Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

 

#mariners have reached out to russell martin & mike napoli. also looking at corner OF bats.

 

I hope they get one of them and Hahn trades for Jaso.

These numbers make the Jake Peavy deal look better and better by the day.

 

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi

 

Anibal Sanchez is asking for around $90 million, sources say.

 

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

 

anibal sanchez's price going up? he asked 1 team for $90M, 6 yrs, and another about $100M, 7 yrs.

DKnobler ‏@DKnobler

 

Rafael Soriano turns down qualifying offer, but is still on Yankees' radar -

 

Tigers are not interested in Soriano. Plan to stay in-house for closer, with hard-throwing 21-year-old Bruce Rondon getting chance at job.

 

 

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

 

The #SFGiants are confident they will be resigning Jeremy Affeldt, likely to 3-year deal.

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

 

The #SFGiants are confident they will be resigning Jeremy Affeldt, likely to 3-year deal.

 

Could make Thornton more attractive should the Sox decide to move him.

JIM BOWDEN ‏@JimBowdenESPNxm

 

Confirming @JonHeymanCBS Davey Johnson and Washington Nationals have agreed on a new contract to bring him back

MLB Trade Rumors ‏@mlbtraderumors

 

B.J. Upton Declines Rays' Qualifying Offer

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-leag...04482--mlb.html

 

The hot stove season is upon us and the three teams that have lately been linked to the market's top free agent are the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Meanwhile, that free agent's most recent team and its fan base doesn't seem all that concerned about whether they retain his services. One teammate even said it might not be in the franchise's best interests to re-sign the AL MVP from 2010.

 

If this was any other year or any other player, we'd be moved to wonder when we started living in a bizarro world or if the Mayans are on track to nail doomsday like Nate Silver just nailed election day.

 

But this is 2012 and the player we're talking about is Josh Hamilton. Rising revenues mixed with Hamilton's enigmatic status mixed with the Texas Rangers' proclivity to avoid risk-laden contracts have made this an offseason unlike any other. Franchises that usually struggle to obtain mid-tier free-agent talent now find themselves at the front of the pack for the top available position player while Hamilton's representation might not ever see New York or Boston's area codes show up on its caller ID.

 

There are undoubtedly plenty of other weird chapters to be added in this saga and Hamilton could still haul down the seven-year, $175 million contract he reportedly desires. But since we're in this strange time and place at the beginning of the story, let's look at the three unlikely suitors.

 

Milwaukee Brewers: The team's interest in Hamilton was initially reported during the World Series and reinforced with a Jon Heyman report on Wednesday. GM Doug Melvin, however, is also reportedly interested in gauging Zack Greinke's interest in returning to Miller Park and starting pitching remains Milwaukee's biggest need. (The Brewers still topped the National League in runs and home runs in 2012 despite Prince Fielder leaving for Detroit last winter.)

 

Speaking of Fielder, I remain confused why the Brewers were unwilling to even think about delivering a Brinks truck to a homegrown player but could be interested in taking a risk on a free agent with baggage he carries in his head instead of around his midsection. Hamilton is four years older than Fielder and achieved his career-high in games played when he appeared in 156 contests for the 2008 Rangers. Fielder had six seasons of more than 157 games played when the Brewers let him walk.

 

Baltimore Orioles: Several free agents in years past have been rumored to be headed toward Camden Yards, but the O's were still more of a flower girl than a bridesmaid in recent derbies. The bizarro Hamilton market combined with a desire to capitalize on 2012's wild-card bid might actually get Baltimore owner Peter Angelos to play a big role in the offseason for the first time in almost 15 years. Hamilton would fit in Baltimore's outfield perfectly for the near-term, but Dan Connolly of the Sun Papers thinks the O's would be ill-advised to make Hamilton the biggest catch of their offseason when you consider his age and the money he'll likely command. Still, the O's desire to remain relevant in the AL East could cause Angelos to blow the dust off his checkbook.

 

Seattle Mariners: I think Dave Cameron of USS Mariner nails it when it comes to labeling the Mariners' reported interest in Hamilton's services. Seattle hasn't been linked to the star via a contract offer or even a front office leak, but rather a Bob Nightengale report that opposing GMs think the Orioles and Mariners will end up as the final two competitors. Maybe we get something a little more concrete from Seattle, but all the speculation right now is based on a logical guess. The Mariners' moved-in fences at Safeco, available payroll and punchless offense should make them a player for Hamilton. Throw in their struggle to attract top free agents because of the travel demands of playing for Seattle and it makes downright good sense that they capitalize on a market that isn't populated by the usual players.

