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Mets To Explore Trade For Closer

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Ken Davidoff of Newsday has a new article up discussing possibilities for the Mets’ closer vacancy.  He says the Mets will check in on free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes, but remain wary of the price.  I’m wondering if K-Rod will have to back off the five year demand if he wants to get multiple serious bidders.  Davidoff says the Mets feel that they have the minor league depth to swing a trade for a closer rather than buy one.

Davidoff goes on to speculate that the Mets could look at J.J. Putz, Huston Street, George Sherrill, Joakim Soria, and Kevin Gregg.  Gregg would be the easiest to acquire.  Not sure why Soria is mentioned here.  The Mets had several young players emerge this year who weren’t necessarily highly touted (Dan Murphy, for example).  Davidoff says the Mets feel they have more such hidden gems to use as trade chips.

Davidoff also tosses out two more free agent possibilities: Jeremy Affeldt and Chad Cordero.  Affeldt is starting to generate buzz as a more affordable closing candidate, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Indians get involved.

Odds and Ends: Iwase, Martin, Manny

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Preliminary Talks For Markakis Extension

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Steve Melewski of MASN Online spoke to Orioles president Andy MacPhail, who said he’s had preliminary contract extension talks with Nick Markakis’ agent.  Dollar figures have not yet been exchanged.  MacPhail added that there are no hard feelings from Markakis’ renewal last year.  Locking up Markakis is an offseason priority for the Orioles.  They’ll try to buy out all three arbitration years as well as some free agent years.

In March, players such as Prince Fielder, Cole Hamels, and Markakis were renewed at $700K or less.  Fielder and Hamels publicly expressed displeasure.   Young players who may be renewed next March include Hunter Pence, James Loney, Yunel Escobar, Jeremy Guthrie, Joba Chamberlain, and Tim Lincecum.

Jays Add Loewen, Bullington

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3:01pm: Loewen is a Blue Jay, according to the Globe and Mail. The Jays also claimed Bryan Bullington off waivers from the Indians.  Loewen talked to Kubatko today about his tough decision.

1:57pm: It sounds like Gaston’s pitch worked – Orioles president Andy MacPhail expects Loewen to sign with the Blue Jays.  It’s not about money, but rather Loewen’s lifelong dream to play ball in Canada.

FRIDAY, 10:02am: Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun says Jays manager Cito Gaston called Loewen to sell him on the organization.  Elliott says the Mariners and Orioles also want to sign the converted outfielder.  Roch Kubatko is convinced Loewen will re-sign with Baltimore.

THURSDAY: Loewen cleared waivers; he’s now a free agent.  He’s receiving more interest than anticipated.

TUESDAY: According to Roch Kubatko at  MASN Online, the Orioles released Adam Loewen yesterday.  Loewen was chosen fourth overall in the 2002 draft.

Loewen reached the Majors and tallied 164 innings, but elbow problems prompted him to reinvent himself as an outfielder this summer.  According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the Orioles hope Loewen will clear waivers today so they can sign him to a minor league deal.  He is out of options, but the Orioles want to be able to send him to the minors.  If claimed, Loewen would need to remain on the 40-man roster and would earn $700K.  Orioles GM Andy MacPhail doesn’t expect that to happen, nor does he expect Loewen to ink a minor league deal with another club.

Heyman’s Latest: Manny, Holliday, Peavy

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new rumor-packed article up.

  • Heyman suggests the battle for the three elite free agents – Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, and C.C. Sabathia – will mostly be fought by the New York and Los Angeles clubs.  Heyman talked to one GM who believes the country’s economic situation will not affect the big names but could be bad for the lower-tier guys.
  • Heyman’s potential Manny suitors: the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Phillies.  The Phillies’ interest will depend on whether Pat Burrell stays.  I’m not sure why the Orioles would be in the mix.
  • The Rockies are "very likely" to trade Matt Holliday. The Rox would be willing to sign Holliday for five years and $100MM, but that won’t cut it.  The team’s focus in a trade will be a young starter.  Heyman echoes a Ken Rosenthal thought from a few months ago: surprising small-market teams may enter the Holliday bidding.
  • Heyman has the Mets, Rangers, and Indians as teams looking at Brian Fuentes.  The Mets are the favorite to sign him in the three-year, $36MM range.
  • Jake Peavy has already turned down one American League team.  Heyman believes hes particularly opposed to the Rangers and has mixed feelings about the Yankees.  Peavy is reeling from the Padres’ decision to shop him. 
  • Heyman has unkind words for Luis Gonzalez, who may not be welcomed back to the D’Backs based on his "uneasy relationship" with Stephen Drew and Chris Young.
  • Heyman does not think MLB has any evidence against Nationals GM Jim Bowden in the scout skimming scandal.
  • Heyman gives Ruben Amaro a slight edge over Mike Arbuckle to replace Pat Gillick as Phillies GM.
  • George W. Bush as baseball’s next commissioner?  "Many have long believed" that Bush would like to be Bud Selig’s successor.

