – C
- Carlos Beltran – OF
- Matt Holliday – OF
- Carlos Lee – OF
- Micah Owings – P
American League
- Carlos Pena – 1B
- Placido Polanco – 2B
- Alex Rodriguez – 3B
- Derek Jeter – SS
- Jorge Posada – C
- Ichiro Suzuki – OF
- Vladimir Guerrero – OF
- Magglio Ordonez – OF
- David Ortiz – DH