Edmonds, Rolen could be moving; Andruw update

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Also in this column:
• Dodgers consider Andruw Jones
• A's demands for Haren
• Mets make bid for Bedard
• More news and notes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Cardinals are in the middle of many trade discussions here at the winter meetings, with longtime stars Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen and young pitcher Anthony Reyes being dangled.

Edmonds has told St. Louis that he would waive his no-trade clause to return to Southern California, where he makes his offseason home, and the Padres were among the teams expressing interest in him.

The Brewers, Dodgers, Rangers and Giants are other teams considering Rolen, who is known to have a tumultuous relationship with Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. Rolen has three years and $36 million remaining on his contract, while Edmonds has one year and $8 million remaining.

The 26-year-old Reyes, who appears to be another who isn't close to La Russa, went 2-14 with a 6.04 ERA last season.

What's up with Andruw?

The Dodgers are scanning the center-field and third-base markets and appear to be strongly considering Andruw Jones, a superstar who may wind up being a bargain after his uncharacteristically poor season at the plate.

The Giants, Royals and Rangers are also in the mix for Jones, and someone suggested that the Brewers could even get involved, provided it was on a short-term basis. However, Brewers people painted that as an extreme longshot. The Rangers also are looking at something short-term for Jones, who would have been in line to top Vernon Wells' $126 million contract and perhaps even Alfonso Soriano's $136 million blockbuster had he posted his usual numbers.

The Royals, with former Braves executive Dayton Moore as their GM, are an interesting possibility. They have the money for a change, as they offered Torii Hunter $70 million for five years and told him they would go higher.

The Mets looked like another major longshot, provided Jones would consider moving to right field, unlikely in that he is the best center fielder of this generation and isn't slowing down defensively (he led the National league with 400-plus putouts in 2007). The Mets tried the two-center-fielder setup with Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron. (Cameron decided he wanted to stay in center after first giving the Mets the go-ahead to sign Beltran.)

Jones, who's only 30, could be an excellent value now considering he has averaged 37 home runs and 112 RBIs over his past five seasons, compared to 24 and 89 for Hunter, who got $90 million over five years from the Angels, and 16 and 60 for Aaron Rowand.

Jones, who had 26 home runs and 94 RBIs but hit only .222 last year, has seven 30-home run seasons compared to one for Hunter and none for Rowand. Jones has had by far the better career than Hunter. He's also two years younger. But it's a case of, What have you done lately? And it's hurting Jones.

Jones' old team, the Braves, are still looking for a center-fielder but have said they won't try to keep Jones and will go with youth instead.

A haul for Haren?

The loser of the Santana Sweepstakes between the Yankees and Red Sox would likely turn their attention to A's starter Danny Haren, who is on the block. But A's GM Billy Beane is asking for a haul for Haren, who is under a very reasonable contract ($16.25 million over the next three years, assuming his 2010 option is exercised).

The A's would likely ask that two out of three from Boston's trio of Jacoby Ellsbury, Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz or two of three from the Yankees' group of Joba Chamberlain (who's been untouchable), Philip Hughes and Ian Kennedy. And that would just be the beginning of Oakland's requests.

The A's have made just about anyone available, and there will also be a lot of play on right-hander Joe Blanton. But Haren's clearly the star of their potential auction. The D'backs, Dodgers and Mets also have interest in the A's All-Star.

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