Much less likely: Lugo for Dodgers center fielder Andruw Jones, who is signed only through 2009 but owed $22.1 million through 2010. The Dodgers traded for Lugo in 2006 and almost certainly would not want him back.
Around the horn
Boras, asked about free-agent left-hander Oliver Perez, described him as a "27-year-old left-hander who is going to get a lot of attention from a lot of teams." The Mets probably would go to $12 million per season for Perez, but Boras almost certainly will want more for Perez than the Mariners gave right-hander Carlos Silva last offseason — a $12-million average for four years. ...
Signing free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson and trading Robinson Cano remains an option for the Yankees. Another possibility, though much less likely, would be for the Yankees to sign Hudson and move Cano to another position — maybe even first base if they failed to sign Teixeira. Cano also could play an outfield corner, but the Yankees currently do not have a need in left or right. ...
The Rangers figure to trade one and maybe two of their four catchers, with Gerald Laird the leading candidate to get moved. One catcher could go to the Marlins for left-hander Scott Olsen and another could go to the Red Sox for one of their young pitchers. The Rangers, however, are wary of Olsen's makeup and the fact that he gave up 30 home runs last season while pitching his home games at Dolphin Stadium, a far more pitching-friendly environment than Rangers Ballpark. ...
Players who won't go away: Center fielder Kenny Lofton wants to play in 2009 after sitting out all of last season, and the agents for Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez are marketing him as a potential closer.
Hernandez missed all of last season after undergoing surgery on his right foot. Left-hander Eric Milton, who did not pitch in the majors last season, and righty Jason Jennings, who made only six starts before undergoing elbow surgery, also plan to return in '09. ...
The Diamondbacks still have not reached an agreement with right-hander Brandon Webb on a contract extension, raising the possibility that they could lose him after 2010. The team figures that righties Max Scherzer and Jarrod Parker will be established by then, and righty Dan Haren is signed through 2013. Parker, who turns 20 later this month, is at least a year away from the majors, but he possesses a mean streak to go with his four-pitch repertoire and could develop into a top-of- the-rotation starter. ...
The Giants seemingly could vault into contention in the NL West by signing two or three hitters, and Furcal is among the position players drawing their interest. However, outfielders such as Pat Burrell and Adam Dunn might be defensive liabilities in the expansive outfield at AT&T Park, and the Giants remain intent on allowing their young players to develop. Therefore, they will be selective. ...
A scout's take on Clay Buchholz's performance Monday in the Arizona Fall League. "In the first inning, he hit the first batter, threw 88 to 91 with a real small breaking ball. In the second inning, he threw 93 with a plus-plus breaking ball and a plus changeup — a completely different guy. He settled in, looked good. When he throws his changeup, you can forget about it. It's a plus."
This article originally published on FOXSports.com.
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