According to WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford, the Red Sox had conversations with the Marlins about acquiring both shortstop Jose Reyes and pitcher Josh Johnson — and were also willing to take on utilityman Emilio Bonifacio if necessary. However, the Sox reportedly were unwilling to talk further because of the likelihood that top prospect Xander Bogaerts would need to be included in such a deal.

The rest is history. Reyes, Johnson and Bonifacio were dealt — along with Mark Buehrle and John Buck — to the Blue Jays in what was a huge offseason overhaul for both Miami and Toronto. The Red Sox, meanwhile, brought in a number of mid-tier free agents.

Johnson told WEEI.com that he had his wife on high alert during the 2012 season, sensing that a trade was possible. Once the trade deadline passed and the season eventually ended, though, Johnson didn’t hear trade rumors, so he was caught off guard a bit by the news that he was headed to Toronto.

Johnson admitted that he did ask around in 2012 about what it would be like to play in Boston. The man he turned to was old friend Cody Ross, who spent the 2012 season with the Red Sox before signing with the Diamondbacks in the offseason.

“I had a good buddy on the team, Cody Ross. Just talking to him, he said I would love it,” Johnson reportedly said. “We went to dinner when [Boston] was in Miami. There was just small talk, joking around, like, ‘You would like it here.’ Stuff like that.”

The Red Sox and Blue Jays obviously find themselves on complete opposite ends of the spectrum to begin this season. The Sox enter Thursday’s game with a 19-8 record, while the Jays are in the basement of the American League East with a 10-18 mark. Johnson has struggled mightily in four starts and Reyes has been on the disabled list.

Surely, the Red Sox have no regrets with their decision to hang up the phone.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Photo via Facebook/Jose Reyes

According to Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan, the Yankees and Angels are closing in on a trade that would send Wells and a large amount of cash to New York.

It’s important to note that Wells has a no-trade clause, although the 34-year-old reportedly has let the Angels know that he will accept the deal. Passan reports that the two teams are crossing T’s and dotting I’s at this point, and that the deal will soon become official.

What’s unclear, however, is how much money the Angels will be sending along with Wells. The underachieving veteran is set to make $42 million over the next two seasons, so it’s reasonable to assume they’ll be sending over a good chunk of change. Passan said via Twitter, however, that he’s hearing that the amount of money going back to New York is not nearly as significant as one might think.

According to Passan, one Yankees official said, “I just wonder where this money was in December.”

Wells certainly hasn’t lived up to the massive seven-year, $126 million contract extension he signed while with the Blue Jays prior to the 2007 season. The three-time All-Star has been selected to one All-Star Game since inking the new deal, and he’s been very underwhelming during the last two seasons with Los Angeles.

Wells hit .230 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs in 77 games with the Angels last season. He became even more expendable when the Halos signed Josh Hamilton earlier this offseason.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Photo via Wikipedia/Vernon Wells

Andrew Bailey

The Rangers are looking for bullpen help, and Bailey may be of interest to them, according to MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan. The Rangers and Red Sox reportedly have spoken this spring, although it’s unclear to what extent.

Bailey became the subject of plenty of trade speculation this offseason after manager John Farrell announced that the recently acquired Joel Hanrahan would be Boston’s closer in 2013. Bailey was originally tapped to be the team’s closer, but he’ll instead serve in a setup role.

Bailey, who is set to make $4.1 million this year, served as Oakland’s closer for three seasons before being traded to the Red Sox, so his name is a popular one to toss around when it comes to teams in need of relief help. Only adding to the speculation is the fact that the bullpen figures to be an area of depth for the Red Sox this season.

The Rangers are reportedly concerned about their right-handed setup relief behind Joe Nathan and Jason Frasor.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Lyle Overbay

Scouts from the Yankees have been watching Overbay closely, according to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo.

As Cafardo points out, the Yankees could need a left-handed bat to complement Juan Rivera at first base. Mark Teixeira, of course, will start the season on the disabled list because of a wrist injury, and we learned recently that the injury may be even worse than originally thought.

