According to the New York Daily News, the Yankees have finally decided to offer up Phil Hughes in their package deal for Twins ace Johan Santana. The Yankees had been reluctant to offer either Joba or Hughes in any past package for Johan, it seems, but the thought of the Red Sox possibly getting […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees | 7 Comments »
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals have come to terms with free agent SS Ceaser Izturis on a 1-year contract, worth $2.85 million, and as much as $3.5 million if all incentive bonuses are reached. Izturis is 27 yeard old, and was a Pittsburgh Pirate last season, but they declined his ‘08 option.
Not that Izturis’ career totals of […]
Filed under: Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals | No Comments »
According to ESPN.com, the New York Mets have traded away promising young outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Washinton Nationals for outfielder Ryan Church and catcher Brian Schneider.
In essence, the Mets traded away a young, cheap and promising major trading chip for a 31-year old, light-hitting catcher (their third catcher technically, meaning Johnny Estrada will be non-tendered next […]
Filed under: New York Mets, Washington Nationals | 6 Comments »
According to ESPN.com, the Detroit Tigers have signed Kenny Rogers to a 1-year, $8 million deal. The 43-year-old lefty also has performance bonuses added into his contract.
Detroit was really the only choice for Rogers all along. It was more a matter of when it would happen. If you recall, he had fired super-agent Scott Boras […]
Filed under: Detroit Tigers | No Comments »
ESPN is reporting that the Houston Astros will be signing second baseman Kaz Matsui to a 3 year deal, worth somewhere between $15-17 million. We had this story here on Mlb Fleece Factor on November 19th.
It appears Matsui has cashed in on a strong post season with Colorado. His numbers away from Coors field were down right […]
Filed under: Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros | 7 Comments »
In only 4 short days, the best time of the baseball offseason begins. Yes, that’s right, the Winter Meetings. On Monday, December 3rd, the meetings will kick-off in Nashville, Tenn.
There are so many huge names being thrown around in the trade market, and this will surely dominate the talks among GM’s. Some of the bigger […]
Filed under: Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, _Winter Meetings ('07) | No Comments »
According to Rotoworld.com, Jorge Posada has stated that he thinks Yankees’ starting pitcher Andy Pettitte is leaning towards retirement. Apparently Posada has been talking with the lefy starter at least once a week since the season ended.
Pettitte would be leaving $16 milllion on the table if he decided to call it quits. Now I know […]
Filed under: Houston Astros, New York Yankees | 1 Comment »
Per Ken Rosenthal, the Brewers are on the verge of signing free agent reliever David Riske to a multi-year deal. Riske was only 1-4 last season with the Kansas City Royals, but did post a solid 2.45 ERA. He also added 4 saves to his resume in 2007, bringing his career total to 20.
It is […]
Filed under: Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers | No Comments »
Time for a quick update on the Johan Santana trade rumors involving three of the major players:
Boston currently has the best offer on the table, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The offer would send Coco Crisp and lefty Jon Lester to Minnesota along with prospects Jed Lowrie (SS,2B), and Justin Masterson (RHP). If […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees | No Comments »
The St. Petersburg Times brings us the model for the proposed $450 million, open-air stadium, complete with a sail and everything. A sail! ha Anyway, the stadium would be on the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg, and would seat 34,000 fans. It seems there will be a large mast in the outfield as well, which […]
Filed under: Tampa Bay Rays | 1 Comment »
Courtesy of Ken Rosenthal, we learn that the New York Mets are desperately trying to acquire a top notch starting pitcher but are falling short because they simply don’t have the chips to acquire one.
Sensing that they have little shot at Twins ace Johan Santana unless they include star shortstop Jose Reyes in a deal, […]
Filed under: New York Mets, Oakland Athletics | 4 Comments »
Courtesy of Bob Dutton at The Kansas City Star, the Royals have signed Japanese relief pitcher Yasuhiko Yabuta to a $6 million, two-year pact. The contract includes a club option for a 3rd season.
