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• Astros' Luhnow talks about his first trade

  December 14, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Jeff Luhnow was named Astros general manager only six days ago. His first nine years in baseball were with the Cardinals. So, how is it that he pulled off a trade so quickly, and one that two rival executives called a win for the Astros?

  Allow Luhnow to explain how he and new Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington negotiated the deal that sent reliever Mark Melancon to Boston on Wednesday for infielder Jed Lowrie and right-hander Kyle Wieland.

  “Several of the GMs have been very welcoming — they called me, talked to me, welcomed me to the club,” Luhnow said. “Ben was one of those guys. He reached out almost immediately. It was very nice to hear from him.

  “We started talking. Originally, it was about some other players. But pretty quickly we figured out that he had a surplus of middle infielders — and that was a big need for us.”

  Luhnow said the early talks involved the possibility of the Astros moving some of their high-salaried players — presumably, first baseman Carlos Lee, left-hander Wandy Rodriguez and right-hander Brett Myers.

  “There wasn’t a lot of appetite for that (from Boston),” Luhnow said. “That withered on the vine. We talked three or four times starting Saturday. (Tuesday) morning, it intensified. It was a pretty straightforward situation.”

  Luhnow said that he had a working knowledge of all three players; he had scouted each of them in college while with the Cardinals. The trade also marked Cherington’s first significant deal since he replaced Theo Epstein as Red Sox GM on Oct. 25.

  “You never want to give up a 26-year-old closer under control,” Luhnow said. “But given where the Astros are right now, is that piece of the puzzle the most important vs. a solid, up-the-middle player with some pop and a young guy who may be a middle- or back-of-the rotation starter down the road?

  “What we got is perfect for what we need.”

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Source: Four clubs interested in free agent Oliver

  December 14, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  Four American League contenders — the Rangers, Angels, Red Sox, and Blue Jays — have shown interest in free-agent left-hander Darren Oliver, a major-league source told FOXSports.com.

  Oliver, 41, is coming off a season in which he posted a career-low 2.29 ERA in 61 relief appearances for the Texas Rangers.

  Oliver pitched for the Red Sox (2002) and Angels (2007-2009) earlier in his career.

  Oliver has reached the postseason in each of the last six years but is still looking for his first World Series ring. So, he is almost certain to sign with a team that has a realistic chance of winning it all in 2012. He lives with his family in the Dallas area, so a return to the Rangers would be easiest from a personal standpoint.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Big deals on horizon?

  December 13, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Teams with two marketable assets generally prefer to trade them separately to maximize the return.

  The Athletics likely will do that with left-hander Gio Gonzalez and closer Andrew Bailey. Ditto for the Braves with right-hander Jair Jurrjens and infielder/outfielder Martin Prado.

  Certain teams, however, are interested in both Gonzalez and Bailey, and others want both Jurrjens and Prado, according to major league sources.

  It is unlikely that that the Athletics or Braves will package both their chips in the same trade, sources say. But the mere possibility raises the potential for a bigger deal.

  The Red Sox, Rangers and Reds are among the teams that have shown interest in both Gonzalez and Bailey, and the Orioles and Braves have discussed a deal that included both Jurrjens and Prado, sources say.

  The main problem with pulling off such trades is that teams offering veterans with rising salaries want back packages of high-value, low-cost players — the very players that most clubs are reluctant to move.

  The Athletics likely will trade before Bailey before Gonzalez, preferring to hold off on Gonzalez until after the winning bidder for the rights to Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish is identified. At that point, Gonzalez should be in even greater demand.

  Then again, a team could justify trading multiple prospects for both A’s pitchers. Bailey, 27, is under club control for three more seasons; Gonzalez, 26, is under club control for four more.

  The same case is more difficult to make with Jurrjens and Prado, but not by much; Jurrjens, who turns 26 on Jan. 29, and Prado, 28, each are under club control for two more seasons.

  — Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

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• The Athletics aren't done

  December 09, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  If you think the Oakland Athletics’ trade of right-hander Trevor Cahill reduces their chances of moving lefty Gio Gonzalez, think again.

  The Angels’ $331.5 million investment in free-agent first baseman Albert Pujols and left-hander C.J. Wilson on Thursday only reinforced the Athletics’ vastly inferior status in the AL West.

  So, the A’s again are turning back the clock, dangling pitchers such as Cahill, Gonzalez and closer Andrew Bailey for younger, less expensive players — not that Cahill, Gonzalez and Bailey are terribly expensive themselves.

  The Cahill deal was Phase One. The interest in Gonzalez and Bailey continues to be intense, major-league sources say. Once Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish goes off the board, Gonzalez should be in even higher demand.

