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• Who is Edwin Jackson?

  December 28, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  After left-handers C.J. Wilson and Mark Buerhle, the biggest contract to a free-agent starting pitcher this offseason went to righty Aaron Harang, who signed with the Dodgers for two years, $12 million.

  The trade market for starting pitchers has been far more active, with lefties Gio Gonzalez and Jonathan Sanchez and righties Trevor Cahill and Mat Latos among those changing teams.

  Which brings us to Edwin Jackson.

  Of the remaining free agents, Jackson is perhaps the most attractive, considering that at 28, he is considerably younger than righty Hiroki Kuroda, 36, and righty Roy Oswalt, 34.

  Jackson’s agent, Scott Boras, pointed out Wednesday that Jackson is more proven than Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish, who is likely to command a total outlay of more than $110 million after the Rangers won his negotiating rights with a bid of $51.7 million.

  “If someone were to say that Yu Darvish would come in, average 200 innings, less than a 4.00 ERA and be a solid two or three starter, they would be elated,” Boras said. “The reality is, that is exactly what Edwin Jackson has done.”

  “I’ll stand on record and say that no Japanese pitcher that I know of has come here their first three seasons and averaged 200 innings with less than a 4.00 ERA. There are none. (Darvish) would be the first.”

  Actually Boras is wrong — Hideo Nomo averaged 209 innings and a 3.34 ERA in his first three seasons with the Dodgers. But the agent's overall point is valid: Darvish will not have it easy.

  Jackson in the past three seasons is 35-30 with a 3.96 ERA, averaging 207 2/3 innings. No one would call him an ace, but he actually compares reasonably well with Phillies lefty Cole Hamels, who will be a free agent after next season, and Cubs righty Matt Garza, who currently is available in trade.

  Hamels is 36-31 with a 3.36 ERA over the past three seasons, Garza 33-32 with a 3.73 ERA. In ERA-plus, a statistic that adjusts ERA for league and ballpark, with 100 being the average, Hamels is at 120, Garza 109, Jackson 108.

  “Edwin is very much unknown in this (free-agent) process,” Boras said. “Look at the trade market, the availability of older shorter-term, veteran pitchers, the newness of so many general managers . . . it definitely had an impact. The new GMs, as they slip into it, their familiarity with the market is all new. The information they receive is all new.”

  Ten teams have changed GMs over the past two offseasons, though a number of those executives had previous experience in the role.

  — Ken Rosenthal

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• Astros could make some late moves

  December 07, 2011 by FOXSports

  Current Astros interim GM David Gottfried has been empowered to make trades, a source said.

  However, Wandy Rodriguez, Houston's biggest trade chip, likely won't be moved until the fates of Mark Buehrle, C.J. Wilson and possibly Gio Gonzalez are decided.

  The Astros are willing to eat some of the monster salary Carlos Lee is owed in order to move him, with the Indians a potential destination. He'd be a fit in Cleveland, but the Indians are wary of his contract, set to pay him $18.5 million in both 2011 and '12.

  — Jon Paul Morosi

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• Nats, Marlins, Rangers after Buehrle

  December 04, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  The Nationals, Marlins and Rangers are the most aggressive teams on free-agent left-hander Mark Buehrle, according to major-league sources.

  All three clubs also are pursuing free-agent lefty C.J. Wilson, but the Nats would prefer Buehrle on a shorter deal to Wilson on a longer one, sources said.

  The Rangers, meanwhile, are wary of overpaying Wilson, who also is drawing interest from their biggest rival, the Angels.

  The Marlins’ biggest obstacle to signing Buerhle is their policy against awarding no-trade clauses on multi-year contracts; Buehrle wants full no-trade protection.

  Buehrle, 32, has spent his entire 12-year career with the White Sox, but is intrigued by the National League, sources said. He might thrive in the less offensively oriented NL, and one scout says it would be “a good career move.”

  -Ken Rosenthal

   

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• Could Moreland surgery prompt Prince pursuit?

  November 30, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  The Texas Rangers announced Wednesday evening that first baseman Mitch Moreland will need a recovery period of 8-12 weeks after undergoing surgery to remove the pisiform bone from his right wrist.