Overbay, who the Red Sox signed to a minor league deal this offseason, could opt out of his contract on Tuesday. The Sox would need to pay Overbay $100,000 if they didn’t want to keep him on the major league roster but wanted to send him to the minors — per the new collective bargaining agreement.

Overbay was signed to compete for the job of backup first baseman behind Mike Napoli. The team later added Mike Carp, though, and the two have both been trying to prove themselves since.

Overbay is batting .222 (8-for-36) with seven RBIs, six walks and a .341 on-base percentage this spring.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Rick Porcello

We learned early Wednesday that the Red Sox don’t appear to be pursuing Porcello, but FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the Sox were among the teams scouting the right-hander’s most recent start. The Padres, Rangers, Orioles, Dodgers and Cardinals reportedly were also represented when Porcello pitched in a game between High-A affiliates of the Tigers and Astros on Wednesday.

Keep in mind that this development doesn’t necessarily mean the Red Sox will jump into the mix for Porcello. While they could seek pitching depth, they might instead consider options that wouldn’t require them to part ways with any real talent. The Tigers seem to be looking for a decent return in exchange for Porcello, who is still young and who could still evolve into a very solid major league starter with a bit more consistency.

Porcello went 10-12 with a 4.59 ERA in 31 starts for the Tigers last season. He holds a 48-42 record and a 4.55 ERA in 120 career starts.

ESPN’s Jim Bowden reports that the Padres have turned down two offers from the Tigers. The Padres reportedly declined to deal Huston Street or Luke Gregerson for Porcello.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Photo via Facebook/Kevin.Ward

Chien-Ming Wang

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that Wang has agreed to work out at the team’s minor league complex as New York contemplates signing the 32-year-old hurler, according to the New York Daily News. Wang’s agent, Alan Nero, told The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo that the Red Sox have not indicated any interest in the right-hander, though.

Wang, who spent five seasons with the Yankees from 2005 to 2009, pitched 12 scoreless innings in the World Baseball Classic for Chinese Taipei. He struggled in 10 games (five starts) with the Nationals in 2012, though, going 2-3 with a 6.68 ERA.

Wang won 19 games with the Yankees in both 2006 and 2007. He finished second in AL Cy Young voting in ’06, and he went 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA during his five seasons in New York before injuries really started to take their toll.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, barring any last minute changes, the Reds are expected to announce that Aroldis Chapman will move back to the bullpen and serve as the team’s closer.

This news seems to end months of debate about whether the Reds are better served keeping the flame-throwing lefty at the back end of the bullpen — where he thrived last season — or shifting him to the starting rotation in the hopes of him becoming a front-end starter.

Chapman recently told CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler that he would like to serve as Cincinnati’s closer, but there are many who feel as though the 25-year-old would be much more valuable to the Reds going forward if he joined the starting rotation. The school of thought is simply that an All-Star-caliber starter capable of throwing around 200 innings holds more value than a reliever who tosses around 70.

We’ve seen recently, though, that there is some risk to flip-flopping a pitcher’s role. Joba Chamberlain and Daniel Bard serve as cautionary tales of turning a solid reliever into a starter, while Chris Sale has proven that it can work.

All of Chapman’s 137 career appearances have come out of the bullpen. Chapman saved 38 games and compiled a 1.51 ERA in 71 2/3 innings over 68 appearances last season. He was named to the National League All-Star team and finished eighth in NL Cy Young voting.

Knobler reports that a decision regarding Chapman is not yet final, but it’s not a bad spot to be in if you’re the Reds. Either way, Chapman figures to have a bright future.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Joba Chamberlain

Not everyone is concerned, though. According to the New York Post, the Texas Rangers are scouting Chamberlain, perhaps sensing that the Yankees view their bullpen as an area of depth from which they could deal.

The New York Post reports that Don Welke, a senior special assistant to Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, was at Steinbrenner Field on Monday, specifically to watch Chamberlain pitch an inning against the Cardinals. The right-hander gave up a hit in a scoreless inning in that outing, and his fastball registered at 92-95 mph on the radar gun.

