MLB Rumors

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic takes a look at why a three-year deal with Mark Reynolds makes sense for the Diamondbacks.

Piecoro compares a deal for Reynolds similar to something Florida would give Dan Uggle and estimates a three-year deal in the $14 million-$15 million range would be fair.

Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is confident about Jeremy Bonderman being his club’s fourth starter.
Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer are set to start ahead of Bonderman. The fifth spot is up for grabs among Eddie Bonine, Armando Galarraga, Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis.

Can the Twins keep Joe Mauer on the roster? 

John Shipley of the St. Paul Pioneer Press suggests the answer is yes, if Mauer will accept less money than he would on the open market, and take a good portion of the money on the back-end of the deal.

Brian Goldberg, Ken Griffey Jr.'s agent, pointed out that a deal for Mauer would be similar to Griffey's deal with the Reds back in 2000.

If Mauer becomes a free agent after this season, he could command as much as $30 million a season on the open market.

On the Mariner's official blog site, Jim Street reports the club is turning its effors tto re-signing Erik Bedard.

the lefty is expected to miss the first three or four months of the regular season but could return midseason to provide some "significant" pitching help.

A new contract could be incentives-based.  Bedard has been hurt more than healthy since being acquired from the Orioles before the 2008 season.

In regards to Adrian Gonzalez, Padres GM Jeff Moorad told the San Diego Union-Tribune , “I’m confident that (General Manager) Jed (Hoyer) and John Boggs will have a discussion at some point about Adrian and his future. While I’d be thrilled to have him part of the organization for the long term, the early signals indicate his cost will be greater than our ability to pay.”

Moorad says keeping Gonzalez is not a matter of means, but a question of priorities. “Availability of resources is not the issue,” he said. “How we choose to deploy our resources is where the focus is.”

However, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald notes that Hoyer had a more positive spin on keeping Gonzalez.

"The team’s position with regard to Adrian has not changed at all,’’ said Hoyer in an e-mail. “We are excited to have him under contract for the next two seasons. He is a great player who fits our city, team, and payroll remarkably well. We have had, and will continue to have, dialogue with Adrian’s representatives about keeping him in San Diego longterm. It is still early in that process and attempting to draw conclusions in the middle of any negotiation is an inexact science.’’

Silverman suggests that Gonzalez would be a perfect fit -- a highly productive left-handed hitting slugger with good defensive skills in the power-challenged lineup.  Red Sox fans will be particularily interested Gonzalez's situation with many thinking the Padres will trade him by the July 31 deadline.

The Detroit News credits a source has confirmed Justin Verlander and the Tigers agreed to a five-year $80M deal.

There was no official confirmation of the deal but an announcement is expected as early as today.

On the Tim Lincecum front, a San Francisco Chronicle blog suggests that there will be no long-term deal with the Giants and he will head to arbitration.

From a Miami Herald blog :

The Marlins are "kicking the tires" on a number of left-handed hitters for a bench role, and Russell Branyan is one of them. But, contrary to a published report, two sources said the Marlins have NOT made an offer for the free agent first baseman.

In response to earlier comments about the Tigers signing Johnny Damon , Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told the Detroit News, "We're not close to making any kind of deals at this point."

The same report also says that Damon's agent, Scott Boras,and Dombrowski have not yet discussed the 36-year-old outfielder's interest in the Tigers.

The door is not closed though.   Dombrowski added he "has an opened mind."

The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting that Ruben Amaro Jr. confirmed the Phillies plan to watch Noah Lowry when he auditions for scouts in Arizona. Amaro characterized the team's interest as "moderate" with the Astros, Mets, Rangers and Red Sox also reportedly interested.

Lowry hasn't pitched since 2007 because of a series of arm injuries. Lowry's agent, Damon Lapa, said that although Lowry has not had a setback, they've decided to give the lefty  a little more time in the bullpen before being evaluated.

Reliever Kevin Gregg has narrowed his choices to the Colorado Rockies and the Florida Marlins, as reported by the Denver Post .

"I am not overly optimistic, but we have a chance," Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd said Monday. "Our job would be as a setup guy."

That is the hang-up for Gregg, who wants to be a closer. He likes the idea of spring training in Arizona, where he lives. And he likes the Rockies' chances of reaching the playoffs. But the Rockies have a proven closer.

In Florida, Leo Nuñez is not nearly as entrenched. Gregg could compete for the spot

According to the Detroit News , Johnny Damon would talk to the Tigers about joining the club.

"Johnny believes the addition of him to Detroit's lineup would make the Tigers a winner," said Scott Boras, Damon's agent.

The Tigers are looking for top-of-the-order punch after the departures of Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco. They are particularly needy on the left side of the plate, and Damon, of course, is a left-hand hitter

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com has learned that Ben Sheets signed with the A's for $10 million.  Read Danny's full blog entry .

He also reports that the Cubs have a deal with free-agent outfielder Xavier Nady.  Read that post, too.

The St. Louis Globe-Democrat has learned that the potential suitors for Jim Edmonds has been narrowed to two teams and that the Cardinals are not one of those teams.

It is not known if the two clubs still involved in negotiations with Edmonds are offering him a major-league roster spot or if he would still have to go to spring training as a non-roster player and try to make the team.

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune :

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters that free-agent slugger Jim Thome won’t return to the team this year, a decision that could clear the way for Thome to sign with the Twins.

Another report said the Rays and Tigers are also interested in Thome but called the Twins the favorite to sign him.

Despite an arbitration hearing looming between B.J. Upton and the Rays, the St. Petersburg Times suggests he's still opened to signing a long-term deal with the club.

Upton said, "I love the city of Tampa, and I'd definitely love to be here for an extensive period of time. If that's something that they want to talk about, I'm definitely open ears for it."

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said the interest is mutual.