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Stark's Latest: Putz, Manny, Lackey, Ibanez

By Tim Dierkes [November 20, 2008 at 12:07pm CST]

Let's take a look at the latest column from ESPN's Jayson Stark.

Stark does the math and finds 15 potentially available closers versus six clubs in the market for one. Should result in a few bargains or teams holding on to their surpluses.
The Mets don't seem willing to extend to four years for Francisco Rodriguez. Stark says J.J. Putz would become the Mets' top closer target if he's made available. MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone wrote a few days ago that the Mets are likely to trade for a reliever with closing experience before attempting to sign one.
J.P. Ricciardi quote: "We won't be involved with Manny." Ricciardi last month: "He's on our radar, but maybe not on our radar like some people will report."
Despite reports to the contrary, Stark talked to a rival executive who says Jake Peavy made it "onto [the Angels'] radar pretty hard." Stark speculates that Peavy could fit if the Halos sign Mark Teixeira.
It seems likely that the Angels will put out an offer to Teixeira with a deadline, and then either sign him or move on.
John Lackey's been telling friends he expects to have an extension with the Angels by Opening Day. Lackey indicated last month he'd wait to see the Halos' offensive plans before re-signing.
Stark suspects the Players Union might be OK with C.C. Sabathia turning down a larger offer from the Yankees if he still signed for more than Johan Santana's $23MM per year. I don't really see why Sabathia would worry about the union in any regard.
The Dodgers inquired on the asking price of Jason Varitek, with the idea of moving Russell Martin to third base in mind. They balked at Scott Boras' demand for Tek, however.
Curt Schilling is "more likely than ever" to attempt a late June or early July comeback.
Tons of teams have expressed some degree of interest in Raul Ibanez: the Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Cardinals, Nationals, Braves, Royals, Rays, Blue Jays, Rangers, Angels, and Mariners. Some interesting new ones in there.
The Phillies never made a two-year, $21MM offer to Pat Burrell. Will the Phils at least offer him arbitration? The rumored offer was questionable from Day 1, as Paul Hagen said Burrell "reportedly turned down a two-year, $22MM offer" but didn't reference a specific report.
Stark believes that the Brewers were not thrilled with the Yankees' "overbid" for C.C. Sabathia, and therefore would prefer not to trade Mike Cameron to them. Dan Graziano wrote yesterday about the Yanks' conversations for Cameron.
Roy Oswalt wants the Astros to sign Ben Sheets, but the price tag may be too high. Stark has the following names on their radar: Randy Wolf, Mike Hampton, Freddy Garcia, Paul Byrd, and maybe Pedro Martinez. Is Drayton McLane willing to bring Andy Pettitte back? GM Ed Wade seemed interested in his chat yesterday, saying, "We'll have to see what develops down the road."

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Comments

lol @ Brewers crying about being overbid, it was bound to happen

Posted by: No27in2009 | November 20, 2008 at 12:11 PM

If the Utley news is true...the Phils better be making some offers for Ibanez, Burrell, Bradley...whoever they can get!

They might want to consider making a trade with Detroit as well...

Posted by: Jon A. | November 20, 2008 at 12:14 PM

That Melvin thing is just weird. Are teams supposed to step back and let them resign Sabathia because it would be such a nice story?

Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | November 20, 2008 at 12:16 PM

Tim,

Why do you continue to spell Sabathia's name as C.C. as opposed to CC?

People have commented before, and the rest of the press has done it ever since CC's press conference.

Posted by: WestCoastBias | November 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM

imagine you are bidding on a house. you lived in it on a sublease for 3 months, which is up, and now it's for sale. you scrounge up all your savings and bid on it. then some dude in a top hat and tails comes and says i'll beat his offer by 40%.

i know my next move would be 'hey guy, buy you a beer?'

Posted by: the_kid_01 | November 20, 2008 at 12:35 PM

"Why do you continue to spell Sabathia's name as C.C. as opposed to CC?"

Because "C.C." is short for Carsten Charles; it's an abreviation, so the proper way to write it is "C.C."

Posted by: MetsFan68 | November 20, 2008 at 12:44 PM

Sabathia talked to David Brown:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Answer-Man-CC-Sabathia-talks-imaginary-friends-?urn=mlb,97668

Sabathia said, "I never said that I never liked dots."