ESPN.com’s Andrew Marchand reports that the Rangers have had “mild interest” in Chamberlain, and still think that he’s got a good arm.

Chamberlain pitched in 22 games out of the New York bullpen last season, going 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. The big righty has had a roller coaster career since breaking into the majors in 2007. He has battled multiple injury problems, including Tommy John surgery in 2011, and the Yankees also made the regrettable decision to try and transform him back into a starter after he burst onto the scene as a reliever.

Chamberlain has also been rather outspoken during his career, even recently expressing a desire to be a starter or a closer. Some have speculated that such remarks could cause him to fall out of favor in the Bronx, but it remains to be seen whether it’ll be enough for the Yankees to consider striking a deal.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

One player who presents an intriguing possibility is Padres third baseman Chase Headley. The Yankees have inquired about Headley, according to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo.

Headley is coming off a career year with San Diego. The 28-year-old hit .286 with 31 home runs and an NL-leading 115 RBIs. Headley also posted career highs in on-base percentage (.376), slugging percentage (.498) and OPS (.875) while earning a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove.

Peter Gammons recently reported that Headley isn’t available, as he is under team control via arbitration for another two seasons. Perhaps the Padres’ insistence that they’re keeping him is just their way of gaining leverage in negotiations, though.

The Yankees desperately need help after being bit early and often by the injury bug. Alex Rodriguez was already slated to miss a big chunk of the season, and Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson have since suffered injuries.

Because Kevin Youkilis has the ability to play both third base and first base, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman can be flexible if he looks outside the organization for reinforcements.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Photo via Flickr/SD Dirk

6 p.m.: We’ve reached the conclusion of the first day of the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. We’ll be back Saturday for day two. Be sure to check NESN.com starting at 9 a.m. to see what topics are covered in the country’s biggest meeting sports data analysts.

5:55 p.m.: When asked about over-saturation of sports on television, Walsh points to increased audience sizes and competition from other outlets as proof that fans are actually underserved.

5:45 p.m.: The common challenge that teams in the NBA and Major League Baseball share is how to make teams profitable, Postolos says. Broad revenue sharing is one way leagues are facing this test.

5:40 p.m.: Walsh says that a lot of research will on concussions will come out in the next 12-24 months. He’s sure decision makers will take notice and act on it.

5:30 p.m.: Media is the biggest international opportunity at the moment, de Picciotto says. The next is taking brands globally (through sports). Finally, the movement of talent across borders gives players and fans a chance to see athletes from around the world.

He also thinks gambling has the potential to generate vast amounts of revenue, but it could kill sports as well.

On the question of performance-enhancing drugs, he says essentially need to keep up with societal values.

5:20 p.m.: Walsh asks how to use analytics to value sports properties — especially in increments of time.

PepsiCo has a proprietary model, according to Storms. “Nobody knows our business better than we do,” she says. The company uses a multi-stage process to evaluate the impact of any potential sponsorship or endorsement.

She concludes that there’s no way to measure the exact amount of product that sports partnerships move, but PespiCo is closer than it has ever been to doing so.

5:15 p.m.: Carter says leagues partner with media and sponsors to try and “surround the fan.” She adds that the old model of signage at a stadium no longer works.

5 p.m.: Walsh says we need innovative thinking about the playing of the game and the experience of the consumer.

He points to the fact that players are bigger, faster and stronger than they were decades ago, yet the size of the playing surfaces (specifically in the NFL and NBA) remain the same. “Why not make fields bigger to provide more excitement for fans,” he asks.

4:50 p.m.: The business of sports is our final panel of the day. Industry leaders will talk about the money side of this multi-trillion dollar industry.

Kraft Sports Group vice president Jessica Gelman will moderate the panel. She will be joined by Soccer United Marketing president Kathy Carter, Octagon president Phil de Picciotto, Houston Astros president George Postolos, PepsiCo vice president of global sports marketing Jennifer Storms, and ESPN executive vice president John Walsh.

4:45 p.m.: Schatz says the most overrated players are the ones whose athletic ability doesn’t translate into football success.

