Major League Baseball

MLB offseason buzz: Nov. 22-28

Published Dec. 2, 2009 4:38 p.m. ET

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The World Series may still be fresh in your mind, but MLB GMs are already focusing on next season. Thankfully, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi have all the latest gossip and buzz. Note: All times listed are ET.

Latest free agency news and notes | Nov. 15-21 | Nov. 12-14 | GM meetings coverage: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

News and notes: Nov. 22-28

Friday, Nov. 27

Will the Red Sox go after Cabrera? — 1:23 p.m.

There is no evidence to suggest that the Red Sox have approached the Tigers about a trade for first baseman Miguel Cabrera. But besides the Red Sox's obvious need for a slugger such as Cabrera, there is another reason to believe that a conversation between the clubs almost certainly will take place.

Red Sox owner John Henry.

As the Marlins' owner in July 1999, Henry authorized the signing of the 16-year-old Cabrera out of Venezuela for $1.8 million. Less than two months later, the Marlins signed their top draft pick, right-hander Josh Beckett, the No. 2 pick overall, to a four-year, $7 million deal.

Cabrera and Beckett were Henry's two most important player acquisitions for the Marlins. Henry, after taking over the Red Sox in Jan. 2002, reunited with Beckett through a trade in Nov. 2005.

Acquiring Cabrera from his former Marlins GM, Dave Dombrowski, would complete a circle of sorts — and perhaps put Henry in position to win his third World Series with the Red Sox.

Cubs set to shop for outfield bat — 1:23 p.m.

The Cubs' offseason truly will kick off only after they trade outfielder Milton Bradley. Only then can they begin, in earnest, their pursuit of a center fielder.

A left-handed hitter would fit best, which is why a trade for the Tigers' Curtis Granderson, a native of Chicago, at least will be explored. Among the free agents, Scott Podsednik and Rick Ankiel bat left-handed, while Coco Crisp is a switch-hitter.

From the right side, the free agents include Marlon Byrd — who played for new Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo with the Rangers — and Mike Cameron.

One agent who has spoken with the Cubs says the left-right issue is not as big a concern for the team as it was last offseason, when GM Jim Hendry was fixated on balancing his lineup with a left-handed or switch-hitter.

No, the issue now is how quickly the Cubs can purge the player who was supposed to solve that problem — Bradley — and how much financial flexibility they will gain through such a move.

Those factors, as much as anything, might determine the type of player they pursue.

Red Sox left with little choice in SS race — 1:12 p.m

Barring a major surprise, the Blue Jays' signing of free-agent shortstop Alex Gonzalez leaves the Red Sox with virtually no choice but to sign Marco Scutaro.




No quality shortstops are known to be available in trade, and the free-agent market is thin on quality defenders at the position.

The shortage, in part, is what motivated the Jays to move quickly on Gonzalez, signing him to a one-year, $2.75 million contract Thursday with a $2.5 million club option for 2011.

The Jays did not want to be caught short at the position, the way the Orioles were in 2008. Pitching is difficult enough in the AL East, especially with a young staff.

Among the available free agents, Orlando Cabrera's defense has declined, and many clubs believe that Miguel Tejada needs to move off short. Adam Everett is a terrific defender, but an even weaker hitter than Gonzalez.

The Jays still will offer arbitration to Scutaro, a Type A free agent; they would play him in left field and bat him leadoff if he accepted a one-year, non-guaranteed deal. Scutaro, though, likely will get a better offer than that from the Red Sox or another club.

His departure would net the Jays two high draft picks as compensation. The Jays also could flip Gonzalez for additional young talent at some point — the free-agent market at short next winter also will be thin, and he is under control for ¿11 — but they still lack a long-term solution at the position.

Wednesday, Nov. 25

Are Tigers better off waiting to trade Cabrera? — 5:27 p.m.

A rival executive made an interesting point about Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera on Wednesday:

If Detroit officials are confident that Cabrera will (a) report to spring training in terrific shape and (b) address his issues with alcohol, then they are better off waiting to trade him until he improves his trade value with a strong 2010.

But if they are afraid he might be at the start of a downward spiral, they have more incentive to trade him now.

And remember this: A number of Tigers executives were with the Marlins when Florida signed him as a 16-year-old in 1999. They should know him better than anyone else. So, the extent to which they make him available should speak volumes about where Cabrera stands, on and off the field.

Cabrera is owed $126 million over the next six years. That's a reasonable sum for someone who has averaged 33 home runs and 115 RBIs over his six full major league seasons — if that production seems likely to continue.

But that's a risky sum for someone whose conditioning has been questioned and who police said registered a 0.26 blood alcohol content some 13 hours before Game 161 this year.

Right now, the executive said, it seems unlikely that the Tigers will be able to find a suitor willing to pay the entire $126 million and trade valuable young players in return.

But what if Cabrera adopts a Pujols-type offseason regimen, followed by Pujols-type production in 2010? Then there would be no shortage of interested teams.

Of course, in that scenario, the Tigers may want to keep their franchise player after all.

Agent: Mets, Dessens nearing deal — UPDATED 5:02 p.m.

The agent for right-hander Elmer Dessens spoke with the Mets on Wednesday and said he is "getting closer" to a deal that would bring Dessens back to New York for the 2010 season.

Oscar Suarez has continually indicated that he believes the Mets are a good fit for his client.

Dessens, 38, had no record and a 3.31 ERA in 28 relief appearances with the Mets this year.

Jays name Fasano Class A manager — 3:59 p.m.

The Blue Jays have named longtime major-league catcher Sal Fasano as their manager at Class A Lansing of the Midwest League.

Fasano played for the Royals, A's, Rockies, Phillies, Indians, Angels, Yankees, Orioles and Blue Jays in a major-league career that began in 1996 and ended in 2008. He spent this season at Class AAA Colorado Springs in the Rockies organization.

Source: Red Sox interested in Duchscherer — 3:26 p.m.

Apart from their interest in Toronto ace Roy Halladay, the Red Sox are checking on a long list of possible pitching upgrades. Justin Duchscherer, an All-Star as recently as 2008, is one of them.

The Red Sox are interested in Duchscherer as a starting pitcher, one major-league source said Wednesday. The right-hander didn't pitch in the majors at all this year — in part because of clinical depression — and is now a free agent.

Duchscherer pitched out of the A's bullpen from 2004 through 2007, before moving into their rotation in 2008. He went 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 22 starts during what was his second All-Star season.

Duchscherer underwent hip surgery in 2008 and arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow this March. He has been on the disabled list five times in the past four years.

Tuesday, Nov. 24

1B Johnson drawing plenty of interest — 12:32 p.m.

Add free agent Nick Johnson to the list of first basemen drawing interest from the Mariners.

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