Rangers Offered Smoak & Feliz For Johnson
The Rangers must be confident in their chances next year. Both T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com and Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com are reporting that the team offered Justin Smoak and Neftali Feliz to the Marlins for Josh Johnson.
If that offer didn't get it done, then the Marlins truly are committed to starting the season with their 25-year-old ace. Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post says the Marlins are still open to an extension with Johnson.
Nationals Sign Jerry Owens
The Nationals signed Jerry Owens to a minor league deal, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The 28-year-old outfielder has a .625 OPS in parts of four MLB seasons. Owens, who stole 32 bases for the White Sox two seasons ago, will compete for a roster spot in Spring Training.
Agreement Reached In Yanks, Tigers, D’Backs Blockbuster
12:48pm: Heyman tweets that an agreement has been reached, with only medicals pending. We'll do a fresh post once this trade is official. To reiterate: the Yankees get Curtis Granderson, the D'Backs get Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy, and the Tigers get Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Austin Jackson, and Phil Coke.
Sherman notes that the Yankees managed to pull off the Granderson acquisition without giving up Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, or Mike Dunn.
12:35pm: Olney now says this deal is close. Sherman says medical records are being exchanged on Granderson. In another tweet Sherman says there's no deadline on the deal, but one source says it's "on the goal line." He adds that removing Dunn from the deal was key for the Yanks.
Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says the deal is "very close," and would be Austin Jackson, Coke, Scherzer, and Schlereth to the Tigers, Edwin Jackson and Kennedy to the D'Backs, and Granderson to the Yankees.
12:19pm: Rosenthal says the revised deal has the Tigers getting two players from the Yanks rather than three, with Coke or Dunn out. AOL FanHouse's Ed Price tweets that the D'Backs and Tigers are awaiting signoff from the Yankees, and expect an answer within 40 minutes.
11:51am: Morosi sees progress being made, while MLB.com's Steve Gilbert thinks this thing is close; the Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro agrees.
11:24am: More from Olney – the D'Backs are aiming to get Edwin Jackson and Kennedy in the deal. Olney speaks of "growing confidence on at least two of the sides" involved, and his sources have the odds of a deal in the 20-30% range. One Heyman source said 50%.
11:15am: Rosenthal and Morosi note that the Yankees and Tigers are open to making a Granderson deal and leaving the D'Backs out of the discussion. Still, the three-team talks are ongoing and fluid, with the Tigers requiring a "high-ceiling, close-to-the-majors center fielder" as part of the Granderson package. Austin Jackson could be that player.
ESPN's Buster Olney says it's the Tigers that re-ignited the three-way talks, and they've lowered their asking price.
10:33am: Heyman tweets that this deal is "back with a chance." Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News agrees, noting that the Tigers "may be caving" on the price for Granderson. He says the Yanks would likely downgrade one of the pitchers, most likely Dunn. Wouldn't be the Winter Meetings without three-team trade scenarios and the constant back-and-forth.
10:30am: Just to add a little intrigue, ESPN's Buster Olney says "one idea raised" was the Yankees getting both Granderson and Jackson. Regardless, two of the teams involved backed out of this three-team mess.
8:29am: SI's Jon Heyman tweets that this one "looks very unlikely." In his scenario Heyman had Daniel Schlereth, Scherzer, and more going to Detroit. He adds that the Yankees are saying no to the deal, which would've cost them the four prospects named below. Similarly, Morosi now finds the chances of this one to be "not good" because the Yankees balked at the price.
7:35am: Buster Olney adds that the talks progressed to the point where only one team liked the deal; he's not sure whether talks can resume or not.
TUESDAY, 7:00am: Morosi tweets that the deal is still a possibility as of this morning, according to one source.
MONDAY, 11:23pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post hears that the Tigers were never satisfied with the blockbuster talks.
10:05pm: The D'Backs pushed for a blockbuster three-way deal with the Yankees and Tigers today, only to see one of those two teams veto it, according to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. However, the teams are discussing the following scenario.
The deal would send Curtis Granderson to the Yanks, along with a prospect or two from the D'Backs. Arizona would obtain Edwin Jackson from the Tigers and Ian Kennedy from the Yankees. The Tigers would obtain Max Scherzer from the D'Backs and Austin Jackson, Phil Coke and Michael Dunn from the Yanks.
Talks are apparently at an "impasse" now, though the D'Backs continue to push for a trade.
Nationals To Sign Ivan Rodriguez
9:30am: Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports notes that this contract "immediately prompted questions within the industry." Scott Boras just has a knack for getting teams to overpay, as you know.
TUESDAY, 12:09am: Ed Price of AOL FanHouse says the deal pays Pudge $2.5-3MM per season.
11:41pm: MLB.com's Bill Ladson says it's almost certain that Wil Nieves will be non-tendered now.
11:30pm: Jon Heyman of SI.com reports (via e-mail) that the deal is done, pending a physical.
MONDAY, 11:20pm: The Nationals agreed to sign Ivan Rodriguez to a two-year deal worth $6MM, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown. The Rangers will obtain a supplementary rounder in next year's draft because Pudge signed elsewhere after they offered arbitration.
This is a coup for Scott Boras: a multi-year deal for a 38-year-old catcher in a market filled with comparable options. Pudge hit .249/.280/.382 for the Rangers and Astros last year.
Jason Marquis Turns Down Arbitration
Jason Marquis turned down arbitration from the Rockies, according to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. If another team signs Marquis, the Rockies will obtain a supplementary round draft pick for their loss. The right-hander is looking for a multi-year deal.
Odds & Ends: Colletti, Chapman, Duchscherer
More links. These rumors never stop…
- Remember the extension Dodgers GM Ned Colletti agreed to after the season? Jon Heyman of SI.com says it's for five years, through 2014.
- ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. passes on a tidbit from his colleague, Enrique Rojas: the Phils have apparently inquired on Aroldis Chapman.
- The Red Sox met with Justin Duchscherer's agent last night, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.
- The Mariners should finalize the Chone Figgins signing tomorrow, according to MLB.com's Doug Miller.
Lyon, Rodney Turn Down Arbitration
11:32pm: Lyon's agent tells Beck that his client could still work out a deal with the Tigers.
11:28pm: MLB.com's Jason Beck reports that Fernando Rodney also turned down arbitration. Like Lyon, he could bring the Tigers a supplemental rounder.
10:39pm: Brandon Lyon will turn down arbitration from the Tigers, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Lyon, a Type B free agent, will net the Tigers a supplemental round pick if he signs elsewhere.
The Phillies and Yankees are among the teams with interest in the 30-year-old.
Marlon Byrd Turns Down Arbitration
Marlon Byrd turned down arbitration from the Rangers, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan. So did Ivan Rodriguez, who just agreed to sign with the Nationals. The Rangers will obtain a supplemental round draft pick for Rodriguez and they will get a second one if Byrd leaves Texas, too.
Brian Shouse Turns Down Arbitration
Brian Shouse has turned down arbitration from the Rays, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times. The Type B free agent will net the Rays a supplemental round pick next year if he signs elsewhere.
Rod Barajas Turns Down Arbitration
Rod Barajas turned down arbitration from the Blue Jays, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. The Jays are now in position to obtain a sandwich round pick in next year's draft if the catcher signs elsewhere.