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Mark Teixeira Rumors: Sunday

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To recap: Teixeira told Erin Andrews on Thursday that he wants to have it finished before Christmas, according to Mike Scarr of mlb.com. It’s reasonable to anticipate the winter meetings, December 8-11, to be a suitable high profile venue  for Boras to break the news. The Angels are preparing an offer for Mark Teixeira, perhaps with a deadline. If he doesn’t accept it, they may make a move for Jake Peavy. The Yankees are "set to be aggressive" if they only land one of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, or Derek Lowe. The Red Sox are apparently "lusting" for him, but are otherwise hush-hush, a sign that they might offer Teixeira the biggest contract in club history, predicts Tony Masarotti of the Boston Herald.

Teixeira seems to be leaning towards East Coast teams, says Randy Youngman of the Orange County Register. Says Youngman,

"I don’t think it will be with the Angels. If he were going to re-sign in Anaheim, I think it already would have happened. Just a gut feeling. Even the people I talk to in the organization don’t seem optimistic. Teixeira would be ridiculed if he signed with perpetual losers such as the Baltimore Orioles or Washington Nationals, so my guess is he’ll sign with the Boston Red Sox."

The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo thinks Teixeira will wind up with the Angels because, while the Angels might struggle to afford him, they simply can’t afford to lose him.

With Billingsley Hurt, Dodgers Eyeing Peavy?

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Chad Billingsley slipped on ice, fell, and broke his leg according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, spreading the Dodgers rotation thin as it stands.

"How this will affect the Dodgers’ maneuverings in the free-agent and trade markets, if at all, is… uncertain. General Manager Ned Colletti was unavailable for comment Saturday night. With [Derek] Lowe and [Brad] Penny expected to sign elsewhere and Greg Maddux likely to retire, the Dodgers’ rotation at this point consists of only Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda and 20-year-old Clayton Kershaw."

Hernandez reports the Dodgers are saying he’ll be ready for spring training. Buster Olney thinks that’s what you say when you might suddenly be re-interested in front-end rotation depth, namely Jake Peavy.

The Dodgers had previously lost interest when Kevin Towers asked for a package including Billingsley.

Olney’s Latest: Sabathia, Varitek

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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.

Cafardo’s Latest: Lugo For Dontrelle?

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MONDAY: Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is casting a wide net for his shortstop vacancy, but no deals are close.

SUNDAY: Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports on a trade that seems too obvious to actually happen: the Tigers are "contemplating a deal with Boston to send either Nate Robertson or Dontrelle Willis for Julio Lugo, but some money issues must be resolved.

In the same article, he mentions Lugo had the lowest average with runners in scoring position in the majors, .139, and wishes him a happy 33rd birthday.

Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press had speculated on this in September.

Odds & Ends: Kawakami, Renteria, Johnson, Ohman

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A number of Odds & Ends for your weekend update:

Union Pressuring Sabathia?

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Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News reports that CC Sabathia may be getting pressured by the Players Association to accept the Yankees 6 year, $140MM offer. Sabathia inking this dea would result in lucrative contracts for other free agent starting pitchers. However, McCarron adds,

"One source familiar with the union’s thinking disagreed, insisting that "players are the ones who make the final decisions where they want to play, for how long and for how much. Free agents have played long enough to earn the right to make the ultimate decision.’ Two player agents contacted Saturday agreed that players have earned the right to have choices once they are free agents. Pressure from the union, they say, usually comes when a young, arbitration-eligible star signs a contract that trades years of free agency for a measure of security."

Yankees Pursuing Peavy

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A quick update on Jake Peavy. On Thursday, Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune said it was clear that neither the Braves nor Cubs would be acquiring Peavy. The Braves are moving on, looking at A.J. Burnett, despite Buster Olney’s suggestion that both sides need this deal. Krasovic wondered if Kevin Towers might approach the Yankees and Angels.

Yesterday, Ken Rosenthal reports Brian Cashman and Towers have been discussing a Peavy deal since the GM meetings earlier this month. Towers apparently wanted to engage NL clubs – a "strong preference" for Peavy – before touching base again with the Yankees again but talks have now officially recommenced.

This continues to be mentioned as it makes good news, and who knows, but it remains a longshot. Peavy would need to be given financial reason to waive his no-trade clause to play for a high-profile AL club on the east coast, and the Yankees would need to trade more prospects (despite already dealing five young pitchers away for Nick Swisher, Damaso Marte, and Xavier Nady) rather than solve their rotation needs through free agent signings.

Mets Concerned About K-Rod’s Velocity

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John Harper of the New York Daily News has been reporting on a rumor that Francisco Rodriguez’s decreased velocity last season has been a source of hesitation for the Mets. Harper reported yesterday,

"…a source said the Mets ’have concerns’ about… K-Rod’s dip in velocity, from 95-96 mph a couple of years ago to 91-92 mph this year, also is a concern as he seeks a long-term deal.

