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Rockies Considering Embree, Shouse, Ohman

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Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post talked to Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, who said the team has internally discussed lefthanded free agent relievers Alan Embree, Brian Shouse, and Will Ohman.  Ken Rosenthal also suggests Embree is a possibility.

Another note from Rosenthal:

The Rockies, at least for the moment, seem content to keep third baseman Garrett Atkins and the three players they acquired in the Matt Holliday trade – left-hander Greg Smith, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and reliever Huston Street.

Thinking about Street…it makes the most sense to trade him in June or July.  Right now the supply for closers outstrips the demand, plus Street did not finish the season as a closer.  The Rockies should let him rack up 20 saves, prove he’s on top of his game, and then move him during the summer when contenders are desperate for bullpen help.

No Varitek Talks Yet For Red Sox

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TUESDAY, 9:45am: Gammons emailed to explain that the ESPN Rumor Central report was erroneous, and he did not say the Red Sox made a one-year offer to Varitek.

TUESDAY, 8:48am: ESPN’s Peter Gammons sides with Bradford, confirming the Red Sox made a one-year offer to Varitek.  Boras denied it after Bradford’s initial report surfaced.

MONDAY, 12:41pm:  A day of denials.  The Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo contacted Scott Boras, who said the Red Sox have not begun negotiations with Varitek.

8:43am: According to Rob Bradford of WEEI, the Red Sox made an initial offer to free agent catcher Jason Varitek.  It’s one year, and the salary does not approach Jorge Posada’s $13.1MM average.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Dye, Burrell, Young

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Here’s a look at the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

  • Rosenthal says the Braves are interested in A.J. Burnett, but you already knew that.
  • Rosenthal believes Trevor Hoffman to the Dodgers "makes sense."
  • The Red Sox apparently have confidence they could trade Mike Lowell if need be, but rival execs believe he’d have to prove his health in spring first.  Lowell has two years and $24MM on his deal. 
  • The White Sox want a young starter and additional players for right fielder Jermaine Dye.  The Mets, Rays, and Phillies are "balking at such a price."  Rosenthal learned that most of the six teams on Dye’s no-trade list are in the northeast.  Interesting that the White Sox are still willing to trade Dye after moving Nick Swisher.
  • The Mets "aren’t enamored" with Javier Vazquez.
  • Rosenthal suggests the Rays will sit back and hope one of the free agent DH-types becomes a bargain for them.
  • SI.com’s Jon Heyman wrote on Friday that the "Braves, Dodgers, and Mets are believed to be among teams that have inquired about Rangers starting pitchers Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla."  However, Rosenthal says the Braves and Mets are not interested in either pitcher and the Rangers aren’t desperate to move them.
  • Rosenthal has Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes, and Pat Burrell on the Angels’ radar if they fail to sign Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia, or Manny Ramirez.
  • A rival GM tells Rosenthal Twins outfielder Delmon Young is "very, very much out there."

Cards Make Offer To Rhodes

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According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals made an offer to lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes.  Rhodes’ agent says nine teams expressed interest, and a handful made offers.  More offers are forthcoming for the 39 year-old.

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak continues to hammer out the details of a contract with Trever Miller; he hopes to add two lefties to the pen.

Goold says the Cardinals are also considering two righthanded relievers in Brandon Lyon and Jason Isringhausen.  Three other teams have expressed interest in Isringhausen, who would like to regain his job as the Cardinals’ closer.

The Cardinals remain in the mix for Edgar Renteria, and they’ll be consulted before a deal is finalized with any other team.  They’ll wait until after the December 1st deadline for offering arbitration.

Angels Begin Talks With Sabathia

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According to Bill Shaikin and Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, the Angels have begun contract discussions with C.C. Sabathia.  The authors believe the Halos could make an offer in the range of Johan Santana’s six-year, $137.5MM deal.  If the Angels do make such an offer, you have to imagine the Yankees will respond by upping their bid significantly.

Despite the talks for Sabathia, Mark Teixeira remains the Angels’ top priority.  They haven’t made an offer yet, but Scott Boras seems to want ten years while the Angels are willing to do seven.  It makes sense to open serious dialogue with Sabathia to lessen the risk of missing out on both star free agents.

Odalis Perez Rumors

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9:24pm: I can’t remember a day where so many rumors were floated and then debunked.  The latest: Perez’s agent and a source familiar with the team’s thinking tell MLB.com’s Bill Ladson that no multiyear deal is in the works with the Nationals.

