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Team USA pitching will be loaded

Thirteen pitchers eligible to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic received points in Cy Young voting.

That, sports fans, should largely be the pitching staff for the team Joe Torre will manage.

Imagine a starting rotation of R.A. Dickey, David Price, Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Gio Gonzalez and Jered Weaver.

Matt Cain, Chris Sale, Kyle Lohse, Matt Harrison and Cole Hamels could work the middle innings, with Craig Kimbrel and Jim Johnson as co-closers.

That pitching staff could do what Team USA has failed to do in the two previous WBCs — win.

But will these guys be willing to participate? If they want to, will they receive the blessing of their organizations?

Tentative rosters — the big pool — for teams in the March event will be announced at the winter meetings in December. It’s going to be interesting to see who plays and who chooses to stay in Arizona and Florida to prepare for the season.

Yu Darvish already has said he won’t play for Team Japan. That decision was greeted with cheers from Rangers fans, who did not want him to excuse himself for a couple of weeks to help his countrymen defend the title they won in 2009. They prefer him to go through the tedium of spring training in beautiful Surprise, Ariz.

Darvish, of course, had no problem showcasing himself in the WBC in the past. Like Aroldis Chapman and recent Dodgers international posting Hyun-Jin Ryu, he used the event to measure himself against advanced players and increase his visibility. It must be discouraging to see him remove himself from consideration now that he’s a big leaguer.

“This is going to be the biggest World Baseball Classic we’ve had,” Commissioner Bud Selig said at the just-completed owners meetings. “You know I feel the greatest growth in this sport is international. As I said to the clubs this morning, if we do our work properly, you won’t recognize this sport in five years. ... The World Baseball Classic is our forum to do that. The clubs have been wonderfully cooperative. I’m excited. I think next March you’re going to see a huge classic.” (Chicago Tribune)

Marlins’ Stanton still upset • Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is still upset about the trade that sent five of his teammates to the Toronto Blue Jays.

“I do not like this at all,” Stanton told MLB-com’s Peter Gammons in a story published Friday. “This is the ‘winning philosophy?’ Then to say it’s not about money? What is the motivation. There comes a breaking point.

“I know how I feel. I can’t imagine how the city and the fans feel.”

“They talked about that, a winning philosophy, and how they were building a winner to play in the new ballpark,” Stanton said in the article. “They talked about me and Jose (Reyes). They talked about how they’d have Jose and (Emilio Bonifacio) and Hanley (Ramirez) in front of me and how they would go get a bat to protect me.

“Jose, Bonifacio, Hanley ... all three are gone now. I had people warn me that something like this could happen, but it runs against the competitive nature every athlete has, that nature that everything is about winning. This kind of thing is what gets talked about all the time around this team. Former Marlins come back and they warn us. It gets talked about during the stretch, in the clubhouse, after games, on the road. Again, I do not like this at all.”




MLB Notebook: Team USA pitching staff loaded : Stltoday

Negotiations between the Nationals and first baseman Adam LaRoche are going slowly, according to a source familiar with the talks.

The source said LaRoche's top priority is to re-sign with the Nats, but the slugger is also thinking about his family, which includes two children.

LaRoche already turned down the Nationals' qualifying offer of $13.3 million, and he wants at least a three-year deal. LaRoche has talked to several teams, but the source declined to name them. It has been reported that the Red Sox have interest in LaRoche.

LaRoche is coming off the best season of his career, hitting .271 with 33 home runs and 100 RBIs. He finished seventh in the National League Most Valuable Player voting and won NL Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards.

Recently, general manager Mike Rizzo said he wanted LaRoche back in Washington, but expected the first baseman to test to free-agent market.

"We've been in contact [with his representative]," Rizzo said. "We've touched base a couple times since the season ended. We continue to talk and we'll see where it leads us."

If the Nationals are unable to re-sign LaRoche, they could put Michael Morse or Tyler Moore back at first base. Morse's best season of his Major League career came while playing first. In 2011, Morse was Washington's MVP, hitting .303 with 31 home runs and 95 RBIs.

Moore spent most of his time in left field in 2012, but he's a first baseman by trade. As a first baseman, Moore hit a combined 62 home runs for Class A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg.


Nationals' negotiations with Adam LaRoche going slowly | MLB-com: News

It took longer than Blue Jays fans probably would have liked, but Toronto's mammoth 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins is finally a done deal.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Monday he would not stand in the way of the trade that sees Toronto acquire all-star shortstop Jose Reyes, pitchers Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, catcher John Buck and infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio from Miami for seven players.

You can watch Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos discuss the trade in a news conference live on TSN.ca Tuesday at 9:30am et/6:30am pt. It can also be heard on TSN Radio 1050 at TSN.ca/Toronto with coverage starting at 9am et.

"It is my conclusion that this transaction, involving established major leaguers and highly regarded young players and prospects, represents the exercise of plausible baseball judgment on the part of both clubs, does not violate any express rule of Major League Baseball and does not otherwise warrant the exercise of any of my powers to prevent its completion," Selig said it a statement. "It is, of course, up to the clubs involved to make the case to their respective fans that this transaction makes sense and enhances the competitive position of each, now or in the future."

Miami gets infielders Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, pitchers Henderson Alvarez, Anthony DeSclafani and Justin Nicolino, catcher Jeff Mathis and outfielder Jake Marisnick in the deal agreed to last week. The Marlins also are sending cash to Toronto as part of their payroll purge.

Later Monday, Toronto signed free agent left-fielder Melky Cabrera. The 28-year-old was leading the National League in hitting at .346 for the San Francisco Giants when he was suspended Aug. 15 for a positive testosterone text.

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos said after Toronto's disappointing campaign in 2012 -- one that the club go 73-89 and finish fourth in the American League East -- that he wanted to improve the team's starting pitching.

He did so in dramatic fashion, pulling off one of the biggest deals in franchise history that changes the look of the team and immediately puts the Blue Jays in the conversation for the American League East crown.

But with the deal will come increased expectations.

Toronto, which has not made the playoffs since the second of back-to-back World Series victories in 1993, acquired combined guaranteed salaries of US$163.75 million through 2018 in the deal, including $96 million due Reyes.

Anthopoulos was expected to address the media at Rogers Centre on Tuesday morning.

Johnson and Buehrle will immediately improve a starting rotation that already includes Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero. Reyes, who should bat leadoff, is a major upgrade over Escobar at shortstop, Bonifacio could fill a hole at second base and Buck, a former Blue Jay, gives the team veteran experience behind the plate.

Despite the huge monetary investment, Toronto didn't have to give up much off the current roster.

Escobar's days with the Blue Jays were already numbered after he wrote an anti-gay slur in Spanish on his eyeblack late in the season. Mathis was a decent backup, while the jury is still out on Alvarez and prospects Hechavarria, DeSclafani, Nicolino and Marisnick.

The trade is not the only move Anthopolous made last week. The Blue Jays reportedly signed all-star game MVP Melky Cabrera, who is returning from a drug suspension. Sources say Cabrera and the club have reached an agreement on a two-year contract worth $16 million, pending a physical.

Anthopolous still has more work to do, including the hiring of a new manager after John Farrell jumped ship to the Boston Red Sox in October.