 

Then again, it's still only Nov. 8 and there will be more teams inquiring on Hamilton than just these three (and ostensibly the Rangers). It's fun to put together lists of unconventional teams this early, but remember that no one thought the Angels and Tigers would be landing places for Albert Pujols and Fielder at this time a year ago.

DKnobler ‏@DKnobler

 

Tigers and Rangers both want Hunter, who says he'll sign somewhere soon -

Buster Olney ‏@Buster_ESPN

 

The Phillies are OK with the high annual salary that Josh Hamilton might command, but they have concerns about the length of the deal.

Makes me wonder if their were any truth the Floyd stuff last winter, could a fit be coming together?

 

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal

 

Rival exec: #BlueJays' Anthopoulos targeting starting pitching, "itching" to make a trade.

Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi

 

Sources: Free agent outfielder Torii Hunter is meeting with #Tigers officials in Detroit today. @MLBONFOX

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

 

Teams interested in Jeremy Affeldt were told at GM meetings that he was off board and #SFGiants were signing him to 3-year,$18 million deal

 

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

 

#cubs sign scott baker, team announces. 1 year deal

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

 

Teams interested in Jeremy Affeldt were told at GM meetings that he was off board and #SFGiants were signing him to 3-year,$18 million deal

 

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

 

#cubs sign scott baker, team announces. 1 year deal

 

 

Baker is that type of buy low move that the Cubs will be making. They will load up on these types of signings and hope for success. Another busy trade deadline for Theo-Jed.

Paul Sullivan ‏@PWSullivan

 

Scott Baker signs one year deal w/ Cubs $5.5 mil plus incentives.

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

 

The #Marlins are letting teams know that virtually everyone is available on trade market, and plenty of teams are calling.

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

 

Teams interested in Jeremy Affeldt were told at GM meetings that he was off board and #SFGiants were signing him to 3-year,$18 million deal

 

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

 

#cubs sign scott baker, team announces. 1 year deal

 

That's a lot of paper for Jeremy Affeldt.

 

I realize that Theo has a "plan", but it's weird to only see the Cubs make insignificant transactions.

That's a lot of paper for Jeremy Affeldt.

 

I realize that Theo has a "plan", but it's weird to only see the Cubs make insignificant transactions.

 

It does make Matt Thornton's deal seem a lot more attractive.

The Indians could be shopping Cabrera, and the Cards are interested

 

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/pr...1cd7ac25d8.html

More details on the Bay buyout. It only covers two years.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heym...-only-two-years

The Indians could be shopping Cabrera, and the Cards are interested

 

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/pr...1cd7ac25d8.html

 

Makes sense. Lindor is on his way. Cleveland never seems to get great returns lately though.

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal

Buerhle headed to #BlueJays along with Josh Johnson, sources tell me and @jonmorosi.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/four-fr...i-hidaka-111412

 

Pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa of the Hanshin Tigers was one of four professional baseball players in Japan who became unrestricted free agents Wednesday in hopes of moving to Major League Baseball.

 

The other players were Seibu Lions shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Kensuke Tanaka and Orix Buffaloes catcher Takeshi Hidaka.

 

These guys are the top free agents on the market.

 

Fujikawa, a 32-year-old right-handed closer, has 220 saves over 12 seasons with the Tigers. He played for two-time champion Japan at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

 

The New York Yankees won the negotiating rights for Nakajima under the posting system after the 2011 season, but failed to reach an agreement and he returned to Seibu for the 2012 season.

 

Nakajima, a seven-time Pacific League All-Star, has a .302 batting average with 149 home runs, 664 RBIs and 134 stolen bases over 11 seasons with Seibu.

 

Tanaka has a.286 average over 13 seasons with the Fighters, while Hidaka hit.236 in 15 seasons with Orix.

Hunter to Tigers, 2 years per Rosenthal.

Not shocked at all about Torii Hunter going to Detroit. You could tell that's where he wanted to go, and he's basically a perfect fit for them.