4:06pm: ESPN’s Enrique Rojas talked to free agent southpaw Odalis Perez, who said he has received offers from the Yankees, White Sox, and Nationals.  Perez intends to stay with the Nationals, and his agent is working on a two or three-year deal with them.

Perez, 31, posted a 4.34 ERA in 159.2 innings for the Nats this year.

Rafael Furcal Rumors: Monday

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6:20pm: Impacto Deportivo says the surprise team is the Braves, possibly offering four years and $52MM.  It’d be wise to treat the report with caution until it is confirmed by another source.

6:09pm: The Reds had a brief conversation with Kinzer about Furcal, but it probably isn’t going anywhere.

3:58pm: ESPN’s Enrique Rojas says Furcal traveled to the West Coast today, where he could sign with the Giants or A’s.  However, a third team remains involved.

1:36pm: Yahoo’s Tim Brown talked to Furcal’s agent, Paul Kinzer.  Kinzer called the El Caribe report "bogus."  Apparently there has been no four-year, $48MM offer from Oakland nor are the Mets interested.  And Furcal doesn’t want to move to second base anyway. 

The A’s and Giants are leading the charge for Furcal, with a "surprise team" also in the mix.

12:26pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman does not believe the Mets made an offer to Furcal.

12:11pm: Susan Slusser’s A’s source calls the below report "untrue," but it’s unclear to what degree.

8:40am: Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times passes along a report from El Caribe, a newspaper in the Dominican Republic.  In the report, Rafael-Fellito Ortiz talked to free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.  Furcal says he has a four-year, $48MM deal on the table from the A’s (with another $2MM in incentives).  Surprisingly, he also has an offer from the Mets, who would use him as a second baseman.  Ortiz believes Furcal might sign soon.

Giants-Renteria Rumor False

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6:00pm: Additional denials have come in via Andrew Baggarly and Derrick Goold.  Baggarly says Renteria is the Giants’ fallback for Furcal.  He notes that the Tigers would’ve loved to see Renteria sign today, as they’re unlikely to offer him arbitration.  Goold learned that Meister will double back with the Cardinals before Renteria signs elsewhere.

5:02pm: Via an email from ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, Renteria’s agent Barry Meister says the report of Renteria signing is not true.  Renteria is at home in Colombia; nothing is close.

3:59pm: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle talked to a Giants source who said the below report is not true.  Schulman admits the Giants may be splitting hairs, as they might deny a deal if only formalities remain.

Rafael Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer says he’s still talking to the Giants, which would seem to indicate a Renteria deal isn’t close.

2:45pm: According to Sweeny Murti of WFAN, the Giants signed shortstop Edgar Renteria to a two-year, $18MM contract.  We’ll update the post with more details and confirmation as it becomes available.  If the report is accurate, the Tigers tentatively get the Giants’ second-round pick without worrying about whether to offer Renteria arbitration.

Renteria, 33, hit .270/.317/.382 in 547 plate appearances for the Tigers this year.  Defensively, he made nine fewer plays than the average shortstop.   Will a move back to the NL rejuvenate his career?

D’Backs Rumors: Easley, Loretta, Vazquez

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5:54pm: The D’Backs offered Vazquez a one-year deal with a club option for 2010, according to his agent.  Vazquez has a better offer from another club, and awaits a counteroffer from Arizona.  He wants a multiyear deal.

10:20am: Jack Magruder of the East Valley Tribune says the D’Backs offered a one-year contract to Vazquez, but he seeks a multiyear deal.

10:08am: According to MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert, the Diamondbacks have talked to the representatives for free agent infielders Damion Easley and Mark Loretta recently.  They’ve already offered a contract to Ramon Vazquez; Easley or Loretta could form a platoon with him.

Easley hit .297/.366/.459 against lefties the past three seasons, while Loretta batted .300/.383/.424.  Easley earned $950K last year.  Loretta accepted the Astros’ arbitration offer but lost his case and was paid $2.75MM.

Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says Arizona’s conservative offseason agenda could leave them little margin for error in 2009.

Jake Peavy Rumors: Monday

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has the latest on the Jake Peavy trade talks, after talking to Padres GM Kevin Towers.

Towers seems to think the Cubs are a more likely suitor for Peavy than the Braves.  The Cubs have obstacles – their ownership/financial situation is in flux, and they’ll need a third team to get the Padres the players they want.  But Towers hasn’t spoken to the Braves in weeks, and they may object to Peavy’s desire for a full no-trade clause.

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