Corsicana Daily Sun, Corsicana, Texas

Sports

December 6, 2012

MLB: Hamilton, Greinke remain on market after meetings

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — —

As baseball's new Mr. Moneybags, Ned Colletti gets mentioned when almost any free agent is discussed this offseason.

"There's a perception that we're in on a couple dozen starting pitchers, three dozen outfielders and infielders, 17, 18 catchers," the Los Angeles Dodgers general manager said.

"People like to have us in. I guess it doesn't hurt to have us in, even though we're not in. We may have to hire somebody next year just to tell everybody who we're not in on," he said.

As teams headed home from the winter meetings Thursday, the biggest free agents were still on the market. The availability of slugger Josh Hamilton and pitcher Zack Greinke held up decisions on other signings and possible trades involving on Rangers star Michael Young and the Mets' Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey.

The Yankees, quiet thus far, were pursuing former Boston star Kevin Youkilis and also met with the agent for Mark Reynolds.

With most clubs already packed up and leaving the sprawling, 2,881-room Opryland hotel, Philadelphia acquired outfielder Ben Revere from Minnesota for right-handers Vance Worley and Trevor May.

Hamilton could remain with Texas, and Seattle seemed to be interested. Greinke's options include staying with the Los Angeles Angels, moving up the coast to the Dodgers or signing with the Rangers.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said that after taking in information from other clubs and agents, it was time to return home and "cool your jets."

"There can be a domino effect," he said. "I think when clubs are focusing on a certain position, a certain need, there's options out there. And once one option goes away, then that changes the landscape of what a club would want to do. Everybody's got their ducks lined up in a row, and it's just a matter of how things fall. And there's timing involved."

The annual meeting wasn't much of a swap session. The Phillies-Twins deal was just the fourth trade over the four days.

Atlanta announced a one-year deal with outfielder Reed Johnson on Thursday, and Texas said reliever Koji Uehara had reached an agreement with Boston.

But the 25-foot wide dais with a podium backed by MLB logos was used just three times: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman discussed Alex Rodriguez's hip injury; Major League Baseball announced an auction benefiting Stand Up to Cancer; and the Mets talked about David Wright's $138 million, eight-year contract, which had been agreed to last week.

The Yankees have been quiet, watching as catcher Russell Martin agreed with Pittsburgh last week and backup third baseman Eric Chavez went to Arizona during the meetings. Wanting to get under the $189 million luxury tax threshold in 2014, the Yankees are being cautious. Still, Cashman maintained it hasn't been a rough week for him.

"Because I don't read the papers as much as I used to," he said. "This year's marketplace, it might be strong in terms of the dollars being thrown around, but I don't think it's a strong market in terms of the available talent."

As the meetings ended, Cashman had made a $12 million offer to Youkilis, who would play third base while A-Rod recovers. The Phillies were trying to obtain Young, the infielder who has been with the Rangers for his entire 13-season career and would have to approve a trade. Arizona was listening to offers for outfielder Justin Upton.

"It seems like when people leave the winter meetings, there's a bit of a quiet period," Red Sox GM Ben Cherington said. "People kind of get out of the frenzy, maybe take a step back and realize that maybe something they were talking about isn't such a good idea. Sometimes things get close and never end up happening."

For all the talk, the Dodgers have made only one big move since the end of the season, re-signing closer Brandon League. But they've been quite busy over 2012. After they were bought in May for $2 billion by a group headed by Mark Walter and Stan Kasten, Los Angeles added stars Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett. The Dodgers face a Sunday deadline to reach a deal with South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-Jin, whose rights they gained for a $25.7 million bid.

Quite different from the days under the previous owner, Frank McCourt.

"You couldn't get an agent to return a phone call," Colletti said. "Now you've got them lined out the door."

Texas GM Jon Daniels was popular, too, given his interest in Hamilton and Greinke, and talks involving Upton and a possible a multi-team trade.

"It just makes it tougher, more than two clubs," he said, adding he had a variety of trade and free-agent options. "There are a couple of big decisions that are going to impact the direction. We've narrowed it down, but there's still a couple ways we can go. Some of that is up to us, and some of that is up to the guys on the other side of the table."

After exploring trades involving Dickey, Mets GM Sandy Alderson said it was possible the team could keep the knuckleballer without a deal for beyond 2013.

