About MLB Rumors

MLB Rumors is "a fun compilation of interesting tidbits, rumors and goings on around baseball." [SI.com writer Jon Heyman]. MLB Rumors, which was started November 9th, 2006, is a baseball rumors website updated twenty-four hours a day. It's goal from the beginning is to offer its readers new, relevant, and legitimate news each and everyday. Because of this, angry and supportive fans defend their team and make the site a much more interactive place. With Special Features that cover the MLB Draft, the free agent period, and include interviews with over forty executives and players, it is obvious why this site won the 2007 Best Sports Blog in just its first year in service.

MLB Rumors tries to get as many interviews as possible for its readers, and has successfully landed All-Stars Brandon Webb, Curtis Granderson, Jamie Moyer, and Harold Reynolds. He has also interviewed the 2007 First Overall Pick in the Draft David Price. Along with players, he has interviewed Padres GM Kevin Towers, Indians GM Mark Shapiro, Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, and A's GM Billy Beane.

As of April 20th, 2008, the site has had 2 million visitors and has landed such advertisers as Nike, PetSmart, Cingular, Circuit City, Vitamin Water, and more! Of those vistors, 90 % come from the United States, 6 % come from Canada, and 1% come from Japan, Israel, Korea, and the Dominican Republic respectively.

MLB Rumors has been acclaimed by several Front Office executives and reporters including: Billy Beane, sports agent Joe Bick, Harold Reynolds, ESPN's Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, Jayson Stark, Chicago Sun-Times' Rick Telander, and many more!

Site Hacking

On July 20th, 2008, MLB Rumors was hacked and lost forever. While you still can visit the old site, the colors are different and the content is no longer updated. Luckily, I was able to move everything over and have MLB Rumors still running as normal. If you happen to open a link that sends you to a site with green and white colors, it is the article you are looking for, just linked to the old site. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause and hope you continue to read MLB Rumors.

(February 20th, 2009)
It has been a long road back for the MLB Rumors to get the site back to pre-hacking numbers and speed. Despite the catching up, we are still looking to grow and expand! 2009 has gotten off to a fast start for MLB Rumors, with our numbers passing 330,000 mark just this past week!

Diamondbacks Focus In On Pitching

Like most teams, the Diamondbacks plan to focus in on pitching. However, they are planning to look at both free agents and through trades. They were very pleased with the success of Doug Davis and may try to pull of another trade like that. In an interview with MLB Rumors, GM Josh Byrnes said, "Livan is going to be entering the free agent market and we feel that there are some good pitchers that could help out our club." So who could those pitchers be? Livan is already out the door and probably on his way to the Mets. My guess is he will look to the Angels and Ervin Santana, the Indians and Jake Westbrook or Cliff Lee, the Orioles and Daniel Cabrera, and the Marlins and Dontrelle Willis. Although the Marlins might not want to trade him, the Diamondbacks have a lot of depth and could offer a deal including top prospect Carlos Gonzalez. However, they could also load a deal with Carlos Quentin that would include Juan Cruz, Connor Jackson, and Dustin Nippert. Personally, I think the Diamondbacks should look to Ervin Santana. He had sixteen wins in 2006 and kept his ERA down in the American League. He has pitched in the postseason successfully, and would benefit from a core of young players and solid defense. They also would not have to give up much for him because he is coming off a bad year. Daniel Cabrera would not be a bad choice either, but his attitude problems and inconsistency might turn the Diamondbacks off. Also, the Diamondbacks have a solid bullpen and could look to acquire Jason Marquis and cash for a pair of pitchers, maybe Juan Cruz and a minor leaguer. The Cubs do need to solidify their bullpen and Cruz would be an excellent addition. On the free agent market, I think the Diamondbacks would be smart to load the back end of their rotation with Kyle Lohse and maybe Jeff Weaver, who is also coming off a bad year. Josh Byrnes and Peter Woodfork have done a great job in building the Diamondbacks, and I think they have a good plan for the upcoming off season.

