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Red Sox Considering Carlos Beltran

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10:49pm: The Mets and Red Sox met to discuss Beltran tonight, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (on Twitter).

6:14pm: The Red Sox-Beltran rumor was not grounded in fact, a team source told ESPNBoston's Gordon Edes (Twitter link).

12:20pm: The Red Sox are "at least talking internally" about a Carlos Beltran trade with the Mets, reports ESPN's Adam Rubin.  There is no potential deal at this point.  The Sox consider Beltran a secondary option if other outfield alternatives fall apart, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  Beltran is set to earn $18.5MM in 2011, the last year of his seven-year deal, and he cannot be offered arbitration when the season ends.

The Red Sox have also been linked to Magglio Ordonez, Josh Willingham, and Matt Diaz in recent rumors.

Matt Diaz Rumors: Tuesday

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7:30pm: The D'Backs made Diaz an offer, but it appears that he'll sign elsewhere, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter).

12:42pm: Matt Diaz seems to be one of baseball's more popular non-tenders.  His agent Larry Reynolds believes he'll sign in the "next couple of days, even today."  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports adds the Diamondbacks to a list of suitors that also includes the Red Sox, Royals, Dodgers, Mariners, Blue Jays, and Yankees.  The Phillies and Pirates have come up in a more speculative sense.

Rosenthal notes that the Diamondbacks prefer a first base/left field utility type like Diaz or Xavier Nady to a full-time option like Derrek Lee.  It seems they could end up with platoons at third base, first base, and left field in 2011.

Red Sox Like Rhodes, Downs, Guerrier, Feliciano

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5:32pm: GM Theo Epstein told reporters, including Alex Speier of WEEI.com that the Red Sox have made "a number" of offers to free agent relievers, some left-handed, some right-handed.

4:36pm: Like the Reds and Phillies, the Red Sox have some interest in Arthur Rhodes, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The lefty does not appear to be close to deciding on his next team.

11:23am: The Red Sox are also in on Pedro Feliciano, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.  Feliciano's other known suitors: the Yankees, Phillies, and Rockies.

2:24am: Signing Type A relievers and surrendering a draft pick is a risky proposition, as the swings in any reliever's performance from year-to-year can be wild, and they simply don't impact a large amount of innings over the course of a season.

WEEI.com's Alex Speier tells us that may not stop the Red Sox from pursuing Scott Downs, however, despite the fact that he'd cost Boston a first-round pick. Speier's source also says that the club wouldn't give up a pick to sign Grant Balfour to the multi-year deal he's seeking, and he cites multiple industry sources saying the club is interested in Matt Guerrier after the Twins declined to offer him arbitration.

As Speier points out, Downs has some of the most dominant numbers in history for a reliever during his age 31-34 seasons, and the Red Sox have taken note of the division rival's excellence. Since 2007, Downs has compiled a 2.36 ERA with a 7.8 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 over 236 2/3 innings, while being a stickler for home runs (0.5 HR/9). He's been a menace to left-handed hitters, but it's worth noting that the highest OPS right-handers have managed off him in that timeframe is .643.

Guerrier, 32, has appeared in 70 or more innings every year since his first full season in 2005, with the exception of 2006 — when he came one out short of the mark. While his career peripherals (5.9 K/9, 45.7% GB%, 4.44 FIP) don't dazzle, Guerrier has managed to out-perform them year-in and year-out. He's led the league in appearances twice (2008 and 2009) and has a career ERA of 3.38 to his name to go along with solid control (2.8 BB/9).

Epstein said Monday that the Red Sox will acquire multiple relievers via trade or free agency, but as he points out in this quote relayed from Speier, teams may be waiting for some distance from the Joaquin Benoit signing:

“Sometimes when there’s a contract that exceeds expectations early, it can embolden players and agents within that subset of players who have a similar resume,” said Epstein. “Time will tell whether they get attached to that contract or it’s an outlier contract.”

The Red Sox haven't surrendered a draft pick to sign a reliever since 2004 with Keith Foulke, but Downs could change that trend, especially if the Red Sox end up receiving additional first-round and supplemental picks for the departures of Victor Martinez, Adrian Beltre, and Felipe Lopez.

Kevin Gregg Has Multiple Offers

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Kevin Gregg is drawing strong interest on potential multiyear deals and has offers from the Red Sox, Pirates, and Nationals, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The Red Sox have offers out to a number of relievers other than Gregg, according to Rosenthal. They're known to be interested in Scott Downs, Matt Guerrier and Pedro Feliciano.

Rosenthal reports that the Orioles and Mariners are also in the mix for Gregg, who has also drawn interest from the Rockies. The Blue Jays will obtain a draft pick for losing Gregg, a Type B free agent.

Josh Willingham Rumors: Tuesday

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Josh Willingham may  have become expendable for the Nationals with the Jayson Werth signing, but Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the asking price is said to be absurd.  Rosenthal says the Athletics and Red Sox have checked in, while his colleague Jon Paul Morosi adds the Tigers and Mariners.

