The rumor mill
Here is the latest on some of the possible transactions at Major League Baseball's winter meetings in Dallas (as of 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday).
Listed after each player in parentheses are the interested teams.
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FREE AGENCY RUMORS
Kevin Millwood, SP (Mariners) – The Mariners have offered Millwood a four-year, $44 million deal, according to MLB.com. The 30-year-old righty was just 9-11 with Cleveland in 2005, but he led the American League with a 2.86 ERA.
Johnny Damon, CF (Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers) – According to the Boston Herald, team president Larry Lucchino was scheduled to meet with Damon's agent Scott Boras on Sunday. Damon's camp has taken the unusual stance of requesting a seven-year contract, but both parties are reportedly interested in getting a deal done.
The Herald reports that the Yankees would be willing to offer a three-year deal for Damon, who hit .316 in 2005, his fourth season in Boston. The Red Sox are said to be targeting Florida's Juan Pierre or Minnesota's Torii Hunter as trade possibilities if they can't strike a deal with Damon.
Trevor Hoffman, RP (Padres, Red Sox, Indians) – The Boston Herald reported Monday that the Red Sox have serious interest in free agent closer Trevor Hoffman. Hoffman saved 43 games for San Diego in 2005.
With closer Keith Foulke facing an uncertain future, Boston is pursuing every live arm with late-inning experience. The Red Sox missed out on B.J. Ryan and Billy Wagner and they may well see Hoffman sign with another team. Hoffman is reportedly close to a three-year deal with Cleveland.
Nomar Garciaparra, SS (Yankees, Padres, Indians) – Garciaparra has seen his production drop dramatically since he hit .301 with 28 homers and 105 RBIs for Boston in 2003. According to the New York Daily News, his agent is spreading word around the league that his client is willing to play any position.
Such a declaration seems to leave the door open for talks with the Yankees, who grow more desperate for an every-day center fielder by the day. San Diego and Cleveland are also in the mix, and each would like to offer the security of a regular spot in the infield.
Matt Morris, SP (Rangers, Giants, Dodgers, Mariners) – Morris has pitched in St. Louis his entire eight-year career, but his agent says the Cardinals' interest in his client is contingent on their pursuit of other players, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Morris has averaged close to 200 innings over the last five seasons, but he was just 14-10 (and 4-8 after the All-Star break) in 2005, his first season after shoulder surgery. According to the Dispatch, Texas has made a two-year offer to Morris and San Francisco has been busy in talks with the 31-year-old.
Mike Piazza, C (Angels) – The Angels certainly have their sights set higher after losing out on Paul Konerko, but Piazza is a possibility as a fall-back acquisition, the New York Daily News reports. According to Daily News, Piazza's agent would not give details but did say he had been contacted by seven teams, four in the American League and three in the National League.
The Angels are rumored to be pursuing offers for several players – among them Rangers infielder Alfonso Soriano, Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney and former Angels third baseman Troy Glaus, who is currently with Arizona.
Jacque Jones, CF (Royals, Mariners, Cardinals, Padres) – The Royals have offers out to six free agents and the list includes Jones, who received a two-year offer according to the Kansas City Star.
Reggie Sanders, RF (Royals, Cardinals, Twins, Braves) – Sanders has played with seven teams since 1998, so it must be time to move on. After pursuing Brian Giles but losing out when the slugger re-upped with San Diego, the Royals have made Sanders their top free-agent target, the Kansas City Star reports. Sanders ranked third in all of baseball with 12 post-season RBIs in 2005.
Bengie Molina, C (Mets) – The Mets were hot after Molina, but the acquisition of Paul Lo Duca during the Florida firesale ended that speculation. According to the Los Angeles Times, Molina may stay with the Angels by accepting arbitration.
Mark Grudzielanek, 2B (Mets) – Grudzielanek is most likely headed to New York to compete with Kaz Matsui, according to a report in the Westchester News Journal. Grudzielanek recorded 155 hits and a career-best 59 RBIs for the Cardinals in 2005.
Octavio Dotel, RP (Rangers) – The Rangers have made an incentive-rich offer to free-agent closer Octavio Dotel, who has been sidelined since opting for reconstructive elbow surgery in June. Dotel, according to the report in the Dallas Morning News, would most likely be acquired to serve in a setup role for Texas.
Brad Ausmus, C (Diamondbacks, Astros, Padres) – Ausmus' agent confirmed contacts between his client and the Diamondbacks, according to the Arizona Republic. Ausmus hit .258 in 134 games last season, his fifth with the Astros. The 36-year-old is widely regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in baseball.
