By Tim Dierkes | at
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves and Cardinals discussed a trade for outfielder Rick Ankiel. However, the Braves did not want to give up Mike Gonzalez. I’m surprised; one year of Gonzalez for one of Ankiel sounds like a good swap for the Braves.
Rosenthal says the two teams also talked about swapping Blaine Boyer for Joe Mather, but that didn’t pan out either.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald talked to Scott Boras, who said the Tigers’ acquisition of Gerald Laird actually improves Jason Varitek’s prospects. Perhaps Boras is implying that the Rangers are now less likely to deal an additional catcher. But it’s still hard to figure out which team would be willing to give Varitek a decent-sized multiyear deal and surrender a draft pick.
Silverman runs through a slew of catchers the Red Sox like. Jack Magruder says they could be a serious player for Arizona’s Miguel Montero.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Kevin Baxter of the L.A. Times passes along quotes from Rays manager Joe Maddon, who is fond of Garrett Anderson. Maddon knows GA from his days as an Angels coach. Whether the Rays are actually interested in his services remains to be seen.
By Tim Dierkes | at
11:56pm: Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer on whether the rumored two-year, $25MM offer with a third-year option is true: "Absolutely not." It will require three guaranteed years at least to sign K-Rod.
8:43pm: K-Rod gave some quotes to the media, nothing interesting.
7:14pm: Stark says the Mets finished their meet with Fuentes; Hoffman is up next. Wood is not in Vegas. Stark adds that the Mets discussed concepts but did not make a formal offer to K-Rod.
6:45pm: Sherman now says the Mets’ offer was for $25MM over two years plus a third year option.
6:03pm: Rodriguez’s agent Paul Kinzer told Sherman he’ll try to be creative with this contract. Sherman asked whether that could mean an opt-out clause, and Kinzer responded in the affirmative. Sherman says the Mets’ offer is in the range of three years, $33MM; no talk of the vesting option Heyman mentioned.
5:26pm: Jon Heyman says the Mets offered K-Rod a two-year deal worth about $12MM per with a third-year vesting option. Doesn’t sound like something he’ll jump at.
2:14pm: Joel Sherman rejects Graziano’s report. Sherman says the Mets have not talked to the Jays about B.J. Ryan.
1:39pm: Gerry Fraley learned from a team official that the Mets made a three-year offer to K-Rod, but they don’t expect him to take it immediately.
12:06pm: Joel Sherman has details on the Mets’ talks for Huston Street. Omar Minaya called the Rox a few weeks ago suggesting Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano for Street. The Rockies took the weekend to think about it, but when they called back Minaya had changed his mind.
In another article, Sherman says Omar Minaya’s approach toward free agent closers is Boras-like. He believes the Mets’ offer to K-Rod last night was three years with an option.
11:16am: Jon Heyman and Ken Davidoff/David Lennon agree that the Mets are meeting with Fuentes and Hoffman shortly. And Heyman believes the Mets’ offer to K-Rod last night was for three years.
10:33am: Dan Graziano of the Newark Star-Ledger says the Mets and Blue Jays had discussions about B.J. Ryan. However, the Jays want Fernando Martinez and the Mets don’t want to trade the young outfield prospect.
7:50am: According to David Lennon of Newsday, the Omar Minaya and other Mets officials dined at a steakhouse with Francisco Rodriguez for over four hours Sunday night. Lennon believes the early presence of Mets COO Jeff Wilpon implies that negotiations with K-Rod may have reached a critical stage.
SI.com’s Jon Heyman wrote earlier yesterday evening that the Mets were expected to make an offer to Rodriguez at the meeting. Maybe three years with a vesting option.
The Mets also plan to meet with Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman today, with Kerry Wood also on the radar. Ken Davidoff looks at the options and says, "It’s gotta be K-Rod." The Rangers like Wood as well, by the way.
By Tim Dierkes | at
11:37pm: Jon Heyman says Ruben Amaro Jr. is being very aggressive in his pursuits of Moyer and Derek Lowe. He says the Phils have offered Moyer two years and $14MM but Moyer wants an additional $4MM on the contract.
12:47pm: According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, the Phillies and Jamie Moyer "continue to haggle purely over dollars." Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. admitted the negotiations have been "a little disappointing."
By Tim Dierkes | at
11:31pm: Adam Dunn is also thought to be a Nationals target. Ken Davidoff says his agent, Greg Genske, met with the Nats today.
10:07pm: Dave Sheinin of The Washington Post says that no matter what the impression is around baseball, the Nationals believe they’re legitimate suitors for Mark Teixeira. Nats owner Ted Lerner met with Scott Boras last week, and they’re "mulling a significant offer to Teixeira."
By Tim Dierkes | at
By my count, I’ve written 66 posts today for MLB Trade Rumors (probably some kind of record). It’s been a ridiculously rumor-packed day, though we’re not shutting it down for a few more hours.
We can’t put all 66 posts on the front page, so you might find that certain rumors have gotten buried. Your best bet is to click this December archive link and scan all the headlines, clicking on the titles of the posts you want to read.
