Branyan Rejects Mariners’ Offer
WEDNESDAY, 12:06pm: The Mariners' initial offer to Branyan included a second-year option, the first baseman told Larry Stone of the Seattle Times. Branyan remains optimistic about re-signing, but he wants two guaranteed years for the first time in his career.
TUESDAY, 4:53pm: MLB.com's Jim Street reports that Branyan rejected the team's offer. He'd rather test the free agent market than settle for something less than a two-year deal. Branyan, who hit 31 homers this year, says he would like to return to Seattle. He wants to sign a multi-year deal, however.
Street says Wilson appears to have rejected the Mariners' offer, too.
12:23pm: The Seattle Mariners have extended contract offers to Russell Branyan and Jack Wilson, according to Larry LaRue of the News Tribune.
LaRue does not have specific details on dollar amounts, but adds that the proposal to Wilson is a multi-year deal.
LaRue writes that the team has also engaged in talks with Ken Griffey Jr. though it's still up in the air whether Junior will want to play again in 2010. LaRue doesn't rule out the possibility that the Mariners could retain both Griffey and Mike Sweeney.
Marlins Rumors: Lindstrom, Cantu, Uggla
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald packs his Marlins rumors into one paragraph:
We hear the Marlins have been getting trade inquiries about Matt Lindstrom and are considering dealing him. One Marlins official said Leo Nuñez seems better-suited to close games. The Marlins lean toward keeping Jorge Cantu (who has drawn interest) but would consider an extraordinary offer. Dan Uggla remains likely to be dealt.
It's fitting to see Lindstrom's name on the trading block, since he's arbitration-eligible for the first time. Lindstrom had an ugly year; he spent time on the DL with an elbow strain.
The Marlins' desire to retain Cantu is surprising. His salary will continue to increase in 2010, and he's shaky defensively.
Mariners Reach Agreement With Ken Griffey Jr.
11:53am: The Mariners confirmed the news in a press release. A quote from Griffey:
I look forward to contributing in any role that Don (Wakamatsu) sees fit on the field, and any manner I possibly can off the field.
10:54am: The Mariners have reached an agreement on a one-year deal with Ken Griffey Jr., according to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says Junior's new contract is similar to last year's. SI's Jon Heyman says it's a $2MM base with incentives that could exceed $1MM. The Griffey signing did no harm a year ago, but this time around it makes less sense.
Griffey, who turns 40 soon, hit .214/.324/.411 in 454 plate appearances, earning $2MM plus incentives. He mostly served as the team's DH, logging 83 outfield innings. Griffey had arthroscopic knee surgery last month.
One ripple effect: the Mariners are presumably crossed off Hideki Matsui's list, tweets Jon Heyman. Another could be Ryan Langerhans being non-tendered, suggests U.S.S. Mariner's Dave Cameron.
Yankees May Let Chien-Ming Wang Leave
The Yankees "will be very cautious" with pitcher Chien-Ming Wang, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Yankees always preferred to go year-to-year with Wang, so this is nothing new. Wang is certain to be non-tendered, but the Yankees may be reluctant to do any kind of deal. From Sherman:
I am getting a strong vibe from Yankee officials that the intention is to non-tender Wang and, perhaps, not even offer him a small base with incentives to return.
Wang, 30 in March, had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his shoulder capsule back in July. He hopes to throw a rehab game by April or May.
Milton Bradley Suitors
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune takes a look at the Milton Bradley situation in an article this morning.
Sullivan, like many, sees the Rangers as the favorite. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News looks at all the factors there.
Giants GM Brian Sabean was quizzed about a possible bad contract swap for Bradley, and shot down the idea. The Mets and Rays appear in the mix to a certain extent, with Omar Minaya even admitting he'll talk to Jim Hendry about it. Luis Castillo figures to be in that discussion, but Sullivan says reports suggest Mets ownership may be anti-Bradley.
ESPN's Bruce Levine adds more detail. He says Hendry spent over an hour Monday with the Rays discussing a Bradley-Pat Burrell swap, with the $12MM salary difference a key. A similar gap exists with Kevin Millwood, who Levine believes the Rangers would "gladly" swap for Bradley. However, Levine says the Rangers will only take about $4MM of Bradley's contract at this point.
A few other notes from Sullivan: the Cubs remain fans of Marlon Byrd, who is now a free agent. That interest suggests that the Cubs' "left-handed bat" obsession from a year ago has gone by the boards. Sullivan also mentions that the Cubs "are in no hurry to open up talks with Derrek Lee on a contract extension." Lee will earn $13MM in 2010 in the last year of his contract.