Despite the major jump in payroll, the trade with the Marlins doesn't come without risk. Reyes, a career .291 hitter with 259 doubles, 111 triples, 92 home runs and 480 RBIs in 1,210 games, is an injury concern, especially on the turf at Rogers Centre.

The 29-year-old switch-hitter batted .287 for the Marlins last season with 37 doubles, 12 triples, 11 home runs, 57 RBIs and 40 stolen bases last season, a year removed from winning the National League batting title.

Johnson, a free agent after 2013, is owed $13.75 million next season, while Buehrle has $52 million remaining on a deal that expires in 2015.

The 28-year-old Johnson was 8-14 last season with a 3.81 earned-run average in 31 starts for Miami. The two-time all-star recorded 165 strikeouts with 65 walks in 191 1/3 innings. A six-foot-seven right-hander, Johnson led the National League with a 2.30 ERA in 2010.

Buehrle was 13-13 in 2012 with a 3.74 ERA in his first season with the Marlins. The 33-year-old left-hander tossed 202 1-3 innings in 31 starts, marking the 12th consecutive season he pitched at least 200 innings. The four-time all-star spent the first 12 years of his career with the Chicago White Sox before joining Miami last season.

Buck appeared in 106 games for the Marlins in 2012, batting .192 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs. The 33-year-old veteran catcher returns to Toronto, where he was an American League all-star in 2010.

Bonifacio, 27, batted .258 last season in 64 games, with 30 stolen bases and 30 runs scored. He can play all three outfield positions, as well as second base, third base and shortstop.

The 28-year-old Cabrera was leading the National League in hitting at .346 for the San Francisco Giants when he was suspended Aug. 15 for a positive testosterone text. The Giants didn't put Cabrera on their post-season roster on their way to winning the World Series.

The net amount coming off the Marlins' books in the deal is $154 million, which does not account for the cash involved in the trade.

Since flopping during the first half of their first season at their new ballpark, the Marlins also have traded former NL batting champion Hanley Ramirez, second baseman Omar Infante, right-hander Anibal Sanchez and closer Heath Bell.

The Marlins have been criticized f

The deal between the Blue Jays and Miami Marlins, who unloaded about $160 million in payroll after moving into a new, publicly financed stadium, was approved by Major League Baseball on Monday despite protests from the Florida community.

The 12-player deal, which sent high-priced Miami players including shortstop Jose Reyes and pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle to Toronto in exchange for promising young players, was agreed upon last Tuesday but had been under MLB review.

"We've finished in last place the past two years, and that is unacceptable to our fans, to us as an organization, and to me," said Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, according to MLB website mlb-com.

"We want to get back to our winning ways, and we want a winning baseball team for our fans. It's incumbent on us to make the changes necessary to make us a winner again."

In Miami, the deal set off controversy, upset the fan base and prompted Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado to write a letter to MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to closely examine the reasoning for the transaction.

"After a thorough examination of this information, it is my conclusion that this transaction, involving established major leaguers and highly regarded young players and prospects, represents the exercise of plausible baseball judgment on the part of both clubs," Selig said in a statement.

"(It) does not violate any express rule of Major League Baseball and does not otherwise warrant the exercise of any of my powers to prevent its completion."

Miami parted with established veterans in Johnson, Buehrle, Reyes, infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio and catcher John Buck that instantly upgraded the Blue Jays into playoff contenders in the American League East.

In return, the Marlins received infielders Yunel Escobar and Adeiny Hechavarria, starting pitcher Henderson Alvarez, catcher Jeff Mathis, minor league pitchers Justin Nicolino and Anthony DeSclafani and outfield prospect Jake Marisnick.

At least four of Miami's new players are expected to be on the Marlins' Opening Day roster, Escobar, Hechavarria, Alvarez and Mathis.

South Florida frustration boiled over after the team dismantled its $101 million roster after just one season at Marlins Park, a retractable-roof stadium that cost more than $500 million, with taxpayers shelling out for most of the bill.

Marlins owner Loria insisted the trade would benefit Miami's on-field performance in the long run.

"It may not happen overnight. But with the players we acquired in the second half of last season, coupled with the infusion of players we are acquiring now, we will be returning to Marlins Baseball: high energy and hungry," he said.





Mega-trade gets MLB approval|Top News|chinadaily-com.cn

Thanks to 74,859,268 fans, the most since the Phillies ended their World Series drought in 2008, and the fifth-best single-season attendance total in Major League Baseball history.

Thanks to Miguel Cabrera for giving us what so many have waited for most or all of our lives. So that's what a Triple Crown feels like. Who can forget the standing ovation he received from division-rival fans in Kansas City on that final day?

Thanks to fans who have come together with MLB, its clubs and its employees to collectively provide relief in many ways after a superstorm ravaged the Northeast a day after the baseball season ended. Bidding is under way through Dec. 1 on special packages offered by clubs, with 100 percent of proceeds going to Sandy Relief.

Thanks for a collective community effort throughout the World Series. It was a short Fall Classic, but the first four games are always dedicated no matter what to specific community themes -- and fans collaborated dramatically with MLB for a tangible impact to support Stand Up To Cancer; Welcome Back Veterans; youth initiatives like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) and Breaking Barriers; and through public service including Habitat for Humanity efforts.

"As a social institution, Major League Baseball embraces its responsibility to give back to communities that support us and to families and individuals, especially those in need," said Tom Brasuell, MLB vice president of community affairs. "Through the leadership and vision of Commissioner Selig, and thanks to the cooperation and dedication of our clubs, players, partners and fans, Baseball is proud to continue to make a positive and significant difference in the lives of others. As an organization and as an industry, we remain committed to offering our assistance and support."

On this Thanksgiving Day, there is one word that matters most in baseball.

Thanks to Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler and his wife Tess, who were host to a Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday for the families of Family Gateway, whose facilities, programs and community partnerships are designed to serve the needs of families coping with homelessness in Dallas. In addition to hosting that dinner for about 100 people, the Kinslers distributed winter scarves, gloves and hats to more than 60 youngsters. The Kinslers also purchased birthday gifts for the children celebrating November birthdays, as the event was held in conjunction with the Birthday Party Project, which celebrates the lives of homeless children by partnering with shelters.

Thanks to Indians president Mark Shapiro, general manager Chris Antonetti and additional front office staff for serving Thanksgiving dinner last Sunday to 300 individuals and families in the Cleveland community. The Indians partnered at the Terrace Club of Progressive Field with Delaware North Companies and four area non-profit service organizations: Guidestone, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, Our Lady of the Wayside, and Shoes and Clothes for Kids.

MLB donated $10,000 to the Mozel Sanders Foundation for that organization's annual "Mozel Sanders Thanksgiving Dinner West Coast," which on Thursday is scheduled to feed about 5,000 homeless people and families in Compton, Calif. Thanks to young participants of the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton for their help in serving meals at the event, held at Compton Community College. The local dinner is a collaborative effort between the Mozel Sanders Foundation, MLB, the City of Compton, Compton Community College District, clergy, entrepreneurs, businesses, churches and community and political leaders.

"Major League Baseball is a social institution with important social responsibilities, but perhaps most importantly, we are members of communities that sustain our clubs, facilities and initiatives," said Frank Robinson, MLB executive vice president of baseball development. "The Compton community has been tremendously supportive of our efforts at the MLB Urban Youth Academy to provide local youth with opportunities on and off the field, so we are pleased to give back to those in this area who are in need during this holiday season."

