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Olney: Latest On Fuentes

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Buster Olney has an update on the future of Brian Fuentes. Fuentes will likely not be receiving the three-year, $30MM deal he was recently hoping for, says Olney, and could expect something closer to $15-18MM over the same three year period.

Olney looks at ten teams that could end up with Fuentes, with the St. Louis Cardinals at the top of the list (although it’s not quite clear that the ten teams are ranked on likelihood of acquiring the free agent). The Cardinals have been linked to Fuentes quite often this offseason, but are perhaps waiting for the price to come down on the free agent.

The Angels and Brewers are also mentioned; both these teams will need to replace their 2008 closers. Slightly more puzzling is Olney’s inclusion of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.

Alex Walsh can be reached at alexwalshatmlbtr@gmail.com.

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Saturday

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11:01pm: Michael S. Schmidt at the New York Times writes:

"The Yankees are interested in signing Teixeira, according to two people in baseball with knowledge of the matter, but for the moment are unwilling to pay him more than $160 million over eight years, one of them said."

10:18pm: An update from Kat O’Brien at Newsday says "the Yankees remain on the periphery of the bidding" for Teixeira.

Scott Boras has apparently contacted Brian Cashman to inform him that an 8-year/$180MM contract would be needed to land Tex. This contradicts recent reports that estimate that the Boston Red Sox have made such an offer, since they have not signed the free agent yet.

The article also reiterates the fact that the Yankees do not have an offer out to Teixeira.

6:50pm: Lyle Spencer and Bill Ladson of MLB.com report that Teixeira will decide on where to sign in the next few days. 

12:49pm: Jack Curry of the New York Times examines Boras’ "patient, defiant style" and suggests the Red Sox are throwing it right back at him.

Roch Kubatko talks about how Washington’s Ted Lerner is the one owner who could blow the other teams away with a Teixeira offer.  Many people seem to believe they’re willing to go to ten years, $200MM.  Bill Madden suggests Lerner could be this year’s "One Dumb Owner."

9:24am: Yesterday we tracked the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes as the Red Sox seemed to back out, but ultimately remained interested; the rumors continue today.

Jon Heyman writes that talks have resumed between Scott Boras and the Yankees and Angels. The Yankee front office is still deciding which slugger to pursue: Teixeira or Manny Ramirez. Heyman sees signs that "the Angels might be readying for a move," since owner Arte Moreno could consider boosting his bid from the $160-170MM range.

Heyman hears that the Red Sox bid close to $180MM, but ESPN.com reports that their bid was $165-170MM. ESPN heard from an "executive familiar with the meeting" between Teixeira’s people and the Red Sox that Scott Boras seeks an eight-year deal worth $195MM.

However, when Jerry Crasnick asked Boras about this figure, he heard it was "inaccurate" and that there was "very limited discussion of economic considerations" Thursday night.

Adam Kilgore heard from a GM involved with Teixeira who believes "the Red Sox have the best offer on the table."

Michael Silverman thinks the Red Sox need to go all out for Tex and Peter Schmuck doesn’t want a few million dollars to stop the O’s from signing him.

Gammons’ Latest: Teixeira, Cameron, Montero

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The latest blog post from ESPN’s Peter Gammons is up.

  • Gammons talked to a source close to Mark Teixeira who says Tex and the Red Sox are not that far apart.
  • The Yankees backed off on the Mike Cameron trade because Melky Cabrera is showing improved plate discipline in winter ball (his walk rate is up, though it’s only 15 games).  Additionally, Brett Gardner has believers in the organization.
  • The Diamondbacks were unwilling to trade catcher Miguel Montero to the Red Sox for Daniel Bard, while the Sox wouldn’t part with Michael Bowden.  Gammons says it hasn’t been seriously discussed but wonders if the Red Sox would eat the $22MM owed to Eric Byrnes to get Montero.
  • One part of the post that is getting attention is when Gammons names a bunch of things "we don’t know," implying that he suspects these things are possible.  For example: "We don’t know whether the Red Sox will decide not to pony up and sign Teixeira or whether there really might be a three-way deal among the White Sox, Angels and Reds that would put Jermaine Dye in Cincinnati, Joey Votto in Anaheim and Chone Figgins in Chicago."  So, not quite a trade rumor here.  The Reds would, of course, want more for Votto if he’s even available.  When this semi-rumor makes the rounds it must be discussed in the proper context – the paragraph’s theme was things we don’t know are accurate.

D’Backs Rumors: Clark, Montero, Snyder

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According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the D’Backs are progressing towards a one-year deal with Tony Clark, though GM Josh Byrnes says they’re "not all the way there" yet. Piecoro expects Clark to re-sign for less than $1MM.

