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Rafael Furcal Rumors: Tuesday

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10:30pm: Ken Rosenthal reports that Furcal, his wife, and his agent Paul Kinzer met with the A’s in Oakland today.  He received the full tour.  They may discuss financial terms tomorrow.  The Giants and a mystery team are also said to be in the mix.  However, MLB.com’s Chris Haft learned that Kinzer hasn’t spoken with the Giants in two days.

2:56pm: I exchanged emails with Yancen Pujols, sports editor at the El Caribe newspaper.  He reminded me that the author of their article, Rafael Fellito Ortiz, quoted Furcal himself regarding offers from the A’s and Mets.  So the unanswered question here is why Furcal said these things.

9:23am: Let’s sort out the facts involving free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.

  • Reports about Furcal from yesterday from El Caribe and Impacto Deportivo have been dismissed.  There has been no four-year, $48MM offer from the A’s, no four-year, $52MM offer from the Braves, and no interest from the Mets.  MLB.com’s Mark Bowman says the Braves wouldn’t be in a position to make an offer unless they dealt Yunel Escobar or Kelly Johnson first.
  • Three teams have made offers for Furcal, at least one of them for four years according to Dylan Hernandez.  The A’s and Giants seem to be in the lead, while the Dodgers are slipping out of the picture.  Hernandez says they’re "reluctant to even match the three-year, $39 million contract he completed this year." 
  • Susan Slusser expects negotiations for Furcal to drag into December.
  • The third team making an offer seems to be the "surprise team."  That team is not the Mets, and probably not the Dodgers, Reds, or Braves.  Brown wondered if it could be the Cubs, Orioles, or Cardinals.

Mets Rumors: K-Rod, Dye, Vazquez

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6:22pm: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, Minaya has reached out to K-Rod and Fuentes.  He says the Mets prefer free agency to trading. 

We also have a rumor from Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  He says the Mets offered Aaron Heilman to the Rockies for Street shortly after Colorado acquired him.  The Rox wanted the Mets to add Pedro Feliciano, and the Mets refused.  MetsBlog has more insight into the team’s plans.

1:33pm: Rounding up today’s Mets rumors…

  • On Friday, David Lennon of Newsday said the Mets had received Francisco Rodriguez’s medical records.  He also had Omar Minaya saying the club’s doctors were looking it over.  However, Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post writes today that the Mets did not receive the records until yesterday afternoon.  According to Hubbuch, the Mets told Paul Kinzer they’ll get back to him after Thanksgiving regarding K-Rod.
  • Hubbuch names five other Mets targets: Brian Fuentes, Kerry Wood, Trevor Hoffman, J.J. Putz, and Huston Street.
  • Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News talked to Minaya, who said the Mets have not made offers to any free agents yet.
  • In case you missed it, Ken Rosenthal had several Mets nuggets in today’s column.  He said the Mets balked at Chicago’s asking price for Jermaine Dye, and aren’t enamored with Javier Vazquez.  Rosenthal believes the Rays’ Andy Sonnanstine "represents a more desirable target" for the Mets.
  • SI.com’s Jon Heyman rattles off a list of the Mets’ free agent targets, which does not include Manny Ramirez.

Orioles Rumors: Burnett, Markakis, Japan

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3:08pm: Roch Kubatko of MASN Online gives thoughts on the Orioles and Mark Teixeira and Burnett.  Kubatko believes there’s no chance the O’s offer five years to Burnett, and even four would be a stretch.  He’d have to be willing to take a discount to come to Baltimore.  As for Tex, will he be willing to play for a team that may not be competitive in the first few years of his deal?

8:32am: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun talked to A.J. Burnett’s agent Darek Braunecker, who said his client has narrowed his list from twelve to about six teams.  The Orioles remain in the mix after Andy MacPhail had a "nice conversation" with Braunecker on Friday.

It’s speculated that the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Braves are the other five clubs.  In his comments, Braunecker didn’t seem dead set on a five-year deal.

In other Orioles news, Nick Markakis’ agent had "active talks" with MacPhail about a contract extension.  Markakis is entering his three arbitration years.

Finally, Steve Melewski of MASN Online says the O’s have shown interest in four Japanese free agents: Koji Uehara, Kenshin Kawakami, Junichi Tazawa, and catcher Ryoji Aikawa.  Tazawa seems close to signing with the Red Sox.  Uehara might be a more affordable alternative to Burnett.

