MLB Rumors

In a conference call from Japan, Akinori Iwamura would be "interested" in exploring a long-term contract with the Pirates.

Other notes from the call, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette are: 

-- On staying longer than a year: "I'm definitely interested in the long term, but I first have to do what I can do. We'll see what happens. Hopefully, we can go to the playoffs next season."
-- On going from a talented team to one in last place: "I'm very excited for the new challenge. I spoke to Neal Huntington, and I feel very appreciated." 
-- On his knee: "It feels very good, but not 100 percent. ... I'll be 100 percent for next year."
-- On what he knows about Pittsburgh: "I know, of course, about Roberto Clemente, and that it is a great organization. I was in Pittsburgh as a player, and it is a very nice ballpark. And my wife said Pittsburgh is a sister city of the city in Japan where she is from. That was nice."

According to the Detroit News , free-agent left-hander Jarrod Washburn, not likely to re-sign with the Tigers, says a return to the Seattle Mariners would be among his top choices.

"Seattle definitely is toward the top of my list," Washburn told MLB.com. "I'll just have to see what happens when the free-agent season begins."

Three key Angels headed for free agency -- Chone Figgins, Bobby Abreu and Vladimir Guerrero -- have publicly expressed a desire to return to Anaheim, and center fielder Torii Hunter, after talking to free-agent pitcher John Lackey, is convinced the right-hander wants to remain an Angel.

However, Gary Matthews Jr. told the Los Angeles Times he wants no part of the Angels in 2010.

"I don't expect to be back; it's time to move on," Matthews said. "I'm ready to play for an organization that wants me to play every day."

According to the Denver Post , former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has told people close to him that he wants back into coaching and is one of four finalists for the Texas Rangers' hitting instructor job.

Hurdle has several connections to the Rangers' front office. General manager Jon Daniels, assistant GM Thad Levine and director of player personnel Scott Servais all spent time in Colorado while Hurdle was there. And Hurdle worked with Rangers manager Ron Washington in 1992 in the minor leagues.

Adam Kennedy told the San Francisco Chronicle he's interested in returning to the Giants.  His agent also said that talks were "very positive."
A's assistant general manager David Forst said the team expects that Kennedy will file for free agency. The same report also suggests the A's have not been in contact with INF Nomar Garciaparra and SP Brett Tomko.. other free-agents.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Orioles international scouting director met with free-agent Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman and his agent in New York.

Chapman is a highly coveted 21-year-old who pitched in the World Baseball Classic in March.

The scouting director said Chapman is "willing and interested" to visit Baltimore however, it's doubtful the Orioles will be serious bidders if Chapman's reported asking price -- between $40 million and $60 million in a long-term deal -- is accurate.

As the Cubs try to deal disgruntled outfielder Milton Bradley, rumors are swirling about a trade with the Blue Jays for CF Vernon Wells.

According to the Toronto Sun , "It's early on, but we think this one has some legs," said one Cubs official. "But they aren't the only team we are talking with."

Troy Renck of the Denver Post speculates the Rockies will shop Manuel Corpas heavily this offseason.

Corpas has been trying to rebound after elbow troubles. His command was not sharp, but his fastball velocity was decent. He could rebound from a change of scenery and Renck expects the Rockies will trade his bad contract for another one.

Pirates president Frank Coonelly and GM Neal Huntington each affirmed, in unambiguous terms, that they want manager John Russell and his staff back, according to a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette .

Neither elaborated because neither sees Russell or the staff as an issue and, moreover, they like what they have seen of the team's motivation and instruction over the full season.

Russell is under contract through the 2010 season, and all of his coaches have agreed to return except pitching coach Joe Kerrigan and infield instructor Perry Hill. Decisions from the latter two are expected soon, though the team has not yet set any deadline.

Two more bidders for the Rangers have been identified, and one of them has had conversations with Rangers President Nolan Ryan about joining his investment group, as reported by the Dallas Morning News .

Ryan, the Rangers president, said that he has had conversations about becoming a minority owner with Chuck Greenberg, a sports attorney in Pittsburgh who also owns two minor league teams and a sports consulting firm.

According to the same report, a source confirmed that Greenberg and Houston businessman Jim Crane have submitted bids to purchase the Rangers from Hicks Sports Group. Crane founded Crane Worldwide Logistics and was also a bidder for the Chicago Cubs.

If history is an indication and Astros GM Ed Wade sticks by the criteria he has set, the Houston Chronicle speculates fans can officially rule out Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Brad Ausmus as managerial candidates. But Astros fans would be wise to keep an eye on Al Pedrique, the former Arizona Diamondbacks manager who was promoted to third base coach after Dave Clark took over on an interim basis when Cecil Cooper was fire.

Pedrique has been one of the top special assistants with the Astros and he meets the only criteria the club has stressed firmly: past managerial experience in the majors or minors. He's done it at both levels.

Clark is the only confirmed candidate, but Wade and Tal Smith began considering candidates to replace Cooper before they fired him Monday. On Wednesday, Wade presented names of potential candidates to Smith and Astros owner Drayton McLane.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist John Shea asked Tim Lincecum if he'd be open to a long-term deal.

The Giants ace said, "I definitely like San Francisco. I've seen nothing but positive things as far as my personal experiences. It's where I see myself being for awhile."

For the first time, Lincecum wwill be eligible for arbitration, meaning his salary will skyrocket. Lincecum makes $650,000 this year and could set an arbitration record.

The three-year, $19 million contract that Danys Baez signed with the Orioles in November 2006 expires at season's end. And though he hasn't ruled out returning to Baltimore, it's highly unlikely that Baez, 32, will be back with the rebuilding club.

Baez told the Baltimore Sun he would like it to be on the East Coast and wouldn't mind remaining in the American League East.

"We have a lot of young guys, good arms, and they want to try them in the bullpen, so I don't know if they would be interested in a veteran like me and try to make an offer and compete with teams that would have interest," Baez said. "But I definitely would be open to see any offer. And Baltimore is definitely one of the teams in the East I am comfortable with, and I love this clubhouse. There are a lot of young guys with a lot of energy."

Who will be the Astros' next manager?

According to the Houston Chronicle , Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan is not making a pitch for the job.  For Duncan, who is completing his 14th season in St. Louis, the drive to manage isn’t quite what it once was. However, Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo makes it clear he would be interested in any managerial opening, which puts him in large company.

A Chicago Sun-Times source confirmed that all of the White Sox coaches whose contracts are up after the season were in the process of signing extensions, believed to be through 2011. Those coaches include hitting coach Greg Walker, pitching coach Don Cooper, bench coach Joey Cora and first-base coach Harold Baines

This news came after GM Ken Williams spoke to the press about the season gone wrong and looking ahead to 2010. 

Williams talked openly about a coaching staff that drew heat this year, specifically Walker.

''I got them all upstairs right now, and we're talking about the future as we speak,'' Williams wrote via text message. ''I expect everyone to be back. But Ozzie and I still have to reserve that official comment when Ozzie and I sit down and talk about the staff. We have not had one conversation about getting rid of anyone.''