Reds after Renteria?

Via Doug Mittler of ESPN...

There was speculation earlier this month that Edgar Renteria was leaning toward a return to San Francisco, but a reported $1 million lowball offer from the Giants had the World Series MVP contemplating other options.

One of those could be from Cincinnati. Renteria is now drawing interest from theCincinnati Reds, reports the Cincy Enquirer's John Fay, expanding the veteran's market to at least two teams and as many as four.

Renteria would play shortstop for the Reds, who said goodbye to Orlando Cabrera this offseason. The interest in Renteria indicates the Reds are not willing to hand the shortstop job over to Paul Janish.

The Reds may have some extra money to spend after reliever Arthur Rhodes decided to sign with Texas.

San Francisco declined a $9.5 million option for 2011 in Renteria's contract. The Giants, knowing that Renteria was considering retirement, then signed shortstop Miguel Tejada to a one year, $6.5 million deal.

Renteria told Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes.com earlier this month that the $1 million offer from the Giants was ?a total disrespect,? but Renteria?s agent later did some damage control and said his client was still interested in San Francisco.

So you help led your team to their first World Series title since 1954, win the World Series MVP and what do you get?  A $1 million offer.  Renteria was one of those guys I grew up watching and liked so it's sad to see this.  Might be time to hang em up Edgar, and just let the 1997 moment live in Baseball fans minds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu9dkgLu2GI

Reds after Podsednick

Via Doug Mittler of ESPN...

Cincinnati leadoff hitters had a meager .306 OBP last season, good for 27th in the majors, so general manager Walt Jocketty is searching for solutions.

The name of free agent Scott Podsednik surfaced in rumors earlier this month and Jocketty confirmed to John Fay in the Cincinnati Enquirer that he has spoken to the outfielder's agent.

Podsednik would presumably play left field, perhaps as a platoon partner for Jonny Gomes, and serve as an option in center should Drew Stubbs take a step back in his development at the plate. Jocketty, who has some cash left over after reliever Arthur Rhodes bolted for Texas, said he wants to add a veteran lefty-hitting outfielder.

Earlier this month, we mentioned that the Dodgers were considering bringing back Podsednik, who came over in a late-season deal with Kansas City.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com wrote previously that Podsednik could be indeed staying in Southern California, but would be a better fit in Anaheim. The Halos had hoped that left field would be manned by Carl Crawford, but he signed instead with Boston.

For a team that plays in HR park and relies on the long ball like the Reds, adding Scotty Pods would be a great addition.  I can see him batting at the bottom of the Reds order, setting things up for fellow speedster Brandon Phillips and boppers Joey Votto and Jay Bruce.

Yankees after Soriano?

Via Doug Mittler of ESPN...

We're just a few hours away from watching the ball drop in Times Square, and there are conflicting reports as to whether Rafael Soriano could possibly be playing for a team a few miles north in the Bronx.

Soriano recorded 45 saves in 48 chances for the Tampa Bay Rays last season, but this is not the best winter for an elite closer to hit the free agent market. Soriano's status as a Type A free agent, which requires additional compensation, isn't helping his cause.

The possibility of Soriano serving as a set-up man to Mariano Rivera with the Yankees has been bandied about all week. Jon Heyman of SI.com wrote Wednesday that the Yankees already have inquired about Soriano.

Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal tweeted Thursday that the Yankees are not going after the reliever.

If Andy Pettitte were to retire, the Yankees could rely on an ultra-deep bullpen led by Rivera and Soriano to make up for a thinned rotation.

Soriano is looking for a three-year contract, and that could be his main problem. As Dave Cameron of Fangraphs.com wrote earlier this month, giving contracts of three-plus years to a reliever can be a very bad idea.

