Michael Cuddyer

The Twins have reportedly offered free agent outfielder Michael Cuddyer a three-year, $25 million contract to re-sign with Minnesota, according to a tweet from Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman.

A right-handed hitting outfielder, Cuddyer hit 20 home runs and 70 RBIs in 139 games last season for the Twins. Cuddyer has spent his entire 10-year career with Minnesota. The 32-year-old Cuddyer eclipsed 30 home runs just once in his career, in 2009, and has hit over 100 RBIs just once as well, in 2006. He made $10.5 million last season in the final year of a four-year, $33.5 million contract.

Heyman also reported that the Twins are talking to free agent Josh Willingham as another option if Cuddyer does not work out. Willingham has reportedly received interest from the Red Sox and the Rays, among other teams.

Josh Willingham

The Rays are reportedly interested in making free agent outfielder Josh Willingham their designated hitter in 2012. Willingham had a career season last year, hitting 29 home runs and 98 RBIs for the Athletics, both seasonal highs.

Willingham spent the first five years of his career with the Marlins. He was traded to the Nationals following the 2008 season. At the end of 2010, Willingham was dealt to the Athletics. The 32-year-old has hit at least 20 home runs in every season in which he has played 133 games or more.

The right-handed hitting Willingham has also reportedly received interest from the Red Sox.

The Rays also will likely retain Andrew Friedman as their GM and executive vice president of baseball operations, as Friedman withdrew his name from the Astros general manager search.

Josh Willingham

According to a Monday morning tweet from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Red Sox are one of nine teams to have contacted right-handed-hitting outfielder Josh Willingham. Crasnick also mentions the Twins, Indians and Reds among the group pursuing the 32-year-old free agent.

Willingham spent last season with the A’s, hitting .246 with a .332 on-base percentage and .477 slugging mark. He had 26 home runs and 98 RBIs.

Prior to that, he spent two seasons with the Nationals, after three full seasons with the Marlins. His career averages are .262./.361/.475.

Darnell McDonald lets it fly Friday night for the Red Sox in making his MLB pitching debut.

It was the most lighthearted moment from an otherwise dreary and dreadful night at Fenway for Red Sox fans and players alike.

Darnell McDonald coming in from right field to start and finish the ninth inning for the Red Sox, saving the bullpen an inning of work on a night where they were force to come in early and relieve an ineffective Tim Wakefield in a 15-5 loss to the A’s.

McDonald is not just any position player filling in for an inning. This was a player in high school in Colorado who impressed scouts with his ability to throw 95 off the mound as a pitcher. But that was also the last time he actually pitched in a game.

That is, before Terry Francona asked him coming off the field in the eighth inning if he could save the Red Sox pen an inning with the prospects of a split doubleheader just over 12 hours away.

“I just came in [from right field after the eighth] and Tito just asked me if I could throw an inning and I said I was more than happy to do it.”

His first pitch – from the stretch – to Scott Sizemore sailed all the way back to the screen.

“I haven’t pitched since high school. It’s been a few years and obviously, you can see the rust on me. Really, it was a lot tougher than it looks,” McDonald said. “Was trying to throw strikes. I was a little wild early on and couldn’t find my release point but a couple more bullpen sessions with [pitching coach] Curt [Young], I’ll be ready for the playoffs.” Read the rest of this entry »

Rich Harden

According to Buster Olney of ESPN.com (via twitter), the Red Sox and Athletics had conversations about a deal that would send both pitcher Rich Harden and outfielder Josh Willingham to Boston. It was not clear what prospects the A’s were seeking in such a deal, and Olney noted that it was “unclear whether [the deal] has a pulse now.”

Harden has made five starts this year, all in July, going 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 10 walks in 29 1/3 innings. He has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, but when he is healthy, he has consistently produced excellent results, striking out more than a batter an inning. He worked for a number of years with current Sox pitching coach Curt Young while both were with Oakland.

Willingham is hitting .248 with a .334 OBP, .455 slugging mark and .790 OPS along with 15 homers while playing left field and DH-ing for the A’s. He has put up significant power numbers in 106 plate appearances against lefties this year, hitting .239/.340/.511/.850 with seven homers.

Both Harden and Willingham would be eligible for free agency after the season.

Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore (bruised right knee) was put on the disabled list on Monday night for the third time this season, and neither the team nor the player know exactly how much time he will miss. Put that together with Shin-Soo Choo‘s current stint on the DL, and the Indians appear to be lacking firepower in the outfield. (Austin Kearns and rookie Ezequiel Carrera are Sizemore and Choo’s current replacements in right and centerfield respectively.)

That has led the AL Central-leading Indians to begin looking at cheap options like San Diego’s Ryan Ludwick (.238/.306/.376) and Oakland’s Josh Willingham (.244/.321/.434), according to a tweet from Sports Illustrated baseball writer Jon Heyman. Carlos Beltran was thought to be an option, but his no-trade clause seems to be the burden in any trade involving Cleveland.

Just a half-game behind the Brewers, the Pirates are looking to add offense to a pitching rotation that already leads the NL Central in lowest ERA. The Pirates may try to find that offense in Oakland, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick tweeted Sunday. Specifically, they’ve asked about first baseman Conor Jackson and left fielder Josh Willingham.

Jackson is batting .249 with just 3 home runs and 27 RBIs, but the Pirates’ Lyle Overbay, their only healthy first baseman, is only performing slightly better, batting .240 with seven home runs and 35 RBIs. Jackson is tied for seventh among AL first basemen with 23 walks, with a .323 OBP that is better than Overbay’s.

Willingham would provide the Pirates with some power, batting .244 with 12 home runs, and 46 RBIs. He ranks second among AL left fielders in home runs with a minimum of 250 plate appearances, is third in RBIs and third in slugging at .434.

Left field is another position where the Pirates only have one healthy player: Alex Presley. While Presley is an on-base machine, batting .343 with a .400 OBP in 16 games, he’s hit just one home run this season and driven in nine.