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Wicked Nomah

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...every other rumor! A stark contrast from a few weeks ago.

 

A-Rod trade not dead; it's just resting

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Alex Rodriguez

Rangers

 

Red Sox

 

Dec. 19 - Despite the insistence out of Boston that the trade sending A-Rod to the Red Sox is dead, it apparently isn't. The bottom line is that everyone involved wants it to happen, but the Red Sox and Yankees are playing an expensive game of chicken. Neither wants to compromise on how much of Manny Ramirez's salary the Red Sox will pick up, and Boston officials are threatening to call the deal off if the Rangers don't blink.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Nomar Garciaparra

Red Sox

 

White Sox

Dodgers

Angels?

Tigers?

Mariners?

 

Dec. 19 - The Boston Globe reports the Red Sox asked the Tigers if they would have interest in acquiring Nomar, bringing to four (at least) the number of teams said to be in the hunt. Of course, if the A-Rod deal collapses, Boston will have to decide whether to go ahead and deal its star shortstop or try to patch things up.

Among the possibilities are a trade sending Nomar to Chicago for Magglio Ordoñez. But White Sox GM Kenny Williams won't acquire Nomar unless he has a deal lined up to move either shortstop Jose Valentin or to spin Nomar himself on to another team. The Dodgers want Nomar but are unwilling to part with any of their prized young arms -- Guillermo Mota, Edwin Jackson or Greg Miller.

 

The Angels apparently are another possibility, with the Arlington Heights Daily Herald suggesting Chicago could spin Garciaparra to Anaheim for left-hander Jarrod Washburn and closer Troy Percival, or other relief pitchers.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Ivan Rodriguez

Marlins

 

Orioles

Dodgers

A's

Tigers

 

Dec. 19 - Rodriguez reportedly told a Miami television station he was close to agreeing to a four-year, guaranteed contract with the Orioles, but reports out of Baltimore still indicate the team's best offer to date has been for three years and $24 million.

It's no secret Pudge and his agent, Scott Boras, want the fourth year (and possibly an option for a fifth), but both the Orioles and Dodgers have indicated they're reluctant to extend the deal that far.

 

The Orioles also have an offer out to Javy Lopez, and the Sun indicates the team will sign whichever catcher agrees first. If the Dodgers were to get Rodriguez, they could either deal Paul LoDuca (Oakland has expressed interest, and Baltimore could be if it loses out on both Pudge and Javy) or move him to first base.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Freddy Garcia

Mariners

 

White Sox

Orioles

Cardinals?

Padres?

Tigers?

 

Dec. 19 - According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Mariners had a tentative deal in place to send Garcia to Chicago for shortstop Jose Valentin, but that fell through (or was put on hold, depending on your point of view) when the A-Rod deal got hung up. Chicago was due to get Nomar Garciaparra after the Red Sox got A-Rod, freeing Sox GM Kenny Williams to ship Valentin to Seattle.

Unless something changes, it's looking more and more likely the Mariners will be unable to trade Garcia and will non-tender him Saturday, making the big right-hander a free agent. The White Sox lilkely will have interest, and the Orioles also could make a run at him. San Diego, St. Louis and Detroit also are possibilities.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Scott Williamson

Red Sox

 

White Sox

Marlins

Mets

 

Dec. 19 - The Mets are among the teams waiting to see what the Red Sox do with Williamson this weekend -- either trade him as part of a Nomar Garciaparra deal or non-tender him at Saturday's deadline. Boston reportedly has agreed to trade Williamson to the White Sox with Nomar, if the A-Rod deal goes through. The Marlins also are standing by in hopes of making a run at the closer if that deal falls through.

 

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Rich Aurilia

Giants

 

Rangers

Dodgers

Blue Jays

 

Dec. 19 - The Dodgers reportedly are showing more interest in Aurilia now that Texas' attempt to trade Alex Rodriguez has stalled. The Rangers were thought to be eyeing Aurilia as a replacement for A-Rod. The Blue Jays also were thought to have Aurilia high on their list, but reports have suggested he prefers to play on natural grass, not the artificial surface at SkyDome.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Greg Maddux

Braves

 

Padres

Cardinals

Giants

Dodgers

 

Dec. 19 - The Padres still hope Maddux will agree to join them. GM Kevin Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "We're only going to sign one more pitcher. We'll wait until we get an answer from Maddux." The team has met with Cory Lidle but obviously would prefer Maddux.

