While all the air was sucked out of the Hot Stove League by the presence of Twins' two-time Cy Young winner, Johan Santana, there are still other players on either the free agent market or trade one. Even though a Mets-related Santana update leads off, there are updates on Miguel Cabrera to the Angels, what the Brewers will do at closer, Coco Crisp and a Jose Guillen update.
New York Post:
If the Mets are to trade for Santana, though, they will not be including any of their three core offensive players in the deal: Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran would all be off limits.
LA Times:
The Angels, according to baseball sources, are willing to part with just about any player who has been mentioned in trade rumors -- second baseman Howie Kendrick, catcher Jeff Mathis, pitchers Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders or Nick Adenhart, outfielder Reggie Willits and perhaps top infield prospect Brandon Wood.
But if the Angels are going to trade two young pitchers to the Marlins, they are reluctant to include Kendrick and Mathis in a package for Cabrera, who has averaged 31 home runs and 115 runs batted in for the last four seasons.
Boston Globe:
Talks appear to be intensifying between the Sox and Twins about a deal involving Coco Crisp.
Milwaukee Joural-Sentinel:
"All the relievers [Eric Gagne, Octavio Dotel, Troy Percival] are looking for three- or four-year deals," [Brewers' GM Doug] Melvin said. "There's a risk involved in doing that with relievers who have been injured."
Melvin said he didn't anticipate trading for an established closer, because of what is usually asked for in return.
Kansas City Star:
The Royals are dismissing reports from the Dominican Republic that say they are close to an agreement with free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen.
General manager Dayton Moore declined to comment on the matter, but indications suggest the Baltimore Orioles and at least one other team are showing strong interest