After losing out on Cliff Lee and never making a real attempt at Zack Greinke, it seems that the Yankees won't be able to land another ace starter before the start of the 2011 season.  Their next best course of action should be to strengthen the bullpen.  After a strong year from Boone Logan and with the signing of Pedro Feliciano, their bullpen is set from the left side.  However, with the departure of Kerry Wood and the inconsistency of Joba Chamberlain have left a hole from the right side.  Rafael Soriano would fill that void and could create a Yankee strategy similar to 1996: 6 innings from starter, 2 innings from Soriano, Rivera in the 9th.

Rays after Fuentes

Via Doug Mittler of ESPN...

Having lost their entire bullpen -- well, five of them at least --to free agency, theTampa Bay Rays are showing real interest in left-hander Brian Fuentes, reports Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.

Fuentes would presumably close for the Rays, which might give them the edge in negotiations. The majority of those interested are viewing the southpaw as a late-inning matchup arm or a setup man, including the Yankees and Red Sox.

It is Fuentes unlikely to command anything close to the two-year, $17.5 million deal the left-hander inked with the Angels two years ago. There are reports that Fuentes is seeking a three-year deal, but that appears overly ambitious.

SI.com's Jon Heyman tweeted Tuesday that the Red Sox are still interested in Fuentes, despite having signed both Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler, as well as Matt Albers to bolster their bullpen. Fuentes, a southpaw, would essentially replace Hideki Okajima, who was non-tendered last month.

Heyman adds that several other clubs have interest in Fuentes as well, including the Rays, Rockies, Twins, Yankees, Brewers, Blue Jays, Pirates and Phillies. The Phillies, however, may be out now that they have re-signed J.C. Romero, and it appears to be a long shot that the Rays or Mariners would invest that kind of payroll in a setup man.

After the rough winter that was for the Rays (losing Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford and likely Rafael Soriano), they still need to keep with the Joneses in the AL East aka the Red Sox and Yankees.  While losing Crawford and Pena is a huge loss to their lineup, they still return the same starting pitching staff that finished 2nd in the AL in ERA (3.78).  The Rays plan of attack could be to continue to add to their pitching and adding Fuentes to a bullpen would help.  He could serve as a lefty specialist (.128 off him last year) and could fill in as closer (4 seasons of over 30 saves).

Carl Pavano looking for at least 3 years

Via Doug Mittler of ESPN...

January is almost here and Carl Pavano remains unsigned, but that apparently is just fine with the top free agent pitcher left on the market.

Pavano is playing the waiting game and appears to be holding out for three guaranteed years, writes the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo which could mean the right-hander remains on the market a little while longer.

By all accounts, the Twins and Nationals appear to be the prime suitors for Pavano, with the Rangers and Cubs possibly in the mix for the 34-year-old. Cafardo adds that the Mariners could enter the mix if they free up more money.

John Hickey of SportsPress Northwest wrote Thursday the Mariners are unlikely to pursue Pavano since he had no desire to pitch in Seattle the last time he was a free agent.

Meanwhile, Howard Sinker wrote in Wednesday's Star Tribune that the most logical solution is for Pavano to agree to a two-year deal with an option for a third year.

The market could pick up a little if any of the teams that failed to land Brandon Webb make a more concerted effort at signing Pavano. Webb agreed to a deal with the Rangers earlier this week.




Carl Pavano has sure had his ups and downs.  Pitched in a World Series in 2003, All Star in 2004, Big contract entering 2005.....and then 26 combined games pitched from 2005-2008 in a Yankees uniform.  He was able to get his career back on track in 2009 with Cleveland and then with the Twins.  It would probably be best for Pavano if he either hooked on with an NL team known for pitching or stick with the Twins.

Chone Figgins back to the Angels?

Via Doug Mittler of ESPN...

The Los Angeles Angels remain the most logical destination for Adrian Beltre and those talks are likely to continue into the New Year.

At some point, the Angels may be forced to look elsewhere for a bat as agent Scott Boras continues to stall. There was talk in Southern California that the Halos might consider a deal with the Mariners for Chone Figgins, who was a cornerstone player in Anaheim but struggled in his first season in the Pacific Northwest.