"I don't think it's necessarily the optimum result, but it's a possible result," he said.

Some teams worry about overpaying this early in the offseason. Other clubs conclude they must.

"You run into people, like, 'Man, I didn't want to do that, but I had no choice,'" Cashman said. "So they're getting a problem solved, but they're not happy with their solution and what they had to do to solve it. I don't want to be in that position. I'd rather feel good about what I'm doing."

NOTES: The winter meetings will return to Nashville in 2015, the governing body of the minor leagues announced. Next year's meetings are in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and the 2014 session is in San Diego.

 

Text Only
Sports
  • RON MORGAN.jpg MORGAN: IRS & Mack? Scrutiny abounds for Texas teams

    There is a scandal brewing in Austin. No, it has nothing to do with Rick Perry and the rainy day fund or allowing guns on college campuses. It concerns Mack Brown’s boys at the University of Texas. Apparently, Mack has filed as a non-profit organization with the IRS. Unfortunately, he filed as a 501C under the name “The U‘T’ Party,” and the IRS has put them under intense scrutiny.

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Hubbard Curtis.JPG GC Softball: Hubbard stymies Trenton, 3-0, to advance to II-1A finals

     When Nakaila Banks led off with a single and scored soon after a sacrifice bunt and two errors, it looked like Hubbard might be looking at a big offensive night. It turned out to be anything but, and it also turned out to be more than enough. Olivia Curtis was splendid on the mound, striking out 13, and the Lady Jags dumped Trenton, 3-0, in the Region II-1A semifinals before a crowd of 250 in Crandall.

    May 17, 2013 2 Photos

  • Navarro JD Hammer NC Baseball: Top dogs? Conference has fared well in Grand Junction

    The Navarro Bulldogs won’t back down when it comes to believing they’re as good any team that will be at the JUCO World Series. The rankings say so. Navarro is No. 1 on PerfectGame.com, a website devoted to amateur baseball. The Bulldogs are No. 4 in the latest NJCAA National Poll released this week.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Mildred softball GC Softball: Finally Soaring: Eagles have history, injuries behind them

    When Mildred fell in Game 1 to Salado two weeks ago, it may have been “here we go again” for the Eagles. For the second straight season, they had gone undeafeated in district, and expectations were high.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Hubbard unity GC Softball: Hubbard stocked with players, wins and unity

    Anyone who has ever coached at any level knows when you have twice as many players as spots on the field or court, it can be a nightmare. In Hubbard, it’s working out just fine for the softball team.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo

  • Dawson seniors GC Baseball: Gritty Way - Dawson seniors take pride in lengthy season

    For a trio of Dawson seniors, this has been a rewarding spring. A solid baseball season has taken them somewhere they haven’t been since they were freshmen: Three rounds deep in the playoffs.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • 5-16-13 Navarro dogpile.jpg NJCAA Baseball: Bulldogs headed back to JUCO World Series

    Navarro coach Whoa Dill said Thursday that a second trip in three years to the JUCO World Series hasn't sunk in just yet.
    But it will soon, especially after all of the planning for the Bulldogs' trip to Grand Junction is done.
    "It hasn't yet,' Dill said. "It's crazy now."

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • Challenger League Challenger League in Kerens set for fourth season, with no entry fee

    It’s that time of year again. The Central Texas Challenger League is back with its two-week season of baseball for boys and girls 8 to 18 (or still in school) from Navarro, Henderson and Freestone counties with mental or physical handicaps.

    May 15, 2013 1 Photo

  • NC bb Colorado High: Navarro punches World Series ticket, 4-2

    The Navarro Bulldogs are riding another Colorado Rocky Mountain high. Navarro earned its second trip in three years to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., fighting back to beat Alvin 4-2 on Tuesday at Roadrunner Park in Lufkin.

    May 14, 2013 1 Photo

  • Region XIV Baseball: Navarro wins a game for the ages

    Navarro won a game for the ages Monday night at the Region XIV Baseball Tournament.  Oh, and they did it against rival San Jacinto, rallying and then hanging on for a 15-13 victory over the Gators in a winner's bracket game at Roadrunner Park.

    May 13, 2013

House Ads
AP Video
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting Raw: School Bus Crash Injures Five Children Quick Response Saved Baby on Phila. Train Tracks One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
Twitter Updates
Follow me on Twitter
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com