The Rangers have yet to discuss whether Neftali Feliz (elbow) will remain in the starting rotation when he returns from the disabled list.
According to ESPN.com's Tim McMahon, the decision to move Feliz to the bullpen will be heavily influenced by whether the Rangers acquire Roy Oswalt. Feliz, of course, has stated he wants to keep his spot in the starting rotation, but isn't expected to return until the All-Star break. The Rangers reportedly watched Oswalt throw last week but have yet to make a formal offer.
CBSSports' Danny Knobler reports that the Phillies are "less motivated" to trade Joe Blanton.
We've heard plenty of trade chatter in regard to Blanton this month, but Knobler hears that Phils are less inclined to move him after releasing non-roster invitee Joel Pineiro. Kyle Kendrick looms as an in-house alternative and the Phillies could possibly make a run at Roy Oswalt, so they do have some options. Then again, Blanton has looked pretty good so far this spring, so they may be content to keep him around.
Joe Blanton allowed one run over six innings in a minor league game Tuesday.
Blanton gave up five hits while fanning three and walking none. The 31-year-old right-hander has a 2.70 ERA and 8/1 K/BB ratio over 10 innings during Grapefruit League play and appears to be healthy after missing most of the 2011 season due to an elbow injury. The Phillies are reportedly shopping him with the idea of either sliding Kyle Kendrick into the rotation or possibly making a play to bring back Roy Oswalt.
Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine said Tuesday on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM that Neftali Feliz will likely be limited to 140-160 innings this season.
The Rangers jerked Feliz around last spring, but they are dead-set on putting him in the rotation this season. The 23-year-old right-hander should be valuable in mixed leagues from the get-go, but the innings limit will obviously cap his upside for 2012. The Rangers figure to monitor Roy Oswalt as a potential mid-season addition with Feliz's situation in mind.
Ken Rosenthal thinks that if the Rangers trade Koji Uehara to the Athletics as expected, their next move will be to re-sign Mike Gonzalez.
Getting Uehara's $4 million off the books would theoretically clear space to add Roy Oswalt, but Rosenthal doesn't expect that to happen. Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com also recently reported that the chances were still "slim" that Oswalt winds up with the Rangers. Gonzalez, though, can be had relatively cheaply and won't disrupt the Rangers rotation. He posted a 2.86 ERA in the second half last season while holding left-handed batters to a .171 batting average.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Sunday that the Rangers are over budget and not likely to add any other free agents prior to the 2012 season.
"You never want to shut the door," Daniels said. "There's a level of interest in both guys, but as far as a fit and payroll-wise, it's not as easy to see it." The Rangers avoided arbitration with Mike Napoli by agreeing to a one-year, $9.4 million contract over the weekend. Doing so apparently shuts the door on the acquisition of new talent. That means that Roy Oswalt, who still wants to play for Texas, probably needs to look elsewhere for employment, as does left-handed reliever Michael Gonzalez. In related payroll news, Daniels reiterated that contract extension talks with Josh Hamilton will be tabled while the outfielder sorts through his personal issues. "The contract is not really the priority with Josh right now -- his health and family are," Daniels said. "We all agreed to table things before we got to spring training."
ESPN's Jayson Stark reports that the Phillies have been shopping right-hander Joe Blanton.
Blanton's name always seems to be on the trading block, but the Phillies have a real purpose this time around. If they can dump all or part of his $8.5 million salary for 2012 on another team, re-signing Roy Oswalt could become a real option. Blanton, 31, posted a 5.01 ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 41 1/3 innings last season while fighting elbow issues. It won't be an easy sell.
Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the Nationals are targeting free agent right-hander Edwin Jackson for a one-year deal.
The Nationals are currently "aggressively shopping" left-hander John Lannan in order to free up some salary. Rosenthal previously mentioned that they could make a late run at either Roy Oswalt or Jackson, but they actually prefer the latter. Of course, this won't be realistic possibility unless they can find a suitor for Lannan. The Red Sox have reportedly made Jackson a one-year offer in the neighborhood of $5-6 million while the Orioles and Cardinals have also been mentioned as possibilities in recent days.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Nationals are "aggressively shopping" left-hander John Lannan.
The Nationals just won an arbitration hearing against Lannan, who will make $5 million in 2012. It's not clear who they are in trade talks with or whether a deal is close, but Rosenthal suggests that they might be motivated to clear his salary in order to make a late run at either Roy Oswalt or Edwin Jackson.
Jim Bowden of ESPN.com and MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM reports that the Red Sox have also made an offer to Edwin Jackson and prefer him to Roy Oswalt.
Interesting. Jackson obviously doesn't have the resume of Oswalt, but he is nearly six years younger and doesn't have a nagging back condition. He has also thrown at least 199 1/3 innings in each of the past three seasons. While Jackson originally hoped to find a five-year contract valued at around $15 million per season, Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reported earlier this week that it's "possible" he could accept a one-year deal.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Red Sox have checked in on free agent right-handers Edwin Jackson and Roy Oswalt.
