Royals Considering Farnsworth, Springer, Lyon
10:28pm: Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star adds Russ Springer to the mix for the Royals. They’d have to find room in the payroll before signing a veteran reliever.
5:32pm: According to MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel, the Royals will hear from the agent for Brandon Lyon, Kyle Farnsworth, and Craig Counsell this week. Lyon and Farnsworth make sense, as the Royals are known to be looking for righthanded relief help. They’ve been linked to The Farnz before. And there was recent word they might look at veteran infielders to replace Mark Grudzielanek.
A.J. Burnett Rumors: Monday
9:57pm: Jerry Crasnick says the Red Sox met with Braunecker today and are "right there in the mix with Atlanta and the Yankees for Burnett."
6:37pm: Dave O’Brien is getting indications Burnett could make a decision this week and not wait for Sabathia. But O’Brien believes it’d take a five-year offer (no vesting option) for him to do that.
6:15pm: Heyman agrees, suggesting a forthcoming Yankee offer for Burnett in the four-year, $64MM range.
5:38pm: Jerry Crasnick and Jayson Stark believe the Yankees want to meet with Burnett’s agent, and may be willing to offer more guaranteed money than Atlanta did. The Braves apparently guaranteed $60MM over four years and added a vesting option. Burnett and Derek Lowe hope to wait until C.C. Sabathia signs.
3:56pm: ESPN’s Peter Gammons says Burnett’s agents feel talks are progressing with the Braves.
11:54am: According to Ken Rosenthal, free agent starter A.J. Burnett talked to former teammate Carl Pavano about the Yankees. Pavano did not steer Burnett away, despite his poor experience.
Rockies Rumors: Taveras, Villone, Marquis
9:48pm: The Rockies are moving forward on a deal for Rusch, according to Tracy Ringolsby. Ringolsby adds that the Rox may explore a long-term deal with Ubaldo Jimenez after the holidays, but aren’t quite ready to do so with Chris Iannetta. Also, the Rockies like Josh Bard but they don’t have room for him.
1:00pm: Joel Sherman adds Eddie Guardado as a lefty of interest for Colorado.
2:07am: Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post sums up the latest hot stove buzz around the Rockies.
- As you know, the Nationals are interested in Rockies outfielder Willy Taveras. Taveras might be just a step above a non-tender, so the price shouldn’t be too high. The real question is whether the Nats are planning on starting four players in the outfield.
- Joe Beimel is dropping out of the picture, but the Rockies still like Alan Embree, Ron Villone, and Glendon Rusch.
- The Mets’ asking price for Aaron Heilman was too high. Jason Marquis could be a trade target, he can at least eat innings at a cost of $6MM to the Rockies. Then again, a lot of guys can do that.
- No chance of multiyear contract talks between the Rockies and Brian Fuentes.
Colletti Frustrated With Manny Situation
9:44pm: Jayson Stark says Boras requested a meeting with the Dodgers for Tuesday, presumably to discuss Manny. However, Danny Knobler suggests negotiations for Manny will be handled by Frank McCourt.
3:34pm: Dodgers GM Ned Colletti seems frustrated with the Manny Ramirez situation, based on quotes obtained by ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick:
"I just find it curious. We made an offer and never heard back. We made an arbitration offer and never heard back. Maybe we have to look into the communications we’re using."
It seems that Scott Boras didn’t seriously consider accepting either offer, given the complete lack of communication. Colletti will continue trying to fill the team’s other needs.
Colletti was chatty with reporters; Joel Sherman has more. The Dodgers have moved on from Derek Lowe and are past the possibility of Jason Varitek. C.C. Sabathia doesn’t sound like a priority for Colletti, while Rafael Furcal remains on the radar. And of course a deal may be close with Casey Blake.
Tigers Sign Adam Everett, Twins Like Wilson
9:42pm: Contrary to Kovacevic’s report below, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch says the Twins are not pursuing Wilson. Still, LEN3 sides with Kovacevic on this one.