  It’s impossible to know if Moreland will be game-ready when the Rangers’ spring-training schedule begins, raising an obvious question: Could the uncertainty surrounding Moreland’s immediate future nudge the Rangers into a more serious pursuit of free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder?

  Right now, at least, it appears the answer is no, particularly given the existence of in-house contingencies Michael Young and Mike Napoli.

  The Rangers have interest in Fielder, sources say, but CEO/president Nolan Ryan downplayed the possibility of signing Fielder or Albert Pujols for seven or eight years in an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram earlier this offseason. Sources describe Fielder as not high on the Rangers’ priority list, citing a more pressing need to upgrade the rotation and bullpen. Texas is keeping tabs on free-agent starters Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson.

  The Brewers, Cubs, Mariners and Nationals are among the teams with interest in Fielder, sources say.

  At this point, the Rangers are not seriously courting Pujols, sources say.

  -- Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

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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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• Execs forecasting five-year deal for C.J. Wilson -- maybe six

  November 14, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  Interest in free-agent starter C.J. Wilson has been heavy despite his disappointing postseason, sources say.

  An official with one of the involved clubs predicted that the Texas Rangers left-hander would get “at least five years” with an option for a sixth year; an official of another club told FOXSports.com that Wilson could end up with a six-year deal.

  In other words, Wilson, who turns 31 this week, appears likely to surpass the five-year, $82.5 million guarantees received by John Lackey and A.J. Burnett in recent years.

  The Yankees, Angels, Blue Jays, Marlins, Nationals, and Rangers are among the teams that have already expressed interest in Wilson, sources say.

  One executive who’s in the market for pitching seemed to capture the industry sentiment when he said, “It should be a four-year deal, but I bet he gets more. It just takes one club.”

  Wilson has been a starting pitcher for only the past two seasons, going 31-15 with a 3.14 ERA and 1.215 WHIP in 427 1/3 innings. He outperformed Burnett and Lackey over the two years approaching their free agencies by a fairly wide margin.

  Some have suggested that Wilson’s performance over the past two postseasons – 1-5 with a 4.82 ERA in 10 games – would dampen interest in his services. But he actually has a 2.95 ERA in four career World Series games and seems likely to get a larger guarantee than fellow left-handed free agent Mark Buehrle, who is 20 months older.

  The Angels are seen by some as a natural fit for Wilson, because of his California roots. But Wilson’s agent, Bob Garber, said recently, “C.J. lived in Manhattan last off-season – he’s very familiar with the lifestyle there. Yes, he’s a California guy who’s played in Texas, but I don’t think the region is going to be a factor in where he wants to play.”

  -- Jon Paul Morosi

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• Source: Rangers interested in reunion with Danks

  November 11, 2011 by JonPaulMorosi

  The Texas Rangers haven’t ruled out re-signing free agent C.J. Wilson. But they are preparing for the possibility that he will leave.

  The Rangers are working diligently to evaluate the available left-handed starters, a major-league source said Friday. One name that’s high on their list: Chicago White Sox southpaw John Danks, who began his career in the Texas organization. The White Sox are trying to move payroll, and Danks is a prime candidate to be dealt.

  Wilson and Mark Buehrle are the top left-handed starters on the free-agent market. Wilson’s agent, Bob Garber, told FOXSports.com earlier this week that he would “love to play in the National League,” because he enjoys hitting. Wilson is 1-for-8 at the plate in his career. (Garber said that the NL/AL question alone wouldn’t determine Wilson’s decision.)

  At present, the Rangers are leaning toward moving Neftali Feliz from the closer’s role into the starting rotation. If they do that, and maintain their existing cast, their starting five would consist of Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando and Feliz.

  -- Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

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• More (lesser) pitching options for Marlins

  November 09, 2011 by KenRosenthal

   

  As the Marlins pursue left-hander Mark Buehrle at the top of the free-agent market, here are two lesser names to consider as they seek to upgrade their rotation:

   

  Carlos Zambrano. Livan Hernandez.

   

  Miami has seemed a logical destination for “Big Z” ever since the Marlins named his friend and fellow Venezuelan, Ozzie Guillen, their new manager.