Thanks to the fans of Kansas City, not only for that classy gesture toward Cabrera, but also for their amazing All-Star week -- the first one there in four decades.

Thanks to the Houston Astros for their many years of National League service. It's time for a new American League world in 2013.

At a time of "Jersey Strong," when Thanksgiving auto travelers are seeing U.S. flags on nearly every highway overpass, we are thankful for an unforgettable rookie season by one of that state's own. Mike Trout of the Angels had simply the most magnificent first year in baseball history, and we can't wait to see what becomes of his career.

Thanks to Jerry Reinsdorf, Christine O'Reilly, Chicago fans and everyone responsible for the White Sox Volunteer Corps. It continues to set the standard and is a great example of how clubs work hand-in-hand with their communities.

Thanks to people like Justin Verlander and his friend Shayna "Verlander" Hersh. They gave us one of the best moments of 2012, and they were reunited in Detroit during the World Series. It doesn't take much to help someone's life for the better.

Thanks to those who built and supported construction of nine Habitat for Humanity houses, destined for tornado-stricken communities in Joplin, Mo., and Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Thanks to everyone involved with last week's official re-opening of the MLB Urban Youth Academy at Wesley Barrow Stadium in New Orleans' Pontchartrain Park, following a $6.5 million renovation project by MLB and the city after the original, 55-year-old stadium was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The academy will provide free, year-round baseball and softball instruction and other educational services for youth from under served and urban communities throughout southern Louisiana.

"Major Leag

Team executives and agents wandered into the Agave Sunset lounge at the resort where the general managers' meetings were held in Indian Wells, Calif. Four of the six flat-screen televisions were showing election coverage, with the other two turned to sports.

President Barack Obama's victory over Mitt Romney was of as much interest to baseball's money men as the game scores, given the millions of dollars routinely guaranteed in player contracts these days.

As free agents negotiate deals this offseason, tax policy is an area that comes up along with the usual issues. Some players are wrangling for as much money as they can get before the end of the year to avoid a take hike in 2013.

"Front-loading would make sense if at all possible as tax rates will definitely go up on January 1st on all high-income taxpayers," agent Greg Genske said in an email. "The only question is HOW MUCH will the rates increase😟?"

This much is known for now: Starting Jan. 1, there is an additional 0.9 percent Medicare tax on wages above $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly under the federal Affordable Care Act, a rise to 2.35 percent.

In addition, the Bush tax cuts are scheduled to expire at the end of the year, which could raise the highest marginal federal tax rate from 35 percent to 39.6 percent - although a deal between Obama and Congress could change that.

Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane figures agents will be on top of the changes - but the results of negotiations about the so-called fiscal cliff are unpredictable.

"I think if you're hopping around the potential of tax reform, you're probably chasing your tail," Beane said. "If they can predict when something's going to happen, then they're much further ahead than the lawmakers."

With baseball contracts worth as much as $275 million (Alex Rodriguez) and the major league minimum $480,000, tax policy affects every player who spends most of the season in the big leagues.

All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes, who has a $10 million salary next year, was traded from the Miami Marlins to the Toronto Blue Jays. While Florida has no state income tax, Reyes remains a New York resident from his days with the Mets and had high taxes to begin with. Ontario's provincial tax rises to 11.16 percent - on top of a Canadian federal level as high as 29 percent.

Among states with big league teams, income tax rates go as high as 10.3 percent in California and 8.82 percent in New York. At the other end, Florida, Texas and Washington have no state income tax. The top rate in the District of Columbia is 8.95 percent.

"I like ours; we're a no-tax state," Seattle Mariners general manager Jack Zdurienck said. "When we sit down with players, that's a huge benefit. I think any player out there that has an opportunity to play in a no-tax state gets benefits, enormous benefits. We hope that weighs in our favor."

According to an analysis done by a tax lawyer on the staff of agent Scott Boras, a player with a $10 million salary and average deductions who plays in Florida and is a resident of that state will see his taxes rise from $3.45 million this year to $4.09 million next year under current law. If traded to the Blue Jays, that player's 2013 tax would rise to $4.27 million. And if dealt to a California team, the tax would go up to $4.4 million.

By moving money from salary into signing bonuses, players can sometimes lower their state tax bills. Shifting money into December this year could reduce federal taxes.

"Tax measures are going to be discussed, but change most likely carries compromise on both sides," Boras said. "One thing is clear based on the nation's ballot totals: Many Americans are split on this subject."

In the end, most free agents choose teams based on where they want to play, not on lowering the tax cut on their income.

"It's a factor, maybe even a small factor," agent Craig Landis said. "If there's 50 variables, you can now make it a 51st. It's not usually going to be the drive, but it's something to consider."

And for teams, only the big spenders need worry.

Beane's Athletics, for instance, had the lowest payroll in the majors last season.

"It's probably not a situation I'll have to face in Oakland too much," he said.




Tax increases could factor in MLB negotiations - Baseball- NBC Sports

DeMarlo Hale, who interviewed for the Blue Jays' vacant bench coach position earlier this week, is likely headed to Toronto to fill that role in 2013, an industry source told MLB-com Friday night.

Hale, who served as the Orioles' third-base coach last season, was offered a contract to return to Buck Showalter's staff and is the only unsigned member of last year's staff as his name has floated around several vacant positions this winter.

Before joining the Orioles, Hale coached alongside current Red Sox manager John Farrell when they both worked on Terry Francona's staff. Hale left Boston to join Showalter in Baltimore last season.

Hale's departure would be a big loss for the Orioles if it occurs, and it appeared to be headed that way Friday night. A well-respected baseball man, Hale has been considered for managerial jobs in the past and has been a lauded addition to Showalter's staff. Popular in the clubhouse and one of Showalter's most trusted aides, Hale's contract with the Orioles expired at the end of the season, and the organization hoped they would be able to keep him.

It's unclear how much the financial aspect played in, although a bench coach position is considered a promotion from third base.




DeMarlo Hale likely to become Blue Jays bench coach | MLB-com: News

Cardinals third baseman David Freese was unhurt when he crashed his sports utility vehicle into a tree while avoiding a deer on the road on Thursday afternoon in Wildwood, Mo., according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

St. Louis County Police said the 2011 World Series MVP avoided the deer and was out of his car when they arrived on the scene. He declined medical treatment, and his SUV was towed.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Freese told him about the crash Thursday evening. Freese will meet with members of the club's medical staff over the weekend to assure the accident didn't cause any problems.

"Anytime you know somebody is in an accident you want to hear they're OK and that no one else was hurt," Mozeliak told the Post-Disatch. "I think we're all relieved to hear he wasn't hurt. That's the bottom line -- the fact that no one here was injured. ... I don't think there will be any issues for him coming from this."

Freese hit .293 and posted career highs with 20 home runs and 79 RBIs in 144 games for the Cardinals in 2012.



Freese unhurt after auto accident | MLB-com: News

Just when you thought you had cleared everything off of it, even that last succulent bit of pumpkin pie, baseball returns to the American consciousness on Monday with a full plate.

Monday takes us out of the holiday haze and returns us to a business week. In the offices of 30 Major League clubs, it'll be back to business as usual, or, as is often the case -- just ask the Marlins and Blue Jays, who stunned the industry with their recent 12-player trade -- business as occasionally unusual.