Yabuta, 34, has pitched in Japan’s Pacific League for the last 12 years. Last season, he posted a 4-6 record with a 2.73 ERA in 58 […]
Filed under: Kansas City Royals | 1 Comment »
According to the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Tigers are after right handed reliever Latroy Hawkins and “there were indications” the team has offered him a multi-year contract.
The Tigers, of course, are in need of relief help due to the freak injury to Joel Zumaya who will miss at least the first half of the […]
Filed under: Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers | 3 Comments »
According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies could announce the signings of catcher Yorvit Torrealba and relief pitcher Matt Herges as soon as Thursday. Both players played solid roles in getting the Rockies to their 1st World Series apperance in franchise history, where they were ultimately swept by the Boston Red Sox.
Torrealba […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, New York Mets | No Comments »
This one comes courtesy of Buster Olney. Troy Percival, who had a nice year last season with St.Louis (1.80 ERA in 40 IP), is working on a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. As Buster Olney reports, one should expect the Rays would be promising Percival the closer’s role next season. Terms to a possible […]
Filed under: Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays | No Comments »
Nick Piecoro of azcentral.com reports that the Arizona Diamondbacks may look to acquire Dontrelle Willis later this offseason.
Piecoro points out that a primary D’Backs need is a starter to slot in behind ace Brandon Webb. And although the club has plenty of young stars to acquire Johan Santana, Erik Bedard or Dan Haren, they most likely will not […]
Filed under: Arizona Diamondbacks, Florida Marlins, Oakland Athletics | 2 Comments »
According to WFAN 660 AM, the Mets have acquired Brian Stokes from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations.
Last year, Stokes was 2-7 in 59 appearances with a 7.07 ERA.
Filed under: New York Mets | 2 Comments »
The Star Tribune is reporting that the Twins are close to acquiring Delmon Young for Matt Garza. These two seem to be the principles in the deal, although, the deal is rumored to include 6 players.
The rest of the deal breaks down as follows: Jason Bartlett and Juan Rincon (steroid cheat) to the Rays and SS Brendan […]
Filed under: Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays | 8 Comments »
We mentioned the Peavy rumor, but CBS Sportstline also had some other good rumblings today:
Sportsline expects the Phillies to be “aggressive” in trying to keep Aaron Rowand. If true, this would be another lie by the Philly brass, who claimed to only be in on free agent pitchers this offseason, but was then exposed as […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers | 1 Comment »
According to CBS Sportsline, “rival clubs say that San Diego GM Kevin Towers is discussing Cy Young winner Jake Peavy in trade talks this winter, though the feeling is that it’s just to gauge interest as the Padres attempt to work an extension with Peavy. “ Sportsline speculates that the Padres may look to fill […]
Filed under: San Diego Padres | 1 Comment »
If the Yankees’ management deals Melky Cabrera this off-season, they have informed the agent of free agent center fielder Aaron Rowand that they would indeed be interested, as per The Newark Star Ledger.
If Melky is sent packing in a deal that would bring back Johan Santana, and the Yankees pushed for a defensive upgrade in […]
Filed under: New York Yankees | 2 Comments »
We touched on the Cards need for starting pitching help yesterday. Now let’s discuss the hole they have at shortstop. Let’s examine the options:
The incumbent is David Eckstein. But “The Pest” may have fleeced himself by saying that he wants Julio Lugo/Rafael Furcal money. Lugo fleeced the Red Sox last winter for $36M over 4 years, and Furcal […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, St. Louis Cardinals | 1 Comment »
Here at Fleece Factor, we not only report on a rumored fleece, an old fleece or a recently made fleece….we are in the business of detecting a potential fleece as well.
In Marc Tompkin’s piece in the St. Petersburg Times, we might have caught a glimpse of Cesar Izturis gift wrapping a fleece that will soon be placed […]
Filed under: Tampa Bay Rays | 1 Comment »
We touched on the main news from Ken Rosenthal today - that being the Joe Nathan rumors. But Rosenthal also had some other good tidbits. Let’s take a look.
