Dec 9, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; People walk past a sign at MLB Winter Meetings at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort. Mandatory Credit:
David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
The Winter Meetings are off in Orlando, Florida and we’ll be updating you on the news that comes out, particularly as it relates to the minor leaguers throughout baseball.
The highlight (at least for us prospect watchers) will be Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft but more on that later.
11:50
The Mariners are not willing to include either Taijuan Walker or James Paxton in a deal for Rays starter David Price, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. Walker and Paxton, both elite pitching prospects ready to join a major league rotation, are probably the M’s top trade chips, so this could be an insurmountable block in negotiations.
10:15
Trumbo talks between the Angels and Diamondbacks are centering around starters Trevor Cahill and Tyler Skaggs, Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports reports. Skaggs, 22, has struggled in 13 career starts and in AAA this year but was listed by Baseball America as the twelfth best prospect in the game prior to this season.
10:10
Asked about trading starter Archie Bradley, Arizona GM Kevin Towers said that “It would be very, very tough,” tweets Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. The Diamondbacks had reportedly been in talks for Angels 1B/OF Mark Trumbo. With the Angels looking for young pitching, Bradley, the D’back’s top pitching prospect, was bound to come up
5:05
Ken Rosenthal tweeted that 19 year old prospect Rougned Odor would start at second base for the Rangers should they trade Elvis Andrus.
5:00 PM
Mariners GM Jack Zdurendzick expects starter Taijuan Walker to be with the team next year, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Walker, 20m was expected to be involved in any potential trade for David Price. He is the number four overall prospect in baseball according to MLB.com.
2:30 pm
While it doesn’t affect minor league news, the word is that the have signed former Blue Jays first baseman David Cooper to a major league deal. Cooper has a .270/.310./.441 line in 226 major league plate appearances before a back injury resulting in his losing the entire 2013 season. He underwent an experimental surgery and appears to be ready to go to make a comeback.
12:25 pm
Despite going back and forth over the past couple of weeks while trying to sign Jeff Samardzija to an extension, rumors are coming out now that the Cubs will likely trade him. MLB Trade Rumors has the Yankees and Braves interested. The big question remains as to which trade will happen first, Samardzija, Price or Sale and the cost for one pitcher will probably help set the market for the other two.
11:05 am
June 24, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher
Roy Halladay(34) prior to the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Heyman also reports that Halladay will sign a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays and retire as a member of the team that drafted him.
10:55 am
While we can’t really confirm it but if it’s true it will be fairly big news: Jon Heyman tweets that Roy Halladay will be retiring.
Roy Halladay is retiring
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 9, 2013
10:45 am
So far, the biggest piece of “news” is the “revelation” that the Chicago White Sox will entertain offers for star lefty Chris Sale, as reported by Jon Paul Morosi. This could enable the White Sox to bolster a fairly weak farm system but it’s noted that the price to acquire Sale will be higher than it would be for David Price, which could be accompanied by snappy headlines like “Sale priced higher than Price!”
Also, the Baseball Hall of Fame announced the three inductees from the Veterans Committee (expansion era). Three managers will get a plaque in the HOF with former Jays (and Braves) manager Bobby Cox heading to Cooperstown along with former Yankees manager Joe Torre and former Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa.
More on the meetings as it breaks!