Dodgers To Offer Shorter Term, Higher Salary To Manny?

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SI.com’s Jon Heyman talked to "people familiar with the Dodgers’ thinking" recently.  One such person told Heyman the Dodgers may offer Manny Ramirez a short term with a very high annual salary, perhaps something like $55MM for two years.  GM Ned Colletti has taken this approach in the past with free agents Jason Schmidt, Rafael Furcal, and Andruw Jones.

Heyman’s sources say the Dodgers are "strongly disinclined" to give Manny five or six years.  Colletti himself noted the Dodgers don’t have six-year contracts.  However, "there are some who believe" Scott Boras won’t even sit down with a team offering four or fewer years.  I can see Boras eventually finding a team willing to give four years.

Heyman lists six other potential suitors for Manny: the Phillies, Yankees, Blue Jays, Mets, Orioles, and Rangers.  Some of those suggestions are questionable though.

Cubs Searching For Lefthanded Bat

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Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune talked to Cubs GM Jim Hendry, while Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun-Times chatted with manager Lou Piniella.  Both said the Cubs are looking to add lefthanded hitting.  De Luca believes Brian Roberts and Raul Ibanez remain on Hendry’s radar.

I mentioned most of the feasible names in the Cubs Offseason Outlook.  Since right field is difficult to play at Wrigley field, players such as Milton Bradley and Ibanez are a questionable fit.  I believe the ideal acquisition would be Brian Giles, but he’d have to be willing to waive his no-trade clause.

Sullivan mentions an idea that is popular with Cubs fans: trading first baseman Derek Lee.  Freeing up first base would expand the Cubs’ options greatly.  Lee is owed $26MM over the next two seasons and has a full no-trade clause.  He hit .291/.361/.462 in 698 plate appearances, down significantly from ’07.  Lee’s ’08 performance was right around league average for his position.  His defense was a bit above-average this year.

I think Lee has positive trade value, especially in a weak first baseman market.  The Yankees and Giants could be fits, though I wouldn’t expect them to give up anything spectacular (especially since a concession would have to be made for Lee to waive his no-trade).  Randy Winn could be a match for the Cubs.

Cafardo’s Latest: Lowe, Maddux, Peavy

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Here’s a look at the latest column from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.

  • Interestingly, the Red Sox are reportedly Derek Lowe’s preferred destination.  It’s unknown whether the Sox intend to add a starter this winter, but they may lose free agent Paul Byrd (and will have to decide on Tim Wakefield’s $4MM option).  Cafardo names a dozen other clubs interested in Lowe: the Yankees, Mets, Tigers, Indians, Cardinals, Cubs, Angels, Braves, Phillies, Rangers, Astros, and Blue Jays.
  • Bill Mueller, 38 in March, admits he’d like to play again.  Medically, it’s a long shot because he’d need to regrow cartilage in his knees.
  • One of Greg Maddux’s teammates feels he’ll retire. Maddux could return to the Padres as a player/coach (specifically, he’d prefer a bench coach gig).
  • The Brewers as a sleeper for Jake Peavy?  They’re not on his list, but he’s named other midwest clubs.
  • Cafardo believes catchers Bengie Molina and Ramon Hernandez will be available this winter.  Makes sense, given the weak free agent market at the position.

Olney’s Latest: Teixeira, Sabathia, Ramirez, Burnett

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Buster Olney has some fun-to-read analysis of last night’s game, as well as some solid rumors for our consumption:

  • The Yankees seem almost destined to sign Mark Teixeira this offseason, but while it’s been suggested that Teixeira is seeking upwards of 10 years, $200MM, the Yankees may be looking to offer half of that, or "a deal in the range of 6 years, $18-20MM a year." Good news for the Orioles who look to be the biggest competitor for the Yankees in pursuing both Teixeira and A.J. Burnett.
  • The Yankees are gearing up to offer CC Sabathia "an offer that may dwarf those of other clubs, by a factor of 30 or 40 percent." Olney feels that may be a necessary surcharge to convince Sabathia to pitch in the Big Apple.
  • An interesting note: a few months ago, the suggested numbers for a Manny Ramirez contract were 3 or 4 years and $45MM; however, Scott Boras is effectively "working to change the perception of what is an acceptable offer… trying to raise the bar in the minds of teams, so that in the end, somebody might give him 3 years, $60MM and feel like they’re getting a bargain." I’ll add that Manny has done a lot, if not more, to change this perception as well.
  • Make of this what you will but Derek Jeter, whether intentional or not, contributed toward restoring Roger Clemens’ image by standing beside him on the sidelines of the nationally televised Longhorns game yesterday. Olney notes, "I know a whole lot of image-conscious players who would not have done that." Clemens is still unsure whether he is officially retired or not.

Odds and Ends: Beltran, Brewers, Padres

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