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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.

Did Red Sox Make Offer To Varitek?

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Yesterday Scott Boras was asked how serious the Red Sox are about keeping Jason Varitek.  His reply: "Well, when a Major League team approaches you about a player and offers a contract then I guess that’s serious."

However, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe talked to a source who said the only offer Varitek has received from the Red Sox was the arbitration offer he declined.  But then Theo Epstein said today that he made offers to three free agents, Tek among them.

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

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

A.J. Burnett Rumors: Wednesday

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11:53pm: Not seeing the $91MM rumor on Rosenthal’s blog anymore.  Mark Feinsand wrote earlier today it was $80MM.  Feinsand even said the Yankees and Burnett were "working into the night on closing a deal."  A Mark Bowman source put the Yanks’ offer at $85MM.

10:12pm: Ken Rosenthal says the Yanks are offering $91MM over five years.  He also learned that the Yanks will not sign both Burnett and Lowe – just one of them and then possibly other free agent pitchers.  Similar to Crasnick’s note below.

9:57pm: Tony Massarotti indicates the Red Sox are out and Burnett will choose between the Yankees and Braves.  Jerry Crasnick says that if the Yankees sign Burnett, a third free agent rotation addition would likely be a short-term guy like Ben Sheets as opposed to Derek Lowe.

6:54pm: Jon Heyman believes the Yankees’ five-year offer to Burnett is for $80MM.

6:09pm: Crasnick’s report about the Yanks’ five-year offer to Burnett is online now.  Crasnick’s source says a deal could be in place as soon as tomorrow.  He says the dollar figure is not known but Burnett’s agent is believed to be seeking a deal approaching Zambrano’s five years, $91.5MM. 

6:06pm: ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reports on TV that the Yankees have offered Burnett a five-year deal.

4:53pm: MLB.com’s Mark Bowman has a Major League source who does not believe the Braves offered Burnett five years.

4:06pm: ESPN’s Keith Law believes bidding on Burnett will exceed the value of Carlos Zambrano’s contract, which is for $91.5MM over five years.

12:54pm: Rosenthal and Gerry Fraley report that the Braves made an offer to Burnett late Tuesday for $80MM over five years.  That guaranteed fifth year could be big.

11:14am: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves are pushing hard for A.J. Burnett and talks with him progressed through the night.  The Yankees remain involved, however.

Reds Rumors: Baldelli, Rivera, Burrell

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11:46pm: Amusing story from Joe McDonald:

A group of Cincinnati Reds personnel, including manager Dusty Baker, were playing roulette Tuesday night. A member of the contingent yelled "Put it on No. 5 for Rocco Baldelli" and now it appears the Reds are having talks with his agent.

McDonald adds that the Red Sox have apparently stepped back with their interest in Baldelli.  Buster Olney wrote on Monday that he’d be shocked if Boston didn’t sign Baldelli.

9:24pm: According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds talked to the agents for Rocco Baldelli and Juan Rivera (the agents initiated).  Pat Burrell’s agents also want to meet. Fay says the Reds have at least $10MM to spend.

MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon adds that Moises Alou’s agent contacted Walt Jocketty, but the Reds aren’t interested.  Nor are they interested in Garrett Anderson.  Sheldon adds that there’s been "no real activity towards reviving the Jermaine Dye deal."

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.

Boras Speaks

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Scott Boras held court with the media in Las Vegas this evening. Here’s the full transcript. Amy Nelson described the scene. 

  • He has contract offers for Mark Teixeira from every team with interest.  It’s possible that Tex could reach an agreement by the end of the Meetings, but it’s certainly possible he doesn’t.  Boras defended the idea of Tex signing with a losing team based on Tigers signings he brokered a few years back.
  • The Red Sox offered Jason Varitek a contract.
  • Boras on Ned Colletti’s comment that he hadn’t heard back since their offer to Manny Ramirez: "I think you’d have to revisit that with Ned Colletti, that information is inaccurate."

Derek Lowe Rumors: Wednesday

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10:08pm: A note from Dave O’Brien:

Just so you know, one of Boras’ guys also claims the Braves have expressed at least some interest in Lowe.

5:18pm: Jayson Stark has a source saying the Phillies aren’t pursuing Lowe, and didn’t make an offer.

4:27pm: Gordon Edes agrees, Lowe is not on the verge of signing.  He does have offers in hand from the Yanks and Phillies, with the Mets and Red Sox in talks.  The Brewers made contact but are considered a long shot.  Edes says Lowe’s desire to return to Boston has been overstated.  Edes says the two offers are in the four-year, $65MM range, and a fifth year could clinch it.

