MLB Hot Stove Roundup: Farewell, Jorge

After flirting with idea of playing for another team, it appears as if Jorge Posada will end his career in pinstripes. According to Sweeny Murti, the great Yankees’ catcher will officially announce his retirement in two weeks.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer have certainly had their hands full this off season. Earlier in the week, the team was able to dump cantankerous right hander Carlos Zambrano, but almost immediately after that headache was cured, another emerged with the news that young short stop Starlin Castro was accused of sexual assault. Meanwhile, Epstein and Hoyer have also been busy negotiating with Kerry Wood and fielding offers for Alfonso Soriano.

Yoenis Cespedes is close to establishing residency, which would mark the beginning of the free agency feeding frenzy that seems likely to occur. Over one-third of the league is believed to have an interest in the Cuban center fielder, who is reportedly seeking a four-year deal worth around $32 million.

After miscalculating his market value by turning down a big contract extension from the Phillies, Ryan Madson could go down as this off season’s big loser. The Rangers recently kicked the tires on Madson, but the reliever seems no closer to finding a new home.

The Red Sox are among one of several teams reportedly interested in Pirates’ lefty Paul Maholm. Like the Yankees, Boston has been patiently biding its time waiting for the price of pitching to fall.

Everyone seems to have an opinion on where Prince Fielder will end up, including parties estranged from the participants in the drama. Federal Baseball has a nice rundown (here and here) on all the rumors floating around the Brewers’ slugging first baseman, including insight from former Nats' GM Jim Bowden and Cecil Fielder.

While the Nationals have dominated Hot Stove news coming out of the beltway, the Orioles’ main focus seems to be in the international arena. In December, the team signed Japanese lefty Tsuyoshi Wada, and now, with the acquisition of right hander Eun Chul Choi, new GM Dan Duquette has made what he expects will be the first of many forays into the Korean baseball market.

The Dodgers sale process has reached the due diligence stage with several prospective ownership groups lining up for a closer inspection of Dodger Stadium. Meanwhile, the New York Mets, baseball’s other fiscally challenged team, have hired a consulting firm that specializes in helping distressed assets. However, the Mets insist the firm has not been retained to assist with bankruptcy-related proceedings.