2:31pm: Rosenthal confirms it. The Tigers reached a one-year agreement with Everett for $1MM plus incentives. The deal is pending a physical.
1:44pm: According to Dejan Kovacevic, the Tigers are set to sign free agent shortstop Adam Everett. Kovacevic says this takes them out of the running for Jack Wilson. The Twins have emerged as a suitor for Wilson.
Sheets Meets With Yankees, Rangers
9:24pm: The Rangers met with Sheets and his agent, according to T.R. Sullivan. Jon Daniels said not to read too much into it.
7:13pm: Per Sherman, the Yanks met with Sheets today.
6:30pm: Free agent hurler Ben Sheets arrived in Vegas this afternoon, according to Ken Rosenthal. Sheets wouldn’t comment much on the Yankees, but said he wouldn’t burn the bridge leading to a possible Milwaukee return.
MLB.com reports that the Rangers would like to chat with Sheets this week (he currently lives in Dallas). They’d have to free up some cash to sign him. Jon Daniels was already planning on meeting with Sheets’ agent Casey Close in regards to Jason Jennings.
Giants Rumors: Burrell, Turnbow, Sanchez
9:22pm: Baggarly says Brian Sabean touched base with 25 teams today. Baggarly does not buy recent rumors connecting the Giants to Cantu, Encarnacion, and Hank Blalock.
6:08pm: Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News provides the Giants rumors…
- Pat Burrell would love to play for the Giants, but he’s far down on the team’s list due to defensive concerns.
- The Giants offered Derrick Turnbow a non-guaranteed contract. The Pirates are another team eyeing Turnbow.
- Jonathan Sanchez is a popular name in trade talks. Baggarly doesn’t foresee a Sanchez for Edwin Encarnacion or Jorge Cantu straight up type deal.
Bailey-Dye Trade Report Shot Down
9:06pm: Ken Williams speaks. No Dye trade, but plenty of interest.
6:26pm: Dusty Baker spoke about the Dye trade talks today, saying he thought they were "kind of off because of economics and because everybody wants your young players."
MONDAY, 4:24pm: McCoy talks more about the rumor he originated. He said a reliable White Sox insider told him the Dye deal was in place and wonders if Ken Williams changed his mind.
SUNDAY, 10:06pm: Walt Jocketty on the report: "Wrong. It’s not even close." The Reds haven’t had talks with the Sox since before Thanksgiving.
9:32pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick adds that Dye and his agent "haven’t heard a word" about a trade. Reds assistant GM Bob Miller rejected the report, adding, "We haven’t talked to White Sox since we got here."
8:51pm: Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says "a source familiar with the talks" rejected the report below. The Sox want more than just Bailey. Gonzales’ source adds that talks with the Mets for Bobby Jenks fell apart over Omar Minaya’s unwillingness to include Bobby Parnell.
7:46pm: According to Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, a Major League source told him a Homer Bailey for Jermaine Dye trade "is done and will be announced this week."
It’d essentially be six years of Bailey for one of Dye (plus possible draft pick compensation), as Dye has a mutual option for 2010 at $12MM. Those almost never get fully exercised – if one side wants it, the other doesn’t. It would be interesting to see what the White Sox could do with Bailey given their recent success developing young pitchers.
Indians Hope Mets Sign K-Rod
8:55pm: Rosenthal says the Indians met with Kerry Wood‘s agent today and remain interested in Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman.
1:03pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Indians hope the Mets sign Francisco Rodriguez, as they’d like to get a bargain on Brian Fuentes. The Tribe could also attempt to acquire J.J. Putz from the Mariners.
Yankees Rumors: Teixeira, Pettitte
A couple of Yankees non-rumors. Brian Cashman said he did not make an offer to Mark Teixeira when they met last week. Additionally, he does not have a meeting scheduled with Andy Pettitte‘s agents (though still hopes to re-sign him).