Pirates Rumors: McLouth, Maholm, Doumit
WEDNESDAY, 6:22pm: Kovacevic says Doumit’s agent will meet with the Pirates later tonight to discuss their offer. Rob Biertempfel says the Pirates did make offers to all three and want to finalize deals within six to eight weeks.
TUESDAY, 11:28pm: Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers up the latest information on the Pirates.
- The Pirates have initiated extension talks with Nate McLouth, Ryan Doumit, and Paul Maholm. The Braves inquired on McLouth and Maholm, but the Pirates’ demands were "way high" according to an Atlanta official. Kovacevic mentions Jordan Schafer as someone who could be offered.
- The Pirates had conversations with David Eckstein‘s agent, but not negotiations. The Bucs would probably have to trade a middle infielder for it to make sense. They never made a formal offer to Mark Loretta, who signed with the Dodgers today.
- The Jack Wilson market is tepid – the Twins have mild interest, the Dodgers have moved on to Rafael Furcal.
- While the Pirates have gotten inquiries on John Grabow, teams apparently want to look at free agent options first.
- John Perrotto says Jason Davis will refuse the Pirates’ Triple A assignment and head to Japan.
Cardinals Reliever Rumors
5:57pm: K-Rod’s agent Paul Kinzer said the Cardinals did not offer his client a similar contract.
9:08am: According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals made a bid for Francisco Rodriguez in the neighborhood of the Mets’ successful three-year, $37MM bid. The search continues. Strauss says the Cards plan to explore trades before escalating talks with Brian Fuentes. Potential trade targets: J.J. Putz, Matt Capps, and Jon Rauch. Talks for Jose Valverde "stalled abruptly earlier in the week." The trade bait will probably be on of the Cardinals’ outfielders.
Strauss adds that GM John Mozeliak met with Scott Boras yesterday, possibly to discuss Oliver Perez.
Mets Not Interested In Juan Pierre
5:36pm: Mets GM Omar Minaya shot down the Pierre report, and added that he is not interested in Andruw Jones either.
11:59am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Mets have shown interest in Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre. Pierre’s has another $28.5MM on his deal, which runs through 2011. The Dodgers would need to take on "a large chunk" of that.
Rangers Inquire On Sheffield
5:25pm: Jon Paul Morosi confirms the interest from the Tigers side. He says the Tigers and Rangers have yet to have any serious trade talks about Sheffield. Also, it’s not clear whether the Rangers are covered in Sheffield’s no-trade clause. Morosi wonders whether the Rangers could try to take on Frank Catalanotto and the $6MM he has coming.
5:04pm: MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan talked to a Rangers official who said they would be willing to consider Sheffield if the Tigers want to give him away.
3:19pm: According to Gerry Fraley, the Rangers inquired with the Tigers on the availability of Gary Sheffield. The Tigers probably wouldn’t mind moving Sheff’s $14MM salary for ’09.
Redding For Taveras Trade Is Off
5:14pm: Troy Renck says a source close to Redding said he did not fail his physical. So if his report and Rojas’ report are both true, Taveras failed his.
WEDNESDAY, 4:08pm: ESPN’s Enrique Rojas says a Taveras for Redding swap fell apart when one of the players failed a physical.
TUESDAY, 10:28pm: Bill Ladson talked to a source who said Taveras was not part of the talks with the Rockies today.
10:21pm: Sheinin says the Nats are apparently the ones who balked at the Redding-Taveras swap.
9:45pm: Troy Renck says this trade is dead for now. Joe Koshansky was discussed at one point, he notes.
9:28pm: Tracy Ringolsby says (story has been removed) a Tim Redding for Willy Taveras swap is close but some details still need to be worked out. Dave Sheinin considers it an exchange of non-tender candidates.
Dodgers Sign Mark Loretta
WEDNESDAY: The Dodgers officially announced Loretta’s one-year deal, which is for $1.25MM.