Winter technically begins on Dec. 21, but when it comes to hardball -- the game played this time of year at the negotiating table -- the season is already upon us. Take the first big date to look out for as we cruise along toward Christmas, the New Year, pitchers and catchers in Febuary and Opening Day on March 31. That would be this Friday, the last date for clubs to offer, or tender, contracts to arbitration-eligible players.

Some very good players are likely to be "non-tendered," or cut loose to become immediate free agents. It could be because their current teams don't have room for their roles on the roster. It could be that the projected payroll sent down by the front office doesn't hold room for their projected salaries. It could be the mutual agreement to give a guy a fresh start somewhere else.

Whatever the case, it's always worth watching, because big names have been non-tendered in the past. Sometimes these decisions are made prematurely along the career path of a budding star, and the team that scoops up that player can benefit, big time. The most famous recent example would be the tale of David Ortiz, the left-handed-hitting first baseman/designated hitter who just couldn't hit lefties for the Minnesota Twins 10 years ago. He was non-tendered, signed to a one-year, $1 million deal by Boston before the 2003 season and helped re-define Red Sox history over the next decade.

Big Papi is not the only big pop on the non-tender heap. Other players who have been set free in this fashion over the years include Jayson Werth, Edwin Encarnacion, Jonny Gomes, Chris Capuano, Bobby Jenks and many more.

"There are a lot of reasons why a guy might get non-tendered," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "But just like with exploring trades or free agency, you go into it with an open mind. There could be guys waiting to resurface as quality players, or guys who just happen to be the right fit on other clubs. That's one of the challenges of this job."

Sure, these transactions will make headlines. Potential non-tenders this week include Brian Wilson, Mike Pelfrey, Jair Jurrjens and Mark Reynolds. We won't know until Friday, but it probably won't take long for good players to be signed by other teams.

Then again, the non-tender date is only four days before the major event of the offseason for the Hot Stove set: the Winter Meetings in Nashville.

Not every big deal will get done when the Meetings descend upon the massive Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center next Monday, but plenty will, and plenty of stars are still on the free-agent board, waiting to be plucked.

In Music City or soon after, we'll likely learn the fates of Josh Hamilton and Zack Greinke, plus a host of other plus talents: impact hitters Mike Napoli, Lance Berkman, Nick Swisher, Kevin Youkilis, Ryan Ludwick, Cody Ross, Delmon Young and A.J. Pierzynski and speed-and-defense specialists Michael Bourn, Ichiro Suzuki, Marco Scutaro and Shane Victorino.

Then there are the starters, whose ranks still include Dan Haren, Ryan Dempster, Anibal Sanchez, Kyle Lohse, Edwin Jackson, Brandon McCarthy and Joe Blanton; and the closers and late-inning relievers, whose free-agent list features Rafael Soriano, Jonathan Broxton, Matt Capps, Ryan Madson, Brett Myers, Joakim Soria, Jose Valverde, Mike Adams, Kyle Farnsworth, Francisco Rodriguez and J.P. Howell.

Any of these players could sign in Nashville, or as early as this week. Or none sign right away and we might only read about other monster trades. That's part of the fun of this time of year.

Also on tap in Nashville will be the announcement of the latest voting results by the Hall of Fame's Veterans Committee and the Dec. 6 Rule 5 Draft, which is held on the final day of the Winter Meetings.

For the bargain-basement price of $50,000, (half of which is refundable if the drafted player does not remain on the 25-man roster for the entire season), astute GMs might just score a player in the mold of Johan Santana, Hamilton or Victorino, all of whom were Rule 5 selections.

Cubs president Theo Epstein seemed to sum up the whole scene well after Day 1 of the 2008 Winter Meetings, when he was general manager of the Red Sox.

"I guess it was a typical Winter Meetings day," Epstein said. "Some talks, couldn't get anything done. It took a half-hour to get through the lobby. It was all right."

And so is the rest of the Hot Stove season.

Just after the New Year, on Jan. 9, we'll find out the next class of Hall of Fame players, which could include last year's runners-up -- starting pitcher Jack Morris and first baseman Jeff Bagwell -- and a host of newcomers, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, Mike Piazza, Craig Biggio, Curt Schilling, Kenny Lofton and David Wells.

A few weeks after that, equipment trucks will start rolling out of stadiums to warmer climates. And in mid-February, it's pitchers and catchers and the magical prelude to another season.

In other words, make sure those plates are in the dishwasher and the leftovers are sealed tight in the fridge. Baseball's winter flight is about to take off.







Baseball gets back to business on Monday after Thanksgiving weekend | MLB-com: News

Evan Longoria might have gotten more money in the future, but he liked the idea of finishing his career with the Rays. He and the club shared that vision, resulting in a contract extension that could keep the All-Star third baseman in a Rays uniform through the 2023 season.

"In signing this contract, I kind of wanted to show that I'm committed to this organization," Longoria said. "Obviously you look at a lot of comparable contracts and what guys [he is comparable to are signing contracts for now], it was obviously a big deal to be able to get what they were commanding when they signed their deals. But there's no telling what the market is going to look like in five years. Obviously contracts are going up and they are probably going to continue to go up."

Longoria's new contract incorporates the salaries for 2013-16 from his original contract and extends six more years through 2022 for an additional $100 million. The deal includes a club option for 2023.

"This is a very exciting day for us, for Evan to have the confidence in us and for us to have the confidence in him to re-up, so to speak, for the long haul is quite exciting and we're looking forward to a lot more great things going forward," said Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg.

The Rays selected Longoria with the third overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, making him the first player drafted under Sternberg and Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. On April 18, 2008, only six games into his Major League career, the Rays signed Longoria to a multiyear contract worth a guaranteed $17.5 million over six years and potentially $44 million over nine seasons, including the club options for 2014-16.

Sternberg noted that the Rays drafted Longoria with the belief that he and the organization would "grow with each other and together accomplish great things."

"That is why the Rays and Evan signed a long-term contract in 2008, and it is why we are extending our commitments today," Sternberg said. "Evan has clearly become a cornerstone player and a fixture in our organization. We are proud of what we have accomplished these past seven years, and I expect the best is yet to come."

Longoria made it clear his intention was not to squeeze every penny out of the organization he could, particularly at the risk of having the Rays not signing other players because of his contract.

"I told them from the beginning that I didn't want to be the one sucking up all the payroll so we can't afford anybody else, because it's not giving us the best chance to win," Longoria said.

The contract does not include a no-trade clause primarily because he did not insist on having one included in the deal.

"I didn't want one," Longoria said. "We went back and forth about it and we kind of talked in the beginning briefly about having kind of like a stipulated no-trade clause to where if they were going to trade me, it would only be to a certain few teams. But in the end, I kind of said, if they don't want me, I don't want to be somewhere I'm not wanted."

Though clearly motivated by winning, Longoria did not ask for assurances from the organization that it would continue to do whatever was necessary to win, either.

"I told [Friedman] from the beginning, I want to win," Longoria said. "If we're not going to be able to put guys around me that are going to help us win, I can't do it by myself. One guy can't do it all on his own. It doesn't matter how good you are. You need a team to win. He obviously understands that. He knows that. Just knowing him and his personality gives me all the assurances I need that he's going to do his best to put guys around me to win."

