MLB roundup: Orioles had exploratory talks with Ramirez's agent
The Baltimore Orioles have had "exploratory talks" with the agent for free-agent Manny Ramirez, Orioles executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said during a conference call with reporters on Monday.
Duquette spoke mostly about the trade with the Rockies that brought pitchers Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom to Baltimore in exchange for starter Jeremy Guthrie.
But he also confirmed the Orioles' interest in Ramirez.
???We???re aware that Manny is on the market, and we???ve had some exploratory talks with his agent,??? Duquette said. ???And we???ve seen Manny work out, but we???re still considering the composition of this club and some of the challenges of integrating a player like Manny into our ballclub and market. So that???s really all I can say about it right now.???
Duquette was general manager of the Red Sox when they signed Ramirez to an eight-year, $160 million contract in December 2000.
Ramirez retired last April rather than serve a 100-game suspension for a second violation of Major League Baseball's drug policy. He will face a 50-game ban should he sign a contract now.
--- The Baltimore Orioles traded pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies for a pair of pitchers in Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom on Monday.
Guthrie was 9-17 last season with a 4.33 ERA.
Guthrie was closing in on a likely arbitration hearing with the Orioles.
The Orioles received Hammel, who went 7-13 with a 4.76 ERA last season for the Rockies. He's mostly a starter who has pitched in relief.
Lindstrom will work out of the Orioles bullpen, coming off a 2-2 season with a 3.00 ERA in 54 innings in Colorado.
--- Miami Marlins pitcher Anibal Sanchez won an $8 million payday for 2012 in the arbitration decision announced Monday, taking over $1 million more than the team's $6.9 million offer.
The three-person ruling panel considered Sanchez' 8-9 record and 3.67 ERA in 32 starts last year. He made $3.7 million last season.
--- The Seattle Mariners signed reliever Hong-Chih Kuo to a one-year contract on Monday.
The ex-Dodger, who earned $2.725 million last season, was one of baseball's top relievers in 2010 but struggled to a 9.00 ERA in 2011.
Kuo also had a fifth operation on his shoulder in October and missed a month of the season dealing with an anxiety disorder.
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