Day 2: Putz Rumors

The madness that is the annual Winter Meetings officially start tomorrow.A This event could be considered the Black Friday of the baseball rumors industry.Like last offseason, we're going to keep a close watch on the rumors and make sure you're exposed to any interesting nuggets we come ...

ESPN's Jayson Stark reminds us that, given all the free agent closers, the market for J.J. Putz is about as weak as can be, and that GM Jack Zduriencik isn't going to move him without a sizable haul coming back Seattle's way.A Look for Putz's value to bump up after the free agents have signed [...]

Finally, the Mets acquired the new face of Citi Field.

John Paul Morosi has another article up about the Detroit Tigers' interest in Seattle closer J.J. Putz.A He didn't report anything new, but reiterated that Seattle is demand both OF Matt Joyce and 1B/3B Jeff Larish, rather than one or the other.A He also states that the Tigers' interest in ...

Forgive me if I never type the word Zduriencik againa?"it's not that I can't spell, it's just that I'm lazy. So let's just call the new M's GM Jack Z. Word is Jack Z has made his first mondo trade, with the New York Metropolitans and the Cleveland Native Americans. The M's lose a closer [...]

According to MLB.com, now that the Tigers have filled their voids at catcher and shortstop, their one focus left is the bullpen. And one point of interest on the closer market for Detroit is the Mariners' J.J. Putz. While Seattle's new general manager, Jack Zduriencik, told reporters Monday that he has received plenty of inquiries on Putz, the Tigers have expressed interest...

UPDATE 9:10After initially saying the Mets are close to acquiring JJ Putz, Rosenthal has softened the language of his post. Now says the Mets are trying/working to acquire Putz rather than close to a deal.9:02 PM -According to Ken Rosenthal at FOXSports, the Mets are close to acquiring JJ Putz from the Seattle Mariners. It is a three team deal involving the Mets, Mariners and Indians...

Quote via ESPN An All-Star in 2007 when he saved 40 games, Putz was 6-5 with a 3.88 ERA and 15 saves in 23 chances last season, when he missed long stretches with ribcage and elbow injuries. His agent, Craig Landis, said Putz wants to remain a closer."He's one of the top five or 10 [...]

The rumor mill was slow on Tuesday, but here are some things we know:The top suitors for J.J. Putz at this point appear to be the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers.A The New York Mets may still have Putz on their radar as well, despite the signing of Francisco ...

With the Tigers being fairly active today, there won't be a lot of speculation about those catcher and shortstop holes. But there still are items of interest on the relief pitching front. Here's the buzz as I get ready to sign off for the night. This will be our day 2 rumor repository as well. Chad [...]

Franklin Gutierrez TRADED?! SAY IT AIN'T SO!

If MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince is right, the Indians are about to sign former Cubs closer Kerry Wood.No details yet beyond the fact that the two sides are far along into the talks.So, after months of deafening silence from the Tribe's front office, there's something more than made-up, or sketchy rumors to talk about.And who would have thought when the Tribe entered...

Omar Minaya has made turned the winter hot stove into one of the coldest in recent memory. Even the "budget conscience" Steve Phillips keep the fire warming in the most frugal times. We find out this week if this is a shrewd business move, or are the Mets are looking at a more "fiscally responsible" [...]

According to Ken Rosenthal of  Fox Sports,  the Mets are working to acquire a setup man for new closer Francisco Rodriguez a?" and that setup man would be another closer from the American League West. J.J. Putz could be headed to the Mets in a three-team trade with the Mariners and Indians, according to major-league sources. Mets right-hander Aaron Heilman, outfielder...

I'll use this as a bit of an open thread that I'm going to try and post updates on throughout the day. Anything big that happens will get its own post as soon as I can get to it, of course. You can always post anything you find in the comments (or in the forum! hint hint) and I'll get to it as ...