  The Rangers, Blue Jays, Nationals and Marlins are among the teams targeting Gonzalez, sources said. The Red Sox and Rays are among the clubs after Bailey. Certain teams, including the Rangers and Reds, like both.

  The Athletics’ plan is to acquire as much young talent as possible in preparation for either a move to a new ballpark in San Jose or additional years of low-revenue purgatory in Oakland.

  A move to San Jose does not seem close to approval.

  -- Ken Rosenthal

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• Closer market shrinking quickly

  December 08, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  DALLAS — The game of musical chairs for closers is just about over.

  Still standing, and rapidly losing leverage: Free agents Ryan Madson, Francisco Cordero and the Oakland Athletics, who are trying to trade Andrew Bailey.

  The Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds, the only contenders still looking for closers, seemingly are in good position to strike bargains.

  We’ve already seen four closers sign free-agent contracts — Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell, Frank Francisco and Matt Capps.

  We’ve seen two closers get traded — Sergio Santos, from the White Sox to the Blue Jays, and Huston Street, from the Rockies to the Padres.

  And we’ve seen one casualty in the market: Free agent Francisco Rodriguez, who accepted salary arbitration from the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

  Rodriguez’s agent, Scott Boras, when asked about the game of musical chairs earlier in the evening, joked, “I only need one chair.”

  Boras found one for Rodriguez in terms of dollars — K-Rod, coming off a $13.5 million salary in 2011, will receive big money on a one-year, non-guaranteed deal in arbitration.

  However, K-Rod will not get the closer role he covets, continuing as a setup man for John Axford. It’s doubtful that is what Rodriguez envisioned when he changed agents last summer, going from Paul Kinzer to Boras.

  Rodriguez had a chance to sign with the San Diego Padres but lost that opportunity when the team traded for Street on Wednesday, sources said. The Brewers still could seek to move K-Rod. The Braves employed that strategy when Rafael Soriano accepted arbitration two years ago; they sendt him to the Rays.

  Madson, another Boras client, declined arbitration from the Phillies. Had Madson accepted, he would have been in the awkward position of setting up for Papelbon, whom the Phillies had signed as his replacement.

  The Red Sox now figure to be the only club willing to meet Madson’s price. The Phillies had discussions with him about a four-year, $44 million deal. But the Sox could trade for Bailey, who is a much less expensive option as he enters his first year of arbitration.

  The Athletics have far fewer teams competing for Bailey than they did at the outset of the offseason, but they’re not necessarily down to only the Red Sox and Reds.

  The Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels are among the teams that have shown interest in Bailey. Those teams, however, would not necessarily use Bailey as a full-time closer, perhaps reducing the quality of their trade offers.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Marlins likely, but not certain to keep Ramirez

  December 05, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest indicated it’s likely — but not certain — Hanley Ramirez will remain with the team after the expected signing of shortstop Jose Reyes.

  Beinfest was circumspect in discussing his plans Monday, since the team has yet to formally announce Reyes’ six-year, $106 million contract. But when asked how the signing of a new shortstop would impact Ramirez, the incumbent shortstop, Beinfest said: “If something like that happened, he would change positions. If and when we acquire a shortstop, we’ll address that. Hanley wants to win. We’d like to provide the pieces around him to help him win.”

  Ramirez has a strong preference to remain at shortstop, sources say, but he intends to handle the matter with the Marlins professionally. He has not requested a trade. One major league source said Ramirez is likely to move to third base.

  Beinfest was asked if Ramirez had suggested he would prefer a trade to switching positions.

  “Whatever Hanley and I talk about, we’ll keep between Hanley and I,” Beinfest said. “I can only tell you he wants to win. We’re going to try to help him out.”

  Asked if he envisions Ramirez on his Opening Day roster in 2012, Beinfest replied, “I’m not going to talk specifically about players, if they’re going to be here or not.”

  If the Marlins were to make Ramirez available via trade, the Braves, Red Sox, Astros, Brewers, Phillies, Cardinals, Giants and Mariners are among the teams that could upgrade at shortstop.

  — Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

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• Red Sox weigh adding closer vs. promoting Bard

  December 05, 2011 by FOXSports

  The Boston Red Sox, who lost closer Jonathan Papelbon via free agency to the Philadelphia Phillies, are in the market for a replacement.

  Boston is among the many teams inquiring about Oakland Athletics closer Andrew Bailey, who is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. The Red Sox also are keeping tabs on the trade market for Colorado's Huston Street. Ryan Madson, displaced in Philadelphia by Papelbon, is their top free-agent target.

  The Red Sox, however, have not ruled out promoting setup reliever Daniel Bard to closer. The 26-year-old right-hander has a career ERA of 2.88 and 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings in three major league seasons.

