March 2013 - Baseball Wiretap

Royals Are Serious About Carlos Beltran

Sep 25, 2014 11:53 AM

The Royals reportedly appear serious in their pursuit of free-agent Carlos Beltran, according to The Kansas City Star.

"We'd love to have him in," one Royals official told the newspaper. "One thing about Carlos Beltran is he's a money player. He's an RBI guy. He produces."

MLB.com

Tags: Kansas City Royals, Free Agent Rumor

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O's Acquire Johnny Monell From Giants

Sep 23, 2014 5:40 AM

The Orioles acquired catcher Johnny Monell from the Giants on Saturday in exchange for cash considerations, according to an MLB.com report.

The 27-year-old Monell hit .275 with 20 home runs and 64 RBIs in 121 games for Triple-A Fresno last season.

MLB.com

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants, Official Trade

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Report: Mets Remain Interested In Bronson Arroyo

Oct 31, 2014 11:37 AM

Mets GM Sandy Alderson plans to meet with right-hander Bronson Arroyo at the free-agent pitcher's Tampa, Fla., home during the upcoming week, a baseball source told ESPNNewYork.com.

ESPN.com

Tags: New York Mets, Free Agent Rumor

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Report: Phil Hughes To Join Twins Rotation

Dec 1, 2014 9:02 PM

The Twins and pitcher Phil Hughes have agreed to a three-year, $24M deal, according to a Minneapolis Star-Tribune report.

Hughes is the second free agent to agree to join the Twins' rotation this week, joining Ricky Nolasco, who agreed with the team on Wednesday, a baseball source confirmed.

In seven seasons with the Yankees, Hughes went 56-50 with a 4.54 ERA.

ESPN.com

Tags: Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Terms Agreement

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Yankees, Cano Remain $80M Apart

Oct 31, 2014 7:23 PM

Robinson Cano and the Yankees remain roughly $80M apart on a new contract, sources told ESPN.com's Buster Olney. 

Cano, sources said, asked for a nine-year deal at $28M a year, with a vesting option for a 10th year at $29M this past week. 

The Yankees, sources told Olney, upgraded their offer to the $170M range, leaving a gap of about $80M. 

ESPN.com

Tags: New York Yankees, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Hanley Ramirez Working On Extension With Dodgers

Sep 20, 2014 7:54 AM

Hanley Ramirez said he's working on a contract extension with the Dodgers.

Ramirez wouldn't discuss years and salary, but while commemorating Team Dominican Republic's championship in the WBC at an event Thursday in Santo Domingo, he told ESPN Deportes that a deal could come this winter.

MLB.com

Tags: Los Angeles Dodgers, Misc Rumor

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Royals Give GM Dayton Moore Extension

Oct 31, 2014 6:35 AM

Royals GM Dayton Moore will have at least two more years to prove that he can get the franchise that he took over in 2006 back to the playoffs.

After leading Kansas City to its best record in more than 20 years this past season, Moore was rewarded with a two-year contract extension Friday, according to an ESPN.com report. 

ESPN.com

Tags: Kansas City Royals, Signing

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Ryan Vogelsong Agrees To Stay With Giants

Oct 5, 2014 6:15 PM

Ryan Vogelsong is staying with the Giants, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal Friday, according to an ESPN.com report.

Vogelsong went 4-6 with a 5.73 ERA in 19 starts and 103 2/3 innings during an injury-shortened 2013 season.

ESPN.com

Tags: San Francisco Giants, Misc Rumor, Terms Agreement

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Mets Struggling To Attract Free Agent Hitters Due To Citi Field

Sep 16, 2014 2:59 PM

The New York Mets are having a difficult time attracting free agent hitters due to the dimensions of Citi Field.

The Mets brought the outfield walls closer to home plate after the 2011 season, but it still has the reputation as being a pitcher' park.

Two agents representing players the Mets have talked to this offseason admitted privately that the ballpark’s reputation is something that their clients have had questions about this offseason.

“It’s something that is still in the (players’) heads out there, that it’s a tough park to hit in,” said one agent, who requested anonymity to protect his clients. “They see what David Wright went through there and it makes them a little nervous I think.”

Chris Young isn't nervous about playing in Citi Field.

“I’ve never been a big power guy as far as long, deep home runs,” Young said. “My home runs are more line drives that fell out of the yard... Citi Field really doesn’t affect that type of power, in my opinion.”

