Winter Meetings Day 2

Before we get to today’s winter meeting stuff, two links. There’s Part 2 of the PG’s series on finances and DK’s blog post about it, in which he clears up the misconception that the $11 million figure came from Frank Coonelly; instead it was a number he and the PG reached by an independent investigation.

On to the good stuff, if you can call it that. After a thrilling first day of transactions involving Vinny Chulk, Luis Cruz, and Jeff Sues (who was outrighted from the 40-man yesterday, which I failed to mention), we start the day off with some real non-starters. The Pirates are still interested in Duchscherer, but that’s likely not going anywhere for a while, and the Rangers are not interested in trading for Ryan Doumit. Feel the excitement!

DOUBLE UPDATE (3:26)- The Pirates are “on the verge of signing” Bobby Crosby, according to the Denver Post. They’re also talking to the Blue Jays about Ryan Doumit, according to DK. Those talks are apparently serious enough to include a name: Jeremy Accardo (a HARD THROWING RELIEVER!). More Blue Jays prospects are here.

About Pat Lackey

In 2005, I started a WHYGAVS instead of working on organic chemistry homework. Many years later, I've written about baseball and the Pirates for a number of sites all across the internet, but WHYGAVS is still my home. I still haven't finished that O-Chem homework, though.

Winter Meetings Day 2

11:30- Kicking off with some links, Mark Loretta signed with the Dodgers last night, so cross him off the “future Chris Gomez” list. Ken Rosenthal (keep that link handy today) is reporting that the Jays are also interested in Rafael Furcal, which might create enough of a shortstop market to still get a Jack Wilson deal done. Then again, Aaron Gleeman checked in with this last night:

Pittsburgh remains interested in dealing Jack Wilson, but have found few takers. Detroit moved on after initially being linked to Wilson and even shortstop-needy teams like Minnesota haven’t shown much interest. None of that should be surprising given that Wilson hit .272/.312/.348 last season and is owed $7.3 million for 2009, but the Pirates have definitely done a great job of using the media to make it seem like there’s a decent market for him.

Like yesterday, I’ll update this thread throughout the day today, so if you find anything interesting let me know in the comments or forum.

1:12- From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Jack Wilson remains somewhere on the Twins radar, although the Pirates are in no rush to move him and likely would want a couple decent young players in return. And the Twins aren’t the only team grimacing at Wilson’s salary.

Which is to say that the Pirates are going to be eating a lot of salary if they move Wilson. (via MLB Trade Rumors)

3:22- DK’s latest update makes it sound like if there’s a market for Wilson right now, it’s not going to materialize until after the main free agents are signed. Same goes for John Grabow. Though the story about Wilson calling Dejan’s hotel room to wake him up is pretty priceless.

4:25- Dejan says that he’s also heard the Pirates have contacted David Eckstein and he’s looking for confirmation. Which means that the Pirates have every intention of trading at least one middle infielder this winter.

4:51- Missed this earlier, but John Perrotto mentioned in his BCT article last night that the Braves are interested in Paul Maholm and Ian Snell. It’s hard to see that going anywhere if the Braves are unwilling to move their top prospects, but I figured I’d mention it.

6:22- One more update before I hop on the bus- Dejan is now reporting that the Pirates are negotiating with Eckstein (via Eckstein’s agent) and that the Braves are interested in Nate McLouth and/or Paul Maholm. Yep. That’s a whopper of a rumor right there.

About Pat Lackey

In 2005, I started a WHYGAVS instead of working on organic chemistry homework. Many years later, I've written about baseball and the Pirates for a number of sites all across the internet, but WHYGAVS is still my home. I still haven't finished that O-Chem homework, though.

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