The 27-year-old Longoria is a three-time American League All-Star, two-time Rawlings AL Gold Glove winner at third base and was the 2008 AL Rookie of the Year. After five seasons, he already ranks second on the Rays' all-time list with 130 home runs, third with 456 RBIs and fourth with 161 doubles. Longoria is one of 11 active players to average at least 25 home runs and 90 RBIs over his first five seasons.

In 2012, Longoria was limited to 74 games due to a partially torn left hamstring which he suffered on April 30. He also missed a good chunk of the season in 2011 due to an oblique injury, which cast Longoria as injury-prone and added a risk factor to the deal.

"I think there's risk essentially in everything we do," Friedman said. "So in terms of the dollars, the number of years, there's certainly risk. ... Everything we do has an element of risk, has an element of risk for the player, and I think the most important thing is that both sides go to the table and want something to happen. It gives it a much better chance than not of that happening. And all sides understand and appreciate the risk associated with it."

Despite missing more than half of the season, Longoria hit .289 with 17 home runs, and 55 RBIs. The Rays were 41-44 during Longoria's absence and 47-27 with him in the starting lineup. The Rays scored nearly a run more per game during his time on the active roster. Friedman said he didn't have to see what happened in 2012 to understand Longoria's value.

"I think we knew the significance that Evan has on this team," Friedman said. "It goes beyond just what he can do in the batter's box. He's a premier defender at third base. He has value on the bases. He does a lot of different things to help the team win beyond what he does in the batter's box. And it speaks to how much he wants to win and the commitment that he has to winning, that he puts as much time into those areas of his game as he does his hitting."

Longoria said the idea to sign an extension -- which had been hatching since last spring, did not stem from any insecurity he has about being injured in the future.

"That's the last thing I want to do is take somebody's money and never play again," Longoria said. "The game is more important to me than

Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz will be suspended for the first 25 games of the 2013 Major League Baseball season because of amphetamine use. The office of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, which announced the suspension yesterday, said Ruiz will be allowed to participate in spring training drills and exhibition games before the season.

“I am sincerely regretful for my mistake in taking a prohibited stimulant,” Ruiz said in a statement released by the Major League Baseball Players Association. “I apologize to my teammates, the Phillies organization and the Philadelphia fans. I will serve the imposed 25-game suspension to begin the season.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, based on two people within MLB who were not identified, that Ruiz tested positive for Adderall and that the suspension was triggered by his second positive test for that stimulant.

The newspaper also said the Phillies exercised a $5 million option for the 2013 season on the catcher last month, and that the suspension will cost Ruiz about $750,000 in lost salary.

“We are disappointed by the news of this violation of the program,” Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a statement released by the team. “We will support Carlos in an appropriate manner.”

Adderall, a stimulant used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is used by athletes as an energy booster. Its use has led to several recent suspensions in the National Football League, including New York Giants safeties Will Hill and Tyler Sash.
Drug-Test Program

Under MLB’s drug-testing program, Ruiz was subject to six unannounced follow-up tests over the 12 months after his original violation, in addition to standard random testing. Ruiz would be suspended 80 games for a third positive test.

Ruiz, 33, has been the Phillies’ starting catcher since 2007 and made the All-Star team for the first time in 2012. He hit .325 with 16 home runs and 68 runs batted in last season, all career highs.

In 2010, he caught a perfect game by Roy Halladay in May and a no-hitter by Halladay in the playoffs against the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the first major leaguer in 59 years to catch two no-hitters by the same pitcher during one season. The previous player to do that was Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees, who caught two no-hitters by Allie Reynolds in 1951.


Phillies Catcher Ruiz Suspended 25 Games by MLB for Amphetamines - Businessweek

A lot has been made about the success of Major League Baseball’s drug testing policy, but just because players are being caught, doesn’t mean it is working.
Since MLB instituted its drug testing policy back in 2005, 40 players have been suspended for taking banned substances. The most recent player to be caught was Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz was served with a 25 game suspension. The penalty will take place at the beginning of the 2013 season.
When testing was first started, penalties for being caught were 10 games for the first offense, 30 games for the second, 60 games for the third, a year for the fourth. If a player reached a fifth offense, his penalty was left to the discretion of the commissioner.
That first year, 12 players tested positive for banned substances. Among the players who tested positive were future St. Louis Cardinal closer Ryan Franklin and Baltimore slugger Rafael Palmeiro.
Those penalties lasted only one season. For the 2006 campaign, the penalties were reset to their current model of 50 games for a first offense, 100 games for a second offense and lifetime banishment for a third offense.
In 2006 the number of suspensions dropped to three, but the number jumped back up to eight in 2007. Neifi Perez became the first two time offender, testing positive twice in the same season.
From 2008 through 2011, eight players tested positive with a high of four in 2009. In 2009, Manny Ramirez became one of the biggest high profile players to be caught.
Two years later, Ramirez tested positive again. Faced with a 100 game suspension, Ramirez decided to retire from baseball. That retirement was short lived though, as Ramirez signed with the Oakland A’s before the 2012 season. Having sat out virtually the entire 2011, Ramirez’s suspension was reduced to 50 games.
That brings us to 2012, the most recent season on hand. This past year, eight players have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. The World Series champion Giants started the season off with pitcher Guillermo Mota testing positive for a second time. Mota was suspended for 100 games. Joining Mota on the suspension list was All Star game MVP Melky Cabrera, also of the Giants. A week later, Oakland A’s pitcher Bartolo Colon came up dirty. And yesterday, Ruiz became the second Phillie of the season to test for PEDs.
All of this does not take into account the number of minor leaguers who have tested positive for PEDs. During the 2012 season alone, 102 players tested positive.
What I am getting at is, even with testing, there is no real deterrent for players to not use PEDs. Baseball needs to really stiffen the penalties and start holding teams responsible. The current penalties are doing nothing to make players stop juicing.
Fresh off his PED season, Cabrera earned himself a $16 million two year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. With an annual average of $8 million, that is a $2 million increase over what he made last year. He was also voted a full share of postseason earnings, even though he did not play in the postseason because of his suspension.
Colon earned $2 million with the A’s in 2012. He still has five games remaining on his 50 game suspension when 2013 season starts. For his troubles, Colon resigned with the A’s for one year with a base salary of $3 million plus incentives. It looks to me like he is being rewarded for juicing.
If a player is caught using PEDs, they should be limited to making the major league minimum for the rest of their career. Teams should face some kind of penalty as well. Maybe take away draft picks or forfeit any shot at the postseason, but whatever it is, it has to be something that will make teams not want to have players using PEDs play for them.
As of right now, only three players have tested positive twice, Ramirez, Mota, and Perez. Supposedly a third test will have the player banned for life. But I am sure the players union will find some loophole to work around to prevent such an action.
The program is a joke right now. Players go out, using PEDs and then profit off them with big money contracts. What kind of deterrent is that? If baseball wants to have any kind of legitimacy behind their drug program and really stop players from using them, changes have to happen, and they have to happen now.


MLB needs stiffer PEDs penalties - Boonville, MO - Boonville Daily News - Boonville, MO

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa are among the notable names on the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released on Wednesday.