"His velocity was down and he had back-to-back years of heavy use," the source said. "The history in those cases for most guys is that it catches up to you."

A legitimate concern that every ball club should be scrutinizing but not something a player’s agent(s) are ever keen to be publicized. And in another article updated last night, Harper published their immediate response:

"K-Rod’s agent, Paul Kinzer, insists that such talk is misinformed. He says that Rodriguez is more comfortable throwing his fastball at lower velocities because it gives him better command. ’I saw him hit 96 (mph) twice and 97 once late in the season…" Kinzer said Saturday. "The velocity is there when he needs to reach back for it. He told me he’s just more comfortable around 92-93.

’He says he has a better feel for his change-up when he’s not overthrowing his fastball, and his change-up has become a big part of his arsenal.’"

I’m surprised Kinzer could not muster up a more convincing defense considering his client, due to his violent delivery, has long been considered a potential for injury.

In that same article, Harper cites a source that says the Mets are looking to sign a closer for no longer than three years.

Nats Trade For Olsen, Willingham

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9:44pm: Juan C. Rodriguez of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel was assured this evening that Dan Uggla will not be traded this winter.  Additonally, Mike Berardino says the Marlins won’t be signing Ivan Rodriguez for a second stint.

6:34pm: According to ESPN’s Peter Gammons, the Nationals acquired Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham from the Marlins for second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and two minor league players, pitcher P.J. Dean and shortstop Jake Smolinski.

Bonifacio was the prospect the Diamondbacks traded straight up for Jon Rauch.  He fits into the "speed and defense" plan.  Smolinski was ranked 11th among Nationals prospects heading into the season according to Baseball America.  They consider him a polished hitter with gap power.  Dean was ranked 30th, but he projects well and could become a mid-rotation starter according to BA.

I have to say, I thought the Marlins would get more for these two players.  There’s not really a sure thing in the bunch.  Did Jim Bowden pull a heist, or was this the true market value of these two players?  Olsen’s peripheral stats weren’t great this year, while Willingham has back problems.

Tim Dierkes also contributed to this post.

Cafardo’s Latest: Contract Swap Meet

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The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo wonders:

"I never really understood why there aren’t more "swap meet" type deals in baseball. As in, ’You take what I can’t use and I’ll take what you can’t use.’"

It’s a valid question if you believe a change of scenery can help a player and yet these deals rarely happen. Cafardo then goes on to list all of the players he considers "overpriced, underperforming, too old, or not useful to their present teams." Here’s the list:

Table 1, starting pitchers: Barry Zito (Giants); Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson (Tigers); Adam Eaton (Phillies); Carlos Silva, Miguel Batista, and Jarrod Washburn (Mariners); Daniel Cabrera (Orioles); Jeff Suppan (Brewers); Ian Kennedy and Kei Igawa (Yankees); Scott Olsen (Marlins).

Table 2, relief pitchers: Mike MacDougal (White Sox); Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoenweis (Mets); Jason Frasor (Blue Jays); Luis Vizcaino (Rockies); Kevin Gregg (Marlins); Justin Speier (Angels); Brandon Backe (Astros).

Table 3, infielders: Julio Lugo (Red Sox); Jack Wilson and Freddie Sanchez (Pirates); Scott Rolen (Blue Jays); Miguel Tejada (Astros); Melvin Mora (Orioles); Rickie Weeks and Bill Hall (Brewers); Mark Teahen and Ross Gload (Royals); Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young (Nationals); Luis Castillo (Mets).

Table 4, catchers: Yorvit Torrealba (Rockies); Ramon Hernandez (Orioles); Bengie Molina (Giants); Kenji Johjima (Mariners).

Table 5, outfielders: David Dellucci (Indians); Eric Byrnes (Diamondbacks); Nick Swisher (White Sox); Dave Roberts and Randy Winn (Giants); Kosuke Fukudome and Alfonso Soriano (Cubs); Gary Sheffield (Tigers); Gary Matthews Jr. (Angels); Austin Kearns and Wily Mo Pena (Nationals); Jeremy Hermida and Josh Willingham (Marlins); Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, and Melky Cabrera (Yankees); Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones (Dodgers); Willy Taveras (Rockies); Jeff Francoeur (Braves).

Cafardo says the reason we don’t see more of these "swaps" is that GMs fear ridicule if these deals don’t pan out for them and that matching salaries can be tricky.

He cites a few examples: Julio Lugo for Nate Robertson or Dontrelle Willis as being a possible – this has been discussed here before as a longshot idea. Or what about Kosuke Fukudome for Gary Matthews?

See anything better?

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