Piecoro also found that Byrnes isn’t likely to trade Miguel Montero. The D’Backs GM said that "nothing in trade exceeds the value of keeping both" Montero and Chris Snyder, so he’ll hold onto them.

Arizona had considered dealing Montero to the Red Sox for Michael Bowden, but the Red Sox decided against the deal.

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Friday

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3:48pm: Jon Heyman believes the Red Sox are at their final number, at least $180MM.  Scott Miller explains why you shouldn’t be surprised if the Nationals sign Teixeira.

2:39pm: Buster Olney and Peter Gammons suggest a lower amount was offered by Boston: $165-170MM.  That’s seemingly at least $20MM short of what Boras wants.  He might be happy with eight years, $184MM ($23MM per).

Olney, Gammons, Adam Kilgore, and Nick Cafardo are all on board with the sentiment that the Red Sox remain in the mix for Teixeira.

9:33am: Jon Heyman says the Red Sox remain interested in Teixeira, but are sticking to their eight-year offer of $180MM or so.  Nick Cafardo has a similar take.  Tony Massarotti and Thomas Boswell are good reads as well.

9:05am: George King learned from Brian Cashman that it was not the Yankees who outbid the Red Sox for Teixeira (if they were indeed outbid).  Chico Harlan says the Nationals are in a holding pattern until the Tex situation is resolved.

8:03am: Mike DiGiovanna says Boston’s eight-year offer in the $175MM range was "significantly" better than the Angels’ eight-year proposal.  But DiGiovanna talked to Torii Hunter, who spoke to Teixeira and said the Angels "gave him an offer that blew everyone away."  Also, DiGiovanna finds it doubtful that the Angels would match the two-year, $45MM offer the Dodgers made to Manny Ramirez.

7:50am: Alex Speier of WEEI examines both vague statements, as well as past Red Sox-Boras battles.  Meanwhile, Joel Sherman offers thoughts on the idea of Teixeira signing with the Nationals, drawing parallel to the Rangers’ A-Rod contract.

12:52am: Yesterday evening we received this surprising statement from Red Sox owner John Henry:

"We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor."

Michael Silverman was able to get this quote from Scott Boras as a semi-response:

"The Boston ownership was kind enough to request and travel to meet with Mark Teixeira. While it was a very positive meeting Mark was candid and advised he is in the process of making a decision and is now attempting to eliminate teams."

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Teixeira, Giants, Braves, Bradley, Pirates

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On this date 17 years ago, the Blue Jays signed 40-year old future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield to a one-year, $2.3MM contract. The signing was a good one as Winfield helped the Jays to their first title in 1992. That year he hit .290-26-108 with a .377 OBP and 137 OPS+, including what would prove to be the series-winning two-run double in the top of the 11th of game 6 of the World Series. Did I mention he was 40? With this year’s crop of free agents playing euchre as they patiently wait for Mark Teixeira to make up his mind, let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

  • Sully Baseball is not worried about the Red Sox possibly losing out on Mark Teixeira feeling the money may be better spent on pitching.
  • The Bottom Line wonders if the Red Sox are better off waiting a year and going after Matt Holliday to replace Jason Bay.
  • El Lefty Malo projects the Giants offense for next season and shows that one more big bat would give them a league-average offense.
  • Braves Blast laments the Braves inability to land a starting pitcher so far this off-season and wonders what options are left.
  • The Launching Pad does not see any of the remaining free agent pitchers as an upgrade for the Braves over what is already on the roster.
  • Goat Riders of the Apocalypse is aggravated by the lack of big moves from the Cubs and while they would like Milton Bradley as a Cub, they think it is unlikely.
  • Baseball Handyman offers grades for the free agent signings to date, with only the Francisco Rodriguez contract earning an ’A’.
  • The ’Burgh Blues takes a look at the Pirates inability to find pitchers that can find the strike zone.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

Mark Teixeira Rumors: Thursday

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9:58pm: Red Sox owner John Henry said:

"We met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor."

Wow.  From favorites to out of the bidding.

9:16pm: Gordon Edes says Boston’s eight-year offer is more than $160MM but less than the $184MM figure Lynch mentioned.  In a newer article, Edes talked to a Red Sox exec who called the idea of a $25MM salary for Tex "ridiculous."  This info gels with the Gammons/Olney suggestion of $22MM per year.  Edes adds that it won’t be a "take it or leave it" type of meeting. 

Edes says the Angels haven’t budged off their original offer, which is north of $160MM.  The Nationals have been told by Boras that they’d have to pay extra. 

