The Red Sox could be looking to trade Jacoby Ellsbury now that they’ve signed Shane Victorino (ESPN).
The chances the D-Backs are more likely to trade Jason Kubel than Justin Upton (FOX Sports).
Four teams currently have interest in signing Nick Swisher (Yahoo! Sports).
It was reported earlier the Rangers are close to signing Josh Hamilton to a four-year deal, but Rangers GM Jon Daniels has not met with Hamilton’s representatives at the Winter Meetings (Fort Worth Star Telegram).
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Boston seems like a match for the Mets in a trade: The Mets have starting pitching, the Red Sox have a surplus in the outfield, as well as behind the plate. But, I don’t see the Mets trying to acquire either Ellsbury or Saltalamacchia. Both are free agents after 2013 and Ellsbury is represented by Scott Boras, who will most likely take Ellsbury to the open market a year from now. Saltalamacchia is also a free agent after next winter, he doesn’t hit lefties well and I wonder if he’s a product of the short porches in the AL East.
Talks between the Mets and Royals are ‘dead,’ if the Mets want Wil Myers for R.A. Dickey, Bob Dutton reports for the Kansas City Star.
This morning, Royals manager Ned Yost told MLB Network Radio that the Royals would be willing to deal Myers if it brought them a starting pitcher who can “put them over the top.”
Earlier today, ESPN’s Adam Rubin said the Mets have been pursuing Myers, according to multiple sources.
In a recent report, Dutton said the Royals have discussed trading Myers to the Red Sox for Jon Lester or to the Rays for James Shields.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
I realize Sandy Alderson said today that he’s had virtually no discussions with teams about Jon Niese. However, yesterday, he said the Mets had talked to teams about Niese, only in less conversations than he’s had about Dickey.
The way I understand, the Royals will consider trading Myers to the Mets in a deal for Niese, but there is significant competition, specifically from Tampa. The Royals want a front-line starting pitcher, because they believe they can make a run this season. They’re ready and willing to pull the trigger on a deal with Myers, but (like Dutton said) talks stop if they’re about a 38-year-old knuckleballer.
To read Michael Baron's thoughts on Myers, click here.
Myers, 22, hit .314 with a .600 SLG, 37 HR, 109 RBI and 140 strikeouts in Double-A and Triple-A in 2012.
He has yet play in the Major Leagues, but is widely considered to be among the best hitting prospects in baseball.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
1:01 pm: I still think it’s unlikely the Mets can pry Myers away for just Dickey, and I don’t think it can get done straight up for Jon Niese either. I’d do that deal in a heartbeat, frankly. Myers would be the “difference maker” Sandy Alderson said he’s seeking for his starting pitching.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com ranks Myers (who is big league ready) as the third best prospect in the game, and it’s awfully risky to trade that kind of talent for an aging pitcher like Dickey – even though he won the Cy Young Award in 2012 – regardless Kansas City’s need for a front-line starting pitcher. It’s less risky for Niese, of course, especially since the Royals talking Myers for Lester and Shields.
I wonder if Sandy will wait and see what happens with Zack Greinke, who many believe will sign very soon. He can conceivably create a market among those who fail to sign Greinke and see if a bidding war ensues for either Dickey or Niese.
ESPN reports the Phillies and D-Backs are discussing a swap of Cliff Lee for Justin Upton, however the Arizona Republic quickly responded saying ESPN’s report is way “off base,” as did Philadelphia GM Ruben Amaro Jr.
Nick Swisher prefers to sign with the Giants, but will wait for Josh Hamilton to sign first (CBS Sports).
It’s unlikely Swisher or Cody Ross will land in Boston, now that they’ve signed Shane Victorino (ESPN).
Josh Hamilton and the Rangers are getting close to a four-year deal (Fort Worth Star Telegram), although the Mariners still think they have a chance to sign him (CBS Sports).
The agents for Michael Bourn have met with the Mariners (CBS Sports). Seattle is also showing interest in trading for Jason Kubel (CBS Sports), who reports suggest could be moved as soon as tonight.
Ken Davidoff of the New York Post says the Mets are contemplating signing Mark Reynolds to play the outfield.
However, Davidoff says his $7 million price tag may be too high.
Reynolds has played two games in the outfield in his Major League career.
In 135 games for the Orioles in 2012, Reynolds – who was non-tendered by Baltimore last week – hit .221 with 23 home runs and 69 RBI with 73 walks and 159 strikeouts in 135 games. He led the National League in strikeouts from 2008-2011 while with the Diamondbacks.