  — Jon Paul Morosi
  

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• All options open for Kuroda

  December 03, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  Hiroki Kuroda didn’t want to leave the Dodgers last July, using his no-trade clause to block deals to both the Tigers and Red Sox, according to major-league sources.

  But now that the Dodgers have effectively replaced Kuroda with lefty Chris Capuano, the landscape for the Japanese right-hander is different – “wide open” in the words of one source.

  Kuroda, who turns 37 on Feb. 10, is considering all options, the source said, including major-league teams regardless of location as well as the Hiroshima Carp, his former club in Japan.

  The Carp have made Kuroda an offer, according to Japanese reports. The Rockies are quietly pursuing him, according to the Denver Post. The Red Sox, Tigers and Diamondbacks are among the teams that have liked Kuroda in the past.

  While Kuroda chose not to be traded in July, he is said to be more open to playing elsewhere after going through the thought process of considering other clubs last summer. Also, he likely could earn more with a major-league club than one in Japan.

  The Dodgers, who are reducing payroll while in the process of getting sold, evidently could not afford Kuroda, who earned $12 million last season. The team signed Capuano to a back-loaded contract; the lefty will earn $3 million next season and $6 million in ’13.

  Kuroda went 13-16 last season, but his 3.07 ERA was the best of his four-year major-league career. He also worked 202 innings, his highest total since coming to the majors.

  - Ken Rosenthal

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• Uncertainty persists over star pitcher Darvish

  November 25, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  Major League Baseball is still waiting on star Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish, and some around the game are beginning to question whether he will even be available for the 2012 season.

  The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters — Darvish’s current team — were expected to announce after the Japan World Series whether Darvish would be posted for MLB clubs. But the Japan Series ended about a week ago, and there has been no word from the club.

  One source with close knowledge of Darvish’s thinking said Friday afternoon it remains “more likely than not” that the right-hander will come to the major leagues in 2012. The source added that there has been no deadline placed on the posting decision.

  But consider the timeline of Daisuke Matsuzaka’s posting after the 2006 season. About six weeks passed between his posting and the signing of his contract with the Boston Red Sox. If Darvish’s process is of similar length, he won’t sign with an MLB team until the middle of January. And that’s probably the best-case scenario.

  Darvish’s status could affect the plans of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, both of whom are in the market for starting pitching. The general managers of the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays scouted Darvish in person this season.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Red Sox search likely to be expanded

  November 17, 2011 by KenRosenthal

   

  Red Sox team president Larry Lucchino denied Thursday that the club was focused solely on hiring an experienced manager, but repeated that the club “probably” would widen its search.

  Major-league sources say that Tigers third-base coach Gene Lamont made a strong impression in his interview with the club, and that his previous managing experience with the Pirates and White Sox could be “a separator” in his candidacy.

  The Red Sox, meanwhile, have not ruled out interviewing former Mets and Rangers manager Bobby Valentine, sources said.

  The team’s presumed front-runner, Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum, did not receive an offer from the Red Sox after interviewing with the team’s owners on Wednesday.

  Sveum did get an offer from the Cubs, and is now on the verge of becoming their next manager.

  “Different people are on different tracks,” Lucchino said when asked about the perception that Sox ownership had overruled new general manager Ben Cherington, who had not scheduled any other second interviews.

  “The whole group is not going to proceed in unison. It’s not that linear a process. One of the steps was for Sveum to meet John (Henry) and Tom (Werner). That was an important part of the process.”

  Asked about losing Sveum to the Cubs, Lucchino said, “Let a thousand blossoms bloom. The Cubs will do what they want to do, what they feel they have to do. We’re trying to do our process with as much internal consistency as possible. It's inevitable that (Sveum) would be a major-league manager someday.”

  Blue Jays first-base coach Torey Lovullo and Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. are the other candidates the Red Sox have interviewed. Neither has previous managing experience. The Red Sox no longer are considering Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin.

  Lucchino, when asked about a report that the Sox wanted an experienced manager, said, “I don’t know that that’s accurate.”

  -- Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

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• Sources: Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs pursuing Buehrle

  November 16, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  As recently as spring training, Mark Buehrle spoke publicly about the possibility of retirement after the 2011 season. That’s not going to happen. In fact, it’s possible that the free-agent left-hander will sign a contract that rivals the four-year, $56 million deal he signed in 2007.

  Buehrle is young enough to justifiably ask for a deal of that length. He will be 33 at the start of next season — the same age as Cliff Lee, who has four years left on his contract with the Phillies.

  Buehrle isn’t all that much older than fellow free-agent C.J. Wilson, who turns 31 this week, and both lefties are in high demand. Chicago Cubs officials met with Buehrle’s agent on Tuesday — the second time they had done so.

