March 2015 - Baseball Wiretap

Dodgers Sign Scott Kazmir To Three-Year Deal

Jan 4, 2016 1:04 AM

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed Scott Kazmir to a three-year contract worth a reported $48 million.

The deal also reportedly includes an opt-out after the 2016 season.

Kazmir, 31, was traded to the Houston Astros in July amid his second season with the Oakland Athletics.

ESPN

Tags: Los Angeles Dodgers, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Ned Rice Leaves Orioles For Job With Phillies

Dec 30, 2015 3:12 PM

The Baltimore Orioles are losing a key member of their front office.

Ned Rice, Baltimore's director of major league administration, has accepted a position with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Rice will be reunited with Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations, and Matt Klentak, named general manager in late October.

Roch Kubatko/MASN

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Misc Rumor

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Orioles Aren't Serious Contenders For Yoenis Cespedes

Dec 30, 2015 9:11 PM

The Baltimore Orioles aren't believed to be serious contenders to sign Yoenis Cespedes at this point.

"I checked around yesterday and didn't get the sense that the Orioles are remotely close to a deal. I'm told by one source that a contract proposal hasn't even been presented to ownership," writes Roch Kubatko of MASN.

Baltimore certainly isn't going to pay Cespedes well north of $100 million, which is what he was projected to receive at the start of free agency.

Roch Kubatko/MASN

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Marlins Tried To Acquire Chapman From Reds

Dec 30, 2015 8:41 AM

The Miami Marlins tried to acquire Aroldis Chapman from the Cincinnati Reds before the New York Yankees completed a deal, according to a report.

Miami was unwilling to beat the offer New York made to Cincinnati.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Tags: Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Howard, Zimmerman Want Public Retraction From Al Jazeera

Dec 30, 2015 9:11 PM

The attorneys for Ryan Howard and Ryan Zimmerman have sent letters to Al Jazeera demanding that the news agency publicly retract its report suggesting that the two players have used banned substances, according to a report.

The request could be a prerequisite for a defamation lawsuit.

Barry Svrluga/Washington Post

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Legal, Misc Rumor

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White Sox Haven't Closed Door On Re-Signing Alexei Ramirez

Dec 30, 2015 8:34 AM

The Chicago White Sox have added a pair of infielders this offseason, but they haven't closed the door on re-signing Alexei Ramirez.

Ramirez, 34, is still a free agent. The belief is that the White Sox will use the rest of their budget on an outfielder.

If the season started today, Tyler Saladino would be the starting shortstop, according to Rick Hahn. That could change if they opt to bring back Ramirez.

Bruce Levine/670 The Score

Tags: Chicago White Sox, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Stephen Drew, Nationals Agree To $3M Deal

Dec 30, 2015 8:30 AM

The Washington Nationals have agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with Stephen Drew, according to a report.

Drew will turn 33 a few weeks before Opening Day.

He hit .201/.271/.381 in 131 games with the New York Yankees in 2015.

ESPN

Tags: Washington Nationals, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor, Signing

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Alex Gordon Denies Report Royals Have 'No Chance' To Re-Sign Him

Jan 4, 2016 1:04 AM

Alex Gordon has denied a CBS Sports report that the Kansas City Royals have "no chance" to re-sign him.

Gordon told the Lincoln Journal Star and the Omaha World Herald on Monday there was "no truth," to the report that the Royals have no chance to sign him.

"Right now I'm unemployed and I pay an agent 4 percent to make the calls, take the calls and let me know what's going on," he said.

The Royals drafted Gordon second overall in 2005.

"Right now I'm talking with a lot of teams," Gordon said. "I just want to make the best decision for me and my family."

Gordon added: "The Royals are still in the mix. I know what's going on behind the scenes, and I'm dealing with it the best I can."


Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article52032080.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article52032080.html#storylink=cpy

Pete Grathoff/Kansas City Star

Tags: Kansas City Royals, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Diamondbacks, Reds Discussed Brandon Phillips Trade

Dec 30, 2015 8:18 AM

The Arizona Diamondbacks may be done making big moves this offseason, but Dave Stewart is open to making the right additions.

The club explored the possibility of acquiring Brandon Phillips from the Cincinnati Reds. Talks included Aaron Hill, but the Diamondbacks reportedly didn't feel comfortable taking on as much of Phillips' 2017 salary as the Reds desired.