In his career at Citi Field, Reynolds has hit .281 with four home runs and seven RBI in 36 plate appearances.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports says the Marlins have expressed interest in signing Reynolds, and the Orioles are still hopeful they can re-sign him, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Reynolds has prolific power, but he strikes out a ton. That’s not uncommon for one-dimensional hitters like Reynolds, who has a long and loopy swing. He is right-handed as well, which is something the Mets need. But he is a corner infielder by trade, and hasn’t played in the outfield since 2007 (and all of two games). With
Lucas Duda already a butcher out there, I’d be very concerned about the outfield defense with Reynolds in one of the corner outfield spots.
Sandy Alderson said he met with Scott Hairston’s agent today.
Alderson said it is possible he could give a two-year deal to a free-agent outfielder, but it is something he would want to be very careful about.
Yesterday, Hairston told ESPN New York that it was still a possibility he re-signs with the Mets.
This week, the Tigers, Yankees, Giants, Cardinals and Indians have all reportedly shown interest in Hairston, who is said to be seeking a multi-year contract.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
The buzz in baseball is that Hairston will likely get a two-year, $10 million deal, though he’ll certainly look for more. He’s a platoon player, and most people see him as such, including the Mets.
Initially, the Mets were saying there was little chance of competing to bring Hairston back. That seems to have changed, probably because of extra money opening up in the budget (thanks to David Wright and Jason Bay).
The D-Backs are looking to trade OF Jason Kubel, and a deal could happen soon (Knobler, CBSSports).
The Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Rangers, Rays and Mariners could all be in on a trade for Kubel (FOXSports).
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
I have seen no evidence of the Mets talking with the D-Backs about Kubel, or Justin Upton, or any other outfielders, though it should be noted that Arizona was mentioned among teams interested in R.A. Dickey, according to Andy Martino of the Daily News.
Josh Hamilton and the Rangers are making progress on a four-year deal that would keep him in Texas (Rosenthal, FoxSports).
The Rockies need to be overwhelmed in an offer to deal Dexter Fowler (CBS Sports).
The Mariners have expressed interest in Nate McLouth (FOX Sports).
The Braves and D-Backs can’t come to terms on a trade for Justin Upton. (ESPN
Shane Victorino is now looking for deal upwards of four-years (ESPN), and is drawing interest from the Indians and Red Sox (CBS Sports).
The Mariners could emerge as an option for Michael Bourn (CBS Sports).
The Mets are open to offering OF Ryan Ludwick a two-year deal, worth between $6-7 million per year, tweets Ken Davidoff of the New York Post.
“They may end up budgeting a few extra dollars to address their severe outfield needs,” the New York Posts’s Joel Sherman added.
The Reds and Ludwick will meet today in Nashville and it’s possible he might accept their current offer, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer said earlier today.
Davidoff believes the Reds are still the favorites to re-sign Ludwick, despite interest from other teams.
Ludwick, 34, hit .275 with a .346 OBP, .877 OPS, 26 HR and 80 RBI in 422 at-bats with the Reds in 2012.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Ludwick’s market has certainly been helped by Angel Pagan‘s new four-year, $40 million deal with the Reds. He had a great bounce back year after some disappointing seasons with the Cardinals and Pirates. He hit better at Great American Ballpark than he did on the road, and so I worry about how he’ll fare in a smaller park like Citi Field. My bet is he stays with the Reds, though. He was so productive for them last year, they are clearly more playoff-ready than the Mets and he is very familiar with that division.
Mets have other pitchers to move, not just Niese & Dickey
The Mets are discussing ways to get an outfielder by trading pitching prospects Logan Verrett and Darin Gorski, not just R.A. Dickey and Jon Niese, tweets Andy Martino of the Daily News.
In a report for ESPN New York, Adam Rubin says the Giants, Cardinals, Indians and Tigers have shown “real interest’ in Scott Hairston.
Hairston told Rubin it was still “probable” he could return to the Mets, although it remains to be seen whether or not they offer market value for his services.
Dec. 4, 7:15 am: Adam Rubin of ESPN New York says the Mets feel optimistic they will be able to re-sign Hairston.
Michael Baron, MetsBlog.com:
Dec. 3, 4:50 pm: In an ideal world, Hairston is probably a platoon player, and a very solid fourth outfielder. Other teams are reportedly interested in him in that capactity as well. I’d like to see Hairston back, but it remains to be seen if he and the Mets will eventually agree to a new deal. At the end of last season, Sandy Alderson said Hairston’s recent production has earned him a multi-year deal (and probably a raise) for his next contract, which might have put him out of the Mets range at that time. But now that they’ve achieved some financial flexibility by cutting Bay, Alderson has said it’s possible Hairston could be brought back.
