Major League Baseball

Latest buzz from the MLB offseason

Published Dec. 7, 2009 7:16 a.m. ET

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The offseason chatter is picking up and players are starting to move. Thankfully, Ken Rosenthal, Jon Paul Morosi and Tracy Ringolsby have all the latest gossip and buzz. Note: All times listed are ET.

More offseason buzz: Nov. 22-28 | Nov. 15-21 | Nov. 12-14 | GM meetings — Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Monday's latest news and notes

Source: Dodgers shopping LHP Sherrill — 2:15 a.m.

The Dodgers have a number of young relief pitchers coveted by other teams, including Ronald Belisario, Hong-Chih Kuo and Ramon Troncoso.

But when teams have inquired about those relievers, according to one rival executive, they have been encouraged to instead submit proposals for left-hander George Sherrill.

It appears that Sherrill is available for two main reasons: He's about to earn a raise (perhaps as high as $4 million) through salary arbitration; and he had a lousy NLCS against the Phillies.

The Dodgers are looking for a starter in exchange for Sherrill. They should find a number of interested clubs, since Sherrill has saved 52 games over the past two seasons. He was an All-Star closer in 2008 while pitching for the Orioles in baseball's most rugged division. — Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

Could Doug Davis go back to Milwaukee? — 1:54 a.m.

Steve Canter, the agent for Doug Davis, said "multiple clubs" are showing interest in the free agent left-hander.

Davis is unlikely to return to Arizona, where he went 9-14 with a 4.12 ERA this year and tied for the National League lead with 34 starts.

Davis had a good experience in Milwaukee while pitching for the Brewers from 2003 through 2006, so it's possible that he will return there. (The Brewers are looking for a veteran starter.)

Canter has a good sales pitch for Davis: He tied for 11th in the NL with 22 quality starts this year, he has postseason experience, and he's never been on a major league disabled list because of an arm injury. — Jon Paul Morosi

Jose Valverde could complicate things for Houston — 1:15 a.m.

Astros owner Drayton McLane isn't going to like this.

Free-agent reliever Jose Valverde could accept the Astros' offer of salary arbitration by Monday's midnight ET deadline, according to major-league sources.

The return of Valverde would eliminate the Astros' need for a closer.

But it also could be a $10 million hit for a team with limited payroll flexibility.

Valverde, who turns 32 on March 24, earned $8 million last season. He missed more than six weeks in the first half with a right calf strain, but went 17-for-17 in save opportunities after the All-Star Game with a 1.64 ERA.

Perhaps another team would sign him to a multi-year contract, but the free-agent market is deep in late-inning relievers, and several others are available in trade. Teams also will be reluctant to give up two high draft picks for Valverde, a Type A free agent.

Thus, Valverde might decide that a one-year, non-guaranteed contract from the Astros is his best option. The team then could settle with him on a guaranteed deal before the two sides went to a hearing.

Either way, the Astros would pay a high price. — Ken Rosenthal

Rangers owner to pick buyer on Dec. 15 — 12:28 a.m.

Texas owner Thomas Hicks plans to decide on which offer for the Rangers to accept on Dec. 15. There are two remaining bidders. Chuck Greenberg, who is involved in several minor league teams and attempted to buy the Chicago Cubs, is heading up a group that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, the Rangers' current president. Ryan would have an equity stake in the group if Greenberg is awarded the franchise.

Dennis Gilbert, a former agent and now a special assistant to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, heads up the other group. Gilbert also would like to have Ryan involved in the team if he is successful in his bid, despite recent reports that Ryan would not be a part of the franchise if Gilbert's bid is successful. — Tracy Ringolsby

Source: Brewers unlikely to lure Betancourt — 12:19 a.m.

The Brewers have mild interest in reliever Rafael Betancourt, one major-league source said late Sunday, but their offer is unlikely to be big enough to persuade him to refuse salary arbitration with the Rockies.

Our Tracy Ringolsby first reported Sunday that Betancourt is ready to accept Colorado's offer of arbitration.

The source indicated that interest from other clubs had reduced sharply in recent days, largely because signing Betancourt would involve the loss of a draft pick. For that reason, it's doubtful that another team will make a compelling bid before Monday night's deadline.

Betancourt would likely earn more than $4 million in 2010 through the arbitration process. — Jon Paul Morosi

Sunday's latest news and notes

Source: D-Backs watch Putz — 9:57 p.m.

The Diamondbacks were among the teams with a representative in attendance at J.J. Putz's recent throwing session, one major league source told FOXSports.com.

Putz was an All-Star closer as recently as 2007 but averaged only 38 innings over the past two seasons because of injuries.