John Hickey of SportsPress Northwest writes that the Angels, who already struck out in their attempt to sign Carl Crawford, could view Figgins as the next best thing. Figgins is on the books for $26 million over the next three seasons with a vesting option for 2014, so the Mariners would be open to the financial relief a trade would provide.

Figgins could return to third base in Anaheim, allowing the Mariners to use former first round pick Dustin Ackley or the newly acquired Brendan Ryan at second.


Figgins' 2010 season was a complete disaster.  He posted his lowest average (.259) and scored the fewest runs (62) in a season playing over 100 games.  It was an unexpected performance for Figgins, considering he remained in the AL and the thought was that playing in a big ballpark like Safeco Field would only help his running style.  With the Angels still having a hole at 3rd base, Figgins seems to be a great fit there.

Al Harrington to be moved with Melo?

Via Ryan Corazza of ESPN...

UPDATE: In addition to Harrington, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported that, for now, the Nuggets also want the Nets to take back Renaldo Balkman.

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According to ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard, "Denver is trying to put Al Harrington and his five-year, $33 million deal into any trade it makes for Carmelo Anthony."

It's been long reported Denver is looking to save money and acquire picks and young talent in return for Anthony, so dumping the remaining five years of Harrington's deal -- one he signed in free agency this summer -- would seem to speak to this notion.

Outside of Harrington, Chauncey Billups -- making $11.3 million this season with a team option of $14.2 million next season -- and J.R. Smith (expiring contract) are two other Denver players listed as possible trade chips -- ones that could even be dealt independent of an Anthony deal.



Seems to me like the Nuggets don't even know for sure what they want for Melo.  Do they want future draft picks for the rebuilding process??  Do they just want teams to take their bad contracts off their hands along with Melo?  Do they want both?  What is for sure is that the Nuggets can't let happen to them what happened to the Cavs.  They absolutely need to get something for Melo before the deadline.  If the stories out there are true about him wanting to go to the Knicks, it would be wise for Denver to trade soon since they don't like what the Knicks are offering.  Also, does anyone believe he won't get more than 60 million in free agency?  He might not get the $20mil per year deal, but its safe to assume he'll get his money one way or the other.

Brandon Roy out

Via Ryan Corazza of ESPN...

UPDATE: Blazers GM Rich Cho indicated Roy is out indefinitely due to sorness in both his knees, according to Jason Quick of the Oregonian.

"I can tell you it will most likely be for an extended period," Cho said, according to the paper. "We've talked about (ending his season) and it's a possibility, but we want to explore a couple of other things first."

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It was reported last week that Brandon Roy would miss Portland's three-game road trip due to his lingering knee issues and be re-evaluated this week.

And with a home game against the Jazz on tap Thursday night -- one he's been ruled out for -- it's sounding like Roy's status for the rest of the season is hanging in the balance.

According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports, the team is currently weighing options for Roy to determine the amount of rest appropriate for him.

And two sources with knowledge of the team's thinking have indicated to Berger there's one option on the table to sit him for the rest of the season.

"Sources cautioned that he may very well decide, along with team physicians, to give playing another try in the near future," added Berger. "But the fear of recurring pain and swelling from a bone-on-bone condition in both knees, combined with the Blazers' desire to protect their most important asset, means that wouldn't necessarily be the best long-term solution."

Berger's report also indicates some in Portland's camp think "having him bounce in and out of the lineup indefinitely may not be in anyone's best interests."

So even if Roy decides to come back this season, it's certainly possible he won't be playing night in and night out.

Which means the likes of Wesley Matthews and Rudy Fernandez will need to fill in the scoring gap out of the shooting guard position.

For a team that has had its fair share of injury issues the last couple of years, losing Roy would be the cherry on top.  While the team has many options that can step into the starting SG spot and fill in for Roy for a short term basis, long term for this season the Blazers won't be going anywhere without Roy.