Cliff Lee Rumors: Monday

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Cliff Lee's agent Darek Braunecker held court today at the Winter Meetings, but didn't say much.  The latest on the lefty:

  • The Rangers are waiting on Lee before moving on to other top free agent targets, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com, who suggests (on Twitter) that the market for Lee is heating up tonight.
  • Seven years is a "dealbreaker" for the Yankees, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who suggests the team would offer six years (Twitter link). Newsday's Ken Davidoff says the Yankees will likely offer a six-year deal.
  • The Yankees don't plan to offer Lee a seven-year deal, according to Rosenthal (on Twitter). 
  • Lee will receive a seven-year offer, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. At least one club has suggested they’re willing to offer a seven-year deal. 
  • MLB "bigwigs" tell Newsday's Ken Davidoff that they expect Lee to sign a six-year deal (Twitter link)
  • Braunecker met with the Yankees today, but the sides did not discuss money, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).
  • The Rangers were planning to offer Lee a four-year deal, but may have to change their plans, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
  • Nats GM Mike Rizzo told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that he spoke to agent Darek Braunecker recently (Twitter link).
  • The Phillies are considering bringing back Lee, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
  • Asked about the Red Sox, Braunecker told WEEI's Rob Bradford, "We've talked."
  • The Yankees are expected to meet with Braunecker again today, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney.
  • Braunecker says they have visited with "significantly more clubs" than just the Yankees and Rangers, tweets MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.  Braunecker is in the process of setting up meetings.

Red Sox Interested In Magglio Ordonez

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The Red Sox are interested in Magglio Ordonez, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com. The free agent outfielder bats right-handed, a plus for the Red Sox. GM Theo Epstein told reporters that he’s inclined to pursue a complementary right-handed hitter this offseason, and while Ordonez is no complementary player, he could be a fit for the Red Sox in left field.

Two months ago, Ordonez expressed optimism about re-signing in Detroit. The Tigers may add a corner outfielder and the Scott Boras client could be a fit in Jim Leyland's lineup once again. Before fracturing his right ankle last July, the 36-year-old batted .303/.378/.474 in 365 plate appearances.

Carl Crawford Rumors: Monday

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When Jayson Werth signed a seven-year deal worth $126MM, it appeared to be a positive sign for Carl Crawford. Here’s the latest on Crawford and whether the Werth deal really does impact his bargaining power:

  • ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark suggests Werth's contract may give Crawford fewer options, since few teams will be able to meet his demands. Stark suggests the Yankees are the lone team that can afford to offer the left fielder $180MM.
  • Crawford is the Angels' top priority and the Tigers have definite interest, according to Stark.
  • Angels GM Tony Reagins told Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times that he doesn't have a reaction to the Werth deal since what other clubs do "doesn't affect" the way the Angels operate. I'm guessing the Angels did not like what the Nationals did one bit.
  • Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports explained earlier today that the Red Sox could be priced out of the market for Crawford.

Red Sox Interested In Fuentes, Mahay

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6:09pm: Fuentes is looking for $6-8MM per season, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter).

12:12pm: The Red Sox are interested in lefty relievers Brian Fuentes and Ron Mahay, reports Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald.  The Sox clearly have a need for southpaw relief, and unlike Scott Downs, Fuentes and Mahay will not cost a draft pick. 

I wonder if Fuentes will first try to find a closing job.  The Orioles are known to have contacted Fuentes' agent and can pitch a ninth inning opening.  Though they seek a closer, the Diamondbacks are not in on Fuentes according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert.

Check out my free agent stock watch piece on Fuentes here.  My one-year, $4MM idea from October now seems light.

Russell Martin Suitors

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5:50pm: The Yankees and Red Sox are in on Martin and the Mets and Blue Jays are less interested, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

4:34pm: The Dodgers have not been in contact with Martin's agent since Thursday, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times (on Twitter).

3:29pm: ESPN.com's Buster Olney hears that Martin will be a catcher next year. The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Mets all examined his medical information in the last day (Twitter links).

3:09pm: The Mets consider Martin too expensive and too much of an injury risk, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News (on Twitter). 

MONDAY, 1:31pm: The Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Mets are also thought to be interested in Martin, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.

FRIDAY, 9:16am: The Yankees, who tried to trade for Russell Martin this week, are one of six teams interested in the 27-year-old free agent, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Michael S. Schmidt of the New York Times reports that the Yankees nearly sent Francisco Cervelli to the Dodgers for Martin (Twitter links). In fact, the Yankees and Dodgers even exchanged medical records on Wednesday. 

The Dodgers are nearing a deal with Rod Barajas, but they still have interest in re-signing Martin. Agent Matt Colleran says the Dodgers view his client differently than most teams do.

“They want to continue discussions with the idea that Russ could come back and catch, play second base and third and a little bit out of outfield to see if he likes something like that in the event he ever wants to transition from behind the plate,” Colleran said.

It wouldn't be surprising to see the Royals, Rangers, Mariners, Mets or Brewers look to upgrade behind the plate. ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports that Martin, who is from Montreal, wants to play on the East Coast (Twitter link).

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