About MLB Rumors

MLB Rumors is "a fun compilation of interesting tidbits, rumors and goings on around baseball." [SI.com writer Jon Heyman]. MLB Rumors, which was started November 9th, 2006, is a baseball rumors website updated twenty-four hours a day. It's goal from the beginning is to offer its readers new, relevant, and legitimate rumors each and everyday. Each article delivers the news and then Eli provides his own analysis on it. Because of this, angry and supportive fans defend their team and make the site a much more interactive place. With Special Features that cover the MLB Draft, the free agent period, and include interviews with over forty executives and players, it is obvious why this site won the 2007 Best Sports Blog in just its first year in service.

Eli tries to get as many interviews as possible for his readers, and has successfully landed All-Stars Curtis Granderson, Jamie Moyer, Cliff Floyd, and Harold Reynolds. He has also interviewed the 2007 First Overall Pick in the Draft David Price, who he still keeps in touch with today. Along with players, he has interviewed Padres GM Kevin Towers, Indians GM Mark Shapiro, Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes, and A's GM Billy Beane. All interviews are kept under twenty minutes and in no way are controversial.

As of April 20th, 2008, the site has had 2 million visitors and has landed such advertisers as Nike, PetSmart, Cingular, Circuit City, Vitamin Water, and more! Of those vistors, 90 % come from the United States, 6 % come from Canada, and 1% come from Japan, Israel, Korea, and the Dominican Republic respectively.

MLB Rumors has been acclaimed by several Front Office executives and reporters including: Billy Beane, sports agent Joe Bick, Harold Reynolds, ESPN's Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, Jayson Stark, Chicago Sun-Times' Rick Telander, and many more!

As of December, 28th 2007, MLB Rumors is a member of the Accredited Sports Blogs of America.

Diamondbacks Looking For Replacement

The Diamondbacks are looking to fill the hole at second base and have targeted several different players, including the Braves' Kelly Johnson. After putting together two solid seasons, the Braves have received several calls concerning him. While the Diamondbacks don't believe they can acquire him, they do think they can acquire Cardinals second baseman Adam Kennedy or Cubs second baseman Mike Fontenot. Fontenot is a great prospect who needs an opportunity, and could find one with the Cubs. In 119 games (243 AB), he hit .305 with 9 HR and played a solid second. While the Cubs may try to work him into the starting lineup more in 2009, they might be able to get something some in return.

Other guys the Diamondbacks could pursue include Rickie Weeks, Luis Castillo, and Placido Polanco, among others.

UPDATE: The Diamondbacks have reportedly held preliminary discussions with free agent infielder Mark Loretta. Loretta would be a great pick up by the Diamondbacks because of his versatility, but also because of his veteran presence on the field.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Diamondbacks Need To Offer Dunn Arbitration

The Diamondbacks are reportedly having financial problems, causing them to cut ties with Randy Johnson, Orlando Hudson, Juan Cruz, and Adam Dunn. Dunn, who is a Type-A free agent, isn't drawing the initial interest that industry sources thought he would. Dunn has hit 40 or more homeruns over the last five seasons and is just twenty-nine. The Nationals are showing interest, as well as the Cubs, Rays, Royals, and possibly Angels and Orioles. For the American League teams, a lot depends on where Mark Teixeira signs. Teams that can afford Teixeira can definitely afford Dunn, who is looking at 15-17 million dollars annually. 

One thing holding the Diamondbacks back from making an offer is the fear that he would accept it. The Diamondbacks are already working to trade Eric Byrnes, which would clear up the clog in the outfield and give them some more money to spend. Ken Rosenthal explains that offering Dunn arbitration is probably a safe bet considering his agents would have to decide by next weekend, a week before the Winter Meetings, to accept the offer or not. He goes on to say that if he accepts it, they could always trade him. 