Kirstie Ackert/New York Daily News

Tags: New York Mets, Free Agent Rumor, IQ, Misc Rumor

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Robinson Cano Denies Seeking $300M Contract

Sep 18, 2014 8:23 AM

Robinson Cano has denied seeking a $300 million contract from the New York Yankees.

"I've never asked anybody for $300 million," said Cano.

Reports surfaced that Cano was seeking a 10-year, $310 million deal.

Cano is represented by longtime baseball agent Brodie Van Wagenen and Jay-Z.

"The gap is still very substantial," a baseball official familiar with the talks told the News' Mark Feinsand earlier this week.

Andy Martino/New York Daily News

Tags: New York Yankees, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Mariners Could Be Wild Card For Robinson Cano
Robinson Cano's decision to leave Scott Boras for Jay-Z to improve his marketing opportunities would seemingly be compromised by signing with the Mariners.

George A. King III/New York Post

Marlins, Tigers Interested In Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis had an OPS of .674 last season in 480 plate appearances.

Peter Gammons/Gammons Daily

Ted Lilly Retires To Due Chronic Neck Pain
Ted Lilly made just five starts in 2013 and was released by the Dodgers in August.

Ken Gurnick/MLB.com

Giants Closing In On Deal With Ryan Vogelsong
Ryan Vogelsong had a 5.73 ERA last season while dealing with injuries.

Jeff Todd/MLB Trade Rumors

Phil Hughes Could Get Two-Year Deal
The Angeles, Twins, Mariners and Royals are interested in Phil Hughes.

George A. King III/New York Post

Twins Sign Ricky Nolasco To Four-Year, $49M Deal
Ricky Nolasco's deal is the largest free agent signing in the history of the Twins.

Rhett Bollinger/MLB.com

Justin Morneau Being Aggressively Pursued By Rockies
Justin Morneau hit 17 home runs last season with the Twins and Pirates.

Troy E. Renck/Denver Post

Reds Re-Sign Manny Parra To Two-Year, $5.5M Deal
Manny Parra had a 1.78 ERA over his final 45 games from June 11.

Mark Sheldon/MLB.com

Red Sox Could Stand Pat At Catcher With Ryan Lavarnway
The Red Sox had held internal discussions about standing pat at catcher and having Ryan Lavarnway splitting time with David Ross.

Scott Lauber/Boston Herald

Yankees Like Omar Infante For Positional Versatility
Omar Infante could be an everyday player for the Yankees in which he players different positions.

Andrew Marchand/ESPN

Nelson Cruz Seeking $75M Deal Over Four Seasons
The Mariners, A's, Mets and Rangers are some of the teams interested in Cruz.

Jon Heyman/CBS Sports

Twins Present Multi-Year Offer To Mike Pelfrey
The Twins had the worst ERA among starters in all of baseball last season.

Jon Heyman/CBS Sports

Javier Lopez Chooses Giants Over Hometown Nationals
The Giants have signed Javier Lopez to a three-year, $13 million deal.

Henry Schulman/San Francisco Chronicle

Reds Express Interest In Carlos Beltran
The Reds are interested in Carlos Beltran though the AL seems like a better fit.

Noel Pineiro/Primera Hora (via MLBTradeRumors)

Athletics Swap With Nationals, Boost Bullpen With Abad
The Athletics have acquired left-handed reliever Fernando Abad from the Nationals in exchange for Class-A outfielder John Wooten.

Jane Lee/MLB.com

Royals Willing To Trade Bullpen Arms
The Royals have privately acknowledged a willingness to trade any of their relievers for the proper return.

Bob Dutton/Kansas City Star

Yankees Set Sights On Carlos Beltran
The Yankees prefer Carlos Beltran to Shin-Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz and Jacoby Ellsbury, according to a source.

Mark Feinsand/New York Daily News

Cardinals GM Defends Peralta Signing
The Cardinals factored in Jhonny Peralta's recent performance-enhancing drug suspension when they negotiated a four-year, $50 million deal with the shortstop.

ESPN

Angels Have Roughly $8M To Spend
Spending any more than $8 million would put the Angels over the $189 million luxury-tax threshold.

Alden Gonzalez/MLB.com

Twins 'Still In Play' For Saltalamacchia
The Twins are among four or five teams interested in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, according to a source.

Mike Berardino/Pioneer Press