Cincinnati Reds Rumors

Let's go to Ken Rosenthal for some non-Mark Teixeira news:

• The Angels do not appear interested in Manny Ramirez.  Angels general manager Tony Reagins made a comment to this effect earlier today anyway.
• Padres general manager Kevin Towers notes that if there is any interest from other teams about acquiring Jake Peavy in the future, there will be no word about it.
• The Cubs like their chances of signing Milton Bradley but the Rays, Nationals, and Yankees are interested as well.  However, it seems safe to assume that the Yankees may no longer be in the market for Bradley. 
• Rosenthal feels that the Rays, Mariners, Rangers and Reds are all possible destinations for Pat Burrell.
• Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla and Hank Blalock are all available to acquire via trade as the Rangers are looking to lower their payroll. 
• The Brewers have inquired about Adam Dunn.
• Bobby Abreu is allegedly still in touch with the Yankees.  Again, another free agent that now seems less likely to play in New York.

Let's take a look at Peter Gammons latest blog entry:

• A source close to Mark Teixeira believes that the Red sox and Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, are closer to a deal than owner John Henry's remarks made it seem. 
• Two reasons why the Yankees did not pull the trigger on the Mike Cameron trade with the Brewers: Melky Cabrera is showing improvement in winter ball and there are people within the Yankee organization that believe Brett Gardner can be a major league player. 
• The Diamondbacks and Red Sox have been trying to work out a deal for Arizona catcher Miguel Montero but the D'backs were not interested in Daniel Bard and the Red Sox would not trade Michael Bowden.  Gammons speculates that perhaps if the Red Sox were to take on the $22M owed to Eric Byrnes, the Diamondbacks may be more amenable to trading Montero.
• Gammons also speculates on a possible three team deal that would send Jermaine Dye to the Reds, Joey Votto to the Angels and Chone Figgins to the White Sox. 

While the baseball winter meetings have already begun, Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports put together a nice preview of what each team will look to do in Las Vegas this week.  Let's start with the NL:

• New Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro is involved in negotiations with Jaime Moyer and is also interested in Derek Lowe and AJ Burnett.
• The Nationals have been rumored to involved in the Mark Teixeira bidding, but Adam Dunn seems like a more realistic target.
• The Jake Peavy trade rumors have dominated the headlines for the Cubs, but the team could also look at signing Raul Ibanez or Rafael Furcal or even trading for Brian Roberts.
• The Astros are willing to consider trading Jose Valverde to improve their starting pitching.
• After trading for Khalil Greene, the Cardinals are still looking for starting pitching.  The Cardinals could also look to acquire Huston Street if they feel Chris Perez is not the answer as their closer.
• The Reds have been rumored to be interested in Jermaine Dye, but they may also be considering Willy Tavarez from the Rockies.
• The Pirates are sellers at the winter meetings, looking to trade Jack Wilson, Adam LaRoche and Nate McLouth.
• Manny Ramirez and CC Sabathia remain on the back burner for the Dodgers and they try to resign Furcal at a bargain.
• The Rockies don't expect much interest in Garrett Atkins because the asking price is very high.

Nick Cafardo from the Boston Globe has his latest regarding the winter hot stove:

• The Tigers are looking at relievers Trevor Hoffman, David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes and Joe Beimel.
• JP Riccardi has adamantly denied that the team is interested in trading Roy Halladay.
• The Reds, Giants and Rays are rumored to be interested in acquiring Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins.
• If the Dodgers can not retain Manny Ramirez, Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu and Jermaine Dye appear to be the back up options.
• The Angels and Brewers are still possible trade partners for the Padres and Jake Peavy.
• Cafardo believes that the Nationals are interested in Ken Griffey Jr.

Let's take a look at John Perotto's latest "Any Given Sunday" column from Baseball Prospectus.

• The are rumors that the Angels will consider matching the Yankees $140M offer to CC Sabathia.
• The Angels, will not, however, offer 10 years to Mark Teixeira. Pat Burrell remains an option if the team can't sign Teixeira.
• AJ Burnett has the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, Orioles and Phillies on his list as possible destinations.
• In order to make room for Denard Span the Twins are trying to move Delmon Young. They'd hope to get a shortstop or third baseman in return for him.
• Matt Treanor and Jack Wilson remain high on the Tigers off season wish list. Joe Beimel is also a priority.
• The Dodgers are concerned about Rafael Furcal's health issues and will not attempt to bring the shortstop back.
• The Cubs offer of Jason Marquis for David DeJesus is not going to be enough for the Royals. If a trade can not be agreed upon, the Cubs would look to sign Raul Ibanez and Bobby Abreu in that order of preference.
• Javier Vazquez and Jermaine Dye remain players of interest for the Braves.
• The Reds are also interested in Dye, but offering just Homer Bailey is not likely to be enough for the White Sox.
• Jon Garland is on the Mets radar as far as free agent pitchers go and they are also considering acquiring Vazquez from the White Sox or Andy Sonnanstine and/or Edwin Jackson from the Rays. The Rays want more than just Aaron Heilman in return.
• The Mets may toss their hat in the ring for Manny Ramirez and the Brewers may do the same for Francisco Rodriguez.
• The Astros are interested in David Ross, as reported earlier, and Paul Bako.
• Left handed relievers such as Alan Embree, Will Ohman, Brian Shouse and Glendon Rusch remain priorities for the Rockies.