By Tim Dierkes | at
11:20pm: Dayton Moore shot down the Bradley rumor this evening. The KC Star’s Bob Dutton says the Royals still like Rafael Furcal and Orlando Hudson, but they’d need to free up money first. They’d be willing to trade Jose Guillen if there was a taker, but don’t want to move Gil Meche.
9:05pm: Ken Rosenthal spoke to a Rangers official who expects Milton Bradley to move on (at least they’ll snag a supplemental pick). This official believes the Rays and, surprisingly, the Royals are the leading suitors for Bradley. The Rays came away impressed after their lunch date with Bradley, who was in town for Eddie Guardado’s poker tournament.
By Tim Dierkes | at
11:15pm: Melvin confirmed to Tom Haudricourt that the Braves inquired on Hart. However, Melvin has no plans to trade his right fielder. Also, Melvin rejected Dave O’Brien’s suggestion that the Braves have been connected to Hardy.
9:10pm: Doesn’t sound like the Cardinals would want one of the Braves’ middle infielders for Ankiel. Instead, they want to get a starter back if they trade an outfielder.
6:41pm: Dave O’Brien says Ankiel makes sense for the Braves, because the Cards are more willing to deal him and the price would be more reasonable. The Braves also like Raul Ibanez, but not his probable three-year, $30MM+ price tag.
O’Brien is hearing J.J. Hardy’s name connected with the Braves, making him suspect Yunel Escobar could be on the move. Keep in mind though that Doug Melvin did not see inclined to move Hardy in his recent comments.
4:28pm: According to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves have Rick Ankiel, Corey Hart, and Jeremy Hermida on the radar (with more interest in the first two). Bowman doesn’t believe the Braves have much interest in Ryan Ludwick.
By Tim Dierkes | at
11:12pm: Clarification of the earlier Colletti stuff from Tony Jackson: "What Colletti actually said was that Sabathia had made the Dodgers aware, not directly but through conversations with third parties, that he had a desire to pitch for them."
10:38pm: Heyman says the Red Sox talked parameters with Sabathia and "perhaps even" made an offer. They’re not expected to beat the Yankees’ offer though.
Jeff Passan offers his take on the Brewers’ angle.
9:26pm: Rosenthal’s source says the Red Sox were just doing their due diligence in meeting with Sabathia. The Sox are focused on Mark Teixeira.
9:19pm: The Giants say it’s "debatable" as to whether they’ll meet with Sabathia. Andrew Baggarly indicates Brian Sabean implied they don’t plan to make a competitive offer to Sabathia.
9:14pm: Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash says Sabathia is not concerned about the makeup of the Brewers’ roster. Doug Melvin does not believe they’d need to be too creative with a contract.
7:26pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia requested both Yankees meetings, the second of which took place at the pitcher’s room at the Wynn. Sabathia’s left Vegas, and didn’t give the Yanks a timetable.
7:17pm: Bill Shaikin talked to a Giants official who says they’re "definitively" not interested in Manny Ramirez. They are, however, interested in Sabathia.
Abraham notes that Sabathia requested that second meet with the Yanks.
6:19pm: Peter Abraham learned from Brian Cashman that the Yanks met with Sabathia again today.
5:41pm: Sabathia’s meeting with Yankees officials lasted 2.5 hours yesterday, as he gathered information on the team and the city. He told the Yankees he’s not delaying his decision due to a desire to pitch elsewhere; he just wants to gather the facts.
4:32pm: Sabathia apparently told Colletti he wants to be a Dodger? Speaking to reporters, Colletti left it as a "possibility" the Dodgers could get involved.
4:12pm: Doug Melvin deems the opt-out and sixth year chatter "speculation" (despite the reports below and another from Phil Rogers). But after meeting with Sabathia’s agents today, Melvin says the Brewers are still in it. They’ll meet again later in the week.
Also, there’s an article making the rounds where Bill Madden quotes an industry source as saying Greg Genske is "dead as an agent" if Sabathia ends up signing for $120MM.
12:03pm: Joel Sherman says Brian Cashman brought Joe Girardi and Reggie Jackson along for their recent meeting with Sabathia. Privately, the Yanks feel that Sabathia would be entirely invested in New York if he signs with them (despite his West Coast leanings).
11:49am: Jon Heyman has a Brewers update. He says they’re open to adding a sixth year, bringing the total to $120MM (closer to $110MM with deferred money). He also heard an opt-out clause could be added after two years. Heyman says Sabathia hated having Spring Training in Florida, a slight mark against the Yankees.
10:30am: Dan Graziano was told yesterday that the Brewers added a sixth year to their Sabathia offer, but he admits there are conflicting reports on that.
9:33am: Buster Olney says to take it for what it’s worth, but his source says the meeting between Sabathia and the Yankees went "great."
8:44am: According to George King of the New York Post, the Brewers could offer C.C. Sabathia an opt-out clause after three seasons to entice him to sign (similar to the Blue Jays’ deal for A.J. Burnett). At this time, only the Brewers and Yankees have offers on the table for Sabathia. King talked to a source who said in regard to the Giants, "It would have to be a total default position in terms of years and dollars." Perhaps that indicates the Giants can’t really go beyond the Brewers’ five-year, $100MM offer.
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information
hide arrows scroll to top