Earlier this week, Cardinals' GM Walt Jocketty acknowledged the team likey can't afford Maddux, especially if his asking price is anything close to the $11 million per year that has been reported. Maddux reportedly likes the Cardinals, but the team's payroll already is nudging its $80 million limit.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Cory Lidle

Blue Jays

 

Padres

 

Dec. 19 - Lidle met with the Padres on Thursday, but San Diego plans to wait on a decision from Greg Maddux before moving forward on negotiations with Lidle, who earned $5.35 million last season with the Blue Jays. The 31-year-old right-hander was 12-15 with a 5.75 ERA in 31 starts with Toronto.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Kevin Millwood

Phillies

 

Phillies

Mets?

Braves?

 

Dec. 19 - The Philadelphia Daily News indicates Millwood has received little interest on the free-agent market and is expected to accept the Phillies' offer of arbitration. He reportedly has been seeking a multi-year deal for around $13 million per.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Pokey Reese

Pirates

 

Red Sox

Rockies

 

Dec. 19 - Boston reportedly is close to a deal to bring Reese in as a replacement for Todd Walker at second base. "We're close," Reese's agent, Michael Nicotera, told the Boston Herald. "There's nothing to announce. We might have something some time next week."

The Rockies also have been in discussions with Reese about becoming their shortstop. Reese was limited to 107 at-bats last season because of a thumb injury, and he became a free agent when the Pirates declined his $5.1 million option for 2004.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Michael Barrett

Cubs

 

Cubs

Expos

 

Dec. 19 - The Cubs are trying to get Barrett signed by Saturday's non-tender deadline, but if he doesn't agree to a significant pay cut -- say, half of the $2.6 million he made last season -- they will let him go. If that happens, he told the Chicago Tribune, he could wind up back in Montreal, which traded him to Oakland earlier this week. Oakland subsequently shipped him to Chicago.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Raul Mondesi

Diamondbacks

 

Royals

Rockies

 

Dec. 19 - The Royals still are interested in Mondesi, but GM Allard Baird told the Kansas City Star he plans to be patient in his efforts to secure another corner outfielder. The team has budgeted $3.5 million for the spot, and if that's not enough for Mondesi, Baird told the paper he's willing to give the job to rookie David DeJesus. Previously, the Rockies were considering Mondesi as a back-up in case they can't retain Jay Payton. Mondesi hit .272 with 24 homers and 71 RBI last season, split between the Yankees and Diamondbacks.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Juan Gonzalez

Rangers

 

White Sox

Royals

Dodgers

 

Dec. 19 - The Kansas City Star indicates Gonzalez is still under consideration by the Royals, who also are waiting on Raul Mondesi. The paper also suggests the Dodgers could be interested in Gonzalez, but the outfielder would prefer to stay in the American League. If Chicago trades Magglio Ordoñez, reports are that GM Kenny Williams will explore a deal to bring Juan Gone to the White Sox as a replacement.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Roger Cedeño

Mets

 

Mariners

White Sox

 

Padres Dec. 19 - Indians GM Mark Shapiro dismissed speculation he was set to trade Matt Lawton to the Mets for Cedeño, telling the Cleveland Plain-Dealer he wouldn't make that deal. That leaves the Mariners (for third baseman Jeff Cirillo), the White Sox (for closer Billy Koch) or the Padres (for Terence Long and pitcher Kevin Jarvis) as possible destinations for Cedeño, who is due to make $10 million over the next two seasons.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Shane Reynolds

Braves

 

Diamondbacks

Giants

 

Dec. 19 - The D-Backs are moving forward in their efforts to sign Reynolds. "Arizona has made him a priority," agent Tommy Tanzer told the Arizona Republic, adding the team organized a concerted recruiting effort to convince Reynolds to sign on. The Giants also are talking with Reynolds, who went 11-9 for the Braves last season.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Arthur Rhodes