Let's take a spin around the league tonight:

• The Astros are looking to trade Jose Valverde and Ty Wigginton.
• Jerry Crasnick of espn.com provides us with a number of players who could retire.
• The Orioles are reported to have interest in AJ Burnett.
• The Mets, Phillies and Dodgers have reportedly expressed interest in Raul Ibanez. The Marlins are also rumored as a long shot for Ibanez.
• Tony Masserotti of the Boston Globe believes the Red Sox will make the highest offer in team history to Mark Teixeira.
• Brian Giles doesn't expect to be traded this off season.
• Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a look at the Giants off season plans.
• Reds general manager Walt Jockety contends that they almost landed Coco Crisp.
• The are rumors of mutual interest between the Nationals and Teixeira.

Jayson Stark of espn.com has put together a comprehensive article evaluating the off season needs and plans of attack for ALL 30 major league teams. Here are some of the highlights:

• The Braves may go after AJ Burnett whether they trade for Jake Peavy or not. Either way, they're not likely to do anything about Burnett until the Peavy situation is resolved. If the Braves trade Yunel Escobar for Peavy, that'll open up another hole they may try to fill via free agency.
• If the Brewers are unable to sign CC Sabathia, and that seems to be the likely scenario, the team will likely go the opposite direction in terms of free agency and look to unload an infielder (JJ Hardy, Rickie Weeks or Prince Fielder) and/or Mike Cameron to fill their own holes.
• The Diamondbacks are not expected to be involved in the free agent market much at all. The Dbacks didn't sign a free agent at all last off season.
• On the Padres: "the Padres will be mostly chasing pitchers who have always wanted to pitch in the most pitcher-friendly ballpark on earth, live in Del Mar and not care how many digits are on their paycheck. There must be a few people left like that, right?"
• Trying to figure out what the Red Sox will do is a challenge. After they either sign Jason Varitek or acquire another catcher (perhaps a trade with Texas?), anything from standing pat to signing Mark Teixeira or Burnett and everything in between is possible.
• On the Yankees needs: "Three starting pitchers, a run-producing bat and possibly a catcher if Jorge Posada has any setbacks.
• The Orioles are expected to make runs at Burnett and Teixeira. Major runs.
• On the Indians: General manager Mark Shapiro once said the best approach to the free-agent market is "to avoid it."
• On the Tigers: "They're not in the mood to bump the payroll north of where it was last year ($138 million)." Translation: little action in the free agency market.
• The Angels have plenty of decisions to make regarding free agents, but it all starts withe Teixeira. If he stays, that's likely their winter. If he goes, they'll move on to Sabathia and/or Francisco Rodriguez. "If the Angels were at the craps table in Vegas," says one scout, "they'd be the high rollers."
• On the Rangers needs: "Starting pitching. And also starting pitching. In addition to starting pitching." The Rangers have plenty of talented catchers to trade and will likely try to trade them to bolster their pitching.

Ken Rosenthal has posted another column today.  Let's take a look at the highlights:

• Even though general manager Doug Melvin says that he's not interested in trading JJ Hardy, Rosenthal asserts that the Brewers have so many holes in their pitching staff, the team may be forced to see what Hardy and Mike Cameron can bring in a trade.
• The Padres have asked for catcher Tyler Flowers instead of centerfielder Gorkys Hernandez in the Jake Peavy trade offer.
• Mark Teixeira remains the Angels top priority, but if they are unable to retain him, the Angels will focus on CC Sabathia and/or Francisco Rodriguez.
• The Angels did not discuss signing Manny Ramirez for very long.
• Reds general manager Walt Jockety inquired about obtaining both Matt Holliday and Josh Willingham before ultimately losing out to other teams.
• Randy Wolf has received inquiries from over six teams so far.

There have been plenty of discussions between the Rockies and the Reds today about a potential trade, so let's take a look:

• Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Reds are interested in Willy Tavarez, Yorvit Torrealba (not sure why) and Garrett Atkins and the Indians are interested in the recently traded Huston Street.  The Nationals are also reported to be interested in Carlos Gonzalez who was also acquired in the Matt Holliday deal.
• Troy E. Renek confirms much of what Rosenthal is reporting and also adds that the Red Sox are rumored to be interested in Chris Iannetta. 
• Renek also notes that Manny Corpas has been told he's still the closer, meaning that Street is likely to be moved.
• Finally, Renek adds that the Rockies are interested in Carl Pavano.
• Tracy Ringolsby denies Rosenthal and Renek's reports and notes that the Reds are only interested in Atkins, not Tavarez or Torrealba.  She also notes that the Phillies, Angels and Twins are also interested in Atkins.

Some news and notes from baseball today:

• The Brewers acquired Casey McGehee off of waivers from the Cubs and designated Joe Dillon for assignment.
• Sixteen-year old Ismael Guillon of Venezula signed with the Reds.
• The Royals will continue to pursue Marlins first baseman Mike Jacobs
• How will the Mets handle the free agency of pitchers Pedro Martinez and Oliver Perez?