Weekly? Rumor Open Thread II

“Seattle unlikely to get involved on Jason Bay.”

The winter meetings with twitter is like the TMZ of baseball.

I can understand grabbing another catcher to allow Adam Moore to get more seasoning down in Triple-A, but we might as well displace Rob Johnson as the starter while we are at it.

Bringing back Olivo is interesting. I wonder if Doumit is no longer a viable option (Pirates know he has value and the asking price might be too high)?

But then the comments were closed..

Man, Miguel Olivo. I mean, I remember thinking he was the big hope of the M’s organization at catcher. The ITP guys even sent me up to interview him when he was rehabbing in Everett and I nearly had to chase him into the clubhouse to get a few uninteresting answers.

I can see the appeal, but I don’t know why he’d want to come back here. New front office and coaching staff and all, but it would still be… kind of weird.

I’d imagine he’s still too embarrassed to even consider coming back

Nightengale twitter

here.

Sadly, not the MLB show that Larry Stone was just one, I gather.

“Angels have jumped in Jason Bay race; possible Edwin Jackson deal coming down (AOL speculates Mets)”

“Nick Johnson is high on the Mariners 1B shopping list.”

Thats awesome.

UPDATE 12:55 PM: Latest word from Indy is that the Mariners are in on Mark De Rosa, Orlando Hudson, and have made contact with the Nationals about Josh Willingham.

“Mutual interest between Mariners and Nick Johnson as Russ Branyan alternative. His uncle, Larry Bowa, had a great experience in Seattle.”

Huh.

but Brad Penny is signing with St Louis for 1/5 guaranteed, up to 9 million if he does well. Good deal for the Cards, and hopefully an indication of what it’ll take to get Harden.

apparently their main fanbase (judging from the calls) is the 14 year old male.

Jack Zduriencik and Felix’s agent, Alan Nero, met today. Nero: “It was a healthy meeting. We all know where we stand.” More coming on blog.

Also, I am such a tech-wizard for this.

@Larry Stone: Jack Zduriencik and Felix’s agent, Alan Nero, met today. Nero: “It was a healthy meeting. We all know where we stand.”

yup.

“We want a lot of money & years, they are thinking about it”

Heyman talking Felix

Olney reporting 7.5 million base salary. Sweet deal for em.

He had a good year this season but with how much he’s asking for and the fact that he wants a multi-year deal makes me think that he’s going to be the next Washburn or what have you.

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic has heard that the Diamondbacks may be willing to part with Max Scherzer for Tigers right-hander Edwin Jackson.

Darren Oliver?

“Somehow, the impression at these winter meetings is that the Seattle Mariners have almost unlimited cash available, which has resulted in their being linked to almost every interesting free agent out there.

“Who are we signing now?” asked Pedro Grifol, Seattle’s minor league director.

He was kidding."

d_a_cameron Harden, Johnson, and Doumit all tied to M’s today. RT @StoneLarry: Rich Harden is looking increasingly like a good fit for the Mariners.

The more I think about the team the Mariners are trying to build, the more Doumit stands out as an important part. Even if we get the players we want (Branyan, Johnson) we’d still be in danger of having a lineup where be vulnerable to by any random lefty. Having a switch hitter like Doumit who has the defensive flexibility that he does gives us a “middle of the order” option verses lefties and is a pretty nifty option at catcher to boot.

Hearing #Brewers closing in on three-year deal with LHP Randy Wolf. Trying to confirm.

The Braves just spent $10M on Wagner and Saito, so they gotta be a little ticked at this. Unless they trade him I guess.

This has been such a boring day so far…

Mariners kicking the tires on Randy Johnson.