MLB Rumors
Roy Oswalt Decision as Soon as Tomorrow
Roy Oswalt's decision on which team to join could come as soon as tomorrow, according to Jim Bowden of ESPN.
We haven't heard much from the Oswalt camp over the past week, as the market for the 34 year-old has evaporated. Much of this is his own doing, as Oswalt has (supposedly) restricted his potential landing spots to teams near his home in Mississippi like Texas and St. Louis. He's gone so far as to tell teams like the Indians not to bother, and now that the Cardinals are more or less set and the Rangers don't really have room for him (unless they move Uehara), he doesn't leave many options.
That's unless there's a mystery team, of course, or unless Oswalt has changed his mind about pitching with the Boston Red Sox. As Bowden says, we're sure to know soon enough.
Bobby Abreu To Angels: Play Me Or Trade Me
Is it safe to say the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have to too many Angels in the outfield? Angels outfielder Bobby Abreu offered a solution to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes for that "problem," - sort of.
"I will not be on the bench knowing that I can play. If the Angels don't have a position for me, then the best thing is to trade me. It would be the correct (thing) to do. I won't be able to do nothing sitting in the bench. I want to play, and I believe I can help this team. But if there is no spot for me, then I would prefer to play somewhere different," said the left-handed hitter and two time All-Star.
Angels GM Jerry Dipoto tried to defuse the story, by saying Abreu hasn't told him or manager Mike Scioscia about how he feels. Dipoto believes he'll be on the Angels 25-man roster, but didn't say whether he'd be a starter or not.
"It's not something Bobby approached me about," Dipoto said. "It's not something he's driven through (manager) Mike Scioscia. At this point, it's a conversation between Bobby and a third party."
Cubs / Red Sox Epstein Compensation Deal Close
10:31 AM ET: Whoa, perhaps it's a comp pick a bit more worthy than we originally thought? Alex Speier is reporting the pick will come from the Cubs 40-man roster. This is moving quickly, so expect a resolution today.
10:17 AM ET: The decision on how to compensate the Boston Red Sox for losing Theo Epstein to the Chicago Cubs is close, according to Gordon Edes of ESPN. Edes suggests the deal will include "one quality minor leaguer." The definition of "quality" is at the heart of who is sent over.
Marc Normandin at Over the Monster takes a look several potential candidates, and I'm including a link to our Cubs org chart down below -- maybe you can find the prospect in question?
Ken Rosenthal suggests it could be as soon as today.
- Twitter / @GordonEdes: Theo compensation deal 'cl ...
"Theo compensation deal 'close,' with Sox receiving one quality minor leaguer in return from Cubs, according to MLB source." - Twitter / @Ken_Rosenthal: The long national nightmar ...
"The long national nightmare is nearly over. Theo compensation finally might be decided today. #Cubs #redsox #MLB"
New York Yankees, Eric Chavez in Talks
The New York Yankees are in talks with Eric Chavez, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Heyman suggests it would be a major-league deal if completed.
Chavez, 34, enters his 15th season, all but the last of which were spent with the Oakland Athletics. He's a career .267 / .342 / .474 hitter, but those numbers have been coming down in conjunction with limited playing time. Chavez hasn't played in more than 90 games in a season since 2007, and according to Andrew Marchand, was considering retirement before talks began with the Yankees:
- Twitter / @JonHeymanCBS: #yankees are in talks with ...
yankees are in talks with eric chavez now. would be major-league deal if it happens - Twitter / @AndrewMarchand: With Ibanez on board, Chav ...
With Ibanez on board, Chavez is expected to be next. Chavez has made a lot & was considering retiring so extra dough is gravy.
Yankees, Ibanez Negotiating Extensively
The New York Yankees are negotiating "extensively" with Raul Ibanez, according to Ken Davidoff. Any deal will likely come after the A.J. Burnett trade is made official.
Joel Sherman noted earlier today that the Yankees are favoring Ibanez over other additions, like Johnny Damon, because they think he's "better on defense and better vs. RHP."
- Twitter / @KenDavidoff - "Yankees have been negotiating extensively with reps for Raul Ibanez. An agreement seems very likely, after Burnett trade gets done."