Drafting his been the Diamondbacks specialty as of late, so getting the two draft picks from Dunn would really benefit their future. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Webb Has Shoulder Setback

Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb faced another setback in his attempts to return from the disabled list with shoulder problems. Webb was playing catch when he felt the discomfort, and the Diamondbacks were forced to cancel his bullpen session and shut him down indefinitely. The Diamondbacks were hoping Webb would be ready to go on a rehab assignment sometime next week, but are now forced to wait until the pain subsides. 

The Diamondbacks do not have much in their minor league system, and do not have much money to spend, so they could fall out of contention if Webb is out for an extended amount of time. Pedro Martinez is available. Mark Mulder is available. Paul Byrd, Shawn Chacon, and Tony Armas Jr. are available. The Diamondbacks need to decided if one of those pitchers is worth the investment during these unstable times financially. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Top 15 Remaining Free Agents

1. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers

- Boras' asking price for Manny is too high, and teams don't want to offer a long term deal to someone known for giving up easily. Because he has held out so long, he might have to take a one year deal.

Prediction: Dodgers

2. Derek Lowe, Dodgers

Now that the Yankees have made it clear that they are done spending on the market, the Lowe sweepstakes are heating up. The Mets, Phillies, Red Sox, and maybe Braves are all in contention for the most durable pitcher in baseball. I'm surprised that the Brewers aren't making a run.

Prediction: Mets

3. Adam Dunn, Diamondbacks

- Dunn would make for a good DH, but his close ties to Nationals GM Jim Bowden make him a favorite to land in Washington. 

Prediction: Nationals

4. Pat Burrell, Phillies

- Burrell's power can't go unnoticed, but his average and proneness to bad slumps may hurt his chances for a long term deal. But if you can hit thirty homeruns, you are going to to have a job. 

Prediction: Rays

5. Ben Sheets, Brewers

- Sheets has been labeled as an injury prone pitcher, but has the potential to be an ace. His 3.09 ERA won't go unnoticed.

Prediction: Rangers

6. Orlando Hudson, Diamondbacks

Hudson is the top second baseman on the market, but teams are worried if he can stay healthy. The Mets desperately want him, but need to trade Luis Castillo to make that happen.

Prediction: Nationals

7. Brian Fuentes, Rockies

- Fuentes has made it clear he wants to play in Anaheim, so the Angels will likely try to get a hometown discount. They have two potential closers already, so they don't necessarily need Fuentes.

Prediction: Cardinals

8. Bobby Abreu, Yankees

- Abreu can hit 20 HR at a pretty good average, so teams will go after him. Not only that, but he has pretty good speed as well. A team might be able to sign him to a two year deal.

Prediction: Mets

9. Jason Giambi, Yankees

- The Giambi race is just starting to heat up, and it looks like it will come down to the Rays and A's. Giambi brings power to the table, and making him a full time DH could improve his numbers.

Prediction: Athletics

10. Oliver Perez, Mets

- The Mets are reportedly in talks with Perez, but are holding out until Perez offers something closer to the Mets' proposal. They know teams aren't going to blow away Perez with a big offer, so a return to the Mets at a good price makes sense.

Prediction: Mets

11. Milton Bradley, Rangers

- Bradley is still in talks with the Cubs; however, some think his agent is still shopping him around. Bradley is very injury prone, and a long term deal is a huge risk, even if the Cubs have a lot of depth. 

Prediction: Cubs

12. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks

- Johnson has drawn interest from all over the league, but reportedly would like to stay on the West Coast near his family. With that said, the Athletics and Giants are probably his best options. 

Prediction: Giants

13. Orlando Cabrera, White Sox

- Since Rafael Furcal has signed, teams are finding ways to upgrade at the position without going to the free agent market. No team wants to sign Cabrera because they would have to surrender a draft pick. Cabrera is valuable, but not more valuable than a first round draft pick, especially during these times. If he is willing to come down from his asking price, he might find the that the Blue Jays are interested. 