3:14pm: Rosenthal says the Yankees’ talks with Lowe are progressing, but reports that they’re close are overblown.  He adds that the Yanks are also in active discussions with A.J. Burnett, and, surprisingly, Andy Pettitte.  Kevin Baxter believes it’s the Yanks or retirement for Pettitte.

8:56am: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees were discussing a four-year, $66MM deal with Derek Lowe late Tuesday night.  Via MetsBlog, Heyman said on WFAN this morning that the Yanks are closing in.

John Smoltz Rumors

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9:30pm: Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski confirmed interest in Smoltz.

6:56pm: MLB.com’s Jason Beck says at least seven teams have shown some level of interest in Smoltz.

4:04pm: Rosenthal says "the Braves are prepared to lose Smoltz if another team offers him a significant guarantee on a one-year deal."

2:53pm: Jerry Crasnick indicates Tom Glavine doesn’t have the same open-mindedness to other teams as Smoltz.  For Glavine it’s probably the Braves or retirement.  Glavine’s ahead of schedule in his rehab.

2:10pm: Nick Cafardo says Smoltz still prefers Atlanta but is also considering the Red Sox, Mets, and Tigers.  The Tigers’ interest appears to be mutual, according to Jon Paul Morosi.

1:54pm: Sean McAdam says the Red Sox have had discussions with Smoltz’s agent.  They’ve checked in on tons of free agents though, perhaps as a ruse.

WEDNESDAY, 11:43am: ESPN’s Peter Gammons says the Red Sox are one of the teams that received Smoltz’s medical info.

TUESDAY: Rosenthal says Smoltz’s agents are passing out medical info to teams.  Rosenthal spoke to one GM who believed Smoltz might be willing to leave the Braves.

MONDAY: Since the Braves have yet to offer a contract to rehabbing pitcher John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal wonders if other teams will jump in with bids.  But rest easy, Braves fans.  Everyone still expects Smoltz to re-sign with Atlanta.

C.C. Sabathia Rumors: Tuesday

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11:55pm: Joel Sherman has a source saying it’s possible Cashman could begin the process of finalizing a contract for Sabathia while in San Francisco.

Sherman notes that Cashman is looking at many other free agent starters as well, and is pushing to begin closing deals.

10:30pm: As you might imagine, Dan Graziano speaks of a breakthrough in the Yankees’ negotiations for Sabathia.

10:07pm: Jon Heyman talked to Angels owner Arte Moreno, who said, "I wouldn’t say we’re in the Sabathia picture at all."

9:14pm: Ken Davidoff and Kat O’Brien say Cashman bailed on his media session today to meet with Sabathia in San Francisco.  Cashman may want to meet Sabathia’s wife, who is obviously a factor in his decision.

9:13pm: Sabathia is a fallback position for the Giants, according to Brian Sabean. 

7:56pm: Doug Melvin says the Brewers have not increased their offer to Sabathia, nor have they decided that they won’t.  The ball is in Melvin’s court on whether to increase the offer.

6:30pm: Brian Sabean says reports of a weekend scheduled with Sabathia are false.

6:05pm: Danny Knobler says the Halos remain a serious player for Sabathia and could trade a pitcher like Jered Weaver for a bat if they sign him.

5:03pm: An update from Peter Gammons:

Some players have said the Angels have made it clear to Sabathia that they’ll guarantee him six years, but both sides say it is not true. Sabathia has not turned down the Yankees, either. He has offers from the Brewers, Angels and Red Sox, and the Giants have made it clear they will be in the bidding in certain circumstances.

4:45pm: According to Ken Davidoff, the Brewers do not intend to raise their offer to C.C.

4:32pm: Rosenthal says there’s no truth to the rumor that Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer.

4:09pm: Baggarly talked to an exec close to the Sabathia talks who believes the Brewers are emerging as the frontrunner.

3:39pm: Joel Sherman doesn’t say anything about the Yanks’ offer being declined, but he does say the Yanks have heightened interest in A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe as Brian Cashman continues to wait on C.C.

3:24pm: Unconfirmed rumor from Andrew Baggarly: Sabathia declined the Yankees’ offer.  He still printed it though.  The Giants are expected to meet with Sabathia this weekend; they’d need to get creative to sign him.

2:21pm: Dan Graziano says Sabathia is convinced the Giants will become a serious bidder.

1:45pm: Tony Jackson’s heard word that Giants officials are "supremely confident" they’re going to sign Sabathia.

1:34pm: Sabathia apparently spent a lot of his time with the Yankees peppering them with lifestyle questions about New York, says Yahoo’s Jeff Passan.

12:11pm: According to Ken Rosenthal, the Giants intend to meet with C.C. Sabathia, perhaps in San Francisco this weekend.  They weren’t able to get together while Sabathia was in Vegas.

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