Ben Sheets Rumors: Monday
6:38pm: T.R. Sullivan believes that now the New York Yankees have signed Andy Pettitte, Ben Sheets’ options are closing up.
“Anytime somebody signs another starting pitcher, that obviously lessens the competition,” Rangers president Nolan Ryan told Sullivan. “Obviously, Andy and Ben are at two different points in their careers, but I don’t think Andy signing hurts anything.”
Sullivan notes that the Rangers are the only team that has publicly stated interest in Sheets, but the process continues to move slowly. The Rangers are reluctant to offer a multiyear contract. Sheets wants at least a two-year deal while the Rangers are looking one year with a possible club option.
11:26am: The latest on the Rangers and Ben Sheets comes via a T.R. Sullivan report from yesterday afternoon. Sullivan wrote:
The Rangers remain deeply concerned about the medical reports. Sheets’ agent, Casey Close, is looking for a multi-year contract. The Rangers would prefer just a one-year deal, possibly with an option. The two sides have discussed financial parameters, but there hasn’t been an official offer from either side. Close would like to get other teams involved, most notably the two in New York.
If there’s another team infatuated with Sheets, it hasn’t leaked to the media yet. As Sullivan wrote, the Mets are focused on Oliver Perez. The Yankees are in serious talks with Andy Pettitte. The Dodgers are looking elsewhere, and the Orioles "just don’t seem interested." Doug Melvin won’t rule Sheets out for the Brewers but does not expect to re-sign him.
Who else needs pitching and can afford Sheets? We can’t rule out the A’s or Cardinals. The Pirates and D’Backs seem to be budgeting less than Sheets wants.
Rockies Update On Fogg, Atkins
The Colorado Rockies offered third baseman Garrett Atkins $6.65MM, and Atkins asked for $7.95MM, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports.
“Either way, it’s going to be a lot of money and I will be happy,” Atkins told Renck.
Atkins’ arbitration hearing date has been set, Renck adds, but both parties are keeping it secret to prevent advance research by the arbiters.
Renck also notes that starting pitcher Josh Fogg is still considering rejoining the Rockies. Fogg would receive a minor-league deal similar to Matt Belisle.
Astros Avoid Arbitration With Rodriguez, Geary
Troy Renck of the Denver Post has learned that Houston Astros left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez and the franchise have reached a one-year, $2.6MM deal.
Rodriguez, 30, went 9-7 with a 3.54 ERA in 2008. He can make an additional $50,000 for 180 innings pitched.
The Astros also avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher Geoff Geary. Geary will earn $1.7MM plus incentives.
Geary, 32, went 2-3 with a 2.53 ERA in 55 appearances in 2008, his first season with the Astros.
Counsell, Brewers Complete Deal
Veteran infielder Craig Counsell and the Milwaukee Brewers completed a one-year, $1MM contract after the the 38-year-old passed a physical, MLB.com reports.
Counsell spent the past two seasons with the Brewers, but the club declined its $3.4MM option on his contract earlier this offseason. He hit .226 with one home run and 14 RBI in 110 games last season.
Astros’ Rotation Spots Open; Mets Sign Trio
A few notes popping up:
- The Houston Astros will have tryouts for the starting rotation at Spring Training. Felipe Paulino and Fernando Nieve are both young arms that will be considered, Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports. The Astros are tentatively counting on Roy Oswalt, Mike Hampton, Brandon Backe, Wandy Rodriguez and Brian Moehler to fill out their rotation.
- The New York Mets have finalized deals with utilityman Rob Mackowiak, right-handed pitcher Kyle Snyder and left-hander Jon Switzer to minor-league deals. The three will be competing for 25-man roster spots at Spring Training, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Royals Sign Zack Greinke To Extension
4:00pm: The AP has the yearly salaries.
1:49pm: Danny Knobler says Greinke’s deal is worth $38MM.
12:04pm: According to Sports Radio 810 in Kansas City, the Royals signed starter Zack Greinke to a four-year extension. The deal buys out two arbitration years (2009-10) and two free agent years (2011-12). Here’s the press release from the Royals. This will probably end up being Dayton Moore’s most important move of the offseason. Craig Brown offers instant commentary and a guess at the terms.
Yankees Sign Andy Pettitte
3:11pm: The Yankees announced today that they signed Pettitte to a one-year deal. The AP says Pettitte is guaranteed $5.5MM and could reach $12MM with incentives. The move should allow the Yanks to move Joba Chamberlain to the fifth starter role, with various other young pitchers ready to step in as needed.
A note from the conference call: Brian Cashman says not to expect any more moves of significance.
1:30pm: John Harper of the New York Daily News says the two sides have "essentially agreed" to a deal but final details need to be worked out.
12:28pm: Rosenthal now agrees that it’ll be less than $6MM guaranteed with incentives that could push the total to $12MM. He says the two sides are "closing in" on a deal.
11:53am: According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Yankees are close to a deal with Pettitte that could guarantee nearly $6MM with another $6MM in incentives. The deal could be done this afternoon. Ken Rosenthal wrote earlier that the incentives could push Pettitte close to $16MM.
10:09am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Andy Pettitte and the Yankees are in serious talks and there’s a "lot of optimism" for a one-year deal. It would be for less than $10MM guaranteed.
Braves Rumors: Swisher, Hudson, Andruw
A few Braves notes from MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.
- Bowman believes the Braves are more interested in Nick Swisher than Xavier Nady. The two Yankees outfielders are among many options Frank Wren can consider.
- The Braves’ interest in free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson "died more than a month ago" over defensive concerns. Which seems odd, since Hudson’s defensive numbers didn’t change at any point during the offseason.
- Bowman says "it still appears" the Braves won’t offer Andruw Jones anything more than a minor league deal.
Minor League Transactions
Always good to check out the recent minor league transactions over at Baseball America. A few notables: the Dodgers signed knuckleballer Charlie Haeger (with the Charlie Hough seal of approval three years ago), and the Nationals signed reliever Gary Glover. Another small move: the Pirates claimed pitcher Virgil Vasquez off waivers from the Padres.
Odds and Ends: Yamarin, Eaton, Atkins, Ohman
Links for Monday…
- Yankees and Red Sox fans are dreaming of Joe Mauer, whose contract is up after the 2010 season.
- Updated June draft order, courtesy of Baseball America.
- The Braves signed a Japanese amateur pitcher named Yoshinori Yamarin to a minor league deal.
- Adam Eaton is not a candidate for the Phillies’ fifth starter job, and they’ll probably release him and eat his contract if they can’t trade him.
- MLB.com made a nice addition in Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki.
- Arbitration hearing dates are set for Paul Maholm and Nate McLouth.
- Jim Salisbury writes about Tal Smith, who prepares arbitration cases for clubs.
- Garrett Atkins comments on his arbitration request and his future with the Rockies.
- The Reds voided the contract of 16 year-old Venezuelan pitcher Ismael Guillon and re-signed him for less due to a problem found during his physical.
- Athletics Nation talked to MLB.com beat writer Mychael Urban.
- David O’Brien chatted with unsigned reliever Will Ohman.
- Orioles infielder Oscar Salazar cleared waivers.