No matter how much Major League Baseball wants to move past the Steroid Era, once again the game’s performance-enhancing-drug-tainted history finds itself front and center.

For more than a decade, the actions of players who took whatever they could to get a competitive edge have been analyzed and criticized. They’ve been the subject of debate in sports sections, before Congress and in courtrooms. Now, these players will be judged by the voters.


Like Clemens and Bonds, Sosa once would have been considered a near shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. Unless there’s a major shift among Cooperstown voters, seeing Sosa enshrined seems incredibly unlikely – on this round of balloting or any other.

Hailing from the Dominican baseball hotbed of San Pedro de Macoris, Sosa ended his 18-year MLB career with 2,408 hits and 609 home runs. He had two 30-30 seasons. He had nine seasons with more than 100 RBIs. He was a seven-time All Star and the National League MVP in 1998.

Sosa’s home run race with Mark McGwire in 1998 was credited by many for reinvigorating baseball after the 1994 players’ strike not only ended the season early, but outraged and alienated fans. The Chicago Cubs’ outfielder and St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman brought spectators back as the two sluggers pursued baseball’s long-standing single-season home run record. McGwire won that race with 70. Sosa finished with 66.

Bonds topped Big Mac’s mark three years later, en route to surpassing Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record of 715. Bonds finished his career with 762 home runs.

If McGwire is any indication, none of the aforementioned players should start planning acceptance speeches. The now-Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach has never topped 25 percent of the vote. Last season, he received less than 20 percent. A player needs 75 percent from the voting baseball writers to make the Hall.

Like McGwire, Bonds and Clemens, Sosa is ensnared in the Steroid Era. Speculation of PED use swirled for years. Sosa could not escape the dubious questioning -- how does a player go from never hitting more than 40 home runs to blasting 60-plus out of the park?

To many people, the answer came in a 2009 when The New York Times reported Sosa tested positive for PEDs in 2003.

Not that an admission matters, but Sosa has never publicly admitted using steroids.

Rafael Palmeiro is a different case. One of just four players in history with more than 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, Palmeiro also is on the longer list of players who have tested positive for PEDs. Considering Palmeiro appeared on less than 13 percent of Hall of Fame voters’ ballots last year, being a confirmed PED user overshadows on-field performance.

That fact doesn’t bode well for Palmeiro, who appears on the ballot again this year. (Players who appear on less than 5 percent of returned ballots are dropped from future ballots.)

The trend also doesn’t bode well for Sosa. The former Cub could find himself in Hall of Fame limbo: enough support to remain on the ballot, not enough support to make the Hall.

Time will tell. But the Steroid Era isn’t going away.


Read more: MLB Hall of Fame Nominations in the Steroid Era | Fox News Latino

The 1998 season was a glorious one for Major League Baseball. It was one of the greatest that the game had ever seen. It was a campaign that saw the entire nation captivated by the home run chased between Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire.

It was the banner season for an all-time great in a Chicago Cubs uniform. Slammin’ Sammy hit 66 home runs that year, one of three years of at least 60. And yet, despite a career that ended as one of the greatest in the history of baseball from an offensive standpoint, Sosa’s status as a legend is up in the air, with the Hall of Fame results just over a month away.

There’s no doubt that there remains a dark cloud hanging over the career of Sammy Sosa. That’s the case with many/most first-year eligible players who came out of the “Steroid Era”. Two of his predecssors to the ballot, McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, have failed to gain even one-third of the votes necessary for Cooperstown.

Does that mean that Sosa is destined for failure as well? Quite possibly. But even though we can predict what probably will happen doesn’t neccesarily means that’s what should happen.

Unlike Barry Bonds, who joins Sosa on the 2012 ballot, Sammy was not a five-tool player for the majority of his career. What he was was an offensive powerhouse, one of the greatest that the game has ever seen.

When you talk about Sosa, you’re talking about a guy who hit at least 60 home runs three times in his career, with another season of 50 on top of that. He was a seven-time All Star, a National League MVP (and a candidate in numerous seasons), and one of only two players in the history of the National League to knock in 160 or more runs in a season.

But Sosa’s career actually went far beyond the power numbrs. He, somewhat surprisingly, swiped at least 30 bags three times in his career. He finished with 234 for his career. Everyone loves WAR. Sosa was at least a five WAR player for five different seasons, with another in which he finished with a WAR just a shade over 10. That last number is absurd.

Sosa’s final slash line when he left the game in 2007 stood at .273/.344/.534/.878. That’s some pretty impressive stuff right there, and probably better than many would expect after watching him play. Sure, the steals went down when he (allegedly) started juicing and his average dipped quite a bit toward the tail-end of his career. But there’s no denying he’s a top offensive player of all time. Look no further than his 609 career home runs for your evidence of that.

Nationally, Sammy Sosa is seen to many as a steroid user, who once used a corked bat (though over 70 were tested and no others came up with cork) and struck out way too much. On the North Side, some still remember his mysterious injuries and ugly departure from the club as his legacy. They’d prefer him left out in the cold with the likes of McGwire and Palmeiro.

But for many others, in Chicago and all over, Sammy Sosa was a contributor in bringing excitement to the game. His routine sprints to right field, his power (aided or not), and his trademark home run hope made him a fan favorite for million.

Like it or not, Sammy Sosa deserves to be enshrined at Cooperstown. Just as Barry Bonds andRoger Clemensdo. He changed the game for Cub fans. He helped to make them competitive again. He made the game more exciting for fans all over the world. Will his enshrinement happen this year? It’s a possibility, but probably not.

But no matter when he gets in, be it this year, next year, or a fwe down the road, it needs to happen. It’d be a damn shame to not add the Hall of Fame label to Sammy Sosa’s name in the very near future.
Read more at Sammy Sosa Absolutely Deserves Election To Hall Of Fame

Having made my share of mistakes over the last 50 years (giving myself a mulligan for any made during my first four years on the planet), one nagging regret is failing to submit my Baseball Hall of Fame vote before the deadline last year.

The greatest privilege that comes with holding a Baseball Writers Association of America card for 10 years is participating in the annual Hall of Fame voting. A combination of excess rumination over the candidates and an increasingly sloppy memory account for this transgression.

Neither is an excuse for my failure to hit the deadline. Hitting deadlines is the most basic tenet of my chosen field. But rumination may be just as sinful. One of my good friends and BBWAA colleagues says that if you need to think about someone’s candidacy, he isn’t a Hall of Famer; there is a strong case to be made for such simple logic.

Every year the ballot arrives in early December, and we have until the end of the month to submit our choices. Voters are allowed to choose up to 10 candidates.

For at least one voter, one of the more difficult decisions this year will be offering a yay or nay on Curt Schilling. If bombast and a lethal sense of self importance were fatal flaws in Hall candidacies Schilling wouldn’t stand a chance. And eviction proceedings would have to be initiated against several inductees if such sins were noted retroactively.

Still, I’ll spend more time pondering Schilling’s candidacy than I will on Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens. Let others brood over steroids (the accepted shorthand for Performance Enhancing Drugs); I’ll brood over whether Schilling’s sterling postseason credentials make up for gaps in his regular season numbers.

My reasoning is simple: Major League Baseball chose to let the steroids issue fester for years before acting. The so-called Steroids Era, highlighted by the 1998 home run duel between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, was good for the game’s bottom line. It strains the imagination to believe that MLB knew nothing about the widespread infestation of PEDs as the battle over Roger Maris’ record captured the public’s fascination that summer.

