Greinke signing will likely have a domino effect on the rest of the market
Day Four of the 2012 winter meetings started with lots of anticipation about a three or four team mega-deal that would eventually send Justin Upton too the Texas Rangers.
Not only did the deal not happen, at the end of the day Hamilton and Zack Greinke. Cody Ross, Brandon McCarthy, Nick Swisher and Brian Wilson are still available.
Signing Greinke will likely mean Hamilton will sign elsewhere, with the Mariners the apparent front-runners for now.
Meanwhile the Dodgers are talking like they may want to pass on signing Greinke altogether.
One of the biggest deals of the day occurred when the he Philadelphia Phillies acquired Ben Revere from the Twins for Vance Worley and pitching prospect Trevor May. The Phillies filled hole in center field and left free agent Michael Bourn one less team to consider. B.J. Upton and Denard Span have already found new homes.
the Phillies are also thought to be working on a deal to bring Texas Rangers veteran Michael Young to Philadelphia. Young has a no trade clause and is considering his options.
The Red Sox signed yet another free-agent, this time free-agent reliever Koji Uehara. Uehara, 37, appeared in 37 games with the Rangers in 2012, and had a 1.75 ERA and a 0.639 WHIP in 36 innings.
Reportedly the Yankees have offered Kevin Youkilis on a one-year deal, but Youkilis is said to be considering an offer from the Cleveland Indians, where he would be rejoined with his former manager Terry Francona. News reports began to leak midday, that the Yankees management wasn’t in a position to spend money, leading to all kinds of speculation, including the team being prepared to be sold at some point in the future.
Jason Grilli may are may not have decided where he intends to sign, but there are conflicting reports on whether or not that destination is Pittsburgh.
Kansas City continued to talk with Tampa Bay about starter James Shields. The Rays are apparently looking for Wil Myers and another player or two in return. Kansas City is exploring a group of free-agent starters that includes Jair Jurrjens, Brett Myers and Kevin Correia.
Reed Johnson, the outfielder acquired from the Cubs last summer who played well down the stretch, re-signed with the Braves.
R.A.Dickey is reportedly on the short list of the Blue Jays and the Rangers, as the Mets decide whether or not they will extend Dickey’s contract.
Washington still wants to sign Adam LaRoche to a new deal, and look for Mike Morse to be moved rather quickly should that occur.
The 2012 winter meetings are over, but there is still plenty of work for teams to complete before spring training. often the groundwork for future deals is laid at the winter meetings.
Tampa Bay GM Andrew Friedman who still has a full cash of starting pitching sounded if the meetings were just a starting place, and for many teams that is true. “At the very least we have more clarity,” Friedman said.