Prediction: White Sox

14. Juan Cruz, Diamondbacks

-Cruz is an established set up man, but teams might be waiting for his price to fall before moving in. The Tigers, Royals, Brewers, and more are all interested in Cruz.

Prediction: Diamondbacks

15. Randy Wolf, Astros

- Wolf is coming off his best year in several seasons, but questions concerning his health are a problem. He will still get a good deal, eventually.

Prediction: Cardinals

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Catcher Rumors

Here are a couple rumors on the catcher front:

• Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Diamondbacks plan to keep Miguel Montero and Chris Snyder. Montero has drawn a lot of interest after his impressive performance during the some of the Winter League action. Sources say the Diamondbacks might make Montero available during Spring Training, but his impressive minor league numbers and above average showing in the big leagues makes him a candidate to start in 2009. 
• The Red Sox have some interest in free agent Ronny Paulino, but won't act on it until they know whether Jason Varitek is returning or not.
• The Nationals are reportedly considering a run at a veteran catcher, but specifics are not known. 

Stay tuned for more updates later tonight. Not only that, but I interviewed Torii Hunter today, and I will get that up later tonight.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Diamondbacks Sign Lopez

The Diamondbacks and Felipe Lopez have agreed to a one year deal, worth 3.5 million dollars. Lopez hit .283 with 6 HR in 143 games for the Nationals and Cardinals, and will take over at second base for the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks are also targeting cheap options in the bullpen, but those additions might come through trade.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Tony Clark To A's or Giants?

According to MLB Rumors Correspondent Steve Wilson, Diamondbacks negotiations with Tony Clark have turned even more south. There were reports earlier this week that said negotiations were at a minimum, and it seems they have come to a standstill. The Diamondbacks are simply unsure if they want to trade Connor Jackson or Chad Tracy, putting Clark's role with the team in question. Personally, I do not understand why they would trade Jackson. Clark would definitely like to be a starter, so he will probably look to the market for a starting role while continuing talks with the D'backs. The Athletics have been bringing in veteran free agents to fill their DH void over the past couple years and may look to do it again with Clark. Mike Piazza was not what they hoped for and is a free agent, so they will let him walk. Although they have Jack Cust, the A's may look to trade him while his interest is high for a couple young players. Clark would probably improve as a designated hitter despite his age, and could also work with Daric Barton at first base. Other than the A's, I expect the Giants to make a call. Ryan Klesko is a free agent and is expected to walk, so Tony Clark would be a great stop gap as they wait for Travis Ishikawa to develop. Another possibility for Clark is to see him return home to Kansas City, but Clark had the opportunity to sign there back in 2004, but chose the Diamondbacks. Clark batted .249 with 17 HR and 51 RBI this season for the Diamondbacks, but is a career .265 hitter with 244 HR. Clark, 36, could probably command a two year deal, worth 3-5 million dollars annually, a modest contract that a team like the A's could take on.

Giants entertaining offers for Lowry, Sanchez: The Giants are looking to trade one of their pitchers for a package of prospects or major league ready players, but are not interested in trading Lincecum or Cain. Noah Lowry did have a pretty solid year for the Giants and is just 27. I'm sure they can afford to unload him and worry about the repercussions. As for teams interested, the Phillies, Indians, Rockies, Mariners, Cubs, White Sox, and Cardinals are all looking for pitchers through trades, and have prospects that could suit the Giants. As for Sanchez, he is young and has a lot of upside, but I see him traded later next season once he can get his value up.

News and Notes: Montero to Yankees?

Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero is drawing interest on the open market, mostly because scouts believe he may be on the verge of a breakout season. Montero has some experience playing third base, but is most comfortable behind the plate. Montero combines his small frame with a quick swing that finds gaps and is known for having pretty solid instincts behind the plate. 16 of his 47 hits this season were doubles which comes out to a .255 AVG with 5 HR in 70 games. The Yankees, who are reportedly looking for a catcher in the event that Jorge Posada is not ready to start the season, could send a prospect to the Diamondbacks for Montero. Montero has drawn interest from the Red Sox, Giants, and Reds, among others, and it is possible the Diamondbacks might finally deal him.