He points to D’Angelo Hall who is fast and has good hands but is poor in coverage.

He says Tony Romo is underrated because he is consistently one of the six or seven best quarterbacks in the league and one of the best in the fourth quarter … “as long as the game is not on national television.”

4:40 p.m.: The 49ers use analytics to better understand the tendencies of coaches — how they manage the clock and when they call time outs.

4:35 p.m.: Pioli says mutual respect is lacking in football when asked how to convince an NFL head coach to listen to an analyst who has never stepped on the field.

He says a coach must have an open mind, but it’s important how analysts present, deliver and communicate their information.

4:30 p.m.: Kremer asks how to quantify injuries and off-field problems. What value do you attach to those events?

No two injuries are the same, but Shatz argues that, en masse, players  are better at recovering from injuries in today’s game than they were in the past.

As for the character question, Pioli approaches it on a case-by-case basis, saying there’s no real way to measure something like that.

Pioli discusses the new player assessment tool being used at the NFL combine. He wants to know as much about a player’s mental makeup — specifically his levels of work ethic and level of selflessness (or selfishness).

4:25 p.m.: Demoff says the middle class is shrinking because teams are better at scouting and developing young players. Teams are now paying a premium for players they call “difference makers.”

4:20 p.m.: Demoff says the salary caps affect the schemes teams use. They “ultimately look for undervalued players and get as many of them as you can.”

He said more teams started playing 3-4 defenses a few years ago because nose tackles were undervalued. Now the best nose tackles command $12 million salaries, so teams are reverting to the 4-3 because the market allows them to get more bang for their buck with tackles to fit that system.

4:15 p.m.: Marathe calls the Patriots the “kings of replenishing.”

In the age of the salary cap, it’s impossible to keep a team together over the long term. “If every player took a 15-percent discount on their market rate, we still wouldn’t be able to keep them all,” he says.

He adds that the Patriots have been incredible at churning players yet remaining successful.

Pioli says that the Pats’ practice of stockpiling draft picks increases their chancing of landing good players. “Every pick is a gamble,” he said before adding that taking more gambles increases the chances of landing good players.

4:05 p.m.: Pioli says it’s tough to come up with a measurement to predict a player’s chance of success.

“Football is such an interdependent game. The success of a play has so many variables and depends on 11 indiviudals.”

Marathe expands on it, saying that trades don’t often work out because a player can succeed in one system, but look totally out-of-place in another.

3:55 p.m.: Pioli is no fan of the combine because there’s a difference between “pure speed” and “playing speed.”

He finds values in measurements. He says Tom Brady is such an accurate passer because he’s got huge hands.

Marathe talks about “hidden value” of 40-yard dash times, citing the case of Jerry Rice. He says Rice had an average overall 40 time, but his speed between 20-40 yards (what insiders call “the flying 20″) was one of the highest ever.

He said it translated into separation speed on the field. Rice was rarely, if ever, caught from behind.

3:50 p.m.: Demoff and Marathe say their teams are looking to hire analysts. The Rams are still working out how to deeper integrate analytics into their organization, while the 49ers have used one on the salary cap side for over a decade and are now using them on the football side.

Pioli says analytics have played a role in the game for ages. “Gut” decisions are based on prior experience and analysis, he says.

We’re just calling it something else now.

3:40 p.m.: Are you ready for some football?

The National Football League is undergoing an analytics revolution of its own. The Football Analytics panel will discuss how NFL coaches and teams are using data to evaluate players, map out strategy and make in-game decisions.

Andrea Kremer will moderate the panel. She will be joined by St. Louis Rams executive vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff, former Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, San Francisco 49ers chief operating officer Paraag Marathe and Football Outsiders founder Aaron Schatz.

2:40 p.m.: Robin van Persie does his exploring in the half second before the ball comes his way. It’s how he always seems to be one step ahead of defenders (despite not being particularly fast or quick) when he gets the ball in the final third of the field.

2:30 p.m.: Jordet says Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have the highest frequency of “visual exploratory behavior,” meaning the two stars look around and gauge their surroundings before receiving the ball.