Tellem Discusses Rich Harden
Rich Harden's agent Arn Tellem weighed in on his client at the GM Meetings today, with the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan among those in attendance. Tellem says Harden has "no health issues at all" despite being shut down by the Cubs with a few weeks left in the season.
Tellem didn't run into Cubs GM Jim Hendry during the Meetings, though both spent ample time in the hotel lobby. Tellem says Harden "very much likes Chicago," and expects he'll "continue to talk" to the Cubs about a possible return. Most writers expect the Cubs to move on, though. Harden is a Type B free agent; an arbitration offer seems unlikely.
Harden, 28 later this month, pitched 152.3 innings in 2008 and 141 this year, with a huge strikeout rate but a healthy dose of walks. This year, home runs and hits were up for the changeup artist.
A’s Talk: Third Base, Duchscherer
Athletics general manager Billy Beane is looking at possible third base acquisitions, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The A's face uncertainty with hot corner options Eric Chavez, Adam Kennedy, and Brett Wallace.
Slusser says the A's are emphasizing youth and "unlikely to spend much money on free agents." So you have to question my earlier guesses that the A's will sign Miguel Tejada and Jim Thome. Slusser wonders, "from a sheer speculation standpoint," if Alex Gordon, Josh Fields, or Brandon Wood could be trade possibilities. Click here to read our post about third base trade candidates.
Also, Slusser spoke to Justin Duchscherer's agent Damon Lapa. Duchscherer is doing well and "has dedicated himself to preparing for 2010." Interest in Duchscherer is strong, with the A's still in the mix. Duchscherer wants to start. Back in '08, he posted a 2.54 ERA in 22 starts.
Tigers Will Listen On Edwin Jackson
WEDNESDAY, 9:38am: FOX's guys continue to work this story, stating that the Dodgers "have some interest" in bringing Jackson back to the organization. The writers add that the teams have not discussed a Jackson-George Sherrill swap, though the Tigers liked Sherrill at the trade deadline.
TUESDAY, 6:59pm: Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal are reporting that Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski is at least listening to (and possibly making) offers involving right-hander Edwin Jackson. Though Jackson is coming off of a breakout season and is still until Detroit's control through 2011, Morosi and Rosenthal note that payroll considerations may force the Tigers to include Jackson in trade talks.
Cot's Baseball Contracts lists Detroit as committed to paying over $100MM to ten players for next season, and Morosi and Rosenthal note that $20MM could be added to that total once arbitration raises are factored. With staff ace Justin Verlander due for free agency after 2011, the Tigers may simply not have enough money to afford to sign both Verlander and Jackson to long-term deals.
In his first season in Detroit after being dealt from Tampa Bay last winter, Jackson posted a 3.62 ERA and proved himself to be a more-than-solid number-two starter behind Verlander in the Tigers' rotation. Jackson's 5.07 ERA after the All-Star break, however, might have been enough of a red flag that the team wants to sell high on the 26-year-old while it still can.
Phillies Interested In Fernando Rodney
The Phillies are "showing preliminary interest" in free agent reliever Fernando Rodney, according to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. told David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News that he's reached out to five or six free agents, so Rodney is presumably among those.
The FOX writers expect Rodney "to draw heavy interest from a large number of clubs," which comes as a surprise to me. I suppose it all just depends on Rodney's demands – will he take a one-year deal at less than $8MM, and is he open to a set-up role? Here in 2009 I imagine GMs aren't terribly impressed by 37 saves when they come with a 4.40 ERA, 7.3 K/9, and 4.9 BB/9. To his credit, Rodney was one of few free agent relievers with a strong groundball rate (57.9%).
Rodney could benefit from being classified as a Type B free agent rather than Type A. But with relievers, the importance of those designations seems overblown because arbitration offers are far from certain. Jose Valverde, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, LaTroy Hawkins, Rafael Betancourt, Kevin Gregg, John Grabow, Billy Wagner, Darren Oliver, Takashi Saito, and Octavio Dotel are Type A free agents, but only a handful will actually be offered arbitration.
Billy Wagner Could Accept Arbitration
Billy Wagner's agent Bean Stringfellow says not to rule out his client accepting an arbitration offer from the Red Sox, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Stringfellow said that prior to a recent meeting with his client, he believed there was no chance Wagner would accept. Wagner loved his experience with the Red Sox enough that it's now a possibility. Stringfellow "fully anticipates" an arbitration offer by the Red Sox. Wagner is a Type A free agent, so the Sox will snag two draft picks if he declines the offer and signs elsewhere.
Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports learned from Stringfellow that six teams called about Wagner so far, all of them interested in him as a closer. The writers noted that the Tigers, Astros, Rays, Orioles, and Braves have the need.