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A.J. Burnett Rumors: Wednesday

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MLB.com’s Mark Bowman chatted with A.J. Burnett’s agent, Darek Braunecker.  Braunecker is confident he can get a five-year deal for Burnett, though a fifth year is not necessarily a requirement.  A four-year deal is possible if the average annual value is significantly higher.  My feeling: why pay Burnett $72MM over four years if you could get that fifth year for a marginal $8MM?

The Braves and Burnett still have mutual interest, and Braunecker characterized talks as positive.  Bowman also talked to Chipper Jones, who had kind words for Burnett.  Bowman believes Jones will feel more comfortable about finishing his career with the Braves if they sign Burnett.

Brown’s Latest: Fuentes, Hoffman, Wilson, Aurilia

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Here’s a look at the latest from Yahoo’s Tim Brown.

  • The Mets kicked around the idea internally of signing both Brian Fuentes and Trevor Hoffman.  The eighth inning would be a tough sell for either pitcher though.
  • Brown says that if the Angels fail to sign Mark Teixeira they will try to sign C.C. Sabathia as well as a closer like Fuentes.
  • The Dodgers want the Pirates to eat "a huge chunk" of the $7.85MM Jack Wilson has coming.
  • The Giants and Dodgers have shown interest in Rich Aurilia.

C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Wednesday

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6:19pm: It sounds like Sabathia’s agent Greg Genske is shutting things down for the weekend.  He didn’t reveal anything new to Brewers GM Doug Melvin.  Adam McCalvy also notes that the Brewers will offer Sabathia arbitration, a procedural move.

12:49pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to Yankees people who believe the Angels leaked interest in Sabathia to reduce Tex’s demands.  Those people also believe the Halos will limit their offer to the $100-120MM range.  Other factors: Tex makes more sense for the Angels, Arte Moreno loves him, and signing Sabathia could reduce the chances of extending John Lackey.

Nonetheless, Heyman agrees with a rival executive that the Angels are quite serious about Sabathia.

8:51am: The big news yesterday was the L.A. Times report stating that the Angels "are in discussions with C.C. Sabathia and could offer him a contract that approaches the $140 million bid extended to him by the Yankees." 

Ken Davidoff wrote this morning that the Yankees are reluctant to raise their offer to Sabathia, even if it means he signs with the Halos.  Davidoff says the Yanks would step up their efforts for A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe if they lose Sabathia.

Meanwhile Dan Graziano says Yankees officials scoffed at the idea of the Angels turning their attention to Sabathia.  Those officials believe it’s a ploy to get Mark Teixeira to drop his demands.  Danny Knobler, however, believes the Angels have already moved on from Teixeira.  He says the Angels have long-term concerns about Tex’s knee.

Which Type As Will Be Offered Arbitration?

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There are 27 Type A free agents.  To receive two draft picks as compensation, the player’s original team must offer arbitration.  If the player turns down the offer and signs elsewhere, the original team gets the picks.  If the player accepts the offer, the team is "stuck" with the player on a non-guaranteed one-year deal.  Arbitration decisions are due December 1st.

Let’s do a reader survey on whether arbitration will be offered for each Type A free agent.  Click the checkbox next to any player you predict will be offered arbitration.  Click here to take the survey, and here to view the results.

Twins Rumors: Padres, Blake, Reyes

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Joe Christensen brings us the latest on the Twins, but unfortunately there’s not much going on.

  • Christensen learned from a Padres official that there’s been very little dialogue with the Twins.  Some have suggested Kevin Kouzmanoff and Khalil Greene would be fits for Minnesota.  Hopefully they’re setting their sights higher.
  • On the Casey Blake front: slight progress.
  • The Twins have an arbitration decision to make by Monday’s deadline with Dennys Reyes, who is a Type B.  The Twins won’t get burned badly if Reyes accepts, so I imagine they’ll offer.  He probably wants two years somewhere instead.

Odds and Ends: Maddux, Krivsky, Maroth

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Links for Wednesday…

Rosenthal On Boras’ Scheme

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Ken Rosenthal has a theory on Scott Boras’ goals in the free agent game:

  • Mark Teixeira and Jason Varitek to the Red Sox
  • C.C. Sabathia and Manny Ramirez to the Angels
  • Derek Lowe to the Yankees

The crux of the theory seems to be that Boras would want Manny near his Newport Beach headquarters to better babysit him.  Personally I have a hard time seeing any team sign two of the big three free agents, and it’s difficult to picture Manny as an Angel.

Rosenthal doesn’t see the Dodgers as major players, partially based on recent comments made by the McCourts.

A’s Interested In Nick Johnson, Jason Giambi

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3:06pm: Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has more.  She says the A’s checked in on Johnson a month ago, and they’re looking into multiple first base/DH types that fit the affordable/solid OBP mold.  Slusser believes Jason Giambi remains the A’s top target, assuming he backs off his three-year demand.  She adds that the A’s want to keep Daric Barton and get him back on track.

12:59pm: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson talked to a baseball source who says the A’s received Johnson’s medical records but trade talks have not yet begun.  Ladson’s source added that several other teams have Johnson’s records as well.

9:33am: I missed this nugget in Ken Rosenthal’s column last night, but fortunately DRays Bay found it:

The A’s have requested and received the medical records of Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson, who underwent season-ending wrist surgery last June.

On paper, adding Matt Holliday, Rafael Furcal, and Johnson would transform Oakland’s offense.  Of course, Furcal and Johnson are injury risks.  Johnson is set to earn $5.5MM in ’09 after missing most of the ’08 season.  The asking price for him can’t be terribly high, yet he’s capable of a .400 OBP and would benefit from the chance to DH occasionally.

I initially had a note here about Jim Bowden and Billy Beane matching up in ’03 on the Jose Guillen–Aaron Harang trade, but I just read that Bowden was fired a few days before the deal.

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