In fact, former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent sent teams a memo in 1991 as a reminder that steroids were illegal. The problem was, there was no penalty for users, rendering Vincent’s memo into the proverbial wink and nod.

MLB is a small world and gossip is a large part of that world. Players not named Jose Canseco publicly acknowledged steroids’ general use and induced yawns from the lords of the game.

The Mitchell Report aside, we will never be certain of who used PEDs and who didn’t during their heyday.

In my mind, that means the men on the ballot are eligible for Hall of Fame induction. Whether they get in should be based on what they did on the field, even if fueled by something other than Gatorade. Cheating, for lack of a better word, has existed in baseball since ballplayers were paid to play.

My Hall of Fame ballot will not be delayed by rumination this year. Going over Schilling’s numbers won’t take that long.


www-nashuatelegraph-com/sports/baseball/985670-460/mlbs-inaction-makes-ped-claims-moot-in-html

The Tampa Bay Rays are coming into this week’s MLB Winter Meetings with a few holes to fill and they are close to filling their first one. The Rays and free agent first baseman James Loney are close to a deal. The Rays did not re-sign Carlos Pena making him a free agent and opening up the need for Loney to fill the position.

Loney was not re-signed by the Boston Red Sox at the end of the 2012 season. Loney was acquired by Boston in the trade that sent Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez and Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers for some prospects leaving Boston with a lot of payroll flexibility.

Loney is heading into his eighth season in the majors and has not been the power slugger that most scouts thought he could have been when he made his first appearances with the Dodgers. In his time spent between the Dodgers and the Red Sox, Loney has hit 73 home runs, recorded 459 RBI and has batted .282/.339/.419. Loney is a solid hitter and is a pretty good defensive first baseman. His ability to get on base and not strike out will benefit the Rays more than Pena’s trend of more than 100 strikeouts per season.

Loney does have an outside chance of re-signing with the Red Sox but with Adam LaRoche becoming more available, the consensus is that Boston will remain focused on him and free agent catcher Mike Napoli.
Read more at MLB Rumors: Rays, Loney nearing deal

Big league pitchers could experiment with protective hat liners next season, hoping they can absorb the shock of batted balls such as the ones that struck Oakland's Brandon McCarthy and Doug Fister of the Tigers in the head last season.

MLB's medical director presented ideas to executives, physicians and trainers at the winter meetings this week. Among the prototypes being studied is headgear made of Kevlar, the high-impact material used by the military, law enforcement and NFL players for body armor.

The liners, weighing perhaps five ounces or less, would go under a pitcher's cap and help protect against line drives that often travel over 100 mph.



MLB looks at hat liners for pitchers - WTXL ABC 27: Sports: mlb, baseball, big league, hats, baseball hats

Free-agent outfielder Josh Hamilton has the Rangers in a holding pattern at the Winter Meetings. As day turned into night at the Opryland Resort on Tuesday, general manager Jon Daniels said that he has neither spoken nor met with Hamilton's agent, Mike Moye.

"I haven't had any dialogue with him since yesterday," said Daniels before heading off with club president Nolan Ryan and co-owner Ray Davis to the Minor League affiliates dinner.

Daniels did say that he expects to meet with Moye either late Tuesday night or possibly on Wednesday, but right now the Rangers are operating under the assumption that Hamilton is still testing the market and talking with other clubs. The Rangers expect that Hamilton will come back to them at some point before deciding where he'll play next year.

"We haven't had that conversation yet," Daniels said. "It's where it has been all along. Josh is going through his process, and we're maintaining dialogue and interest. That's where it stands right now."

The fact that Moye and the Rangers have not had a conversation suggests that multiple teams are interested in Hamilton -- who has been in Nashville since Sunday -- despite denials across the board.

"A free agent that hits 40 home runs certainly has interest from other clubs," Daniels said. "That's what you expect in free agency."

The Rangers are also maintaining interest in free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke, but they are not optimistic they can get a deal done. Greinke is also taking his time making a decision, and the Dodgers are still viewed as the favorites.

As one Rangers official said, "The Dodgers are probably going to blow us away on that one."

The Rangers are actively looking for starting pitching, with Greinke at the top of their free-agent list, and they could also end up trading for a starter. They have talked with the Mets about National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey, and they have an interest in the Rays' James Shields.

Dickey, who pitched for the Rangers from 2001 to 2006, has told people he would "love" to come back to Texas.

The Rangers, who list Martin Perez as their fifth starter, may look at other free-agent pitchers if they can't land Greinke or make a trade. The list drops off quickly after Greinke, with Kyle Lohse, Joe Saunders and Anibal Sanchez among the best available. The Rangers aren't likely to re-sign Ryan Dempster, who spent the final two months of the season with them after being acquired from the Cubs on July 31.

"Starting pitching is an area we're looking at, and we've talked about a few different options," Daniels said. "We're looking at both [trades and free agency], but I can't tell you our chances of completing something."

Starting pitching, the bullpen and catching are the Rangers' main areas of focus. Daniels said that the Rangers want to re-sign Hamilton, but if they don't, they'll likely go with an outfield of David Murphy in left, Nelson Cruz in right, and a platoon of Craig Gentry and Leonys Martin in center.

There has been speculation that the Rangers might trade shortstop Elvis Andrus, and one rumor that won't die is their alleged interest in D-backs outfielder Justin Upton. But Daniels said the chances of Andrus being with the Rangers on Opening Day are "very strong."

Clubs that look at the depth of the Rangers' infield think Texas might trade either Andrus or rookie Jurickson Profar, but Daniels downplayed the possibility.

"I'm not saying we won't under any circumstances, but it has to be a unique set of circumstances," he said.



Hamilton has Rangers in holding pattern | MLB-com: News

While the top of the market remained on a steady simmer, the fringes of free agency continued to feed the hunger for news as the Winter Meetings worked through a third day Wednesday in relatively quiet fashion, at least when it comes to big-name deals.

Then again, there was plenty of big-name trade buzz filling the air as the meetings headed into their final overnight session, including the possibility of a multi-team deal involving D-backs outfielder Justin Upton.

The top two free agents on the market, meanwhile, remain very much available, having arrived at the Winter Meetings knowing full well they eventually will get lucrative multiyear contracts. Outfielder Josh Hamilton -- who dropped by to chat with teams before heading home Tuesday night -- and starting pitcher Zack Greinke don't know if they'll leave Nashville, Tenn., with a deal, however.

Not that they have to, since the Hot Stove keeps cooking for weeks after the Winter Meetings conclude and the frenzy of activity and chatter subsides at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center.

But for some of the other free agents working their way toward deals, it's becoming time for something to break at the top to open up the floodgates, particularly among starting pitchers.

"I think everybody is waiting for the cascade of that market to kind of unfold," said agent Scott Boras, who represents starter Kyle Lohse as well as outfielder Michael Bourn. "And once it does, I think you'll see a lot of things happen more rapidly."

Face time is ticking away with the final night session of hobnobbing for baseball's decision-makers leading to the final day -- a shortened Thursday that will spell the end of this year's gathering, as executives, agents and media check out and head to the airport to take their offseason hopes home with them after the annual Rule 5 draft.