8:38pm: The Red Sox "aren’t close to getting a deal done" with Teixeira according to an updated report by Dan Roche of WBZTV.

8:34pm: When asked whether the Angels might improve their offer to Teixeira, Tony Reagins simply repeated that he had already made him a "fair offer."

6:55pm: Dan Roche of WBZTV also confirms the meeting. He suggests an eight-year Red Sox offer in the $180MM range, but hears that Boston doesn’t expect anything "conclusive" tonight.

6:38pm: Buster Olney and Peter Gammons confirm Lynch’s report. ESPN has heard from major league sources that Boras may soon meet with Red Sox executives. Olney and Gammons heard from another team’s executive who expects the offer to be for "about $22MM" per year for eight years, or about $176MM in total.

5:21pm: Mike Lynch from Channel 5 in Boston reports John Henry and Theo Epstein will meet with Scott Boras tonight with the aim of signing Teixeira tonight or Friday morning.  Lynch says the Sox are offering eight years and $184MM.

1:59pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman on rumored offers for Tex:

One source said he believed that Boston was in for close to $180 million over eight years and the Angels in for about the same. The Nats may be as high, or even higher than that. Some suggest they have either hit the $200 million mark, or gotten very close. Or that someone else has.

Heyman expects Teixeira to sign next week, and agrees that the Red Sox are the favorites.  He provides odds of each bidding team signing Teixeira.

8:55am: Yesterday’s Mark Teixeira post focused on the Orioles – they seem to be falling behind, though Andy MacPhail said there’s flexibility with their offer.

We learned today from Kat O’Brien of Newsday today that the Yankees have not made an offer to Teixeira, and may not if the bidding gets too high.

Nick Cafardo’s been talking to a GM involved in the bidding, and that person says the Red Sox have the highest offer on the table.  The offer could be eight years at the highest average annual salary.  Sean McAdam says the Red Sox have their own ceiling and won’t get into a bidding war.  He adds that there’s no backup plan for Boston – "it’s Teixeira or bust."

Heyman’s Latest: Perez, Greinke, Dye, Garland

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The latest from SI.com’s Jon Heyman, non-Teixeira department…

  • Heyman describes the Mets’ chance of signing Oliver Perez as "remote for now." He names other "potential suitors" – the Brewers, Dodgers, Reds, and perhaps Mariners.
  • Apparently some Yankees people wouldn’t mind if Andy Pettitte passed on their $10MM offer, as they’d be able to pursue Ben Sheets or Derek Lowe.
  • The Red Sox "looked into" trading for Zack Greinke but didn’t like the price.
  • Heyman says the Reds, Braves, and Rays are still showing interest in Jermaine Dye.
  • He says the Dodgers, White Sox, and Mets "could be possibilities" for Jon Garland.  A return to Chicago?

Peavy-Boston Possibility

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe discusses the possibility of Jake Peavy being traded to the Red Sox:

The Red Sox have "some" interest in Peavy, but as of a few days ago the teams had not entertained any substantive trade talks as Padres GM Kevin Towers knew that Boston was not on Peavy’s wish list. But now that talks with Atlanta and the Cubs have broken down, Towers needs a new team to deal with and the 27-year-old Peavy, according to his agent, Barry Axelrod, probably would OK a deal to Boston. But if there’s a Mark Teixeira splash, the Red Sox might not have the money to entertain it.

Padres CEO Sandy Alderson recently said the team is no longer actively pursuing a Peavy trade, but left the door open in case a team approaches them.  While the Red Sox easily have the young pitching to get it done, they’d also have the leverage to shoot for a bargain in a trade with San Diego.  Kevin Towers has historically been Theo Epstein’s most frequent trade partner, but keep in mind that Peavy is in control.

Rosenthal’s Latest: Teixeira, Markakis, Johnson

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We have a new column from Ken Rosenthal this evening.

  • Mark Teixeira is holding up many areas of the free agent market, as guys like Brian Fuentes and Milton Bradley know the Angels will be interested if Tex signs elsewhere.
  • Rosenthal believes the Yankees should continue to be aggressive and make a competitive bid for Teixeira.
  • The "poor working conditions and occasionally unruly crowd behavior" make it hard for the A’s to attract free agents.  Their move in 2012 should help.
  • Rosenthal believes Chase Utley’s seven year, $85MM deal could provide a framework for a Nick Markakis extension.
  • The A’s will wait for free agent bargains now that they’ve lost Rafael Furcal.
  • The Red Sox and Mets are the main suitors for Derek Lowe, with the Yankees less likely.
  • The Braves have been shopping Kelly Johnson for an outfielder.  Attempts to acquire Ryan Ludwick or Corey Hart did not work out.
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