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Odds and Ends: Red Sox, Rays, Orioles

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A few more links to add to what Coley posted earlier (if I find more links later this afternoon, I’ll just update this post):

  • An assertion that Boston is unlikely to get into a bidding war for any free agent pitcher–that refers mostly to Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett, and C.C. Sabathia–is buried in this Boston Globe slideshow. It reflects the sentiments heard elsewhere.
  • From Bill Chastain of MLB.com, the Rays are starting MLB’s first baseball academy in Brazil.  East Windup Chronicle has a good analysis of the move. Though it won’t pay off for years, getting in first will give the Rays a head start in scooping up top talent.
  • Bill Ordine and Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun debate how aggressive the Orioles need to be at the winter meetings in Vegas.
  • MLB sources confirm to Ken Rosenthal that several much-discussed free agents are unlikely to accept arbitration, including Jason Varitek, for whom arbitration had been mentioned as a possible solution earlier today. (Key roadblock there: Varitek’s agent Scott Boras.) This also contradicts an earlier report from Rosenthal, which suggested Varitek might accept arbitration.

Sarah Green writes for UmpBump and the Boston Metro.

Orioles Rumors: Uehara, Kawakami, Millar, Tex

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The latest on the Orioles…

  • Dan Connolly and Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun tell us the Orioles plan to meet with the agents for Japanese hurlers Koji Uehara and Kenshin Kawakami at the Winter Meetings.  Lefty reliever Ken Takahashi is also on the radar.
  • The Sun reporters also spoke to free agent first baseman Kevin Millar, who desires a starting gig but is realistic about his chances.  Millar is willing to come back to the Orioles as a part-time player if they’ll have him.  He mentioned the Mariners by name as well.
  • Steve Melewski of MASN Online debates the pros and cons of the Orioles signing Mark Teixeira.

White Sox Rumors: Dye, Cabrera, Roberts

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Let’s catch up on today’s White Sox rumors.

  • Sox GM Ken Williams said, "If I had to guess as I sit here right now, I don’t foresee any other movement with veteran players.  I’ll go to the winter meetings and be in a listening mode [instead of] an aggressive-type posture."  Does that mean Jermaine Dye is staying put?  Difficult to say, but the free agent market does feature plenty of corner outfielders.
  • Sox Machine learned from Williams’ conference call that Orlando Cabrera would be used in a utility role if he accepts arbitration.  Almost sounds like a threat.  More likely, he’d be traded.
  • Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times expects Williams to call the Orioles about Brian Roberts.  Also, he considers the above quote from Williams to be a "head-fake."

Khalil Greene Traded To St. Louis

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9:25pm: Just wanted to mention that this deal has been finalized.  For the player to be named later, the Padres will choose from a list of three players (two of them pitchers).  Padres exec Paul DePodesta weighed in on the deal at his blog.  Next on the agenda: acquire a replacement shortstop.  Kevin Towers prefers the trade route.

3:21pm: Tom Krasovic believes the Padres are kicking in at least $1MM, since the trade requires the approval of the commissioner’s office.  Meanwhile, Jonathan Mayo takes a closer look at Worrell.

1:17pm: MLB.com’s Corey Brock says it’ll be Worrell and a player to be named later.

12:48pm: Scout.com writer Dustin Mattison sent along this interview with Cardinals reliever Mark Worrell.  Worrell is quite confident in his abilities and seems upset that the Cardinals didn’t give him more of a chance this year.  Pure speculation, but Mattison wonders if he could be one of the relievers headed to San Diego for Greene.

8:15am: One of the relievers in the trade is right-handed, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

THURSDAY, 1:08am: Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the Padres have reached an agreement to send Greene to the Cardinals.  Krasovic believes clearing Greene’s salary may improve the chances of the Padres retaining Jake Peavy.

WEDNESDAY, 10:41pm: Sherman has an update: the Padres are closing in on a deal that will send Greene to the Cardinals for two relief prospects.

8:29pm: According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Padres are expected to trade shortstop Khalil Greene prior to Monday’s Winter Meetings.  Sherman was unable to ascertain Greene’s destination, but he guesses it could be the Orioles or Cardinals.  The Padres are intent on clearing Greene’s $6.5MM salary.

The Padres requested Garrett Olson from Baltimore for Greene a few weeks ago, but maybe the price has come down.  One team not expected to acquire Greene is the Tigers.

Stark’s Latest: Burnett, Cantu, Lowe, Furcal

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Jayson Stark’s got a heaping helping of hot stove updates in his most recent blog post at ESPN.com.