He says the midfield players who complete the highest number of forward passes are the ones who do the most exploring. In other words, they’re reading the game and playing it at the same time.

He bases the research on Sky Sports’ player cameras.

2:25 p.m.: We’re going from one extreme to the other. Baseball and statistics are inseparable, but soccer has been slow to adopt statistical analysis.

Geir Jordet, director of psychology at the Norweigan Centre for Football (soccer) Excellence is presenting some new research on “The Hidden Foundation of Field Vision in English Premier League Soccer Players.”

He explores the concept of field vision. How can some players make the right pass every time they get the ball? We’re about to find out.

1:50 p.m.: The panel discusses how difficult it is to predict how a young player will perform in the big leagues. There’s no exact science or measurement device that will predict which players will overperform or underperform at the top level.

1:40 p.m.: Posnanski says there’s a real divide in the way journalists cover baseball. He thinks younger writers — especially on the internet — are more versed in the “new language” of analytics, while mainstream media still focuses on wins, losses, errors and other 100-year-old statistics.

He thinks baseball coverage is currently changing and will continue to change with the times.

1:30 p.m.: Zaidi says analytics are changing the way the game is played and how managers manage.

McCracken adds that managers tend to want to avoid risk. If he plays a star player and the player doesn’t deliver, “it’s the player’s fault.” If the manager plays an untested rookie and the youngster fails, “it’s the manager’s fault.”

1:20 p.m.: When asked what the newest developments in baseball analytics, Keri says that teams are increasingly privatizing and keeping data in house. McCracken thinks this will slow the growth of the baseball analysis.

He goes on to say that video analysis is the next frontier in the field.

Zaidi says baseball analysis is too tied to outcomes rather than skills themselves. The A’s are trying to move in the direction of skill-based analysis rather than outcomes (which are the results of those skills).

1:15 p.m.: Zaidi drew chuckles from crowd when he said Billy Beane calls him “The Emotional Stat Guy.”

He adds that baseball decisions are very complex and there are a lot of disagreements, but Beane has to make the final call at the end of the day.

1:10 p.m.: Posnanski says that baseball provides new things to measure and quantify almost every day. Where some sports might see diminishing returns from the avalanche of data, he thinks that won’t be the case in baseball.

McCracken thinks the data can be dangerous. Some take a new stat and run with it without “completely understanding” the data that they’re seeing.

12:55 p.m.: We’re getting set for one of the most anticipated panels of the first day — on baseball analytics.

Sabermetrics are gaining influence among baseball’s decision makers. Grantland staff writer Jonah Keri, NBC Sports writer Joe Posnanski, statistical analyst Voros McCracken and Oakland Athletics director of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi will discuss how teams are using analytics to gain a competitive advantage. ESPN’s Lindsey Czarniak will moderate.

11:20 a.m.: Polian and MacMullan talk about the Manti Te’o hoax and its effect on the player.

The former Colts general manager thinks the hoax won’t have a negative impact on his career over the long term.

“The hoax that he was a victim of  is a story, and it’s a gigantic story —  people can’t get enough of it,” Polian says. “Does it affect Manti Te’o the football player? I would submit to you absolutely not.”

MacMullan agrees with that assessment, but she thinks the hoax has had negative effects on his preparation for the NFL combine.

“He was probably not capable of preparing the way he would have liked to have because of all the outside noise and all the outside things that have happened to him.

“I don’t know this for a fact, but perhaps he may have under-performed at the combine because anyone that went through what he went through, regardless of how much you think he was involved or not involved, it had to have been devastating. There had to have been a lot of sleepless nights. There had to have been a lot of days he probably didn’t eat, and I’m sure a lot of days he didn’t work out the way he wanted to.”

11 a.m.: Pagliuca talks about the perspective owners and managers need. The best ones see things over an 82-game season “like a movie.”

Polian talks about a parallel universe we live in. Fans and media expect perfection over the course of an 82, 16 or even 162-game season. Professionals know that perfection is “almost never achievable,” and coaches teach against mistakes that are part of the business.

