Olney’s Latest: Sabathia, Varitek
Olney’s latest from his blog:
- He puts out a one liner: "The Red Sox are preparing, full-steam ahead, to play 2009 without Jason Varitek." This may in part be posturing to counter Boras seeking Posada money.
- Olney suggests that if the Knicks are making a move for Lebron James, then further incentive would exist for CC Sabathia to accept the Yankees $140MM offer. Take this with a huge grain of salt of course. The two are friends from their days in Cleveland. More realistically, he cuts to the point: if no California teams make a nine-figure offer, "folks involved" say he’ll be in pinstripes.
Yankees “What If”: No A.J., CC, Lowe?
No new official information has been reported from either side–but that may be precisely why articles about the scenario where the Yankees fail to sign a big name free agent starting pitcher this offseason are starting to show up.
First, Jordan Bastian at MLB.com reports that the Yankees may not make a contract offer to A.J. Burnett. Burnett, through his agent, appears to be insisting on a five-year deal. While the market may not provide one, Bastian says that the Yankees simply will not.
In the CC Sabathia ring, separate postings at River Ave. Blues and Brew Crew Ball look at the "actual" disparity between the financial terms of the contracts offered to the big lefty by the Yankees and Brewers. I say "actual" because, as the articles admit, this type of information is hard to concretely determine. However, as the authors show, the actual difference may be alarmingly smaller than most might have thought.
Finally, Phil Rogers at the Chicago Tribune takes the issue head on: what if the Yankees fail to sign Burnett, Sabathia, and Derek Lowe? Rogers specifically talks about Sabathia’s likely preference for the West Coast (he’s from California), and/or an opportunity to hit (the guy did put up a .230 BA, with two doubles and a home run in 50 plate apperances). Notably, Rogers doesn’t offer much of a Plan B for the Yankees if all three pitchers end up elsewhere.
Does such a plan really even exist?
Tigers Interested In Jack Wilson
Ken Rosethal just updated his column to include the latest on Jack Wilson.
According to Rosenthal’s source, the Tigers are one of several teams interested in trading for Wilson. The 30-year-old shortstop will earn just over $7MM next year and he has a club option for 2010.
Rosenthal adds that the Pirates would like to acquire Marlins catcher Matt Treanor and then trade him to Detroit along with Wilson.
Wilson could start at short for the Tigers, and Treanor could become their back-up catcher.
Odds And Ends: Lowell, Vazquez, Tazawa
Links for Saturday…
- Ken Rosenthal comes up with a few possible suitors for Mike Lowell if the Red Sox sign Mark Teixeira. He lists the Dodgers, White Sox, Tigers and Brewers as possible fits.
- Nick Piecoro likes Ramon Vazquez as a fit for the D-Backs.
- Highly coveted Japanese pitcher Junichi Tazawa pitched a complete game shutout in Osaka, walking no one and striking out 10.
- John Van Benschoten will move on from the Pirates and try to sign with another team.
- Luke Hudson will also leave his old club, moving on from the Royals instead of accepting an assignment to AAA.
- Bobby Crosby is out of the loop amid the rumors swirling about Rafael Furcal.
- Mike Scarr takes a look at the market for middle infielders.
Mets Rumors: Castillo, K-Rod, Abreu
A few Mets rumors have surfaced today…
- According to David Lennon of Newsday, Mets GM Omar Minaya is ready to go ahead with Luis Castillo at second base next year.
- Paul Kinzer, the agent for Francisco Rodriguez, expects to meet with the Mets next week to negotiate for K-Rod, according to Peter Botte of the New York Daily News. After the Mets review K-Rod’s medical records, Kinzer acknowledged that the next step would be a face-to-face meeting.
- And Anthony McCarron has a source who says the Mets and Cubs have both expressed interest in Bobby Abreu. However, the Mets continue to say their priority is pitching.
Mark Teixeira Rumors: Saturday
George King of the New York Post talked to a source who says the Yankees are “set to be aggressive” with Mark Teixeira if they can only sign one of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe.
The Yankees have said that pitching is their priority but, King’s source says this could change if the Yankees can’t get the pitchers they want and Teixeira is not yet signed.
A.J. Burnett Rumors: Saturday
According to Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News, the Yankees won’t offer A.J. Burnett a five-year contract.
Ken Davidoff writes that Burnett’s agent, Darek Brauneker, is confident that his client will sign a five-year deal somewhere.
McCarron talked to a source who said that “the Yankees are not ready to go five years.” The source also said that the Red Sox are more interested in Mark Teixeira and Derek Lowe than Burnett.
The Blue Jays are still talking with Burnett, but they haven’t yet offered him a deal.
Dodgers Will Let Beimel Leave
Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times talked to Joe Beimel‘s agent Joe Sroba, who said he hasn’t been contacted by the Dodgers. Sroba and Ned Colletti agree – the Dodgers are going in a different direction.
Beimel has drawn interest from the Mets, Reds, Tigers, Cardinals, and Rockies. He’s probably fishing around for a three-year deal at this point.
Rosenthal’s Latest: Furcal, Burnett, Halladay
Ken Rosenthal has a new column up this evening.
- The A’s and Giants remain the top suitors for Rafael Furcal, and the team that’s willing to give him four guaranteed years may win the bidding. The Dodgers, Braves, and Cubs are also in the mix.
- Rosenthal talked to a source with knowledge of the Blue Jays’ thinking, and that person can’t imagine them giving A.J. Burnett five years. Rosenthal says to forget the idea of a Roy Halladay trade, unless they attempt and fail to sign him to an extension. And if Burnett is signed, a Halladay extension would be next on the docket.
- Luis Gonzalez wants to play next year.
Giants Negotiating With Renteria
MLB.com’s Chris Haft talked to Edgar Renteria‘s agent Jeff Lane, who said he’s actively negotiating with the Giants. At least six teams are interested in Renteria, but his future is tied to Rafael Furcal. Furcal is expected to sign first, and the shortstops share many of the same suitors.
The Giants also have serious interest in Orlando Hudson. It’d be surprising to see them sign two middle infielders though.