  • The Braves’ most recent offer makes them the frontrunners for A.J. Burnett, says Stark.
  • We’re still waiting for another team to come close to the Yankees’ offer for C.C. Sabathia. Stark suggests Sabathia may make up his mind by next week.  He also says there’s "increasing buzz about the Yankees’ interest in Ben Sheets."
  • The White Sox appear to have expressed some interest in Jorge Cantu.
  • Stark doesn’t think the Phillies stand a very good chance of signing Derek Lowe.
  • Only the Dodgers and A’s, and perhaps the Orioles, remain interested in Rafael Furcal.
  • If the Dodgers end up missing on Furcal and Casey Blake, their focus might shift to names like Ty Wigginton and Adrian Beltre.

Odds and Ends: Teixeira, Izturis, Gaudin

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Links for Thursday…

Perrotto’s Latest: Dye, Jenks, Werth, Madson

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THURSDAY: David Lennon of Newsday talked to a source who said there’s "nothing there" in regard to the rumor of a Dye and Jenks to the Mets blockbuster. Joel Sherman talked to a few Mets officials who called the rumor nonsense.  Sherman says Martinez is "all but untouchable."

WEDNESDAY: Let’s dig into the latest column from John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus.

  • Perrotto speaks of whispers of a possible White Sox-Mets blockbuster.  The Mets would receive Jermaine Dye and Bobby Jenks and the White Sox would receive Fernando Martinez among others.
  • Regarding the Orioles’ possible involvement in a trade that would send Jake Peavy to the Cubs, Perrotto says Baltimore seeks Ronny Cedeno and Felix Pie from Chicago.
  • Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has spoken to outfielder Jayson Werth and setup man Ryan Madson about contract extensions.  Madson might be a tough one as he’s represented by Scott Boras (who recently compared him to Mariano Rivera).  Both players are under team control for one more season.
  • The Red Sox are considering free agents Willie Bloomquist, Jay Payton, and Mark Loretta as possible bench additions.  A return to Boston seems to be Payton’s preference.
  • Perrotto believes the only player seriously considering accepting arbitration is Darren Oliver.  Oliver’s already seen the Reds drop out of the mix due to the draft pick price.
  • Perrotto says the Tigers and Orioles are showing interest in Jack Wilson, while the Dodgers have backed off.

Giants Sign Renteria?

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11:24pm: Henry Schulman says Renteria took a physical for the Giants today and "a deal appears to be done."

9:26pm: Renteria’s (other?) agent Jeff Lane told MLB.com’s Chris Haft, "We’re very close to a deal."

7:51pm: Jon Paul Morosi also talked to Meister, who said the Giants are making "substantial progress" toward signing Renteria.  Henry Schulman gets the vibe the Giants might announce a deal with him tomorrow.

4:49pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Giants asked the Brewers about J.J. Hardy, but Milwaukee doesn’t want to move him. So Brian Sabean moved on to Cantu.

4:12pm: Brian Sabean told reporters he hopes to sign a free agent infielder later this week.

3:42pm: Jon Heyman chimes in; he also thinks a two-year deal could be completed soon.  Heyman says the Giants have yet to decide whether to target C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, or Manny Ramirez.  Are we seeing a shift back to the win-now plan in San Francisco?

1:53pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick talked to Renteria’s agent Barry Meister, who said they’re "much, much closer" to a deal with the Giants but "nothing is done."  Crasnick’s source says it could be in the two-year, $18MM range.

12:58pm: According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, the Giants "believe they are closing in on signing shortstop Edgar Renteria."  Brown also says the Giants have discussed trading Jonathan Sanchez to the Marlins for Jorge Cantu.  That’d be a steal for the Marlins, who plucked Cantu off the scrap heap in January for a half-million bucks.

Brown adds that the Cubs remain in the mix for Jake Peavy, and they have two possible matches for a third team in the deal (the Orioles being one).

Braves Preparing Five-Year Offer For Burnett

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2:07pm: Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution believes the Braves will probably guarantee a fifth year to Burnett, at a salary of $15-16MM per.

9:56am: Will the Braves be the team to commit five years to A.J. Burnett?  According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, they’re preparing such an offer.  Feinsand wonders if Burnett will jump at this offer without waiting to see what C.C. Sabathia does. 

SI.com’s Jon Heyman seems to agree with Feinsand’s report.  He learned from Braves GM Frank Wren that the Braves are in on Burnett but not Jake Peavy, and heard talk that the Braves might consider a fifth year.  Wren described talks for Peavy as "pretty much" over.

Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution says the Braves are one of six teams in negotiations with Burnett.  Heyman believes the other teams to be the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Nationals.

Orioles’ Talks With Markakis On Hold

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According to Dan Connolly and Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles’ contract extension talks with Nick Markakis are on hold and probably will not be revisited for at least six weeks.

The Orioles are looking to sign Markakis for his three arbitration years as well as at least three of free agency.  Markakis would like to observe the free agent market before resuming talks with the Orioles.  Perhaps Markakis and his agent plan to value his free agent years based on the contracts for players like Raul Ibanez and Bobby Abreu.

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