Off Season Rumor/ News thread- not for discussion

[klw]

I thought I would start a thread to post rumors and news.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...-mariners.html

In today's Insider-only blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney lists some free agents who are trending upward as the market begins to take shape, including J.P. Howell, Jonathan Broxton, Cody Ross, Jeremy Guthrie, Joe Saunders, Ryan Ludwick, Jason Grilli, Sean Burnett, and Jeff Keppinger. Here are the rest of Olney's rumors...

There has been substantial interest in Broxton so far, and it appears he could receive one of the largest contracts of the relief market.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/cincin...HxYo6KbHdBd.99

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter) notes that the Reds are looking into two relievers coming off of Tommy John surgery in Joakim Soria and Ryan Madson. Soria will be out until May while Madson should be set to open the season.

[mattfeet]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/cincin...mOt1IuRhS2q.99

Free agent Shane Victorino is on the radar for the Reds and Indians, tweets ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The Rangers and Red Sox are also among the clubs looking into Victorino as they look to improve their outfield situation.

[klw]

Victorino update, 8 to 11 teams have interest. Same radar comment which Matt posted.

Victorino, who recently agreed to be represented by agent John Boggs, seeks a contract of more than two years and will consider playing any of the three outfield positions.

The Reds and Indians appear to have Victorino on their radar.

Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#WljztVKirT3uPWcS.99

[klw]

An evaluation of the free agency of Ryan Ludwick
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/ml...w-ryan-ludwick

Carl Sagan wrote in his 1985 novel Contact, "For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love." Sagan was referring to our universe, but one would understand if Ludwick feels similarly about Petco Park.

Given the disparity, don't expect to see Ludwick back in the vastness of San Diego or anywhere similar -- Seattle (even with the fences moved in), Oakland, Kansas City, Miami and the Dodgers at the least should be eliminated by this crteria. The Reds don't seem to have much to spend after locking up Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto last season, but Ludwick still fits. The Yankees could tab him as Nick Swisher's replacement. The Red Sox could use him in the same role Cody Ross filled last season. If the Rangers spend the bulk of their free agent budget on pitching, Ludwick would be a good medium-cost replacement for Josh Hamilton.

At 34 years old, with a robust outfield market and his park limitations, Ludwick won't draw a megadeal. But Ludwick has been a solidly above-average player when away from the openness of Petco Park, and he should get paid like it -- perhaps two years, $24 million with an option for a third year gets it done.

Potential Suitors: Reds, Red Sox, Rangers, Yankees

Long Shots: Mets, Braves, Rockies

[Gallen5862]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...-mariners.html

Olney's Latest: Broxton, Guthrie, Hunter, Mariners

There has been substantial interest in Broxton so far, and it appears he could receive one of the largest contracts of the relief market.

Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...CQbzKeOFP6H.99

[mattfeet]

Jocketty shoots down some rumors: Bourn, Cozart, Bruce

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...n-some-rumors/

-Matt

[WildcatFan]

Melky Cabrera to the Blue Jays for 2 years $16 million. (Link is in Spanish)

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news...bei&type=story

[mattfeet]

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer sees the Reds' 2013 payroll being $92MM, but a team insider tells him the actual number could start with an eight. This would make it difficult, in Fay's opinion, to do anything in free agency except sign a closer or re-sign Ryan Ludwick.


Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...dZSFwp3U878.99

[mth123]

Originally Posted by mattfeet

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer sees the Reds' 2013 payroll being $92MM, but a team insider tells him the actual number could start with an eight. This would make it difficult, in Fay's opinion, to do anything in free agency except sign a closer or re-sign Ryan Ludwick.


Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...dZSFwp3U878.99

NM.

[mattfeet]

No discussion, please.

[Gallen5862]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/


Scott Rolen has told the Reds he may play next season, but he isn't ready to make a final decision tweets Stark. The team wants him back in some role.

[Gallen5862]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#HpVO3Mc8JcCtQp5r.99

Giants Likely To Non-Tender Brian Wilson
By Steve Adams [November 26 at 8:47pm CST]
Brian Wilson has saved 171 games for the Giants dating back to 2006, but now, following his Tommy John surgery earlier this year, it appears likely that he'll be non-tendered, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.

As Schulman notes, teams must pay arbitration-eligible players at least 80 percent of their previous salary, which would mean the minimum offer the Giants can make Wilson is $6.8MM. That's a hefty price tag for a closer coming off Tommy John, even if he was elite at his peak. The Giants would like to non-tender Wilson and re-sign him to a one-year deal with a lower base salary, but Wilson isn't as open to that scenario.


Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#F9P9gyvoxPHxPCDu.99

[klw]

Originally Posted by WVPacman

you want to fight!!

You can fight but you can't discuss fighting.


Meanwhile the Angels are apparently close to signing Ryan Madson to a one year deal. Madson hopes this is closer than his resigning with the Phillies last year.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jo...e-their-closer

The Los Angeles Angels are close to a deal with free agent righthanded reliever Ryan Madson, major-league sources told CBSSports.com.
The deal is believed to be for one guaranteed year. Madson, from nearby Moreno County, was looking for a chance to close, and he should have that with the Angels. He missed the 2012 season after having Tommy John surgery.

The Reds showed interest, as well, but are deep in talks with Jonathan Broxton now. Madson, a Temecula, Calif. resident, used Angels doctors while he rehabbed this year.

[westofyou]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jo...ajor-surprises

At least seven teams -- the Reds, Indians, Yankees, Rangers, Giants, Rays and Red Sox -- are believed to be interested in Shane Victorino, one of four excellent center fielders in a strong but still developing market.

Several teams are believed willing to go at least three years for Victorino, who publicly said months ago he was thinking about five years. An uncharacteristically unproductive second half probably prevents a five-year deal, but he's going to do OK, considering the number of teams interested.

[westofyou]

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jo...n-fall-at-home

As timing goes, Jeff Keppinger's could not have been much worse.

Primed to capitalize on a breakout 2012 season in which he hit a career-high .325, the free agent infielder recently suffered a break in his right fibula tripping down some stairs at his house. The break, described as a small one in the calf by major-league sources, has been repaired surgically. He is at home recuperating.

Keppinger is said by sources to hope to be ready by mid-January and certainly by the start of spring training. Interested teams, aware of the injury, have been perusing medical reports. Keppinger's agent Keith Grunewald has been said to be very transparent about the injury, though Grunewald declined to comment to CBSSports.com.