Nashville Confidential’s Jim Molony is at the Winter Meetings where one of the most highly coveted superstars is Chone Figgins Andruw Jones…Mark Prior?
The Reds aren’t the only team trying to pry right-hander Mark Prior away from the Cubs. Prior, who made $3.575 million last season and is eligible for arbitration one last time before he can be a free agent after 2008, is also being pursued by the Padres, Phillies and Rangers. Prior, who is coming off shoulder surgery, isn’t expected to be ready to pitch until May at the earliest.
WFAN’s Sweeny Murti raised the possibility of Detroit trading the newly acquired Dontrelle Willis to the Mets if Wilpon Inc. was willing to take on I-Rod’s $13 million contract for ’08. In the same conversation with Chris Russo and Mike Francesca, Murti claimed Omar Minaya was rebuffed by the Marlins when he enquired about Willis.
The Post’s Joel Sherman reports the Mets are amongst 5 teams who’ve reviewed Freddy Garcia’s medical records, while also mentioning that Edgardo Alfonso is hitting .375 in Venezuela this winter. Fonzie would make one hell of a pickup for someone…in the Can-Am League.
Later in the afternoon, Sherman used his Post blog to stir hopes of Mets fans with a comment from Johan Santana’s agent that would seem to lend credibility to a rumor Billy Beane refuted earlier in the day. Seriously, if the Mets send Jose Reyes to Minnesota, who’s gonna play shortstop in Flushing? Fonzie, put your hand down.