Posted by: Tim Dierkes | November 20, 2008 at 12:46 PM

I would really like the tribe to look into Caps, with Franklin Guiterrez being a starting point. The pirate have always loved his defense and think that he can be a MLB hitter. If we can get a Capps or Putz, I think the tribe should then focus on other needs such as 2B, 3B and the SP.

Posted by: Adam | November 20, 2008 at 01:05 PM

"lol @ Brewers crying about being overbid, it was bound to happen"

There probably isn't they have a lesser bid but that the yanks didn't make just a slight raise... say 110M. Either way it's a silly thing to whine about. Offering a record contract off the bat is a brilliant negotiating move if you're not certain the player in question wants to play for you. It was a statement.

Posted by: start_wearing_purple | November 20, 2008 at 01:08 PM

I think Russell Martin to 3rd base is more of a function of available 3rd basemen than anything else. When your options include signing Casey Blake or Joe Crede to a multi-year deal, you'd be looking for other available options too. While Martin doesn't have the power of a 3rd basemen, he is getting on base at a .385 clip. And then you move someone who is a great defensive catcher behind the plate, assuming he too wouldn't command a multi year commitment.

Posted by: DodgersBruin | November 20, 2008 at 01:12 PM

Tim,
Do you have a link to who said the Cards were interested in Ibanez? Seems like a completely bogus rumor. Cards have an OF surplus so I have seen 0 interest they want another outfielder unless it's unloading one for another, like the Ludwick for Holliday proposal.

Posted by: JBCardsFan | November 20, 2008 at 01:17 PM

Sorry, I mean where Stark may be basing this supposed Cardinal interest on?

Posted by: JBCardsFan | November 20, 2008 at 01:20 PM

Cards showing interest in Ibanez makes NO SENSE!

Posted by: Cardsfan387 | November 20, 2008 at 01:22 PM

Stark even mentioned the Cardinals are one team with Ibanez atop their position-player shopping list.

Posted by: Tim Dierkes | November 20, 2008 at 01:33 PM

This would be a wasteful signing IMO....only way it makes any type of sense is if the Cards are trading one of their OF'ers for a MI.

Posted by: Cardsfan387 | November 20, 2008 at 01:39 PM

Jason Stark is awesome. he hibernates for like 3 months at a time. Comes out with some really good rumors and then goes back to hibernating. Amazing.

I think his Ibanez list can be shrunk by atleast one. The Royals might of had some interest in Raul, but I don't think they will anylonger have interest in him.

Posted by: basicslop | November 20, 2008 at 01:41 PM

There is a 0% chance the Cards sign Ibanez. They need an SS, 2B, another lefty reliever, maybe a closer, and maybe another starter and have $17 mil to spend. They have Ludwick, Ankiel, and Schumaker in the OF. If they get rid of one OF, then Rasmus is in. Even if they traded Ludwick AND Schumaker, they still have an OF prospect surplus. No way they are looking at Ibanez...that's riduclous. They simply don't have the money. It's well known that ESPN has a bias against the Cards team so I chalk this up to Stark not doing research and just throwing the Cards name out there.

Posted by: JBCardsFan | November 20, 2008 at 01:43 PM

If anyone is interested. My mom's boss is good friends with Curt Schilling, and he has told him that as of this moment he plans to retire, and that his return is mostly media speculation.

Posted by: Serg Rush | November 20, 2008 at 02:23 PM

I too was impressed with the way Stark just dropped a massive amount of info on us today.

Posted by: Tim Dierkes | November 20, 2008 at 04:41 PM

dodgersbruin i agree whole heartedly. with a special player like martin, it's not so much where he plays so long as he's playing and that versatility is very valuable in this years 3b market. Maybe they move him to 3rd and try to get gerald laird from the rangers?

also, if anyone hears any further dejesus to brewers rumors let me know. I would LOVE to have him at miller park next season.

Posted by: beercheesepain | November 20, 2008 at 04:56 PM

Again, this Martin to 3B thing is a terrible idea. While his bat plays just fine and he can defend the position, Catcher is THE most valuable position on the field and moving a guy like that is asinine, especially when he plays top tier defense and calls possibly the best game in baseball. Now, like I have said before, if you move the guy to short, you make more of a case.

Posted by: AA | November 24, 2008 at 12:54 AM

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Stark's Latest: Putz, Manny, Lackey, Ibanez

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