MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com - Part 5644 (2025)

Here's the latest out of the AL East:

• The Orioles' signing of Delmon Young almost certainly rules outKendrys Morales as an option for the club's DH job, Rich Dubroff of CSN Baltimore reports. The right-handed Young and leftyHenry Urrutia appear likely to form a platoon at the position.
• Signing Masahiro Tanaka would almost certianly push the Yankees beyond the$189MM luxury tax threshold now that they've agreed to terms with their arbitration-eligible players, David Waldstein of The New York Times notes.
• Red Sox scout Gary Hughes prefers players with multi-sport backgrounds,Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.comwrites in a profile on the industry veteran. Hughes draftedDelino DeShields as the Expos' scouting director in the first round of the 1987 draft.

A source tells MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo that the Astros haven't discussed a long-term extension with Jason Castro yet. The 26-year-old appears to be a candidate for a long-term deal after a 2013 breakout campaign that saw him slug 18 home runs and generate4.3 fWAR, tops among AL catchers not named Joe Mauer. However, he's now eligible for arbitration, and could become expensive quickly if he's not interested in an extension. As FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal observed recently, teams appear increasingly willing to trade players who resist being locked up. Here's more from baseball's Western divisions:

• Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times notes the Dodgers' need for a utility infielder and wonders if they'll try to bring backMichael Young, who hit .314 for the club in 53 plate appearances last year after being acquired from the Phillies. GMNed Colletti says the Dodgers have maintained contact with Young, who's reportedly considering retirement.
• Cotillo hears (via Twitter) that the Mariners and the Indians are the frontrunners among the five to seven clubs interested inScott Baker.
• Also from Cotillo's Twitter, the Rangers plan to use leftyRafael Perez, who they've inked to a minor-league deal, out of the bullpen. Perez, who didn't appear in the majors in 2013, was a starter for much of his early career in the minors. The Rangers were known to be on the hunt for a left-handed arm for their rotation followingDerek Holland's recent injury.

Clubs angling to sign Masahiro Tanaka made formal offers by Jan. 16, Nikkan Sports reports (Japanese link). The list of teams includes the Yankees, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, White Sox and Cubs, with nearly all clubs putting together offers worth more than $100MM over six years.

The Diamondbacks have made no secret oftheir pursuit of Tanaka this winter, and according to Nikkan, they've offered him a deal for six years and $120MM. Such a contract would be the largest in Diamondbacks history by a wide margin."Like other teams, we're very interested,"CEODerrick Hall was quoted as saying at a recent meeting of MLB owners. "We want to win this competition." Owner Ken Kendrick also reportedly met with Tanaka directly during his recent tour of clubs in the U.S.

The Dodgers and Yankees are believed to have made equivalent offers, according to Nikkan, while comments by Angels ownerArte Moreno suggest that the team would have trouble fitting Tanaka into its budget. Overall, we appear to be nearing the stage in negotiations where the only step remaining is Tanaka's actual decision.

Tonight in Los Angeles, California, the biggest stars in the game are gathering to help honor baseball's behind-the-scenes heroes. The eleventh annual Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation dinner will honor Hank Aaron, Bruce Bochy, Jack McKeon and more to help raise money for scouts who have fallen on hard times due to job loss, illness, retirement, or other setbacks. You can read more about the event (and donate) on the PBSF website. To learn more about PBSF founder Dennis Gilbert, a special assistant to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, check outhis recent interview with MLBTR's Zach Links.

• Adam Wainwright tellsDerrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch that hehas no regrets about the extension that he signed in 2013 with the Cardinalsin light of Clayton Kershaw's massive new deal. "I didn’t have to sign it. We worked to get to a number where I felt made it fair for both sides,"Wainwright said of hisfive-year, $97.5MM extension, adding that he sent a congratulatory text to Kershaw.
• CubsPresident Theo Epstein defended theRicketts family's ownership in comments to fans at the Cubs Convention today (via Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune).“They know they’re doing the right things to lay the foundation to get this right, to turn this into a franchise they can be proud of for generations and generations,”Epstein said, acknowledging that some have criticized the Cubs' quiet offseason.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Here's a roundup on players likely to sign minor-league contracts.

• The Phillies, Red Sox and Royals are among the teams in on Ryan Madson, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweets. Rosenthal also tweets, however, that Madson is unlikely to sign until after teams watch him pitch off a mound in February. Madson, who has struggled to return from elbow troubles, has not pitched in the big leagues since 2011, when he was with the Phillies.
• DH Jack Cust worked out for the Orioles this week, but it's unclear whether the team wants to sign him, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. "It's still under consideration," executive vice president Dan Duquette says. Cust did not play in 2013, but he posted a .243/.400/.442 line at the Triple-A level in 2012.
• Former Mariners and Padres reliever Jared Wells will work out for teams next week, MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo tweets. Wells, 32, last pitched in the Majors in 2008. He played independent ball in 2013.

Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa doesn't think he'll be selected as the Mariners' next president, Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. "It’s likely I won’t even get an interview," La Russa told fans at a Cardinals event today. "I’ve heard they’ve got a couple of good guys in house. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity and I would love to put my two cents in as to what contribution I could make. But I don’t think it’s going to happen."

The Mariners are looking for a new president to replace Chuck Armstrong, who is departing at the end of the month. A report last weekindicated that the Mariners might consider La Russa if they expanded their search beyond in-house candidates, but it now appears likely that they'll hire their new executive from within.

Here are today's minor moves from around baseball.

• Lefty Rafael Perez has a minor-league deal with the Rangers, MLB Daily Dish's Chris Cotillo tweets. The longtime Indians reliever pitched in the Twins and Red Sox organizations in 2013, posting a 2.60 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 34 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He last appeared in the Majors in 2012.

Here's the latest on the bidding for Masahiro Tanaka.

• The Cubs are the "lead team" for Tanaka, a source tells Levine (via Twitter).
• The Cubs have made a "real offer" to Tanaka, tweets 670TheScore.com's Bruce Levine, who also notes that one key factor for Tanaka and his wife will be the presence of a Japanese community in his new city. On Thursday, we heard that the Cubs were "pushing hard" for Tanaka, and Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reported on the "sales pitch" the Cubs made to Tanaka last week.

Recent negotiations between Giancarlo Stanton and the Marlins focused purely on the arbitration-eligible outfielder's 2014 salary, not on a long-term extension, MLB.com's Joe Frisaro reports. "From the outset, I think it was in everyone's interest to try [to] reach a fair and amicable settlement on a one-year contract," says Stanton's agent, Joel Wolfe of the Wasserman Media Group. Stanton, who will make $6.5MM this season, is due for free agency after 2016.

Due to the Marlins' reputation, there will be questions about whether they plan to trade Stanton until they sign him to a long-term deal or actually do trade him. They plan to keep in Miami in 2014, however. Stanton hit .245/.365/.480 in 504 plate appearances for the Marlins last season.

The Mets have re-signed infielder Omar Quintanilla to a minor-league deal, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York tweets. Quintanilla is represented by MVP Sports Group.

The Mets non-tendered Quintanilla in December after he hit .222/.306/.283 in 359 plate appearances for them last season. He also hit .333/.419/.484 in 148 plate appearances at the Triple-A level.

If the Mets don't make a move at shortstop, they'll head into the 2014 season with Ruben Tejada as their starter. Tejada hit just .202/.259/.260 in 2013, and Quintanilla should provide the Mets with shortstop depth if Tejada struggles again. He could also win a bench job coming out of camp.