10:50 a.m.: Burke and Van Gundy have spoken about the most difficult aspect of their jobs as coaches and general managers.

They agree that the hardest part is cutting players — guys that “bleed for you” as Burke says. The human element, specifically the bonds that form in the locker room are tough to break.

10:45 a.m.: Burke likes hard coaches. They’re his favorite ones. But the former Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager says “the harder the coach is, the shorter his shelf life.”

10:40 a.m.: Pagliuca tells us that one of the best decisions the Celtics have made (since he’s been one of the team’s owners) was not firing Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers in the 2006-07 season.

10:20 a.m.: Van Gundy is discussing the Dwight Howard saga in Orlando. He says Howard asked for him to be fired and was causing a problem in the Magic locker room.

He wished Magic management would come out with a statement — either back him with a new contract or fire him — and end the distraction. They didn’t.

Polian says Jim Finks, Red Aurebach and Branch Rickey are the three greatest executives in history. He adds that coaches are useful for a maximum of 10 years. The ones that are able to “recognize and prepare them [players] are the ones that last longest.”

10 a.m.: “It’s Not You, It’s Me: Break-Ups in Sports” is our first panel of the day. Moderator Jackie MacMullan will lead a discussion about high-profile trades, public disputes over hirings and firings and other media spectacles.

John Buccigross, Bill Polian, Steve Pagliuca, Brian Burke and Stan Van Gundy will explore how high-profile changes affect on-field performances.

9 a.m. ET: In the span of seven years, the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference has become the place to be.

Sports insiders,  executives and leading researchers from around the country and beyond descend on Boston for two days  to discuss role of analytics in the sports industry with each other and thousands of students.

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is the site of this year’s conference. Nate Silver, Brian Burke, Adam Silver, Mark Cuban, Jonathan Kraft and Michael Wilbon are just a few of the panelists that will be on hand to give and receive insight into how sports are being changed by “big data.”

We are on hand for the 2013 conference, looking to see where the next breakthrough in sports analytics will come from. Join us here on March 1 for the latest on sports data analysis.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @mkomard, his Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

Photo via Facebook/MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference

Alex Gonzalez, who has since signed with the Brewers, held a workout in Miami in mid-December to prove he’d recovered from ACL surgery, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. Gonzalez reportedly said that more than a dozen teams sent scouts, including representatives from the Red Sox.

McCalvy reports that Gonzalez even thought the Red Sox might be the best fit for him because they needed a shortstop at the time. Boston opted to sign Drew instead, though, all but ending the chances of Gonzalez reuniting with the Sox for the second time.

Gonzalez, who turned 36 this month and figures to play a backup role in Milwaukee, played for the Red Sox in 2006. He hit .255 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs in 111 games. The defensive-minded shortstop was later sent back to Boston from Cincinnati in 2009, at which point he hit .284 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 148 at-bats over the span of 44 games.

According to McCalvy, Gonzalez also came close to signing with the Cardinals this offseason before eventually inking a one-year deal with the Brewers.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

The Yankees are “fishing around” for a veteran pitcher who can start in Triple-A, according to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman.

The Bronx Bombers reportedly have their eyes on a familiar friend in Chien-Ming Wang, as they plan to watch him during the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Cashman and the Yankees reportedly have no interest in free agent Kyle Lohse, though.

The Yankees’ rotation currently consists of CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes and either Ivan Nova or David Phelps. However, Hughes is battling a bulging disk in his upper back, which makes adding organizational depth somewhat of a necessity.

Wang went 2-3 with a 6.68 ERA in 10 appearances (five starts) with the Nationals last season. The 32-year-old hasn’t been the same pitcher he once was in recent years due to injuries, but the Yanks could take a flier in the hopes that he can regain some of what helped him win 19 games in both 2006 and 2007 for the Yankees. Wang actually finished second in AL Cy Young voting in 2006, when he went 19-6 with a 3.63 ERA for New York.

Lohse remains the top free-agent starter on the open market, but teams have been reluctant to sign him because of the draft pick compensation they’d have to relinquish as part of any deal.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Photo via Wikipedia/Chien-Ming Wang

Valverde is close to signing a one-year deal with the Marlins, according to ESPN.com’s Enrique Rojas.