Stewart added that the price of bullpen help on the trade market is higher than he feels comfortable paying, particularly given that the club gave up two top prospects in the Shelby Miller trade.

Nick Piecoro/Arizona Republic

Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Misc Rumor, Trade Rumor

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Orioles, White Sox Emerging As Leaders For Cespedes

Dec 30, 2015 8:42 AM

The Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox have emerged as the leaders to sign Yoenis Cespedes, according to a report.

The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels are also reportedly in the mix and the Texas Rangers are monitoring the situation.

Jesse Sanchez/MLB

Tags: Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Brewers, Eric Young, Jr. Reach Agreement On Deal
Eric Young will receive a $1 million salary plus incentives if he makes the big league roster, according to a report.

Jerry Crasnick/ESPN

White Sox Active In Outfield Market
Alex Gordon and Yoenis Cespedes are among the options for Chicago.

Ken Rosenthal/FOX Sports

Yankees Plan To Keep Andrew Miller
The Yankees plan to keep Andrew Miller despite Monday's trade for Aroldis Chapman, according to Brian Cashman.

Bryan Hoch/MLB

Yaisel Sierra Declared A Free Agent
Sierra, 24, is now free to sign with any team without restriction. He is not subject to the international spending limitations.

Jesse Sanchez/MLB

Yankees Acquire Aroldis Chapman For Four Minor Leaguers
The Reds get right-handers Caleb Cotham and Rookie Davis and infielders Eric Jagielo and Tony Renda from the Yankees.

ESPN

Cardinals Interested In Colorado's Outfielders
Carlos Gonzalez, who turned 30 in October, hits better at Coors Field and may not be a realistic target for the Cardinals.

Benjamin Hochman/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Yoenis Cespedes Could Be Pursued By Tigers
While there is no evidence that the Tigers will pursue Yoenis Cespedes, the perception around baseball is that the club is in the mix to sign the free-agent outfielder.

Anthony Fenech/Detroit Free-Press

Al Jazeera Documentary Links Ryan Howard, Ryan Zimmerman To PEDs
Ryan Howard, Ryan Zimmerman and Taylor Teagarden are among the athletes named as having allegedly received banned PEDs in a documentary from Al Jazeera television.

Mark Polishuk/MLB Trade Rumors

Tigers Interested In Extending J.D. Martinez's Contract
J.D. Martinez won't be a free agent until after the 2017 season, but the Tigers are interested in signing him to a long-term deal now.

Chris Iott/MLive

Tigers Have Received Trade Calls About Nick Castellanos
If the Tigers want to clear some money off the books, dealing Nick Castellanos won't help.

Tony Paul/Detroit News

Columnist Joe Strauss Dies From Complications Related To Leukemia
Joe Strauss, a sports columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch who covered baseball for nearly three decades, has died at age 54.

ESPN

Bobby Dews Dies At Age 76
Bobby Dews spent more than 37 years with the Braves before retiring in 2012.

ESPN

John Jaso Signs With Pirates, Plans Move To First Base
The Pirates have signed John Jaso to a two-year, $8 million contract.

Associated Press

Former All-Star Dave Henderson Dies At Age 57
Former outfielder Dave Henderson spent 14 seasons in the major leagues.

ESPN.com

Nationals, Daniel Murphy Agree To Three-Year, $37.5M Deal
Daniel Murphy hit .281, with 14 homers, and had 73 RBIs for the Mets last season.

ESPN.com

Nationals Have Spoken To Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy
The Nationals are known to be seeking an upgrade at second base.

Bill Ladson/MLB

Nobuhiro Matsuda Expected To Remain In Japan
Japanese third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda, who was expected to make the jump to the Major Leagues, is now likely to remain in his home country.

Zach Links/MLB Trade Rumors

Report: Royals Have 'No Chance' To Re-Sign Alex Gordon
The Royals offered the outfielder a four-year deal worth $12 million to $13 million annually, according to an ESPN report.

William Boor/MLB

Padres Top Priority Is Finding A Shortstop
A.J. Preller notes that the offseason is still young as he looks to fill roster holes.

Dennis Lin/San Diego Union-Tribune

Fox Sports Pairing John Smoltz, Joe Buck On Broadcasts
John Smoltz has been promoted to Fox's lead baseball analyst and will work alongside play-by-play man Joe Buck, displacing Harold Reynolds and Tom Verducci.

Associated Press