In other news...

K-Rod likes Mets: Angels owner Arte Moreno informed media outlets that is time to turn the page on Rodriguez, which means they will look elsewhere. Rodriguez likes the Mets, and if there is mutual interest a deal will probably get done. The Cardinals and Indians are also interested.

Cubs won't sign Wood: Cubs closer Kerry Wood will not be back with the Cubs next season. Wood was reportedly holding out for a multiyear deal and the Cubs were only willing to go year to year. The Tigers, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, and Angels could pursue him.

Phillies interested in Burrell: The Phillies are showing some renewed interest in Pat Burrell, but only for a short-term deal. This means that they will have to pay him more annually, or he is gone. A two year deal worth 25-28 million dollars would probably get it done. The Royals have expressed interest in giving him a long-term deal, so he may be on his way out. 

Mets interested in Garland, Wolf: The Mets are showing some interest in pitchers Jon Garland and Randy Wolf hoping that they will help shape the bottom end of their rotation. Both Garland and Wolf are being pursued by smaller payroll teams who may be willing to pay them more than the Mets or Dodgers.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Dbacks Fire Manager

The Diamondbacks have gotten off to a rough start, and are 8 1/2 games behind the NL West leading Dodgers. The team president, Derrick Hall, called the teams play "unnacceptable," so a shakeup was inevitable. Today the Diamondbacks announced that they are firing manager Bob Melvin. Melvin, who was 337-340 since 2005 with the team, was named NL Manager of the Year in 2007. The Diamondbacks have yet to announce a replacement. 

Kirk Gibson is the teams bench coach, and he is a possibility to replace Melvin on an interim basis. He has never been a manager but he has been a bench coach in Detroit and a TV analyst, not to mention a 17-year veteran with two rings to boast. From the outside, they could talk to Bob Brenly, currently the Cubs color commentator. He was their former manager, and they could turn to him because he brought them a World Series and handled the media very well. Who from the outside could adjust quickly enough to take the reigns of the struggling Diamondbacks?

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Diamondbacks Extend Snyder

The Diamondbacks and catcher Chris Snyder have agreed to a three year extension worth 14.5 million dollars. The deal, which includes a club option for 2012, will give up two years of free agency if the option is picked up. I received emails after the signing was made official saying that back up catcher Miguel Montero is probably on his way out, but that isn't exactly true. Montero saw improvement in his numbers from last season, and he continues that strong play in the Winter Leagues, hitting .302 with 8 HR and a .358 OBP in 149 at-bats. 

The Red Sox have expressed interest in Montero and if he continues to play well, the Diamondbacks might be able to land a solid prospect in return. However, Montero has been asked to play some third base, so the Diamondbacks might try to get him 200-at bats or so by playing him at third and catcher. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Diamondbacks Appoint Hinch As Manager

In a rather surprising move, the Diamondbacks have named A.J. Hinch, currently their farm director, as their new manager. Hinch, a former major league catcher, has no managerial experience. However, he has overseen the development of Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, Stephen Drew, and others, so you could say he knows the Diamondbacks roster better than anyone. I, like others, viewed Hinch as an soon-to-be GM, like another Front Office executive with the Dbacks, Paul Woodfork.

Hinch will have to find a new hitting and pitching coach, and it will be interesting to see who he goes after.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Red Sox, Diamondbacks Talking Trade

The Red Sox are reportedly talking a trade with the Diamondbacks that would send Julio Lugo to the Diamondbacks for Eric Byrnes. Byrnes has twenty-two million dollars left on his contract while Lugo has eighteen million dollars, so they do match up. 