Valverde, who is a three-time All-Star, has reached the 40-save plateau on three separate occasions, leading the league in every instance. He put together a fantastic campaign in 2011, saving all 49 of his chances while donning a 2.24 ERA. He regressed a bit in 2012, though, which has the 34-year-old still seeking employment just prior to spring training.

Valverde — who also owns one of baseball’s better nicknames in “Papa Grande” — saved 35 games for the Tigers last season and sported a 3.78 ERA in 69 innings.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Daisuke Matsuzaka

According to The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo, the Astros and Mets are “kicking around the possibility” of adding Matsuzaka, whose six-year stint in Boston wasn’t exactly illustrious.

Matsuzaka won 18 games in 2008, compiling a good-looking 2.90 ERA along the way, but the rest of his tenure with the Red Sox was marred by both injuries and inconsistent production. Now, he’s facing a very uncertain future.

As Cafardo points out, Matsuzaka could opt to return to Japan, where he became a legend before embarking on his subpar major league career. If the righty thinks he has a good chance of cracking a big league squad, though, he could decide to stick around, although whichever team signs him will be hoping he ups his level of play.

Matsuzaka went 1-7 with a 8.28 ERA in 11 starts last season. Overall, he’s 50-37 with a 4.52 ERA.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

The Yankees have expressed interest in Travis Hafner, according to MLB.com. WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford reports that the Bronx Bombers might be close to a deal with the free-agent slugger.

It’s hard to imagine, but Hafner once jacked 42 home runs in a season. He was one of the American League’s more feared hitters during a three-year stretch from 2004 to 2006, but he has since seen his production drop off, in large part because of injury issues.

Hafner hit .228 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs in 66 games with the Indians last season, but Cleveland opted to exercise a $2.75 million buyout rather than pick up his $13 million option for 2013. MLB.com reports that Hafner and the Indians have remained in contact, though.

Hafner could eventually land in New York, but we shouldn’t count out other options. According to CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees are talking to others, in addition to Hafner.

Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here.

Photo via Flickr/Keith Allison

Bobby Valentine

According to the Connecticut Post, Valentine is among the candidates to become Sacred Heart University’s new athletic director.

Don Cook has served as Sacred Heart’s executive director of athletics for the past 20 years, but he’ll be retiring this year, leaving an opening that Bobby V. is apparently interested in. Valentine, a native of Stamford, Conn., reportedly visited the school’s campus in Fairfield about two weeks ago.

Valentine is reportedly among several candidates up for the gig, but he’s by far the most recognizable among New England baseball fans. The former Mets and Sox skipper proved during a tumultuous 2012 campaign with Boston that he’s every bit of the interesting — and polarizing — character he’s cracked up to be.

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Felix Hernandez

According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, the Mariners continue to talk to Hernandez about a contract extension, and they’re “at least weighing” a four-year, $100 million proposal.

Rosenthal reports that it’s not known whether the Mariners have made Hernandez such an offer, but no deal is close at the moment. A source reportedly described the two sides as “dancing,” but not completely engaged.

Hernandez, whose current deal runs through 2014, has made it clear that he loves playing in Seattle. One has to think that the 26-year-old could be in line to land a monster deal, so perhaps he’ll opt to test the open market after his current contract expires, which might not bode well for the Mariners’ chances of securing the right-hander past 2014.

As Rosenthal points out, a four-year, $100 million extension tacked on to the two years still remaining on Hernandez’s current contract would put his deal at $139.5 million over six years. Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels — whose deals might become benchmarks throughout the Hernandez-Mariners negotiations — recently signed a six-year pacts. Greinke’s contract is worth $147 million over those six years, while Hamels is in line to rake in $144 million.

Hernandez has earned four straight All-Star selections, and was named the American League Cy Young in 2010. He also finished second in Cy Young voting in 2009, and finished fourth last season, when he went 13-9 with a 3.06 ERA in 33 starts. When you factor in his age and durability — seven straight seasons with at least 190 innings — it’s easy to see why he might just be the most prized pitcher in baseball.