Mariners

 

A's

Braves

White Sox

 

Dec. 19 - GM Billy Beane told the San Francisco Chronicle the team is closer to officially signing Rhodes, echoing the Thursday comments of the reliever's agent, Dan Horwits. The paper puts the deal at three years and $9.5 million, with an additional $1 million available in incentives.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Mark Redman

A's

 

A's

 

Dec. 19 - Oakland still is trying to sign Redman, acquired Tuesday from the Marlins, before Saturday's deadline for tendering contracts. If they can't sign him, they likely will non-tender him, making him a free agent.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Richard Hidalgo

Astros

 

Dodgers

 

Dec. 19 - The L.A. Daily News reports the Dodgers are evaluating an offer to acquire Hidalgo from the Astros, who have made it clear they would like to unload his $12 million salary for 2004. Hidalgo hit .309 with 28 homers and 88 RBI last season.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

David Eckstein

Angels

 

?

 

Dec. 19 - Eckstein's name was tossed around in trade rumors early in the offseason, and it could wind up back in the rumor mill if the Angels wind up in the mix for Nomar Garciaparra. But for now, Eckstein is an Angel.

GM Bill Stoneman told the L.A. Daily News, "David Eckstein is our shortstop right now, and I'm planning that Eckstein or (Alfredo) Amezaga is going to be at short, because those are the guys we have there right now."

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Magglio Ordoñez

White Sox

 

Red Sox

Dodgers

Orioles

 

Dec. 18 - The White Sox haven't been actively shopping Ordoñez, but they are willing to deal the outfielder before he enters the last year of his contract at $14 million. The word Wednesday was that the Red Sox and White Sox had agreed to a deal sending Ordoñez to Boston for Nomar Garciaparra, but Thursday's Chicago Tribune called that deal unlikely.

The Dodgers have been seeking Ordoñez, but they are unwilling to part with the pitching prospects the White Sox want in return. Previous speculation had the Dodgers and Mariners discussing a Paul LoDuca-for-Freddy Garcia trade, with Garcia then being spun to the White Sox in a package for Ordoñez. The Baltimore Sun has indicated the Orioles could pursue Ordoñez if they can't sign Vladimir Guerrero.

 

WHO INTERESTED THE SKINNY

 

Sidney Ponson

Giants

 

Rangers

Orioles

Cardinals

White Sox

 

Dec. 18 - If the A-Rod deal goes through, the Rangers are expected to make a strong push to sign Ponson with the cash they are expected to free up, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

The Orioles, meanwhile, are considering the possibility of bringing Ponson back to Baltimore. The Baltimore Sun indicates the Orioles are likely to non-tender pitchers Jason Johnson and Damian Moss on Saturday, making them free agents, and indicates they could re-sign Ponson to help round out its starting rotation. Ponson rejected a three-year, $21 million extension offer last summer and subsequently was traded to the Giants (for Moss and Kurt Ainsworth).

 

Ponson has indicated he'd like to return to Baltimore, and O's owner Peter Angelos is said to favor bringing him back. The White Sox and Cardinals also have been mentioned as possible suitors.

 

-END

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I sitll stand by what I said in before regarding cedeno, he wouldnt be alll that bad a pick up to play cf he has speed and has been able to produce before when he was in the AL why not take a floater on the guy you never know maybe he could have a really solid year for us it would fill a hole in Cf thats for sure. Maybe we can get the mets to throw in weathers as part of the trade never know

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I sitll stand by what I said in before regarding cedeno, he wouldnt be alll that bad a pick up to play cf he has speed and has been able to produce before when he was in the AL why not take a floater on the guy you never know maybe he could have a really solid year for us it would fill a hole in Cf thats for sure. Maybe we can get the mets to throw in weathers as part of the trade never know

Cedeno has the baseball instincts of a box of rocks. No thank you.

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Guest Hex Rudler

Roger Cedeno is yet another tribute to the General Manager fraternity in baseball. How stupid can you be to give him a contract with that kind of money. If Roger Cedeno is supposed to have a minimal baseball IQ, what does that say about the GM who signed him?

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