Lugo would probably take over at second base.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Diamondbacks Sign Gordon

The Diamondbacks and Tom Gordon have agreed to a one year deal worth 500,000 dollars, plus incentives. Gordon, 41, was 5-4 with a 5.16 ERA in thirty-four games for the Phillies, but has a career 3.94 ERA. Gordon's command has declined over the past three seasons, and that is apparent in his numbers, as well as other specific statistics. Either way, Gordon has playoff experience and should help the Diamondbacks' bullpen. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Diamondbacks Pitching Options

The Diamondbacks are looking for a pitcher, but reportedly only have about four million dollars left to spend. The Diamondbacks would like to add a pitcher that could fill in at the bottom of the rotation, but need a cheap upgrade. Here are a couple guys they could go after:

Kris Benson, Free Agent: Kris Benson told me in December that he was healthy, but plans to be on a slower throwing program as a precaution. He is throwing for teams in the next week and will likely sign a minor league deal. While he is a risk, he could give you 9 or 10 wins. 

Mark Mulder, Free Agent: Mulder said his arm is the best it has ever felt and has been training in Arizona, which means he could work year long with his trainer if needed. 

Rich Hill, Cubs: The Cubs will try and trade Rich Hill, but will probably wait to see if they designate him for assignment. If that happens, they could pick him up and see if a change of scenery will turn his struggling career around. 

Michael Bowden, Red Sox: The Red Sox will probably have to deal Miguel Montero for him, but after signing Chris Snyder to an extension, he is expendable. Adding Bowden and a free agent under four million dollars annually would really improve their pitching.

Feel free to leave any other options you think would work. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Ramirez to Diamondbacks?

According to the Boston Globe, Ramon Ramirez could be dealt in another trade to help the Red Sox land a catcher. With that said, the Diamondbacks could be a suitor for Ramirez to help fill the void that was once taken by Juan Cruz, who will likely leave as a free agent. The Diamondbacks have a young, promising catcher in Miguel Montero, and could trade Montero in exchange for Ramirez. 

Montero is tearing it up in Winter Ball, hitting .310 with 4 HR in 12 games in Venezuela. The Rangers are also a possibility, but they sold Kameron Loe to Japan to clear up space on their 40-man roster so they probably are not looking to add someone else. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Options For Juan Cruz

Free agent reliever Juan Cruz still cannot find work, and it doesn't look like any team is planning to make a move. Cruz is a Type-A free agent, meaning any team that signs him would lose a first round draft pick in the upcoming MLB Draft. Cruz went 4-0 with a 2.61 ERA in 57 games last season, and lead the league with 12.37 strikeouts-per-nine innings. This problem goes back to the compensation system, which has been under fire all offseason because teams are avoiding some low cost players like Cruz, Orlando Cabrera, and Orlando Hudson, all of whom are Type-A free agents.

One option for Cruz, brought up by Ken Rosenthal in a recent piece, is to sign with a Japanese team. Cruz would be one of the top relievers in Japan, and would probably close for any team that would sign him. He would expensive, but a team with a extra cash would really benefit from his services. After one year in Japan, he would be a free agent and could sign with an MLB team in 2010.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Diamondbacks reenter the mix. If Cruz was willing to sign for a reduced price, in the range of 3 million dollars, the Diamondbacks would be able to fit that in their payroll. This way, it wouldn't cost anyone a draft pick and the Diamondbacks would keep their most valuable reliever from the previous two seasons.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Byrnes for Castillo?

The Diamondbacks are very interested in bringing back Adam Dunn, but will not have room for him unless they trade either Eric Byrnes, Connor Jackson, or Justin Upton. It appears that Eric Byrnes will be the most likely to be traded. He only played in 52 games this year, but is a career .263 hitter and is not a free agent until 2011. But, who wants an injured outfielder who only hit .209? The Mets may be interested. The Mets would like to trade Luis Castillo and may shop him to the Diamondbacks so they can fill their void from losing Orlando Hudson. Castillo is owed 18 million over the next two seasons while Byrnes is owed 22 million through 2011. If the Diamondbacks added another player or split the difference between the contracts, a deal could happen. 

Castillo hit 245 with 3 HR in 87 games this season. 

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.