Cubs Rumors: Teahen, Edmonds, Marquis

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Earlier today I spoke with a source familiar with the Cubs’ thinking, and dug up enough info for a fresh post.

  • While Mark Teahen is a player of interest for the Cubs, they certainly won’t be trading Mike Fontenot and Sean Marshall for him.  The Cubs don’t consider Teahen the middle of the order bat they require.
  • Royals outfielder David DeJesus also interests the Cubs, but the source has the impression Dayton Moore would have to be overwhelmed to trade him.  There seems a good chance DeJesus stays put this winter.
  • The Cubs aren’t keen on bringing Jim Edmonds back for 2009.
  • There are no perfect fits for the right field vacancy, and the Cubs are willing to sacrifice some defense to add that middle of the order lefthanded hitter.
  • The Cubs are hoping a market forms for Jason Marquis, and are willing to eat salary "within reason."  They would be content with Marquis as their fifth starter if nothing surfaces.  I couldn’t get any specifics, but the Cubs do feel that they have reasonable options to clear payroll other than trading Marquis.
  • Teams around baseball are wary of certain Type A/B free agents accepting offers of arbitration.  Expect the Cubs to figure out where Kerry Wood stands before deciding whether to offer.

Odds and Ends: Kawakami, Griffey, Greinke

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Links for Tuesday…

Yankees Backup Plans

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Ken Davidoff of Newsday lays out the backup plans for the Yankees.

Mark Teixeira would come into play for Brian Cashman if C.C. Sabathia turns down the Yankees’ offer.  Davidoff adds that Sabathia would likely turn down the Yankees if Tex turns down the Angels first.  So we could have a scenario where Teixeira signs with the Yankees and Sabathia with the Angels, and neither team addresses its biggest need.  The Yankees could also get in on Manny Ramirez if they fail to sign Sabathia.

There’s some hand-wringing coming out of New York as Sabathia continues to sit on the Yankees’ huge offer.  I don’t think Sabathia’s silence sends a message, nor am I convinced he can’t get a larger contract.  It’s sensible for Sabathia to hear the Angels out, especially with the rumor that they are considering a Johan Santana-like offer.  If the Halos make that offer, the Yankees may have to come back with a seven-year contract worth more than $160MM.

Padres Rumors: Greene, Peavy

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Let’s check in on the Padres.

  • SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to GM Kevin Towers, who doesn’t anticipate a deal for Khalil Greene anytime soon.  The market for free agent shortstops is buzzing right now, so it makes sense to wait until after the top guys sign.
  • MLB.com’s Corey Brock says Towers can’t move to address other team needs until the Jake Peavy situation is resolved.  The package for Peavy will likely fill multiple pitching needs, and then Towers can move on to free agent bargains and a backup catcher.
  • Sean McAdam has a Padres article up at ESPN.com, describing the sad state of affairs.

Astros Interested In Dave Ross

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MLB.com’s Nick Zaccardi talked to Dave Ross’ agent Ryan Gleichowski, who said the Astros are one of at least seven teams to express interest in his client.  The interest is mutual.  Ross, 32 in March, hit .225/.369/.352 in 182 plate appearances for the Reds and Red Sox. He showed big-time power in 2006, but not much since.

Zaccardi also talked to Barry Meister, who represents Paul Bako.  The Louisiana native would be interested in playing for the Astros, but Meister wouldn’t say whether the Astros have been in touch.

Cubs Rumors: Ibanez, Abreu, Teahen

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Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times has a couple of new Cubs articles up, here and here.

  • Manager Lou Piniella would prefer the Cubs acquire a middle of the order hitter over a leadoff man, if only one can be acquired.
  • Piniella had kind words for possible free agent target Raul Ibanez.
  • Piniella continued to dismiss the idea of the Cubs pursuing Jake Peavy (despite recent comments from Padres GM Kevin Towers).
  • He’d like to give Mike Fontenot more playing time in 2009, which would help balance the lineup.  In the spring the Cubs will see if Fontenot can chip in at shortstop.
  • The idea that the Cubs can only move Alfonso Soriano down in the order if they acquire a known leadoff man lives on.
  • Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News reported on Friday that the Cubs had expressed interest in Bobby Abreu.  Wittenmyer says that’s not true.
  • Wittenmyer also reports a lack of movement on the Mark Teahen front, suggesting Phil Rogers’ recent report of Kansas City’s focus on Sean Marshall and Fontenot "continues to ring of hollow speculation."

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