Lest we forget, Thursday was a blockbuster day a year ago. On the so-called getaway day, the Angels got away with two of the three biggest free agents on the market that year by swooping in and signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson.

As the meetings headed into their final night this year, Wednesday's events included the agreements of third basemen Jeff Keppinger with the White Sox and Eric Chavez with the D-backs, with both signings putting a spotlight on the Yankees' continuing need for a third baseman to step in while Alex Rodriguez recovers from hip surgery, and beyond. The Yankees were interested in both, only to see them sign elsewhere.

With Yankees GM Brian Cashman saying third base is "a very limited sandbox to play in," the Yankees are now looking to Kevin Youkilis and Mark Reynolds as possibilities.

While no major swaps were completed Wednesday, some serious talent is sailing in the trade winds through Music City, with Upton's name bouncing everywhere -- including the buzz of a possible four-team blockbuster -- and the Indians' Asdrubal Cabrera in the mix as well, perhaps in the same deal. Also, as long as the Mets and Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey's negotiations on a contract extension continue to stumble, he remains a name many consider a possibility to move.

But it's clear Upton's availability is the one bringing the loudest chorus of offers, and it's not a simple process.

"I've had more multi-team talks this year than ever before. In every discussion it seems three or four teams are involved," D-backs GM Kevin Towers said.

There are several teams involved in the pursuit of the top two free agents, as well, with the Rangers involved in both negotiations. While Hamilton visited with several teams while in Nashville and hadn't yet revisited the Rangers, it's the incumbent team that keeps being mentioned in the forefront of the Hamilton derby. They're also in on Greinke, who is well-established as the Dodgers' No. 1 offseason priority.

And what about the Angels, who traded one starter and let another go ostensibly to open up some salary so they could go after Greinke? Perhaps they're laying in the weeds like they were a year ago on Pujols, but the Angels' signing of a pitcher on Wednesday was a deal with left-handed reliever Sean Burnett, and they were said to be close to a two-year deal with starter Joe Blanton.

Also on Wednesday:

• Tom Cheek, the voice of the Blue Jays through their first 4,306 regular-season games and two World Series titles, was announced as the 2013 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Cheek, who passed away in 2005, will be honored as part of Hall of Fame Weekend 2013 July 26-29 in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Said Blue Jays President and CEO Paul Beeston: "Since the inception of the Blue Jays, he played a vital role in promoting baseball in Canada in an extraordinary and enduring way. Tom Cheek was the constant."

• The Mariners, one of the teams considered by many to be in position to pursue some top talent, are on the verge of signing outfielder Jason Bay to a one-year deal that figures to have a compensation of around $1 million with incentives. Bay, who struggled throughout the three years of his four-year, $66 million deal with the Mets, is from British Columbia and makes his home in Kirkland, Wash.

Bay and the Mets came to an agreement to end his contract about a month ago, with Bay due to receive his final $21 million in deferred payments in exchange for free agency.

"He has some strength with the right-handed bat, he's a high-character guy, a hard-worker, great personality," said Mariners manager Eric Wedge. "He's had a tough couple years. If it does come through for us, I think it's a great pickup."

• Nate McLouth re-signed with the Orioles for one year at $2 million with the opportunity to earn another $500,000 in incentives. He was signed to a Minor League deal after being released by the Pirates during the season and wound up being strong down the stretch and into the postseason for the O's.

"I think Nate lik

The Rangers would love to walk away from the Winter Meetings with Josh Hamilton re-signed and/or a front-line starter added to the rotation.

They probably can't sign both Hamilton and free-agent pitcher Zack Greinke, but inking Hamilton and trading for the Mets' R.A. Dickey would certainly accomplish two significant goals.

The Rangers aren't there yet. General manager Jon Daniels did meet with agent Mike Moye late Tuesday night at the Opryland Resort, but the Rangers remain on hold while Hamilton weighs his options.

This was not the meeting in which Hamilton's side presents its best offer to see if the Rangers want to match it. The process has not reached that point.

"We're staying in touch and communicating," Daniels said. "They're exploring their options. We have a good relationship, and we agree it's a good fit, but it's got to be something that's responsive to the market. That's what they are determining."

Daniels is operating under the assumption that the Rangers will have one last chance to sign Hamilton before he decides to go elsewhere.

"They don't have that obligation, but that's my general thinking," he said. "I don't get the sense they're through with the process of free agency."

The Rangers are interested in signing Greinke, but Daniels declined to say if he has met with Greinke's agent, Casey Close. The Dodgers have spoken with Close, and Texas still looks at Los Angeles as the heavy favorite to get the deal done.

That's why the Rangers are exploring other options and why they are talking to the Mets about Dickey. The Rangers are also interested in James Shields but are getting the impression that the Rays aren't serious about trading him.

It's unclear if the Mets are willing to trade Dickey, who can be a free agent after this season, but they would be looking for high-level prospects in return. New York needs offense and would likely be interested in Texas infielder Mike Olt and outfielder Leonys Martin.

"With the passage of time comes more information and a better ability to assess where we are," Mets GM Sandy Alderson said. "But it doesn't mean we'll have a resolution by the time we leave here tomorrow afternoon. I think when we leave here, we will be comfortable that we've explored all of our options."

The Rangers are doing the same thing. They have explored multiple ways to improve, and there were some rumors early on Wednesday of a multiteam deal with the D-backs, Indians and at least one other team. That rumor had Texas getting outfielder Justin Upton from Arizona, but Daniels seemed amused by the possibility of that kind of trade coming off.

"Those trades are almost impossible to do," he said. "It's hard to make a trade with two teams. If you add a third club to the mix, it adds another layer of complexity to it."

The point is, the Rangers are looking at everything, and much depends on what will happen with Hamilton. That situation has not shut down the Rangers completely, but it has limited them to a degree.

"Obviously, that's one of the bigger dominoes, and we're still trying to get the first domino to fall," Daniels said. "That first domino still hasn't fallen. We're trying to put the best team out there, and there are different ways to do it. There are two different outcomes: Josh comes back or he doesn't. We're looking at it both ways."

Daniels hasn't ruled out anything, whether it's asking Ian Kinsler to move to first base to make room for Jurickson Profar or asking infielder Michael Young to waive his no-trade clause. The Yankees are among the teams looking for help at third base, although they appear focused on free agents Mark Reynolds and Kevin Youkilis.

"We haven't set our club yet," Daniels said. "It's hard to say how things will play out. We have talked about different things, free agents, trades, promotions from within. There are different ways to align our position players.

"Everything is on the table until we know [where] we are. It's all about what makes sense for our club."

Briefly:
• Daniels said that the Rangers are interested in re-signing free-agent pitchers Koji Uehara and Yoshinori Tateyama.

• Minor League infielder Leury Garcia will be given a chance to play center field next season after playing four games there for Double-A Frisco this past season. Garcia is considered an outstanding defensive shortstop, but the Rangers are well stocked at the position, with Elvis Andrus, Profar and Luis Sardinas. Garcia is the Rangers' 19th-ranked prospect by MLB-com.

• Don Welke, senior scouting assistant, was honored as the Midwest Scout of the Year on Wednesday night.





Rangers GM Jon Daniels waiting for the dominoes to fall | MLB-com: News