According to Rosenthal, “Matt Garza remains the young pitcher the Twins are most likely to move.” Rosenthal mentions the Mariners as a potential partner with centerfield stud prospect […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners | 2 Comments »
Will the Mets get that long-coveted SP? David Lennon of Newsday thinks it might happen.
Seems like the Mets have all but bowed out of the Johan sweepstakes - admitting to themselves and their fans that they just don’t have the chips. So, let’s turn our attention to Oakland for the usual suspects of Haren and Blanton.
Minaya and […]
Filed under: New York Mets, Oakland Athletics | 2 Comments »
Ken Rosenthal reports this morning that if the Twins trade Johan Santana, look for them to also move closer Joe Nathan this winter. The logic fits. If Minnesota loses Santana in addition to Torii Hunter, they may be better off long term by dealing Nathan now and moving ahead with the youngsters they acquire for the […]
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins | 1 Comment »
If you’re a fan of the New York Mets, don’t read any further.
On July 30, 2004, the New York Mets dealt top pitching prospect Scott Kazmir and pitcher Joselo Diaz to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for starting pitcher Victor Zambrano and relief pitcher Bartolome Fortunato. The Mets found themselves 6 games out of a […]
Filed under: New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays, _Great Moments in Fleece History | 2 Comments »
According to AZCentral.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks have made a 3-year offer worth a reported $27 million to free agent Japanese right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. Thanks to mlbtraderumors.com for the link.
The Seattle Mariners are still viewed as the favorite to land the coveted pitcher from Japan, but this offer, if true, serves as a bench mark for […]
Filed under: Arizona Diamondbacks, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners | No Comments »
With the winter meetings fast approaching, let’s talk about the one thing that has been looming over the baseball offseason: The Mitchell Report. Earlier reports had suggested that the study on steroid abuse within baseball led by former majority leader Senator George Mitchell could be released by the end of this year. Any potential free […]
Filed under: Cincinnati Reds, Florida Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals | 1 Comment »
According to the LA Times, GM Ned Coletti has stated that due to the high price of acquiring talent in the trade market this off-season, the Dodgers may be holding onto their blue chip prospects rather than making a run at an impact player, like Florida’s Miguel Cabrera or Baltimore’s Erik Bedard (As previously reported here […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers | No Comments »
Finally some good Cardinals gossip, courtesy of Joe Strauss of StLToday.com.
The Cardinals main goal at the upcoming winter meetings will be to obtain a starting pitcher or two. In part because of ace Chris Carpenter’s health, St. Louis’ starting rotation was atrocious in 2007, going 48-72 with a miserable 5.04 era. Their 2008 rotation, as currently situated, […]
Filed under: St. Louis Cardinals | 4 Comments »
According to the LA Times, talks between the Dodgers and Orioles centering around Baltimore lefty Erik Bedard have stalled. Apparently the Orioles will wait and see how the Miguel Cabrera trade rumors unfold, as the prospects rumored in any Cabrera deal will be the prospects they would want from the Dodgers. (Probably Clayton Kershaw and […]
Filed under: Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers | 4 Comments »
According to Espn.com’s Buster Olney, rival executives of the Chicago Cubs have stated that the team is open to trading their oft-injured star pitcher. It appears the Cubs would like to sign him to a 1-year deal with a vesting option for a second season rather than go through arbitration with him this winter, but it seems […]
Filed under: Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies | No Comments »
Todd Zolecki of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the Phillies and Randy Wolf are now engaged in serious talks to join the rotation.
The Phillies remain puzzling to me….why?
Is Brett Myers in the rotation? Is he still closing? Nobody seems to know for sure.
Randy Wolf? I mean, he is allllriiiight. But he sports a mid 4 ERA […]
Filed under: Philadelphia Phillies | 1 Comment »
Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe is reporting that talks between the Twins and Red Sox are “intensifying” today.
What does this mean? A Santana package perhaps? Or a smaller deal involving a Twins mid-level prospect perhaps?
Filed under: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins | 4 Comments »