   

  Zambrano, 30, has a full no-trade clause, so he could effectively tell the Cubs, “the Marlins or else.” Of course, he can’t simply snap his fingers and make such a deal happen, not when he is owed $18 million in 2012.

   

  Still, the Braves paid $10 million of Derek Lowe’s $15 million salary to trade him to the Indians. Zambrano, for all of his off-field histrionics, actually had a lower ERA than Lowe last season (4.82-5.05). If the Cubs turned him into a $5 million pitcher, the way the Braves did with Lowe, perhaps the Marlins or another team would bite.

   

  Hernandez, who turns 37 on Feb. 20, would be strictly a fifth starter, chewing up innings. He will not return to the Nationals, who are deep in starting pitching and pursuing high-end free agents such are right-hander Roy Oswalt. But a return to Miami would complete his career circle – he began his major-league career with the Marlins in 1996.

   

  In a perfect world, the Marlins would sign Buehrle and find another starter who is better than Zambrano or Hernandez. But if they strike out with their top choices, it wouldn’t be a shock if Zambrano and/or Hernandez became options.

   

  -Ken Rosenthal

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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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• Buerhle keeping options open

  November 03, 2011 by KenRosenthal

  For all the talk about left-hander C.J. Wilson in free agency, another lefty might hold even greater appeal.

   

  Mark Buerhle, coming off his 11^th straight 200-inning season, is “wide-open” to any team, according to his agent, Jeff Berry.

   

  Buerhle, 32, has spent his entire career with the White Sox, and has spoken in the past about joining the Cardinals, the team closest to his home in St. Charles, Mo.

   

  But Berry repeated Wednesday what he said in September – that Buehrle was not wedded to any club.

   

  In fact, Berry said, Buehrle might find the National League especially attractive; he is 24-6 with a 3.32 ERA lifetime against NL teams.

   

  “Mark is not going to eliminate any team from free-agent consideration,” Berry said. “But having pitched 12 years in the American League, the National League certainly will have some appeal to him.

   

  “There is no DH. It’s obviously less of a hitter’s league. And Mark has had great success in his career against the National League.”

   

  Buehrle, of course, has been pretty good in the AL, too – he went 13-9 with a 3.59 ERA for the White Sox last season and also won his third straight Gold Glove.

   

  -Ken Rosenthal

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• Signing Dunn would cost White Sox an icon

  December 02, 2010 by JonPaulMorosi

  Adam Dunn. Paul Konerko. Mark Buehrle.

  Barring a major payroll increase, the Chicago White Sox can probably afford only two of the three in 2011.

  Of the group, Buehrle is the only one currently under the team’s control. He is scheduled to earn $14 million next year, in the final season of his current contract.

  Buehrle, 31, is one of the most popular figures in recent White Sox history, and he has a full no-trade clause. If traded, he is guaranteed a $15 million salary for 2012. Each of those factors would make it difficult for general manager Kenny Williams to move the ace left-hander.

  And to be clear, there are no indications the White Sox are shopping Buehrle.

  But Williams wants desperately to upgrade his lineup with a powerful left-handed bat. He is known to have interest in Dunn. And if Williams signs him to fill that role, then the GM may need to choose between two uncomfortable options – trading Buehrle or letting Konerko sign elsewhere as a free agent.

  According to salary data at Cot’s Baseball Contracts, the White Sox have already committed $82.575 million to 13 players for next year. Last year, their payroll was a little north of $100 million.

  Add John Danks and Carlos Quentin, both eligible for salary arbitration, and the number jumps to more than $93 million with 10 roster spots to fill.

  And it’s likely that both Dunn and Konerko will earn at least $10 million in 2011.

  Therefore, it’s virtually impossible for the White Sox to sign both players and maintain their current payroll without dealing away a big contract. And with Jake Peavy recovering from surgery, Buehrle is their most tradable big-money player.

  Such a move would be unpopular with South Side fans. Buehrle and Konerko are among the last remaining links to the 2005 World Series championship club. A.J. Pierzynski, the catcher from that team, is also a free agent.

  -Jon Paul Morosi

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