Braden Looper, RP (Rangers) – Texas may be interested in a pair of Mets free agents. According to the Dallas Morning News, general manager Joe Daniels will meet with the respective agents for Looper and veteran Roberto Hernandez.
Bill Mueller, 3B (Pirates, Twins, Giants and Dodgers) – The Pirates have made a two-year offer to Mueller, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported on Monday. Mueller, a veteran of 10 seasons, hit .295 with 10 homers and 62 RBIs for Boston in 2005.
Mueller spent the first eight seasons of his career in the National League. Pittsburgh is reportedly focusing on upgrades at the corner infield positions this offseason. Many in Minnesota thought the Twins would be a good fit for Mueller, but according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the team has fallen out of contention for the veteran.
TRADE RUMORS
Matt Clement, SP (Phillies, Brewers) – Clement was just 3-4 in 14 post-All-Star starts in 2005, his first with Boston. The Red Sox are reportedly interested in dealing the 31-year-old right-hander.
According to the Boston Herald, the hottest rumors involve Clement and outfielder Trot Nixon to Philadelphia for Bobby Abreu, or a deal that would send him to Milwaukee for Lyle Overbay.
David Wells, SP (Dodgers) – According to the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers are in talks with the Red Sox about acquiring Wells, who won 15 games in 2005 after signing a two-year, $4 million deal before the season. Boston is reportedly seeking prospects for the 42-year-old, who despite his age has made at least 30 starts in four straight seasons.
Bobby Abreu, RF (Red Sox, Cubs) – Abreu trade rumors just won't go away. In addition to the Boston trade, the Philadelphia Inquirer is also reporting that Phillies GM Pat Gillick has discussed an Abreu deal with the Cubs that would involve pitcher Mark Prior.
Austin Kearns, RF (Cubs) – The Reds tried to unload Kearns on the Cubs earlier this year. According to the Dayton Daily News, the talks go on. Chicago will reportedly accept prospects for Kearns, who hit .240 with 18 homers in 2005, a season that was interrupted by a demotion to Triple-A Louisville.
Sean Casey, 1B (Pirates) – Pittsburgh GM Dave Littlefield told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that landing a first baseman was a top priority at the winter meetings. Given permission from ownership to increase payroll (moderately), the Pirates are reportedly interested in Casey, a career .305 hitter. They could offer pitchers Mark Redman or Kip Wells or any number of pitching prospects in exchange for the first baseman, who is due $8 million in 2006.
Manny Ramirez, LF (Phillies, Mets, Angels) – According to the New York Post, the Red Sox and Phillies have been engaged in ongoing talks about a deal involving Ramirez and Philadelphia right fielder Bobby Abreu.
The speculation has been refuted by several sources, but a deal for Ramirez would definitely be viewed as a counter-punch move for the Phillies, who lost free-agent closer Billy Wagner to the Mets. As you might expect when a deal involves players who combined for nearly 70 homers and 250 RBIs in 2005, money is an issue. Ramirez will earn $57 million over the next three years, while Abreu is slated to take home $28 million through 2007.
The Mets, the Post reports, could lose out in the Manny sweepstakes if they are unwilling to part with prized prospect Lastings Milledge, who was rated the 11th-best prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America in 2005.
Talks between the Red Sox and Angels are heating up, the Boston Herald reports. The Angels lost out on Paul Konerko, but they aren't expected to rest until landing a bat to protect Vladimir Guerrero. The prospect-rich Angels have six of Baseball America's top 100 prospects to offer as compensation.
Kris Benson, SP (Orioles) – The Mets' bullpen workhorse in 2005 was Roberto Hernandez, who recently turned 41. Another one of New York's top setup men, Aaron Heilman, may join the starting rotation in 2006. Anticipating the thinning of the relief corps, the Mets are in the market for bullpen help.
According to the New York Post, the team is close to a deal that would send Benson to Baltimore in exchange for former closer Jorge Julio. No word yet on whether New York tabloids would demand compensation for the loss of Anna Benson.
Milton Bradley, CF (Pirates, Athletics, Cubs) – Manager Jim Tracy may be willing to bring some of his old players with him to Pittsburgh, the Post-Gazette reports. One player the manager is interested in is oft-troubled outfielder Milton Bradley, who hit .290 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs for the Dodgers in a 2005 season cut short by injury.