MONDAY: According to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, the Dodgers agreed to terms with Mark Loretta on a one-year deal worth around $1.4MM tonight. He’ll take his physical on Tuesday. Loretta was a Type B free agent, but the Astros did not offer him arbitration so there will be no draft pick compensation.
Mets Sign Francisco Rodriguez
WEDNESDAY, 4:47pm: The Mets officially announced the three-year deal with K-Rod. David Lennon and Ben Shpigel give inside looks at the negotiations.
TUESDAY, 4:43pm: The Angels didn’t get a chance to match the Mets’ offer.
3:42pm: Sherman agrees on the fourth year, $14MM vesting option mentioned by Rosenthal.
2:31pm: Sherman says the Mets agreed to terms with K-Rod on a three-year, $37MM deal. He gets about half as much money as was originally floated. The Angels will receive the Mets’ #25 pick in next year’s draft as well as a supplemental pick.
2:12pm: Sherman says K-Rod may be in New York tomorrow for his physical.
1:43pm: Sherman says Kinzer and the Mets are huddled this morning trying to put the finishing touches on the K-Rod deal. If it gets done, the Mets may move on to Derek Lowe. Rosenthal says the deal includes a $14MM fourth-year vesting option plus performance bonuses.
6:32am: David Lennon of Newsday also speaks of a three-year deal worth $12MM a year being close.
2:46am: Jon Heyman says the Mets appear to be closing in on a deal with K-Rod, likely for three years and about $37MM. The gap was apparently closed when the Mets guaranteed a third year. Just a year ago, a lesser, older free agent closer, Francisco Cordero, received four years and $46MM.
12:54am: According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets are on the brink of landing Francisco Rodriguez. His agent Paul Kinzer is more optimistic than ever. A deal could be done before the end of the Meetings.
Nationals Release Jesus Colome
According to the AP, the Nationals released reliever Jesus Colome today. After earning $1.25MM in ’08, Colome was a non-tender candidate anyway.
J.J. Putz Rumors: Wednesday
2:04pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cardinals offered Rick Ankiel and a prospect for Putz. The Tigers remain interested as well.
9:23am: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "the Tigers’ interest in acquiring closer J.J. Putz from Seattle appears stronger than ever." Morosi says the Mariners insist the Tigers include Jeff Larish and Matt Joyce in a deal. If the Ms acquire Larish and are convinced he can play third base, they may be motivated to shop Adrian Beltre. Morosi adds that Brewers and Cardinals have also inquired on Putz.
Brian Fuentes still seems too pricey for Detroit, and Kerry Wood is apparently off the board. Morosi says the Tigers have "mild interest" in Baltimore’s George Sherrill. Joe Beimel remains their top choice among lefty relievers, but the Tigers have yet to offer a contract.
White Sox, Reds Still Talking Dye
1:21pm: Danny Knobler believes the White Sox want to see whether they can move Dye for pitching before entering the free agent market.
WEDNESDAY, 12:23pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Dye-Reds discussions continue at a moderate level, but for now the Sox expect Dye to be their Opening Day right fielder. A deal was close at one point, but Dye’s salary became an issue for the Reds. Rosenthal specualates that the Reds could now just try to get a bargain on Bobby Abreu or Pat Burrell.
TUESDAY, 10:37pm: MLB.com’s Scott Merkin says the White Sox have not talked to the Braves since the Javier Vazquez deal. It’s been a quiet Winter Meetings for the Sox so far.
12:17pm: MetsBlog passes along a WFAN report from Sweeny Murti that the Braves are in serious discussions for Dye.
11:11am: From SI.com’s Jon Heyman:
A person familiar with the White Sox’s thinking said late Monday night, "The Jermaine Dye trades are dead … for tonight, anyway.”
Heyman says the Rays, Braves, and Reds were among ten teams to to express interest. He adds that Homer Bailey alone would not have been enough.