Putz had a 5.22 ERA for the Mets this year and didn't pitch after June 4. He had surgery to remove a bone spur from his right (throwing) elbow. -- Jon Paul Morosi

R. Soriano has tough decision — 9:51 p.m.

Free-agent right-hander Rafael Soriano could earn more than $8 million on a one-year, nonguaranteed contract if he accepts salary arbitration from the Braves.

Yet, his decision is far from simple.

Soriano, one of the top relievers on the market, could end up pitching in the middle rather than the late innings if he returns to the Braves, damaging his future earning power.

The Braves are committed to newly signed free-agent setup man Takashi Saito and closer Billy Wagner in the eighth and ninth innings, according to a source with knowledge of the club's thinking. Righty Peter Moylan and lefty Eric O'Flaherty could split the seventh, effectively pushing Soriano back to the sixth inning.

Soriano, 30, could take his chances with such a scenario, knowing that Wagner, 38, and Saito, 39, are physical questions, and that Moylan is coming off 87 appearances. Braves manager Bobby Cox, a fan of Soriano's, surely would move him back to the late innings if it were best for the team.

But Soriano, if he accepts arbitration by midnight Monday, still would be in an uncomfortable, uncertain position. And he still is likely to command a multiyear deal from another club, albeit at a lower salary than he might get in an arbitration deal.

The Braves no doubt are relaying to Soriano the possibility that his role would diminish. They would prefer him to decline arbitration to give them maximum payroll flexibility as they continue their pursuit of a right-handed slugger.

Either way, they intend to trade a starting pitcher — either right-hander Derek Lowe or righty Javier Vazquez — to get the bat that they need. -- Ken Rosenthal.

Source: Teams ask Rangers about Cruz — 9:37 p.m.

The Rays and Reds are among the teams that have asked the Rangers about Nelson Cruz, but Texas remains reluctant to trade the slugging outfielder, a major league source said Sunday.

In theory, the Rangers could enter the season with the outfield/DH rotation they currently have: David Murphy, Julio Borbon, Josh Hamilton and Cruz.

So there isn't much incentive for them to move Cruz, who is not yet eligible for salary arbitration and earned $418,070 this year. He was a first-time All-Star and batted .260-.332-.524 with 33 home runs and 76 RBIs.

Texas remains interested in signing a run producer as a DH or corner outfielder. Jim Thome, Jermaine Dye and Vladimir Guerrero are among the free agent options the team has considered, although the Rangers' spending power this offseason is believed to be limited. -- Jon Paul Morosi

Lindstrom good as gone in Miami — UPDATED 8:53 p.m.

Here is one reliever who is virtually certain to be traded at the winter meetings, if not before:

Marlins right-hander Matt Lindstrom.

Of the six teams to express interest in Lindstrom, three have jumped to the forefront in recent days, according to major-league sources.

The Marlins are "close" to trading Lindstorm, one source said, adding that a deal "could happen any day now."

The Rays and Rangers are among the teams that have expressed interest in Lindstrom, but neither is close to a deal, sources said.

Lindstrom, who turns 30 on Feb. 11, is eligible for salary arbitration for the first time. The Marlins are fairly deep in late-inning relievers. Right-handers Leo Nunez, Renyel Pinto and Tim Wood will return, and left-hander Taylor Tankersley is expected back from elbow surgery. — Ken Rosenthal

Sources: Betancourt set to accept arbitration — 6:35 p.m.

Right-handed reliever Rafael Betancourt appears headed back to the Rockies. Betancourt, a free agent, is ready to accept the team's offer of arbitration, according to sources close to the situation. Betancourt has until midnight on Monday to formally respond to the offer, and there are several teams that have shown interest, but none of them have made a firm offer.

Betancourt was acquired by the Rockies during this past season and was a key late-inning reliever when the Rockies rallied to claim the NL wild card. He was credited with being a positive influence on the young Venezuelan players on the team, which included outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, left-handed reliever Franklin Morales and prime right-handed pitching prospect Jhoulys Chacin.

The fact the Rockies offered Betancourt, a Type A free agent, arbitration means another team would lose a top draft pick as compensation to the Rockies for signing Betancourt. -- Tracy Ringolsby

Dodgers' stance on Hudson another curious move — 5:18 p.m.

As curious as it was for the Dodgers not to offer salary arbitration to free-agent left-hander Randy Wolf, their refusal to make an offer to free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson was even more inexplicable.

The Dodgers feared Wolf might accept arbitration, then earn more than $10 million — a salary they considered too high — on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract.

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