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Odds and Ends: Kawakami, Max Ramirez, Lowell

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Links for Friday…

Jeremy Guthrie Leaves Boras

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According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, longtime Scott Boras client Jeremy Guthrie personally visited the agent in Las Vegas to inform him he’s changing representation.  Guthrie will now be represented by Casey Close and Brodie Van Wagenen.

Guthrie said his decision was not related to Boras’ preference for his younger clients to avoid long-term deals.  He simply called it a "personal preference for my career."  It’s not known whether the Orioles would like to sign Guthrie long-term.  He’ll turn 30 in April, yet has only two years of Major League service.  Guthrie spent two years on a Mormon mission.

Zrebiec’s article also addresses the Daniel Cabrera non-tender situation.  Is he worth $4MM for one more year for the pitching-starved Orioles?  Team officials are mixed on the decision.

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Thursday

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9:56: Jeff Zrebiec says that even with larger offers on the table, the Orioles do not plan on upping their offer for Teixeira. The Orioles’ offer is believed to be seven years, and in the $140-150MM range. The Orioles have discussed Eric Hinske and Hank Blalock as fallbacks if Teixeira signs elsewhere.

2:38pm: Tim Brown and Gordon Edes talked to involved execs (not with the Angels) who believe the Boras camp is "using the media to ratchet up the price beyond what any team had actually offered." 

Brown and Edes say the Angels were told the Red Sox and Nationals offered eight years at about $20MM per.  The Angels don’t want to do an eighth year, so they’ll look into trades for Jermaine Dye, Paul Konerko, and possibly Adrian Beltre.  Raul Ibanez is the top free agent backup plan.

Brown and Edes believe Boras could insist on an opt-out clause in a deal with the Nationals.

8:59am: Mike DiGiovanna says the Angels "are believed to be willing to offer at least seven years for something in the $160-million range" for Tex.

8:51am: Jon Heyman says the Yankees have re-entered the Teixeira sweepstakes.

2:40am: Summing up the reported offers made to Mark Teixeira:

By the way, Joe Haggerty transcribed the full Scott Boras talk from yesterday at his site.

Odds and Ends: Rule 5, Beltre, Schmidt, Bako

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Stray links I’ve collected over the past few days…

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Wednesday

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11:40pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Red Sox made progress today in their Teixeira talks.

8:45pm: Dave Sheinin says the Nationals offered eight years and $160MM, and Ladson now agrees.

5:38pm: Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun says the Orioles met with Boras last night and apparently made an offer.  However, Peter Schmuck says the nine-year, $180MM report was "met with incredulity from O’s officials."

5:33pm: According to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson, the Nationals offered Tex an eight-year, $180MM contract.  Dave Sheinin talked to a Nationals exec who said in general about the rumors, "Ninety percent of this stuff is pure fabrication."

2:35pm: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times has the Nats willing to offer ten years at more than $20MM per and the Orioles willing to do nine years also at at least $20MM per year.

1:27pm: Ken Rosenthal and Ed Price heard Teixeira would prefer to be on the East Coast for family reasons.  It could be an issue for the Angels.

1:14pm: Yahoo’s Jose Mota (new guy) says the Nationals made an offer to Tex for at least seven years and $150MM.

12:44pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to two high-ranking baseball officials who predicted Teixeira will get a $200MM deal.  Heyman believes two teams already bid $160MM.

11:17am: Dave Sheinin of the Washington Post has heard the Yankees’ signing of C.C. Sabathia takes them out of the running for Tex.  The Angels, Red Sox, Nationals, and Orioles will battle for the Boras client.

9:36am: Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times talks about Mark Teixeira:

The Boston Red Sox have emerged as front-runners, and the Washington Nationals, who appear willing to offer eight years and $160 million, could make the most lucrative bid.  The Baltimore Orioles are in hot pursuit, the Yankees are lurking, and the Angels are growing more concerned that Teixeira might be slipping away, primarily because they’d like to sign him for six or seven years, not the eight or nine it might take.

Rafael Furcal Rumors: Wednesday

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9:31pm: The Royals hope to clear payroll to make room for Furcal, preferably by trading Jose Guillen.  Orlando Cabrera is their backup plan.  The Royals would eat some money to move Guillen, but predictably the market is "almost nonexistent."

The Royals believe Furcal requires a four-year, $44MM deal.  Kinzer has four offers for Furcal currently, all for three or four years.  The surprising implication is that the Dodgers went past two years.

2:50pm: Buster Olney says the A’s met again with Furcal last night.  Apparently Oakland’s four-year offer had been worth about $36MM.  Meanwhile Steve Phillips says Royals GM Dayton Moore asked ownership for more money to sign Furcal.

2:07am: Richard Griffin suggests the Blue Jays are just being used by Kinzer to add negotiating power.

12:10am: The most important takeaway from yesterday’s Rafael Furcal rumors: his agent Paul Kinzer told Ken Rosenthal the Dodgers, Blue Jays, Royals, and A’s are in the running.  Furcal still wants four years.  We also have word from Yahoo’s Tim Brown that the Orioles are in on Furcal, and the list might at times include the Indians.  Brown says the O’s would sign Furcal as a complement to Mark Teixeira.

Orioles Rumors: Kawakami, Zaun, Looper

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7:05pm: Peter Schmuck names a few more catchers on Baltimore’s radar: Henry Blanco and Matt Treanor.

2:15pm: Steve Melewski of MASN Online talked to Dan Evans, who represents free agent pitcher Kenshin Kawakami.  Evans said he had a productive meeting with the Orioles and expects to have more.  He’s been contacting many clubs to gauge interest in Kawakami.

The Orioles also engaged talks with Evans for Gregg Zaun, who could return to Baltimore as the veteran mentor for Matt Wieters.  A few clubs have kicked the tires on Zaun, but he doesn’t have any serious bids yet.

Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun says the Orioles met with Braden Looper’s agent at the Winter Meetings, but their interest level is not known.

J.J. Putz Rumors: Wednesday

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2:04pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Cardinals offered Rick Ankiel and a prospect for Putz.  The Tigers remain interested as well.

9:23am: According to Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press, "the Tigers’ interest in acquiring closer J.J. Putz from Seattle appears stronger than ever."  Morosi says the Mariners insist the Tigers include Jeff Larish and Matt Joyce in a deal.  If the Ms acquire Larish and are convinced he can play third base, they may be motivated to shop Adrian Beltre.  Morosi adds that Brewers and Cardinals have also inquired on Putz.

Brian Fuentes still seems too pricey for Detroit, and Kerry Wood is apparently off the board.  Morosi says the Tigers have "mild interest" in Baltimore’s George Sherrill.  Joe Beimel remains their top choice among lefty relievers, but the Tigers have yet to offer a contract.

Astros Could Get In On Izturis

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Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle says Cesar Izturis’ agent Peter Greenberg spoke with Astros GM Ed Wade to gauge his interest in Cesar Izturis, Freddy Garcia, and Bobby Abreu.  Wade confirmed that Abreu is not a fit for the Astros.  Izturis could be, though, if they manage to trade Miguel Tejada.  The Orioles are known to be making progress on a deal with Izturis.

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