The Red Sox traded Marco Scutaro to the Rockies over the weekend, clearing his $6 million salary for 2012 along with it. They already added Cody Ross on a one-year, $3 million contract with some of the excess cash, but that doesn't preclude them from adding a pitcher like Jackson or Oswalt. Heyman hears that they are also looking at alternatives for their infield. As of now, Mike Aviles and Nick Punto project to share playing time at shortstop this season.
Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com reports that the Yankees are "60-40" to become more aggressive in adding to the roster before spring training.
Marchand says they could add a starting pitcher via trade or free agency. As far as free agents go, he thinks Hiroki Kuroda is a more likely target than Edwin Jackson, saying agent Scott Boras "needs to come down further" to get Jackson in play. The Yankees would prefer to hand out a one-year deal, which would match up for Kuroda, who only wants one year. Roy Oswalt is also still in the mix, but Marchand says he's "more unlikely, but can’t be completely ruled out."
Ken Davidoff of Newsday reports that, out of Hiroki Kuroda, Edwin Jackson and Roy Oswalt, Kuroda is the likeliest to join the Yankees "at this juncture."
Davidoff says signing Kuroda to a one-year deal "appeals" to the Yanks, but they want him to lower his demands from $13 million to "something like $8 million or $9 million." Kuroda earned $12 million last season while posting a 3.07 ERA and 161/49 K/BB ratio in 202 innings. It's reasonable for him to ask for a raise, and if he doesn't get it, he might just go back to Japan. The Red Sox have also expressed interest in the right-hander.
Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports that the Red Sox are now looking to acquire a starting pitcher.
The Red Sox acquired closer Andrew Bailey from the Athletics on Wednesday, so picking up a starter is the next item on their agenda. Heyman names Hiroki Kuroda, Roy Oswalt, Joe Saunders and Edwin Jackson as possibilities among the remaining free agent starters and the Cubs' Matt Garza as a potential trade target.
Thu, Dec 29, 2011 08:40:00 AM
Bill Ladson of MLB.com reports that trying to acquire Athletics' left-hander Gio Gonzalez is the Nationals' top priority.
The Athletics want four players in return and Ladson hears that right-hander Brad Peacock and prospect catcher Derek Norris are among them. Gonzalez, 26, is under team control through 2015, so the asking price is expected to be significant. The Red Sox and Blue Jays are among the teams who have also expressed interest. If the Nationals are unable to land the southpaw, they would likely move on to pursue free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt.
Wed, Dec 21, 2011 12:57:00 PM
The Nationals have made an offer to free agent starter Mark Buehrle.
Bill Ladson of MLB.com, who reported the news, hasn't heard the dollar amount offered. Ladson writes that the Nationals are still interested in Roy Oswalt but that C.J. Wilson "is not a top target" and "is not really on the radar screen." Washington will have plenty of competition for Buehrle, most aggressively from the Rangers and Marlins.
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 08:48:00 PM
The Red Sox are expected to meet with C.J. Wilson's agent, Bob Garber, during the Winter Meeting in Dallas next week, according to Mike Silverman of the Boston Globe.
Garber also represents free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt. Wilson, 30, is reportedly seeking a six-year deal worth more than $100 million, though it is not yet known whether Boston or any other club would be willing to meet that asking price. The Nationals, Angels, and Marlins are among the teams who have reportedly expressed interest.
Sat, Dec 3, 2011 11:19:00 AM
Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Marlins met with C.J. Wilson's agent Bob Garber on Tuesday night.
Garber also represents free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt. The Marlins, looking to create some buzz for their new ballpark, have reportedly made offers to some of the biggest names in free agency, including Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle, so we figured it was only a matter of time before they would intensity their pursuit of Wilson. The free agent left-hander has also drawn interest from the Rangers, Blue Jays, Nationals, Yankees and Angels, among others.
Wed, Nov 16, 2011 12:47:00 PM
The Yankees met with Bob Garber, the agent for C.J. Wilson and Roy Oswalt, on Tuesday at the general managers' meetings in Milwaukee.
Garber has also reportedly had meetings this week with the Angels and Nationals, among others. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has made pitching his No. 1 priority this winter, but the bidding for Wilson and Oswalt should be fierce.
Tue, Nov 15, 2011 05:15:00 PM
Cliff Lee is available out of the bullpen for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Cardinals on Wednesday.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel hinted at the possibility on Tuesday, so this doesn't come as a huge surprise. Lee threw 110 pitches in Sunday's loss, but Wednesday is his throw day. Roy Oswalt will start Game 4 against Edwin Jackson.
Wed, Oct 5, 2011 03:56:00 PM