  The Yankees and Red Sox, both in dire need of pitching upgrades, are pursuing Buehrle, sources say. Other interested clubs include the White Sox, Blue Jays, Royals, Angels, Marlins, Nationals and Diamondbacks.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Sources: Red Sox among clubs interested in Cordero

  November 15, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  The Red Sox, Reds, Blue Jays, Marlins, Dodgers, Angels, and Mets are among the teams that have expressed interest in free-agent closer Francisco Cordero, major-league sources say.

  Cordero, 36, is one of the top closers available, now that Jonathan Papelbon is off the board. Cordero averaged nearly 40 saves per season over the past five years, with a 2.97 ERA. He’s coming off a season in which he posted his best WHIP (1.019) since 2002.

  The Red Sox, Dodgers, and Angels have internal candidates to close, but the sheer number of available closers could mean that they sign a closer, anyway.

  -- Jon Paul Morosi

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• Marlins, Blue Jays pursuing starters

  November 08, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  As the pitching market turns…

  The Marlins and Blue Jays are the teams most aggressively pursuing trades for starting pitchers, according to major-league sources.

  The Marlins also were meeting with free-agent left-hander Mark Buerhle on Tuesday, but the competition to sign Buehrle is intense, sources say.

  Three big-money AL clubs - the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers – are among the teams said to be interested in Buehrle.

  As for the Jays, their pursuits of both starters and relievers is standard operating procedure for general manager Alex Anthopoulos.

  “Alex is always looking for everything,” one rival GM said. “He is the only GM in the league with a 60-man roster – and I say that as a compliment.

  “You can’t pin him down. He has interest in every one of your players.”

  The starting pitchers who are known or thought to be available in trades include:

  *Rays right-handers James Shields and Wade Davis.

  *Athletics lefty Gio Gonzalez and righty Trevor Cahill.

  *Braves righty Jair Jurrjens.

  *White Sox lefty John Danks and righty Gavin Floyd.

  *Cubs righty Carlos Zambrano.

  *Dodgers righty Chad Billingsley.

  *Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez.

  The availability of Rodriguez will become clearer if Jim Crane is approved as owner at the owners’ meetings next week in Milwaukee.

  Crane is willing to move Rodriguez, sources say. Drayton McLane, who would remain owner if the deal fell apart, is more reluctant to make a deal.

  — Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

   

   

   

   

   

   

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• Brewers hitting coach a front-runner for Red Sox job?

  November 04, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  The Red Sox are early in their search for a new manager, but Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum appears to be the front-runner, according to rival executives.

  Sveum, who turns 48 on Nov. 23, interviewed for the Red Sox’s opening on Wednesday. He worked for the Sox previously as their third-base coach in 2004 and ’05, and is well regarded by the team’s new GM, Ben Cherington.

  The Red Sox interviewed Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin on Monday. Mackanin met with the Cubs on Friday. The Cubs also plan to interview another of the Red Sox’s candidates, Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux, and also have received permission from the Brewers to interview Sveum.

  Maddux could be a “wild card” for the Red Sox, one source said, a candidate who knocks out team officials in his interview and changes the entire dynamic of the process.

  Sveum, a no-nonsense type who is highly regarded by Brewers stars Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, managed the Brewers for the final 12 games of the 2008 season and also in the playoffs that year.
  
  One concern for the Red Sox might be that Sveum has spent most of his playing and coaching career in smaller markets. However, he drew heavy scrutiny in his two years as the Sox’s third-base coach, and is at least acquainted with the pressures of working in Boston.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Bautista hopeful that Farrell won't leave for Boston

  October 24, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  Amid reports that the Red Sox are interested in hiring away Blue Jays manager John Farrell, Toronto star Jose Bautista said Monday that he’s hopeful Farrell will remain with the Jays.

  “He knows we want him to stay,” Bautista said prior to Game 5 of the World Series, as he accepted the American League Hank Aaron Award for the second consecutive season.

  “When it comes down to it, he’s going to have to make a decision based on his career, his family, and where he feels comfortable. Unfortunately, if that means him going to the Red Sox, we’re just going to have to find a new manager. But I’m hopeful that doesn’t happen.”

  Farrell served as the Boston pitching coach for four years before becoming the Toronto manager prior to this season.

  “The way to look at it is as a compliment, knowing that you have a good manager, that a team like that is interested in quote-unquote taking him away from you,” Bautista said.

  “Hopefully, he’ll stay on board with us. It was a period of transition from Cito (Gaston) to him, and now we feel comfortable with him. I feel like he did a great job managing our team, given all the difficulties of our season with injuries, trades, roster shuffles, some guys maybe not playing up to their capabilities. We still broke .500. Moving forward, if we get the pitching consistency and health we need, I don’t see us being too far away from making the playoffs.”

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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