- Twitter / @Joelsherman1 - "Hear current Hal Steinbrenner #Yankees budget even after AJ trade has room only for Chavez or LH DH (likely Ibanez) not both. But if AJ passes #Pirates physical Sun, #Yankees execs plan to meet again to discuss if room can be made for both areas."
Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics Nearing Koji Uehara Trade
The Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics are nearing a trade centered around relief pitcher Koji Uehara, according to Joe Stiglich of the San Jose Mercury News. Uehara has been in trade rumors for a while now as the Rangers retool their pitching staff for the 2012 season.
Uehara, 36, was acquired by Texas from the Baltimore Orioles during the middle of the 2011 season. His 4.00 ERA with the Rangers isn't great, especially when noting how well he pitched in relief for Baltimore. Upon signing with the Orioles out of Japan in 2009, Uehara began his MLB career as a starting pitcher, but he struggles with some injury issues.
Baltimore moved Uehara into the bullpen full-time in 2010, and he's been dominant in that role since. Over the past two seasons, Uehara has posted a 2.56 ERA in 109 innings with a stunning 140 strikeouts compared to just 14 walks. He doesn't overpower hitters, but the 36-year-old has been extremely effective.
A.J. Burnett Trade Completed, Pending Physicals And Approval From MLB
1:58 PM ET: The deal is complete, pending physicals and approval from the commissioner's office, according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Pirates will be paying $5 million in 2012 and $8 million in 2013 for Burnett's services, for a total commitment of $13 million, as Kovacevic adds.
1:45 PM ET: One of the young players reportedly being sent to New York in the deal is relief pitcher Diego Moreno, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Moreno, 25, is armed with strong velocity, but he didn't reach Double-A until the end of last season and the lack of acceptable secondary pitches has long been a problem for him.
12:57 PM ET: The deal is done and waiting for MLB approval, according to Ken Rosenthal. The Yankees will pay $20 million and the Pirates will pay the remaining $13 million of Burnett's contract as well as sending two low-level minor league players back to the Yankees. Burnett will take a physical Sunday.
The two prospects in question are still being debated. (twitter 1 / 2 / 3)
11:33 AM ET: Barring any unforeseen antics by supposed mystery teams, the New York Yankees A.J. Burnett trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates is all but a done deal. The two sides will be taking their proposed trade to Commissioner Bud Selig for approval some time later today, according to Buster Olney.
Adam Rubin of ESPN says the reason Selig needs to approve the deal is because of the money involved, which includes the Yankees paying at least $20 million of Burnett's remaining contract.
The exact parameters of the deal are not yet known, but the Pirates are said to be including two marginal prospects in exchange for Burnett:
- Twitter / @Buster_ESPN: Sources: Yankees and Pirat ...
"Sources: Yankees and Pirates hope to take their proposed Burnett deal to the Commissioner later today, for approval." - Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees on verge of completing trade, sources say - ESPN New York
"The approval is needed because of the money involved, as the Yankees will eat about $20 million of the $33 million still owed Burnett over the last two seasons of his contract, sources said."
Yankees Rumors: A.J. Burnett Trade Almost Done, Raul Ibanez, Eric Chavez
A.J. Burnett trade rumors have been going on nonstop for the last week or so, in case you haven't noticed. In any event, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports tweets that the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates will complete the deal within a few days, "barring something unforeseen." The Pirates are set to take on $13M of the $33M owed to the right-hander, while the Yanks will get a couple non-roster minor-leaguers in return.
Meanwhile, Raul Ibanez and Eric Chavez are on the Yankees' radar, as the team is looking to add a couple more bats. Yesterday, I named Ibanez on the list of MLB's top five remaining free agents.
- Twitter / @JonHeymanCBS: barring something unforese ...
"barring something unforeseen, aj trade will be completed w/i a few days. pirates to pay $13M of $33M, give up 2 non-roster minor leaguers" - Twitter / @JonHeymanCBS: #yankees intent on adding ...
"#yankees intent on adding 2 bats once aj deal w/ pittsburgh is complete and remain focused on ibanez and chavez"
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