Neither side has commented on a potential extension.

According to Troy Renck of The Denver Post, the Rockies are “aggressively pursuing” Derek Lowe and Carl Pavano, and they’d like to finalize a deal with another veteran this week.

Lowe, who will always be held in high regard in New England, was released by the Indians last season and then picked up by the Yankees, who used the 39-year-old out of the bullpen. Lowe stated earlier this offseason that he has a desire to crack a starting rotation in 2013, so perhaps Colorado could be a fit.

Lowe has struggled in recent years. He went 9-11 with a 5.11 ERA during his time with Cleveland and New York in 2012. He was once a reliable starter in the National League, though, so perhaps he regain a little bit of that form upon switching back over to the Senior Circuit. His ability to produce groundball outs could be an asset at the hitter-friendly Coors Field.

Pavano, who just turned 37, was banged up in 2012 and started just 11 games. He went 2-5 with a 6.00 ERA for the Twins.

Daisuke Matsuzaka

Matsuzka’s next team could be the Indians, Marlins or Mets, according to Gen Sueyoshi of Japan’s yakyubaka.com.

Matsuzaka, who inked a lucrative six-year deal with the Red Sox back in 2007 after enjoying success while playing in Japan, has battled injury problems in recent years. The 32-year-old had Tommy John surgery in June of 2011, and he was limited to just eight appearances that year and 11 in 2012.

The Japanese product went 50-37 with a 4.52 ERA in 117 appearances (116 starts) over the course of his six years in Boston. While he battled injuries most of the time, Matsuzaka did go 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 29 starts in 2008, which was good enough for fourth in AL Cy Young voting.

Of course, whichever team gambles on the underwhelming righty will be hoping that he can at least regain some of that ’08 form. At this point, though, it’s hard to envision such a scenario.

松坂、移籍先絞った！インディアンス、マーリンズ、メッツの３球団！：ＭＬＢ：スポーツ報知 hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/mlb/news/20130… Daisuke Matsuzaka down to Indians, Marlins, Mets

— Gen Sueyoshi (@gwynar) January 17, 2013

Javier Vazquez

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, scouts are raving about Vazquez, and the Nationals are showing “heavy interest” in the veteran right-hander.

Vazquez, who didn’t pitch in 2012 after spending the 2011 season with the Marlins, will reportedly pitch in the World Baseball Classic, which could give teams a better look at what exactly the 36-year-old has to offer. Nightengale reports that Vazquez is throwing 92-95 mph during winter ball in Puerto Rico, and that is a big reason he’s starting to make waves in what is a rather slim starting pitching market.

Vazquez went 13-11 with a 3.69 ERA in 32 starts with Miami in 2011, a year removed from struggling with the Yankees. The righty finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting in 2009 as a member of the Braves. He went 15-10 with a 2.87 ERA in 32 starts that season.

It isn’t really that surprising that teams are checking in on Vazquez given the success he’s had at the big league level. The jump in velocity is somewhat shocking, though, as his average fastball velocity was 90.4 mph in 2011 and 89 mph in 2010.

While Vazquez might be drawing interest, it doesn’t appear he’s close to signing a deal yet, meaning the World Baseball Classic could serve as an additional audition.

“We’re not evaluating any offers. Not yet,” Vazquez told Ruben Rodriguez of El Nuevo Dia. “I’m not in a hurry or under pressure. If it comes, great. There’s a desire in me that there wasn’t last year. I’ve got the itch to pitch again. I didn’t have it before, but now, I’m considering returning to pitch in the big leagues. I’m ready to pitch now. But to make the decision, I need to be 100 percent.”

If Vazquez keeps putting on a clinic in front of scouts, it shouldn’t be too long before a team scratches that itch.

Scouts are raving about Javier Vazquez, who is throwing 92-95 mph in Puerto Rico. He will pitch in the WBC. The #Nats showing heavy interest

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 12, 2013

Photo via Facebook/Javier Vazquez